Given a second chance

On July 22nd, 2022, I got a call no wife ever wants to receive. “Melissa…I work with Eddie, and I wanted to call you because he is one of us, but I have to tell you he’s been in an accident.” My head was spinning with questions because he was last at work working a double and should have been getting ready to come home, so how was he hurt? “He’s been in an accident, his leg is badly hurt, and he’s pretty in and out of it.” My question again was, “how was he hurt? Was he in his patrol car…..?” Her response was, “Noooo he was on his bike.”

My heart dropped, and I felt like all the blood rushed out of my body. My whole body began to tremble uncontrollably because of everting racing through my mind. 

On this day, Eddie’s life changed forever. Eddie finished his shift and was on his way home when a driver going in the opposite direction made a left turn right into him, knocking him off his bike. Eddie’s bike went approximately 5 feet from the point of contact at the intersection, while Eddie went about 10 feet from the point of contact. Eddie suffered a broken left leg that required extensive surgery to repair, and he also suffered a severe concussion. He spent a week in the hospital recovering and has spent the last three weeks at home pushing through the daily pain and at-home physical therapy. He still cannot recall anything from that entire week before the accident, and his memory is still hazing on many things. But with all that, he continues to fight through it all for the sake of his children and for being given another chance at life.

Most motorcycle accidents end in complete and utter tragedy. We are lucky enough to still have Eddie with us here on the beautiful earth. Without him, we are not complete. Eddie will need approx six months to heal completely. We still don’t know if he will need any other surgeries requiring additional healing time (we are praying he does not).

Throughout the last four weeks since the accident, we have been blessed with family and friends asking if we need anything and how they can help. I created this fund because of everyone’s abundance of wanting to help us. When we need help, we often suffer in silence because pride can be too great. Going through this experience Eddie and I have realized how necessary it is to be able to ask for help and not go through this trying time alone. Suffering in silence would only mean making my family suffer, and that is far from what I want to do. So with an open heart, I ask my friends and family for help. Eddie will be out of work for approximately 12-24 weeks, assuming no further surgery is needed and that he continues progressing through his physical therapy. I cannot withstand the financial load on my own as much as I want to be able to hold it all together in every aspect, I cannot. Between doctor appts and physical therapy, the kid's school, and managing everything else that comes with running a household, I recently had to take a leave of absence from work. It was starting to take a toll on me, and the exhaustion was beginning to manifest as severe anxiety and panic attacks. I know I can and will be stronger and of better use to my family by taking this temporary leave.

So for those who have asked to help and in what way, this fund will help us continue to push through the day without worrying about how to keep a roof over our heads, pay the necessary bills etc. It will help me and Eddie focus on his recovery instead and on making the most of our gifted time with our kids. It is a true blessing and miracle that Eddie is still with us. For him to still be present for our children is everything I’ve ever wanted for them. To still have my best friend is a gift from god and my mom, who was with Eddie that night. I genuinely believe she shielded him because she knew that not only could my kids not live without their father, I simply wouldn’t have been able to withstand another detrimental loss of the only best friend I have left.

We want to thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and for your help and support in every way. Please feel free to share this as I may not have access to some family members or friends' email, FB or phone numbers.