July 8, 2006 One year Anniversary

July 8, 2006 Today is the one year anniversary of Zack’s accident. He was very excited this morning because we were going to visit University Hospital and Frazier Rehab. He had written a letter thanking his doctors, nurses and therapist for their role in giving his life back. We framed the letter along with a picture of Zack and delivered it this morning with a cake. He got to talk with several nurses in ICU at University that took care of him. He got to speak with Dr Densler by phone once we finally tracked him down. At Frazier we saw Mary Beth, Dr Calvery (his original psychologist) and a few nurses who were working on Saturday. Dr Calvery was the one that asked Zack what he did when he got frustrated and his answer was “I talk to God”. When she asked, “what does God say”, he responded “Stay the Course”. That has been our motto since. On the way downtown we drove by the accident site on Aiken Road so Zack could see our little surprise. Late last night Dylan and I nailed a sign that I had made to the tree next to the guardrail that came through the windshield and hit Zack’s head. Since I made the sign on canvas with permanent markers I hope it will be visible for a while. It reads, “Remember 7-5-05
Stay the Course”. Zack was delighted. After we left Frazier we went to visit my Mom in the hospital recovering from a hip replacement. I was hoping to introduce Zack to her nurse that I met yesterday. She had seen the picture my Mom had of Zack and asked about the accident. I spoke with her for a while about her faith (she is a member of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church). She asked me if Zack was my oldest child and reminded me that throughout history God has used “firstborn” sons many times to do His work. She told me to watch for God’s plan for Zack’s future. It reminded me of something Zack had told me last week. He has been attending a Wednesday night Bible study for high school and college students. After their last meeting he called me and said, “Mom you know what I found out. That Jesus does bigger things through people who were bad. That’s me Mom. He can do great things through me!” What a revelation. I hung up with tears running down my cheeks, full of gratitude that God is revealing His will to Zack through scripture. Zack has an innocent wisdom. He shares his thoughts and feeling freely. Recently he went to the movies with some friends and saw the movie “Click”. The movie revolves around a character that is able to fast forward through periods of his life. We took his friends home and as soon as they were out of the car Zack told me of a scene in the movie that moved him. He said the character went forward in time and missed his Dad’s funeral. He explained that the guy didn’t really like his Dad but he was sad that his Dad had died. Then he looked at me so genuinely and said, “I love you Mom. I would really miss you if you died.” It is not easy driving when your eyes are clouded with tears. I treated Zack to lunch today at PF Changs in celebration of his “wreck anniversary”. As the waiter took our order and I asked about a dish he told me it was good if I liked garlic. Since we were splitting an entrée he also looked at Zack and asked him if he liked garlic. Zack replied “What is garlic?” The waiter laughed, looked at him strangely and asked how old he was. Zack didn’t seem embarrassed but I felt obligated to explain. I pulled out a photo and told the waiter that Zack had been in an accident and because of his brain injury he can’t always remember what things are called (aphasia). He was stunned and told me that he had been my waiter on another evening, months ago at Bahama Breeze. It was the first day that my friends had gotten me away from Frazier (Scott stayed with Zack) and took me to dinner. Steve was our waiter that night and had heard the story of Zack’s accident. He had seen the article in the Southeast Outlook and was moved through our ordeal. He never forgot it and now here we were on the anniversary and he was our waiter. He asked if he could share our story with others and told several people at other tables. He doted on us and when it was time to pay the bill he told me “See your story has touched other people as well”. We were quite surprised that the restaurant had picked up our check. We gave Steve a picture and copy of the letter that Zack had written to his friends. Earlier we had also delivered a copy of the letter to Nicole (one of the girls in the accident with Zack). I had called to get their address and her Dad said Nicole was having a rough time. The accident was too painful a memory for her to deal with so she just pretends it never happened. I promised her Dad we would hand deliver the letter so Zack could talk with her. She was glad to see Zack doing so well and moved that we cared enough to come see her. We pray that Zack’s letter will impact not just Nicole and his friends but the many teenagers who struggle with the pressures and temptations of living in our fallen world. I think it appropriate for Zack to end this posting with the letter written in his own words. May you be humbled by God’s mercy and inspired by His awesome power revealed in these words:


To all my Friends


I thank you all so much. When I was in the hospital you all were there for me everyday. You all cried all the time and prayed for me, which is the best thing that you could have done. While I was in the hospital, my Mom was trying to have me talk. I couldn’t but I could type on her laptop. The first thing I typed was something that all of you should remember. I typed the words “Zack is the only way to show you”. When I said that, it basically meant that I got in a serious car wreck and survived. Ever since the wreck I have gotten away from the rather bad things that I use to do and I am much closer to God. The wreck could have happened to anyone else and still might occur, so please don’t let the lesson God taught me be lost on you. I like every one of you and I want everything to work out in your lives. Just do the right things and you will have a good life now and an awesome one when you see Jesus in heaven. My faith in God has gotten me to do the right things and has gotten me away from getting screwed with my parents when they find out I did the wrong thing. The wreck was terrible. I still have aphasia, which makes me say the wrong words and not remember the word that I want to say. I also read slowly and have a blind spot in the side of my right eye, which makes me have to look over to the right side all the time when I am driving. I don’t want any of you to get in a wreck like I did and suffer from these conditions also. I thank you all so much for your prayers because that is probably the reason that I am alive today. I have gotten much closer to God and I am wishing the best for you. Be Christians and “Stay the Course”.

Your good buddy,

Zack