The Strongest Woman I Know

World- Meet Thea.
She is the strongest woman I know, but if you ask her she might say "Sometimes I don't want to be strong, I didn't sign up for this sh*t."

Thea is my friend. We met 1 year ago when both of our children ended up on the same soccer teams together. She is a no nonsense kind of gal, beautiful and tough. She has a warm, good heart that makes everyone she meets want to be near her. Her fun loving, smiley personality is hard to resist and didn't change much after the accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down.

Thea moved to this country from her homeland in Holland some 15?? years ago. She met the man of her dreams, married him and started their family. Thea's family love horses. One for each person- they own five. Riding soon became a family bonding experience. It also became a way of making friends. Joining clubs and taking out new friends (like me) along the way.

6 months ago a series of unfortunate events occurred. Just finishing a nice 5 hour ride, the group of women were in visual range of their horse trailers. The horse Thea was on (not one of her own) for some unknown reason reared up. In a split second she realized for the first time in her life, she would fall off her horse. It happened so fast, but still she knew (as if rehearsing it earlier that day), to let go of the reigns and slide off the rear. On the ground , Thea curled herself up to protect her neck. The horse then lost his footing, and as if in slow motion, fell on Thea. The weight of the horse broke her back.
Spinal cord injuries are different for each person. For Thea there is hope. Her spine was not severed. She is making progress, but it's hard! The toneness and spasms in her legs fights her constantly. I pray everyday that she will walk again.
Everyone who knows her, believes she will.

I took this picture on Monday- Sept. 27th.
How many people do you know would be willing and eager, to get back on the horse (paralyzed for that matter) after what happened? Thea was. This was her third ride since the accident. Therapy.

Thank You Lord for bringing Thea into my life. I love her.