This morning, at the very early hour of 5 am, we sent Alex off to spend a week studying government first hand in Washington DC with 35 other Jesuit men. Dressed in his collar shirt (you always travel in a collared shirt as a man in our family - it's a lesson we start teaching as soon as they fly which, in his case, was before he could walk), he hugged us and said he will see us in a week.
Like every teenage boy traveler, Alex had a bag with his clothes and belongings across his chest ready to get on the plane and sleep. He blended in with the Jesuit crowd just as he wanted and it made my heart happy as 2 months ago, we almost had to tell him he couldn't go.
When we told him he had to cancel the trip to Alaska for service, he was disappointed so we held off on canceling the DC trip just in case. The school, and his teachers, were amazing saying we could wait until 3 weeks before the trip and he could bring whatever he needed to make it easier. He worked hard in PT and it worked as he got to still go to DC with a wheelchair just in case. Side note, if you have never been to DC, the Metro is amazing but you still walk around a lot thus the wheelchair just in case. He talked to his roommate who was good with helping him out if he needed too, I vaguely heard of some negotiation where Alex would ride in the chair sometimes and his roommate others but of course, boys would never do that (HA! Yes, they totally would.). Today Alex went on his trip with only his brace, Alex doesn't worry about needing a wheelchair because he did the work and is reaping the rewards.
In his bag are a week's worth of clothes, chargers, an eStim and PF boot. He got a note from his PT so that he could go to the weight room and use the treadmill for his rehab on days they are sessions in the hotel and not walking around. He talked to his teacher, who happens to be the CC coach, joking about getting up at 4 am to do 6 miles with him as they waited to go through TSA. I know adults (okay, maybe I am one of them) that aren't even half as dedicated to rehab as this kid. Yes, I know I am biased and overly proud but I can't help but think his dedication might someday inspire others. Maybe he will be a coach or teacher one day and tell the story of what he went through to a player of his and motivate them to get through their rehab. Maybe a friend will share the story or one of his teachers or coaches to help lend someone else that bit of hope and drive to push just on step more. Maybe none of that will happen but he certainly has motivated and inspired me time after time over these past 2 months.
2 months ago we weren't sure Alex would ever have control of his right leg and walk ever again. Today, he got on an airplane bound for DC with his Jesuit brothers to meet up with students from the around the US and walk around our nation's capital and see in person what they have studied in books in their government class. If that isn't motivational, I don't know what is.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Thursday, June 4, 2015
A room with a view, and no doors, and no windows. Okay - an outside office
Back in August of 2012, I used to sit in this same 'corner office' waiting for the kids to be done at Jesuit while I worked and drank my green tea. Today, almost 3 years later I am doing the same thing.
This is my second 'corner' office of the day as my first one was at BIR while Alex worked with the best PTs DFW has to offer. Right now, he is across the street taking his Spanish final (even with the work I am doing I am luckier than he is right now) and I am waiting to we can hit Ruthie's for some grilled cheese - the best in the world - before he loads into the bus to head to SHSU to beat Oak Ridge.
It is funny how life can sometimes come full circle in the strangest ways. If you had asked me if I ever would have been sitting here working waiting to drive my son somewhere from Jesuit after summer school I would have laughed and said no. Why? Because 17 year old boys drive themselves and their buddies, they don't ride with their moms. That is just not how this works. Since April 20th, I have learned a whole lot of things change and while they seem to be hard at first, they really are kind of great.
This morning, two older gentlemen were talking and saw my Jesuit baseball shirt and asked me 'How are our boys doing?'. See, they have grads or know grads and have been following our team so we talked for a while. They told me how proud of our team they are and how our boys have 1000s of people cheering for them from all over. It made me smile and reminded me how lucky we are to have Alex and Billy as a part of the Jesuit family.
This morning, instead of being in my office (and while I do have a window it is just not the same), I got to sit in the sun and listen to the birds, the cars, the occasional airplane and the voices of the boys on the various fields across the street. I feel refreshed and alive.
This morning I got to see some of Alex's coaches and see him almost run up the stairs into school. Yes, that running was not what most would call running but in our normal? It was the fastest he has ever been. I still am in awe when I watch how far he has come.
This morning I got to have all of those awesome feelings because I had to drive Alex around because of our circumstances.
Today Alex is fatigued from PT - it was a very hard work out - but he took his 30 minute break in the car and then dug deep and headed in to fatigue his mind with finals. He packed his baseball bag with all the things that bring his team luck and his pillow as he knew this road trip would require rest.
Today I am fatigued because of the drives, the crazy schedules, the circumstances of life but I too dug deep and headed into the day. I packed my bag with cow bells, rally towels and glasses for our long road trip. How could I not if he can do it, I surely can too!
Suitcases open doors, since April 20th we have had many suitcases, bags & boxes and today? Today I get to work outside without a door because of it. For that, I am grateful and for the fact that I have a kid that doesn't know how to quit? I am blessed.
This is my second 'corner' office of the day as my first one was at BIR while Alex worked with the best PTs DFW has to offer. Right now, he is across the street taking his Spanish final (even with the work I am doing I am luckier than he is right now) and I am waiting to we can hit Ruthie's for some grilled cheese - the best in the world - before he loads into the bus to head to SHSU to beat Oak Ridge.
It is funny how life can sometimes come full circle in the strangest ways. If you had asked me if I ever would have been sitting here working waiting to drive my son somewhere from Jesuit after summer school I would have laughed and said no. Why? Because 17 year old boys drive themselves and their buddies, they don't ride with their moms. That is just not how this works. Since April 20th, I have learned a whole lot of things change and while they seem to be hard at first, they really are kind of great.
This morning, two older gentlemen were talking and saw my Jesuit baseball shirt and asked me 'How are our boys doing?'. See, they have grads or know grads and have been following our team so we talked for a while. They told me how proud of our team they are and how our boys have 1000s of people cheering for them from all over. It made me smile and reminded me how lucky we are to have Alex and Billy as a part of the Jesuit family.
This morning, instead of being in my office (and while I do have a window it is just not the same), I got to sit in the sun and listen to the birds, the cars, the occasional airplane and the voices of the boys on the various fields across the street. I feel refreshed and alive.
This morning I got to see some of Alex's coaches and see him almost run up the stairs into school. Yes, that running was not what most would call running but in our normal? It was the fastest he has ever been. I still am in awe when I watch how far he has come.
This morning I got to have all of those awesome feelings because I had to drive Alex around because of our circumstances.
Today Alex is fatigued from PT - it was a very hard work out - but he took his 30 minute break in the car and then dug deep and headed in to fatigue his mind with finals. He packed his baseball bag with all the things that bring his team luck and his pillow as he knew this road trip would require rest.
Today I am fatigued because of the drives, the crazy schedules, the circumstances of life but I too dug deep and headed into the day. I packed my bag with cow bells, rally towels and glasses for our long road trip. How could I not if he can do it, I surely can too!
Suitcases open doors, since April 20th we have had many suitcases, bags & boxes and today? Today I get to work outside without a door because of it. For that, I am grateful and for the fact that I have a kid that doesn't know how to quit? I am blessed.
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