Yesterday was three years from the day that changed our lives. Time flies, but I can't believe that it has gone that fast. I got the call in Tokyo and it took what seemed forever to get home. The weeks in ICU dragged by in slow motion. Advanced care was agonizingly slow. Inpatient therapy blew by so fast that we were out before I knew what to do. The appointments, therapy, meds, etc were hitting us faster than I could keep up. We went through more crap in a few months than I have ever done in years. Two kids in HS, one a senior. One in college at the time. Now all 3 are in college. How is this possible?

I've learned a few few lessons since that day. My priorities have changed dramatically. My job is just that. A job. I need it to pay the bills and keep the insurance. Everything else that goes on is secondary to my family.

I learned that my kids are going to turn out OK. They've stepped up and busted their butts to see that their mom is cared for. They have seen and done stuff that most 15-18 year olds (at the time) can't even imagine. Thank God for that! They'll be good folks.

I learned (even though I took it for granted much of the time) what Sam really means to me. I damn near lost my best friend. I have spent many nights looking at her while she slept, wondering what I'd do if she wasn't there. All the work, all the frustration, but all the small gains, all the hope. We're taking it one day at a time, and she has been an inspiration through it all. She keeps me going with her attitude and sense of humor.

I also learned to keep a positive attitude. Without it we'd have gone nuts a while ago. "This ain't right, but it's all we got." We're going to hang in there and work on this. Don't know how much we can get back, but we won't quit.