From the Lacombe Globe 2005
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank you for your fair and honest report of the Tee's meeting.
People asked why I have such a passion about sobriety. If I can break the chain of events leading up to a phone call like I got on Dec. 31, 2004, I will have repaid a great debt. The call went like this:
-- 4 a.m., Mr. Gray, this is the Ponoka RCMP. Your son Mitchell was involved in an accident with a drunk driver. Mitchell was taken to Lacombe then transferred to The Royal Alex. It does not look good.
-- I pray.
-- I phone my son Andy in Edmonton to meet me at the hospital.
-- I pray.
-- 7:30 a.m., I arrive at hospital. It's hard to recognize Mitchell.
-- I pray.
-- I phone Mitchell's mother in Vernon.
-- I pray
-- Doctors say it's too early to tell: 12 breaks in leg, broken neck, smashed jaw, broken ankles, bruised heart, cracked vertebra, missing teeth, concussion, brain damage.
-- I pray.
-- I phone our church family.
-- I pray.
-- Surgery takes six to eight hours.
-- My son Andy supports me.
-- I pray.
-- I phone to get my third son Davis from work. Days start to blend. Day five or six, the neuro-surgeon talks about brain damage and strokes, personality change.
-- I pray.
-- The doctors start to bring Mitchell out of an induced coma. Mitchell not responding. Day seven, eight, nine, 10.
-- I pray.
-- Mitchell starts to come out.
-- Thank you.
-- Confused: Mitchell's physical pain, my emotional pain.
-- He's back.
-- Thank you.
-- Jan. 30, transferred to Ponoka General. Wheelchair, crutches, finally home. Rehab, doctors, appointments, church time.
-- January 2006, Mitchell drives himself to get implants made. Healing continues.
-- Thank You.
-- It's time for pay back.[Time to start a treatment centre,it's time to start Serenity Ranch]
Regards,
-- Jim Gray
Ponoka
