Journal entry by Alexa Davidson —
Today, on the one-year anniversary of my accident, I spent the day on the coast with my family doing a 10-mile hike to Tomales Point. I am so grateful to be at this point when a year ago, my life was changed by an accident that sent me to the ICU with so many unknowns. I am often asked what I remember and I'm grateful to say I do not remember the accident at all and to be honest, I am hoping it stays that way. Memories from the time spent in the hospital and early months of recovery are very fuzzy, like it happened years and years ago or in a dream (well nightmare really). The time in the ICU is completely dark, which I’m thinking is a blessing. I remember becoming conscious at the hospital in Kentfield and being scared and not knowing what my life was going to look like. I could hardly move the left side of my body, the right side could move but had very little strength or control and my right arm was in a cast. I couldn’t walk, was speaking through a tracheostomy, and was being fed through a tube in my stomach. I was sleeping the majority of the days, my brain had very little stamina but I knew I wanted out of the hospital as soon as they would let me.
A year out I am beyond grateful for where I am, as I now understand just how different it could all be. I now walk, the left side of my body is still figuring out how to move in sync with the right side but I am making progress. I can speak and am still working hard to retrain my damaged vocal cords. I can eat and cook for myself. I am spending nights at my home on my own, well I always have Jack with me and my BFFs next door, and on Monday, I am starting work again.
I would not be where I am today without the support and sacrifices of my family. Mom, Dad, Alexa and Sophie - I love you all more than I could ever adequately express. Thank you for everything, always. I also always knew I had the best friends in the world, but this experience confirmed that fact for sure. I also want to extend the utmost gratitude to my entire community that helped get me to where I am at this one-year milestone. The donations, the prayers, the kind and encouraging words, the meals, and whatever else was sent into the universe, all of it helped to get me where I am today and I am so thankful to each and every one of you. Love to all
A year out I am beyond grateful for where I am, as I now understand just how different it could all be. I now walk, the left side of my body is still figuring out how to move in sync with the right side but I am making progress. I can speak and am still working hard to retrain my damaged vocal cords. I can eat and cook for myself. I am spending nights at my home on my own, well I always have Jack with me and my BFFs next door, and on Monday, I am starting work again.
I would not be where I am today without the support and sacrifices of my family. Mom, Dad, Alexa and Sophie - I love you all more than I could ever adequately express. Thank you for everything, always. I also always knew I had the best friends in the world, but this experience confirmed that fact for sure. I also want to extend the utmost gratitude to my entire community that helped get me to where I am at this one-year milestone. The donations, the prayers, the kind and encouraging words, the meals, and whatever else was sent into the universe, all of it helped to get me where I am today and I am so thankful to each and every one of you. Love to all
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At Kentfield Hospital - just emerging from a coma
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