Here I am again, back home in Ocean City, Md., fully involved with a normal life again. It's been quite awhile since I last posted. I am half of a semester deep into my third semester of graduate school at Salisbury University and plan on going to Australia for winter ball days after Christmas. I have started putting notes together for a book that I one day hope to complete. My time since the injury has included a good deal of family get togethers, numerous vacations, and a newfound relationship with the Lord. Baseball is still on my mind all the time and although the magnitude of the injury, will return to the mound again next season.As of today, it has now been over 16 weeks (a span of almost 120 days) since the accident I was faced with on July 2nd. In case you are not familiar with what happened, I was piching in the fourth inning of a July 2nd bout against Grand Prairie in El Paso, Texas and had a line drive hit back up the middle which hit me directly in my right temple. The hit created a skull fracture and triggered an epideral hematoma. I had to undergo a craniectomy the following day and waited over two weeks before a second surgery. which doctors tabbed as a cranioplasty. The entire ordeal has changed my life forever and although it is ashame it happened, I have learned so much about life. If you want to know more about what happened, try one of these following links provided by KTSM in El Paso. - Interview 1, Interview 2, First Pitch 1, First Pitch 2
In the wake of the injury, I had the opportunity to visit such venues as the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, and Lake Mead. These experiences were most definately ones I will never forget and thankfully, I had a beautiful girl with me the whole time. I have developed a much stronger relationship with the Lord and delived serveral testimonies to different churches. It's certainly hard not to dwell on the negatives but I've had the fortune of being around many good people that have kept me in good spirits. Thank you to all that have been behind me through this.
I previously mentioned that I've started writing a book about not only the entire experience but also about the challenges I faced growing up. The book includes a journey from my early days in Ocean City to the good times at Stephen Decatur to even my first steps into professional baseball. It's definately a work in progress but the notes I have been writing down give me a good venting tool and a documentary for the future. I have slowly tried organizing my thoughts. The chapters are laid out but I can only go to a certain point because who really knows what the future holds. From the direction I'm headed in now, I feel that it will be good regardless.I've been swimming a bunch and have started working out again. I have been lucky enough to know Martin Furst, who has provided me with a free membership to the Ocean City Health & Raquetbal Club and Bob Hammond, who has given me free physical therapy at Atlantic Physical Therapy. Each facility is state of the art and they are taking really good care of me. Graduate school is going well and I'm taking two classes this semester. One class even involves the building of a website, which you can see here. I'm in the process of becoming a member at Community Church of Ocean Pines and have been surfing as much as I can.
To conclude this post, I want to thank all of you wonderful people for being with me through this entire experience. First, my entire family, especially my wonderful parents who flew out the next day after my injury to be by the side of their firstborn child. Words cannot express enough how thankful I am to have such wonderful people like you in my life. We've been through alot but have became stronger together through this. My girlfriend, Katie, was by my side through it all as well. Your time spent with me was amazing...you are such an incredible person. I also want to thank the entire Diablos organization, Texas Tech Medical Center, Dr. Lacerte and his outstanding team, Dr. Arthur Isliss and Dr. Walls, Tobin Park Methodist Church, Christ Community Church, Danny & Carolyn McKinney, Aaron and Linda McKinney, BJ McKinney, Sally and Robby, Bruce Abbott, Lois and Ryan Powell, David Hann and White Sands Missile Range, Gene & Brandon, Kelly Tovar, Gary Proctor, and Monique & Nikki Tovar. To everyone who sent me the beautiful cards, gifts, care packages, and personal notes - thank you so much too. They all meant alot to me and definately made me smile.In the mean time, I am continuing to work out and getting ready for the '10 season. This is not the end for me, but rather the beginning to long successful journey ahead. I've been kept around for a reason. One love.
David C. Whigham - James 1
