My Husband IS Amazing

7 YEARS AGO TODAY life took a very dramatic change of direction for Mike and me. From this vantage point it's gone by quickly, yet in another sense I feel every bit of it. Today as Mike and I were walking on the sidewalk I thought of all he had been through and yet here he was walking. I cannot imagine the amount of pain he has endured all of these years. He really is amazing. From the initial accident with all of his injuries to subsequent falls, a broken nose, multiple skin tears, breaking the same femur but a different location, multiple hospital stays, 3 different homes with me, plus the confinement of 4 different facilities. It amazes me how strong he remains and how he has the ability to persevere and work through the pain with a mind that cannot function properly. He is a strong man.

At this time of day seven years ago, I was sitting in a hospital waiting room with a few friends while Mike underwent emergency surgery. I had no idea how bad his injuries were or that 7 years later we would still be living with the effects. I am so glad that we only have to live one day at a time and that we do not know what the future holds. One day is doable and after making it through that one, the next comes and God's strength is sufficient for that one also. I remember thinking somewhere in the 2nd or 3rd year mark that I'd never be able to make it year after year and prayed God would work a miracle. I believe the miracle is learning that God is there second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, and as we focus on Him we continue to move. It may not always be forward, but we are moving and He is there to hold us, pick us up, carry us or pull us along and provide what is needed at the present time.  

During these 7 years, I have no idea what God and Mike have talked about, but I have talked with God a whole lot about a whole lot! I've cried, begged, pleaded, yelled, wept, been silent, questioned, thanked, praised, and rested with Him. I've also been challenged and grown in my understanding of who He is and who I am. I've learned how HUGE He is and how small I am. I've learned He is sovereign and His ways are always best and He doesn't have to explain anything to me. He doesn't owe me anything. I've come to love His word, the Bible, and the blinders are coming off more and more as I dig deeper and open my heart to hear what He has to say. I know that I can trust Him completely for He is in control, He is awesome, He is Sovereign, the Almighty One, He is HOLY and He loves fiercely. 

I do still feel sorry for my husband and long for him to be healed or home with his Lord, yet I will trust God's timing. He is God and I am not. I am thankful for what God has done in my life as a result of this trauma. I don't want to go back to who I was and how I believed 7 years ago. Growth has happened due to pain and that is a very good thing.

I also appreciate all of the prayers and support from our family and friends. You have been God's hands and feet to us and a huge part of our story. I love you all.

James 1:2-4 & 12

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, 

whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 

Let perseverance finish its work so that 

you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

For anyone who does not know what happened to Mike, here's what I wrote on CaringBridge the day after the trauma began:

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikerice

Site created on April 26, 2012

Wednesday afternoon, April 25, Mike went out to run as is his routine around 4:30pm. Evidently he ran in front of a woman as she was driving down the road and she could not avoid him. He was hit and rolled on the hood of her truck before striking the road. According to the policeman, she did some very quick thinking and turned to the right so that when he fell on the road she did not run over him. 

He is in critical condition. The injuries that they know of so far are: badly broken bones below the knee on both legs that were open wounds (the left suffered more soft tissue damage and is of more concern), broken right femur, broken left ribs, collapsed left lung, and there is bleeding on the brain. They believe he will not need brain surgery at this point - the blood should resolve or whatever you call it.  A bolt was put into his head to relieve the pressure and to monitor the pressure. He is intubated and has a chest tube but they are hopeful that he will be able to breath on his own very soon.  Because he is in such great physical condition, they are very hopeful for lots of things but kept telling me they can't guarantee anything, of course. There is the possibility of infection,  especially in his legs.

Last night after they got him stabilized, I was able to quickly go see him before they took him to surgery. He was taken into the OR around 7:30pm by the orthopedic surgeon to try to thoroughly cleanse the open wounds on his lower legs and put external devices on his legs with pins that go through the skin to the bone to set and stabilize the bones as much as possible.  This took approx. 2 hours and Mike came through it well. There are multiple fractures in both lower legs and he had lost a lot of blood.  If all goes well, later they will go in and place rods in his legs. 

He was put into an ICU room around 11pm and about 12:30pm I was able to go see him. Of course, right now he is in a drug induced coma and they plan to keep him that way for at least a couple of days.

