365 days, 12 months, 1 year… I’m tearing up as I write these numbers. I honestly don’t know if it’s happiness, pride, grief, anger, relief, or a mix of all of them.

This year has been a rollercoaster ride to say the least. No one ever expects to be in this position, and they’re not joking when they say it turns your life upside down. It takes everything thing from you and challenges you to try and take it back. That’s a challenge I’ve accepted whole heartedly and will give 110% to. This injury has humbled me more times than I can count and will surely continue to. It tests you physically, it tests you mentally and it tests you socially. It makes you put yourself in uncomfortable situations more times than not. It changes your entire perspective and adds extra elements to otherwise simple everyday tasks. It SUCKS. One consolation is I can decide how much it’s going to suck. Patience is the name of the game, nothing with this injury happens quickly, but things do happen. You just have to keep your head down and take the wins with some loses. You have to be willing to try and fail, try and fail, rework an approach and maybe fail again, but one time you’ll succeed and it will be that much better.

I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today without my support system. The shining star of that system is Maryse. She not only battled the trauma of witnessing my accident and following weeks in the ICU, but she was thrust into being a single parent to two young girls as well as running every element of a household. There have been many tears and I’m sure there will be many more. I could not have asked for a better person to be by my side in this battle.

Maryse’s parents Mark and Joce have also been a huge help and support! Elyse for many, many trips east to help with the girls. Thank you! My family has also been amazing, my parents being there from the beginning and helping with so so much. Weekly visits to Spaulding while I was there, putting me up in the barn so I could shower and have a place to store and use my FES bike. Helping with the girls so Maryse and I could get our heads above water for a few. The list goes on and on.

Connor spent an entire year by my side helping with PT/OT, Drs appointments, CrossFit… everything. I don’t think I can begin to thank him fully. There have been many firsts, lots of ratchet straps and car transfers. A big thanks is due to his wife Sam as well for being there while I was in the ICU, keeping my dark humor in check and for sharing him on odd weekends and early mornings when I needed to piece together care.

Shay, Keegan and Finchy were there to chat, keep the humor high and shower the love. Shay and Chris helped with the brown dog and small child transport. Thank you!!

As I push forward into this next year, I want to thank everyone who has reached out, supported us, donated, filled in or has had us in their thoughts.

I can’t help but think of all the experiences I’ve had so far and the amazing people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I’m sure there will be many more, which is very exciting prospect to me. There is already so much to be excited for. I may not be able to do some of the things I used to in the same way, but I will do them. Anger and frustration will have their fair share of appearances, but I know that I can feel that, then move on. I know this next year will have more victories and more independence. Thank you all so much for the love and support! Here’s to another year and many more!

Love,

Ryan