Don't Get Stuck!

Today I want to recognize and share the experiences of someone who became a good friend, actually an adopted part of the family.  I had been on the physical therapy floor for only a day, and I noticed a man cruising around in an electric wheelchair, with a huge, larger than life smile.
The morning of the Fourth of July, my Mom has spending the day with me, she came into my room;
"I just made YOU a new friend."
 I had the horrified that I was just set up on a blind date, and had nowhere to run.  But never question a mother's intuition.  She of course was right.
She told me she invited this mystery new friend to watch fireworks with us, upstairs on the patio. 
Ben Jacobs, an Idaho construction worker, that may not be building with wood or sheetrock anymore, instead is building human beings, and traded his hammer and tool belt, for a compass and bullwhip.

First of March 2019 Ben was at work and began to experience severe stomach pains.  He went to the emergency room, and like many of or ER trips by the time he got there, he was doing somewhat better, and couldn't identify any problems. 
That night, Ben, again experienced intense pain and had his mom (Aren't moms awesome), rush him back to the Emergency Room.  This time the story was different.  As he walked into the ER on his way to the registration counter, Ben collapsed and fainted.
The next thing he knew, he woke up at the University of Utah Hospital, in the Intensive Care Unit, with a much different prognosis.  Ben had been rushed into emergency surgery, he had an unidentified infection that had gone systemic.  When he had awaken in Utah at the hospital, his life was and is very different.  The infection made it necessary to amputate both of Ben's arms just above the elbow, also amputate both legs just above the knee.

I met Ben the first week of July, and he truly became an inspiration to me and actually became the "Poster Boy," of the hospital and more especially the Rehabilitation Unit.  As Ben and I visited and got to know each other, sharing war stories and scars (I obviously lost).  He then made a comment that caught me off guard, and at the same time, changed my outlook on my "new normal."
I'm paraphrasing:
I may not be able to carry a piece of sheetrock ever again, but I am excited to go into different hospitals, and help people learn to cope, and find positives in their situations. 
Later we were talking while we waited for the elevator.  He again brought my attention to look outward, instead of feel sorry for myself or complain. 
He asked me if I noticed some of the new patients that had been transferred to the rehab floor. 
"Have you noticed how some of these new patients show up with a "sprained ankle," but have the absolute worst attitude.  Watch, they will still be here when we actually graduate, will be worse off than we are now."
I thought about this comment for the rest of the day, I even brought it up with my nurse that night.  She agreed completely.  People that have what I will call a winners attitude or a fighters attitude, a positive mentality, will heal and get out of this place much faster.  These are the patients we like to work with, because there are always miracles.  But then there are those that show up my have "minor," issues and a crappy attitude; complaining and feeling sorry for themselves, will physically leave here worse than when they arrive.

I was lucky I was able to spend my entire hospital adventure with my buddy Ben on the rehab floor.  The week after I fought with the post surgical infection, he too ended up battling an infection that delayed his ability to go home.  Never once did he complain.  We spoke often of the hard times and days of frustration, but he would always say, "Just don't get stuck."  He is absolutely right.  We are all going to have times we need to have a meltdown, or a feel sorry for myself moment.  The key is like Ben said; "Don't get stuck."

Thanks Ben, for your example, friendship, and i'm not going to lie, for being my fall guy.  (Oh man, i've got nothing to complain about, his situation sucks way worse than mine).

-Nate Taylor