It's been just over a year since my husband Jeremy got into a slight altercation with an Improvised Explosive Device in Afghanistan and came home with a sizable chunk of his left calf missing and his heels in about 200 pieces. On this day a year ago we were still unsure whether or not Jeremy's left foot would need to be amputated, and I had to find games other than Minesweeper to play on my computer while at the hospital because I would tear up every time I lost and saw that little smiley face with X's for eyes. You know, because he'd been hit by a mine.
We've come a long way since then.
I'm happy to say that Jeremy still has both feet, which is great because now he can branch out and be more than just a pirate for Halloween parties. Since he has a significant limp but no peg leg, he can also dress up like that hunchback in Young Frankenstein. That will be awesome. I can make him a hump out of paper-mâché.
I am also delighted to tell you that for a number of months he has been able to use the restroom without any assistance on my part. That was a great day for us both, let me tell you. We considered setting the bedside commode on fire to celebrate, but decided that would be unsanitary. Oh yeah, and also he's off all pain medication and is walking without a cane, driving, has gone back to work, etc. So he's pretty much autonomous now.
Our son Connor weathered this year remarkably well (other than some nasty health issues), and the only real residual effect we've seen is that he freaks out whenever he sees suitcases in our house-- probably because he associates them with Jeremy leaving. He never seemed anxious about Jeremy being in a wheelchair (and Jer spent about six months in the wheelchair pretty much full time) and has accepted all of the changes in our lives with remarkable grace.
So remember when a year ago I wrote here about finding our new normal? I'm happy to say we're there. All that stuff with Jeremy's feet? Details. In the end, I'm still married to an amazing man. Only now my amazing man walks with a limp but looks a heck of a lot like Vin Diesel, due to the four hours a day he spends at the gym doing rehab.
I don't really have a problem with that.
~Jess
You can find Jess daily at her blog, Connor's Song.
It seems unbelievable that a year has gone by and you and your family have endured and even thrived despite the hardships of that year. Congratulations. I'm sure you hear it all the time, but your ever-strong positive attitude and great sense of humor are an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a, "Happy New Year" is in order!! I'm happy to hear that things are going well - and clearly your sense of humor was harmed!
ReplyDeleteYour sense of humor was NOT harmed. Sorry.
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