Life Happens

 

On November 21st a student went into convulsions. Roxanne Clark , who has been an instructional aide for over 20 years, my wife for 17 years, and an EMT for almost a decade, responded. At the top of a staircase on the way to help, Roxanne slipped. Her head banged hard against the wall. It snapped back and she fell down the stairs.

 

She was laying in a pool of her own blood at the bottom of the staircase when she woke up. Emergency people were attending to her. Friends began praying for her even before the EMTs arrived and have not stopped. Roxanne had lost so much blood that on the way to the hospital the EMTs lost her pulse. The school called me and told me that Roxanne was on the way to the hospital. When I got there, she was in the ER. The goal at that point was to stop the bleeding and to stabilize her vitals.

 

Roxanne had a tingling in her arms and hands. The emergency MD wanted an MRI. A neurosurgeon was called in. There was serious spinal cord damage. The neurosurgeon Dr. Gardon told us how lucky we were. We weren't feeling lucky. He explained that many patients with the similar injuries became paralyzed. Roxanne's spinal cord had been compromised. She would need spinal cord surgery.

 

Dr. Gardon showed us the MRI. We were able to see what was wrong. He was able to show us the plan to fix it. The technology is incredible. The surgery was delayed until December 11th. The surgery was complicated and Rox needed to get stronger and the swelling needed to subside. Roxanne needed 24/7 care. I became her caregiver.

During this time I have not earned a paycheck. We believe that in the end, we will get paid back (workers' compensation) for the time that I have missed. We had built up out savings cushion. Our lifestyle is good, but far from extravagant. In the end we will end up losing about 2 months worth of checks. Having a cushion has eased our stress during a difficult time. Building a cushion isn't easy. It took hard work, and sacrifice to build. If there is one piece of advice that I can give the reader on this – it is to work on building that cushion. Life can change in an instant.

 

The surgery went well. She did inpatient rehab 4 times per day last week. These pictures are from the rehab center. As she has always done Rox worked hard in her rehab. Part of the rehab was physical therapy. That is to get her as well as possible. The other part was Occupational Therapy. That is to teach her to function in the real world again. Things like getting in and out of cars. Working in the kitchen. They worked on becoming safe and functional.

 

Eventually life will return to a new normal. We are so thankful. People with very similar injuries have suffered paralysis. Roxanne and I are home together. In another week or two I will be returning to work with a shortened schedule. Sometimes, it takes something like this to realize how blessed we are. It puts our life / faith / and work balance in proper perspective. We pray for the family of that little girl, while they search for answers,as they have prayed for us. We are just thankful beyond words.

Comments (10)

Jeff Clark

Jeff Clark of Kewaunee, WI has been driving a truck for 24 years. He has been an owner operator for 11 years.

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Merry Christmas

December 22, 2018

 
 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you as well Bernard - stay safe

December 24, 2014 8:26:38 AM

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU DRIVEON TRANSPORTATION HOPE YOU HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR NOW LETS DRIVEON AND BE SAFE.

December 24, 2014 6:42:25 AM

Thanks - and yes - although we were certainly feeling more lucky that nervous - we realize how much worse that it could have been. Tommy - we are. The school district has set up a workmen's comp account that has paid for all of the medical expenses - and continued paying Rox throughout. We have witnessed close family members go into bankruptcy with medical expenses. It can be an incredibly horrible combination between health and economics.

December 22, 2014 14:58:11 PM

Jeff,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Roxanne. We hope for a speedy recovery. On the surface it might not appear like it, but it appears the good Lord and her guardian angels were looking out for Roxanne that day and in the days since that happened. Stay strong for her!

December 22, 2014 9:35:50 AM

Happy to see Roxanne is recovering. Cherish all of the time you get to spend together . Just wish it was under better circumstances .

December 22, 2014 7:58:55 AM

Prayers are with you and your wife. The wife, of 43 years, and I had a financial crises starting in 1978 with her having breast cancer. Be thankful for what you have and for things you don't have. Merry Christmas.

December 22, 2014 6:37:14 AM

Thanks Linda! While, I definitely don't like to watch that fund shrink at all, it has made other decisions easier.

December 21, 2014 8:50:28 AM

Glad to hear she is recovering so well and you are right life is short and it sure helps when we have an emergency fund to assist us.

December 21, 2014 8:43:43 AM

Thank you Joey! We have so much to be thankful for.

December 21, 2014 6:59:30 AM

Glad to hear of her recovery. I know it's a long process, but so glad it wasn't worse.

December 21, 2014 6:33:40 AM