My Hero

Justin "Uncle Tuft" chillin with Lexi and Roscoe Justin waiting for dinner last Monday
The Boys
I have been blessed to have many heroes in my life: my parents, my grandparents, friends, siblings, and many acquaintences who I have watched experience tremendous trials and bounce back. The most significant hero up to this point in my life is Justin Tuft. Justin has been Shawn's best friend (brother) since the seventh grade, and I am so grateful that I have been able to consider him my brother for the past 4 and 1/2 years. When I married Shawn it is like I got a package deal...Justin just came with him. There was never any explanation, I was just expected to set dinner for three like four nights a week, become an avid ultimate frisbee cheerleader, say "whad up Dawg" like a true St. George thug, figure out a lot of lame inside jokes, and just hang with the "boys". Justin is so hilarious and has a way of making "just sittin here chillin" the most fun thing to do! Seriously anyone that knows Justin feels like he is a member of their family and if you're lucky he really becomes one.
On September 7, 2006 Justin left our house on his Harley and a van hit him head on. He did not have a helmet on and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He was life flighted to Las Vegas (Hell Hole-way too long of a story to go into) Dr.'s told his mom that he had a 1% chance of living through the first night and if he did he would most likely be a vegetable. There were so many people who drove long distances to stay by his side and be with his family while Justin was in a coma fighting extreme brain pressures. Prayers were said, blessings given, a lot of tears shed, and even some laughing while people talked about memories with Justin and jokes he use to tell. Amber (sister) and Kim (mom) were so incredibly strong. I learned so much (and continue to learn) from these two amazing women. I remember Shawn and I praying so hard for Justin to just survive and have the same fun and great personality. No one could even bare to think of him losing that.
Justin was in a coma for over 2 months (finally lifeflighted to SLC-which saved his life) when he finally started responding. Slowly Justin has fought and he has come back. There have been so many doors slammed in his face (especially during improvements) and so many trials that he and his family have had to go through and continue to go through. I mean you think the accident would be enough, but no, there has been so many issues with just simply getting decent therapy. It has opened my eyes to healthcare in this nation. I am grateful to live in this awesome Country, but trust me there are issues, I have seen it first hand and it has been the saddest thing to watch someone (especially our dear friend) get "thrown away" multiple times.
After spending several months in a local nursing home Kim and Amber decided to bring him home where he is now, and they currently pay out of pocket for therapy and basic care.
Justin is a miracle. He not only has all of the great qaulities of his old personality--but he's even better. He is a true hero. He is so quick to bare his testimony. He is so positive, always trying to bring others up. Just tonight I asked him what his goals are and this is what he said
"First I am going to crawl, then I am going to eat by myself, get myself dressed and then I am going to walk."
Me-"What about running another marathon with me some day."
"Yes! As soon as I can walk my next goal is to run, and when I can run I am going to run to Vegas.
Me-"Vegas?! How are you going to do that?"
"Haven't you ever seen Forrest Gump? Once I can run I am going to run forever."
I had to fight back the tears. I mean this is the ugly part of life, the part that people don't like to hear about. The part of life where you watch someone struggle through so much pain for functions that the rest of us take so for granted. It has been so hard to see Justin break down on a few occassions and hear him sob to just be able to play frisbee, eat his food without shaking, take a shower by himself, or just get up out of bed on his own. Whenever someone asks me "Hey how is Justin?" I have to evaluate do they really want to know about the pain and unfairness that he and his family go through on a daily basis or do they want me to say the usual "fine."?? I have learned that some people go through hard hard things and that you don't truly know and realize the need to trust in the Lord until you experience a little piece of it. There have been several nights I have layed in bed crying thinking "Why Justin?" It just has not made sense to me. He had nothing more to learn. He was already my hero before the accident (the kid has already been through so much in his life). Nights like those I have had clarity come to me. He didn't have more to learn...we did. Justin is so close to so many people, like I said before, he is family to all who know him. I honestly believe that in the preexistence Justin volunteered to go through this to bring us back, to bring his friends and family back. That is the kind of person Justin is and always has been. He would never allow any one of us to go through what he has gone through. I know Justin stepped forward and said "Please let me. I will go through it all." Justin I speak for everyone when I say Thank you. Thank you for letting us serve you. Thank you for lifting us up. Thank you for your strength and your testimony. Thank you for persevering for all of us. I know that you will achieve all your goals. Just like you always told me during our long runs "Mind over Matter." We all love you.