I have to say that 2018 has been a particular rough year for my family. So much bad stuff has happened that I can hardly believed we're all still living through it with as much grace as we can.
For myself, I have sprained an ankle, sprained a knee, been taken to the ER by ambulance twice (once for pulmonary effusion and once for unrelenting chest pain for which I ended up having a heart catheterization). All my meds are under review because hypertension, blood sugar, and bipolar symptoms have all been exceedingly high.
For my daughter, she fell and sprained her ankle badly. When that healed, she was hit by a speeding uninsured driver who flipped and spun her car with Emily and her friend Misty in it. Rescue crews don't know how they survived the accident. The other driver was doing about 100 mph on the highway in the Jaguar he didn't see fit to insure. Emily's trunk ended up resting against the front seat. Both girls were examined thoroughly at the ER with numerous tests done to make sure they were alright. Em is still having unresolved shoulder pain, still suffering from the whiplash, and having hallucinations and flashbacks as well as unrelenting crying spells and rages.
My mom fell and broke her arm on June 19th, was in the hospital when she flatlined for 20 seconds, had a pacemaker inserted, got pneumonia, MRSA, was put on life support twice, and is only getting out of the hospital this coming Monday or Tuesday. She's been doing lots of PT, probably is facing a surgery to free the nerve from bone where it broke, and will be undergoing PT for months and months to come.
Pat and I have been dealing with some family business which is unsavory and is based on faulty information. In addition, he had to leave ADP and take a contracting job nearby which put him on third shift. We hardly get to spend any time together and it's taking a toll on both of us.
There is, of course, good news among all of this.
My family has an extended network of friends and family who are diligent in their prayers for us and have been very encouraging. Our families support us in the things we are facing as a couple. Emily is alive and with counseling and medical help will be able to function again -- she did not die and suffered no severe bodily injury that will incapacitate her for life. She is not a vegetable; she is still as passionate about the things that matter to her as she's always been. Mom has come through everything in ways we dared not even hope for on the worst days. She will be going home in a few days, is still a big prayer warrior for those she loves, and my Dad has been by her side every step of the day.
My brothers and sisters-in-law have all stepped up to help and we've stayed in touch with all of this going on in spite of different schedules and different levels of proximity to Mom and Dad.
While the hurricanes impacted the Carolinas and Florida, Georgia only suffered a bit and where we are didn't get hit at all.
I have much for which I'm grateful, but I'll also be glad when loose ends are tied up and things can get back to normal.
* Queen Elizabeth
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