1/30/14-My first Peer visit as a volunteer with the Trauma Survivors Network is tomorrow. TSN is a national support group for victims of trauma and their families. It's a forum for those who have experienced trauma and have survived and gives an outlet for everyone involved to connect, communicate, encourage and comfort others who are experiencing or have experienced some form of trauma.  The members of this group have stories of survival from traumatic brain injury to amputation to limb salvation. Everyone's story is different but yet still the same. Every survivor has a similar story of day after day of hospital care, life-saving surgeries, months of grueling physical therapy and most importantly the will to live or at least regain skills to have their life be as normal as possible. Most of everyone that I have met so far has a greater will to be a better person and help someone suffering than before their trauma.

Several months ago, a new chapter of TSN was formed here in my new hometown of Charlotte at Carolinas Medical Center. CMC has one of the best Level One Trauma Units in the nation. In this situation I hate to use the word 'fortunate' but fortunate we are to be some of the first members of this elite and amazing group of people. Fortunate to have incredible trauma surgeons in New Jersey who knew incredible trauma surgeons in Charlotte. Scott's orthopaedic surgeon here in Charlotte, Dr. Bosse, had a huge part in starting this group. As a matter of fact, he is the leader on a huge national research project, partly funded by the Department of Defense, on limb salvation and the benefits of peer groups like TSN. His research shows that most patients who have the support of others who have experienced similar acts of trauma are more likely to heal quicker, both emotionally and physically,  and have a higher success rate of returning to a normal and functional life.

His theory, which in my opionion is spot on, is that a surgeon can only do some much. There are only so many surgeries and so much medical technology that can repair someone in that situation. Once the surgeries and physical therapies are done, it's up to the patient and their support group to complete the healing. I can attest from personal experience that surgery and medicine can only go so far. You can only repair what's repairable. Even though humans are amazing creatures, damage is just that. Sometimes unrepairable.

I witnessed that first hand. It's truly amazing to me that my husband had the will power to live and the human strength to overcome his trauma. It took twenty four surgeries by some of the best doctors in the nation to get him back to a level of 'normal' function. No, it's not perfect and by no means normal and there are things with him physically that only God will fix one day at the gates of Heaven. There is a whole slew of things that he will probably never do again.  But in the big picture of things he is so fortunate to have regained some of his life back and this whole ordeal has opened up avenues that he and I would have never experienced.

Experiencing a trauma in any form, gives you a different perspective on life. It surely makes you more grateful for every blessing, no matter how small or insignificant. It makes you less aggravated over the little things in life that really don't matter. It makes you more patient and more forgiving. It makes you laugh at the stupid things that you otherwise thought were stupid. But it also makes you cry, makes you angry, makes you frustrated. Makes you question every decision you make.

I have the unique opportunity to open my heart, share my knowledge, give a shoulder to lean on, be a backbone, offer tissues, give a hug, grab a cup of coffee and lend an ear to someone who is just as scared and uncertain as I was two years ago and still am today.