I would love to share some personal details about my life with you, because I believe everything happens for a reason, and the Bible tells us we are overcomers by the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11).
My life forever changed on July 24, 2009, when my husband, who was my high school sweetheart, and I were in a horrific motorcycle accident. My husband passed away at the scene from the injuries he sustained; he was barely 26 years old. We had been together since I was 17, so he was basically the only life I knew.
Doctors told my mother she best get to the hospital fast because I wasn’t expected to live 72 hours, and if so, I would not move from my nose down.
My initial injuries included:
· Lacerated liver
· collapsed lung
· right arm not moving (brachial plexus)
· double vision (imagine crazy eyes on the movie
Mr. Deeds, that was me!)
· tracheotomy
· feeding tube (only liquid, nothing by mouth; cannot swallow)
· broken back (at T7 vertebra)
· frayed brain stem (Traumatic Brain Injury)
· loss of balance, coordination, reflexes, (fine) motor skills
· Needless to say my mobility was greatly impacted
and I was in a wheelchair
Hospital in North Carolina
Those injuries put me in my local hospital’s Neurotrauma ICU for approximately three weeks. I was heavily medicated and have some memories of this time, but they are fuzzy. Because of these circumstances, I didn’t even know my husband had passed away. No one told me, they were under doctors’ orders to withhold that information. Family was not even allowed to visit me in their funeral clothes. Since I wasn’t communicating, they didn’t know what I knew or remembered. I wasn’t aware, or able, to attend any part of those services.
Visitors were only allowed four specific times per day while I was in the ICU. The doctors weren’t going to repair my broken back until a physical therapist reported non-reflexive movement! Movement below the nose, God, the Great Physician, has the final word, not earthly doctors. That surgery to repair my back took six hours, and resulted in a nine inch scar, titanium rods and multiple screws.
During these weeks in August, nurses urged my mom to contact Shepherd Center Specialty Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Once we were notified of availability, I was moved to Atlanta via ambulance.
There, I was pulled off of several medications, and my recovery truly began. Speaking of medications, I had been on three blood pressure meds, that still didn't regulate my blood pressure. One evening, I passed out in bed as my BP sky rocketed to 180 something over 200. By a few months later, I was on no BP medication, and my blood pressure is perfect. Another divine blessing, I am on zero meds for pain, and haven't been since August 2009. I take NO prescription pain medication!
As I realized what my circumstances were, (although I still didn’t know of my husband’s death yet) I thought my life was over. I was on a ventilator, couldn’t talk, couldn’t swallow, my nose constantly ran, I couldn’t control my saliva, was in a wheelchair, was cathetered, the list goes on … the list was overwhelming to say the least. I even prayed to die. But God let me know that I wasn’t going to die. That’s when I decided to get busy living.
I endured and put forth all the effort I could in the therapy that hospital provided. I had physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapy, Monday through Friday, 8 am – 4 pm. I was exhausted most days.
It was at Shepherd Center on a Friday afternoon, that my team of doctors and therapists came to my hospital room for a group meeting and update, and in doing so, told me about the complete wreck, including that my spouse had passed away. I had the weekend to silently process the news, as I was unable to speak due to my injuries and trach.
Prayer is powerful - don't stop!
During this time, I got off the ventilator and learned to breath on my own! My nose quit constantly running, and I had more control over my saliva, although swallowing was still not achieved. I didn’t require a catheter any longer. Those miracles were due to intercessory prayer. I won’t believe differently. Prayer works! Prayer changes things.
By October, I had “graduated” to leave the hospital physically and move to an adjacent building to attend Shepherd Pathways Outpatient, where I continued all of the therapies daily.
I got to go home to North Carolina in February, 2010. Essentially, I've had to relearn everything, breathing, writing, talking, etc. Once there, I continued outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapies three days a week, three hours a day. One day while attending therapy, my occupational therapist working with my arms, said I felt a “flicker” in your right bicep. I smiled but didn’t concur, as I felt nothing. From that moment on my right arm began the slow recovery! I had two arms that moved. You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone-what a true statement.
That was just the physical piece of the puzzle. Now to share the financial situation. As I’m writing this, I am in awe at how God lined up every detail to be for my good.
I wasn’t fully vested in my job, meaning I had been in my position less than five years, and therefore I wasn’t eligible to receive retirement/disability benefits. My co-workers were moved with compassion, and donated 14 months of vacation days (280 days) causing me to be fully vested and able to receive retirement/disability.
Further, I had applied for a position with a different company, as it would be a financial benefit for us. My current boss matched the offer to have me stay. I did not know why until I spoke with my outpatient therapy case manager a few years later (I attended weekly therapy as previously mentioned, 3-4 years). She informed me most patients had a $10,000 deductible, mine was $600! Hindsight really is 20/20.
Progress
Oh, in 2011, I went from using a wheelchair to a walker!
Fast forward to 2012. I was having painful, fluid pockets pop-up on my back. I went for an MRI, a CT Scan, and an ultra sound. I had a pocket surgically dealt with. One came back. It burst; doctors found it was growing bacteria. Long story short, the metal hardware was causing the issue. My body was rejecting it. The scan results showed my bones healed nicely, so doctors wanted to remove the rods and screws.
I knew this was orchestrated by God because I have never had
such prompt service at an intake area in my life. The Operating Room called
downstairs, while I was filling out forms with the office, asking where Ms. Buckner
was, they were ready and waiting.
My current physical status, after 15 years, includes:
· double vision corrected through glasses lenses
· still have/use feeding tube for all food, drink
& medicine (it's discreet, a MicKey)-meaning nothing taken via mouth (can’t
swallow yet; have to spit saliva in a cup)
· use a walker in public, crowded and/or large
spaces, I can walk independently at home and when comfortable
· reflexes, coordination, motor skills improving
· got driver's license back in July 2023!!!!
 |
| November 2010 |
My relationship with God has gotten so much deeper through this journey. God used numerous scriptures to encourage me. Satan, the enemy of our souls, is ever working. Scripture is how Jesus fought him, and so we should follow that example. Our weapon is sharp. The Bible truly does have an answer for every question.
Obtaining my driver’s license after 14 years, is the hardest thing I’ve done in my life, to date. That's another story!
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