I remained in the hospital for over three weeks, recovering from my serious injuries--and an even longer time in rehab, where I had many (pain-filled) hours of physical (and occupational) therapy. It was harder than I realized because I had orthostatic hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure), and sometimes I'd get so dizzy during therapy I'd black out.

Once I was strong enough (and once I was able to conquer the tilt table), I learned to stand (and later walk) a second time; not having any feeling in my lower half, it was extremely difficult. I had to look down to make sure that I was swinging my lower half between my crutches. More often than not, I'd pitch forward, fall flat on my face, often bloodying my nose or chin, and blackening both my eyes). I looked as if I'd gone several rounds with Mike Tyson or Muhammed Ali (and you can probably guess who won--and it wasn't me, that was for damn sure!!).

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Frank continued to be there for me as I struggled to regain my health. To help me get through my worsening bout of depression, he purchased a tiny six-week-old kitten (Norwegian Forest Cat), which he promptly named "Aurora Borealis of the Far North" (or, for short, "Aurora"). She was beautiful: silver and black with gloriously long, thick fur, a bushy tail, huge, expressive grey eyes, and the longerst whiskers I'd ever seen on a kitten. She had a soft, delicate mew, and once she'd see Frank or myself, she'd instantly dissolve into purrs. She had a perfect personality, and she'd bring a smile to my face, making me forget of my troubles--for a little while, at least.

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By November of 2006, I was back at work. It helped being out of the house, but I couldn't repair the vehicles anymore due to my paralysis. Instead, I worked as a receptionist, answering the phone and fielding calls. It wasn't nearly as exciting as repairing vehicles, but it paid the bills. The guys were glad to see me, and they did everything they could to help me with my depression and dealing with my paralysis.

Again, life seemed to be brightening for me. I had a man who loved me, I was back at work, and I made enough money to catch up on overdue bills. I figured that the worst was behind me.

Little did I know that fate would come knocking at my door yet again. Little did I know what life held in store for me.

~End of part three.~