I found out that my uncle was involved in a severe car accident which severely damaged his spine. This caused him to lose all sensations below his neck. The result? Tetraplegic paralysis for my fun loving uncle. No one can really believe it happened. He had always been active for his entire life, but now he’s confined to a bed, and it hurts everyone so much to see him like this.

1. It’s just hard to believe what just happened. It seems too cruel for this to happen to somebody you know. It just doesn’t register, but it’s happening.

2. You know of the worst case scenario, but you don’t know how bad it can actually be. Imagine yourself being the person affected, having to stare at the ceiling of hospital rooms hour after hour, day after day.

3. There is a tone of uncontrollable sadness and pity towards their family after the incident. I couldn’t help but feel heart-breakingly sad for his wife who has to see the man she loves like this.

4. You feel helpless. They’re hurt in ways you can’t change or fix. They have emotions you don’t, they have problems that aren’t yours. It’s hard to really empathize with someone going through these things because you’re not them.

5. Seeing someone hurt humbles you to the world. Life lessons may be learnt through seeing your loved one’s life change so drastically from just a split second. It teaches you how to be grateful for the things you’re not, and it teaches you to be protective of the things you are.

6. You want to say “get better soon” but don’t know if that’s the best thing to say. Even the way you speak to them is like you’re walking on eggshells because it might do the opposite.

7. You really wish for all the luck in the world. All the people around him are hoping for the best, and for him to be blessed by a miracle. They do happen, and it is something we are praying for, so hopefully there will be luck on our side.

We love you Uncle Seon, Aunt Claudia, and London. It’s a tough time you guys are going through, but once you get out of this initial mess, you will only be stronger.