It's A Marathon, Not A Sprint

Yesterday, Sunday, was our day of rest.   No PT, OT or ST.   Not, at least, with the professionals.  I, on the other hand, continued to watch TV with Kyle, read to him, help take care of him, and of course have (probably annoying ) one way conversations with him. These are all beneficial therapies, although I wonder if he just wanted me to stop talking..... a typical conversation at home:

"Kyle, did you hear what I said?"

"No."

"Kyle, put your phone down and look at me so I know you are listening." 

(waiting) 

"Kyle!, Look at me and listen.

And so it would go at home.  But in all fairness, when he was in the mood, he could be so interesting to talk to.  Our best conversations would happen in the kitchen as I cooked dinner, and he would hop up on the counter and just tell me tons of stuff, about his friends, his girlfriends, his girlfriend problems, and lately about his excitement about his upcoming auto career and the new job he was going to start at Waterloo Motors.

The goals and dreams are simpler now, at least for the short term.  The therapy staff had a meeting with me today to go over what my long term goal was and then we would break it down.  I wasn't sure if this is what they meant, and I was afraid that this might sound shallow, but I said  "I want him to look athletic again".

Right after I said it, I felt I had to clarify it.   Again, thinking it sounded shallow,  I wanted them to know that if he were athletic looking again, that meant that he was working hard in Physical Therapy, and if he was working hard in PT, then he would have reached significant Cognitive levels, and if there were significant Cognitive changes, then his brain was really healing.

I think they understood.  What we came up with were some short term goals in order to meet the long term.   These short term goals are intended for his discharge date.  We would like to see him with good posture, no slumping, head held erect, shoulders back.  We would like better communication, to advance from yes and no signs to head nodding and then to speaking.  We would like him to be able to get in and out of bed with no assistance, so no hospital equipment has to come home, and then, hopefully, walking, with probable assistance.

This is Sam.  He is from Ghana.  He wanted to be a professional soccer player but then he broke his leg in the sport and his father said he was done.   And that's ok with me, otherwise I would never have met this wonderful nurse who takes care of my son.

When Kyle comes home, he will most likely need help getting dressed, as his arms are the least responsive.  The breaks in the right scapula and the left elbow and humorous have set things back a bit.

On the lighter side, here is Kyle with Ali and Leslie, trying to be suave and debonair with his Johnny Depp look.  Right? Tell me that's not a great look-alike.

I told him he needn't try so hard, they are all crazy about him just the way he is!

Here he is trying to win over his pulmonary technician with those beautiful baby blues.

Again, Johnny Depp Style ;)

The Start Of Physical Therapy

June 25, 2014

Day 1

Physical Therapy

Getting him in a chair for the first time!   They measured Kyle and made a custom fit wheelchair just for him.  He was out of bed all day (they actually forgot to get him back in bed for a rest at noon).      But he's Kyle tough!

June 26, 2014

Day 2

Speech Therapy

Giving my baby boy encouragement!

Day 2

Speech Therapy

Getting started with Cheryl!

Day 2    Speech Therapy            Forming words.             

Day 2         Speech Therapy              "Now you try it."           

   June 27,2014     Day 3     Physical Therapy  
 Such a ladies man.........  

..........but then, he always was!

Day 3

Physical Therapy

Getting in position.

Day 3

Physical Therapy

Melanie starting leg stretches with
resistance!   

   

                                                          Day 3  

Physical Therapy

Wrapping  it up for the day.  (no pun intended)

Thoughts From This Morning

The weekends here at Shepherd Center are a lot quieter.  Less staff.  That's ok, because these hard working nurses need their weekends off.  We'll adapt.  

We did lose our Occupational Therapy time this morning, because when Jasmine came in, no  one had cleaned Kyle yet, gotten him dressed, or out of bed. She came so much earlier today and he just wasn't ready.  Again, that's ok,  I have come up with some of my own ideas for his OT,  I shared them with Jasmine and she said  "That's a great idea!"  Then, continuing to look at me, she said  "You're smart!"   

