Day 3 at my favorite hospital

I'm on day 3 at the University of Iowa Hospital.  They admitted me Monday after xrays revealed my fluid in my chest wasn't being absorbed by my body.  The good news is the procedure they did Tuesday at 1:30 am was a success.  I will share more once I'm released.  Have a great day.

Recovery taking a turn

I'm back in the hospital.  Keep me in your prayers.  Doctors need to remove some fluid in my chest cavity.  Have a great day.

Road to Recovery Now at Half-way Point

What a difference three weeks makes.  I'm headed back to the clinic at University of Iowa hospital this afternoon for an evaluation of my injuries from my auto accident on February 5.  The weather today is expected to be in the fifties, our first heat wave of the year.  If all goes well, I could be back at my day job as early as tomorrow.  As for my return to the tennis courts, that will have to wait until my bones and spleen are fully recovered which will take another three weeks.

My recovery time has been peaceful.  I can't thank my wife enough for all the pampering.  Special thanks to my sister, Ann, for keeping friends and family updated while I concentrated on rest.  The first couple of weeks I could barely speak due to the seven broken ribs.  I feel better than ever today.  There are a couple of areas of concern that the doctors are paying attention to.  I'm thankful surgery was not needed and that my body is healing naturally.  I do believe all the prayers are making a difference and I'm thankful to be alive.  Thanks for supporting me with your good thoughts and prayers.  I'll update you tomorrow after my doctor visit.  Have a great day.

Oral Health is Your First Defense in Battle for Good Health

How often do you brush your teeth?  If you are among the 30% of Americans who brush less than twice a day, today's post is especially for you.  And if you think you're off the hook because you're in the majority when it comes to frequent brushing, here's one more follow-up question:  what about daily flossing?  According to one survey I read, 60% of Americans floss less than once per day.  Poor oral health is your ticket to trouble.  As you build up your frequent flyer miles, the skies become more unfriendly.

I'm especially sensitive to my oral health now because I can't afford to take any chances while my body is in recovery from an auto accident.  I'm currently taking diuretics to help eliminate fluid in my chest cavity that doesn't belong there.  The side effect of the medicine is reduced saliva flow which could impact my oral health.  In order to minimize my risk, I'm making sure to brush and floss twice a day.  The choices you make regarding your oral health will go a long way in your battle to maintain good health.  And don't forget to see your dentist twice a year.  You deserve good health and the world could benefit from more smiling faces.  Have a great day.

Behold, He Makes All Things New

Never before in my life has the Bible verse from Revelations 21:5 been more meaningful.  Jesus said, "Behold, I make all things new."  And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."  And if there happens to be an explanation mark to add, I would use two more words – Jesus Heals.  My own body, broken and damaged, is the canvass upon which Jesus is revealing himself.  All I can say is I'm thankful.  I believe I will make a full recovery from my auto accident.  Other than careful monitoring, strong pain killers, and a whole bunch of prayers from friends and family members, surgery was not necessary.  Thank you for being with me on this journey.  The first couple of weeks were almost unbearable.  It's getting easier as each day passes.  I promise to keep writing about all things new.  Yes, His words are true and faithful.  Have a great day.

Living in Bonus Time

Jesus is in charge of my time clock.  I turned it over long ago and have no regrets about it.  The calendar is all his.  This includes daily activities, priorities, etc.  As a believer, I understand the clock never really expires.  It's eternal.  On this side of eternity, there are stages, like seasons in nature, or periods in sports.  Our lives on earth are finite, but our time on the other side is infinite.  Like it or not, we're going to be around forever.

I've been spending a lot of time during my recovery since my auto accident on February 5 thinking about my time on earth.  For me, that moment I was struck by a fast-moving van on my driver's side door was a defining moment.  The only way I can explain surviving is that there was something Divine happening.  It was some sort of miracle on ice.  I believe I'm officially living in bonus time.  We never really know when that earthly time clock will expire.  That's why living every day to its fullest is so important.  Never miss an opportunity to say, "I love you," or "I'm sorry, please forgive me."  Let Jesus be in charge of your time clock.  Have a great day.

