Fathers Day started out like many in this part of the country at this time of year, with gentle summer breezes and sparkling waters, marking the river ways and by-ways of Texas. Following an evening spent with good friends, my family and I enjoyed a wonderful morning and lunch together prior to one of my sons, Stephen, returning to work and my daughter, Christie, heading off to a church mission camp in Arkansas. Late in the day, I decided to go for a short aerobic bike ride along the scenic shores of Lake Grapevine. At one point, I recall looking east out over the lake and then turned back to look at the trail, realizing that it was taking a sudden left turn. Between the sand on the sidewalk, the speed of my ride and the angle of the curve, my front tire left the trail and I took a hard tumble over the handlebars into the nearby brush... Immediately realizing after my fall that I could not move, I knew that life had suddenly and unalterably changed. |
What followed over the next six hours was a blur of activity as I was taken to a local trauma center and diagnosed with severe spinal cord injuries. Since that event, there has been an unbelievable outpouring of support from friends, coworkers and family. There is no doubt, the road ahead will be filled with new challenges and opportunities but I vow to never look back, never give up and to remain positive. I have no doubt that all of you will be an immense asset as I journey down this newly discovered road. The purpose of this website is threefold.
First, it serves as our primary means of soliciting contributions
to help offset medical expenses. Second, it serves as a means to
further educate the community at large regarding the nature of spinal
cord injuries and their associated cost. Finally, it serves as a
vehicle to help interested parties in promoting this cause to their
own networks. - Joseph Groh |