Today marks one year since Mitch's accident. It has been on my mind since Memorial Day, since that's the day it happened on last year's calendar, but today is the actual date. Mitch seems unfazed by the anniversary of it all, but that makes sense if you know his personality versus mine. I know he's thankful, but he's more likely to just move forward, and I'm definitely more reflective about life in general.

     Tragedy aside, so much good has happened since that day, and we are focusing on that as well. Things were rough for Mitch during his 7 week hospitalization, and it was a solid 3 weeks of that time before I started to feel any relief at all that he was actually going to be ok. He went 5 months post-accident before he was able to walk again. He is blessed to be as much back to his pre-accident self as he is. We believe completely that he was wrapped in protection that day. We faced the unthinkable, and we were shown that May 29, 2023 was not his day to leave his family. 

     At this point of recovery, there are more positives in his progress than negative lingering effects. However, there are things that still cause pain and discomfort. The sole of his foot ultimately healed from the 3rd degree burn and failed skin graft, but feels different than pre-accident. He has a pelvis, leg and arm forever reinforced with metal plates, rods and screws, which may always make some activities a little more challenging. Overall he recovered well. He returned home to enjoy life with his family again. To walk the dog. To push his grandson in a stroller. And we know that we are blessed with that.

     Thank you all, a million times over, for the love and kindness that helped us weather the unthinkable days. Our memories are vivid of the ways people reached out and helped us. After Mitch was helicoptered to Barnes Hospital, I spent most all of those 7 weeks in St Louis at his bedside, and you supported and ministered to me and our adult children. You prayed with us. You prayed FOR us.  Since our kids no longer live at home, the house sat mostly empty and unattended. But you took that burden from me and watched over our home in my absence. You cared for our pets and took in our dog. You mowed our lawn and watered our flowers. You followed our journal. You sent hundreds of cards and messages of support. You built a wheelchair ramp. You stood with signs and cheered for Mitch on his homecoming day. You brought us meals. You loved us, carried us, protected us. You collectively got us through this.

     As we reflect on this day and how blessed we are, I ask you to keep a young man in your prayers who graduated from Tremont High School two years ago. He was involved in a serious motorcycle accident about two weeks ago and has sustained some devastating injuries. He was also blessed to miraculously survive an unthinkable accident and, thankfully, he also has a legion of support and prayer surrounding him.  His recovery journey is just beginning. The emotion his family is sharing from his bedside rings deep and familiar in my soul. While we didn't know his family on a personal level before his accident, we have reached out to them.  We recognize their pain, we feel their deepest fears, we understand their weary caregiver hearts, and we pray for his full physical and emotional healing and recovery.