Many thanks to Heather Lende for sharing her journey… and the lovely photo here.

There is a book that lifted me out of suffering when I first got home from four months in hospital. It gave me hope.

Actually, it was offered to me before I could face it. My friend El said, “You know there is a beautiful memoir by a woman from Haines, Alaska who was hit and run over by a truck.” I didn’t yet have the concentration to read a book on my own. Others had been reading to me. I think a part of me didn’t want to face the fact that everyone gets hit by the proverbial truck someday. And what if her book touched on my pain and made me feel it even more?

Eventually I was ready. I was still a little nervous that it wouldn’t be very good. Then I read it. I savored it. It was gentle, honest and uplifting. It was beautiful. I read it slowly and kept going back to it… and still go back to it.

The book is Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs by Heather Lende.

I identified with her story.  The truck ran over her torso in the same way the Range Rover ran over mine. She stayed alert throughout her accident and directed bystanders, as I did. We have much the same injuries. She has a numb right leg and foot and is carrying around lots of similar hardware in her back. She writes about being broken and losing control; letting go and praying for help to hold on; wishing for ordinary days; following an extensive treatment regimen; and looking OK, but needing to think about every step.

Heather explores how much spirituality, the beauty of nature, the companionship of animals, the devotion of a partner, the joy of friendships, the inspiration of prayer, and the support of community meant to her recovery.

Heather quotes prayer as her chapter headings. From the Book of Common Prayer I particularly like, “Let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up.”

As the obituary writer for her local newspaper, she has her moments, as I do, when she feels “guilty for being alive when other, very good people hadn’t been as lucky.”

And yet, recovery from trauma has its gifts. A deep well of gratitude. And her beautiful sense that “God was near, and I listened for His light.”

You can find Heather on her website, her blog and you can friend her on Facebook. She shares great photos of her gorgeous home landscape, especially during this epic Alaskan winter.

Love & Light,

Valerie