I believe the "books started to fall off the shelf" for me the day my husband dropped dead at work (he was a soldier in the military at the time). His 5 co-workers saved his life that day with CPR and doctors and nurses saved it again and again. My life was saved that day by experiencing this traumatic event. My heart broke open and I woke up. We had an amazing life and family life leading up to this day but after that day I felt like I was now really living. I now know what is truly important to the core of myself. My husband survived a massive cardiac arrest. a subsequent brain injury with the help of our family, our friends and our military community.
My husband, son and I dared greatly and thrived over time with this experience. My husband medically released from the military last year and just graduated with IT tech diploma and will return to school in the fall to do a IT security diploma. My son is now a 16 year old with a wise brain and loving heart. After taking care of my husband that first year after his heart attack, I went looking for a job. The book fell off the shelf - I got a job at Military Family Services helping other military families (the goal I set for myself in the hospital) and have to continued to work for military members and their families through the good and tough times in their lives.
I am grateful for this learning, post traumatic growth.
