Just Keep On Truckin', Kyle!

I don't think it would surprise anyone if I said that on Monday and Tuesday of this week, after returning from our jaunt back home, Kyle and I were in similar low spirits, depressed would be more accurate.  Thinking we have six more weeks to go seemed unbearable.  Yes, it was a rough two days.

But something changed in Kyle come Wednesday.  Since he had three "group" therapies in a row, of which I am not allowed, I took the opportunity to get some things done back at the apartment.  It was not pleasurable, mind you.  I was still quite down in the dumps, it not being the therapy I was hoping for, time by myself.

Then that evening came a much needed change in Kyle.  After making a nice dinner for us at 6:00, and expecting Kyle to be ready for bed around 8:30, instead, he got an unusual burst of energy.

"Mom, you know what I'm craving?  I'm really craving some Chick-fil-a."

"But we just ate dinner two hours ago, and I am tired.

"But I'm really hungry, and I need something to do."

 So I took this opportunity to getting him walking more, and we took a lovely 8:00 pm evening stroll to the local Chick-fil-a.  Little did I know he would be a chatterbox, and much to my delight, he filled me in on all his group therapy sessions of the day, of which he said were really enjoyable.  Well, that's a first!  And his memory recall was an added bonus to the walk.

This morning, another walk to Chick-fil-a for breakfast was in order, and this evening, a walk to dinner.  Then a walk around our rooftop to show him the views ended a most delightful day.  I'm hoping this is the new trend in Kyle, because it sure makes life here a whole lot more bearable!

Balance therapy from last week

 Kyle worked on a lot of balance exercises last week.  The treadmill was also added and a little bit of jogging up and down the halls.

Kyle's weekend therapy per his request, was to ditch the wheelchair in Atlanta airport.  I must admit I was a little apprehensive, but it turned out great!  His balance and walking has so improved this week that I have caved in and allowed him to take off the much dreaded gait belt when we are out in public. But shhhh, that's our little secret.  Yeah, rules are sometimes meant to be broken.

Electro stimulation continues....

This contraption is allowing Kyle to play video games with his left arm. It serves as strength training without it feeling like just exercise. He must move his shoulder from right to left and back, twist his forearm, and squeeze what he can of his fingers.

Kyle's sweet thought for the day....

Since I took off yesterday from Kyle's therapies to get things done, he asked me if I was coming to all his therapies today.  I said I was going to, even though people tell me I shouldn't.  I asked if he minded.  He said no he didn't mind,,,,,, I make it more fun. 

Laughter And Home Sweet Home, The Best Therapy Of Them All!

Trying to sit and write when you are no longer on cloud nine is a feat in and of itself.  If I had only just written yesterday, it would have been so much easier.  But yesterday I was too busy having a delightful evening with good friends, and enjoying laughter from the funny things Kyle would come out with.

Herbie:  "Kyle, tell us a good joke."

Kyle:  (thinking....thinking...)    "My life."

This may have been one of those moments you had to be there for, but it really cracked us up.

Today, as you can imagine, starting our travels home was such a different scenario.  For most of the plane ride, I listened to Kyle continuously bemoan having to leave home and his friends.  I understood completely.  I too was in a bit of a funk, but I had to keep a chin up.  At times he got his quiet, angry voice on (I believe that's an oxymoron for Kyle),    "Mom, I hate you.  I will always hate you for this.  How do you not understand that I am fine."  

I've learned a lot of patience through all this, and sometimes, I've realized, no answer is the best answer for Kyle.

Upon our descent into Atlanta, Kyle was able to talk me into not using the assisted wheelchair after we deplaned.  At first I said no, just for my own well being, but then I was up for it.  It went well, but of course, I had my hand on his belt the whole time, which prompted  Kyle's favorite mantras,  "You don't have to hold onto me."  and  "Why don't you understand that I am fine!"  
oo)

It is getting late and I am in bed, my eyes closing now and then.  Before I fall asleep I will post the few photos I took (and from others)  that will speak for themselves as to the wonderful therapy it was to bring Kyle home.  Thank you to all Kyle's friends who stopped by to sit and laugh with him.

    "I can't imagine how hard it's been on you,    'cause I can't remember it, and it's hard on me!"

    ~   Kyle Pinelli  (to me, his mom, in a moment of true sincerity) 

When It Rains On Your Parade

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow." ~ G. K. Chesterton

The Big Bang Theory

Yesterday morning started out with a bang.... literally.

Kyle was showering in his usuaul slow motion style (why I requested 11 am to 4 pm at Pathways!) while he was sitting, rather contentedly, on his shower bench.  I had handed him the shower head to rinse, while I rinsed out clothing at the sink.  The curtain was between us, trying to give him some privacy (although modesty has really escaped him these months), when there it came, this tiny little "toot" which made Kyle laugh, which in turn made me laugh.

