Opinion: A mother’s heart aches for injured son in Tahoe
By Terry Soule
No matter their age, our children are always our children. It is never easy to see them sick, or injured or hurting. Our mama-heart aches with each of their aches. As a mother of four grown children, I have experienced this many times over the years, but never so much as after our 38-year-old son, Adam, was hit while riding his bike in South Lake Tahoe, Aug. 21, 2012. (Read Adam Rose’s story here.)
The injuries he sustained were critical and many – almost complete traumatic amputation of his right foot and lower leg, compound fractures of his left arm, severe injury to his right arm, multiple abrasions which removed about 35 percent of the skin on his body, bruises too numerous to count.
When I first received the call about his accident, not much was known other than he had a broken leg. I thought “OK. That can be fixed fairly easily.” Later that night, after speaking with the admitting physician and learning the extent of the injuries, I made plans to go to Reno where Adam was in ICU. My prayers kept time with each breath I took as I traveled from the Bay Area to Reno. “Please keep him alive, Lord. Please heal him. Please keep him strong.”
Walking into ICU at Renown and seeing him in bed, bruised and broken, was something I will never forget.
As the days progressed, I was moved by Adam’s grace to all who helped him – his nurses and other caregivers never failed to receive a quiet “thank you” from Adam, even when what they had to do hurt him. I did not hear him complain one time, nor did I ever hear “Why me?”
Adam told me that he holds no bitterness for the person who hit him, though she had shown no remorse for her actions. He said the bitterness and anger would only hurt him, and that he felt sorry for her as she would have to live with what she did.
Adam’s life was forever changed that day, and he will carry the reminders in his body, mind and spirit for the rest of his life. No longer can he take long walks with his beloved dog, Silas, or heft 100-plus pounds of wood on his shoulder and carry it as he works as a carpenter. He faces an unknown future with no idea of how he will be able to support himself. Though he has lost strength and mobility in his body, his spirit, attitude and faith remain strong.
It has been said that adversity does not build character; rather, it reveals it. Adam’s character has been revealed through this, and this mama is so proud.
Thank you for sharing. What Mother cannot identify with your
pain?
May God bless you and Adam.
I have become a friend of Adam’s since the “accident”. He is a truly forgiving and soft man. I could never forgive as he has done. I am a lucky person to have him as a friend.
Mrs. Soule you raised a very special young man.
As the father of Adam Rose, I, too, have never been more proud of my son. It is most devastating to see your child so severely injured and in pain physically and emotionally. My first response was to race to my son from the Bay Area during the night which I did not knowing what I was going to see or learn. The initial shock of seeing my son in the ICU will never leave my mind’s eye. However, I am confident Adam’s spirit, positive attitude, forgiving nature and sense of humor will help him to be victorious as he fights this battle for restored health of mind and body. Adam is indeed a very special man and I am thankful for the First Responders and Medical Team of Reno’s Renown Hospital. To all those who are supporting Adam now in so many different ways through this difficult journey I am grateful. I love you son.
Adam is my nephew and I echo Terry and Carlos’ words. Adam is a giving, generous and selfless man. This is one of those times we scratch our heads and say, “Why him?” But I believe Adam’s faith in God through his savior, Jesus Christ is what sustains him. And I am confident God has great things in store for Adam or He would not have spared his life. Please continue to pray for him for miraculous healing!
I’ve know Adam and the family for over 30 years, as I was his babysitter back in the day. As a mother of two I can’t even imagine seeing my children in the condition that Adam was left in by a very careless person. I lost contact with the family over the years but from what I have read and heard from people that know Adam as a “man” is that he is a gentle giant and very forgiving. As others said it would be hard to forgive, but then that hatred is carried with you for life if you don’t find a way. Adams mom Terry is the strongest women I know and I saw that back in the early 80’s when she would work her tail off at night to support her kids and I would babysit for her. Her four kids all turned out so wonderful and love them all.