Two Days and Counting

This morning I laid in bed for quite awhile before getting up.  Oddly, there was a little bit of sadness in the air.  We are leaving in one more day, yet there I was feeling so melancholy.  I was thinking about so many things, while Kyle still slept in the bed across from me.

There is safety here, and leaving that behind is a little scary.  I don't mean just safety in the apartment, but safety in knowing we have no pressures here.  Our only schedule is to make it to the Pathway therapies by 11:15.  Kyle is surrounded by caring people all day, and very rarely does he have to make a decision, at least nothing monumental.

What will happen when we get home?  He will want to go places, do things, be a "normal" teenager again.  He will still require some supervision, as per his doctor.  So when he wants to go to the game Friday night, I have to go.  But what if I just don't feel like going?

Not being able to make decisions is a common symptom of brain injuries.  Planning and initiating, which is our executive functioning,  is also slow to return.  The problem is, Kyle thinks he is just fine, because that part of his brain is not able to tell him he is not.  That's not to say he isn't almost there, he just needs more time to get there.  In the mean time, I need to keep him safe, without him getting angry.  You try telling a 17 year old young man, full of adventure, that he can't drive his much beloved truck or dirtbike immediately upon returning home.    Hmmm....


Rounding up the therapies....                                                                                                                                                             

Just a little balancing act.

Eyes closed required!

Ahhhh, a massage before Kyle leaves?  Spoiled!  Actually, his neck, shoulders, and pecs are still tight and need daily stretching. Here, some cream is massaged in first.

Stretching and rotating Kyle's shoulder.

Balance exercises throughout the hallways.

Kyle loves his Recreational therapists.  Hmm, I wonder why?  Here they work on his balance.

The Recreational games work on balance in ways you might not think about.

Kyle;s Recreational therapy on a "group" day.

Greg and Nancy, and We're In The Homestretch!

Crystal, Nancy, Greg, and Carter

I want to give my sincerest thanks to all of those whose thoughts and prayers are going to my brother, Greg, and my sister-in-law, Nancy.

Most of you don't even know them, yet you took the time to stop and read their stories in addition to following Kyle's.  And you gave your sincerest wishes to them, and for Crystal and Shannon too.  I am very touched by all of it.

Before Kyle's accident, I had never known anyone with a Traumatic Brain Injury.  Probably most of us don't....personally, I mean.  Now I know two.  So how does this happen twice in the same family?

The phone call about my brother's motorcycle accident came three weeks ago.  Kyle and I made the trip to NJ the following weekend, while Alex and Greg also made their way, from Wisconsin and Virginia.  I so wanted to give Crystal the support she needed.   When we walked into Nancy's ICU room,  it was like seeing Kyle all over again.  It affected each of us, and I watched Kyle as he quietly took it all in.  When he finally spoke it was to quietly ask,  "Is that what I looked like?"   "Yes, Kyle.....that's exactly what you looked like."

Greg and Nancy are recovering, slowly but surely.  I try to help Crystal and Shannon by giving them encouragement when I can. I'm hoping it helps them when I see the similarities and recount our experiences to them.   There are so many similarities, yet I know both outcomes will be different because no two brain injuries are the same.  They are my precious family, and I am thankful there is a light at the end of the tunnel for all three of them.

Greg's trike on the left, Kyle's car on the right.  They had their guardian angels watching over them.

On the lighter side, matching skinny legs!
(Kyle lost 40 lbs, but I think Greg has him beat.)

Mom (Annie, Grandma, Greatgrams) and Carter visiting Greg at rehab.

Countdown to Thursday!

It's really here!  Only three more days!  We did it Kyle!!!!

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. ~  Henry Ford

A Birthday Weekend In The Best Of Company

                                Happy 17th to my shining star!

Being here in Atlanta was certainly not the way Kyle anticipated spending his 17th birthday.  But we made the best of it.  The two of us went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner to celebrate and then we walked the mall.  He picked out about 7 new pairs of the coolest Nike and LaBron socks to go with his fabulous shoe collection.  Just a simple present till we get back home, but non the less, it made his night.

We spent his birthday weekend just the two of us.  Neither Greg nor Alex could make it down, so I worried how we would fill the weekend without losing our minds to boredom.

We did a good job just the two of us.  In addition to the birthday celebration, we filled our time with simple things.

We went to the gym where Kyle was anxious to try running.  We ran a few laps around the indoor track but his left arm just made it so awkward and uncomfortable.  So we finished up on the treadmill instead.

We went to the park and walked two miles.

We ate nachos and watched football at our favorite sports bar.

We ate ice cream at Baskin Robbins.

We hung out on the roof late at night.

A side note about the roof that night... we've seen people come and go since we've been here.
And this night we happened to meet a new arrival while on the roof that evening.   At the late hour that it was, she thought she would be alone up there. She was embarrassed because she had come out in her pajamas. We invited her to sit and chat with us.  Her 17 year old son broke his neck on a rock while floating in the water along side his pontoon boat. We shared our stories, we gave encouragement, and then she headed to the other side of the roof to be alone.  Hopefully, Kyle and I will take the compassion and empathy that we are learning here back home with us.

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The highlight of the weekend was the zoo.

The zoo was a great place for Kyle to continue working on his walking and balance.  It was also a great place for us to really enjoy each others company.  It was a beautiful day, and it being late in the season, there were no crowds!  And I got to enjoy some much needed artistic expression (other than Shepherd Center!).

I think Kyle's favorite by far was the "budgies".   One can walk right among them.  They allowed Kyle to stroke their feathers, and me to get this "bird's eye view" for some photos!

The Silverback

Another favorite was watching the gorilla training.  They first use a clicker for reinforcement and then reward with grapes.

And what's a trip to the zoo without a visit to the Pandas!

                                  

Out And About In Atlanta

I have heard people have been asking about the blog.  I must apologize for being gone for so long.   We have had so many ups and downs, and we've really been here way too long, so, I just lost the desire to write.  Time to start catching up!

We had a wonderful weekend when Greg flew Lucas down here with him three weekends ago. Our big adventure was going to the Aquarium.  It was the first big walking event for Kyle. And even though in therapy Kyle was still required to wear his gait belt, Greg and I like breaking the rules sometimes and let Kyle ditch that thing. Thanks for keeping a good eye on him, Lucas!

So cool!  If you are SCUBA certified, you can dive in the aquarium!  Not sure what effect that would have on Kyle, if any, but I must find out!

After the aquarium, we headed over to Peachtree St, downtown Atlanta, and found an outdoor seating sports bar to watch the Crimson Tide/Gators game.  Yes we are in a different neck of the woods down here.

Next, goofing around back at the apartments, in the family lounge.....

Then out for dinner at Ted's, Greg's favorite "Cheers" hangout.....

And last but not least....

"Caution!  Lucas is visiting for the weekend!" The two boys headed to the rooftop to spend some quality bro time on a nice Georgia night. I was not sure I left Kyle in the safest of hands, but when this is how Kyle came back,  I just knew Lucas would always have Kyle's best interest at heart. Thanks for the updated gait belt and the laughs, Lucas!