Thanks so much for all the prayers!!  I know prayer warriors have been busy, because I felt such peace and calm throughout the afternoon and evening.

Our church family came out in force - you are wonderful West Fay. Baptist!!!  Thank you so much! I'll try to keep you posted. Love you all! Jennifer

A Fantastical Day

Just recently, we started having an additional caregiver come stay with Mom which allows me a bit more freedom two days a week. On April 9th I packed a whole lot in and enjoyed a fantastical day. Betty arrived about 8:15 and within 15 minutes I was on my way to Appomattox. My car was on empty, but I prayed it would get me to Crewe and it did. Praise God! The rest of the drive was absolutely gorgeous as the purple blossoms of the Redbud trees were in full display along the sides of the road and I oooed and ahhhed my way along.

Once in Appomattox, I found Mike sound asleep in his reclining wheelchair. I could not wake him at all. So I decided to roll him around and found that everyone was headed to the dining room to listen to singing. Mike and I joined them, although he slept through about 40 minutes of the hour program. It was a gospel singing group that were very joyous and straightforward in their love for Jesus and I enjoyed singing along with the songs I knew. Mike woke in the last 15 minutes or so and looked around like he couldn't figure out where in the world he was. His eyes seemed clearer than usual as he looked at me quizzically and all around the room. After about 5 minutes of this, he started to get a little antsy and then right when the group finished their concert, one of the women came over and prayed for Mike and me. She and I held hands and put our hands on Mike. She prayed a beautiful, passionate prayer for God's will to be done.

With so many people in the dining room, there was a traffic jam of wheelchairs to maneuver through or move before I could get Mike out. By this time, Mr. Omm was in full control and Mike was pulling up his left left leg and rocking back and forth. I quickly rolled him down the hall and got his walker and he popped up easily. I told him I had a banana in the car for him so we stopped at the car and I got the banana. I asked Mike if he wanted to walk or go straight to the deck and eat his banana. He didn't answer but was just staring at the banana and then blurted out "I want that!" Alrighty then! We were able to take a good walk after he consumed the banana. It was the only sentence of the day, but I'm always happy when he is verbal, even if it isn't much.

The nurses said one day he clearly blurted out "I want cheese!" It was so unexpected and clear and they were thrilled to go get something he wanted. Last night I called to see how he was and the nurse told me he had sung "Only You" clear as could be. That's a new one! The two times I had been there after our anniversary, he was antsy and totally not speaking other than the ommm. We never know from moment to moment or visit to visit what he might say or do. This next one is on me though...It has not been easy to brush his teeth because he's moving all the time, so a few weeks ago I had the bright idea to use a wash cloth and see if I could sort-of scrub his teeth. Well, if you've ever seen the little video ("Ow, Charlie bit my finger!") of the 2 little boys and one sticks his finger in the other one's mouth and gets bit....yeah, well....thankfully I had the washcloth doubled over my finger!

Anyway, back to April 9. I left Mike later than I wanted to, but arrived just in time for the last lesson of our Job Bible study which I didn't want to miss. It was a wonderful video series by Dr. Derek Thomas. In the last lesson I loved how he wove the book of James into the book of Job. He spoke of how it's really not the patience of Job (he does lose patience with his friends and even God's silence throughout the course of the book), but rather the steadfastness of Job. Job stood strong in believing that God is Sovereign and that nothing could touch him that God didn't will. We can trust God completely through whatever comes our way.

I left Bible study, picked up my friend, Nancy, and we joined about 15 other ladies at church for a scone-making demonstration by a representative of King Arthur flour. It was loads of fun, educational, and we ended up with something delicious to eat and take home. I usually think of scones as slightly sweet, but this time tried savory using cheese and chives and they were yummy.

After that I ran into town to pick up Mom's medicine and a few groceries and came home. It was a full day but a wonderful day and I so enjoyed each part while knowing that Mom was in good hands.

Last week I had the privilege of going to Ohio to see Mike's Mom while my sister, Gayle was here. Mom R. and I enjoyed visiting, plus I enjoyed a long walk with a former co-worker/friend, Gail, and a former neighbor/friend, Joanna. Blessings abound.

I hope you have each had a wonderful celebration of Christ's resurrection today. Mom and I went to church and then enjoyed a quiet, restful afternoon and evening.

Matthew 28:5&6

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid,

for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."