Last night we sat and watch Sharknado because SHARKS AND TORNADOES!!!! Yet it was almost funnier to watch Alex's reaction as he was freaking out at the lack of respect for the basic laws of Physics. No, not the basic laws of biology and meteorology because who cares about those, the laws of physics. He even said he would consider re-writing his Physics paper about the breaking of the laws of physics in movies and focus on Sharknado as it was such an egregious violation. This was hilarious, I wish I had video taped it.
Regardless, I was impressed that he mentioned real live school work, things he learned at Jesuit. Like any student, the kids have (more than once) muttered 'Like I will ever use this in real life' more than once during their time in high school; last night, it was the opposite and he was ready to use his Physics. I shall always laugh at the situation that caused him to find this dedication to science truth...maybe someday he will teach high school physics and use the video as a case study for his class. Now that would be funny.
Through the past 3 months, I have seen time and time again, the different lessons Jesuit has taught Alex - dedication, mission for others - and now I have even seen the school work shine through the fog. In a month, Alex starts his Senior year, the Senior packet arrived this week so it is official. Last week, he finished his Junior year (with a Physics final - HA!) and today he finished his last 24 sessions of Strength & Conditioning. I have always heard that it just clicks in your kid, when life becomes more than ESPN and the courtyard, when it becomes what you are learning and how you can use it (in addition to ESPN and the courtyard of course, let's not be silly). If Sharknado, the last 24 (of 96) summer workouts, the last final of Junior year, or the quickly approaching first day of Senior year made that switch flip in Alex's life, or if it was a little of all of it, I will take it. Another step forward, and this time, no steps back. Another open door, and what amazing opportunities away him - here we go.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Monday, July 20, 2015
The Magic #3
3 strikes, you're out!
3 months ago today, on April 20th, our life got a little more interesting. There have been challenging times and fun times; there have been times of failure and times of success. Through it all, we have seen so much support, love, prayers and community that Alex knows he will never be out - if anything, this pop fly ball held just long enough to be a home run.
----
I stopped writing after that point and decided that Alex in his own typed words, needed to put this entry together. Well, that is going to take a lot longer and will be well into the future as, without realizing it, Alex started writing his college essay. And while I am 10000000% bias - let me tell you, that boy can write.
It's raining 3s, it's the last minute clutch field goal, it's the grand slam
3 months ago today, on April 20th, our life got a little more interesting. There have been challenging times and fun times; there have been times of failure and times of success. Through it all, we have seen so much support, love, prayers and community that Alex knows he will never be out - if anything, this pop fly ball held just long enough to be a home run.
----
I stopped writing after that point and decided that Alex in his own typed words, needed to put this entry together. Well, that is going to take a lot longer and will be well into the future as, without realizing it, Alex started writing his college essay. And while I am 10000000% bias - let me tell you, that boy can write.
It's raining 3s, it's the last minute clutch field goal, it's the grand slam
So in order to not steal his thunder but to share how far he has come in 3 months, let me say only this. He doesn't quit, he doesn't stop, and if we an outside shooter he would be the one hitting 3s. If he was a long ball hitter, he would be clearing 3 bases and cleaning up at home with the 4th run. He would be the clutch kicker winning with a 3 point field goal with 0:00 on the clock. Clearly, we are a sports house so the sports analogies will never stop.
It takes a village - in this case, a community - and as I have said again and again, we have a great one. Cheers to 3 months my friends, we could not have made it this far without all of you. I cannot wait to see what the next 3 months of senior year, colleges apps, football season, and life in his shoes brings us.
It takes a village - in this case, a community - and as I have said again and again, we have a great one. Cheers to 3 months my friends, we could not have made it this far without all of you. I cannot wait to see what the next 3 months of senior year, colleges apps, football season, and life in his shoes brings us.
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"I finally got to see what it is like, albeit at a much more severe level, to be on DL, to need to stop for a while, to rest and recover. April 20 started me on a long and winding path that made me realize how much everyone matters in a community." - Alex Reilly to be continued...
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Thursday, July 9, 2015
See? I am not cheery all the time, okay, I get back that way very quickly.
I am a person who thinks we should look on the upside of things. I don't post the negative, the dirty laundry, I don't post things that might bring up personal battles, there are better places for that, rather I choose to share the fun, the good news as I am a happy person who tends to look at the upside of things. Yes, I have my horrible times like everyone else, I have openly admitted to crying over the past few months and I don't cry. However, I could not let this one go by without saying something.
