I want to put out support for my friend Thomas Schuster. Thomas is a volunteer firefighter with Section 8 in Cy-Fair. He was unloading his truck on Aldine-Bender when a drunk drove into the back of him. One leg was immediately severed, the other amputated hours later.

While the acute trauma was almost a year ago, he just spent 8 out of the last 10 days in the hospital managing complications.

We often lose awareness when the immediate tension of a tragic event passes. Often, the real struggles are the long-term ones. They usually are more difficult because their seemingly unending challenges coupled by the lack of surprise that might make sudden events seem easier to absorb and deal with.

I acknowledge Thomas' struggles and think about him. During day-to-day moments, as I go about my usual things, I consider how his day-to-day moment is going. It comes with better and worse, but never easy. Yet, grateful to still have the opportunities to share...