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Reading this gives me flashbacks of my own fall from about 45 feet, which broke my spine, pelvis, and ankle. The initial days after the surgery were confusing,
by Tronno 6y ago
Reading this gives me flashbacks of my own fall from about 45 feet, which broke my spine, pelvis, and ankle.
The initial days after the surgery were confusing, painful, and scary. If the fractures had been another half inch to the right, I would have been paralyzed for life.
Indeed, I lost control over my bowel functions, and for a few agonizing days was unclear if I would ever get them back. I learned how to insert my own catheter to avoid the embarassment of having it done for me.
The following weeks were spent wheelchair-bound in a rehab facility, where each day brought surreal new challenges, but also small increments of progress. A year later, all bodily functions have been restored, with only minor limitations.
If you have also been struck by disaster, and narrowly escaped by sheer miracle, you will understand the intense gratitude and sense of purpose that one is filled with in such circumstances.
Gratitude for all the little things that were almost taken away forever - wiggling your toes, playing a sport, walking to the store, using the toilet unassisted. Gratitude for all the help, care, and healing from medical staff, without which life would be awful and pointless.
And a deep sense of purpose, as you realize how short and fragile that life is. It is a powerful reminder to learn, build, and grow while you still have the resources and opportunity.
I think about it less as time goes on, but sometimes I will see the ground rushing at me, or glimpse a flash of the life I almost had... and it keeps me on my toes.
- iab 6y agoA sharp reminder for us all. Thanks for sharing.
- Dahoon 6y agoAfter i was cured from cancer I also got another look on life. One thing I did was get a motorcycle again and I left my girlfriend. Better to enjoy life right now than live in the future (dreaming of when/if). Now I got another girlfriend and know real love and ride motorcycles with her. Wish I woke up earlier though but better late than never!
- oumua_don17 6y agoA wise man once said “a good partner brings happiness. A bad partner brings wisdom. Take your pick and go for a ride” :)
- Dahoon 6y agoThose words match my situation exactly!
- WalterBright 6y agoMy father served in the 8th Air Force at a time when the odds of completing a tour were about 20%. The airmen had various ways of coping with this, my father's way was to simply accept that he wasn't going to make it and just do his job as best he could. He told me that after the war, whenever he felt down, he'd think about what a miracle it was he survived, and would feel better. He lived to be 93.
- chadd 6y agoInterestingly, the way the survivors have reckoned with it in the past 10-15 years at the end of their life was to build a number of monuments to their units at the 8th air force museum in Georgia. It's worth a visit.
- WalterBright 6y agoAs an old man, my dad was the beneficiary of a lot of love lavished on WW2 servicemen. He loved it. When you have the chance to say a kind word to a combat vet, be assured they'll appreciate it.
- codeproject 6y agoGod Bless Your Father. He is a great man. Gold bless you.
- WalterBright 6y agoThanks! I've often wondered what I'd do in the same situation. But my father put it as he took those risks so I wouldn't have to. I'm grateful to all our combat vets. We should never forget what they did for us.
- Infinitesimus 6y agoDo you mind sharing how that influenced your sense of purpose?
- sriacha 6y agoThank you for your story. About a year ago I had a fall from about 30 feet. Concussion, both ankles shattered, wheelchair bound for a few months. The sheer joy and gratitude at being alive after the surety of imminent death was a profound experience. I'm not sure its possible to reach that state of being unless you have been in that circumstance. As you say, it fades over time. I wish I could channel that feeling every day.