Congrats to you and the others celebrating making it thus far.
It was memorial weekend for me 7 years ago when I just couldn't get up one
morning. I don't remember any of it, just what my roomie told me. I couldnt
move, was in pain, rushed to the hospital where I went into respetory arrest
and slipped into a coma. 6 days and 3 hospitals later I was diagnosed with
encephalomyelitis. After a month in a coma, I awoke on a ventilator and
couldnt move even my neck. I thought it was a dream. Months and tons of rehab
later, I was able to move my shoulders then arms.
I am pretty good with my life and making the most of it, but have a hard time
calling it an anniverary. I know we should celebrate the fact we've mad it
through but it's not one memory of getting ill, coming out of a coma and full
on paralysis to a para, but it seems almost every spring I have something
wrong. It was shortly before memorial weekend last year when I broke my back
from having osteomyelitis that i didn't know I had until after my back snapped
just pulling myself into my chair. I had 3 spinal surgers, have rods from T7
into my pelvis. I can't bend my back and feel like I am moving backwards
again. Here I am spring again and need another spinal surgery from a screw that
moved through my vertebrae and is rubbing the one above. He is going to put
more rods in from at least T4. I am now fearing losing the independence I
worked to hard to gain. I know I will be in less pain and have my life but
it's so much harder knowing it might
happened instead of it just happening. I woke up from the coma paralyzed and
with the spinal surgery, I had no idea that I was going to be this bad. I just
knew I needed surgery with no warning of how difficult movement was going to
be.
I've gotten to the point that when spring comes around, I have a hard time
celebrating life but wondering what is going to happen this time? Another year
of school missed? If i need help, will I be able to get it since it's so hard
to get it now? Will I be able to drive my van since the floor doesnt have a
cut out big enough for an easy lock and too old to have the work done and be
paid for?
Not to be a pity on anyones party just some rambling and thoughts. Don't get
me wrong, I am grateful for how much I do have and know first hand of how bad
it can be. I haven't told anyone my thoughts except for you all. I guess I
try to stay so strong for everyone else around me.
Stacy
----- Original Message ----
From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: quad-list@eskimo.com
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2008 7:04:27 PM
Subject: [QUAD-L] Another anniversary....
it was a warm spring night back in 1967.......... aaaahhhh the good ol' days
of being ten feet tall and bullet proof. I know a few of you have been there,
done that, bought the t-shirt, wore it out. for the new guy, I got a little
more return each day for about the 1st year. since then, I've been on steady
hold- no gains but more importantly, no major losses. what helped me through
was a good woman whom I dated a few times in high school before my sci, and 3
wonderful kids to keep me busy. I finished college at Wayne State Univ. in
Detroit in '72 and came out to Arizona in '74 to escape the cold and seek my
fortune. I taught high school for a few years and then worked as a programmer
for Honeywell for 25 years before they gave my job away to India. Now I'm
retired and burning up my retirement pension waiting for 65 when I'll have to
switch over to my 401k. I sure hope the market turns back up so I can pump it
up a bit more b/4 I
tap into it. what happens to us in life is not nearly so important as what we
do about it. Sure this whole sci thing sucks and is definitely a bad deal,
but what one does with the cards he is dealt is what makes all the difference.
We quads are tough, no doubt about it - now go out and prove to yourself and
everyone else that it isn't the end - you can still make some good lemonade out
of this mess. Congrats to you all for making it as far as you have. Success
is just a whole bunch of small victories strung together. Slip through those
days like I slipped through May 24th..... I was so busy I forgot all about it
being my 41st milestone.
AZDave When God Closes a Door, Somewhere He Opens a Window
DAVEOCONNELL.COM
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