Reality really hit when, about 36 hours later, the nurse put on my back brace, and I attempted to walk across the hospital room.  I held on to the walker and took three steps.  Despite the morphine drip in the IV, the pain was almost entirely intolerable.  At this point of tremendous pain, I had a moment of clarity: I could visualize myself with a healed, strong spine, and I knew I was going to make a complete recovery, despite the diagnosis and pain!

In my practice, holistic treatment is not a passing trend or a gimmick to sell alternative medicine.  Holistic health is about emphasizing the whole person and utilizing all beneficial health options available.  My recovery would result from utilizing strengths found in traditional healthcare, including body imaging technology, physical movement, and practice, and in holistic healthcare mental conditioning with prayer, nutrients available through foods and supplements, medical intuition and knowledge of self, and Reiki energies.  Tremendous healing power comes only through the combination of the whole.

With the exception of two cracked ribs, I had never broken a bone.  But, when I heard the loud crack (a sound I will never forget) as I landed on my back on my garage floor, my body immediately told me, “I have broken my back!”  My intuition was speaking loudly and clearly, and I was listening.  I wiggled my toes, arms, legs, and jaw; nothing was numb, tingly, or paralyzed, thankfully.

The day spun on with a series of tests and procedures at the hospital, and my initial intuitive response was confirmed: I had a burst compression fracture of my fourth lumbar vertebrae with an epidural hematoma (a bruise between the vertebrae and spinal cord).  In other words, I had broken my back!  This news was difficult to wrap my mind around.  The entire day seemed like a whirlwind dream, and I was still in shock about what had happened.  The excruciating back pain, however, reminded me that this was all very real.

I believe everything is connected and happens for a reason, even if we do not recognize the reason at the time…

I had an accident this summer (summer 2010) and it created an opportunity for me to share how my life experiences and work relate to my own health.  By blogging about my traumatic injury and the recovery that will ensue over the next weeks in my life, I hope to inspire my readers to look at holistic health in a new, inspiring way for their own lives. 

As they say, inspiration strikes at unusual moments!