Exactly 10 years ago, at the age of 21 I survived an attempted suicide.
I remember coming too only very briefly, under an extremely bright light, with a number of nurses and doctors standing over me, wires and tubes strewn across my body.
When I eventually woke up my partner at the time was sitting on a chair next to the bed. His eyes lit up before he suddenly burst into tears. He called the nurse in who explained what had happened and what the next steps for rehabilitation were going to be. It was so very surreal. I was obligated to spend 5 days at the hospital under supervision until I was able to be assessed and released into the care of guardian.
The nurse explained she had been in touch with my mother who wanted to speak with me as soon as i woke. She went away phoned my mother (who lives interstate) and brought a phone into me. Before I even had the phone to my ear i could hear my mother sobbing..i'll never forget her asking me "what did i do wrong, sweetheart?"..as if it were her fault, as if she'd failed me somehow.
There are so many people who don't get the opportunity to share a story of survival, who don't experience a second chance. I'll never know why I was given a second chance..but I do know i'll never take life for granted, it really is is a gift ...and that's why i'm still here.
