May 18, 2008
“Attitude of Gratitude: A Miraculous Journey Back to Life”
Guests: Roger and Kathy Mikulas
Anchoring Points:
1. We never ever thought we would find the path we have traveled this year in our lives – my taking a fall while setting up the stage for talented young kids to perform at the Tucson Folk Artist Festival, resulting in a journey of daily uncertainty and fear, often more lived through the eyes of Kathy, into revelations of love and support from others, faith and new life.
2. Our watchwords have become –
· Acceptance of the reality of life
· Gratitude for all of you and the professionals who have been there
· Faith that everything will be as it should be
3. Thank you to everyone for helping me understand what transpired in the year I may have lost, but really from which I have miraculously evolved.
· Five weeks of sleeping in the ICU and being in/out of a coma – Kathy never doubted that I would be one of those who would recover from insurmountable injuries. She believes so strongly that we create our own reality, and how we think about ourselves and others makes a difference.
· Folk music concerts in the ICU and support from five superb nurses, along with friends old and new, trading watch in the hospital – Kathy encouraged visits and the energy from others (countless musicians with instruments in hand) at the hospital, despite my not knowing they were there for weeks. She (we) was (were) never alone
· Fundraisers to start the “Musician’s Fund” – to help other musician’s in need.
· All the good-natured jokes, such as my needing to wear a crash helmet during the performance at the scene of last year’s accident. Or experiencing psychotic behavior from drugs, which prompted me to stuff all the clocks in the refrigerator or host a midnight tea party with imaginary visitors.
· The legacy of all or your messages of hope to us which we continue to rely upon today – Kathy’s lifeline became the Caringbridge.com site that allowed her to journal our experiences, post periodic updates on a secure internet site, and receive back a continual outpouring of support from friends and family around the world.
4. We had to learn to accept help and many kinds of support form others – too many to even count. This can be more difficult than doing things for others, yet allow us to discover how much people need to help when they know a loved one is in trouble. We do not have the right to keep people from doing things of us.
5. It is the continued outpouring of love and support that has made a difference in my miraculous – Mikulas – recovery.
