A Piece of My Testimony

By Tonya Dunlap

This book honestly depicts the many challenges our family faced during my husbands recovery journey. How we got through these challenges together. He is a car accident victim whom suffers from a brain injury called Post Concussive Syndrome. Largely this book is the story of what I went through being his wife. It is also book about our support system and my faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 7, 2009
• ISBN: 9781453502228

Tonya Dunlap

I wrote this book because I couldn’t find a book that I could personally relate to during the most intense part of our new reality. I also hope to help someone when I share my story.

Book preview

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1        A Phone Call . . .

Chapter 2        Remember Me?

Chapter 3        Please Take Me Home

Chapter 4        We Are Friends

Chapter 5        Appointments to Fill Our Days

Chapter 6        Normal Isn’t So Easy!

Chapter 7        Please Don’t Insult Us

Chapter 8        No Candy Assing This Time!

Chapter 9        God Answers Prayers!

Chapter 10        Bad Medicine

Chapter 11        Recovery & Forgiveness

Chapter 12        Life Is For Living!

Dedications

I dedicate this book to Jan, Steve, Marty, Martha, Brian, Marian, without you all we don’t know where we would be today. Thank you so much for what you do and who you are every day.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To my husband who works so hard on his recovery. Jason, Robert, Travis, Nathan, Ravon, Tina, Gary, Stefi, Ryan, Jen, Tommy and to our extended family including the boys friends. It means so much to know that you are always there unconditionally; I love you all very much!

CHAPTER 1

A Phone Call . . .

I was sitting here at this very spot on the computer when my husband left for work. It was a bright sunshiny day, the day before Halloween. My mom was here on an extended visit from out of town, she had broken her foot and was getting medical attention while staying with me. My daughter hadn’t gotten out of school yet. My one son Blake was watching a movie and Logan, my other son, was still sleeping after working the grave yard shift. It was as average of a day as any for our household.

The phone rang, my mom asked, Its Bill, should I answer it?

I replied Yes mom, if its family or Beth I always talk. I don’t talk on the phone much (we have a bunch of nuisance calls i.e. 800 numbers, sales and such). I was puzzled though. It was rare that he would be calling just as he left for work it was only 3:20 in the afternoon.

I was in such disbelief when he said honey I was in an accident I am hurt really bad I need you. I remember pausing and replying,

What the hell, you aren’t serious.

He said, I’m serious come help me.

I asked Did you go the back way or the normal way? Have you called 911?

He said The back way.

I said I love you. I will be there in a minute. Call 911!

He said I love you too. Please hurry, I am scared.

I franticly woke up my son and told him about dad. He jumped out of bed as the rest of the people in the house got into his Suburban. Logan had only been driving for a short time (couple of months) and I was telling him to, go faster, put your hazards on, you’ve seen dad drive in an emergency you can do it too. Please, get in the median and drive! Do you want me to do it? I will take the ticket. Dad needs us now, just go!

My mom was encouraging me to take a few breaths; we need to get there safely. All the while I was dialing Bill’s cell phone and not getting any response. I was so upset; I didn’t know what way to go for sure. Thank goodness the boys had the directions all under control.

I remember praying to God please be with him because I wasn’t. Please don’t take him from us right now. He is a good father and the love of my life, he is finally loved like he should have been his whole life please let him live. He is a beautiful human don’t take him from us now please. I opened my eyes because one of the boys said oh no mom’ and than I heard is that the, no way that’s the truck. Before the Suburban was in park I ran out of the vehicle. I could hear my mom telling me to stop. As I was running I felt like it was like the slowest movie I had ever seen, even the sounds seemed to be echoing. I got to the first officer and asked where is my husband?

He was very sarcastic as he said I don’t know who your husband is. Not once did he bother to take his eyes off the note pad. I was crying and said his name and he pointed his pen towards an ambulance.

I ran toward the ambulance and saw (still like a slow-motion movie) a young woman standing on the curb picking glass out of a small child’s head, and she had another young woman standing with her. I got to the back of the ambulance and there were officers and paramedics blocking the way. I had to stand on my toes to see inside, to try and get a glimpse past all of them to see if it was him. Then I saw his work boots, they had removed them from his feet. And the rest of his clothes were on his body. Fearful and calm I asked an officer if that was Bill and explained he is my husband. The officer wanted car insurance verification, agents name and number and didn’t answer me in regard to his condition.

At that point Logan was there by my side asking, Is Dad ok?

And then Blake too, is Dad all right? I looked to my boys and saw my mom’s face with the sun shining through her big bronze red hair. Her face was flushed white and when we made eye contact she asked, What can I do? And handed me Bills wallet.

I asked for her and Logan to give the officer any information that he needed. I asked Blake to please just call your brothers and the family.

Blake said, I did mom and Jacob is on his way with his mom and Adam is at work. There was a crowd of us forming at the back of the ambulance. I noticed Bill’s co-worker and his fiancée coming our way, I told them, I don’t know anything yet.

They said, We are not going anywhere yet. We love you guys, we can wait.

And then a paramedic came to me and asked, Who are you?

I told him I am Bills Wife and he is the man in the ambulance."

He asked, Will you come with me please?

I begged, Can I please be with my husband?

He explained, There is no room in there with three of them in there already, but you could go to the side door and let him know that you are here.

When I did let him know I was here, it was the strangest response from Bill, he said ok good I have to go to the hospital I think, they aren’t telling me anything. Can I go home?

I said no we need to be sure you are ok can you feel your legs are you ok.

And he said, I think so, are you Andrea I can’t see you?

I said, "Yes babe, it’s me. I am going to ride in the front seat of this ambulance. Let me get in so I can talk to you