An Ominous Anniversary

Today is the last day of the hardest year of my life (at least I hope it is my last hard year). One year ago today, I received that late-night phone call that all parents dread, informing me that my son had been in a nearly fatal motorcycle wreck and was on his way via Life Flight to Denver to our state’s primary head trauma hospital. After a nauseating three hour drive to Denver, Rich and I arrived at the hospital right after midnight just as they were wheeling Hunter into surgery to release the pressure on his brain. It was questionable if he would make it through the night, but he did. And then he went on to defy all odds in his recovery.

Nine days in a coma, followed by an extensive facial reconstructive surgery and another 7 days of unconsciousness; three weeks in the Neuro ICU and another 2 weeks on the neuro floor are all a blur to me now. Hunter had smashed every bone in his face, had several skull fractures and a severe traumatic brain injury; fortunately his bodily injuries were comparatively minor. Back then it seemed like my life was indelibly changed and might never get back to normal again. Now, 12 months later, I am so very proud of Hunter’s strength and resilience, his ability and determination to heal and his courage in facing what for some would be an insurmountable condition. As Hunter is fond of saying, he turns one year old today after the first year of his new life, and I have to say that my life has indeed returned to normal with only a few extra wrinkles to show for it.

Even though Hunter has gotten better each week since last September and has had a steady uphill climb in his recovery, it has been a long and difficult year. Lots of pain and confusion, uncertainty and loneliness, fear, frustration and anger. But Hunter’s strength and determination has been incredible and as impossible as this seemed a year ago, it looks like he is well on his way to a full recovery. He is living independently, getting stronger every day and it won’t be long before he is able to return to work, at least part time while he continues to build his strength. Eventually he hopes to return to firefighting, his biggest passion in life.

We have been so fortunate to have incredible family and friends that have supported us throughout this ordeal. I am deeply indebted to my sisters, my brother and my parents for their undying support and willingness to be there for us at a moment’s notice. And to my husband for supporting me and propping me up when I needed it and letting me fall back on him when I crashed. To my close friends and dedicated staff who watched over me like a mother hen and kept me going in the most difficult of times. The people in Hunter’s community and his firefighting buddies have all reached out and provided crucial support. Although the tendency is to feel very alone when you are going through something like this, we have always been surrounded by people who care and have been there for us when we needed it.

I have also had the concern and support of so many people around the country, some of whom I don’t really know personally but who have reached out to me because they heard of Hunter’s accident. I can’t tell you how many people, even now as I travel around the country, ask how we are doing and are sending us their thoughts and prayers. Although this has been a difficult and trying time, the love and support we have received has made a nearly impossible time bearable. I am so fortunate to be surrounded by caring and loving people, whether they are close friends and family, community members or kind strangers, and I have gotten great strength from this. Thank you.

I know that this next year I know is going to unfold great things for Hunter and I am confident that this time next year, his life will be back to normal and year-one of his new life will be a fading memory. This will be the last time I write about Hunter because I know he doesn’t like it and that he is ready to resume the normal life of a 23 year old. Again, thank you all for your concern and support through these hard times.

All the best,

Julie

Only the Best for My Horse

I’ll admit, I am very picky when it comes to my personal horse, Dually. While I am fully aware that horses are tough and adaptable animals that do not need stalls, bedding and blankies for their survival, I like my horse to be in tip-top shape, slick and shiny and comfy—for no other reason than it makes me happy. He works very hard for me and he tries hard to please me; in return, I try to do the best I can in caring for him. Between Rich and I, we own about half a dozen horses; while they all get excellent care, our two personal horses, Diggs and Dually, do get a little extra pampering.

Yes, they are in bedded stalls at night with heated water buckets in the winter and they get out every day to run and play in a large grassy field. They get exercised and groomed daily, even when I am not at home. They receive the best supplements on the market—Cosequin ASU for joint health, Proviable EQ (a probiotic) for gut health (something Dually really needs and is highly beneficial for him), Welactin (fish oil) for cardiovascular health and a gleaming hair coat and Calxequin, a hoof and vitamin supplement. Do they need all of this for their survival? No. But are they healthier and stronger for it? Yes. After all, I take this stuff everyday too (the human versions) and I believe strongly that if it is good for me, it is good for my horse.

Diggs and Dually also have a full wardrobe of apparel—blankets for every season and boots for every activity. Again, these things are not necessary for the horse’s survival but they are important to me. I want my horse to look good all year long—not sunburned, shaggy, scraped-up or bug-bitten. I want to make sure that when I load him in the trailer or ask him to perform a high-speed maneuver in the arena that he is protected from injury as much as possible as he does my bidding.

Last year I was fortunate to discover a new line of horse blankets, Bucas, a well-established European company, using high-tech materials and superior design features, which keep the horses comfortable and cozy in all four seasons. The shape and cut of the blankets are far more comfortable than other brands I have used, fitting really well at the shoulders and withers, with a remarkable attention to detail. The durability of Bucas blankets is exceptional—after a full year of use, Dually’s heavy blanket looked brand new after its annual washing (and he is notoriously hard on blankets). And because of the high-tech materials, the winter blankets are comfortable in a wide range of temperatures, as we get here in the high Colorado mountains, so one blanket replaces the need to be switching between a heavy and medium weight blanket. Since our horses get turned out in wooded fields with other horses with their blankets on, they can be pretty tough on them. Over the years I have found that it is cheaper in the long run to pay more for a high quality blanket that you can get many year’s use of, rather than buy a cheap, ill-fitting blanket that falls apart in the middle of the winter.

Our horses wear blankets or sheets all year long. In the summer, they wear Bucas fly/sun sheets during the day to protect from insects and to keep their dark, richly-colored coats from burning in the harsh high-altitude sun. Last week, as the night time temperatures began hovering around thirty degrees, we started using a blanket at night too, in an effort to keep their winter coats from coming in too soon. This is not just for aesthetic reasons but has practical implications since we ride indoors all winter and a long, wet hair coat is difficult to deal with in below freezing temps. The Bucas blankets have a special inside liner that has so much wicking ability that you can put it on a wet horse and he will dry quickly.

While I am fully aware that horses do not need all of this pampering and protection, it makes me feel good to do it. I love looking at our beautiful horses with slick and shiny coats, vibrant dapples and rippling muscles. I love seeing them run and frolic in the fields or sleeping peacefully in their deeply bedded stalls at night. It is personally fulfilling for me to provide the absolute best care for my horses. How about you? What luxuries or pampering do your horses get? What is most important to you in terms of your horse’s care and well-being?

Until next time,

Julie

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