Tomorrow morning we’re leaving for our Third annual beach vacation. Yippee. If you’re on I-95 tomorrow I’ll be the stressed out looking guy with the amazing hair that turns gray right before your eyes, my son will be eating his 879th chicken nugget, and my wife will probably be driving. I’m sure it’ll be fine, maybe even fun.
Today, on the other hand, we made an anything-but-fun trip to Pennsylvania to see my 17 year old cousin. My cousin has been unconscious in the hospital for two weeks following a severe head injury he sustained in a car accident. I had been putting off seeing him because I am the most hospital phobic person I know. But in my heart I knew I couldn’t go to the beach for a week without seeing him, so we went.
I’m not going to get into the details of the accident, which almost seem irrelevant when it’s all said and done, although I want it to be clear that it totally wasn’t his fault and he had on a seatbelt. And I’m not going to talk about the visit because it shook me more than I could predict. I will say, however, that I cannot imagine what my aunt is going through right now.
There are several reasons why this hits close to home (aside from the fact that we all shared a home as one big dysfunctional family for about 10 years and that he’s only 17), but one stands out: my cousin is an only child. I know how precious he is to my aunt because I know how precious my only son is to me.
The image of my cousin in his hospital bed will follow me south reminding how unpredictable, and fragile this life can be.
Sobering and sad. I hope for the best for your aunt and cousin.
Good on ya for making that visit, despite your trepidation, and here’s hoping things quickly turn out for the best… for your family and your vacation.
Wishing your family and cousin the best and praying that he recovers soon.
My cousin entered coma at the age of 16 from car accident that caused a closed brain injury. She will be 21 in October, and so far, no change… We have little hope for a recovery and she was soooo vibrabt, so beautiful- the spitting image of what a young Catherine Zeta Jones might look like.
I hope your cousin wakes and wakes healthy and well.
Blessings,
L.
Ethio-journey: http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=32b45f4a567aac1acf0204&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url
Virtual hug to you and a real live prayer been said for your family, particularly your aunt.
Wow. This post really jolted me. Thank you for sharing this. I hope you and your wife are enjoying your vacation with your precious, precious boy. Yes, life is too short and joy too fleeting… we need to enjoy it while it lasts. Thank you for reminding me of that today.
Heather
That sounds horrible. Hope your cousin recovers soon.
Have a nice vacation
AD