Counter Intuitive Recovery Plan

Today is day 17 since I was injured in an auto accident during a severe Winter storm.  I'm doing all the things I originally tried to avoid because of the acute pain associated with the activities.  It turns out the things that seem to hurt the most are also the things aiding my recovery efforts.  Here's what I'm doing to get back on track:

• Laughing.  Go ahead.  Make me laugh.  Tell me your best jokes.  Laughter is good for my lungs.  Yes, it hurts.  No pain no gain.
• Coughing.  I can do this as long as I have my trusty pillow to brace myself.  Coughing helps express fluid inside my body.  
• Sneezing.  Even though it feels like my ribs are tearing apart, sneezing is also good for me.  The pillow does help minimize the pain.
• Deep breathing.  The only way I could do this during the first week was under the influence of extremely powerful pain pills.  Otherwise, I'd still be breathing like a woman in the final stages of labor.  Deep breathing allows my lungs to expand.  I'm also hoping the deep breathing will help me expel fluid inside my chest cavity.
• Walking every hour.  I would rather sleep all day but my body needs movement in order to recover.  The doctors are asking for ten minutes every hour.  I'm adding an extra 20% to help tip the scales in my favor.  The time goes faster when I pretend I'm on a tennis court and I like to throw in some shadow tennis strokes into the walking routine to make it more fun.

Thanks again for making me laugh during my recovery or encouraging me to follow doctor's orders.  There are certainly times I would rather pull the blankets over my head and go back to sleep but I'm going with the counter intuitive plan in order to achieve full recovery.  Have a great day.

Have You Seen Jesus Lately?

Photo credit: revelationofjesuschrist.wordpress.com

There's some bad stuff going on all over the world.  For the non-believers, it's their confirmation God doesn't exist.  Pardon me for bursting their bubble, but I have something to say about this.  In fact, I was pretty sure I was going to see Jesus face-to-face at approximately 2:50 pm on Feb 5 when I lost control of my Honda Accord and ended up across the yellow line directly in front of a fast moving Dodge Grand Caravan.  I was wrong about "crossing over."  Everything I was seeing leading up to the direct impact on my driver's door at 50mph led me to believe it was game over on earth.  What keeps flashing in my mind since surviving is "unfinished business."  I've been given a special opportunity to get back on track and finish all my assigned tasks.  Number one on the list is helping others on the "dark side" get a glimpse of Jesus.

Does God allow evil to exist?  Yes.  Why? Because he loves us enough to grant us free will.  Ask God to stay out of schools and you won't find evidence of His presence in the classroom.  Deny a child's right to pray and you take away one of his or her best weapons for protection.   Is it still possible to see Jesus in these places where so many bad things are happening?  Yes.  Look at the teacher who stands in the way of a student about to be shot down and you will see Jesus.  Gaze into the eyes of a soldier willing to risk his or her life so you can have your freedom and you're seeing Jesus.  Spend time with a health care worker who tends to the sick and you're spending time with Jesus.  I believe with every cell in my body, including the ones damaged from my accident, Jesus is with us.  He is real.  He's preparing a place for you.  It's a place where you can be with Him for all of eternity.  My prayer for you today is that you can see past the darkness and discover the light.  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you  ~ Matthew 7:7.  Have a great day.

One More Health Hurdle to Clear

I visited the health clinic at University of Iowa hospital yesterday for some follow-up tests related to my auto accident on February 5.  Chest X-rays revealed that the fluid in my left lung area increased in size despite all my efforts to follow a rigorous breathing exercise program designed to eliminate the excess fluids.  I've been doing deep breathing exercises every hour since I returned home from the accident two weeks ago.  CT scans confirmed what my docs saw in the morning X-rays.  The good news is the seven broken ribs and the injured spleen are healing.  The bad news is my body is not quite out of the danger zone yet.  The least invasive method to force the fluid out of my left lung is to start taking a diuretic twice a day.  I'm giving it a try with prescription medicine beginning today and will return to the clinic next Monday for another evaluation to see if this solves the problem.

I can't say enough good things about the health care professionals who are caring for me.  And I do believe all those prayers from friends and family are aiding in my recovery efforts.  I admit it's really challenging to keep up with all my caregivers are asking of me, especially trying to walk ten minutes every hour.  Thanks for keeping me in your prayers.  Have a great day.

