Day 10 Sunday, December 19th

Today, Sunday December 19^th, was our fifth day in the rehabilitation center. I arrived at around 10 am on this day as it was on off day for the center. I helped my sister Rebecca get Jack going and then got to the center at around 10ish. By the time I got there she had already gotten dressed, ate breakfast and had worked out in the gym with mild exercise she can do on her own. When I arrived I thought she looked spry. We decided to go for a walk in the long hallway that leads to the facility. It was a nice walk because I was really seeing the improvement she has made in 4 days at the rehab center. Each day I see a nice little jump… now they are starting to add up. On the way back we sat at a group of chairs in this hallway outside the rehab center to take a load off and read comments on the blog on our laptop computer. I told her “this is where I would sit and write on the blog sometimes” she said “this spot doesn’t look to inspiring” as it’s kind of a dark cave looking hallway. I said “you inspire me, what more would I need”. Elizabeth does inspire me… she shows me everyday how you can overcome adversity. She is determent to do her best always! And she is always doing it with humbleness and gratitude. We read a re-read a lot of comments on the bog sitting there this morning. We talked about the comments and cried some too… good tears though…. us realizing how much we’ve been through in a little over a week, and how far we’ve come but also realizing the challenge ahead of us. Love is a very powerful thing…. and ours runs so deep! It’s always empowering us… empowering us as a family. We love that little boy so much! Words just can’t describe it. Jack is only 22 months and won’t remember any of this but he is an intricate part of our strength as well. I think of it as a triangle constantly pushing love and energy around were it is needed. After long days at the hospital, I would come home after one of these heavy days and he would always put me in check. His hugs are more uplifting than ever. I think it’s crazy how a 2 year old can help keep his old man’s head screwed on straight! He has obviously inspired Elizabeth too as I have posted of in the past. It was a nice moment for the two of us sort of away from everything. I think the best part was when she got up to go the bathroom in the hallway. I watched her walk away from me and I thought to myself wow, she really is walking and moving better. It was really exciting for me to see that. On her way back from the bathroom she was walking toward me and I gave her the thumbs up as I told her “you’re really doing good!”

It was lunch time by this point and we when back to the room to see how it looked. Some meals are not too bad and some she just not into. This was one on the not into meals. I then ran down to the cafeteria and got her a lemon chicken thing and some potatoes that she liked…. and chocolate cake which is her favorite. She ate well. Her appetite is definitely back and the jaw is better so that helps with eating too! She then rested for awhile.

Becky from the agioma alliance had contacted Elizabeth to see if she was up to a visitor. Elizabeth said sure and she stopped by this afternoon. Becky, who lives in phoenix, had a cavernous angioma removed 4 years ago. She is an advocate for the alliance and is VERY appreciated. She has mentored many people through this process. She is doing good work! She has helped Elizabeth and me so much. We talked for awhile in Elizabeth’s room and then walked over to the Neuro recovery area where another friend from the angioma alliance was recovering. Her name is Mea and she has surgery this past Friday. She is doing well with no complications. It was nice as they all got to meet in person for the first time and chew the fat about cavernous angiomas. They were all really nice people and Elizabeth thought it was so nice to do that today.

We then walked back to the room and it was dinner time. It was turkey with all the fix’ns. It tasted good to her and she then wanted to rest. I left her so she could sleep and I went back to my sister to get jack ready for his visit to the hospital. Elizabeth was anxious to see him. Jack and I arrived back at the rehab center to Jack saying “Hi” and then “Bye” while waving at everyone as we walked into see Elizabeth. It made the staff laugh and Elizabeth smile. It was another great meeting for them and we did some books and then a walk and then to the gym (Jacks favorite place there). It will be so nice when Elizabeth can hold him again. She is really missing that. It was getting late for Jack and we proceed to have our 20 minute goodbye session. She just doesn’t want to let him leave as we say ‘just one more hug… one more kiss”. It was another really nice visit!

Again, another good day with strides in the right direction!

Thanks again for all your nice comments. We are reading and re-reading them always!

I will post tomorrow night.

Thanks,

John