That made my day  :) 

They have a shower in Kyle's bathroom.  It feels wonderful.  So much so, that I spend too much time in it.  The good thing of course is that it is relaxing, the bad thing is that my mind goes places I'd rather it not sometimes....

Yesterday, Alex posted a status on FB that made me very proud of him, proud that he could share his intimate feelings with everyone.  

"Huge props to my mom for being able to tell the story of the night it all happened. I remember when she finally was able to tell me about it (it took a few days after me getting home for her to get up the strength). I just remember being in tears on the ride home from the hospital that night just envisioning what her and dad went through that night. And let me tell you, I teared up again reading it now, but it makes her that much stronger.

Kyle is also getting plastic surgery done (can't wait to make fun of him for that one!)
And lastly, there are now photos of Kyle on the blog while in the hospital (from the first night and onward). For those who haven't seem him, they're not easy to look at, but they're there all the same."

So what I thought about in the shower was the above and the conversation I had with the ortho surgeon yesterday.  We talked about teenagers and driving.  He said the majority of brain injuries here are from car accidents (second to that are strokes) and many in which a seat belt wasn't worn.  What he said is exactly what I wondered too.  (not a direct quote, but close enough)

"We get in our cars and we watch our children buckle up automatically, and we think they've got it, they understand. But how are we to ever know that they are not doing it when by themselves?  I see it too many times in here."

He said he has grandchildren not driving yet, but when it's time, he is going to bring them all to Shepard and show them what can happen.  It was an interesting conversation.

I went to a support group yesterday in which I met a mom with a teen like Kyle.  He also was not wearing his seat belt.  He is in the next stage up from Kyle.  He is able to talk but the things he says are not what his mom wants to hear.  It was explained to us that the four letter words we know are stored further away from our other vocabulary.  Because these words are simple and easier to "reach" in our brains, it is typical for them to come out in the agitation stage.  

I saw this mom in rehab before I even met her. She was clearly embarrassed by the things he was saying.  Being called a slut over and over is clearly not what she wanted to hear.  I am glad I met her in support and we got to talk about it.  I hope she will not be embarrassed anymore. 

They are so big on support here!  Going to another this afternoon on "caretaker support".  They sure do keep the day busy!   Someday, I'll make it to that great gym and Olympic size pool they have here, and all sorts of classes.  They even have a "boot camp" class. 

 But for now I'd rather sit by Kyle's side and watch him engage in that Motocross race we are currently watching on TV. :D

                                                                       Kyle Pinelli
                                                                            768

Thank you, David Forney!

Photos from Pediatrics (His room and visitors)

 I don't want to get too much further behind, so here are my photos from Kyle's "step down" into the Pediatrics Unit back at Inova Fairfax.  I still need Greg's photos... he took so many of all Kyle's visitors.  Definitely need to share those.

(It's not so easy doing double duty here with Greg gone.   He was doing such a wonderful job!)

Kyle's view from his Trauma ICU room.  We had a real working crane for him to watch!

Kyle's view in his Pediatric Unit

FHS Get Well poster

KRHS Get Well poster

Crystal and Shannon

Grandma

Grandma's touch

Greg

Lucas and friends

               Kyle                             Maddie                          Maddie helping Kyle refresh his mouth.
                                                                                       "Maddie, just as cute as ever."

Doctors and Nurses

Kyle went to surgery this morning.  The Shepard plastic surgeon did not like the huge gash and hole in the back of Kyle's head.  The hole goes down to a deep layer that if not treated could lead to bone infection.

It is an ugly hole, and I brought it to the attention of the Fairfax ICU doctors several times, but I was assured that it was healing nicely.  And it is healing nicely, I was told here, "but we don't want to leave a big hole in his head."  The doctors here are very concerned that it could lead to a bone infection.

Needless to say, I am happy they are treating it, and I am told he is in the hands of a great plastic surgeon!

