Split Second
Life Change
by
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I was brushing my teeth when I was startled by what sounded like a thud. I listened for a few seconds, but hearing nothing more, I continued brushing. When I finished, I thought I should investigate, so I walked down the stairs. Ray was not on the couch where I had left him, so I softly called his name.
“Sandra, I’m in here,” he answered.
I walked into the kitchen, but couldn’t see him because of the counter divider we recently had installed. “Where are you?” I asked. When he answered, “Over here,” I looked around the corner by the kitchen sink. He was lying on his back on the floor.
“What the hell are you doing down there?” I asked.
He said he’d woken up and gone into the kitchen to get some orange juice. As he lifted the container and tipped his head back to take a sip, he fell backward and landed flat on his back. He asked me to help him up. I grabbed his hand, but he immediately said, “Forget it. Call 911 and tell them I just fell and broke my neck and I’m paralyzed.”
Stunned, I asked, “How do you know you broke your neck?”
“Because I heard it snap!”
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About the Book
Sandra and Ray Hocking have worked hard their whole lives; in their sixties, they were simply looking forward to retirement. In an instant, however, their lives changed forever when Ray suffered a freak accident that caused him to be paralyzed. He needed around-the-clock care and couldn’t even live in his own home.
Ray struggled to make progress at a rehabilitation facility before moving to a convalescent home, which became his permanent home. Although he had lost the ability to move like he once did, he continued to inspire everyone he met.
A constant advocate for her husband, Sandra did everything she couldto help him recover a life worth living. She liquidated assets, organized fundraisers for an accessible van, and researched grants. She determined what assistance her husband qualified for and what he didn’t—and through it all, Ray kept a positive attitude.
Sandra spent some time being angry, but she sees every day with her husband and their family is a gift. She has already found out that it can all change in a Split Second.
About the Author
Sandra Hocking works at the Mohegan Sun Casino as a credit executive. She wrote this book to honor her husband, Ray, who in a split second suffered an accident that would forever change their lives. She lives in Norwich, Connecticut.