A Place to Share
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A Place to Share |
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I wasn't as lucky. I had stopped breathing twice on the way to the hospital (and this happened only one mile from the hospital). They gave me CPR twice inside the ambulance and ended up giving me a traecheostomy at the hospital so I could breathe. They had numerous tubes going inside me for various things, including feeding me. The doctors didn't think I would make it through the night and if I did, I would be in a permanent vegetative state. I was a vegetable for a long time (coma for 6 weeks) and not much better for a while after I woke up. I had to relearn how to walk, talk, eat and do just about everything else. It's taken me a long time and I have had alot to go through, but I made it. I ended up living at the hospital for six months and having a home caregiver look after me for five more months after I went home. Even though I was wearing my seat belt, I broke numerous bones. I broke both sides of my jaw, both sides of my pelvis, my lower left leg and several ribs. I even had two teeth knocked out. Physically, I am a much different person than I was before. Even though I have had physical therapy for a very long time, I still cannot do many things that I used to be able to do. I can walk but not like I used to because of my pelvis. My right fingers on my hand curl up and won't straighten unless I straighten them with my other hand. My right elbow and shoulder are not like my left elbow and shoulder are. My doctor considers me permanently disabled. I do know how lucky I am that I made it. Most people wouldn't have come this far. Who do I have to thank? Of course, I definately thank all the doctors and nurses for all their hard work. I also thank my husband and kids for giving me a reason to fight so hard. I think I fought sooooo hard to live for them. Kids definately need their mother and a husband definately needs his wife for love and support. Plus, my mother needs her daughter for love and support. I am sooooo glad I was able to live and be all these for my family!!! Besides all this, I am young (thirty years old) and still have alot to left do. How am I doing now you may be asking. Ok, but nowhere like I used to be. I have lost my memory (all of it). I have no memory of saying those magic words "I do" to my husband. I have been pregnant three times and have no memory of being pregnant at all. The only thing I remember is with my first one I had no pain medication at all and felt all the pain. Other than the labor pains and morning sickness I enjoyed being pregnant. I am very lucky to have been pregnant again. Even though we didn't plan on our last one, he definately is a blessing. I was able to deliver natural (which is a true blessing in itself). If you have any questions for me to answer you can write me back atfordf@linkline.com and I will try to answer them for you.
The worst day of my life was 11/21/96. I had just left our house and was on my way to pick up our kids from school, but I never got there. My car was severely rear-ended by some bozo who didn't care to obey the posted traffic signs (40 mph), let alone use common sense. It had been raining badly all day and instead of driving slower like she should have, she chose to drive much faster. The police estimate she had been driving at least 65 mph. Upon the collision, my car went head-on into the center median which is lined with large palm trees. The front of my car hit a palm tree, then spun around and hit another. In the end, my car landed on top of the bozo's car. Don't worry about her, she only broke a finger and got a speeding ticket.