This is a good time to say thank you once again for all the wonderful care he did receive in Fairfax.  In our eyes, the nurses should get paid just as much as the doctors!  Special thanks to Missy, Omaima, and Adriana (affectionately known to us as Halle Berry) for the times they would just sit and talk with me about life, and about their lives along with mine.  And for the hugs from Natasha,  and for all the little things they allowed us because we respected them, and we respected their rules.

Thank you Nancy, Missy, Adriana, Kelly, Kelly, Jessica, Jenny, Lyndsey, Lea, Sean, George, Tari, Sarah, Mershad, Omaima, Christie, and Laurie.

We learned a wonderful lesson from all of you about respect (although I must say, I have been teaching this to my sons for years, but you really reinforced it).....

Be a reflection of what
you'd like to see in others!
If you want love,
give love,
if you want honesty,
give honesty,
if you want respect,
give respect.
You get in return,
what you give!        ~ Unkown

I don't have many photos from Fairfax ICU.  I wish I had taken more. Greg took most with his Iphone and I will try and get them from him.  But here are some more of what I did get (photos are not allowed, but somehow the nurses managed to look the other way for me)  :)

Sleeping in the night.  Taken from where I slept.

Sean, one of our nurses.

One of our many faithful visitors, Mary.

Missy, giving Kyle a shave!  :O

Leaving for a CT Scan at 2 AM!    Kyle, in his bed,
and all his machinery gets wheeled wherever he goes!

 

The view from my bed, at 4 AM,
with his double doors wide open
 and the hustle, bustle of the nurses station,
 while I await Kyle's return.

                               

Wonder what he's thinking....

Kyle:  "Did you really put those camo hats
 on because my mom asked you guys to?"

                                                                   (Grant and Lyndsey)

The Accident

Things are moving pretty fast here at Shepard Center, and it's only day one.  This may be a good time to go back and write of the night of the accident.  This way we can try and close that chapter of this journey, and focus on what's to come.  And if I don't do it now, I will fall behind in writing when Kyle goes into more demanding rehab.

We are still looking for that good that can come out of this.  I don't know how many kids are reading Greg's and my journals, but if there are not many, then I hope the parents, our community, our teachers, our churches,our schools, will still keep the conversation alive with them.  It really touched me when one friend said that they sit down as a family every day to read our journals.

So here goes....

That night, as we neared the accident site, we saw a line of cars just waiting.  You see, they couldn't get through.  Ahead, were those familiar blue lights flashing away.  We pulled up behind that last car, jumped out, and just ran.  I remember passing all those people just sitting there watching us run.  I remember passing the oh so familiar K-9 Unit.  And then we reached the site.

So many medics, so many flashing lights, the police officers.  Greg had run faster than me, so I could not find him.  I looked down the embankment, and just kept asking everyone who was looking at me,

"Where is he?  Where is he?  Where is he?"

I must have asked it a million times, but no one would answer me, just these looks.  I was terrified.  Then I looked over to the right, and it was a sight I wish I had never seen.  It was Kyle's car just seemingly swallowed by the trees.

Words can't describe the feeling.

"Where is he? Where is he?"  is all I could keep yelling, but still no answers, just looks.  And then, there was Greg, running to me, saying  "He's been medevaced to Fairfax, come on, we have to go."

And that's it.  Nothing more was ever said.
 
It's been a long time since I really prayed.  I haven't been to church in a long time.  But on that long drive to the hospital, I prayed over and over and over to please just let him be alive when we got there.

"Please be alive, please be alive.  God please let him be alive."

That was my chant the whole way there, while Greg drove in silence.

That "still not knowing" as we waited in the lobby for someone to come get us, had me unable to breathe.  Greg was pacing up and down the hall.  I will always remember that one kind person who got up out of her seat to console me.  She spoke so softly and kindly to try and get me breathing normally.  I will forever remember her.  I have already payed it forward.  And so has Greg, many times over in that Trauma ICU.

