I thank God for my sons. They are a gift beyond price.

It had been a day like most days around our home. The gorgeous mild weather had led us outside to simply putter around the fading garden, and simply enjoy each others company. Around 4:15 PM, my husband came home bearing my favorite frappucino, and we remained outdoors, as he unloaded his car, including a bunch of items for the trash bin. Laughing at something Cam, my oldest had just done on his bike, I followed Dave around the side of our home, to the bins. Somehow, we collided and I fell, my foot catching under a depression on our lawn, and getting caught beneath the concrete. As I fell, I recall the huge bolt of pain, the sight of my foot completely twisted left, and the sounds of breaking bones before passing out.

My husband dead white and about to pass out himself, asked if I could stand. I remember trying to move and feeling this horrid looseness in the lower foot, and told him no, get me something for pain, before I could begin to try and move. At 63 and a cardiac patient, there was no way he could safely lift me and I knew it. And then, I heard my sons. They got the First Aid kit, and Cam, calmly knelt beside me, and asked me where it was worst. In a man's tone of voice and demeanor, he calmly told me he must get my foot up on his skateboard to splint it. Though pale himself, and knowing he was hurting me, he lifted my foot and set it up where he could begin to treat it. He is 14 years old and autistic. By then, my husband had brought me a vicodin which I dry chewed, and Cam again told me I must lift my leg. I did and he calmly and very professionally supported the foot with bandages pulled firmly., then finished it off for some reason with a splint covering the whole thing, tied in a neat bow.

My other son, 13 year old Justin, then asked did I think I could get up? I wept and told him no. Between them, they decided to grab a rolling office chair out of the garage, and between all 3 of them got me up and seated. My office chair was placed just inside our back door, so all I had to do once inside the garage, was hop onto it and get safely inside. Both of my sons knew how severely injured I was, and urged my still in shock husband that the hospital was needed.

Arriving there, it was discovered not only had I deeply fractured my lower leg straight across, but badly broke my ankle in two. The doctor described it as a catastrophic set of breaks, with at least a year of recovery needed. He was so right. I was set for surgery, when it was discovered my lupus was badly in flare, and infection present-so surgery was too risky. My sons have been nothing short of magnificant. Wheelchair bound, needing assistance with many things, surrounded by medical equipment, these young men have been my strength and my pride.

Since my husband leaves for work before daylight, I usually get up with him on days I can manage. Always one of the boys gets up and stays with me, until I return to bed or we begin our day. Mind you, my boys cherish their sleep, so this is no easy task. They've given up time with friends and playing basketball or bike riding, unless there's an adult in our home. Even then, they check frequently just to be sure their Mom is ok. In so many ways, these young men give evidence of character and strength. It's refreshing seeing this in a country populated with self centered destructive children. And I'm not alone.

My best friend Zee hurt herself very badly not a week before my accident, when an entertainment center dropped on her foot. Though nowhere near as severe, thank God, it was extremely painful. Her boys are the same age as mine. The younger, Tony, lifted the center off her foot, got her inside, cleansed and bandaged the area, and kept the situation calm and controlled, even though it was obvious his Mom was in great pain. And like my own, both Tony and Gregory continue to offer support and help everyday.

None of these 4 young men got to where they are by accident. It took  hours and hours of talking, loving and disciplining consistently, to bring out these strengths. And a constant and abiding faith in a Being greater than we are, actively present in our homes. Good parenting produces good children, and even finer adults. I now know my sons will get along fine in this world. They are already men in ways some adults never will be, because at the end of the day, when it counts, they'll be there.