In The Blink of an Eye
Even the most everyday, mundane things can make a
major change in a person’s life. Take for instance
that one enjoyable evening with friends that turned
into an emergency room nightmare that never seems to
end. I was driving a friend home after a get together
with other friends. As we drove along, I saw a
shining green light at an intersection. The road
looked clear, so I proceeded to drive through. Then,
out of nowhere, as if dropped from the sky, a truck
crossed my path; the impact of the two vehicles broke
the silence of the night. My passenger, not wearing
her seatbelt, was thrown forward smashing the
dashboard. She was then hurled into the windshield.
The next thing I knew, she had careened into my right
side crushing me against the driver’s side door, this
internal collision damaging my hip, arms, and back.
In the midst of all of this, both of my knees came
into forceful contact with the steering column. A
deafening silence then filled the interior of the car
as the twisted metal, shattered glass, engine smoke,
and road dust settled into the intersection.
Time seemed motionless until emergency personnel
arrived. The car doors were forcibly opened before
tentative assessment of injuries and transport to a
hospital could be made. My stay in the hospital
emergency room minimal, compared to the hell ride that
followed.
The days, weeks, months, and years that ensued
brought extensive physical therapy and psychological
counseling into my life. Physically and mentally, the
road to recovery continues to be an ongoing process.
The initial therapy for my knees, back, neck, and arm
injuries lasted two years, with a wheelchair ride
lasting over two months and surgery on both knees.
All of that intertwined with time spent utilizing a
walker, crutches, and finally a cane, which still
comes in handy from time to time some four years
later. Things are much better now, but simple
pleasures like hiking, swimming, and bicycle riding
are seldom experienced. These things are a challenge
to do, however, just being able to walk a mile or two
now is a thrill. Mentally, posttraumatic stress,
depression, and a general anxiety disorder, all of
which had never touched my life before, have now come
to be constant companions. All the physical and
psychological problems a continuous reminder of how
quickly and easily life can change.
Because of these unforeseen stressors, I have learned
how fragile the human spirit can be, and how easily it
can be broken. Only with time and the right help can
the human spirit have any hope of being salvaged.
This is the main reason that I decided to go back to
school and train to become a counselor. I want to be
able to help those that have had the misfortune of
experiencing the heartache of a spirit broken by
unanticipated circumstances. The everyday activity of
driving a car changed my perception of just being, and
from personal experiences, I really feel that I will
be able to help someone in the same type of position
and turn their life around.
Gobnait
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