I don't think anyone in my family will forget January 3, 2012. That is The Day Mitchel Fell. When I first got the text from my mom that he had fallen at work and his boss called Heather I didn't really understand the magnitude of what that meant (denial). I did think - if the boss is calling and not Mitchel, this can't be good. It turns out he shattered his wrist (needed surgery), broke his forearm (needed surgery), broke a vertebrae (needs a 3 month body cast), has 3 fractures in his pelvis and shattered his hip socket (needs surgery). The past 6 days I have been thinking about him all hours of the day and night (I am awake anyway at night, so lots of extra time to think). I have thought about what it must have been like to know you are falling, to know you are hurt, to be in that much pain. I have thought about Heather getting the call and seeing the man you love deal with this. I have thought of the kids and how much they do or don't understand about what is happening. I have thought about my parents and how they must feel (having kids makes me imagine every scenario from the parent's point of view...) I have thought about the cool "war stories" Mitchel will have to tell his kids (and grandkids) someday. Then there is the fact that I have a 3 week old and a 2 year old and I couldn't just hop on a plane and go see Mitchel like I wanted (still want).
In the scariest moments I thought about what could have happened and almost lost all grip of sanity. The thing is, I adore my brothers. Anyone who knows me well knows that adore doesn't even cover the loyalty and love I have for them. This past week has been surreal for me and I won't even pretend to know what it has been like for Mitchel and Heather and their kids. The fear, the shock, the anticipation and disappointment of postponed surgeries... Yet at the same time I watched so many people rally behind him and his family and the outpouring of love is so humbling and uplifting. What I know for sure is that I am thankful every single day for the little miracles that mean he is here in the hospital getting the bones put back together and that this is only a bump in the road. I got to speak to him today and I hadn't realized how much I needed to hear his voice and have a little chat. I already knew in my head that everything was going to be fine, but I needed to hear him to let my heart believe it. Mitchel and Heather are both tough and I have no doubt that they will get through this with more grace and calm and good humor than most.
This may not have been what I had in mind when I looked forward to a year of monotony... but it sure is a good reminder to appreciate every day and what really matters - the ones we love.
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