.

Kyle's High Adventure

What a whirlwind.

So much going on
Can't seem to keep up with the writing.

We're on our LearJet now.  Quite small, like a little cocoon.
Only four seats, one for me, one for Greg, and one for each of the two medics.
And just enough room left for Kyle to stretch out ;)
No flight attendants though for our beverage service.
I really thought it would be like the way they fly on Criminal Minds.
Not quite.

Greg is sitting towards front and is enjoying talking aircraft lingo with our medics.
He is in his element.  I chose the back seat of our little cocoon , so Kyle is facing me.

One and a half hours of reflecting time.

Kyle's got a window seat, (well, actually, we all have window seats since there are only
six windows on either side!).  He is gazing out the window like I've seen him do so many
times since he was little.  Greg's career with the airlines gave us so many opportunities to
travel.  There is nothing better than seeing the world.  Our boys are fortunate.

Growing up he had so many toy airplanes, UAL model planes, books about planes.  He
even had the chance to fly in a small acrobatic plane with our dentist, Jim Jelinek, doing spins, dives, up side downs. What a thrill!

Greg has his pilots license and always talked about giving Kyle flying lessons.  Being a typical mom, I was never too excited about this.

Statistics show though, that you are safer in an airplane than in a car.  I guess Kyle had to show me that was true.  ("maybe not the best way to do it though, Kyle ")

So Kyle gets to add flying in a Lear Jet to his list of high adventures.  Yay for Kyle :)

Too bad he won't remember it  :(

"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake.  The great affair is to move."

Robert Louis Stevenson

"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the world with your eyes turned skyways, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

Leonardo da Vinci

  "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not"

                                                                Ralph Waldo Emerson

Read To Your Children

They told me there would be highs and lows. So I convinced myself I would be able to handle them well.

Every day so far we have seen some new form of progress. Maybe just the tiniest nod of his head, or the slightest effort to kick the balloon.  He even opened a snapchat from Alex saying that he arrived Rome safely! So it's been easy (easy being relative) for us to be on our "highs"

I attribute the lack of lows to the wonderful teams in the ICU, from the nurses, to the respiratory teams, to the residents, to the attendings. The times that are the hardest are when I am alone, not alone in Kyle's room, because I love my alone times with Kyle, but alone in my bed at home at night.

Last night, though, things came crashing down.

Surgery on his shoulder went well.  They felt it was time to move him from ICU to Pediatric Intermediary Care (Peeds). I had been previously cautioned that the move to "step down" would be difficult. The care is different, the ratio is different, the environment is different. So, what I worried about in my head, was going to become reality.

I was still home when Greg said they were getting ready for the big move.

 "Wait, wait!  They can't move him without me being there! I can't walk into an empty room when I get there!  Tell them I'm depressed now.  Tell them I am crying, because it wouldn't be a lie."

I hurried to the hospital in a state of panic that he would not be in our safe place, our home away from home.
When I arrived the room was packed up, belongings in bags and boxes, and Greg just sitting there "waiting".

We were transported down to Peeds and received the biggest welcome.  We were told we had a nice  room and I joked  "Oh! we got the corner suite!"  Our charge nurse made the sweetest "welcome sign" for Kyle's door complete with a motocross bike and rider!  Everyone was super sweet.

I won't go into too much detail, but I will just say if the "ball could be dropped", the "ball was dropped".  To the point where I cried myself to sleep, and where I cried my eyes out when I awoke.

I will tell of the biggest incident only, because through the horror of it, it also gave me something special.

It was 9 PM and still being sleep deprived, I thought I would go to sleep early.  But I enjoy that time of night with Kyle. I've been reading to him, so that's what I thought I would do instead.  That's more important to me than sleeping.  His eyes had been bright for a long while, but as I was reading, I started to see a change in him. His eyes became smaller, but not like he was tired and his face was looking hot.

