Why I Haven't Been Around As Much

We’ve had terrible fortunes since coming back from Norway, it’s been one thing wrong after another (not work things, all my books are going really nicely right now and I am happy to be on those teams with those people).

So we were already pretty stressed and fatigued when I got a terrible phone call late Saturday.

My younger brother had been struck by a car while crossing the street. Apparently, the car did not have its lights on, but we don’t have that confirmed, yet.

We still don’t know all the details. His leg is broken in two places, but far worse, his neck is broken, as well. The EMT’s actually found him under the car.

It was not a hit and run, other than that we don’t yet know much about the actual incident.

Our tiny local hospital is not equipped for something like this, so they took him to a hospital that was, about ninety minutes away. My mom and I drove over and have been staying with him since, we have made a nearby hotel our base camp to take naps when he’s resting.

We didn’t know if he had spinal damage. In a very odd way, because I have been speaking with so many people over the years with spinal injuries, I could give him some true stories that I think helped a little. So the first two days have been very rough. They did tell us that if he moved his neck wrong, he could cause irreparable damage, so they are trying to immobilize that.

At first we were told they might not have to operate on his neck, but that turned out not to be the case, and it also appears there might be some additional complications. But the doctors are hopeful and so are we.

It’s been a rough couple of days. My brother is completely my opposite in almost all ways and he is very precious to me. He’s got the best heart of just about anyone I know. 

I know everyone here has been through a catastrophe with, or the loss of, a loved one, or maybe several loved ones. People keep asking what they can do to help, and I just keep thinking, “Just tell the people you love that you care about them and appreciate them.”

My best wishes to everyone, and think good thoughts for my brother, okay?