Love, loss and learning to incorporate grief

Excuse me while I dust off my blog space! Hope no one sneezed from the dust – because I certainly did!

So, where have I been lately? Have I stopped writing and blogging? No.

I just… couldn’t…

I have been recovering from a fractured femur, and the surgery required to put me back into the game of life.

Last year, I wrote about the weight of grief that had me down for the count. Can I share that I didn’t want to tell anyone that I had even more trauma and grief added earlier this year, when I tripped on a step and propelled into the air, sprawling across an entrance foyer, and landing on the unforgiving marble?

The irony was, I had been in Texas to celebrate our youngest son’s graduation from Air Force Basic Training. As he was headed to his advanced training to become a firefighter, I had the opportunity to meet some of San Antonio’s finest firefighters, as they transported me by ambulance to the hospital. I had never been in an ambulance before, so I can now check that off any social media “have you ever” listicle…

The long weekend that was originally planned turned into three weeks of recovery and rehabilitation before I could fly home. I could not put weight on my leg for a few months. Recovery and rehab continued with in-home care.

It was hard to feel creative and sit long enough to write anything. I learned a lot from this experience, such as, I can hop on one foot – using a walker for support – the distance of 150 feet. It was a great skill to have, since I had to literally, and figuratively, hop on a plane to get home. I used the walker sideways down the aisle to hop to my seat. Trust me, I could write volumes on how air travel is NOT friendly for anyone with mobility issues.

Art journaling
Art journaling kept me sane.
art journal
Coloring to the rescue!

Instead of writing for several months, I began art journaling. That really helped me stay sane.

There is a limit to how much one can watch TV, read or listen to podcasts. Going outside in a wheelchair was not easy. I was able to hop down a few steps to get outside. But to get back inside, I had to bottom-scoot backwards up the steps, slide on the floor to grab the counter-top, and with my spouse’s assistance, pull myself off the floor to a standing position. My arms became my legs. Thank God for the skills I learned in kindergarten – “crab” crawling, butt-scooting, hopping on one foot, and coloring. And napping.

The isolation of the injury was awful. At times, I sat in my wheelchair, looking out the window, watching life go by. I allowed myself to grieve, and then I was back to powering through the struggles and taking my life back.

There are so many parallels to my recovery from that physical trauma as well as the grief trauma I was already working on. New neural pathways had to be created in order for me to move – such as hopping – not much different from the new neural pathways created in my trauma therapy. And, neural pathways had to be dismantled, too. Such as, not needing to hop any more, when that was my first response. No different than dismantling the “I’m bad and not worthy” neural pathway created by that little girl who was processing sexual abuse. Basically, I was – and still am – learning to incorporate varying levels of grief, feeling them, and releasing them.

I had a lot of time to process and grieve what had happened – physically, spiritually and emotionally. Sometimes it was so painful, and other times, the a-ha moments made all “the deep, hard work” beautiful.

One of my occupational therapists told me that I be would stronger. His exact quote was, “You will be stronger and in better shape than before the fall and break.”

His exact quote was, “You will be stronger and in better shape than before the fall and break.” Click To Tweet

I cried when he said that. It didn’t seem true. Yet, as I look back, I believe those were the wisest words I have ever heard. Ever.

I may not be where I want to be yet, but I feel I am physically, emotionally and spiritually in better shape than I was before the fall. Not just in muscle mass and physical strength, but in my emotional and spiritual growth and strength as well.

What is the “deep, hard work?”

It is the grieving – the losses, the pain, the should-of, would-of, could-of. It is releasing the guilt that accompanies loss. Turning the “what if” into “even if.” And, it is in the happy tears of gratitude – the balance of the expelling the cleansing tears of grief and the experiencing the sweet tears of relief. It is learning how to incorporate grief and relief, and creating a new balance. It’s being kind and gentle with yourself on the days the grief is overwhelming, and embracing the days when it is not.

When I left the hospital, I grieved leaving behind the team that was so instrumental in getting me on the road to recovery. Yet, when I got home, I cried tears of joy when I saw our other three children and my precious dog, Sadie.

So, I am honoring both sadness and joy – and creating balance – as I continue on this crazy journey called life. So sad I was out of commission. So grateful to be coming back.

Much love,

Love and Loss

© Lynne Cobb – 2022

8 Replies to “Love, loss and learning to incorporate grief”

  1. Hi Lynne,
    We are so sorry to hear about your recent fall and subsequent injury. I bet the 3 weeks away from home were filled with anxiety. We are glad that they could treat you and get you mobile enough to return home to your family (including Sadie). Now is the time to rest up and take it easy, unless the therapists suggest otherwise. It’s great to hear from you. Nice to hear that your youngest picked the Air Force and a career field that he can use when he gets out of the service, unless the service is his career pick. Stay well and keep in touch. Love from Bob & Darlinda.

  2. I am so sorry to hear about your injury, Lynne! But I really enjoyed reading how you worked through all the stages of grief and trauma and emotion. Sounds like you’re stronger than ever. Great post!

  3. Lynne, I really enjoyed reading your post. I love your drawings — art (or anything creative) really can be therapeutic. Feeling isolated had to be so hard, especially after the last two years with the pandemic. It’s inspiring to hear how you got stronger physically, emotionally and spiritually. Everything that happens changes us in some way. I hope you continue to be kind and gentle to yourself; the world out there can be really tough on us!

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