But I continued reading thinking it was just a little post surgery fever.  Beads of sweat increased, and his look was continuing to change, eyes still small, but suddenly focused on mine.  (Kyle does not usually keep his gaze on me, just like it's not usual for him to listen to my "commands").  I held his hand and asked if he was ok.  He stared into my eyes and the look of distress was overwhelming.  It was a look that for the first time I knew he was really communicating with me.  And because of that communication, I thought to ask him to wiggle his toes if he was in pain.  And to my dismay, he did.

Long story short, no one had thought too give him his pain medication (remember his shoulder surgery?)
If I had not decided to read to him, this poor boy could have possibly gone the whole night in pain.

I am thankful for the bond of a mother and son, and for his ability to communicate with me.
I am thankful for books.

I am thankful for the little things  :)

                                     Kyle reading quietly in the CHR library, while Alex competed in a chess
                                           tournament sponsered by Rachel Hinnant and myself.

                   Uncle Carl, Kyle and Crystal at our yearly vacation at Ocean City, New Jersey.

A Special Place in my Heart

It was a beautiful day the Saturday of the accident.  Kyle was hanging around the house waiting for his friend Chris to come over.  We enjoyed some time together.   When he was just sitting in his room, I took that opportunity to sit on his bed and discuss "life" things, in particular why parents say and do what they do when it comes to their kids.

I remember telling him what a good Dad he had, and how much he does for him.  I remember telling him we do the things we do because we were once his age.  We talked about why parents can be so annoying, because we are always looking out for our kids.  We do what we do, albeit differently, because we care. 

I love Kyle, as do Greg and Alex.  But Kyle marches to the beat of a different drum.  I remember telling him once (just once) I didn't like him.  It was an in the moment "didn't like"  because he was being so mean to me.  In the past, in the heat of the moment, he has said he hated me (or Greg).  I've read many a parenting book or magazine over the years to realize that that's just how some kids lash out.  For some personalities, I think it means you are doing your job. But it cuts to the core.  Do I feel bad that I once told him I didn't like him? Yes.  Do I wonder about if he really meant it that he hated me?  A lot.

Of course, Kyle and I have had many wonderful moments too.  That particular afternoon, he was on the trampoline, and Leo was going crazy wanting to get on.  I ran and got my camera, as I love to do, and caught the cutest  moments of Leo and Kyle.  I was actually editing them that evening when his two friends came in to tell me about the accident.

                              These pictures will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Think Before You Speak

We have had such wonderful nurses here.  We get a new nurse every 12 hours.  Shift change is 7am or 7pm. You get spoiled in the ICU unit.  Each nurse has only two patients so the attention we get is exceptional.

In the beginning days, after our nurse finished up with his or her shift and left for the day (or evening), I would hope so much that he/she would be back for Kyle.  Sometimes we did get the same nurse, sometimes we didn't.  But after awhile, I stopped wishing for the same nurse. Why?  Because each time we got a new one, he/she was just as wonderful as the last. They are mostly young, always smiling, caring, and excited along with us about Kyle's progress.  They all know us now, and if they are not Kyle's charge for the day/evening, they will pop their head in to see how he is doing and say hi to us.

There is one exception though.  Greg and I like to call her "Nurse Ratched."*

*For those too young to know,  Nurse Ratched is the antagonist in the novel One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest.  She is a former army nurse and head of the hospital ward, who rules her ward with an iron fist.

She does just as good a job of taking care of Kyle, but needs a little guidance in the emotional/sympathy department.

I told her that Alex was not here because he was competing in a Tough Mudder.  She proceeded to tell me that two years ago a participant was brought to this hospital who had died from drowning in the mud.  She went on and on about how dangerous they were, that the obstacles were not manned well, and that they were so overcrowded.  She actually looked me straight in the eye and said,  "Anyone who does one of those has to be crazy".

