I remember going to work on that fateful day

A beautiful Autumn morn

The leaves were turning

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bright crimson and gold

The air was so brisk and clean

I was 38 year of age

I felt so much alive and was happy to be alive

On that beautiful morn…

But I did not know what was awaiting me

On that fateful day

That would change my life forever

It was the Sixteenth of October in 1992

It was a Friday, the end of the week

17 years have passed since but I remember it so vividly

‘Twas like yesterday…

Shortly before the end-of-workday I fell upon the floor

I could not get up without assistance

A piece of me was missing

My whole left side was gone

Where did it go?

I did not know…

My brain didn’t realize I even had a left side

Or what a left side was

I overheard the Paramedics on their radio

“We have a 38-year-old male with left-sided paralysis”

Those words are forever etched into my brain

I thought to myself

Who can that be?

Certainly no one I know

Not realizing that it was me

As I waved goodbye to my co-workers

I told them that I’d see them on Monday

Not realizing Monday would be “that Monday”

But rather a Monday months ahead in the future

My sense of humor was with me that day

My guardian angel kept prodding me

Telling me it was Ok

I told the driver I’d give him five dollars to blow the siren

Of the ambulance in I was riding

It was my first time but certainly not to be my last

It was truly an adventure and how I was so excited…

The angel kept me going…

I needed him it or I most certainly would have gone crazy

Knowing the severity of what was happening…

To Me

At the ER I had looked down upon my lap

I had no left hand!

Where did it go?