davidbowerkingwood

One Misstep and My Life was Changed Forever!

On February 8, 2025, one careless step resulted in a fall that broke my neck! I remember thinking, as I fell, “Oh no!” I had no idea how much damage I would do, but knew it would be bad!

I fell on the concrete patio, face down so I broke my nose in two places and cracked my skull in several places around my right eye. My first thought as I laid on the concrete was to get up; to my great surprise, I was unable to even move!

Very shortly after I fell, our next-door neighbor showed up and knelt beside me; she said her son had heard me fall and called out to her so she came to my aid. Needless to say, there was blood all over the sidewalk so I didn’t have to say anything about my injury for them to call for an ambulance.

My right arm was trapped beneath me but with her help I was able to pull it out, only to discover the middle finger had been hyper extended, torn the skin back at my knuckle, to reveal the bone of the knuckle.

At that point I was convinced I needed a doctors care. By that time, my wife got to the backdoor and saw what was happening.

It didn’t take long for the ambulance to arrive and I was placed on a gurney and then in the ambulance and taken to the emergency room at the hospital. I remember them cutting off my clothing, which was a bloody mess.

I remember the doctor coming in to care for my finger and then a series of tests including an MRI on my head. By God’s grace, there was no bleeding in my brain to the great surprise of the examining physician who, reportedly, checked the scan three times just to be sure!

Rehabilitation Comes Next

Fortunately, there is in the same hospital, a rehabilitation facility to which I was transferred after less than a week. I was truly surprised how the physical trauma of the fall had impacted my body; I felt so weak and needed help for the simplest of tasks.

I stayed at this facility for around three weeks before they felt I was ready to be discharged. The next big question was where do I go next? The entire family, including me, realized that I was going to need more help than ever before.

For years I had been the caregiver and now things had changed, I would need a caregiver’s help. Fortunately, many years before, we had purchased long-term care insurance and all of us understood it was now time for a life change.

Our entire family had previously settled in a fast-growing community on the opposite side of Houston and we found a senior living facility near them, that offered the level of care I needed, and moved in after checking out of the re-hab facility.

Senior Living

Two days after moving into our new residence, we observed my 92nd birthday. Observing my 92nd birthday in a senior living facility across town from our house of almost 50 years had never even been considered as a possibility, but here we were!

It has now been almost five months and we are adjusting to our new environment. We now live in the same general area as our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and that is truly a blessing!

I have previously written, and once again endorse, the concept that home is a person, not a place! My beloved wife of over 72 years is with me so I am home in this new location!

Our former house has been sold and occupied by a fine young Christian family which has provided some comfort to me and my wife.

While we both recognized this change would have to come at some point in our lives, neither of us expected it so soon and so abruptly! The Lord had his own schedule in mind and worked it all in accordance with his plans for our lives.

We both rejoice in Ephesians 1:11 where it is written:

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

May God’s will be done!