We had just gotten back from getting our Christmas tree (we'll do those pictures later!), the kids were resting in their rooms and I was frantically trying to get food together for Thanksgiving with Kurt's family that afternoon. My mom was graciously helping me/saving me from a green bean casserole catastrophe when we heard yelling in the garage where Kurt was getting the Christmas decorations from the attic. There was the split second look of terror we gave each other, then running to open the garage door from the kitchen, Kurt on the concrete floor on his back still screaming, frantic movement everywhere, calling 911, neighbors running over...it's all kind of a blur, but I can still see it perfectly, as a slide show almost. By the time we were in the ambulance, I knew he was going to be okay. No loss of consciousness, no loss of feeling in the limbs, and he knew his name. We were in good shape, considering, but he still was in excruciating pain and couldn't move-and that was with morphine. We were strangely thankful he walked away from this scene with one compression fracture in a vertebrae.
It's been about 3 weeks now. He's had a good follow-up appointment with the orthopedic doctor and he drove to work today for the first time. He's a trooper and I'm really proud of him. He was a great patient for his nurses and therapists at the hospital. He's paced himself well and pushed himself just enough with coming off the pain medications and increasing his level of activity. He's pretty great, I'm so thankful for him and love him dearly.
And I've learned a lot about myself, probably in the opposite direction...it's been difficult to keep up with two small children and gracefully care for my spouse. We're making it, but it hasn't been beautiful every moment. I had been grumpy that afternoon that he fell and later found myself praying repeatedly, "God, please don't let something like this be the way my heart has to find gratefulness." I am thankful the Lord's mercies are afresh each morning and for this recovery process because it means Kurt WILL recover, and that's awesome. Hallelujah.
