I give thanks
More than a dozen fractures later and a sprinkling of internal injuries, I feel great.
The cast on my right arm was the last visible evidence of the car crash.
It went last week - with the sling on my left shoulder and the brace on my teeth. The metal rod in my left leg is doing it's weight-bearing work and everything else has healed well.
I am out in the big wide world, spreading my slightly wobbly wings.
Two months down the track, I'm mulling over lessons learned along the way.
What did I learn?
That people are by nature empathetic.
How to ask for help.
How to accept things I cannot change.
To be immensely grateful to friends and family who came to see me, nurtured me, encouraged me, organised my life, brought me treats and contributed dollars.
To be amazed by the skills shown by the medical team at Whangarei Base Hospital that patched me up.
To appreciate the work of physios, nurses and nurse assistants, nutritionists, kind admin people, occupational therapists and those kind people who run Whanau House, allowing my daughters to stay close.
To appreciate the efforts of the hospital chef who carefully moulded pureed protein to look like a lamb chop!
To relish the sun.
To acknowledge each small progressive step along the way.
That standing can be frightening but once you can do that, climbing stairs is not far off
There are times when you cannot sensibly ask for non-mRNA vaccinated blood and to have a sense of humour about the ridiculousness of that request at the time.
To appreciate ACC for outstanding response and action.
To acknowledge the police, Victim Support and my insurance company for trying their hardest to help.
To thank local businesses who said ‘we don't want to charge you’.
To accept that big goals - eating chocolate, getting back in my kayak and enjoying horses again - are more motivating than being able to do housework.
I don’t know the name of the woman who faces charges relating to the crash. I imagine she is still living with her own demons while I am nearly free of mine.
My first questions were answered.
Ia, 14, sitting next to me in the passenger seat, was alright.
It wasn’t my fault.
Those were the two things that helped the healing, together with an outstanding public health system and the support of family and friends.
I give thanks.
Trust you to dig deep with your reflection and turn this in to gratitude (and with a sense of humour). Wow, that is amazing healing in a short time. First standing up, then walking, then stairs - mountains here I come!!!!
Big hugs
So so glad to get this update from you, Keri ! Well done for getting your amazing healing abilities in motion... was getting quite emotional reading this (and chuckled about your blood request, aren't we living in crazy times?!) Welcome back, your inspiration here and in the world out there is still very much needed. 💛