ESSAYS
We Will Find a Way
"...I tried to shield Vaughn from the circus that was going on behind the scene. He had enough to deal with and I didn't want to expose him to all of the challenges I was facing on a daily basis. I tried to be positive and the face of hope for him, but some days were a struggle."
To read the post in its entirety click here: We will Find a Way
The Turning Point
"... But the twilight hike I took on this night, in June of 2013, was different.
I was with the same friends-only four of us on this particular hike-but inside
I felt uneasy."
To read the post in its entirety click here: The Turning Point
The Goodbye
"...I ached for him thinking about the emptiness he would feel when we left. I figured that this would be yet another sad day in our version of a “series of unfortunate events.”
To read the post in its entirety click here: The Goodbye
Another Milestone
"...In the beginning stages after Vaughn was discharged from the hospital, we couldn't even leave the house. Vaughn had an electric wheelchair, but no van to transport him in. The only time he left the house was if he had a doctor’s appointment. We called the “County Connection”-the van service for people with disabilities-and they would pick us up and drop us off."
To read the post in its entirety click here: Another Milestone
Determination
"...By the time Vaughn got home he had tightened up. He was worn out, exhausted, and his muscles ached all over. As always, he squeezed and churned every ounce of effort during his work out. He gave it his all with nothing to spare."
To read the post in its entirety click here: Determination
Live in The Tao
"...Eventually the forest, in all its glory, becomes a mosaic of various colors, shapes, and sizes; a masterpiece of life and vitality. But there comes a time when the resources and space available to keep growth unfettered, is diminished. In a matter of time, the forest begins to suffocate from the overgrown foliage that is choking its existence."
To read this post in its entirety click here: Live in The Tau
Reflections
"...As I got to the latter part of 2012, I noticed that there were fewer pictures. There were no more soccer, softball, or diving pictures. Gone were photos from the family golf outings or pool-side vacations."
To read the post in its entirety click here: Reflections
...in Sickness and in Health
"...The fact is we all have choices…both the able-bodied and the injured. We can leave and unchain ourselves from all of the responsibilities that comes with a catastrophic injury, or we can stay and choose the path of endurance, effort, loyalty, and commitment.
To read the post in its entirety click here: ...in Sickness and in Health
The Story of The Prince and The Princess
Caregiving
"...Caregivers are the beacon of light in someone's world, which may be
laced in darkness, loneliness, and desperation."
To read the post in its entirety click here: Caregiving
A Day In The Life
"...We spend our evenings watching TV and getting real snug,
and when the kids sign off for bed we still give them a kiss and a hug."
To read the post in its entirety click here: A Day in The Life
Jimmy Fallon...Chasing The Dream
"During the long stretch when we were unable to get out of the house and do meaningful things, we at least had Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers to look forward to."
To read the post in its entirety click here: Jimmy Fallon...Chasing The Dream
The "It" Factor
"...I didn’t know what they could be talking about for this long, but what I did know was this was the most nervous I had ever been my entire life."
To read the post in its entirety click here: The "It" Factor
The Visit
"...It had been two-and-a-half months since his accident and at this point he had
some movement in his legs, but no movements in his arms or hands.
When I say no movements---I mean no movements."
To read the post in its entirety click here: The Visit
Gemutlichkeit
"...I was immediately catapulted into a world from which I had just recently emerged.
Those emotions and feelings that I recently filed away, quickly rose to the surface.
I was overwhelmed with fear and the uncertainty of how this would all play out.
I wasn’t ready for this."
To read this post in its entirety click here: Gemutlichkeit
"...I was immediately catapulted into a world from which I had just recently emerged.
Those emotions and feelings that I recently filed away, quickly rose to the surface.
I was overwhelmed with fear and the uncertainty of how this would all play out.
I wasn’t ready for this."
To read this post in its entirety click here: Gemutlichkeit
2nd Year
"...A year ago, I dreaded the mark of the first anniversary. I knew my mind would be overwhelmed with painful thoughts of a day I wish had never happened. I would re-live each hour, and all the horror that struck each member of my family, and most especially my husband."
To read the post in its entirety click here: 2nd Year
Don't Put Your Life...
"...Antibiotic resistance is a widespread problem, and according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 'one of the world's most pressing public health problems.' This year it is estimated that 23,000 people will die from the effects of superbugs. What’s scary? My husband was the victim of a recurring superbug infection which led to septic shock and nearly cost him his life."
