Survival Anniversary

To Everyone,

I have said it before and I will say it again. I am so grateful for all of you. The prayers, the thoughts, the visits. They always mean so much. Today is the one year anniversary of my accident and I am so thankful for what I have been able to do with my family and friends. July 29th will come and go every year, but it will have a very special meaning for me. The fact is, it could have been so different. Most people do not survive an aortic tear. My body was messed up and it will always be messed up, but I am back doing the things I want to do with the people that mean so much to me. I am going to celebrate July 29th every year. I survived and I still have so much to give. One more surgery to go. This has been a long challenging ordeal. I feel like I have been tested and I hope I am passing the test. Please take a moment to say a quick prayer, toast a glass, tell a friend - "It is wonderful to be alive and I appreciate life in a way most people can't imagine. I am blessed with many gifts"

I look forward to seeing everyone who has kept up with this blog and my journey again.

Thank you,

J

Surgery is Confirmed

All,
The date for hopefully the last surgery regarding the motorcycle wreck is confirmed on September 2nd. I have a pre-op testing appointment on August 24th, but I expect that to go well.
This is a pretty big operation that will keep me off of my left leg for 3 months, but I hope it will allow me to walk without crutches or canes in the early spring.

Everything has been going great this summer. Look me up on Facebook to see some of the good times we have been having. We intend to continue making the most of the rest of the summer.

I am sure I will put some more updates on the blog before the surgery, but please keep Cara in your thoughts as she cares for me and the boys during and after the surgery this fall.

J

Family Vacation

Words can't describe how wonderful it was to be able to go on a family vacation. It has almost been a year since my wreck and there is still a long road of recovery left, but I had so much fun and am so grateful to have my family. Vacation started Friday, June 26th with a visit with David and Tina Kemp in Russellville on our way to Pine Bluff. We got to Gulfport, MS on Saturday afternoon and visited with my grandfather, Papa (Jerry Sr.), Aunt Sandra and Uncle Terry - Thank you Terry for dinner that night!!!, Cousin Terry and my parents and Benjy Richards. We all went to dinner at Lil' Rays and joined Allison, Bin, Emily and Anna Clair, Scott and Elise. Allison and Bin hosted my family for the night at their house where we continued visiting. We continued our journey Sunday with a stop at LuLu's in Gulf Shores, AL and finally arrived at the Beach House in Seagrove Beach, FL that afternoon. Eleanor, Windell, Michael and Alex joined us at the beach house Monday evening. We had a great time hitting the beach with great (hot) weather every day. Wednesday, Cara and I enjoyed our 18th anniversary (June 29th)dinner at Cafe 30A. Aunt Mary and Uncle Ken joined us Thursday and ate grilled mahi mahi fish tacos for dinner. Saturday, the boys brought Eleanor and Windell's kayaks down to the beach and I thought, "I can do that" I had so much fun in the kayak and felt so "normal" that I wish I had not waited until the last day on the beach to use it. We watched fireworks on the deck Saturday night and made the long drive home all day Sunday.
I was so happy, surprised and grateful Sunday night to see that some one had weed eated at our house!
We are also blessed and thankful that Katie stayed at our house and watched over the pets.

Here is a funny confession: I have gained about 20+ pounds since leaving the hospital. After I showered this "afternoon", I noticed a funny tan line. Ever heard of dunlap disease? My new tan line is not due to my shorts being too high, it is due to it lapped over my waist band...

What a wonderful time!!!
J