Now just imagine, I am sitting looking at my one son who is severely brain damaged, while this nurse is looking me in the eye and telling me my other son is crazy.  Why would she do this to me?  I almost spent the next two hours worrying, when I should have been imagining the blast that Alex was having. To the rescue though, were the most reassuring words from the most understanding people who are helping us through this.  I thank you all.

We need to remember the impact our words can have on one another.
 Remember to think before you speak.

Alex did have a blast!  With his two wonderfully supportive friends, Hollis and BonGiovi. :)  This one's for you Kyle!

                                                                                         #PrayForKyle

"The One Conversation That Could Save Your Teens Life"

I mentioned a few writings back that I would share an interesting article with you. It's titled "The One Conversation That Could Save Your Teens Life (And Your Own)"

Here is an excerpt from it. If it catches your attention, you can read the rest at

http://momastery.com/blog/

I discovered this site a long time ago when I saw Nicole Jones post something from it.

Thanks, Nicole. I have been reading Momastery ever since....

"My friend and I talked about this. We spend hours talking to our kids' about WHY to say No, but we don't tell them HOW to say No. When they are put on the spot - they don't have hours to explain their decisions to their peers They have a split second. And while our teens and tweens want to make right decisions, they often want to avoid awkwardness even more. In the absence of a plan, they'll likely default to yes. Just like we so often do. Maybe they're not saying yes because they want to rebel - maybe they do really say yes because they don't know what else to say. They need help knowing, preparing. That is where we come in".

"So together we thought of sentences he could say to buy him time but not alienate him from his friends or make anyone feel like he was judging them." 

If this helps just one person I will be happy. Our older teens may be past this point, but for those of you with tweens out there, here's a good starting point.

So soon I will be posting photos of Kyle taken from the get go. I think it's a good time to repeat my previous advisory that some may be difficult to look at. Greg had actually taken a pic of him on day one. I wanted to smack him. I pushed his arm out of the way, and said very sternly "Don't you do that."

We laugh now because he says it's the one time he didn't listen to me and we're glad he didn't!

Good morning Sunday, continued

It's good to be in a lighter mood. It's Father's Day and much to my happiness, Greg and Alex are off and enjoying the day.  They have headed down to Richmond where Alex will be competing in his first Tough Mudder.  The two will be enjoying some much needed time away and male bonding.

It's interesting now that my "Good luck" to Alex this morning was followed by more times of saying "Be careful" than I might have said in the past.  Do we take for granted or assume that "of course our kids will be careful" ?  I've always worried, especially with Kyle in Motocross, but not as much as I will worry now.  I can't even get in a car now and feel comfortable that nothing will happen to us. This experience really awakens you to how really vulnerable we all are in life.  Would I have worried about Alex at the Tough Mudder before this?  Probably not.  Am I worried today?  You bet.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Father's Day.  Give your Dad's extra big hugs today!  And have fun!

 

Good Morning Sunday

We are all sleep deprived, I see it in Greg and Alex's eyes.  I imagine they see it in mine.  I know the guys sleep better than me, they choose a bed at night, I choose Kyle's room.  It's that mother thing I guess.  We do go home alternate days now, but at home I only sleep 3 to maybe 5 hours.

Well, good morning Sunday. :)   I fell asleep at 8:30 last night in the middle of visitors and woke at 6:30.  I was told I slept right through the doctors coming in to clean and dress the wound on the back of his head.  And I was told Kyle slept a peaceful night right along with me. Yay for small things.

Prove You Can, Kyle!.

On Monday, we had gotten the most devastating news anyone can imagine.  Kyle was finally able to have an MRI of his brain, and one of the team doctors came to talk to us about what she saw.  She was one of those no frills doctors, with a very undesirable bedside manner.*

She left us sitting there with a vision of Kyle possibly on a respirator for his life, or even if he got off that, at least on a trach.  She left us thinking that because Kyle was not "awake" after a week, it would be a much slower, more difficult recovery, if a recovery at all.

