Damn right I'm thankful (1362 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.59 on 46 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Hadley Tobedone (View user info) at 2005-11-24 22:55:12 EST
Two Thanksgivings ago, I smiled and politely nodded as every parent in the room lovingly rubbed their children's heads and said how thankful they were for their family's health. I didn't think it meant much - obviously we all want our family to be in good health. I said the same thing, when my turn came up in the circle. Sure, I meant it, but I had been fortunate. I'd never really had to deal with any sort of crisis which would lead me to really appreciate that blessing.
Last year, there really was no Thanksgiving dinner. The family was scattered, so I drove the half hour to my parents' house and had a small, quiet dinner, then came home and watched football. No one felt like dealing with the reality that we didn't know how The Boy was doing, or even if he would make it to Christmas.
See, 13 months ago, The Boy had been in his living room, watching TV and kicking at the TV stand. He did this every day while his mother did the dishes from lunch and got his sister ready for afternoon kindergarten. Everything was normal until she heard a crash and The Boy's laughter stopped.
He had somehow knocked the TV off the stand and it landed on him. He didn't even have a chance to throw his hands up to try to protect himself. They didn't call me until they had news. His skull was fractured in three places. There was a lot of swelling and some bleeding on his brain. He was being kept in a medically-induced coma until they could be sure he had stabilized.
That began semi-weekly drives down to Louisville for me. I was there when they woke him up. I was there when they moved him out of PICU. I was there every time he got out of physical therapy if I could make it, although that was partially for selfish reasons. Couldn't help it. She was hot.
Several times I fell asleep in his hospital room, and he would always wake me up with that remote control fart machine and his wheezy, maniacal giggling. He made me proud the day he put in a menu request to his nurse," I'm.....a man.....I....need.....BEEF." Sure it took him almost 40 seconds to say it, but it was the first whole sentence I had heard since his accident.
By February, I couldn't keep driving down all the time. Work was getting busy and I had other family obligations, so I didn't see him for a few months. He's improving, but we still just don't know. He may never be like everyone else, but that's ok. He manages to make everyone he meets love him.
So this Thanksgiving, tears rolled down my cheek as my turn came around and I held The Boy. I proudly said that I was thankful for everyone's health, but mostly for the progress he has made. I never thought having a child punch me in the face, bite my nose, and stomp on my nuts could be so rewarding.
User Reviews
Submitted by corn_nugget (user info) at 2008-01-28 12:18:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I worry about this all the time. It was hard to read this.
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2006-01-27 11:35:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
What a little trooper. It's bad-ass that he was able to crack a smile in a neckbrace with a shaved head and he declared his manly need for beef, +2 & +2. Here's another +2 for producing such a cute kid.
Submitted by leilani (user info) at 2006-01-27 11:17:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
eeek, poor kid.
i hope they got a more stable TV stand now.
Submitted by thorpe (user info) at 2006-01-27 06:48:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
He sounds like a fucking champ to me.
Submitted by PokeyPecker (user info) at 2006-01-26 11:38:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I'm thankful I work in a morgue and get to eat dead human brains after closing every day. Kind of like the leftovers from McDonald's at midnight.
Submitted by Dreg (user info) at 2006-01-26 11:30:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Well this certainly put's a new spin on things.
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-01-26 11:28:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Glad your kid is ok.
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2005-12-12 23:14:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by OneCheapGeek (user info) at 2005-11-25 22:52:56 (#)
Ranking: 1
When children use televisions to try to get away from you, it's a sign that you should go the fuck away.
_
HAHAHAHAHA
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2005-12-12 22:26:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I never rated this the first time I read it. When I didn't find any fart/shit/piss jokes; lesbian referrences; or anything else of shit quality and passed out.
+2 for whoever splashed the water on my face to revive me.
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2005-12-02 17:41:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 kid that kicks stuff
Submitted by Viciousriffs (user info) at 2005-12-02 17:25:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Needs more cowbell.
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2005-12-02 16:57:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
poor kid. glad he's doing better. hope that continues.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-12-02 16:45:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Gee, you are a good boy after all.
Submitted by Dead_0hi0_Sky (user info) at 2005-11-30 10:23:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by katianakate (user info) at 2005-11-30 10:01:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked the way you wrote this, around the theme of giving thanks, but also to tell the story. Sounds like he is doing a great job recovering and I hope it continues.
