So I am sure that you are all starting to get tired of hearing about the accident but I just wanted to say a couple of things. More than anything I think this experience has brought to my attention the many blessings I have in my life.
Many times since the accident I have flashed back to that very scary moment when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a car traveling very quickly right at me. The only thing I could do was put my hand in front of me and the next thing I knew I was hit, in the air, and then lying in the street. I am not really sure what happened between hitting the car and finding myself on the ground. According to the police report, which I just received a copy of, I traveled about 25 feet from the point of collision. That is a long way. The gentlemen who hit me said,
"That was the worst five seconds of my life. I saw you go flying and I though you were dead."
My first thought is "Worst five seconds of your life? You didn't get hit!" But that really was the first blessing. The man was very kind and very concerned for my well-being. He fully cooperated with police and the insurance company and even came to see me in the hospital.
As I lay there in the street after the collision those first few seconds were scary. I really didn't know how bad I was hurt. I was laying in a very awkward position as I had no control over how I landed. But one thing struck me right off the bat. My head was resting nicely against my back pack. Of all the ways I could have landed flying through the air, I landed in such a way that my head was completely protected. Since that day I have talked with firefighters and people familiar with accidents and emergency response and I have learned truly what a blessing it is that I was not more seriously hurt. To get hit hard enough to fly 25 feet is a serious thing. I am told that it usually takes people weeks to months to be released from the hospital from something like that. Multiple fractures, head and neck injuries, are the normal. Yet I walked away without a single broken bone. Don't get me wrong. I definitely feel like I was hit by a car. I have many bruises and swollen body parts to show. But overall I am ok. Tell me that isn't divine intervention. I know that I am built solid but there is no way on my own I could have survived so well. I truly feel blessed that for whatever reason Heavenly Father protected me that day.
As I lay in the street my first request after calling 911 was that somebody call my wife Callie. She knew what was going on before the paramedics even got there. That is because she is so important to me. I feel so incredibly blessed to have her in my life. I knew how lucky I was to have her before this accident happened. However, since then as I have had to rely on her so much more I have really learned how wonderful she is and how much she loves me. She literally has waited on me hand and foot and done everything within her power to make me more comfortable during this time. She is my everything and I love her so much. She is such a blessing.
I am so grateful for wonderful friends. I study with a really great group of guys. Each one of them came to see me in the emergency room. They have all continuously called to check up on me and helped me so much. They take turns giving me rides to school and doctors appointments. They have lightened my load in school while I have been recovering. They have provided so much service and I am so blessed to have them as friends.
Last I am so grateful for each of you. I am grateful for those that have prayed for me, that have checked up on my progress. I have truly felt your strength and am so grateful.
I am recovering pretty well. My goal is to be walking (or limping) without crutches and without my protective boot by Thanksgiving. While this has been a terrible experience in some ways I am grateful it has happened. I have learned so much from this experience and appreciate so much the blessings that I enjoy.
Randon
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Blessings
Thursday, November 20, 2008
"Check this out!"
When I came home today, Randon says, "Oh! Check this out!" He pulls his shorts up and reveals this horrible purple thing you see before you! I gasped. It has been bruised for a while now but it didn't get this bad until just today! Holy Cow!
Fat and purple....he keeps saying it looks like elephantitis. He also has some nice little fat purple toes...but you can't really see them in this picture.
Also I wanted to show you the really cute fall display we put up in our house! It says, "Things we are so THANKFUL for!"
Here is Randon's list: My Sweetheart, Rainy Days, Cheese, and (my personal favorite) Buff Guardian Angels.Here is Callie's list: A loving Heavenly Father, The Savior, Eternal Marriage, Family, Hugging-Kissing-Snuggling (and everything in between), Holidays, and Good Friends.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Update on Randon
So as the days have gone by we have both reflected again and again how lucky Randon really was. We just keep saying, "Holy Cow you were hit by a car Thursday!" or "I can't believe I got hit by a car on Thursday!" We are just so grateful because we know it could have been much worse. Oh hooray for the tender mercies of our loving Heavenly Father! So here's an update; Randon has been in a significant amount of pain (of course....duh he was hit by a car). His foot and ankle have swollen until they look ready to pop and have turned a nice purple color. He stays on his back most of the time with his foot elevated and iced. It's hard for him to get around our small apartment on his crutches. He couldn't really sleep last night because his ankle and foot were hurting so badly and the percocet didn't seem to really be helping much. Needless to say we are both a little tired today. We called some friends from the ward and they came and gave him a blessing this morning. He says he feels a little better now, which is good. (Hooray for the Priesthood!) We are looking forward to a visit from his mother and grandmother tomorrow. Thank you all for your concern and prayers.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Pedestrians have the right of way!
So I got a call at work today that every wife dreads.
Woman: Is this Callie?
Me: Yes
Woman: My name is Amy and I'm with your husband. Now don't panick...
(Are you kidding me? As soon as someone says that, what is the first thing you do? PANICK!)
Me: What's wrong?
Woman: You're husband was hit by a car.
Half an hour later I was at the UMC Emergency Room with a very banged up Randon. However, until I got there it was such a terrifying 30 minutes. I didn't know what to expect or how he was or anything.
So here's what happened... He was walking in a crosswalk and a man was making a left hand turn (going REALLY fast) and didn't even see Randon there. Randon says he saw the car but it was too late. The car hit him on his left side, threw him in the air, and hit him again. (If you think Randon looks bad, you should see the car.) He landed about 20 feet away on his back. Thankfully he was wearing a backpack and it caught the brunt of the blow. He had no head, neck, or back injuries. His left side is pretty beat up. His leg is really swollen and purple, his ankle is really swollen and sprained (he's on crutches), and he has really bad road rash and a bump on his elbow. No broken bones, no internal injuries. We were at the Emergency room for about six hours, when they FINALLY let him go home. Oh boy, it was a long emotionally draining day.
The silly thing is, about eight people started crossing the crosswalk before they were supposed to. Randon dutifully waited for the green light (becuase he knows how crazy Tucson drivers are) and HE got hit.
I am just so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord. I know that pedestrian accidents are very frightening and often fatal. I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who helped my Randon get home in one piece.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Recent Lake Trip
The whole group!
