Monday, February 3, 2014

Sometimes There is No Choice (OLW)


Who knew when I posted on New Year’s Eve, December 31 about my OLW: choice that I would not post again until February 3?  Life events happen everyday and most of the time I roll with the punches and continue my roles that I am blessed to have including: wife, mother, friend, teacher, literacy leader, Wonder Lead, and blogger.  But on January 2 our world hit the pause button and life froze in time at least for our family.  Our son was in a serious car accident and spent the next 19 days in ICU, hospitals and rehab.  As I wrote a hundred different blog posts in my head and most of them I would never had published, but the process of visually writing really helped me during those dark difficult hours. 

Back to my OLW choice, before his accident I thought choice meant that I had options when I had a decision to make.  Choice is something that I had taken for granted. But starting January 2, my husband and I had no choice.  We were told every 12 hours as the nursing and RT shift changed what our next 12 hours “might be like” and as parents those were the toughest 12 hours. 

The good news is that Marcus is now home and through extensive rehab he will be able to walk and write again. Our next goal is to join our daughter in Charleston, SC for spring break in March for a nice long walk on the beach as a family.  Life is beginning to feel real again and as I head back to school this Wednesday for ½ days choosing to teach my LA block time. I am excited to reconnect with my students and continue our conversations about reading, words and writing.  Slowly I will begin to blog, follow my favorite (#5thchat & #wonderchat) twitter chats and start "wondering" again with my NCFL family. 

There really is no way to say thank you to everyone who has prayed – now known as our “prayer warriors” from several different states. Thanks to those family and friends who allowed me to text confusing messages that often you ciphered through to make sense of them. To my Bailey family, which overwhelmed us with their generosity that if I had any tears left I would have cried, when we checked out of our hotel with a $0 balance.  We have been blessed above and beyond, and our whole family feels extreme gratitude.  

13 comments:

  1. I can't even imagine what these day and weeks have been like for you and your family, Maria. But I always knew that you had forged deep bonds within your family and your community, I always sensed an abiding strength and force of character. And I could tell that yours was a powerful faith. You needed to draw on all those reservoirs these past weeks - but there they were. I am imagining all of you walking along that beach in Charleston, in the sunshine and warmth. And I imagine you are, too. I am thinking of you, my friend.

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    1. Thanks Tara your kind words are appreciated. You are correct everyday someone in our family mentions our future walk on the beach.

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  2. Maria,
    I had no idea. My heart goes out to you. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers.

    Cathy

    Cathy

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    1. Thanks Cathy, so many lessons learned including the constant reminder that family is always #1.

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  3. What a way to start the year! So glad your son is going to be ok. Wishing your family sun and sand and joy and healing and sending lots and lots of prayers…

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    1. It is nice to be back although a much slower pace. We're staying strong and waiting for the sunny day on the beach. Thank you Carol for your kind comment.

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  4. We are cheering for you, for Marcus, and for your husband and daughter! The power of love and the circle forged with family and friends is an ever-giving privilege. As you ease back into school, give yourself permission to move slowly, venturing out from the home circle just like we did when we brought our babies home...it is a gift to begin again, right? Love, light and laughter to you Maria!

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    1. Andrea, I appreciate your visual imagery of our circle being forged what a strong comparison. You're so right with the analogy of bringing home our babies and at 21 it is still a true gift. Thanks for checking on me.

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  5. Maria,
    I'm sending My prayers, a sweet and strong hug and my thoughts of strength and faith for you and your family. Take your time for yourself to gain strength, to get back on your feet. And know that you can count on me. Keep visualizing that walk on the beach....you are almost there.

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  6. I thought so much about your OLW and how ironic it was (just as you wrote in your lead) that you had such optimism about the path you would forge in 2014...and then choice was snatched from you as you moved through the fog of one day at a time with no choice but to be there for Marcus and to pray him through to recovery.

    You make me smile: now that you have made it back to a place where choice exists as an option, you have chosen to write, to connect, to teach language arts. You are SAVORING your choices. :-)

    Enjoy. Welcome back. We missed you!

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    1. Thank you Mary Lee your beautiful words always touch me. I appreciate your comment and yes I am savoring choices. I am glad to be back.

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  7. Oh my goodness. I knew something terrible happened because of the online bits & pieces, but I wasn't sure exactly what. I'm SO happy that your son is going to be okay. What a terrifying experience that must have been. Faith is the only thing that gets us through things like that, and sometimes even faith seems shaky at best. Isn't it amazing how friends and family can pull together and lift you out of the abyss. Community, family, and God is everything. You must be so looking forward to that walk on the beach! Sending prayers for continued healing.

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    1. Thanks Holly-I definitely went into a cocoon mode and ready to begin to slowly branch out. You are absolutely correct faith, family and friends truly made the difference for our family. Each day I envision our walk on the beach.

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