Richard's Story, or my story of shame.

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The great day came, June 2nd, 1971, graduation day. All of my family was there, you see, out of seven children, I was the second to graduate from high school. Now this may not seem like much of an accomplishment to you, but back then, it was great.

I already had a part-time job that would turn to full time as soon as I was out of school, I had my own car, I was living at home and had no worries. (if only I could find a boyfriend!!)

Then just 6 days later, I received a call from my brother. He was running late for work and he wanted me to pick up his wife and take her to work so he could get on to Jacksonville, Florida to his job.

"But Richard, I have to save my gas, and I really don't have time to go pick her up. I have things planned today."
He was upset with me but said, "OK, I'll bring her out there and then maybe you can take her to the Coffee Shop when it is time for her to go in to work." I agreed to that. It was 15 miles to their house from my house and a round trip would take a gallon of gas and I had to save every penny!!

Well, I waited and waited. The way Richard drives, it should only take him 20 minutes to get here. An hour passed, then an hour and a half. Where is he? Did he break down?

The phone rang, and I laughed telling Momma and Daddy that was Richard and he was really going to be late for work. But it was not Richard, instead a voice I knew but could not place, "Mary, let me talk to your Daddy."

I handed the phone to Daddy and stared as he answered the phone and then listened. Daddy's face drained, his lip began to quiver and then he said thank-you to the person on the phone. He hung up the phone and turned to look at Momma. "Now Momma, we need to go to the hospital, Richard and Joyce have been in an accident, but everything is O.K."

My heart stopped, my brother was hurt? No way, Richard is too tough, he was always beating me up and beating up the people that picked on me. There must be some mistake.

We drove to the St. Marys, Georgia hospital where they had taken Richard and Joyce. As we arrived, they were putting them both back into the ambulance, Richard was too critical to stay there. He was breathing, but he needed medical attention beyond their experience.

Richard was unconscious, but Joyce was alert. She begged me to go with them, so I jumped in the ambulance and off we went to the University hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

All the way to the hospital, I could not believe this was happening. Richard was too tough to be hurt. What were they talking about, he has to be all right.

Finally after an hour drive with medics working on Richard all the way, we arrived at the hospital. They rushed Richard to surgery and took Joyce to another surgical unit. We sat and waited and waited. Finally around midnight the doctors came to us. Richard was alive, but barely. Both lungs had collapsed and they hoped there would be no brain damage. He has broken arms, legs, neck and not sure of any other damage there may be. "If he can pull through the next 24 hours," the doctor said, "we will be more optimistic and can tell how much damage there really is."

Richard fought for his life for two and half months, but he would never be the same. Yes, he was alive, but in addition to all the other breaks, his back was broken in 3 places. Richard would never walk again, he will be a vegetable. He will not even be able to use his arms. He will just sit there and be tormented for the rest of his life. At least this is what the doctors told us.

Richard insisted on therapy, he said he knew he could get control of his body again, just give him the chance to try. My Lord, he is only 19 years old and a newlywed, they had been married less than a year.

Well, they gave him the chance and sent him to Warm Springs Rehab Center in Warms Springs, Georgia. Richard surprised them all, no, he could not feel his arms, but he could move his fingers, no wait, now he can move his arm, wait, look, he has raised his arms above his head. It's a miracle. Thank-you Jesus.

This gave us all hope, Richard would be all right, he would walk again.

Richard stayed in Warms Springs for six months and they tried everything they knew to help him walk. They put a brace from his chest all the way down to his feet. Richard could not stand up. The doctors told him to be happy he had recovered as much as he had and they sent him home.

Twenty-eight years have gone by. Richard sure surprised the doctors. They said with his injuries he would not live another 10 years. LOL

Yes, Life has been hard for Richard, his wife divorced him and took the only child Richard would ever have. You see, she was pregnant when they had the accident and no one knew.

But three years ago, Richard accepted Jesus into his life and his life changed. His daughter is back in his life, is married and living in the same town as Richard. Teresa has given Richard two grand babies to spoil.

Richard says he may not be able to walk here on this earth, but he will throw that wheel chair away when he gets to heaven.

Now ain't God just the best!!!!

And no, Richard does not blame me for the accident, but in my heart I know if I had not been so selfish that day, Richard would not have sped across the railroad track. He would not have even had to cross a railroad track, if I had been there for him to do him one small favor.