Recovery

[Stan Hillis]

Last August 29 I drowned in a lake after an accident on a two story tall water slide. I was underwater over 8 minutes. Why I have no brain damage from oxygen deprivation is a topic for another time. I spent the next two weeks on a ventilator in ICU, then another week in private room, then 6 days in rehab before coming home on the 27th day, a Friday. The following Tuesday I saw my GP. I had lost 21 lbs. of muscle, which had atrophied. I was down to 147. I could barely walk with a walker in rehab. Each day after I got home i walked about the house, first with a cane, then holding on to furniture or counters. Each day I got just a little stronger. I ate all the protein I could. Very little carbs. After a little over a week at home I drove a little, with my wife in the passenger seat. A few days later I climbed up into the cab of a John Deere and combined peanuts all afternoon. I pushed myself hard to gain the muscle back, and did. In October I drove my Allison boat in the river (but not wide open, yet). About February I started jumping rope, boxer training style, with two jumps off the floor for every revolution of the rope. I'm up to 230 - 300 revolutions a day, now, according to how hard I work that day on the farm.

A positive attitude ....... no, make that a stubborn, bullheaded attitude, that you are going to get back all you lost, is the most important piece of advice I can offer. Each one of our challenges is different, and I haven't walked in your shoes. But, I know BASOAD, that refusing to give in, and pushing on when it seems all but hopeless is the best prescription for recovering. I never had any doubt, when they brought me out from under sedation and off the ventilator, that I'd make a complete recovery. That's what I want for you, too, Bernie. It's worth all the hard work and effort.

OBTW, the morning of my drowning (that afternoon) I shot a 96 on a sporting clays course near me. I couldn't even hold my 9 lb. MX8 up to my shoulder until about mid - October. But, at my buddies' invitation I shot a round with them in early November, I think. It was an effort to hold the gun to my shoulder for a report pair, but I got through it......with another 96. God is good.