On June 29, 1999 my daughter was playing in a softball tournament in another town about 20 minutes away. When it started raining and getting cold. The manly thing to do was to run home and grab rain coats and warmer clothes for my wife and kids. Which I did without a second thought about it. I kissed my wife and told her I would be right back. Those were my intentions any way. Th e rest of what happened to me is unclear. But I can tell everyone what everyone has told me happened from there.

On my way back to the softball game. A RV, the kind of motorhome you drive. 'Failed to yeild the right of way" and I Tboned it at 55 mph. My wife had written all over the windows of our car with white shoe polish 'GO ANGELS' w hich was the name of Nikki's team. A coach from another team playing in the tournament had seen the accident and returned to the field and told my wife there had been an accident. By the time my wife got to the accident I was already at the hospital. She had been told I was fine and just sent to the hospital to be checked out. But when she got to the hospital the rushed her into a little room where she was greeted by the hospital chaplin. I guess that means that you are not fine. I remained in a drug induced coma for 7 days, 4 more on the neuro floor and then I was moved to another hospital for rehab. I spent 3 weeks there. Then 3 months in out patient rehab. I would like to tell you more about what exactly is injuried but, other then 'well you can never tell with a brain injury' or 'we'll have to wait and see how it heals' I don't seem to get many answers from my doctors. I get more referals then answers. You would think with all of them they could have a pow wow and figure out something.

Before the accident I was a self employed over the road truck driver. I had driven a 18 wheeler for 10 years. 3 months prior to the accident I had finally found the run that would allow me to be home daily with my family and still make the money I would over the road. It was all I ever wanted to do and all I ever did. I drove a truck and supported the family and my wife stayed home and raised the kids. We had always felt that it was important that one of us were home with the kids at all times. No Babysitters was our rule. Now I dont know what I am to do to support my family. My wife insist that she gets a job and takes over that role. But I DONT WANT THAT! I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. She has her hands full with the kids and ME now. I have no clue where to go from here. It's been a year and a couple months. It seems like everything we had built and worked so hard for is slippin away.

Our lives are surely not the same. I miss my 'past life' as my wife so affectionately calls it now. I know I am not like I use to be and I still have several physical as well as mental issues as a result of this injury. Bu t my wife has made a pledge to see this family threw this mess. I believe her. She is the strongest person I have ever met.

She has great hope now that we have found this site, the message boards, and the chat. We will keep our fingers crosses and see what happens now. Since it seems we have no control over any of it.

I wish everyone in this situation great amounts of luck. I hope to meet more people like me!

I'm excited to see where this journey takes me!

Email Dave