Just Breathe.

“We don’t know what to expect because people with this type of injury don’t usually make it to the hospital” This is what the neurosurgeon told my family right before they took me back for surgery. I had a 1% chance of living.

This week, exactly two years ago, I worked on breathing on my own again. Since the accident, I had been breathing with the ventilator (One time, I had the hiccups and Rainie said ‟Just hold your breath!” I looked at her like “Did you really just say that???” and she realized that I could not hold my breath when the ventilator was breathing for me. ?)

I had breathed on my own for 17 years and now I have to relearn how to do it?? I started with one hour off the vent, time on, then off again. Each time a little bit longer than the last. Finally, 11 days after my accident, my goal was 5 hours and I made it 8! Even though this was exceeding the doctors’ expectations, I remember feeling so frustrated because I wanted to do more. Something that was once so natural to me was suddenly so hard! But after a couple of weeks, I was breathing all on my own again.

What felt like it would take forever, was over in just two weeks. If I would have given up because it was too hard or too scary I wouldn’t be where I am today. Now, two years later, it’s not something I have to think about anymore!

Think about where you would be in two weeks if you started that thing that you have been putting off. Then, think about where you would be in two years and get started today!