I just read an article regarding a kid who got hit by a foul ball in the dug out. He suffered a skull fracture and brain swelling. I hurt for this kid and their family as he also had to spend time in the hospital and not only had to learn how to walk again but also how to talk. This kid has seizures and that is horrible. I have said time and time again how lucky we are that Alex did not suffer more damage, that he is walking again and will continue to improve more than we imagined. I am not lessening in anyway the pain that this family is feeling. Every time I see a kid get hit it now hurts me and I have a very irrational reaction of fear and panic. This is just my new normal until I get over it. And to be honest, I might not get over it and that is just life. Judge me if you must, but that's part of my normal and I don't push it anyone.
However, this is where my opinion, my understanding of their situation differs and ends. This family sued the school and won. They won $1M from suing the school because their son got hit by a foul ball during the game. They would have won more but he was found 30% at-fault for not being more aware of his surroundings. Only 30%? Having just gone through something very similar with Alex, I can honestly say never once did the thought occur to us to sue regarding what happened to him on the baseball field. My first question to Alex was 'Why didn't you catch the ball?' When you are on a field, a court, a pitch, whatever, you know the dangers and know that accidents can happen. Your head should be on a swivel all the time. Don't start with the 'this boy has longer term effects at this time', I read that and feel for him and for the family. What happened to this kid is horrible, and it does sound like he had more damage mentally than Alex, but should the family have won a law suit over it? No! In fact, there never should have been one at all! Our society is so quick to blame others for what is wrong in their lives, for the accidents, what are we teaching our kids?
No one was at fault for what just happened on April 20th, as Alex said 'Dude, it was a 1 in a million chance. Move on and win the game.' In life, bad things happen and sometimes there is fault to be given and sometimes it is just life. The point of this rant, which I will probably take down at some point as I choose to focus on the positive of life but I had to get this out, is don't let bad things change who you are. Keep moving forward and find the good things to celebrate, like the fact that the kiddo not only walks, he drives less than 3 months from being paralyzed from the knee down - we do everyday and are so blessed to have all of you to celebrate every little thing with us. Now go, win your game.
I just read an article regarding a kid who got hit by a foul ball in the dug out. He suffered a skull fracture and brain swelling. I hurt for this kid and their family as he also had to spend time in the hospital and not only had to learn how to walk again but also how to talk. This kid has seizures and that is horrible. I have said time and time again how lucky we are that Alex did not suffer more damage, that he is walking again and will continue to improve more than we imagined. I am not lessening in anyway the pain that this family is feeling. Every time I see a kid get hit it now hurts me and I have a very irrational reaction of fear and panic. This is just my new normal until I get over it. And to be honest, I might not get over it and that is just life. Judge me if you must, but that's part of my normal and I don't push it anyone.
However, this is where my opinion, my understanding of their situation differs and ends. This family sued the school and won. They won $1M from suing the school because their son got hit by a foul ball during the game. They would have won more but he was found 30% at-fault for not being more aware of his surroundings. Only 30%? Having just gone through something very similar with Alex, I can honestly say never once did the thought occur to us to sue regarding what happened to him on the baseball field. My first question to Alex was 'Why didn't you catch the ball?' When you are on a field, a court, a pitch, whatever, you know the dangers and know that accidents can happen. Your head should be on a swivel all the time. Don't start with the 'this boy has longer term effects at this time', I read that and feel for him and for the family. What happened to this kid is horrible, and it does sound like he had more damage mentally than Alex, but should the family have won a law suit over it? No! In fact, there never should have been one at all! Our society is so quick to blame others for what is wrong in their lives, for the accidents, what are we teaching our kids?
No one was at fault for what just happened on April 20th, as Alex said 'Dude, it was a 1 in a million chance. Move on and win the game.' In life, bad things happen and sometimes there is fault to be given and sometimes it is just life. The point of this rant, which I will probably take down at some point as I choose to focus on the positive of life but I had to get this out, is don't let bad things change who you are. Keep moving forward and find the good things to celebrate, like the fact that the kiddo not only walks, he drives less than 3 months from being paralyzed from the knee down - we do everyday and are so blessed to have all of you to celebrate every little thing with us. Now go, win your game.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Vroom vroom
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Leaning Left
No, I have not changed my political views - calm down.