Healing in Progress

Two weeks down, four to go.  My healing is now at approximately 33%.  The accident was the most difficult challenge I ever faced and I'm thankful to be on the road to recovery.  Today I'm visiting my trauma team that helped me get through seven broken ribs and a damaged spleen when I visited them on Feb 5.

I would like to thank my cousin, John, for encouraging me to try a food experiment he designed for me when I was going through what I thought was blood pressure issues over two years ago.  Not only did his experiment help me get rid of the real health issue – inflammation, my body went through some kind of incredible transformation and was functioning at optimum levels when I went sideways and was struck on my driver's door by a fast moving Dodge Grand Caravan on the wrong side of the road.

Yes, the food experiment is playing a significant role in my recovery.  Check back tomorrow and I'll share an update from today's evaluation.  Have a great day.

Happy Sunday

I shot this photo from my back patio this morning just before sunrise.  Today is going to be one of the best weather days ever.  My road to recovery since my auto accident nearly two weeks ago is looking better every day.  I would like to thank my friends and family for the good thoughts, well wishes, prayers and cards.  My body is on the mend.  Tomorrow I'm visiting the trauma center at University hospital for an evaluation.  I expect to be back to my day job soon once I'm cleared.  Have a great day.

My Top Gun Moment

My Top Gun moment, a close personal encounter with an opponent capable of taking your last breath away, occurred at 2:50pm on Monday, Feb 5.  I lost control of my 96 Honda Accord during a heavy snow storm and slid across the yellow line in front of a fast moving Dodge Grand Caravan.  I thought I would be safe when my car drifted all the way off Highway 149  and into the snow but the car suddenly swerved back onto the highway angled in such a way that our daughter was going to take a direct hit on the right passenger side of the vehicle.  I yanked hard right on the steering wheel and watched helplessly as the car rotated clockwise more than 90º exposing my driver's side perpendicular to the oncoming van.  Shards of glass flung all around us when we collided and two windows blew out.  We spun around like tea cups at a Disney ride and ended up in a ditch facing the accident scene.  The other driver was unhurt and his airbag deployed.  My vehicle did not come equipped with a side air bag and that's how the side door was able to pierce the left side of my body.  Both autos were totaled. 

You can read more details about the accident by clicking on the archives on the right margin.  I'm headed back to the trauma unit at University of Iowa Hospital on Monday, 2/19 for an evaluation.  There are seven broken ribs and my spleen is injured.  I've been following the recovery plan and look forward to a 100% recovery.  I may have crashed, but I didn't burn.  Our daughter walked away from the accident unscathed.  I made her promise me she would not let this accident deter her from soaring like an eagle in the pursuit of her dreams and she is in the process of earning her wings.

I would like to thank everyone for continued prayers.  I'm counting my blessings every day and look forward to seeing friends and family soon.  I'll be able to return to my day job once I'm cleared and the doctors say I can play competitive tennis again after six weeks.  This is one Top Gun moment I will never forget.  Have a great day.

Stranger Than Fiction

To the untrained eye, I may appear as a wanderer in the desert.  I do admit there are many times in my life when this is exactly how I feel.  It's when I look in the rear view that I can see concrete patterns.  Upon closer inspection, the hand of God becomes visible in the intricate design.

I rarely speak about my family here or in social media out of respect for their privacy.  In fact, when I wrote my first book, "God's Black Sheep Squadron," a memoir about our dad's return to us after a long absence and his thirty-five day journey during his bout with cancer, some family members felt I crossed the line.  I vowed that all future writings would either be fictional accounts or stories about my own life's journey.  "The Caveman in the Mirror" is fiction.  There may be some characters in the book who resemble real-life people because that's how writers write.  They draw on real life experiences from all their personal encounters.

