Five Years to Live by Frank Zaccari

Author:Frank Zaccari [Zaccari, Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781623452483
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2012-10-04T04:00:00+00:00

Donna made the drive to Magee every couple weeks. Her mother would often come to keep her company, share the driving, and just keep a loving, watchful eye over her daughter. Donna continued to hold out hope that Michael would fully recover, and they would continue their life together. Dealing with some of the small minds in her small town was starting to wear on Donna. At first everyone in town was helpful and sympathetic. As the weeks turned to months, however, she started to hear comments like “It’s time to move on with your life”; “Michael’s never going to walk again”; “Michael will never come back here to Delhi”; and, the most hurtful one, “You deserve more than half a man.” The first time she heard the “half a man” comment was from a male family friend at a large family gathering. Donna slammed her hands on the table and shouted, “He is not half a man. He can’t walk right now, but he is not half a man. In fact, after my last visit with him, I can assure you he is more of a man in the bedroom than any man in this room.” She stormed out of the house with her sisters in hot pursuit. Her mother turned to the men in the room and angrily said, “Stupid runs deep in this room. We are here to help her, you morons.” With that she went to try to comfort her daughter.

While she looked forward to seeing Michael, the visits brought mixed emotions. She was happy to see Michael becoming a leader at Magee. That was no surprise. However, it was depressing to see once strong, healthy, and vibrant people struggle to hold a spoon, or brush their teeth, or even take a sip of water. Donna tried to learn how to perform a transfer and dress Michael. When she struggled she became more depressed. Amy took her aside one day and told her, “Sweetheart, everyone struggles at first. It takes time and practice. You will get it. It’s never easy, but this is his new reality, and it will be your reality when he gets out of here.” It will be my reality. Those words continued to echo in her mind. Donna started to come to grips with the fact that Michael was not going to walk out of Magee—or ever again. “I have to focus on the positive,” she told herself. “He is still Michael. He is different, but he is still Michael, and he is still alive. We can make this work.” Despite her self-pep talks, she had begun to doubt whether she could do what was needed.

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