On Saturday, December 23, 2017, the San Jose Mercury News carried an inspiring story about Doctor Matthew Wetschler, a surfer, a doctor, and now a patient at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
"Eight days before Thanksgiving, Wetschler was body surfing at San Francisco's Ocean Beach when a crashing wave drilled him head first into the ocean floor...." The result was a broken neck. Dr. Wetschler, who works in the Santa Clara County emergency room, did a self-diagnosis, while he was still under water, and he figured it was pretty clear that he was going to die. Luckily, a couple of persons with medical training were at the beach, and gave him immediate help. He didn't die, but the prognosis was for total and complete paralysis.
In fact, Dr. Wetschler is making "incredible progress," as the picture shows, and he is doing that one step at a time. The story is worth reading as an instruction about what human determination can do to overcome even horrendous physical injuries.
We might also consider the story as a metaphor for our current political situation. We have, I think it is fair to say, just experienced the political equivalent of a "crashing wave" that has driven our nation, head first, into what amounts to a very hard surface. Politically speaking, we are almost paralyzed, and might think we're dying.
As this New Year begins, let's decide we're going to take it one step at a time, and that we will insist on regaining control of our "body politic."
I mean, if you're looking for a New Year's resolution, that seems like a good one!
Image Credit:
https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/22/remarkable-recovery-bay-area-surfer-who-broke-neck-takes-first-steps/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for your comment!