When “In Sickness and In Health” Gets Real

The past few months have been the most mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically exhausting weeks of our lives.

I was barely on my phone during the hospital stay except to update our immediate family, and the first few weeks home was nonstop appointments, medications, follow ups, and caring for Adrian.

Everything has felt like survival mode, like we have been living in a blur of fear, adrenaline, exhaustion, and prayer.

On November 6th, while at work, my husband had a serious accident.

A 200 to 300 pound phone display case fell on top of him and crushed him.

Paramedics called me and told me what happened, explaining that Adrian had reported he could not feel his legs or his feet.

I remember my breath catching the second I heard someone else’s voice on the line instead of his. My body went cold. I couldn’t think. I could barely breathe...

On the hour drive to the hospital, I called my parents and his, trying to keep my voice steady while my mind spiraled into the worst possibilities.

By the time I arrived, he was already in a neck brace with oxygen, barely awake.

“I’m here,” I whispered as I leaned in to kiss his forehead, and I watched him flinch from the pain.

Then I heard it

“Mrs. Scott?”

I turned around immediately, and within seconds I was being told again what had happened, what they were seeing, and what they still didn’t know yet.

And then I watched the trauma team test his legs and feet right in front of me.

I watched the trauma team test his legs and feet right in front of me. Touching. Poking. Checking reflexes. Asking him questions...

And getting nothing.

Hearing the words “no movement, no sensation” written down as they evaluated him did not feel real. It felt like a nightmare I could not wake up from...

I remember being in such denial that I started touching his legs and feet myself, asking if he could feel anything.

When he couldn’t, I was in complete shock.

Everything moved so fast.

He was admitted immediately, and there were early conversations about possible surgical intervention before another trauma doctor reviewed him and explained that the loss of movement and feeling were both temporary and would slowly improve with time and rest.

Thank God the spinal shock paralysis was temporary and not permanent...

We could finally exhale in that moment.

But we also knew we were not out of the woods yet.

Watching Him Learn to Walk Again:

Over the next almost two weeks in the hospital, his mobility very slowly started coming back.

First he could wiggle his toes...

Then move his legs...

Then sit up....

Then roll over in bed...

Then stand with help...

And eventually take a few small steps with a walker and assistance.

He was discharged home with equipment, instructions, medication, and orders for multiple outpatient therapies.

These last few weeks have been long, scary, trying, heartbreaking, and exhausting.

Watching my husband go through so many tests... be poked and proded...this kind of pain, helping him use a urinal in bed, giving him a sponge bath in bed, having to learn to walk again... has been one of the hardest parts.

Adrian was someone who almost never even took Tylenol for a headache... He never complained of a back ache...not once.

And now there are medications, mobility devices, and daily limitations everywhere we look.

I know what it feels like to wake up every day in pain and exhausted with fibromyalgia...

I hate that he is experiencing any of this...

The Parts Nobody Talks About:

Nobody talks about moments in marriage like these...

The line sickness and Health...sure, maybe it was obvious...

but...Nobody talks about how scary those words can actually get and feel.

These are moments I never imagined myself in...

Having to suddenly help him with basic things in the hospital like peeing, eating, bathing, walking...

There were moments I would break down in the shower so he would not hear me.

Crying in hallways and then having to pull myself together the moment someone walked in...

There was no time to process anything.

It was pure shock mixed with survival mode.

Just adrenaline.

Just exhaustion.

Just trying to get through the next moment...

What Could Have Been Permanent Was Temporary:

I am incredibly thankful to God that what could have been permanent was temporary...

Adrian still has a long road ahead, multiple injuries, 5 herniated discs, sprained shoulder, a concussion...and he is in so much pain...

But he is home.

He is safe.

And his body IS healing.

The Faith That Anchored Us:

I will say this....

One thing amazed me more than anything else...

My husband’s faith never wavered.

Not once.

Not in the fear.

Not in the uncertainty.

Not in the moments where everything felt overwhelming...

He kept asking for worship music to fill the hospital room...

He asked me and my mom to pray over him again and again...

Even when he could not move his legs...

Even when the doctors were silent and serious...

His first instinct was still worship and prayer.

His faith anchored both of us.

A register in the hospital cafe had a little Jesus figurine that ended up being my reminder too.

The very same thing I had been placing around for other people months before the accident...became the thing comforting me now.

It felt like God was showing me that every seed we plant is seen...

And that sometimes He uses the very thing we give to others to strengthen us when we need it most...

Thank You God.

Thank you to my mom, Stacy... for flying in the day after the accident as soon as she could...

For helping with the pets and the house.

For bringing meals.

For running errands.

For allowing me stay bedside at the hospital by my husband instead of driving an hour back and forth every day to take care of the pets etc...

You made such a difference, and we are so grateful.

And thank you for making me eat, shower, sleep, and take care of myself too...

I remember you telling me" You can't take care of him, if you don't take care of yourself. "

Thank you to everyone who has checked in, prayed, reached out, or sent love...

It means more than you know.

Please keep Adrian in your prayers for continued healing, reduced pain, clearer mind, and steady strength.

Beyond being home, we’re still in the middle of healing. Adrian’s body is still recovering, still rebuilding strength, still learning what “normal” looks like again after trauma.

He continues to push through physical therapy and outpatient therapy, and I’m taking him to every appointment, every session, every follow up… one day at a time.

For Christmas, my Meemaw got him a new and improved walker and it’s been such a blessing. It has a comfortable seat, a basket underneath, it’s lightweight, easy to hold, and easy to get in and out of the car. That walker is how he gets around everywhere right now, and seeing him use it is still something I’m adjusting to...

And with both of us disabled right now, me permanently and him temporarily, we’ve had to adjust our whole routine...as he used to primarily do most the cooking...grocery shopping looks different. Meals look different. Everything has shifted into “easy and convenient” right now, meals that can be made in the toaster oven or microwave, prepackaged options, and simplifying whatever we can...

In some ways, our home was already set up for this because my life with chronic illness has required it for a long time… disposable plates, paper bowls, small shortcuts that help me survive on my hardest days...

But I won’t lie, it’s been heartbreaking watching Adrian need the same tools I rely on. My reach grabber so he doesn’t have to bend down...because " No BLT" his PT says

( Bending, lifting, twisting)

The pill organizer I use every week, now filled for both of us... filling an extra weekly pill case just for his AM /PM pills along side mine every week...

Watching him take medication every morning the way I do…

Still, I keep reminding him and myself of the truth...

This is temporary.

His body is healing.

He is improving.

And even when it’s painful, I’m watching him fight for progress every single day.

We’re still in the middle of the story.

But we know God is writing it.

And we’re trusting Him with the ending.And honestly…

The only positive in all of this is the extra time we’ve been given together.

Life has slowed down for both of us in a way we didn’t choose, but we’ve been holding onto each other through it.

Instead of being at church in person right now, we’ve been watching online sermons.. praying together, and doing our marriage devotionals at home.

We’re learning how to cling to God in a deeper way, not just in the good seasons, but in the hard ones too.

We are taking this day by day.

And we are trusting God through every step...

That the outcome will be worth it all.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”- Psalm 34:18

Kristen, Unfiltered Xo 💋