I have another blog with 2 other amazing girls. Check it out!: Cajun Titanium
This is from one of them in response to my last post. Liability that makes a lot of sense to me. I don't believe for a second that that's the case with me, but I guess they don't care enough to give me the chance to show them, either.
GIRL, you amaze me! I know what damage my accident caused, and that was with me IN A CAR! I can't imagine being on a bike and getting hit at the speed u were! The fact that u wanna return to work at this point is a testament to ur strength. I know ur sad and discouraged, and I'm sorry...it really sucks that our employers couldn't have our backs when we were at our lowest points in our lives.
My accident was my 2nd brush with death over the span of a year. That way, when I had the accident, I think I was better able to accept things, and at a faster pace. You need to remember; you came back with flying colors from something most people wouldn't have survived. You need to realize that your hard work and dedication are NOT in vain; You WILL get your life back, but not necessarily in the timeframe you choose. You need to look at yourself and the position you're in objectively. Being a nurse, I was always trying to encourage my patients. When I'm being hard on myself or getting frustrated with my situation, it helps to go into nurse mode, step outside myself and look at myself like a patient. What would I tell a patient who just survived countless heart surgeries, orthopedic surgeries, had metal in half their body holding them together? What would you say to that patient who re-learned to walk, despite bones broken so violently that doctors didn't give them hope of ever walking again, much less running or riding a bike? I'd say "You're the strongest person I've ever met!"...and you, Jen and I ARE...the strongest bitches I know!!! It may sound like we're too confident, or cocky, but we've been to hell and back! We know what it means to survive, and we get to be proud of ourselves for that!
I think we lost our jobs during FMLA because we're viewed as a liability. We weren't supposed to recover the way we did, but when we did, it showed that we weren't the types to shrink from a challenge...we're fighters. Strong people, strong WOMEN, make people nervous. Instead of seeing that we want to continue being productive members of society, contributing to our respective fields of study, we're viewed as suspect for wanting to return to work. We MUST have ulterior motives; I honestly believe they think we plan on getting hurt at work so we can sue them, or that somehow, we will hurt ourselves or exacerbate an injury that would hold them responsible!!! When you consider the number of people who commit insurance fraud, fake injuries, and basically try to get a free ride, it's not surprising we were treated so shabbily by our employing companies!!!
I'm really jazzed about court this week, and I'm feeling so much better about things! When I got on the stand, I thought of you a lot, wondering if you'll ever get the chance to face your offender, and tell him in painful detail how he's fucked your world up?!? You may or may not ever have that chance, but it doesn't mean you can't hold others accountable for their offenses, namely your work! I would seriously pursue your suspicions, and make a lot of noise! Threaten to go to Lee Zurich or newspapers! Tell them you know they're giving you the runaround and you intend to expose them. I fully believe that if I hadn't gone to every court date, and taken the stand on Wed. , that he would've gotten off with just probation!
I guess my point is, that nearly dying that 2nd time in a year made me realize something I hope you realize; we were meant to survive, to be here and share our experiences. I struggled with my 12 years of Catholic education before I came to this conclusion; God really doesn't give you more than you can handle. We might have to reach down really deep to handle it, but we're handling it nonetheless! The fact he gave us such challenging ordeals shows he has faith in us...maybe that was the point all along, to help us see just how strong we can be when we have to be!
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