The past month has been filled with many emotions and thoughts. The more I am able to read and understand my past 8 months, my thoughts are amazing, filled with thoughts of praises. The time from the accident in FL until we left 6 weeks later, I don’t remember any of those events during that time. However, my understanding of Gary’s writing about our story during those days are teaching me about what happened.
The beginning of our story began 2/27 when a young man was driving his truck. He broke the law with his truck and hit both of us as we walked in a crosswalk. As I learn more about that accident, I believe I would have died from the injury. Yet, the first gift from God to me brought appropriate help that saved my life. The ambulance was there immediately and took me to a hospital with critical medical care. The surgeons took me to surgery immediately to provide the necessary treatment to my brain. If the hospital was not able to provide immediate surgery, I would have died in a very short time. My brain was bleeding so much from the hurt, my brain would have filled with blood and would have swollen so much it would have ended my life. The surgeons provided the necessary operation to my head to save my life. For days, I was in intensive care. They took me to additional surgery treatment to provide the care I needed.
As the hospital cared for me, they took multiple CT-scans and X-rays to know how my body and brain were doing in their care. Even as I was awake sometimes, I did not know or understand anything. I didn’t know my name or Gary’s name. The staff told Gary that I would need care for many months in FL. Gary wanted to take us back to MN, our state, for ongoing care. He faithfully told many people about my situation, asking for prayer every day. He also talked with our adult children, Alyx and Marc. On March 12, Alyx created a post to many family and friends, asking them to pray and support a GoFundMe fundraiser. Now that I am able to read and understand more responses from many loving people, I am overwhelmed by the huge number of those who responded to our needs. There are many names that I now recognize as well as many people who chose anonymous as they provided for our needs. My heart is overwhelmed by the prayers and financial gifts from hundreds of people.
The last 3 days in FL are the only days that I have any remembrance about. Gary called with our life long friend Joe, who helped us find a plane to bring us to MN. Gary made many phone calls to make this possible. We had just the right money in the GoFundMe to pay for the medical plane. The hospital staff provided care for me, helping me to walk with their help. This made a Minneapolis Rehab Hospital okay to continue care for me. April 4, we flew to Minneapolis. I was in the hospital in FL from 2/27 - 4/4. The only thoughts I remember about their care for me is the final 3 days. I still could not say my name or Gary’s name, but I was excited to fly away to a place that Gary cared for me in a more familiar hospital.
Arriving in a hospital in Minneapolis was exciting for me. It was an interesting experience from 4/4 - 4/25. The doctors, nurses, and treatment staff worked with me every day. I could feel progress through my legs, arms, eyes, ears, head, and also with eating so I would not need the tube in my stomach. My brain did not seem to learn anything. I recognized faces of family, friends, and staff, but I could not remember or say any names. By the end of my hospitalization, I could tell my first name, but couldn’t say my last name, my birthday, my home, or anything. I didn’t understand why I wasn't learning through my brain. Gary continued updates to many people who continued to pray for my care. My heart was blessed every day as I knew many people continued to pray for me.
Going home on 4/25 was wonderful. I was happy to recognize the drive to our home. I could’t say names of streets or our address, but I was happy to be home with Gary. I began new treatment because Courage Kenny Golden Valley agreed to provide further treatment for me. Over the months, the staff has been helpful, kind, and wonderful to me. As time passed with each teacher, they encouraged me to be stronger. My legs, arms, and eyes became stronger and I enjoyed many activities. The part of my body that has remained most challenging is my brain, to understand words through talking and reading. Through many conversations about my brain, Gary has been helpful as he as shown his past stories. I began to understand the loss in my brain, caused by the accident. Ct-scans have pictures of my brain and part of the left side of my brain is black and empty. Beginning to understand the loss in my brain has helped me understanding why I have such challenges in this part of my body. The more I understand the loss to my brain, the more I am amazed by God’s gift to me and his response to all the prayers from many of you. It seems that God continues my growing each week. I don’t know how God will continue to improve the use of my brain, but I feel over blessed by God’s gift to me. This story that started 2/27 could have had a very different outcome. God’s gift to me, as well as each of you give me a wonderful story to share to each person.
There are several books that I read every day to continue to learn and understand words. A recent reading touches my heart. “Lord, I have gone to you for safety. Let me never be put to shame. You do what is right, so save me and help me. Pay attention to me and save me. Be my rock of safety that I can always go to... You are my rock and my fort… You are the King and the Lord. You have always been my hope. I have trusted in you ever since I was young. From the time I was born I have depended on you. You brought me out of my mother’s body. I will praise you forever. To many people I am an example of how much you care. You are my strong place of safety. My mouth is filled with praise for you. All day long I will talk about your glory... But I will always have hope. I will praise you more and more. I will tell other people about all the good things you have done.” Psalm 71:1-3, 5-8, 14-15.
