Can you imagine yourself lying in a hospital bed in the intensive care unit? Imagine that the doctors have just completed a post surgical checkup. Listen quietly as they tell you that you probably will never walk again.

How would you react?

Each year 17,730 Americans suffer spinal cord injuries, the cruelest of all injuries. Twenty-two percent of these are women. Thirty-nine percent of these injuries occur because of automobile accidents.* These injuries have a physical, emotional, and financial impact on the families. I never really thought about this. I certainly didn't worry about it because things like this always happen to "the other guy," not to me....

I never dreamed that I would be the one those doctors were talking with or that I would have to face this challenge. If four or five years ago you had asked me what my reaction would be, I do not know what my answer would have been. Nevertheless, it did happen to me and God continuously helps me through it.

Growing up as the youngest of 14 children, my father died when I was only five. I now have four children, Veronica, Keith, Gregg and Charles.  Our family has grown to include my three wonderful daughter-in-laws, Gretchen, Kimberly and Karen as well as 13 precious grandchildren, Jordan, Chelsea, Gregg Alan, Aidan, Tyler, Christian, Gregg Anthony, Kolton, Allison, Madison, Sam, Cheyenne and Michelle along with four great-grand children Aria, Archer Danni and Destiney.

Since my auto accident in 1993, I have resumed writing, a much-loved hobby in my younger days. I give motivational speeches and share my Christian testimony whenever possible. I have found that sharing my faith only serves to make me stronger.

I hope that the stories of my triumph over the circumstances in my life will touch your heart and help you to face the burdens in your path with newfound faith and courage.

I am only one person, But I am one. I cannot do everything, But I can do something And with the grace of God I will do it. Author Unknown

* Spinal Cord Injury Facts & Statistics (sci-info-pages.com)