"What if I fall?" Oh, but my darling. What if you fly?

Last month, on the one year anniversary of Kyle's accident, we celebrated his graduation from Kettle Run High School.   Who could argue that this was the perfect way to say "you've come a long way, baby!"

On May 31, 2014 our lives were turned upside down and inside out, but then slowly we began to see right side up again.  Exactly one year later, on May 31, 2015, we watched Kyle walk across that high school stage.   It was thee perfect way to celebrate.

We still have our daily struggles, but on that particular night the smiles told a different story.

Here is a look back, through a photo gallery, of some of the transitions of the past year.  There are some before, during, and after photos, some of which have never been posted before.

I'll start with a not so pretty picture of what we were faced with.  It's a reminder of how incredibly fortunate we are to have Kyle with us.

Did we ever doubt? (mmm, yeah maybe)

A Grandmother's Loving Hands...

Out of ICU, and into "step down" in Pediatrics.

 At home, this past winter, with those same Loving Hands.

Kyle's Beard....

The week before the accident.

In ICU, his beard got a little nasty.  Good thing he didn't know Missy was shaving off his pride and joy.

One year later, "so GQ".  (I personally like this trimmed beard look).

That Trach, oh that Trach...

 Inova Fairfax in ICU

Slowly eliminating the trach at Shepherd Center.

Without the bandage a visible hole.

The hole had to be kept covered in order to talk.  Kyle's first phone conversation was with Grandma.

So much weight loss!

At Shepherd Center, with a 40 pound weight drop.

Inova Loudon Rehab today.

Progressive eating....             
                                                                                                     

Completely dependent.

Workin' it with help.

When we returned to Shepherd in January for surgery, right hand eating only though.

At Loudon's therapy in April, eating popcorn with his left arm... not too bad.

But with a spoon?  a slightly different story.

Cornhole!...

 It all started at Shepherd's Garden Of Hope  ;)

Now in our back yard...the Champ he proclaims to be!

That arm.....

Jasmine working on that H.O.  (Heterotopic Ossification)

The H.O. didn't stop forming.  Back to Atlanta for surgery.

Thank's to his awesome surgeon, Dr. P, and his wonderful therapists, Kyle's arm is close to normal.  Current therapy at Inova Loudoun Rehab.

Working that arm on his Eagle Scout project!

Maddie.... ♥

Inova Step Down in Pediatrics... brushing Kyle's teeth for him :)

No words needed ♥

The crew that brought Maddie down to Shepherd.

Kyle's homecoming in October!    Yes, Crashing IS for Dummies (t-shirt courtesy of Alex and his work company).

The Love of his Life....

No, not Lucas (well, maybe Lucas).  Basketball!

This was a difficult one to watch.

We'll never know what he was thinking.

Our return to Shepherd in January, for the H.O surgery on Kyle's arm.

Happier times.

  

Lucas....

A poignant moment

Eight months later  :)

Mobility....

From this...

To this....

To back on the trampoline!

For those who followed and prayed for my brother, Greg, and for Nancy....

And one of my favorite categories, Pet Therapy....

They were there, right from the start.  

Our last day at Pathways out-patient therapy at Shepherd, and heading home.

"Has It Really Been A Year?"

The recent Amtrak train accident has prompted me to write again.  Listening to the devastating news made me cry as I was driving in my car Wednesday morning.  I know the pain.  I know the feeling of panic, and of not being able to breathe.  And I know too well that the lives of so many will be changed forever.  Our family is so unbelievably fortunate,  but I've met and come to know the stories of too many survivors and caregivers whose lives have been incredibly altered.  I wish that all those from Wednesday's tragic accident may find peace someday.

This month marks one year since Kyle's accident.  Yes, one year on May 31st. And every Wednesday because of work, I drive by the crash site and I relive that unthinkable day.

A red bandanna wraps the torn off bark now.  When I round the bend I picture Kyle missing that turn and going down that ditch.  And of course the photo from the first responder, of Kyle tangled in that broken fence of barbed wire, is with me.  I don't really dwell on it, but it is there every Wednesday. It is a reminder of how incredibly lucky he was and that he is still with us. 

Graduation is just two weeks away and we will be so proud to watch Kyle walk across that stage. But, it could have been different. So I'd like this reflection back to just be a reminder to everyone to please drive safe, for this is every parents worst nightmare.

A Look Back To Atlanta

It seemed that life would never slow down for us since our return from Atlanta in January.  But that seems to be changing now. I'm getting a little respite from so much driving to therapies and doctors.   It is soooo welcomed. And this weekend Kyle is away on a much needed "guys only" trip.  So here's my opportunity to pick up where we left off and share this long overdue photo gallery of Kyle's continuing rehab in Atlanta.

"I broke the black crayon. It reminded me of the meme I’ve seen floating around FB about the broken crayon coloring just as well. In my head, I rebelled -I screamed at the meme, “This crayon doesn’t work just as well anymore!” Holding the crayon took more effort. I struggled to keep it steady, it was awkward sometimes. Staying in the lines became a greater challenge. But, then I thought, maybe broken people are a little the same. The color can be just as beautiful. The person with the crayon may need to be a little more careful – more intentional. Coloring may be just a little bit slower – or else messier. But, there’s something to be said for taking the extra effort. I appreciated the work of creating the picture even more. And I had a little more grace for when the color seeped out of the harsh black lines in the finished product."  ~  ‬ Mary Everett Aycock

Simple Acts of Kindness

al·tru·ism

ˈaltro͞oˌizəm/

noun

1. the belief in or practice of selfless concern for the well-being of others.

