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.
No comments:
Post a Comment