9 months out, along the road to home

Yesterday was officially 9 months out since my accident on October 14, 2023.  It seems as if the days flew by like an eagle and moved at a snail's pace all at the same time.  Perhaps you have had a similar experience in life.  

I only recall bits and pieces of the initial few days after getting hurt, things like nothing tasting good and consequently not eating hardly anything.  There was a flurry of people going in and out of my hospital room all day long, most of which I had no idea of why they were there.  The first few days at rehab were just a blur of those same people in and out of my room and excruciating pain that knew no end.  At times, I believed it would be more than I could bear. 

One thing I do recall was when the head physical therapist at Ascension Villa Christi took a look at my records from Wesley Medical Center as she listened to me tearfully ask her how long it would take to get better again.  Her answer was pretty plain and simple.

"Don't expect it to get better quickly.  The honest truth is that it could take up to 9 months and even longer.  It all depends on the severity of your injury and how fast you are able to heal."

 9 months.  Long enough for a pregnant woman to carry a baby to term.  9 months?

So today I take stock of just how much progress I have made in the past 274 days and in my way of thinking, I'm not doing too badly.  I rejoice in the fact that I can walk once again, albeit with a bit of a limp.  My back aches, quite a bit at times, but a tens unit or a pain relief gel often takes the edge off of the hurt.  My strength and stamina are gradually returning and although I can't do everything I once did, I can still do plenty.  For all of those good things, I am most thankful.  

I learned so many lessons, one of the greatest of which was humility.   I was humbled in ways that I had never known before.  I had to develop a great reliance on folks to help me in and out of the bathroom and shower, to teach me how to dress once again on my own, to take that first tentative step without the use of a walker, and a thousand other things that you and I each take for granted every day of the week.  I'm not going to lie.  At first it was so embarrassing, but it didn't take long for that feeling to go away.  I needed the help most desperately and just accepted the fact that it would be this way until I could do it on my own.  

The tables of life were turned on me.

As I reflect back on these past 9 months, I am reminded time and time again of those moments when I just about said, "I give up!" Those unfortunate times came more often than I wanted anyone to know about.  They were some of the darkest of hours for me and I thank the good Lord above for getting me through them.  

9 months out and I made it!


This sweet girl was one of my third graders at Roosevelt Elementary School during the 2022-2023 school year.  Riley and her folks came to visit me that first Saturday morning in rehab.  She brought with her the gift of the "human touch".



 It was wonderful to see her play softball 8 months later on the ball diamond in Ark City.  She had a great season!


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