It is my nephew's birthday today. I don't know exactly how old he is, but I know I can figure it out and get within a year. The number of years since his birth don't really matter as much as the fact that he is still here with us.
A phone ringing in the dead of the night changed our lives in a way we may never fully understand. The caller was my sister, delivering the shocking news that Travis had been rushed to a hospital in Wichita, Kansas after a serious car accident. She had been warned that he was in critical condition in the ICU Burn Unit and that his prognosis was uncertain.
My husband and I sat stunned for several hours debating whether we should wake the kids and tell them their beloved cousin was fighting for his life and no one could predict the outcome. Travis had just spent the night with us and left early in the morning for some other obligation that eventually took him to this tragic event.
Many tears, prayers and trips to Wichita later, Travis was delivered back into our family fold ...whole but not unscarred. He has become our family treasure, because he will bear the visual scars of that night forever, and we will never forget how close we came to losing him.
To meet him, you would never know of the months of rehabilitation he endured, the burn garment he wore for months and months, or the extensive reconstructive surgeries he tolerated, he never talks about the accident. Travis is a survivor in every way. He is one of the most amazing people I know, funny, witty, intelligent and humble! Our family has been blessed to have the opportunity to love Travis and I hope we all pause to remember him as he marks this important anniversary of his birth! Happy Birthday, Travis!
A phone ringing in the dead of the night changed our lives in a way we may never fully understand. The caller was my sister, delivering the shocking news that Travis had been rushed to a hospital in Wichita, Kansas after a serious car accident. She had been warned that he was in critical condition in the ICU Burn Unit and that his prognosis was uncertain.
My husband and I sat stunned for several hours debating whether we should wake the kids and tell them their beloved cousin was fighting for his life and no one could predict the outcome. Travis had just spent the night with us and left early in the morning for some other obligation that eventually took him to this tragic event.
Many tears, prayers and trips to Wichita later, Travis was delivered back into our family fold ...whole but not unscarred. He has become our family treasure, because he will bear the visual scars of that night forever, and we will never forget how close we came to losing him.
To meet him, you would never know of the months of rehabilitation he endured, the burn garment he wore for months and months, or the extensive reconstructive surgeries he tolerated, he never talks about the accident. Travis is a survivor in every way. He is one of the most amazing people I know, funny, witty, intelligent and humble! Our family has been blessed to have the opportunity to love Travis and I hope we all pause to remember him as he marks this important anniversary of his birth! Happy Birthday, Travis!
3 comments:
When are you going to write one that doesn't make me cry? :)
Yes, I concur with Adrienne!!! Your blogs are tearjerkers! Well I called Travis on his birthday but we'll have to add it to the list of things to celebrate on May 19th!
Hey! I get the underlying point of your comment on my last blog. I apologize very much for Not commenting when I read this one. It was very informative and also made me tear up a bit.
I remember being brought into the living room that morning and how deeply the news I heard there effected me. What happened that night ended a little part of the nice-ness in the world for all of us, becuase no one could believe that happened to Travis.
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