Monday, December 22, 2003

Well, it's amazing to think a year has gone by. It's been a very fast year for me!

THANKS

Each time we visited the nurses and paramedics, we took a picture.  We used that picture to put together a plaque with engraved words on the plate, 'Thank you for saving my life! Suzanne Presley December 20, 2002.'  We gave both TICU nurse levels one, each of the three paramedics, Stephen Thompson who called The Med, and Dr. Croce who performed some of my surgeries and is in charge of the TICU Department.  We wanted everyone to know how much we appreciate them and that I would not be alive if one of them were taken out of the whole picture.  We had a 'Party on the Road to Recovery' on the actual day, the day before yesterday and invited one of the police officers, all the TICU nurses, the paramedics and Fire Department and others who helped during the critical time, plus a small group of friends.  We had a nice time. We put a poster together with pictures of me injured and then on another poster, everyone who helped that we had pictures of.

PHYSICAL

I am going to the YMCA 3 times a week when we are in town, for muscle toning and stretching classes. I've been doing this about 2 months. They are helping me so much! I was VERY weak and I'm slowly getting stronger.  I started the classes only doing the motions, while they were holding weights. Then I went to 2lbs.  Now I use the 3lbs for 'light' weights going back to 2 at the very end of the series. I use 5 for shoulders and biceps. I can flex my bicep and there's actually a little muscle there! 

I am continuing to go to the Chiropractor (Dr. Robert Bussenger) for my lower back and upper ribs in the back and also the right side of my neck. He has helped tremendously.  He has given me stretches to do standing with my eyes closed, balancing on one leg and bending the other with a stretchy band around the ankle. It has helped strengthen my lower back and also is helping the balance in my right ankle.

HAIR

Everyone asks how my hair is growing and when I tell them the bangs I have are part of what was shaved, they are amazed.  When the side by my ear reaches my chin, (It's nearly there!) I will have it cut to my chin.

WORK

I only go into work about once a week and the rest of the time I run errands, house projects and sort paperwork. I have tried to spend more time with friends.  So far I've only been successful with that on an occasional basis.

TRAVEL

We have travel plans for Christmas to go visit Jeff's old roommate who was in our wedding and Jeff was in his.  Julian and Christy live in Sacramento, so we'll be with them for a few days.

SPRING

I am also signed up for an online course to take this Spring.  I don't have the little urgency in my heart to get back into the classroom.  All four years of being here, I've had it, but in June it just went away.  Now I am interested in pursuing an MA in English with a concentration in ESL. This would open a lot of doors for me.  Working with my therapists one-on-one I have really enjoyed being 'tutored.'  I will pursue the English/ESL and see what God does next!

I am teaching Sunday School every other week with our church, Fellowship Bible Church, http://www.fellowshipmemphis.org/  and that has been fun to do.  I get in my teaching this way.  We've met many new and wonderful people with the new church plant we are attending.   We are also attending the college group at First Evan and Jeff is involved in a men's Bible study.  That has been good to connect with the college guys and he also gets to spend time with Andy Pierce, who is leading the study.

JULIE

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on all that Julie has gone through. I have corresponded with her recently, more.  She has a new job in Nashville and is devoting herself to the church that has hired her.  I don't think it hit home with me until just recently, how the difference between Julie and I is so similar.  For me, everything has been a physical battle. There really have been no emotional issues that I've had to deal with.  I think that is one positive reason God allowed my brain injuries to occur.   When I woke up I still wasn't 'with-it' and accepted everything as it came to me.  I think if I would have had my wits about me, it could have been much more difficult to accept.  The brain injury allowed me to accept my circumstances and not fight them.  That's just 'the way things are.' 

For Julie, it has all be an emotional battle.  She was not comfortable driving for several months and then once she started driving again, she wouldn't allow any passengers. The only reason she started carrying people, is someone needed her to take them somewhere and she was the only option.  She remembers the emotions of being woken up after the wreck. (She was knocked unconscious during the wreck.) She remembers sitting in the waiting room for 24 hours before being cared for.  She has memories of seeing me lay there right after it happened.  For her it has been a long road emotionally.  She is seeking Christ for His direction and peace and comfort when things get difficult.  Please pray for Julie to have God's peace that passes all understanding, just like you prayed for my body to heal, please pray for her emotions to heal.

I think for me it is as though it was someone else. Not that it was me.  I woke up and things had changed. I didn't actually experience them as they were changing.  Now my life is just different and that's the way it is.  Julie will remember the whole tragic event like a movie watched in the theatre.  I know my memory remembers 'pictures' of things for years to come and that would re-play in my mind much later.  I have begun to pray more fervently for Julie.

Thank you for keeping up with me and for praying for me during this whole event.  Please pray for both Julie and myself each time the event comes to your mind.

Many people have come to know Jesus personally or in a more intimate way as a result of what seemed to be a tragedy. The God of all comfort has used this event for His glory and that has made it all worth while to me.

Thanks!

Suzanne Presley