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Sugi the Service Dog. Golden retriever & showgirl, supporting circus artist @abcirque_angelabutch . Named after Kintsugi . Part of @butchpacklife

🌟 Three Years Since the Accident: A Time for Reflection 🌟

As I mark three years since my life-changing accident, this week has been a poignant reminder of how quickly everything can change. I've shed tears I thought I'd blocked away.

First, we have two weeks of bonding with my service dog, Sugi, before she returns to training. A recent vet scare turned out to be a false alarm—thank goodness! It echoed my past experiences, reminding me that life can pivot in an instant. We're so relieved she's safe.

I also attended a memorial for a fellow artist who took his own life. It cracked my heart open to the pain many of us carry, especially for those of us whose livelihoods rely on our bodies.

Amidst these challenges, reuniting with my dear friend Chris McDaniel brought me joy. Our profound connection allows us to support each other, creating a sacred space for vulnerability and honesty about our struggles.

These experiences activated buried emotions, a reminder that we all face challenges. As I approach three years of healing, I'm pushing myself too hard while juggling work. I need to manage my rest and recovery to truly enjoy this second chance at life.

We are here for a limited time, and the greatest gift is our connection with others. Here’s to entering my fourth year of rehabilitation with more forgiveness, love, and acceptance.

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$REPAIR : Aug 11th 2023 marks anniversary of the accident that brought my world to a halt. When I arrived at the hospital's Trauma unit, a medical team was on me immediately. They leaped into action despite my being alert and able to communicate without warning. As per protocol, my clothes were cut off instantly; I was " trauma naked," being hooked up to all sorts of monitors and IV ports to be sent off for scans. I was restrained on the backboard in a tiny enclosure as the contrast was pumping through me. As someone with medical trauma from childhood, this was extremely difficult to stay calm. The contrast warmed my body, and I could taste the metallic chemicals. The only way not to panic was to go somewhere else, so I began imagining the art of Kintsugi, a traditional Japanese repair. When pottery breaks, rather than throwing it away, it repairs the cracks with gold—making the visible fractures beautiful and stronger by strengthening them with gold. The true definition of broken is beautiful and more robust now. I imagined the contrast was gold being pumped through me, sealing the fractures and filling every damaged area with gold. When I was released, I was given my spliced open clothes back. What if I didn't throw them away but repaired them? The idea and motivation for this shoot came to mind, giving me a longer-term personal goal: reclaim my life, rise again, and not mask what I've been, understand it has changed me, and learn to love and accept me at each phase of the journey anyway. It has not been an easy year, but perhaps this is the year I am the most proud of myself for surviving; many times, giving up seemed so much easier. I am ready for this next year. I'm ready for the next steps of healing, reclaiming, refilling, and spending my life in meaningful and aligned ways. I could never thank my army of support enough for helping me survive this year. I will share more pictures and reflections soon. THANK YOU ALL, for restoring my life in so many ways and helping me rebuild in gratitude and appreciation for being on this insane life journey. Repair clothes: Molly Asamura @sexylittlecircussuits Photos Patrick DC_roots Tech Yoni$

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Butchie & Sugi

@servicedogsugi