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  What started out as a weekend of rafting has led my daughter Angie down a path of intense pain, a re-evaluation of her lifes priorities and a shitload of boredom and a forced hermit-like existence. Oh yeah and 4 surgeries to date.

   On August 8th of 08 she, and some buddies, were camping out at a campground/rafting outlet. That night she went for a stroll to find a bathroom. In the dark it was a grope and hope situation. Well, so much for the hope. She caught her foot on a tree root. What happened next is kinda graphic but she ended up with a compound fracture just above the ankle. She fell down a 10 foot ravine with a lot of rocks at the bottom (low river level = exposed rocky terrain). It was REAL obvious to the paramedics. What they were betting on was if she'd even keep her foot later. At one point she kind of knew that there was a serious problem with her foot but just to what extent she was unsure. Later she found out.

  After a 5 week hospital stay and 3 in a nursing facility, numerous calls to us, and me in the middle of the night at work crying because the pain meds weren't doing the job plus some real soul searching on her part, she finally was able to come home. Then the real fun began. In a hospital/nursing home environment you've got access to someone 24/7. At home you got you and whomever you can get to help. She's got one good leg to move around with, a leg that had pain of 7 or better on a 1 - 10 scale 24/7. She was taking medication that would bring down a horse for hours. Sleep was only a wish at this point. A coma would've done just fine however.

  Through it all she's managed to remain optomistic. She still intends to be walking unaided by the anniversary date of the injury (8-8-08). She's managed to be a Mom to Dakota though we kept him at our place while she deals with the pain. She's had her 4th surgery to replace the hardware and get a bone graft. This gal has had her fair share of crap.

  If you're wondering where my admiration comes into play it's in the conversations we've had since the incident. I've got 58 years behind me and some scars to prove it. She's aquired perspective at 27 that took me over twice as long to get. She ain't no philosopher or guru but her simple ways of looking a situations amazes me sometimes. Her objectivity probably comes from her re-evaluation while having nothing to do except bit a strip of leather and wait for the meds to kick in.

  They say when you're down and out you'll make a deal with almost anyone (usually God) to help see you through. Once it's over you can reneg on the deal because you weren't in full control therefore didn't know what you were doing. At least that's how we see things. Angie isn't that kind of person . For a young gal her word is like a contract. Even if it's made with a spiritual situation. You can take her at her word and if something happens to endanger her word she'll be right on top of it openly and honestly. You can trust her.

   I've dealt with all kinds of people. From high rollers to real trash. And I've found admirable people in the whole spectrum. I might be biased but I feel Angie belongs right up there at the top. You will too once you get to know her. She's one of my role models and I'm proud to be her Dad.