The Energy Grid

Three months ago today I woke up in a hospital room with very little capability of movement. I was told I had a spinal cord injury and, at that point, they could not (or would not) predict the level of recovery. All they would say was that my recovery could continue for 12 to 18 months—or it could stop at any time.

This morning I woke up, walked to the bathroom, shaved, brushed my teeth, and took a shower; I then walked to the kitchen, where I made myself breakfast and a cup of tea. None of this was done quickly, but it was all without assistance. My doctor is now predicting a 98% (or more) recovery within the year.

There are a lot of factors that figured into this rapid recovery, with good luck being high on the list, but the role you have all played in getting me to where I am today can’t be emphasized enough:

My family—especially my wife Linda, who has been nearly superhuman in her handling of this crisis, and the support of my daughters, who helped with the hundreds of details that ensured I was taken care of. And all of the extended family who have kept a steady stream of visitors coming to Charlottesville, reminding me how much we are loved.

My doctors and nurses—from the time I hit the ICU at UVA hospital through the month-long stay at Sheltering Arms, every one of the professionals who took care of me did so with skill and good humor. Taking care of those who need it is truly a gift to us all.

My therapists—another set of professionals that it has been my privilege to work with. They all pushed me to my limits to ensure I got the greatest benefit possible from each of my sessions. This continues today and I can’t overstate how much I need their motivation.

All of you—everyone who sent me a card or a care package, called or emailed me, prayed for me, or just thought about me has had a hand in my recovery to date. I truly believe in the power of positive energy—all of you make up the energy grid that keeps me going.

I still have a significant part of my recovery ahead of me to regain strength and return to “normal.” (I still can’t juggle again—yet!) So please keep that positive energy flowing!