33 years ago (May 18th 1983) my life changed
forever, I being me had an accident. I was on Holiday with some friends in
Michigan as we were on summer break from High school. Eckert's are hard headed
and buck the system as much as they can get away with it. This lake was a
summer home for a classmate of mine and the kids there liked to initiate new
kids by throwing them in the lake. I thought no one was going to do that so I
dove in, bad decision. I fractured my neck and was paralyzed from the shoulders
down, Chad a local kid noticed I was drowning and pulled me out. He saved my
life and at the time I wasn’t sure I was happy he did. That summer consisted of
a life saving surgery and a boat load of rehab. It took weeks for me to be
start learning to walk again and a month before I did. I spent the summer
trying to fit back into my own skin because believe it or not I felt like I had
no idea what my body would do next. Starting school in the fall was a challenge
since I didn’t get my HALO brace off until 4 days before school started, the
scariest this was walking in the hallways at HNHS hoping I didn’t get knocked
over. Honestly if my parents knew how weak and unsure of myself I was I don’t
think I would have been allowed to go back that year.
The next 20 years I dealt with depression and anger
issues trying to get past the mistake I had made. I never quite felt I was
doing with my life what I was supposed to. I lowered my head and kept my nose
to the grindstone and worked through it. When I got married that helped give my
life the purpose I was searching for. When Steph had Olivia I started to
realize all I went through was for a reason and was a plan I didn’t control. I
still to this day struggle from day to day with my past demons but I have my
Faith, Family and Friends to lean on.
Now after 3 decades I have let go of “what might have been” and embraced “what still can be”
I OWE SO MANY FOLKS FOR KEEPING ME IN THE GAME, MOSTLY MY
PARENTS AND MY WIFE.
GOD has always been there for me and he has shown me
grace even when I wasn’t living up to my potential. I have so much to be
thankful for and I am starting to realize that maybe the accident that changed
my life forever may have been intended to save it. This is what and where Im
supposed to be, so hold on here we GOOOOO.
God Bless and pray for all our Men and Women who serve us
in the Military. This Memorial Day I remember the Uncle I can’t remember as he
lost his life serving other(Thomas Parker). I also remember Ray and Kenny as
they returned home to their families.
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