Here's the stranger than fiction part of my story.  If you have a copy of "The Caveman in the Mirror," humor me and turn to chapter 37, the chapter about Thomas Morgan's mishap on I-80 while driving to his new home in Iowa.  Now go back and look at my accounts of the accident I survived last week on February 5.  Do you see the similarities?  The real accident was nearly identical to the fictional account I wrote in my novel years ago.  Deja vu?  You bet, right down to the christian radio station playing in both situations during and after the accident and the main character not being able to speak.  The extraction from each vehicle was even identical.  I could go on and on about other similarities from other chapters but that would involve crossing the privacy line I promised my family I will no longer cross.  The reality is I don't really write these chapters – they come to me, usually in the middle of the night during a deep sleep.  I believe they're sent by the One who resides outside our boundaries of time.  My connection to Jesus allows me to perceive things outside our linear timeline.  This accident is just one more chapter.  These blog stories are the tendons and ligaments that attach other body parts which are all connected to the heart of Jesus.  I hope that when they're stitched together, you get a glimpse of the One who created me in his image.  That's really what all my stories are about.  Even the number 808 I use in my blog name has a special significance.  You see, when I was "nudged" to use the number when I first started blogging in August, 2009, I had no clue the number 808 would foretell the exact time and date (8:08 AM, 8/08/16) of my surgery to repair a sports related hernia. 

My life is stranger than fiction.  My next book may seem so far-fetched that some may think I'm writing fiction again.  I promise you the next story I share will be very real and the supporting characters in the first seven chapters are real life volunteers who agreed to share their personas in a public manner.  Have a great day.

The Fog is Lifting

The early morning hours started out foggy in our community today, similar to what my life has been like since my auto accident on Monday, Feb 5.  It's as if the fog rolled in on my life without any warning.  It's no fun living in a world where everything suddenly appears covered up or uncertain in the blink of an eye.  It feels like swimming in a large pool of murky water filled with crocodiles.  You know you need to swim out of the danger but your body won't allow you to breathe deeply so you can make an escape.

I'm not in charge of the fog.  That responsibility goes to Mother Nature.  If this were Christmas time, I can assure you I'd be begging Santa to put her on his naughty list.  Shame on her for sending all that fog my way.  The key to getting out of the fog is to keep your composure even at those times when a solution is not visible.  The fog will lift.  The danger will pass.  Be patient.  Have a great day.

Happy Valentines Day

This is one of our strangest Valentine's days ever in our 28 years of marriage.  This day falls on the first day of Lent, a time period in our faith meant to help us prepare for the greatest moment in human history – The Resurrection.  After surviving a horrific automobile accident last week that sent me to the trauma center with seven broken ribs and an injured spleen, I can assure you I won't be taking our Valentine's Day, or any day for granted.  I'm counting my blessings.  And I'm planning on savoring every moment with my wife tonight when she returns home from work.  We're planning to vist our house of worship, my first trip since the accident.  Our pastor will place ashes on our foreheads, reminders we will return to ashes but we will live forever in Jesus.  Isn't it nice to know he conquered death?  Isn't it also nice to know he loves us unconditionally?

Here's a great Bible verse for you to ponder on the Valentine's Day:

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance ~ 1 Corinthians 13:7

Happy Valentine's Day.  Have a great day.

Road to Recovery

Nurse Lucy is back at her day job today and I'm home alone with our guard dog, Roxy, a six pound Chihuahua who refuses to leave my side.  Her favorite resting spot is right next to my seven broken ribs and my injured spleen.  The road to recovery is like a marathon.  The bumpiest part of the journey is behind me now and all I need to do is avoid sick people, focus on my deep breathing exercises to expel excess fluid from my left lung, eat healthy foods and sleep.  Sleep is at the top of my list.  Thank you for keeping in touch and for your prayers.  There is improvement every day and I look forward to spending time with you when I'm finally back on my feet.  Have a great day.

