Among my blessings are all of YOU here who gather around anyone in need at anytime, such as for the special needs of Eva, Yellow, Saffy, Tara, Sophie, and Jenna- oh, yes there are others, but then nearly everyone would need to be named [but I pray for all whether your name appeared here or not].

The number of surgeries is just a reality in reassembling Humpty Dumpty as I was in a high speed rearender on I-70 one busy morning on the way to the airport to attend a court hearing in L.A. My car was a wrinkled mess, and I was so dazed by the concussion no officer or EMTtackled me to tell me I was riding in an ambulance. Interestingly, being thus dazed, I drove my undrivable car with the exhaust dragging on the ground and the body digging into the tires to the dealer, called my wife and asked her to come get me. The concussion was one of the worst first indicators, with the headache being nearly unbearable.

Cauda Equina.... everything below my waist stopped functinoing, period. No means to eliminate, no means to walk, I crawled to our bed. The pain made me scream constantly and spasms occurred so frequently, I could not count.

This precipitated my emergency/urgent back surgery the first time, then when I awoke I was lit up like a Christmas tree, tubes here and there, ventilator running, and that full strength morphine pump which just kept injecting me on schedule so pain was managed.

Having learned how to stifle screaming with a pillow and not wanting to freak out my family, at home I used a pillow. In hospital I asked for a washcloth, rolled it up, and bit down on it so screams would be muffled post op. It worked well. They allowed me to take it home as a souvenir.

All of those things began in mid 2005 right after the wreck and progressed over the course of 5 years when my God gift of the Boston Scientific SCS was allowed to me..... but then that is another story.

Thank you Ginnie for being such a caring YOU, my blessing,
mark56

thank you for telling me what happened to you Mark. You don't just need a even dozen angels, you need two dozen, coming right up.... I do not know how you managed even to get home after that crash. How good that you have that SCS device, to help your pain. I don't have that degree of pain that you did, but screams were in the picture too with my neck. Pain is such a horrible thing to deal with for all of us. I still take an opiate. I cannot imagin having to go through what you did however. I am not so sure I would have been strong enough to endure. Are you OK now? Did you regain control of your body? Walking etc? I do care, and want to know if you came through this ordeal of being humpty dumpty. You had a great Fall, but God has blessed you with wisdom Mark, maybe through this ordeal. It seems you know what to say to people to help their hurts. I sure am praying for Eva, and I am learning about the others on this site that need prayers. My list is getting longer, and I pray more often during the day now. I will keep you in my prayers too Mark. I come to this site and am humbled by what people have had to go through. I know God keeps us all in his sight. ginnie

I get teary-eyed every time you open up about your horrible accident....
Without a doubt, you are a true Miracle, Mark. Because of those Angels, God's healing strategy, and your determination, WE are blessed. We are ever-grateful for how God brought you through your pain-ridden nightmare... You are the backbone of this forum and I can't imagine us without you here.

A true CHAMPION.......that's our Mark!

Rae

Thank you Ginnie and Rae, but for me all glory goes to God. Now I am able to use talents for which I was educated and by which my career pre-wreck was driven, and this, too I see as blessing from God. I swerved my little car at the last moment before impact because my brain had played out how the nose of my car would otherwise be propelled beneath the 3 ton truck in front of me with its hitch coming through the windshield over the steering wheel. I believe God did not intend I die at that moment.

The thing about my tale is the reality of once again living life among people, released from the pain prison of our bedroom. I walk cane assisted sorta short distances, and use wheelchair for longer distances or in situations where I would not be able to stand too long, such as a shopping mall or airport. I feel the full reach of the mind with which I was blessed now the opiates and nerve meds are no longer part of my life. Through this, outreach, reaching out to others in need has well and truly become a mission of both me and my wife. Some spilling over on our children. It was fun sitting in my wheelchair at a Salvation Army bucket ringing bell and singing Christmas carols with my wife..... the spirit of Christmas was so evident upon all who entered or departed the store as we sang.

I so love being a blessing to others, and that has become quite a focus of my life. How cool is that?

When we change our perspective to aid others in need, our own situation seems far less daunting,
Love for all in this New Year,
Mark56

just doing what i was told to do
it just keep coming right here
got some made it others oh will
God is Good

I agree with you Rrae, Mark is a miracle. He has led me in a better direction since I joined the site. As I learn about the people that are on NT, I feel more of a connection to life than ever before. I will pray for you too Rrea, and hope to know you too. ginnie

You both together have made quite an good pair, to show us how miracles can happen. God didn't want you to go to heaven just yet. I believe that. You still had things to do on earth as you are showing us. Thank you for sharing what happened to you. As I face a day with a wheelchair, maybe I can gain some courage to accept this. So far, I am fighting to stay on my feet with all my being. I appreciate all the caring responces you give to people in need. No longer are we strangers, we are family. I also believe God directed me to this site while I was panicked. I received more hope and help that I could believe was possible. I still am amazed. ginnie

AMEN dear Ginnie I can certainly use all the prayers I can get. I still battle pain and depression, but my SCS does a wonderful job of covering over about 70% of my PN/RSD in my legs.

You are such a sweet person and it's people like you who make this forum what it is. The love-bond here just continues to grow and it's such a blessed haven for us to come to.

Thank You,
Rae

the beat goes on.........

having a tough night all around

dear Lord

my worries are for nothing

i trust everything is as it should be

Amen

thy will be done

thank you for being my constant

Amen

may all sleep with the

angels

So sorry your night was ruff. I know it is difficult to just wait for your surgery. It is emotionally hard to deal with. Your friends are here with you. You are on my calander and in my heart. I so wish this did not happen to you. Any woman could be in your same shoes, so we really are sisters in this. Please try to rest today, be at peace with angels at your side. ginnie