Driving

For the sake of everything that you hold dear in your hearts, readers, please hear my plea.

My name is Natalie Wiser-Orozco, and I have the most awesome family in the world. It consists of my mother, father, and brother, and we are all the best of friends. Sure, we have our fights, our quirks, our shortcomings just like every other family, but the bottom line is that I love them so much, I would give my life in a nano-second to keep them from harm.

The relationship I have with my brother is a very special one. We joke around that we were twins born five years apart, because we think the same way, like the same things (for the most part), share the same moral values, and whenever we are together, we are certainly a force to be reckoned with. We are greater than the sum of our parts. To be his sister is the biggest honor I have ever known.

Erick is a great guy. He's very sharp witted, sensitive, athletic (played Varsity baseball all four years of high school), and just overall fun to be around. About 6 months ago, he was in a car accident. He was 24 when it happened.

I talk to my brother every day after we get off work. This particular day in October was no different. We were both talking to each other on our bluetooths, when all of a sudden I hear a muffled bang. I could hear him talking/yelling but he seemed so far away. I have great ears, so I decided to try to listen to what he was saying/yelling, when I realized he had been in an accident. I turned into hysterics knowing this - and luckily I hadn't quite put the key in my own ignition. I was screaming for my brother through the phone, unrelenting. I screamed until my voice had gone hoarse. He was talking to witnesses; I could make out parts of conversation, but not all. The nightmare had begun.

He, having the right-of-way, had stopped to avoid a driver trying to cross the road who was seemingly oblivious to him and all of the other oncoming traffic. He had avoided an accident. The lady who was behind Erick was not so attentive. Completely un-attentive as a matter of fact, as she hits Erick going 50 mph without even attempting to brake.

So, big deal, you think, right? He got rear-ended. Get over it and move on. Wrong.

At first the pain was bad. Time off work. Chiropractor. Physical Therapy. Enough pain meds to keep you flying for a good long while. Lawyers. After awhile pain is still there, but it seems to be getting better... Yet still, my now 25 year old brother, cannot even lift his grocery bags for fear of further injury.

About 2 weeks ago, Erick wakes up screaming. The pain is worse than what he started out with. Pain in his neck and back. Shooting pains down his arms/legs. Absolutely cannot work. Can't turn his head. Zero range of motion.

He gets spinal injections this friday, and it is 99% likely he will have to have 2 surgeries - once on his neck, and once on his spine. My brother's life will never be the same because one person failed to realize their surroundings while behind the wheel. What does she suffer? Nothing. Her ticket for hitting my brother got reduced to a parking ticket.

Now, I know life is not fair, and I'm not here to get sympathy from anyone. After all, shit happens, and you just have to deal with that which you are dealt. The reason, therefore, for this post is a request for everyone (myself included) to pay more attention on the road. Before you engage the movement of your vehicle, make sure you have what you need. Make sure your phone headset or bluetooth is in your ear and ready to go, so your hand is not attached to your ear for the duration of your journey. Make sure your lipstick is on. Make sure your kids/pets are strapped in tight. Look in your mirrors frequently, and check that blind spot! Be attentive rather than passive!

I say this because I love all of you, and to hopefully spare you and your family from the suffering that mine endures daily. I know that the situation my family is experiencing could be so much worse, and I'm thankful (believe me) that I still have my brother here with me. Just, please be careful out there all of you.

On a side note - if you are able, increase your under-insured motorist coverage on your car insurance. This is something I need to look into myself. God forbid any of you get hit by the likes of the lady who hit my brother - who was under-insured. This way, more money will be available to you to better cover whatever medical bills may result from injury.