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(Mind you, for the sake of decency, I have chosen to censor my language.) Just a few months ago, I had been living my dream; going to college and playing baseball.
Thankfully, the nursing home that I resided in was ahead of the curve. They had developed a young adult unit for individuals with disabilities and for some older individuals who needed a little more rehab before returning to their day-to-day lives outside the facility. As for me, I was fortunate that there were a couple caregivers familiar with spinal cord injuries, who were assigned to me throughout my stay, which lasted about 2 years before I moved into my own apartment. Unlike most of the residents at the nursing home, I left the premises on a daily basis, usually to go to class as I had resumed my studies that fall. The best decision I made was to return to campus that fall; otherwise, for many reasons, I doubt I would have ever gone back.
Going back to college created its own challenges; waking up much earlier, managing transportation, and taking care of my healthcare needs when away from the facility. Not to mention doing homework was much more challenging, given we didn't have the technology we do today. Fortunately, I managed all of this and graduated from Scottsdale Community College.
officer at the scene of my accident. After learning of the irony, I jokingly asked her if his first words upon seeing her after my accident were, "Mother, you have a new student."
After moving from hospital to rehab, my final destination was a nursing home. I would never forget my first day there in August 1989. As I sat outside, trying to warm up, an elderly female resident, who was obviously dealing with dementia, started requesting I give her a cigarette. Never having smoked in my life, I told her as such, but she wasn't hearing it; all she wanted was a cigarette. I said to myself, "How the heck did I get here?" here?" (Mind you, for the sake of decency, I have chosen to censor my language.) Just a few months ago, I had been living my dream: going to college and playing baseball.