Close to my heart...

I just wanted to do a post on something that has been going on recently, that has become close to my heart.

When I was in college, I met a guy named Justin, who became one of my close friends. Him and I would would go out almost every weekend, either to eat, go play miniature golf or go to the Fernbank Museum to watch 3D IMAX movies. Justin is absolutely one of the nicest guys I have ever met and he would make the perfect husband as well as father. With saying that, Justin one day expressed his feelings towards me but I'm such a weirdo, in the sense that I'm awkward when it comes dating and the thought of marriage scares me. After all was said and done, Justin and I slowly drifted apart and went our separate ways.

Almost five years went by and I get a text from a mutual friend saying, "Did you hear what happened to Justin?" My heart dropped...I texted back immediately..."NO, what happened?" ..."Bad car accident, he is at piedmont. Got hurt pretty bad."

Justin suffered 5 broken vertebrae worst at Cervical-6&7. I honestly had no idea what that meant, but after doing research, depending on where the spinal cord injury is and severity, depends on how much body function will be retained. For instance if you have a C1 or C2, you will no longer be able to breathe, without the use of mechanical ventilators. A C6 can result in limited wrist control, and complete loss of hand function and a C7 or T1 can result in lack of dexterity in the hands and fingers, but allows for limited use of arms.

Justin has been at Piedmont Hospital for the past 3 weeks, 2 of which were in ICU. I wrote his mother on facebook when it first happened, but without getting a response I didn't want to just show up and be like "Surprise, I'm here!" So at the end of last week he got transferred to the The Shepherd Center, which is a top notch spinal cord injury rehabilitation center. I called up there Saturday and asked if they would ask Justin if it would be ok for me to visit. They asked and he said, "Of course."

Then I was in a quandary of what do I take up there with me? Flowers are so overrated, especially when they get all sad looking and more for the fact, what guy really wants flowers. So I call my partner in crime and make him escort me to what I'm now going to call the "Witch Store." It's a physic store, so I figured they would have inspiring and uplifting trinkets. They did, but they also had a whole back room of witch oils and ingredients to make spells and witches brew...I assume. It was an experience to say the least, but I found a chakra crystal to hang on his window, so he can have rainbows in his room everyday. Talk about not wanting to be tutti frutti with flowers...I think I went all tutti frutti with the rainbows instead.

Photo © Amazon.com

I went up the Shepherd Center today, not knowing what to expect, only to find Justin looking good, energetic and actually zooming around in his electric wheelchair. He still can't feel from his chest down, but he can move his arms with limited wrists movement, but nothing yet in his hands or fingers. He is starting to have sensations in his fingers which is a good sign that it might come back after the spinal cord swelling reduces.

Several of his friends came by and we all went downstairs and grilled dinner. I stayed until visiting hours were over and I honestly didn't want to leave. I'm so grateful he has such a great support team and I'm happy to be a part of it. I'll probably be spending some time up there soon, as I told his mother I'm a complete night owl and I'd be happy to keep him company. He also hasn't seen "Breaking Bad" so I told him I'd get it and we'd watch all of the seasons, cause it's the best show on TV. :)

I know this isn't a beauty related post, but I just felt the need to say thank you to all of you, as you all make me feel loved everyday! The past few weeks have made me realize how important love and support is...it's vital. ♥

- Ashley