June 24, 2006
On this day 6 years ago I had no idea what would happen or who I would become. The day started out like any other. I was living with my cousin Molly down in Arizona for the summer and a boy had invited me to go "quading" aka "4-wheeling" with him and some friends. I'd already been on a date with him and decided I didn't really want to encourage anything, but in the end I was convinced to go since I'd never been before. Things started out fun, but then as the sun started going down the night took a turn for the worse. Most of this is just information I got from my date. Below is the 20 ft cliff he drove us off of.
It has taken me a couple years to figure out how something like this could happen, but ultimately I think it came down to the fact that he had under gone Lasik eye surgery two weeks prior and really couldn't see with the sun going down. I was knocked unconscious,I'm not sure for how long. My legs were pinned under the ATV. I had split my chin open and severely broken my right arm. Here are some glamour shots from the hospital that night.
Broken arm before they set it.
My lovely face. I'm sure I'm on drugs right here.
This is my chin, which required 7 stitches to repair.
People sometimes ask me if I have dirt on my face.
I just have to show them that it is a lovely scar.
I know a lot of you have already heard this story before, but bear with me. Physical therapy school has given me a whole new perspective on what happened to me. The past 7 weeks I've been able to work with people with various injuries and conditions. Spinal cord injuries to brain injuries to complex orthopedic (broken bones) patients.
I knew that I got out of this accident pretty easy all things considered. I didn't have a helmet on, first of all. Don't get me wrong things haven't been easy. I had some brain issues for a while. My short term memory wasn't working how it was supposed to. I would be in the middle of conversations with people and have no clue what we were just talking about. I was having problems with words. I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn't get the words to come out. I could remember the first letter of words, but not the rest of the word. It was very frustrating to me. I was only 19 and I had my whole life ahead of me. I had only completed one year of college and I wasn't sure how I was going to do well with my short term memory not working. It gave me a little insight into what my oldest brother had to deal with on a daily basis.
The next thing I think about is how did I only break my arm. Granted it was a pretty bad break and I still have problems with it today, but how did I not break my neck or my back. I went off a 20 ft cliff and obviously hit my face on the ground. How did I not get a spinal cord injury. Why was I spared? How did I get off so lucky? I've been working with so many people that have done less and ended up in a wheel chair the rest of their life.
I know that I have something great to do with my life. I know that I haven't always made the best choices. I know that I still have a long way to go before I feel ready to stand before God to be judged. But I also know that I've been able to make a difference in peoples lives. In the last six years I have lived in 15 different apartments. I've had over 50 roommates. I've lived in a dozen different wards. I've met hundreds of people. Maybe I haven't known all of them on a personal level, but I know that their life is different because I was there.
I've been so blessed to have amazing people in my life. Such great examples of love, caring, compassion, dedication, hard work....the list could go on forever. I hope that I can live up to the mission I've been sent here to accomplish.
I've been blessed to be in physical therapy school. I've been able to meet such amazing people. Even in the hardest moments of their live they are full of optimism and smiles. I'm sure they go through hard times, but they have chosen not to let it get them down. They don't take their fear out on other people. It is an amazing feeling to see that I can make a difference in someone's life. Are all my patients all smiles? No. Do all of them act like they appreciate what I'm doing for them? No. But even those who don't show it most of the time will thank me in the end when they see how far they've come. That is what makes everything worth it. I know that I'm not the sole reason they get better. I know that someone else could probably do what I'm doing 100 times better, but I feel like I've been give the chance to leave my mark on the world.
So on this 6 year anniversary I would like to thank God for the opportunities he has given me. For the chance for me to grow and learn and to experience life. I know I haven't done it perfectly, but I know that he understands and loves me for continuing to make an effort. I hope that I can continue to take advantage of this great gift and live life to its fullest. Thank you to everyone that has touched my life in the last 6 years. I am truly loved by many.
Here is to living life!