Submitted by WillZone (user info) at 2005-11-30 09:48:53 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
-2 as post was not advertised on uberboard.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-11-28 22:07:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
mitted by bob (user info) at 2005-11-25 20:17:26 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2005-11-25 13:13:18 (#)
Ranking: 2
Holy shit. You're human.
...
why do i get the feeling that if someone else had posted this had would have been like, "OMFG EVERYONE HAS PROBLEMS IN THEIR LIFE. YOURE NOT SPECIAL?" """
uh, because you're twelve?
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-11-28 13:47:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Intriguing.
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2005-11-28 13:38:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by OneCheapGeek (user info) at 2005-11-25 22:52:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
When children use televisions to try to get away from you, it's a sign that you should go the fuck away.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-11-25 21:43:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2005-11-25 20:17:26 (#)
Ranking: 0
why do i get the feeling that if someone else had posted this had would have been like, "OMFG EVERYONE HAS PROBLEMS IN THEIR LIFE. YOURE NOT SPECIAL?"
----
Yes, I always say things like that when tv's fall on the heads of children. Although I do think I would like to see one crush your worthless little skull.
Once again, you show that you know fuck-all about anything. I understand that being a child genius who has cured 7 diseases and won 3 Nobel prizes, but you know shit about me. I don't mess with kids or things that have happened to them, especially not something like this.
Submitted by Walker (user info) at 2005-11-25 20:26:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Whoa! Close one, man! Just goes to show how badly EVERYONE needs a wall-mounted plasma screen TV!
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2005-11-25 20:17:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2005-11-25 13:13:18 (#)
Ranking: 2
Holy shit. You're human.
...
why do i get the feeling that if someone else had posted this had would have been like, "OMFG EVERYONE HAS PROBLEMS IN THEIR LIFE. YOURE NOT SPECIAL?"
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-11-25 20:08:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
that is some quality exstacy he is on there, got any left?
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-11-25 19:51:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Thanks for the kind words, everyone.... This year's update, he still has some instability while walking and he doesn't have full control of his eyes yet. He can see, but he lacks the motor control to make the little movements we take for granted for focusing, etc. His speech is still slow, but is much improved, as evidenced by his asking, "What's cooking, Toots?" before dinner last night.
Oh, and for everyone who asked, he isn't mine.
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2005-11-25 13:13:18 (#)
Ranking: 2
Holy shit. You're human.
----
All too human, my friend. All too human.
Submitted by Required_Reading (user info) at 2005-11-25 17:22:04 (#)
Ranking: 2
cute kid and inspiring story.
yoy look awful in that photo though.
----
Yeah, that wasn't my best day. 10 hours at work, 2 in the car.
Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2005-11-25 18:41:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good luck to the boy
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-11-25 17:33:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Holy shit....This ain't +2 material but I wish the boy well.
Submitted by Required_Reading (user info) at 2005-11-25 17:22:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
cute kid and inspiring story.
yoy look awful in that photo though.
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2005-11-25 13:13:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Holy shit. You're human.
Your kid?
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2005-11-25 10:42:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by nahnoneofit (user info) at 2005-11-25 10:00:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
hell yea
Submitted by Stuch (user info) at 2005-11-25 07:51:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!
My heart strings.
Submitted by Xcuses (user info) at 2005-11-25 07:28:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
nice
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2005-11-25 04:50:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Motherfucker you look like a linebacker... but I would still beat you in a fight.
+2 smiling kid.
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2005-11-25 03:25:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i'm thankful cause i just stopped at the gas station
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-11-25 01:43:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
jeebus
Submitted by peternorth (user info) at 2005-11-25 01:19:34 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
I can't crack on the kid, so it saved you from a -2. But I'm thankfull that I wasted the 2 minutes reading your post instead of downloading porn so you get a +1
Submitted by The_Cyst_Master (user info) at 2005-11-25 00:20:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm thankful to be illiterate.
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-11-25 00:06:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE you'rE
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-11-25 00:05:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Hadley, your a man of hidden depths.
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2005-11-24 23:59:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm thankful I have no alters
Submitted by Akira (user info) at 2005-11-24 23:52:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm thankful I'm not Method's alter.
Submitted by Oleannder (user info) at 2005-11-24 23:42:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I am a sucker for sad medical stories.
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2005-11-24 23:01:10 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I'm thankful that you're not my friend.
Submitted by hollygolitely (user info) at 2005-11-24 22:56:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm thankful that you're my friend.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-11-24 22:56:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Yeah, when he stomped on my nuts, he said, "Take that Junior!"
I love that boy.