<p>cleansing tears erupt when i read your posts…</p>
<p>there is so much good in the world…and bad.</p>
<p>for those who think my S needs a wheelchair for grad…I
heartfully appreciate your concern…</p>
<p>do know that he was attacked @11:30 PM…obviously
knocked unconcious…</p>
<p>he awoke in a ditch @6:00 AM good friday…and crawled, stumbled…walked, close to a mile
w/ his shattered face to finally find help at a convenience store.</p>
<p>The clerk cleaned his loving face and called a cab to the hospital.</p>
<p>JD
Amazing your S could walk/crawl that far! The pain, the nightmare! It hurts just hearing this news! He sure is a fighter, and from a family of brave souls.</p>
<p>Your poor injured son spent the night in a ditch, alone? Those thugs left him there? How awful! But what strength he had to go for help. </p>
<p>I have an Irish temper. It is aroused very rarely. Most people who know me think that I never lose my temper. But I do, infrequently. I can feel the rage rising at the moment. You should forget that you know the address of one of the thugs. The last thing your family needs now is another problem. But maybe you should send it to me. Middle-aged, out-of-shape, female university professor, no matter. I feel as if I could take him on and get the better of him. And the urge is there.</p>
<p>jdjaguar,
As a former prosecutor, I would like to “have at” the perps in court. Frankly, even at my diminutive 5’2" stature, I would like to have five minutes in a room with each of them before we enter the courtroom. </p>
<p>I hope the detectives are able to do their job well. But. mostly I hope that you and your wife and both your sons can take a deep breath and move ahead as slowly as your injured son needs. Or, as quickly. </p>
<p>Please do keep us updated as often as you feel up to it. We all appreciate it.</p>
<p>I just read every post of this thread, and need to add my prayers, and my awe of your son’s spirit and yours, to the chorus. </p>
<p>What an amazing graduation this will be, for you, your family and his class - I cannot imagine that his story will not be known far and wide. Think of what he can teach them.</p>
<p>jdjaguar, just adding my voice to the others. Years ago, I spent many long days beside my son’s hospital bed. It’s a hellish journey, but you WILL get through.</p>
<p>Just catching up after a long day at work. I am so glad there is progress and will continue to keep your family in our prayers. There may still be many ups and downs in the recovery but your S is on the right track. Such strength and will to live are bound to take him great places in the future.</p>
<p>jd,
I am sure it would mean a great deal to the clerk if you can follow up and let him/her know how your S is doing. (And let the boss know, too.) Our family was the beneficiary of some Good Samaritans recently and I have been going back to thank them and let them know how much we appreciated their help in a time of need.</p>
<p>I cannot fathom leaving someone in a ditch unconscious. Add me to the posse.</p>
<p>I’m confused – were the detectives going to talk to your S or a suspect?</p>
<p>I hope your family continues to feel the love and support flowing here and that you use to wrap around one another to keep you protected and warm. There are far, far more decent, loving people in the world than there are thugs, and I hope that can carry you through days of uncertainty and anger, as well as days of joy as graduation and healing begin.</p>
<p>JD, hand me the keys. I’ll hold them while you search for that song on Youtube ‘Little Wonders’. Give it a listen, and try to get past the desire to drive over there.</p>
<p>Any lawyers here that can help JD assist the law with their ‘jurisdiction dispute’?</p>
<p>The perp is in the process of moving? Jeez, what next…</p>
<p>Aha, you just gave me an idea for something productive to do (instead of getting in the car).
A letter for the clerk would be terrific for her resume.
A letter to GF.
A letter to your S.
Letters for anyone or everyone…
Your wife and the rest of the family.
The doctors, whoever has helped you.</p>
<p>A written thank you is very powerful. It’s emotionally cleansing, also.</p>
<p>Or at the least, you could start a journal of of this journey. (you have a good start here on this thread). I would also write (in the journal) a letter to the perps. Never to send it, but to get my thoughts in order.</p>
<p>I know you still have a half billion things to think about, but writing can be very calming.</p>
<p>GA2012MOM, you poor thing! Of course you can be my wingwoman! With CountingDown, and momof3sons, we have quite a posse. After we get these perps, we’ll go after yours!</p>
<p>(I can’t believe I am turning into Rambo. I am completely nonviolent. I don’t believe in the death penalty. I sing Kumbaya.)</p>
<p>I’m sure the clerk will be overjoyed to hear of your son’s progress, jd. He/she has probably been worried sick.</p>
<p>I feel terrible that I did not open this thread until now and I have read the entire thing. </p>
<p>JD: I am so sorry beyond mere words that your son has gone through this terrible ordeal. As parents, it has to be the hardest thing ever to have your son suffer. </p>
<p>I read your post about how he lives and sees…and yes, please hold onto that thought…he has survived. It will be a long haul but he will make it. We all know it could have been worse. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, four years ago, I went through my then 16 year old in intensive care and surgery as well and wondering if she would live and if she did, if she would ever fully recover. I can’t imagine anything worse than what that experience was like for me and I also could not sleep for days on end. But your situation sounds worse to me because my D’s was the result of an accident and your S’s is the result of a crime. You are right to be angry about the crime. For now, you have to deal with the suffering and the anger later, and just be there as your son heals. </p>
<p>I am really glad that you are going to book a family vacation because it DOES give you all something to look forward to. And now the graduation too sounds like it will happen and it will take on way more meaning than you ever thought possible under the circumstances. One thing that kept hope alive and something to look forward to for my D was that she was receiving her college acceptances in the hospital including her first choice dream school and it was something to shoot for and she did recover during the six months until college began. So, your son has some things to shoot for too. First, his graduation! I recall seeing my D graduate HS 3 months after her injuries and it was filled with more emotion than a graduation would normally be for me. Keep that thought…it will be a very special day for you all. It will all turn out OK after this very difficult time. </p>
<p>Lastly, I will NEVER forget the outpouring of support from soooo many people on CC during that time and I read every post and I eventually printed them out to save and show my D how strangers on the internet cared and prayed for her recovery. It really meant a lot to me. And so, I hope you will continue to post here and update us but mostly that you will feel the love and support from your fellow CCer’s, all these parents who know how painful it has to be to have your son hurting so much. </p>
<p>I’ll be thinking of your family and hoping that each day is better and better for your son and that he makes a full recovery and goes out in the world despite this horrible setback and is a huge success in whatever he does in life. That will be the best revenge of all (though I still also hope that justice is done in a court of law with the perpetrators).</p>
<p>Life is going to get better and better for your son from here on out. Lots to look forward to! For us, it is four years later and now our D will graduate next month from college. Please know that brighter days are ahead and we are all pulling for your son!</p>
</p>