Login Register Sign up for the GRM e-newsletter

Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » 3 Years Ago Today
  • slefain

    May 21, 2008 8:53 a.m. slefain Dork

    I'm not sure why I'm posting this. Maybe someone here needs to read it.

    Three years ago today I survived a head-on collision with a drunk driver. I was going to propose to my wife that day, instead I spent five days in the hospital, 8 weeks at home in a walker, 8 months learning to walk again with a cane, and some of the hardest days of my life in between. It's only been 3 years but it seems like forever ago. I gave my life to the Lord only 2 weeks before the wreck, baptised along with all the little kids on Palm Sunday (a funny site I'm sure). I never doubted that I would be alright after the wreck, a feeling I'd never had before in my life. I've forgiven the man who hit me, even though I'll never see him to tell him so. I rarely think about the wreck anymore, or even notice that my leg bone is lumpy, or the screw head bumps in my ankle, or that my shoulder is missing half an inch of width. My wife thinks the scars are sexy. I don't flinch anymore when a car is coming towards me, or have panic attacks on blind curves. I don't remember what it feels like to need a cane.

    I'm not the same person I was 3 years and 10 hours ago. I'm a better person.

  • Wally

    May 21, 2008 9:11 a.m. Wally SuperDork

    slefain wrote: My wife thinks the scars are sexy.

    They are man, chicks dig scars. I'm glad you were able to get back to normal. A few weeks ago I visited my wife at work in the hospital I was in. It seemed like It was so long ago the I was there (it was about 1.5 years) ,but some of the people I saw were suprised that I was back to normal.

  • DILYSI Dave

    May 21, 2008 9:11 a.m. DILYSI Dave PowerDork

    Plus, Baxter gave you your animated gif back, so win-win.

  • fastEddie

    May 21, 2008 9:18 a.m. fastEddie Dork

    Cool story. Nice to hear these types of things, helps us all keep things in perspective. Glad you're doing fine now.

  • Mental

    May 21, 2008 10:38 a.m. Mental UltraDork

    fastEddie wrote: Cool story. Nice to hear these types of things, helps us all keep things in perspective. Glad you're doing fine now.
    I agree, I always thought you had a great approach to this. Hate will eat you up, and you avatar is just awesome.

    It would seem the Lord has rewarded your suffering with a awesome wife who likes you look, although I am certian your attitude has a lot to do with the attraction.

    Good on ya, we should all be so blessed as to have you attitude, even without the injury. It reminds me that I whine to much about stupid stuff.

  • nickel_dime

    May 21, 2008 2:30 p.m. nickel_dime HalfDork

    I know exactly how you feel. At about the same time frame I had a kid going way too fast lost it, crossed the dotted line and took me out. The x-ray of my right leg looks just like yours (including the rod and screws) plus I have nerve damage in the left foot. Spent 3 months in a wheelchair, a month on crutches and forever on a cane. I still have to use the cane when I'm going to be walking a lot. The main thing that saved my life was I happened to be wearing a 5 point racing harness. I broke the spokes of the steering wheel on impact and the spear that was the steering column was pointed straight at my chest.

    I too have forgiven the kid (but it took a while) and have basicly a normal life. Still have some pain and have to watch where I walk, my since of balance isn't the greatest, but I'm back into racing and doing everything I used to do. I couldn't have made it without the love and help of my girlfriend. We have since broken up but remain close friends.

    It's incidents like this that make you realize just how fragile life really is and the need to enjoy life while you have it. Enjoy time with your friends, laugh often and don't sweat the small stuff. Life is too short to go around mad all the time and you never know when it will be gone.

  • Tim Baxter

    May 21, 2008 2:33 p.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

    I woulda voted your post up more than once if I could.

  • grtechguy

    May 22, 2008 5:40 a.m. grtechguy Dork

    I love hearing stories like this. (well, not the part about you getting hurt)

    But, to hear about how people overcome struggles in life

  • GlennS

    May 22, 2008 3:28 p.m. GlennS Reader

    amazing. Was wondering what the story behined the avatar was.

 

You'll need to log in to post.