Anniversary

Today I am not just thankful, but blessed.

The first responders, including my hero, Pat Killian. 

Life-Flight. 

The UofU trauma team. 

The UofU Emergency Room nurses, and doctors. 

My orthopedic surgeon, Alpeesh Patel. 

My orthopedic surgeon, Erik Kubiak. 

My opthamologist Boopie Patel.

The UofU SICU floor. 

The UofU ICU floor. 

The IMC Rehabilitation floor. 

ALL of the nurses, doctors, and therapists that got me going again especially, Kristin my CNA. 

My Physical Therapists.

My Speech Therapists.

My mom.

My father.

My brother.

My family - even distant cousins who gave me healing blessings.

My friends.

My church leaders who not only made my blanket, but also who prayed and visited me in the hospital.

My classmates both at Itineris, and at Hillcrest.

My teachers both at Itineris, and Mr. Bentley at Hillcrest. 

My mentors - Ms. Bradfield, Ms. Putnam, Ms. Ward.

Members of my LDS faith who put my name in the Temple.

Members of my LDS faith who prayed for me.

Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father.

I will never be the same. I will never feel normal, but what is normal? As I have been going through Therapy I have learned a lot. My anxiety has shortened. Letting others drive has heightened. But, when I talk about it, I still cry. I don't know if that will change. I do know that I think about it less. I worry about it less. I am beyond blessed for this. The trauma comes back to haunt me at the most inopportune times, but when it happens I am thankful to be able to remember all of the above individuals. I am reminded that you cannot go through life alone. I am reminded that even though it doesn't feel like others care, they do. Others care about you, more than you know. I am reminded to LOVE life. I truly know how to live. I will live. I will have the courage and strength to carry on, even though some days it feels impossible. 

What I carry away from this accident is the fact that everyone has a story. People have so much perseverance. I had to have the will to LIVE. My FAITH had to be strengthened. I had to become humble. I am here for a reason, a reason much larger than any selfish thing I can think of. I have a purpose - a true purpose - that only I can fulfill. 

Smile, it's only temporary. 

. . . the God I once didn't believe in.

Having been a member of the LDS church for five years, is beautiful. I have grown in leaps and bounds. Not only does this happen as we get older, but I luckily have had God at my side the entire time, the God I once didn't believe in. I have a testimony of Jesus Christ, and that He not only died for me; but for everyone in this earthly state. I have a testimony that the Atonement is real, and that through the Atonement I will one day be able to live with Them again. I have seen the beauty of it's workings not only in my life, but in the lives of others. I have felt the love which the Atonement carries. I know that Jesus Christ has felt every happy, sad, confused, and angry feeling you, or I have ever felt. I have a testimony that Joseph Smith restored the gospel in all of it's purity, and that it is the true church on earth, today. I have a testimony of the late President Gordon B. Hinckley, that he was a prophet called of God, and that through his words he inspired me to search, ponder, and do so prayerfully. Not only has all of this been testified unto me those eight months I prepared to become a member of His church. But, also testified unto me every time I stood up at the podium in my home ward and talked from my heart, and from my soul. I now have a testimony that President Thomas S. Manson is a prophet of God, and that as he leads us with God and Jesus we must be obedient. The beauty of my growth is amazing, and I'm happy to say our Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ are at my side - at all of our sides, always. These five years have not been easy, they have been amazingly hard. The testimony that I now hold will never fail me. All I can ask is for us all to prayerfully, and with sincere heart call upon Them whenever we feel as though we are in need of Their love, and have faith in all things. Amen.