Unfinished Business

Jesus gave me a mulligan (opportunity for a do-over) last Monday when I lost control of my Honda and crossed the yellow line in front of an oncoming Van traveling 50mph.  The van struck me while I was sliding right at him on an icy road.  My daughter was seated next to me.  It first looked like the collision was going to happen on her side of the vehicle.  I shouted a prayer for help but in my mind I believed it was game over for both of us.  I yanked hard right but it didn't look good.  Just before impact, the car spun clockwise more than 90º setting me up for a direct hit on the driver's side of the Honda while perpendicular to the van.  The passenger window behind me exploded as did the rear window.  The van crushed my driver's door into the left side of my body and broke seven ribs.  I also suffered an injured spleen.  My Honda bounced off the van and shot like an arrow back to the correct side of the road in front of other cars who were initially behind me before I lost control.  I came to a complete stop after one final 180º spin and I had a front row seat of the accident scene.  My daughter reached over to me and grasped my right hand.  She said, "Dad, please tell me you're gonna be alright."

I couldn't breathe or speak.  There were gurgling noises inside my body from the point of impact.  My body was pinned.  My daughter was unscathed.  The ambulance ride to University Hospital was about 40 minutes after a really quick extraction from the passenger side of the vehicle.  There was no way to get the driver's door open.  Snow was still falling and EMT vehicles were dotting the roadway which is the main thoroughfare into our community.  Once inside the ambulance, the paramedic hooked a breathing tube to my nose.  All I could muster were shallow breaths through my mouth.  The ambulance entrance was backed up due to all the accidents and that meant parking on the street outside.  I will never forget how good it felt to have the snow falling on my exposed chest while the paramedics pushed me along the icy walkway.  Once inside, the trauma team evaluated my injuries and dispatched me to a private room.  They put a neck brace on me as a precautionary measure once the body scans were complete.

I couldn't sleep due to acute pain on the left side of my body.  What I could do was thank God for the mulligan.  I'm planning to use my "do-over" to make changes to my life so that when it's my time to meet my maker, I won't have to say, "sorry for the incomplete."  This last week has been my opportunity to reflect on the things that really matter.  Make sure you let your loved ones know how much you love them.  Be grateful for every person in your life.  And please make sure that when it's time to leave this planet there's no unfinished business.  An incomplete won't keep you out of Heaven but it will leave a void in this world that only you can fill.  Have a great day and use your mulligan wisely.

Jesus Heals

It's still too soon to go out in public since my auto accident last Monday, 2/5.  It's not the snow on the ground stopping me or any time constraints.  My wife is concerned that the flu virus may nab me while we're inside our house of worship.  Instead of taking that risk today, I'm going to stay inside and reflect on the message I received last Sunday, the day before the mishap.

Our pastor focused on all the moments when Jesus cast out demons and healed the sick during his ministry.  In my opinion, the demons seem to be around every time God is working on something important.  The demons were everywhere that Jesus went.  In fact, there were so many that Jesus had to commission his disciples to cast out the demons in Jesus' name.  The same is true today.  As much as I enjoyed our pastor talking about casting out demons, the part of his talk that hit me hardest was his talk about Jesus healing.  I didn't know how profound this message would be for me until the following day when my Honda slid over the yellow line and I was t-boned by a van traveling 50mph.  Our local christian radio station was playing in the background while I talked with our daughter on our ride home from a busy day.  The radio continued to play christian music while I remained pinned in my driver's seat until paramedics freed me.  I couldn't breathe or talk.  I was helpless.  What I do know is Jesus was with me in my time of need and I trusted him to be in charge, healing or no healing.  Healing met more time here with my family and friends.  No healing meant it was time to meet my Maker in person.  The next 24 hours revealed God's plans for healing.

All I can say about my experience is that I was never afraid.  Out of breath? Yes.  Unable to speak?  Yes.  Afraid about my future?  No.  My faith in Jesus is all I need.  I knew Jesus would provide all the caregivers necessary to restore my health if that's what his plan was for my life.  The extraordinary part about my visit to University of Iowa hospital is that surgery was not necessary despite seven broken ribs and an injured spleen.  I'm headed for a 100% recovery.  Divine intervention?  I believe so.  Do I have unfinished business?  I suppose that is what Jesus is showing me.  Meanwhile, I'll keep sharing stories about all the good Jesus is doing in my life.  I'm putting healing at the top of the list.  Have a great day.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

It's been a little over 100 hours since my auto accident in my hometown on Monday, Feb 5 at approximately 3:00 pm.  Our daughter and I were heading home after a full day moving her belongings out of her apartment.  Mother Nature hit us hard with a Winter storm that made road conditions hazardous.  You can read more about the accident in earlier posts from this week.  I was released from the trauma team at the University of Iowa hospital on Tuesday afternoon within 24 hours of the accident and I'm home for an extended period of rest and recovery.

