Life Can Change in a Second

A good friend of ours and a neighbor was in Southern California this past week for a family reunion. Yesterday afternoon, while boogie boarding in Laguna Beach, Mark was slammed by a wave and he broke his neck. He called for help and a man was close by who helped him out of the water. Two doctors happened to be on the same beach so they could attend to Mark while waiting for the paramedics. He was in surgery from 8 pm last night until 4 am this morning. He is heavily sedated and on a ventillator. Mark's prognosis is better than this sounds. His wife said this afternoon that the doctors indicate Mark was very lucky and that his spinal cord was not damaged or severed. He has braces and screws in his neck and is, understandably, miserable. Mark has some feeling in his arms and legs but the doctors think he will have long-term nerve damage that will impair the use of his right hand. Life can change in a second. For everyone who reads this - hug all those you love!