I told her of the stories our friends have shared with us, of unimaginable brain trauma, and of almost 100% recoveries. I asked her "Those things do happen, don't they?"  Her reply... "occasionally".  Her last words before finishing up were "I don't give false hope".  When she left, we were alone, shaken, speechless to each other.

Well, she apparently doesn't know Kyle like our Warrenton community does!

Since Monday, Kyle has had his respirator removed and a tracheotomy performed.  Two days later he had his trach removed and is now breathing on his own.  He has just a tube (still in his throat) giving him humidified purified oxygen.  Today the Pt and OT came in and sat him up! Legs dangling over the side of the bed. They put a washcloth in his hand and guided it to wash his eyes.  Then, while holding his arm, they asked him to wash his face. Very slowly, but very certainly, before our eyes, he washed his face.  And at the end, he gave a very slight, almost undetectable nod of his head when asked if he was too tired to continue.

"You go, Kyle!"

And thank you Rachel Hinnant for being there with your kind words to us, and your whispered words of encouragement to Kyle.  So glad a dear special friend could witness and share tears of joy.

(And for those needing an explanation of bedside manner, and just a little bit of TV nostalgia to lighten things up......)

*A good bedside manner is typically one that reassures and comforts the patient.  Poor bedside manner leaves the patient feeling unsatisfied, worried, frightened, or alone.

Dr. Gregory House (of the show House) has a caustic, callous bedside manner. However, this is an extension of his normal personality. 
In Grey's Anatomy, Dr. Burke compliments Dr. George O'Malley's ability to care for Dr. Bailey's baby by saying "it speaks to a good bedside manner." 
In Lost, Hurley tells Jack Shephard that his bedside manner "sucks". Later in the episode, Jack is told by his father to put more hope into his sayings, which he does when operating on his future wife. 
In Scrubs, J.D is a good example of a doctor with great bedside manner, while Elliot Reid is a doctor with poor or non-existent bedside manner. 
In Star Trek: Voyager, the Doctor often compliments himself on the charming bedside manner he developed with the help of Kes. 
In M*A*S*H, Hawkeye Pierce, Trapper John McIntyre, B.J. Hunnicutt, and Sherman Potter all possess a caring and humorous bedside manner meant to help patients cope with traumatic injuries. Charles Winchester initially possesses no real bedside manner, acting with detached professionalism, until the rigors of his job help him develop a sense of compassion for his patients. Frank Burns has a poor bedside manner, constantly minimizing the seriousness of his patients' injuries, accusing them of cowardice and goading them to return to the front lines.

Invincible Teens

Last night I had a nice long visit with Mary and Carlos.  We talked of a similar experience he went through a year ago, but he was much more fortunate as he walked away with just cuts and bruises. Which brings me to the "why" of all this.  Not the "why us", eventually it's going to be somebody's child, so why not us.   I like to think I knew my child..  We are parents that "talk" to our kids, and they tell us they get it. We know he likes to go fast, but that's why he does Motocross.   We are a competitive family to say the least, all very athletic.  We all try daring things, and encourage it.  But this one I can't wrap my head around.  Hopefully you kids out there will start realizing you really aren't invincible.  And there is a race track you can go to if you really have the "need for speed".

I recently read an article on why teens take risks and another on a good conversation to have with your teens.  I will post them next.

Time to get up and "make my bed" (I am getting disciplined in the hospital as I rarely made my bed at home) and head over to our Ronald McDonald home to shower.. 

Just the Beginning

Where do I start?  Tomorrow will be two weeks.  I will start in the present.  This may start out a messy journal because I will probably jump all around about the past two weeks, while still staying in the present.

On the suggestion of a friend, who has now become a dear friend, this will be a photographic journal,

"What a great idea!"  I said.  I am a better photographer than a writer.  Greg said I should put a disclaimer at the top, in case the photos make anyone uncomfortable. This journal will also be in contrast to Greg's Caring Bridge.  It will be from a mom's perspective, full of thoughts, emotions, reflections...that's the idea at least.  So here I begin "Kyle's Journey".