September 23, 1980...seems like a lifetime ago. You see, it was on this day at about 10 a.m. that I took my first steps after a life changing accident which had occurred two months earlier. If one were a bookie at that time, I am sure they would have said to place your money elsewhere. Why you ask? My doctors had only given my folks the odds of 5,000,000 to 1 that I would ever walk again due to the amount of massive injuries I had endured. On July 23, 1980, I was physically run over by an automobile with an estimated 60 mph impact and drug the distance of 200 feet before coming to a stop. After being freed from under the vehicle with the Jaws of Life, what the parametics encountered was a body which had been twisted completely around from the hips to the shoulders like one would ring out a wet cloth. All of my ribs had been broken on the right side, even with the spinal column accompanied by a punctured lung. My opposite shoulder blade and clavicle had been broken. T12, L-1 and L-2 had been crushed along with my left hip which had been shattered into tiny fragments. My pelvis had been broken in four places and I had a hematoma the size of a grapefruit in my rectum. My sacrum had a fracture extending the full length of it on the left side also and I had a laceration which helped my intestines bulge outside of my body. The internal specialist said it was the worst trauma he had ever witnessed. My skull had been fractured three places in the front and along the back similar to an egg being cracked open. In other words, my prognosis was not encouraging. With a tremendous amount of support from my parents and family and a ton of prayers which had been offered up on my account, some hard work and most of all the grace of God, I stood at the parallel bars in physical therapy with my mother and father at my side as I took my first steps, dragging one foot behind the other. The very next day I was given a small goodbye celebration by the therapy department at Methodist Hospital in New Orleans East and was transferred to F. Edward Hebert Rehabilitation Facility for another 4 weeks. What I remember the most about this day was the fact that it was a dear friend of mines birthday. She called to see how I was doing and before I could tell her my accomplishments for the day, she asked me how it felt to walk. I asked her how she knew and she told me earlier that day she had opened her bible and it fell to the following scripture. Acts 3:6-8King James Version (KJV) 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. You know, God really does work in strange ways...Happy birthday Sharon Reed, may your years be long and your journey blessed. And to my family, a father who pushed and a mother with compassion, brothers with a sense of humor and a sista who rubbed the one unbruised spot on my forehead, you will never fully know the depth of my love for you and the gratitude I feel.. From friends who cared enough to visit, the many anonymous blood donors, my team of First Responders, especially LaVan, to my team of doctors and the many medical personnel and everyone who played even the least role in my care...Thank You. I couldnt have made it without a single one of you. I have no doubt in my mind that every prayer which was lifted up in my behalf was heard. Ramblings about my past...
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 02:15:00 +0000
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