Then came the ripple effect.  The more we laughed, the more he "tooted".  The more he "tooted', the more he needed to let them out.  The more he needed to let them out, the more he needed to lean over. Which ultimately led to loss of trunk control as he leaned over to let his toots escape, hitting his head on the sink.

"Oh shit!  Kyle, did you just hit your head on the sink?"  (remember curtain between us)

"No, I didn't."

After a ridiculous, continuous argument from Kyle in which according to him,  he did not hit his head (while there it lay, on the sink edge  :0 ), I called his doctor at Pathways.  I was quite scared, as I know how fragile the brain is after a TBI.

To make a long story short, Kyle was assessed at Pathways and he is fine, and I received a "sweet" but "firm" reprimand from his doctor.

"There is a reason he wears this belt"  (yes, I admitted to her I don't always hold onto it), and then,

 "Let this be a wake up call, eyes on him at all times!"    "Yes ma'am."

It was a very unnerving morning and to add to it all, I received a phone call from my brother that my dad, at 92, has colon cancer.

I did take the doctor's advice, and went for a run on a nice little trail I found, and then went shopping.  Oh the little things to lift the spirits.

Pathway Therapies

I love all our "team" at our out-patient facility, Pathways. from Kyle's case manager, to his therapists, to his doctor.  They seem to be able to connect so well to Kyle.  And they make him laugh!

 Kyle's first week was full of assessments.  A base was created by timing him at some basic tasks, and measuring his flexibility and his range of motion.

He was timed during this task of moving blocks from one side of the box to the other.  Here he struggles using his nerve damaged left arm.  Feeling and movement are slowly returning, but his hand will be the last to recover.

Ten minutes on the bike.

During lunch hour, we have access to this pool table.

A Saturday Walk Through Piedmont Park

 "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."  ~  Gandolf

Shepherd's Pathways and Labor Day

A week and a half has passed and Kyle and I have settled into our new premises and we are adjusting to our new routine.  It hasn't come without it's difficulties, but every day brings new light. The hurdles of last week have become easier (not gone, but easier because of how I choose to deal with them).

My latest hurdle now, is convincing Kyle daily that it is in his best interest to stay and finish his therapies here in Atlanta.

"I need to go home."

"I know Kyle, me too."

"No seriously, you don't understand, I need to go home.  I am so done with Georgia."

I should have asked him if Georgia was a new girlfriend that I didn't know about.  It is soooo easy to make him laugh these days.  Next time, I'll be quicker ;)

Now, at the risk of embarrassing Kyle, I feel that if we are still telling our story to families, young and old, then this blog should really be an open book.

As Kyle recently said, "I want everyone to know not to have a car accident, because the therapies are hell!",  then I must say, taking care of a brain injury teen is like going back to toddlerhood. Yes, he had to learn to walk, to talk, and more.  And for me at age 58, that takes a lot of patience. We are well beyond most of that, but since Kyle sleeps 12 hours a night, and does not get out of bed unassisted, he still has nightly mishaps. And gone are the wonderful night shift techs at Shepherd Center who handled all that. But alas, I know, this too shall pass. Just can't wait to get a good nights sleep.

"Life is what you make it."

I gave this to Kyle a year ago on his birthday.  It was in his Shepard room, but now sits next to his bed in this apartment. Seems apropos right about now.










This past week has seen many improvements in Kyle.  His walking is getting so much stronger.  And there is such an increase in Kyle's talking. He is now asking more questions about the accident. Yesterday, Greg asked him if he wanted to see the photos of Alex's car and he said yes.   I also decided to finally take a peek.  I worried that curiosity would kill the cat.  But all went well for both of us (I really did only peek, it was the most that I could do).  He also wishes he could remember the accident, so he is asking for more details. I am reliving it all, but it's all good.

To tackle the hurdle of Kyle missing family and friends, I took a risk, and decided to fly him to NJ for our family's annual Labor Day/Uncle Carl's birthday.  I kept it a surprise from everyone except Greg.  The reactions, as you can imagine, were priceless.

It was a bittersweet weekend though.  Dad recently went to a nursing home, and Mom sold the house. It was a weekend of happiness coupled with hard work.

Happiness....

and hard work!

Happiness....

and hard work!

Uncle Carl, the birthday boy!

Playing in Grandma's mulch.

Our empty dining room.  So many good meals and good company.

Our traditional Christmas portraits on Labor Day.  

Good times and so much laughter in this old kitchen!

 

Memories

Saying goodbye to 90 years of Samol/Maser family times. 

So handsome, so Kyle, <3