Perhaps one of the most powerful influences in my recovery is my network of friends and family.  I'm so thankful for the outpouring of love, support and prayers.  I also appreciate your willingness to let me sleep because that is what I need most.  Special thanks to my sister, Ann Mazzola, for keeping friends and family updated while I'm resting and to my wife for her willingness to assist at all hours of the day and night.  Have a great day.

My Visit to the Trauma Team at University of Iowa Hospital

Today's blog message is dedicated to all the amazing staff at the University of Iowa Hospital where I got to see first-hand why they are considered the cream of the crop in the health care world.

There's a fine line between life and death and I'm here to share with you today that I was nearly 100% certain I crossed that line around 3pm on Monday, February 5 while driving home during a major snow storm.  The angel seated in the car next to me who was only 8 weeks away from earning her wings when our Honda slid across the yellow line, continued sliding off the roadway and suddenly veered back to the wrong side of the road directly in front of an oncoming van traveling approximately 50mph.  The angle of our car put the angel seated next to me in the center of the target.  There was absolutely no way to avoid the oncoming vehicle.  All I could do was yank hard right on the steering wheel and pray for a miracle.  I don't know how I remained conscious but all I can say is there must have been some kind of Divine intervention at the moment of impact and beyond that kept my daughter and me alive.  The explosion of glass was intense and our vehicle pinged back across the road missing other vehicles before spinning and halting on the side of the road.  The impact from the van pierced the left side of my body and broke seven ribs.  I also suffered a lacerated spleen.  You can read my posts from the last couple of days for more details about the accident and the ambulance ride to the University of Iowa hospital.  Here's my report about my visit to the trauma unit:

The entrance to the emergency room looked like a busy weekend shopping day at Costco.  You know the trauma team is at its limits when the ambulance drivers are forced to park outside in the snow.  For me, it was a delight.  I enjoyed the chill in the air outside the ambulance and the snow flakes landing on my exposed chest while paramedics carted me in.  The admin folks were doing their best to yell out assignments and there was a full team of doctors waiting for me when we entered the trauma unit.  The team methodically and effortlessly assessed my situation.  The only thing that maybe could have sped things up was tattooing 7-4-60 on my forehead to answer my birthday question that was asked every time I met a new doctor.  I'm sure they do that to make sure I'm the right patient or that I'm reasonably coherent.  The crazy thing is that when you go through something like this, your senses are so alive you notice even the most minute detail and I have a feeling I will remember every face I came into contact with at the hospital.  The staff truly is in a league of their own.

The trauma team used advanced body scanners to assess what was happening inside my body and they knew almost immediately that I had broken bones.  As the images came through, the broken bone count increased.  Final count was seven broken ribs, numbers 6-12, and one lacerated spleen.  They were unsure if I had a neck or spine injury so they asked me to remain flat on my back and wear a neck brace until the next morning.  They gave a private room to stay in on the top floor of the pavilion.  Staff told me the room was once an office that was converted to a patient room and that it was the largest room on the floor. 

Our oldest son who lives nearby was my first visitor and he described the details of the room to me.  I asked him to please keep all other family members away until the roads were safe.  The next morning, my wife and our daughter visited me.  They couldn't believe how beautiful my room was. 

"I'm seeing everything in the room for the first time," I said.  "They just took my neck brace off before you came in."

I further explained that all the other pavilions only have seven floors so this level is definitely the penthouse.  My room had a view to the aircare helicopters.  Even the room number, 21, added to all the good luck I was feeling.

There was a great deal of discussion about when to release me and I sat back and listened as the team went through the list of criteria needed for me to go home.  The spleen had to be healing okay, the hemoglobin levels had to be moving in the right direction, and I needed to be able to pass some walking and moving tests.  I learned a great deal from the occupational and physical therapists on site and promised to follow their suggestions.  When they asked how far I could comfortably walk, I answered, "five miles." 