  When I was telling my mom, way back when, about everything  that our Warrenton community was doing for us, she was in disbelief.  "I can't get over that all these people are bringing you meals!", I remember her saying.  Well Mom, to this day, the generosity still continues.....

A few journal entries back, I wrote about the waiter at Maggios, here in Atlanta, who unexpectedly surprised Kyle with lit candles in a plate full of cookies.  It was a simple act of kindness, but it meant so much.  And it had reminded me of another restaurant kindness shown Kyle not too long ago back home.

Kyle had gone out to eat in Gainesville with his girlfriend and another couple.  When the check was brought to the table the waitress told Kyle that someone had paid for his dinner.  He had no clue who it was, and since we rarely go to Gainesville, his guess was as good as mine.  We probably will never know, but a huge thank you goes out from all of us to whomever it was that reached out to him.  These good turns are never forgotten.

This next huge kind act came from yet another stranger.

While living in Atlanta for four months, Greg and I found a favorite place to eat, a restaurant in walking distance called Ted's Montana Grill.  I would describe it as a fine dining establishment, yet it is as comfortable as the setting of the old "Cheers" show with Ted Danson.

We would sit at the bar to eat because we enjoyed the many conversations that were struck up with fellow patrons, and because whether it was Drew or Shane, our bartenders, they always greeted us like we were old friends.

Kyle and Drew

♪ Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away? ♪

♪ Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came ♪

(Sentiments that Greg, Alex and I shared for the many months while living in Atlanta)

So this next incredible, generous offer came from someone we met while eating at Ted's.  After hearing Kyle's story, a man sitting a few seats down from us, offered his in-town condo to Alex, if ever he needed a place to stay when visiting Kyle.  All I could think was what an amazing person,  and who would do something like this?  We didn't take him  up on the offer at the time, but he did reach out again after hearing from Drew that we were returning  for Kyle's surgery.  The generosity from a stranger to allow us to stay in his condo for the past three weeks goes way beyond Simple Acts of Kindness.  To simply say thank you seems entirely inadequate.

All of this reminded me of the time Kyle and I used to carry around little "pay it forward" coupons for just that right moment.  I encouraged Kyle to come up with ideas when we were out together, and he did!  There is nothing like the feeling of giving without expecting anything back.  I remind Kyle of how fortunate he has been to experience the receiving end, and to always remember to pay it forward when you can.

Post Surgery Arm Therapy

Out-patient Days 1 and 2

The incision for the H.O. surgery was precisely placed along his original incision.

Shannon was given explicit instructions to use aggressive therapy!

And she did!

                                    Keep On Trucking', Kyle!

Kyle's H.O. Surgery with "The Best of the Best"

Return to Atlanta

So we are back.  And Kyle has already seen and hugged his therapists with immense gratitude!

We are here for Kyle's Heterotopic Ossification (H.O. for short).  Big words, but I'll put it simpler.  Our bodies are always making new bone, but usually where it's supposed to be.  When H.O. occurs, our bodies get signals mixed up and bone cells create new bone outside of our skeleton. When it's the result of trauma, surgery can be performed if the new bone growth has stopped.  Kyle's elbow was frozen, and his orthopedic surgeon believed surgery was the only way to go and it was time.

We took Kyle to dinner at Maggios our first night here. The waiter asked if we were celebrating anything. "Well, I guess we are!" we replied, and told him Kyles story and that he was about to get his arm fixed. This is what the waiter brought him!  Everyone is so unbelievably nice here in Atlanta. 

The Arm Surgery

Kyle arrived Shepherd Center almost seven months ago.  After all the surgeries in Fairfax ICU to fix multiple broken bones, he arrived Atlanta with stitches still needing to be removed.  This photo, taken last July, shows how his arm could still straighten at the time.

Seven months later, now January, these photos of Kyle's arm being shaved for surgery show the limits of his elbow movement.  These two photos show the extent of his straighten and bend.  That's how much extra bone had grown in his elbow.

This is how we left Kyle, without a care in the world, before he headed off to surgery.

The surgery was successful.  I am not squeamish, so I really was interested in how exactly they remove the bone.  The good old fashioned way! They take a chisel and hammer away!  There was also a nerve that was squished behind all the new bone growth so they pulled that forward.  

                                                                                                 

 

Soon after surgery, Kyle was taken to Oncology where he received Radiation Therapy, the same as given to cancer patients.  This kills the unwanted growing bone cells, in hopes they will not return.   He laid on this hard slab table for close to two hours.

Kyle stayed three days in the hospital in order to carefully monitor the fluid drainage and to begin intense therapy.

Kyle's therapist was given instructions for aggressive therapy.  She came three times a day and an hour before each session Kyle was administered an anti inflammatory drug along with morphine.  

The morphine allowed Joanna to straighten and bend without limits. 

Up and out of bed, Kyle begins trying his therapy on his own.

A hand cycle helps with the straightening and bending.  

Looking good!  And we're outta here!

Our thanks go out to Dr Peljovich and Dr Gillespie of the Hand and Upper Extremity Center of Georgia,  more than they will ever know!  When deciding on where to have Kyle's surgery, we were told by many they were the "best of the best".  These two doctors are the greatest.  Every day Kyle shows me his excitement for all the things a bending elbow can do.  You don't realize until you don't have it.  Now we just wait for time to regenerate the nerves that so he will regain the use of his hand.