Dearest friends/dedicated fellow athletes,
There are absolutely NO words to diligently describe how grateful I am for your giving heart, your loving gestures and your selfless acts of kindness that have been showered upon me since my challenging accident on November 16, 2014 at Ironman Arizona.
As a result of this accident, I was in the hospital with a traumatic brain injury and 2 breaks in my right clavicle, 7 fractured ribs on my right side and my body was covered in road rash. After 2+ weeks in the hospital, I was allowed to spend another 2 weeks at home in Phoenix with my family, with more physical, cognitive and speech therapy. I was then cleared to come home to Ohio and have since been only able to work part time, continue with physical therapy and "ease" myself back into training. It's a slow process and while my initial goal this spring was to run a Boston Qualifying marathon, that might not happen this year, but it'll still happen. Someday. I'm physically almost 100% but my fitness fell after being in the hospital for so long and being restricted on movement. Due to my traumatic brain injury, I struggle with fatigue later in the day and I'm told my full recovery on that end might take months. Sigh.
This accident changed my life forever and at times my mood shifts up and down depending on how I resolve all that happened that tragic day. My body is healing well and my emotions at times are still raw as I process all that happened and my thoughts/plans/heart as I gaze into the future. I’m definitely not the same person I was since that difficult day. Most times I see myself with a deeper gratitude and respect for life, and I approach each day as a true gift, recognizing that life is too short to be unhappy, no matter what my bank account says or my achievements in races or relationships. Other days I see this journey as one that is drawing on qualities of myself I have lacked for a long time: patience AND grace towards myself. Both are required of me and pushing myself to be calm and loving towards myself as I regain everything I lost…physically, mentally and emotionally.
When my medical team in Arizona gave me the green light to return home to Ohio, I stumbled upon this quote, which I still read and hold fast to my heart:
Even when days are challenging for me and I remember a difficult series of personal events in 2014 leading up to Ironman Arizona and then the accident itself, I remain faithfully certain that I can and will begin again. I will get back to my athletic self once again; I will swim, bike and run once again with passion AND gratitude for being alive AND given a second chance at life. I will pursue my professional and relational future with joy and less fear-based worry. And it’ll be a great time.
So many of you gave selflessly for my wellbeing and it has literally kept me afloat. Almost all of what was fundraised for me has been used on medical bills so only working part time right now is challenging for me but I'll survive. From the bottom of my heart, YOU are the reason I can pay extreme medical bills…felt supported during the darkness, encouraged and loved when I only saw loneliness and defeat. YOU have given me hope and reason to push onward…. with pure bravery.
Much love and admiration to you all,
Amy Avery
"Iron Amy"
www.purebravery.com
ironamy.blogspot.com
There are absolutely NO words to diligently describe how grateful I am for your giving heart, your loving gestures and your selfless acts of kindness that have been showered upon me since my challenging accident on November 16, 2014 at Ironman Arizona.
As a result of this accident, I was in the hospital with a traumatic brain injury and 2 breaks in my right clavicle, 7 fractured ribs on my right side and my body was covered in road rash. After 2+ weeks in the hospital, I was allowed to spend another 2 weeks at home in Phoenix with my family, with more physical, cognitive and speech therapy. I was then cleared to come home to Ohio and have since been only able to work part time, continue with physical therapy and "ease" myself back into training. It's a slow process and while my initial goal this spring was to run a Boston Qualifying marathon, that might not happen this year, but it'll still happen. Someday. I'm physically almost 100% but my fitness fell after being in the hospital for so long and being restricted on movement. Due to my traumatic brain injury, I struggle with fatigue later in the day and I'm told my full recovery on that end might take months. Sigh.
This accident changed my life forever and at times my mood shifts up and down depending on how I resolve all that happened that tragic day. My body is healing well and my emotions at times are still raw as I process all that happened and my thoughts/plans/heart as I gaze into the future. I’m definitely not the same person I was since that difficult day. Most times I see myself with a deeper gratitude and respect for life, and I approach each day as a true gift, recognizing that life is too short to be unhappy, no matter what my bank account says or my achievements in races or relationships. Other days I see this journey as one that is drawing on qualities of myself I have lacked for a long time: patience AND grace towards myself. Both are required of me and pushing myself to be calm and loving towards myself as I regain everything I lost…physically, mentally and emotionally.
When my medical team in Arizona gave me the green light to return home to Ohio, I stumbled upon this quote, which I still read and hold fast to my heart:
“No matter how hard the past, you can ALWAYS begin again.” –Buddha
Even when days are challenging for me and I remember a difficult series of personal events in 2014 leading up to Ironman Arizona and then the accident itself, I remain faithfully certain that I can and will begin again. I will get back to my athletic self once again; I will swim, bike and run once again with passion AND gratitude for being alive AND given a second chance at life. I will pursue my professional and relational future with joy and less fear-based worry. And it’ll be a great time.
So many of you gave selflessly for my wellbeing and it has literally kept me afloat. Almost all of what was fundraised for me has been used on medical bills so only working part time right now is challenging for me but I'll survive. From the bottom of my heart, YOU are the reason I can pay extreme medical bills…felt supported during the darkness, encouraged and loved when I only saw loneliness and defeat. YOU have given me hope and reason to push onward…. with pure bravery.
Much love and admiration to you all,
Amy Avery
"Iron Amy"
www.purebravery.com
ironamy.blogspot.com
"We only go around once.... there’s really no time to be afraid. So stop. Try something you've never tried. Teach it. Do it. Risk it." -Jon "Blazeman" Blais