My wife, family and extended family have been taking great care of me at home.  Today I'm visiting my primary care physician and then return home for rest.  As much as I want to chat with friends and family, I need you to know how vital it is for me to go slow right now.  My sister, Ann Mazzola, is keeping in touch with me and my wife about my progress and she will be posting FB updates.  You can find her on my list of friends on FB.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  Have a great day.

My First Ambulance Ride

At approximately 3:15 pm on Monday, 2/5, I lost control of my beloved Honda Accord and crossed the yellow line barely visible on the snow covered road leading into our hometown.  Our daughter was in the passenger seat next to me and we were having some quality time together while listening to LIFE 101.9, a christian radio station.  The highway was busy in both directions and snow plows had just come through.  I don't know exactly what caused our vehicle to start swerving but I did feel relief when I made it all the way of the road even though it was the wrong side.  As the car slid through the snow and ice it suddenly turned back onto the highway directly in front of an oncoming van traveling approximately 50mph according to the police.  My final maneuver before striking the vehicle was to turn the wheel hard right in order to get our daughter out of the line of fire.  The powerful collision snapped our car back over the yellow line and off the road narrowly missing the cars behind us before coming to a complete stop.  The radio station was still playing.  It's funny how you notice the little things when you're in an emergency situation, but all I can say is it was nice to have that music playing even though I couldn't breathe or speak.  Our daughter called 911 and the paramedics arrived almost immediately.  In fact, there were emergency vehicles everywhere dotting the scene of the accident.

The biggest concern the paramedics had was my inability to breathe.  They didn't waste any time excavating me from the vehicle through the passenger door.  "Any sentimental value to your clothes?"  my paramedic asked with a pair of scissors in his hands.

I nodded yes, thinking back to my tennis days in Ramona when my mixed doubles team won our division and advanced to the district playoffs in Orange County.  The only time during this whole ordeal that I had tears was when the scissors snipped through my favorite tennis shirt.  I still couldn't talk or breathe but I knew I was in good hands.  The paramedic hooked up a breathing tube to my nose but the only way I could get air was to take tiny gasps through my mouth like a pregnant woman in the final stages of labor.  The heat in the ambulance felt good and I managed to calm down slightly before arriving at the University of Iowa Hospital approximately 40 minutes after the collision.

"We're all backed up at the emergency entrance," my paramedic said.  "The only way to get you in is to park outside and transport you through the snow."

The team pulled me out of the back of the ambulance and carted me through the somewhat bumpy ice-packed walkway.  A steady stream of snow landed on my near naked body.  It felt so refreshing.  And the view up to the sky was incredible.  I was feeling this strange sense of peace.

Come back tomorrow for the rest of the story.  I'm under strict orders to limit my contacts with the outside world until I bounce back.  Have a great day.

Our Honda Retires at 228,000 Miles

Monday, February 5, 2018, will be a day no one in our family will ever forget.  My daughter and I came up two miles short on our ride home after a long day helping her with her relocation efforts.  She accepted a job out of state and asked for assistance moving her belongings out of her apartment.  The window of time was limited.  Despite my best planning efforts to avoid a heavy snow storm, the day took an unexpected twist while we were headed home.  I thought the hard part of the day was over and I was wrong.  Almost dead wrong. 


Our oldest son helped us load up the Uhaul truck just as the storm hit in Iowa City and I was very careful on the twenty-five mile drive home to drop off our daughter's belongings.  By the time we returned our rental vehicle, over six inches of snow had dropped.  All I needed to do was drop our son off at his apartment and return home.  Plans changed when our daughter sent me a text notifying me they cut her early at her job due to bad weather affecting business.  She was eager to be picked up and stay with mom and dad for the evening.  The road conditions deteriorated right before our eyes.  Interstate 80 was shut down 30 miles west of us due to a major pile up.  The northbound highway in Cedar Rapids closed due to an accident.  My christian radio station was comforting me as I drove home for the final time and I managed to exit the interstate with just two miles to go to get home.  Snow plows were working hard in the area and the roads appeared fine.  Then the unexpected happened.  My car must have hit an ice patch causing the vehicle to swerve over the center line and off the road.  I was driving parallel to the road still swerving in a big pile of snow and ice.  Our Honda started sliding back onto the road in front of oncoming traffic.  A van was approaching at approximately 50 mph and I don't think he saw me coming from the side of the road.  Our daughter appeared to be the target of a direct hit.  I yanked hard right on the steering wheel and our Honda lined up perpendicular to the van.  Bam!  Windows shattered.  I felt the side of my vehicle piercing my body.  Our vehicle bounced off the van and careened all the way across the road in front of more traffic and finally halted.  Our christian radio station was still playing.  Our daughter noticed me gasping for air and said, "dad, please tell me you're gonna be okay."

