On Labor Day morning I was sitting in my favorite chair listening to a beautiful guided meditation. I had decided to start the week off being more present and mindful. I was totally relaxed and into the mediation when suddenly the phone rang. I ignored it, determined to not let anything get in the way of this quiet time I had set aside. Who ever it was I would call back later. A minute later it rang again. I ignored it again. Distracted, but still determined I brought my attention back to the mediation. Then my cell phone rang. Ugh! That was it. I got up, stopped the mediation and looked at the phone, two missed calls from Jeff. My heart sank. He was out riding his bike with his buddies and he wouldn't be calling unless something was wrong. I quickly listened to the voicemail. A voice I didn't recognize began to speak, "This is the San Bernardino County Fire Department we are trying to reach the wife of Jeff Cochran. Please call back as soon as possible." My stomach did a flip, my heart started pounding as adrenaline quickly started flooding my body. I pushed the call back button on my phone. The paramedic answered on the first ring.
Jeff had crashed, was knocked unconscious and was being taken to the ER in Apple Valley. Soon after he was airlifted to the brain trauma center in Colton with a concussion, bleeding on the brain, a broken jaw and a variety of cuts and contusions.
It's been nearly two weeks since that call. It was a scary few days and in a second life as we had known it changed. Thankfully he is home now and recuperating very well. His broken jaw is healing, the cuts and contusions are fading away, and his brain is recovering. He has memory and balance issues but it seems to be getting better everyday. We are learning more about brain injuries than we ever thought we would. It may be a while until he is back to his old self, but we are hoping for a complete recovery. Time will tell. But, he is tough and has made amazing progress in a very short time.
Two things I have learned in the last 14 days. One, that our bodies are powerful beyond our understanding and know how to heal! We just have to give them the support they need. Jeff is a very healthy guy and both of us believe in his innate ability to heal - which we are witnessing everyday. He hasn't taken one pharmasutical since leaving the hospital. Two, that life is fragile and sacred. There are lots of things to get wrapped up in, lost in the mundane, meaningless trivia of life and forget what really matters. In a few moments we were reminded of what really matters and since Jeff's crash we have both found a new perspective on life and what we value.
It could have been so much worse. We are both very grateful for the quick response of his riding buddies, the paramedics, doctors, nurses, and all the prayers and healing energy sent to him via our friends, family and beyond. We are both uplifted!
Love,
Zia
