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I'll remember him every time I run.This is a piece of the tree that almost killed my friend, Jay. It left him paralyzed from the chest down.
This is the bowl that Jay's friend, Tom made out of that tree.
Jay says the bowl will serve as a reminder of how something beautiful and useful can come from something horrible....
This is part of Jay's story.... I think he's pretty cool & amazing
~ Hello, my name is Jay Erwin and running changed and saved my life! After purchasing P90X and losing 50lbs, I began to run. I won 1st place in my age group and I was hooked after. Running with a friend Valerie Mazza, we decided to create the Boone Running Club here in Boone, NC. We had so much fun practicing and running races together.
Getting ready to run the Myrtle Beach Mini half marathon, I ran 5 miles on August 24th, 2013. I jumped rope and did sit up's to fail after that. I was in the shape of my life and I couldn't wait to try for a PR. I went home and passed by a tree that was bothering me for years because it was leaning over our road. When I got home, I decided to cut that tree down. I called my son Samuel on the phone and asked him to meet me at the tree. I had experience in cutting trees and I had great respect for the situation. The tree fell on another tree and that wasn't what I planned. I prayed then to God and asked Him for His guidance. Once I got my wits back, I began to cut the tree from the bottom and that is all I remember.
I woke up sixteen days later in the hospital. My legs are not moving and I am totally scared. "Why isn't my legs moving", I asked? I was told that a very large branch came down on me and broke my back. It also broke my collar bone, ribs, shoulder bone and it punctured my left lung. "I died", I was told! My son gave me CPR to revive me. A helicopter came and took me to a trauma unit in Johnson City, TN. I stayed there for 23 days and then I went by ambulance to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Ga. where I recovered and rehabbed for around 100 days.
What I began to realize was I wasn't getting ready for a race to run, I was getting ready for the race for my life! The doctors said that it was a miracle that I lived. They said four things should have killed me, but I was so strong that I lived. I feel lucky and I am blessed. God chose me to live and to carry out what He began in me and I shall do that.
I miss running very badly now. I can't even wiggle my toes! What a miracle that is to be able to do that if you really think about that. It is a blessing. I am seeing my body deteriorate now. My very strong legs are getting smaller. It is sad, but I have great faith and that pulls me through. Never take for granted a foot step in your run. Think of me when you hit the pavement or trail. Remember me when your running your race and you are giving out. Remember that I would give just about anything to be in your shoes! Appreciate what you have, meet new people and have fun with your runs! Running is not supposed to complicated. Just run your run and if you want to get better, work hard at it!
If it were easy everyone would be doing it!
Thank you, Danie ♥I'll remember him every time I run.
His story really made me realize how I should cherish each footstep. What a beautiful man.Thank you, Danie ♥
I missed this post before... thank you Sunny. (& Danie for (unknowingly) bringing it to my attention) xoxThis is a piece of the tree that almost killed my friend, Jay. It left him paralyzed from the chest down.
This is the bowl that Jay's friend, Tom made out of that tree.
Jay says the bowl will serve as a reminder of how something beautiful and useful can come from something horrible....
This is part of Jay's story.... I think he's pretty cool & amazing
~ Hello, my name is Jay Erwin and running changed and saved my life! After purchasing P90X and losing 50lbs, I began to run. I won 1st place in my age group and I was hooked after. Running with a friend Valerie Mazza, we decided to create the Boone Running Club here in Boone, NC. We had so much fun practicing and running races together.
Getting ready to run the Myrtle Beach Mini half marathon, I ran 5 miles on August 24th, 2013. I jumped rope and did sit up's to fail after that. I was in the shape of my life and I couldn't wait to try for a PR. I went home and passed by a tree that was bothering me for years because it was leaning over our road. When I got home, I decided to cut that tree down. I called my son Samuel on the phone and asked him to meet me at the tree. I had experience in cutting trees and I had great respect for the situation. The tree fell on another tree and that wasn't what I planned. I prayed then to God and asked Him for His guidance. Once I got my wits back, I began to cut the tree from the bottom and that is all I remember.
I woke up sixteen days later in the hospital. My legs are not moving and I am totally scared. "Why isn't my legs moving", I asked? I was told that a very large branch came down on me and broke my back. It also broke my collar bone, ribs, shoulder bone and it punctured my left lung. "I died", I was told! My son gave me CPR to revive me. A helicopter came and took me to a trauma unit in Johnson City, TN. I stayed there for 23 days and then I went by ambulance to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Ga. where I recovered and rehabbed for around 100 days.
What I began to realize was I wasn't getting ready for a race to run, I was getting ready for the race for my life! The doctors said that it was a miracle that I lived. They said four things should have killed me, but I was so strong that I lived. I feel lucky and I am blessed. God chose me to live and to carry out what He began in me and I shall do that.
I miss running very badly now. I can't even wiggle my toes! What a miracle that is to be able to do that if you really think about that. It is a blessing. I am seeing my body deteriorate now. My very strong legs are getting smaller. It is sad, but I have great faith and that pulls me through. Never take for granted a foot step in your run. Think of me when you hit the pavement or trail. Remember me when your running your race and you are giving out. Remember that I would give just about anything to be in your shoes! Appreciate what you have, meet new people and have fun with your runs! Running is not supposed to complicated. Just run your run and if you want to get better, work hard at it!
If it were easy everyone would be doing it!
No words...danie and FlakeNoir.....y'all are pretty cool and amazing, yourselves! ♥
I've known Jay since our freshman year of high school...he is one of the most truly amazing and genuine people that I know.
This is an old photo of Jay and Tom in high school
and a photo of them on Jay's birthday, when Tom presented him with the bowl
danie and FlakeNoir.....y'all are pretty cool and amazing, yourselves! ♥
I've known Jay since our freshman year of high school...he is one of the most truly amazing and genuine people that I know.
This is an old photo of Jay and Tom in high school
and a photo of them on Jay's birthday, when Tom presented him with the bowl
No words...
I'm always amazed by the sublime beauty that is our natural world....On the southwestern point of Mauritius is a crazy-looking phenomenon. When viewed from the air (either in real life or in Google Earth) it appears to be an underwater waterfall!
Of course, a real underwater waterfall isn’t possible but the actual answer is really quite fascinating.
What you’re witnessing, that looks like an underwater waterfall, is actually sand from the shores of Mauritius being driven via ocean currents off of that high, coastal shelf, and down into the darker ocean depths off the southern tip of the island.