To read this post in its entirety click here: Don't Put Your Life and The Life of Others at Risk
To read this post in its entirety click here: Don't Put Your Life and The Life of Others at Risk
The Marathon
"...It was as if we were characters in the book, 'The Divine Comedy';
stuck on the first circle of The Inferno, desperately trying to pull ourselves out.
Yet like Dante, we were 'falling into a deep place where the sun is silent.'"
To read the post in its entirety click here: The Marathon
The SCI Patient
":..They are committed to some level of normalcy in a world that is often lonely, and that which has been stripped of movement, convenience, spontaneity, and fitting-in."
To read the post in its entirety click here: The Sci Patient
A Gift For Swede
"...They shake hands, comb hair, and steer the family car.
They paint walls, hammer nails, and open a wound-tight jar."
To read the post in its entirety click here: A Gift for Swede
A Dove's Tale
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"...I found creative ways to spy on her and track progress, whether it was attaching a mirror to my selfie stick or leaning out the upstairs bedroom window to catch a sight from up above." To read the post in its entirety click here: A Dove's Tale |
Dear Dad
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"...Your encouragement, presence, commitment, and security helped me develop self-confidence, self-worth, and the warmth of unconditional love. To read the post in its entirety click here: Dear Dad |
A Christmas Story
"...Forty-five minutes later the kids were still up playing with their grandfather and I was still urging them to get to bed. My Dad, better known as 'Grampy' to all the grand kids, is the consummate jokester, and instigator of child’s play. He turns everything into a game and has a knack for bringing out the fun in any situation, sometimes when the adults would rather he didn’t."
To read this post in its entirety click here: A Christmas Story
To read this post in its entirety click here: A Christmas Story
Awareness
"...When someone loses a loved one or has seen a loved one
suffer due to an affliction or a disease, that affliction or disease is
now a part of their world, their vocabulary, their efforts,and their cause."
To read this post in its entirety click here: Awareness
What Matters
"...But what was special was the epiphany each of them had about what really matters. Sometimes it's the small and simple things shared with those that we love, that can give us the most gratification."
To read the post in its entirety click here: What Matters
Hope, Believe, Trust
"...Without a doubt that statement has held true for me. It's easy to believe, it's even easier to hope, but the struggle comes with trust. It takes time. It takes proof. It takes a leap of faith."
To read the post in its entirety click here: Hope, Believe, Trust
Use and Abuse
"...Do you realize that as of November of 2013 there are over 500,000 issued Handicap placards in the Bay Area alone? It’s as if there are more handicap placards than there are parking spaces. Are there really that many people who are in need of those spaces or has the poorly-designed system lured in fakes and abusers?"
To read the post in its entirety click here: Use and Abuse
A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed
"...After living through an unimaginable ordeal myself, I want to take all the good things that I learned and observed and pay it forward to the next person who is in need. There were some people who were absolute stand-outs, who made each of my days, and that of my family, a little easier than the day before. They are the people I want to emulate..."
To read the post in its entirety click here: A Friend In Need
To read the post in its entirety click here: A Friend In Need
The Joys of Tradition
"...Traditions help bridge yesterday to today and today to tomorrow. Traditions are important in that they unite and bring people together, which is something I don’t take for granted, now more than ever..
To read the post in its entirety click here: Joys of Tradition
Nifty Fifty
"...I remember my Grandpa Rudy telling me once that he thought the best age to be is 55!
I asked him why, and he said because at 55 you are young enough to enjoy life,
and old enough not to care what others think or say. So 50? No biggie, right?
I still have 5 more years before I am supposed to have the best year of my life!"
To read the post in its entirety click here: Nifty Fifty
How You Can be Helpful
"...My husband spent a grand total of 111 days in the hospital, of which I was with him all but one day. Over the course of his stay, I came to appreciate some things that helped him as well as me navigate through this difficult chapter in our lives."
To read the post in its entirety click here: How You Can be Helpful
An Affirmation for Those That Hurt
"...What is instructed is one’s understanding of the
paradoxes of life:what starts with breaking down can end with building up;
what originates with loss can terminate with gain;
what begins in fear can come to its conclusion with love."
To read the post in its entirety click here: An Affirmation for Those that Hurt
God Bless Isla Vista
"...For all impacted by this heinous tragedy, the bell can't be un-rung. The horrific details are imprinted on everyone's mind. The damage is done. We need to do all we can, whatever it takes, to protect our children and never allow this to happen again."
To read the post in its entirety click here: God Bless Isla Vista