I couldn't breathe.  I couldn't speak.  I was pinned into my seat and I felt  a gurgling in my left lung.  The pain was excruciating.  Our daughter jumped out and called 911.  Emergency vehicles were on the scene immediately.  When they asked me if I was okay, I motioned that I couldn't breathe.  It was impossible to open the driver's door because it was crushed.  They decided to unbuckle me and excavate me through the passenger door.  Snow was still falling when they loaded me onto the ambulance for transport to University of Iowa Hospital.  I'll share more about my hospital experience tomorrow.  All I can say is I'm thankful to be alive and that my daughter walked away unscathed.  Our beloved Honda is officially retired at just over 228,000 miles.  The most memorable ride ever was the last one.  Come back tomorrow for the rest of the story.  I would like to thank all my friends and family for your prayers during this journey.  Have a great day.

Race Results

It came down to a photo finish yesterday.  Mother Nature proved how powerful she is.  Had Father Time not intervened a half mile before the finish line, it would have been fair.  But life isn't fair sometimes.  I'm home now.  No sleep during these last 24 hours.  I need to sleep.  Tomorrow I'll share about the race.  I just want to say thanks to all who prayed for me and my family.  I'm alive.  Your prayers were the difference.  God bless you.

Outrun Mother Nature

Mother Nature is heaving snow balls later this morning.  She knows exactly how to make my life challenging.  That's okay with me.  Challenges are the icing on the cake.  Most people would rather crawl back under the blankets on a day like today but I'm helping our daughter with her relocation efforts before the roads turn into a skating rink.  If all goes well, we can drink hot chocolate in front of a warm fire after the move is complete.  Sorry, Mother Nature, you will need to find someone else to compete with today.  I may be getting older but I'm never gonna let you catch me no matter how much chill you may send my way.  Have a great day.

Think, Believe, Dream, Dare

Walt Disney offers four steps to help us reach for the stars.  The first step seems rather simple – think.  Think about your dreams and your desires.  Step two is more challenging – believe.  Doubts usually creep in here and if the doubts win, it's all over.  Step three involves staring at an empty canvas and seeing your life at its full potential.  Vivid details are important here.  Focus on each tiny brush stroke that is part of the big picture and dream big.   Once that picture is etched into your brain, all that remains is to dare, something most are unwilling to attempt.  Failure to embrace this final step guarantees one bad aftertaste in the final stages of your life – regret.  This word is not in Walt's vocabulary.  It shouldn't be in yours either.  Have a great day.  I dare you, amigo.

Decisions

Decisions are what make us who we are.  Never underestimate the value of a decision, no matter how small.  And remember, not making a decision is a decision.  Be bold.  Move forward.  Trust your instincts.  Learn from your previous decisions.  Decide today to be the person you were created to be.  Then, show the world who that person is.  Have a great day.

Practice Kindness

My message for today is short and sweet – practice kindness.  Try it. The world around you will change forever.  Have a great day.

Show Me the Way

That trail of bread crumbs you see on your path may appear tempting but beware, it's deceiving.  The modified ingredients and the false additives will weigh you down, literally.  Confusion is the name of the game for the Evil One and his trickery in the American diet is wreaking havoc.

I found a clue in my search for a solution in a song I often played in my bedroom as a teenager during a dark time in my life when bread crumbs were the least of my worries.  My prayers are being answered, one by one.  If you're struggling to find your way, may I recommend my favorite go to method?  It's so simple yet highly effective.  The answer is in this song.  Give it a listen and see if this works for you.  Have a great day.