Last year I was hit by a pickup truck while riding my bicycle to work. My spouse is really hard to get ahold of when she is at work because she is a chef and keeps her phone off. The ambulance driver took my phone and called her work as they pulled me inside.
They told me my hip, ribs and foot were broken and I was bleeding internally. The room got all white and fuzzy. I felt like I was floating above the bed. The whole thing was pretty terrifying but oddly calming at the same time? I can’t explain it.
That’s when I saw her peek her head into the room. It instantly changed my entire mindset about the situation and I kept telling myself I can’t die in front of her.
Not sure if it helped but here I am, almost a year later. I’ve ditched the wheelchair and I use a cane sometimes when I need to be on my feet for long periods, but I’m like 85% back to normal.
I had a similar story though not quite as traumatic. I got hit while riding my motorcycle to work, the guy ran. Was in the hospital with excruciating pain and almost died to asphyxiation in front of my wife. Still recovering from my broken spine but PT is helping a ton.
I’m still struggling too. A lot. I try to put on a strong face because I don’t want anyone to know how much I’ve had to struggle to regain the ability to walk. It’s been so much work and I’m honestly exhausted by the end of everyday but the process has been worth it.
I’m extremely independent also so learning to accept care from others proved very difficult as well. The most upsetting part was having others help me manage my bathroom activities. The first time my spouse has to help clean me up I cried for an hour afterwards in my wheelchair from the shame of the moment.
I hope yours didn’t include that, but if it did I know how shameful that feeling is.
Thankfully mine didn’t come to that. She only had to help me get to and from. Had a full time brace except in the shower and slept on the couch for a year because the bed wasn’t comfortable. I was able to walk after a few months of intense PT but I keep doing it because I want to get back what I lost.
Last year I was hit by a pickup truck while riding my bicycle to work. My spouse is really hard to get ahold of when she is at work because she is a chef and keeps her phone off. The ambulance driver took my phone and called her work as they pulled me inside.
They told me my hip, ribs and foot were broken and I was bleeding internally. The room got all white and fuzzy. I felt like I was floating above the bed. The whole thing was pretty terrifying but oddly calming at the same time? I can’t explain it.
That’s when I saw her peek her head into the room. It instantly changed my entire mindset about the situation and I kept telling myself I can’t die in front of her.
Not sure if it helped but here I am, almost a year later. I’ve ditched the wheelchair and I use a cane sometimes when I need to be on my feet for long periods, but I’m like 85% back to normal.
Glad you made it.
As do I, my only regret was not getting to ride my ebike more before it got totaled. Now I’m not sure if I can ride one for awhile.
I had a similar story though not quite as traumatic. I got hit while riding my motorcycle to work, the guy ran. Was in the hospital with excruciating pain and almost died to asphyxiation in front of my wife. Still recovering from my broken spine but PT is helping a ton.
I’m still struggling too. A lot. I try to put on a strong face because I don’t want anyone to know how much I’ve had to struggle to regain the ability to walk. It’s been so much work and I’m honestly exhausted by the end of everyday but the process has been worth it.
I’m extremely independent also so learning to accept care from others proved very difficult as well. The most upsetting part was having others help me manage my bathroom activities. The first time my spouse has to help clean me up I cried for an hour afterwards in my wheelchair from the shame of the moment.
I hope yours didn’t include that, but if it did I know how shameful that feeling is.
Thankfully mine didn’t come to that. She only had to help me get to and from. Had a full time brace except in the shower and slept on the couch for a year because the bed wasn’t comfortable. I was able to walk after a few months of intense PT but I keep doing it because I want to get back what I lost.
That was my mindset also. No surrender until I’m as close to 100% as my body will allow 🍻
I believe in you. You got this!