I finally broke today. My last class was functional skills and today’s task was shaving, I spent the better part of an hour looking at myself in the mirror, and for the first time in my life I could not recognize myself. I know I am still the same face but the person inside me is being affected by my dependence on others. As my Occupational Therapist left the room my world crashed down on me as I looked around and realized how helpless I am without the assistance of others. The simplest tasks have now become my greatest puzzles and my frail shell of a body is incapable of solving so many of them that it has now become overwhelming. I am so thankful to have had Katrina and my mom Maria by my side through all of this, they have been both my anchors and my lighthouse in this unknown sea; without them this day of realization would have come a lot sooner. It took both of them being gone for the realities of this injury to fully sink in and also to realize what a truly long road to independence and full health lies ahead. Thank all of you for your support of both myself and my family, without you paving the road for us it would be a lot bumpier ride.