graduation

It happened.  Mike is done.  Mt.Vernon Rehab sent us off with a “you can do it” and off we went.  Talking to his father on the phone this morning, Mike said the end was bittersweet “glad to be done but I will miss the therapists and the therapy”.  It’s tough to speak for Michael but I guess that we would all feel better if our recovery were overseen by educated professionals.  Family and friends are great but what do we really know about helping someone reach and achieve their fullest potential after traumatic brain injury? We’ve had someone there to hold our hands and to give professional opinions to help measure improvements from October 21 till this moment.  Quite a bit of pressure - it’s a little scary. 

I hear and understand what the therapists are saying…Michael needs to use the learned strategies in real life outside of a clinical environment.  I get it.   There’s no school in the world that teaches us how to live more than what we learn from life’s experience - our best lessons are learned by trial and error, bumps in the road. We all have the responsibility to push ourselves in the right direction - to make the right choices for our future.  I get it.   But for me personally, behind the door that closes today, is fear.  A fear that we will fail him.  

The safety net of clinical therapy has been comforting and the unknown once again is before us.  The ground is not solid, there’s no one there to lead the way - it is tough to stand alone.  Your love and prayers continue to help us stand - your commitment to following Michael’s progress gives us courage to believe that we can do this.  It is the village that makes us strong.  One Love.

As we were preparing to leave Mt. Vernon today, there was only one therapist that Michael talked about saying good-bye to.  He had a note in his journal to remind him to look for her but there was really no need - it was on his mind all morning.  Michael was fortunate to have her (add another blessing to the list) as his physical therapist when he was in-patient at Mt.Vernon. We all bonded with this sweet spirited gladiator…she “got” us.  She saw past the hospital gown, saw past the “patient in 507″, saw through the head injury and she saw my son.  She saw us. 

Michael connected with her immediately and spoke of her often after his release from Mt.Vernon in January.  She is the one he would look forward to seeing every day and this morning on the way to his last therapy, her name was the only name he mentioned.  She is beautiful.  She is kind and compassionate.  She is Kelli.  

Unlike the other therapists from Michael’s stay previously at Mt.Vernon, she continued to let Mike know that she cared, that she believed in him.  He would light up when he saw her and be so proud if she noticed that he was making improvement.  She gave Mike a card today - it sings “you’re simply the best, better than all the rest”….well, right back atcha’ babe - Miss Kelli, we think ”you’re simply the best, better than all the rest”.

So, another journey begins today.  A journey that I believe began on I66 at Exit 66 with an intervention to save this young man’s life.   I believe there is a plan.  I believe in prayer, I believe in miracles.  God be with us as this  ”Journey of Miracles” continues.

Stay tuned…

LIVESTRONG Michael.

xxoo