Lucky
Since I began posting videos to YouTube and became more active posting pics to other social media sites, I have been called one thing over and over again. Lucky. People say I am lucky to live where I do. They say I am lucky to have easy access to the waters I fish. They call me lucky when I catch a big fish. Some say it in a joking manner while others say it out of jealousy. Regardless of their motive in saying it, they are absolutely correct. I am very lucky. The reason I am lucky has nothing to do with fishing though.
On August 11th, 2007 my life changed very abruptly. I was driving down a road I had been down countless times before when I got into some loose gravel on the side. As you can probably tell from the picture above, I ended up somehow losing control and wrapped my truck around a tree. I wasn't going very fast but even at 35-40 mph, when your driver side door slams directly into a tree, something has to give. In this case, it was my pelvis that gave way. I ended up with 4 pelvic fractures, an acetabular (hip) fracture, some broken ribs, and a lacerated spleen. Some might say I am lucky to have survived and I certainly couldn't argue with that. I could probably suggest, however, that if I had been a little bit luckier in where I hit that tree, I may have been able to walk away with just some bumps and bruises instead of needing a plate and screws to put my hip and pelvis back together. Nevertheless, things could have been much worse.
It has been 10 years since that awful day. I don't think about it often but when I do, I always realize just how lucky I am. I am lucky that I had a mother who was willing to move in with me to take care of me while I recovered. Those first few weeks at home were tough. The pain was unbearable and the pain meds left me drugged out my mind. I couldn't get into or out of bed unassisted. There was no way for me to get into my bath tub at all. Hell, between my hip and my ribs, I couldn't even wipe my own ass for the first couple weeks I was home. My surgery also left me unable to bear weight on my left leg for 3 months. Without my mom, there is no way I could have taken care of myself. From taking care of me, dealing with insurance companies, arranging physical therapy, and driving me to follow up appointments, she did it all. I have been lucky since the day I was born to have her as my mother.
I am also very lucky that I healed far better than expected. Initially, I was told I would walk with a limp for the rest of my life. I was told I would eventually develop arthritis in the joint and would most likely need a hip replacement within ten years. We are now at the 10 year mark and I still have my original hip. I have no chronic pain and can't even tell you when it is going to rain like some people with old joint injuries claim they can do. I am very lucky to be living a normal, pain free life.
Life is full of highs and lows. Everybody gets knocked on their ass at some point in time or another. Regardless of what the future holds for me, I will always consider myself lucky. It will never be because of a fish though.
On August 11th, 2007 my life changed very abruptly. I was driving down a road I had been down countless times before when I got into some loose gravel on the side. As you can probably tell from the picture above, I ended up somehow losing control and wrapped my truck around a tree. I wasn't going very fast but even at 35-40 mph, when your driver side door slams directly into a tree, something has to give. In this case, it was my pelvis that gave way. I ended up with 4 pelvic fractures, an acetabular (hip) fracture, some broken ribs, and a lacerated spleen. Some might say I am lucky to have survived and I certainly couldn't argue with that. I could probably suggest, however, that if I had been a little bit luckier in where I hit that tree, I may have been able to walk away with just some bumps and bruises instead of needing a plate and screws to put my hip and pelvis back together. Nevertheless, things could have been much worse.
It has been 10 years since that awful day. I don't think about it often but when I do, I always realize just how lucky I am. I am lucky that I had a mother who was willing to move in with me to take care of me while I recovered. Those first few weeks at home were tough. The pain was unbearable and the pain meds left me drugged out my mind. I couldn't get into or out of bed unassisted. There was no way for me to get into my bath tub at all. Hell, between my hip and my ribs, I couldn't even wipe my own ass for the first couple weeks I was home. My surgery also left me unable to bear weight on my left leg for 3 months. Without my mom, there is no way I could have taken care of myself. From taking care of me, dealing with insurance companies, arranging physical therapy, and driving me to follow up appointments, she did it all. I have been lucky since the day I was born to have her as my mother.
I am also very lucky that I healed far better than expected. Initially, I was told I would walk with a limp for the rest of my life. I was told I would eventually develop arthritis in the joint and would most likely need a hip replacement within ten years. We are now at the 10 year mark and I still have my original hip. I have no chronic pain and can't even tell you when it is going to rain like some people with old joint injuries claim they can do. I am very lucky to be living a normal, pain free life.
Life is full of highs and lows. Everybody gets knocked on their ass at some point in time or another. Regardless of what the future holds for me, I will always consider myself lucky. It will never be because of a fish though.
