Sunday, July 4, 2010

10 Years Ago...

10 years ago today... I was 21 years old, Simon and I had been together 4 years, we had just graduated from university, we were planning out big 'overseas experience', we were young, we were happy and as the saying goes, 'the world was our oyster'. 


It is true what they say though, everything can change in the blink of an eye...


10 years ago tomorrow, our world came crashing down. Simon was on a business trip when his car was hit head on by a dangerous driver. I knew something had gone very wrong when he did not come home for dinner, I rang his cell phone many times with no answer. A knock at the door several hours later by two police officers and my life, my entire life, my entire future, all my plans, hope and dreams vanished into the night sky. That moment, the overwhelming fear I felt still haunts me to this day. 

Simon was not dead, he was alive... just. 


His injuries were horrific, they told me his head injuries were so bad he was going to die but if by some miracle he survived, he would be little more than a vegetable. And so we waited, we waited for him to live, we waited for him to die, we waited and waited. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and still we waited.


Then slowly, like a diver coming up to the waters surface, Simon began to emerge again. We made up and alphabet board and slowly and painfully he would spell out things by pointing at each individual letter. We realised the Simon we knew was still there just locked in a body that would not co-operate. One day, one sweet day, Simon spelt out "will you marry me" on his letter-board. Of course I said yes.

He had to relearn how to do every little thing over. He had to learn to walk, stand, sit, shower, eat. It was hard, hard work but he was determined.


9 months after the accident Simon finally came home.


18 months after his accident we got married.


4 years after the accident, we finally went on  our overseas experience


8 years after his accident we welcomed into the world our lovely girl Holly


21 months later, we welcomed our second sweet girl Isla.


Today, 10 years on from the crash, life is good. Simon got his drivers license back a few years after the accident. He recently got a new job in school administration, and he is gearing up to attend the nation disabled winter games where he competes as a very competent disabled skier.


Today, I am happy. Happiness is not something I take for granted like I once did. Rather, it is something I treasure. I sometimes wish I could go back and show the 21 year old girl sitting at his bedside photos of the life she would one day have. Photos of 2 sweet little girls that would one day call her Mama, to take away from her the fears and anxiety she held for an unknown future. 

29 comments:

  1. Wow what a heart wrenching moving post!! and what a huge milestone this 10 years is. You both have accomplished so much! Amazing.

    p.s you are absolutely beautiful!!

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  2. what a beautiful story. amazing! thank you for sharing. i am blessed to have read it.

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  3. What a moving post! It is amazing to get a glimpse into your life story. I really admire your strength - that must have been such an incredibly hard and emotional time. I am so happy for you both that your husband made such a good recovery and that you have the life together that you had dreamed about all those years ago, despite such a life altering event. Thank you for sharing.

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  4. Stories like yours make you stop and think about what you have and how lucky you really are. I have goosebumps. What an amazing story. So much has happened for you in these 10 years! Imagine what is ahead! Take Care!

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  5. what an incredible story. so inspiring. thanks for sharing your heart. :)

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  6. oh what an incredible story. What amazing strength you both had to get through such a terrifying & heartbreaking experience at such a young age. It's a beautiful story too. How wonderfully lucky you are to have the life you now have, a blessing. Your sweet family deserve all the joy & happiness in the world x

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  7. Awww, Lou!
    What an amazing story of strength and hope and most of all love.

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  8. sniff ** sniff ** let me just wipe the tears that are making the computer screen a blurr! thankyou for sharing that experience with us all! A friend once told me 'what does not kill you makes you stronger'. I think I now understand what that quote means.......

    thankyou **

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  9. We really have no idea what someone has been through unless we truly walk in their shoes.
    I admire your strength and courage so much. Even though time has passed, I am sure that the feelings from those events will stay with you forever.
    Blessings to you...

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  10. When I first started reading this post I thought to myself "Wow - I wonder what her husband thinks about this (blogging about an old boyfriend) - then the sounds of birds starting chipping and the chorus started to sing -- it IS your husband!!!! Horray for the both of you - true love - true strength.

    This is got to be the most inpsiring post that I have ever read!

    XOXO - Nicole

    Thanks for sharing it!

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  11. Very inspiring and emotional post - you bought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing and congrats on making it through those ten years.

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  12. What amazing and incredible people you both are. Thanks for sharing you story. It was very moving and inspiring. Wish Simon all the best for the games.xo

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  13. An aweinspiring post. An amazing story. Thank you for posting this. Life has a totally different perspective when you read a story like this one.

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  14. It's been said by everyone else, but it bears repeating -- this is an incredibly moving post. I'm so glad you shared. Thank you.

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  15. That is an amazing amazing story, thanks so much for sharing xxx

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  16. Such amazing strength and tenacity. Well done to you both for getting through all this together.

    I have a close friend who is currently awaiting sentencing on a dangerous driving charge and have had such things close to my heart for sometime now. It still makes me very angry at times to say the least.

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  17. Wow, what an incredible story. To see such an amazing recovery like that really makes you reconsider the small things that seem to be such a big deal. Thank you :o)

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  18. A very moving post reminding us how special life and relationships and family are.

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  19. Hi back again. Just wondering if you've seen the book "the brain that changes itself" by Norman Doidge ?? I mention it not from a 'self help' point of view, but because it'd make for very interesting reading, given your story.

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  20. Wow!!!This is an incredible and touching story. Thanks for sharing it. All the best for the games!!

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  21. Wow - what a moving post!

    I too know what it's like to have the police knocking at your door with bad news - moments like that seem to get seared into your memory.

    I was on edge wondering what was going to happen as I read - and so happy that there was a wonderful ending to this story!

    Your journey has been hard, but so lovely to see the joy and triumph in it all!!

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  22. That is such a touching post. The gift of hindsight hey? What strong people you both are. What an awesome team. Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring story.

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  23. I found your blog via Brenda from Mira Narnie. What a post! Thank you for sharing such a tough, honest, heartbreaking, yet very hope-filled part of your life. Helps us all to appreciate what we have. Thanks.

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  24. What a heart-wrenching, yet beautifully uplifting post...I was reading with tears and goosebumps. Such an incredible journey, the love you have for your husband is amazing and he no doubt draws much strength from that. Your family is beautiful and I wish you all nothing but happiness :-) Thank you so much for sharing your story ♥

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  25. Thank you for sharing such a heartbreaking yet incredibly inspiring post. What courageous people you are. I'm so glad you are happy and feel happiness. I loved reading this post... it sure makes me put things in perspective and count my many blessings. thank you

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  26. wow, just wow....What an amazing story and family you have...

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  27. I just read this for the second time Lou and it made me cry ...again!!!

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  28. i've just read this post, and am so moved by it! it's a beautiful and lovely story, thank you for sharing it with us and all the very best to you and your family. x

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  29. wow... such a beautiful ending to a horrific accident. it is wonderful that you both embraced your love and life together and are sharing your light with your beautiful girls now.

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