A little while ago, I posted a blog about my struggle with depression. I have gotten a ton of feedback about it...all positive. I want to thank every last one of you who have reached out & shown your concern. Every day is another battle to be won, but I'm getting there.
Today, I picked my dad up after his therapy session. He has a head injury and is in an intensive program, every day, all day, where they work with him to try to get him back to normal...well, as normal as he can be. Anyone who knows my dad knows what I mean by that. LOL. Anyway, my mom, Abby and I walked in to wait for him, and there was a young girl in a wheel chair. Upon first glance, she looked to be in her mid-teens (I found out later that she was 19). A short time after that, a man walked in, and he was so personable. He walked over, introduced himself to everyone and just started chatting away. It was like an informal therapy group, and they shared their stories with us.
First, his story...he was working at Aria Bucks (local hospital for all of my out-of-town readers)...or as most of the people in this area will probably always call it, Frankford Bucks (the Frankford system was bought out a few years ago and renamed Aria). He was working on the outside of the hospital (I think he was working on a scaffold or a cherry picker), and he had a massive stroke (you would NEVER have known by the way he talked). He told us that he was basically hanging over the side, limp. He was in the hospital for 5 1/2 months, the first 18 hours, his temperature was over 108 degrees! For those who don't know, that's BAD, very BAD. He had numerous procedures done, and he said that he's not allowed to work anymore because of this.
Next, was the girl. She was 17 and was in an accident (I didn't really hear what kind). She had just gotten her permit, so it could have been a car accident, but I'm not sure. She's had numerous surgeries on her brain, the last one was a cranioplasty to repair her skull. She had to have part of her skull removed because of the swelling in her brain. It was only now, 2 years later, that she was able to have it repaired. She is also going to be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. I can't even imagine being 17 years old and in a wheel chair! At 17, I was a senior in high school, in the school plays and hanging out with my friends every chance I got. Those days are supposed to be some of the best in your life, not filled with fear and dealing with the fact that you may never walk again.
The last person I met is nothing short of a miracle. This woman is in my dad's group. She had some trouble with her speech, but nothing that you wouldn't expect from where we were. I found out that this woman survived not one, but TWO brain aneurysms with in a span of 24 hours! For those not familiar with this...this is just amazing. ONE brain aneurysm is tough to deal with, but TWO?? In 24 HOURS?? Wow, she's got my utmost respect.
When I got home, the reality of what I had learned today started to sink in. Don't get me wrong, I am not downplaying my own or anyone else's condition, but meeting these 3 people today really made me step back and look at my life. My problems are still my own, and yes, I am going to fret over them, that part is never going to go away, for me or for anyone. However, it made me realize that, while I'm concerned over the problems in my life, I also have a ton to be grateful for.
I have an amazing little girl, who I love more than life itself. I am able to see her every day, hear her sweet little voice (when I say little, I mean, she really does have a little voice), take her out for a walk, or a drive, or anywhere, I have all of my faculties about me. I can walk, see, hear, drive, think freely (meaning without having a problem coming up with words), and do everyday things without a problem. I also saw how well these people carried themselves. Not one of them gave the impression of "poor me, my life sucks." They all seemed to be in good spirits.
In all honesty, it was one of the most positive, enlightening experiences that I've ever had. I'm sure that they have their moments where they feel like life dealt them a crappy hand, but don't we all? It's how we live our everyday life that makes us who we are. I have to say that I fully believe that statement, and today, I found 3 new heroes who embody that statement...at least from what I saw. I hope that God gives them the strength to continue their journey with the courage that they have shown thus far. They have sure given me inspiration.
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