Father's Day and My Brothers

I owe my two older brothers a lifetime debt of gratitude for standing in for my dad, who died when I was 13. I never once thought to buy them a present or give them a card on Father's Day, which I am ashamed to admit.

When my brother suffered serious injuries in an unfortunate accident recently, I realized it was time to show my appreciation for all they've done. This Father's Day, I want to offer a humble, but deeply heartfelt, "thank you" to my incredible brothers, Skip and Stephen.

A Recent Accident and Precious Life

My brothers never failed to make sure their younger sisters were taken care of even when they were desperately trying to forge their own spaces in life. I guess I always took them for granted. I had a rude awakening, though, when I thought I could lose one of my brothers.

About 10 weeks ago, my brother Skip was seriously injured in an accident. It was an ordinary day and he was delivering a full load to a Boston business, just like he has done thousands of times as a life-long truck driver.

As he stepped in front of his trailer truck to open the gate, the truck, which was on an incline, started to roll. It mowed down my brother and the gate. The front wheels rolled over both my brother's legs.

One leg suffered broken bones, a shattered knee and nerve damage. Miraculously, there were no breaks in the other leg. He would have to be pieced back together and there was a lot of concern about repairing the damaged nerve. There was also talk about a blood clot and amputation; it was intimidating and I was scared.

When I received that dreadful phone call about the accident and the news that Skip would undergo emergency surgery, it hit me. My brother was seriously injured, and I had never told him how much I loved and respected him. Nor had I ever actually stated that if not for the kindness and generosity of both brothers, my young years would have been far more miserable than they were.

Roles Change for Brother and Sister

After that phone call, for the first time in my life, I was sobbing like a baby and worried about my brother as I am positive he worried many times about me. He could not walk, work, go hunting, snowmobiling or camping.

Following his surgery, my brother would be transferred closer to home, but the only place they could find was a local nursing home. The idea of my brawny truck-driving brother in a nursing home broke my heart.

Despite the care my brothers showered on me, my brothers were never close. They took care of me as individuals, but went their own way when they were very young. There was no one upset; they simply did their own thing and did not bother each other -- until Skip's accident.

Stephen has been out of work for a year. Having the most free time, though, he faithfully went to visit Skip at the nursing home every single day.

Being out of work, Stephen has to juggle any money he has, but he would splurge and buy himself and Skip coffees from Dunkin' Donuts a couple times a week and bring them to the nursing home -- only small ones, though

Stephen started going to physical therapy every day with Skip and for the first time in their lives, they were not taking care of me and my sister; they were taking care of each other and bonding, which I never dreamed I would witness. To see my brothers come together in a show of support throughout Skip's extensive rehabilitation is touching.

My role with my brothers has changed dramatically as well. It is my and my sister's turn to take care of our brothers, just as they took care of us for many years. Skip is getting around using a walker and on good days a cane, but he will never be able to drive his truck again. It is for sale. Stephen is still trying to find work but has not had any luck so far.

To my two amazing brothers: For all the years you had my back, for stepping up to make things right for your sisters, for trying your best to be like a dad when you should have been enjoying your own life... thank you from the bottom of my heart and happy Father's Day!