after l8 hours of surgery, and weeks of intensive care, michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. i saw michael about six months after the accident. when i asked him how he was, he replied, "if i were any better, i’d be twins. wanna see my scars?" i declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.
"the first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my soon-to-born daughter," michael replied. "then, as i lay on the ground, remembered i had two choices: i could choose to live or i could choose to die. i chose to live." "weren’t you scared? did you lose consciousness?" i asked. michael continued, "... the paramedics were great. they kept telling me i was going to be fine. but when they wheeled me into the operation room and i saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, i got really scared. in their eyes, l read ＇he＇s a dead man.＇ i knew i needed to take action." "what did you do?" i asked. "well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me” said michael. "she asked me if i was allergic to anything. ‘yes,’ i said. the doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. i took a deep breath and yelled", ‘gravity’” over their laughter, i told them, ＇i＇m choosing to live. operate on me as if i am alive, not dead＇."
michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. i learned from him that every day we have a choice to live fully. attitude is everything.