Trauma Survivors Support Group Meeting.

Shortly after out accident we had been invited to a trauma survivors support group that is held once a month & its for people who have been through some sort of severe traumatic event. We have never gone to any of the meetings for numerous reasons. The biggest reasons have been that we always had my step-daughter on those weeks & its an hour drive, one way. I would feel bad leaving her all evening & I know she wouldn't want t go. Now our weeks have been switched & for the first time & we were able to go.

I'm so glad we went. We got to meet people who have lost so much, just like we have. My husband actually enjoyed it & wants to go back next month. We have found a group of people who understand what we are going through & are willing to help in anyway they can, even though they don't know you. There was a guy there who wrecked his sport bike going over 150 mph. He is now a double amputee, both arms. He is only 25 & was 20 when it happened. We met another guy who has lost his leg in a forklift accident and many others, a lot from motorcycle accidents & some from car accidents. He exchanged numbers with the guy who lost both arms. This experience made us both realize that we could both be a lot worse off & there is always someone worse off than you out there. My husband has considered amputating his left arm since it is basically useless & he wears it in a sling 24/7, but that is his decision. Its a hard decision to make!

This was a great experience for us both & I'm looking forward to going back next month!

 

I can't imagine what you and your husband are going through. The pain and injuries and difficulty going about the day doing what was once easy and the millions of dollars of hospital bills are bad enough. But what about not being able to do what you used to enjoy -- riding motorcycles and other things I'm sure -- how do you fill that void? I can relate to the motorcycles. I recently bought an old BMW bike that had been sitting in somebody's barn in Idaho. I fixed up and rode it from Oregon down to San Francisco. That and I ride a bicycle everywhere I go in San Fran, despite the homicidal car drivers here. I've had my share of close calls. I hope it's not inappropriate or offensive to ask --- Do you find new interests and hobbies? What do you do?

 

There is nothing like finding people that understand through shared experience. Others can empathize but people that share the experience know the daily hell and can offer support without even having to say anything. When you see others coping you feel more hopeful for your own ability to cope. That was really a horrendous and life altering experience and I'm glad that you both survived.

 

socko, It is not inappropriate to ask. Unfortunately I have not filled that void really, it is still there! I miss it everyday! I use to ride to work daily even. We do still ride dirt though & have been a few times this year. We have a Polaris Razor that we ride, so I guess that would be one of the ways. Still looking for others thorough. I'm looking for new thing I enjoy but they have t be free or really cheap because my husband disability check is a joke! What he gets a month, he use to make in one week as a motorcycle tech. Be careful out there, people don't see motorcycles!

herbavore, thanks for the kind words!

Jennie

 

The Razor looks like fun to ride. A lot of ranchers use them out here. That reminds me of trikes. I don't know if people on the East Coast ride them, but here on the west coast, they're very popular, especially custom trikes. This morning, I saw a "stretched" trike that had a back seat and extra cargo racks attached.

 

socko yes trikes are very popular here too, so are those Can-Am Spyders. I wouldn't really want a trike, but I'd take a Spyder! The trikes are known to flip easily. The Razors are a lot of fun too, but we have flipped it twice already. It scarred the shit out of me. Thank goodness for a winch! The off road trails here in this part of NC are pretty damn rough, that is why I would rather just drive the 3 hrs to WV & ride there, much safer! Plus I have a free place to stay in WV.