Let's Go!!

Following any disaster, tragedy or trauma, there comes a time when the immediate danger has been mitigated. Before the actual rebuilding phase can begin, there is a period of assessment. You must take stock and see where you're sitting in relation to where you need to go and how to go about getting to the end goal. The quantity and stability of infrastructures have to be evaluated. Resources listed, categorized and organized. Future needs anticipated and sourced. This assessment period is where we are now in Rodney's recovery from the rollover.

He's come so far. I am beyond happy, and the emotion comes on me so damned fast that the breath catches in a sob and I think 'Wow, how far we've come and how close we were to losing him'.

The physical therapy has started and his feet hit the floor for the first time in over a month. The mother's heart that beats in my chest cries for his loss of muscle mass. I silently shed tears for the loss of hair on the back of his head. He doesn't yet know of the hair loss, caused by weeks on his back. We'll save that revelation for a later time. The thin shanks are not steady while trying to hold up his 5' 11" frame. After 45 seconds, his legs and flanks quiver uncontrollably. On the second try he takes a few shuffling steps to the left. That small amount of exertion has left him exhausted and he sleeps for the remainder of the morning.

His arms are slower to recover as they both suffered some percussion injuries, and so do not bend at the elbows. The fractured left elbow has had a surgical implant. Neither arm is weight bearing yet, so they are no help in rising, walking ....nada. He can't feed himself, scratch his nose...nothing. He is working on using the nurse call button, but that is proving difficult so far.

His ears, eyes and speech seem to function at a near perfect level, as far as I can tell. His brain functions well regarding reading and comprehension, humor, following directions etc. His memory is not as good as it used to be, but that will be addressed in speech therapy. His math skills are still there, though not as sharp or quick as they used to be. These things may or may not fully recover. His temperament is even and calm and for that I'm grateful. I have often heard that people who suffer traumatic brain injuries often recover, though are extremely or easily agitated and argumentative. He has never been foul tempered and so far it looks like he is fine there too.

We are awaiting a decision from an acute rehab hospital. They are an inpatient facility that has a state of the art gym and offers all three disciplines of therapy...physical, occupational and speech. He has to be able to withstand 3-6 hours per day of intense physical therapy. He was assessed today, so now....we wait. It's a grueling wait. Will they judge my son worthy to be admitted or will he be found lacking??? I know it isn't the end of the world if he isn't accepted, but life would be much easier if they do, as I work in the same town. I have been out of work for over a month now and I am desperately needing to return. Nothing will be determined tonight so that leaves tomorrow and I am full of hope.

This prelude is nearly over and I am anxious for the rebuilding to begin. Let the future shine bright...bring it on!!!