This morning I sit in the waiting room of Mobility Outfitters, Inc. in Plano as they work on Alex's car. This has been one of those not so easy decisions to make as Alex is still in denial that he won't wake up on August 1st and have full mobility. See, when you tell a teenager that they will be 'normal' by the end of the summer, they jump to the old normal and not the new normal. The old normal of no braces, no muscle fatigue, no ankle or foot weakness and no the new normal of 80-90% mobility with a plastic brace and fatigue. Don't get me wrong, Alex is still kicking major tail my friends. He is working hard in PT, started back with the strength and conditioning session at Jesuit today, doing the work at home with his eStim and stretches and when you work hard - you win, right? Sometimes the win isn't what you thought it would be and you need to reset your sights.
We have all been a teenager and know how important it is to think that we are the doing life on our own as an 'adult'. This is still very much the case when life throws you a curve ball (or a fly ball in this case - too soon?). Alex should finish his junior year this week - one paper and one final to go - and venture into his senior year. Gulp. Last night we had a talk that many have all over the country every day with their juniors, we had it with the Tall One last year, it is time to look to the future. It is time to decide which colleges you want to look at, time to think about what you might want to study, time to buckle down and nail the last year of high school. I would be lying if I didn't say this conversation went a little left in our house. See, sometimes you aren't ready to move to the next phase until you can get past the last phase. In our case, that last phase involved hospitals, tests, and frustration. Well, it is time to move past all of that in our house, it is time to look at the future and senior year. Hanging with buddies, visiting colleges, enjoying the games, the fun and oh yes, studying. Let's just pretend shall we?
And that brings us back to the car.
Today, the nice people here are installing a left foot accelerator in Alex's car so he can have some of his independence back. This is a temporary fix that disables the right side accelerator so he can drive with his left foot. It isn't hand controls, and the only way anyone will notice is if they try to drive the car. We shall ignore, for my sanity, the fact that this car will probably will be driven by many boys having fun 'test driving' just because they can and it is different.
So today we lean left in our family and Alex gets some of his independence back (once he learns how to drive with his left foot which is easier than you might think). This is a great day in his journey, and this is just another way that the kiddo walks.
This morning I sit in the waiting room of Mobility Outfitters, Inc. in Plano as they work on Alex's car. This has been one of those not so easy decisions to make as Alex is still in denial that he won't wake up on August 1st and have full mobility. See, when you tell a teenager that they will be 'normal' by the end of the summer, they jump to the old normal and not the new normal. The old normal of no braces, no muscle fatigue, no ankle or foot weakness and no the new normal of 80-90% mobility with a plastic brace and fatigue. Don't get me wrong, Alex is still kicking major tail my friends. He is working hard in PT, started back with the strength and conditioning session at Jesuit today, doing the work at home with his eStim and stretches and when you work hard - you win, right? Sometimes the win isn't what you thought it would be and you need to reset your sights.
We have all been a teenager and know how important it is to think that we are the doing life on our own as an 'adult'. This is still very much the case when life throws you a curve ball (or a fly ball in this case - too soon?). Alex should finish his junior year this week - one paper and one final to go - and venture into his senior year. Gulp. Last night we had a talk that many have all over the country every day with their juniors, we had it with the Tall One last year, it is time to look to the future. It is time to decide which colleges you want to look at, time to think about what you might want to study, time to buckle down and nail the last year of high school. I would be lying if I didn't say this conversation went a little left in our house. See, sometimes you aren't ready to move to the next phase until you can get past the last phase. In our case, that last phase involved hospitals, tests, and frustration. Well, it is time to move past all of that in our house, it is time to look at the future and senior year. Hanging with buddies, visiting colleges, enjoying the games, the fun and oh yes, studying. Let's just pretend shall we?
And that brings us back to the car.
Today, the nice people here are installing a left foot accelerator in Alex's car so he can have some of his independence back. This is a temporary fix that disables the right side accelerator so he can drive with his left foot. It isn't hand controls, and the only way anyone will notice is if they try to drive the car. We shall ignore, for my sanity, the fact that this car will probably will be driven by many boys having fun 'test driving' just because they can and it is different.
So today we lean left in our family and Alex gets some of his independence back (once he learns how to drive with his left foot which is easier than you might think). This is a great day in his journey, and this is just another way that the kiddo walks.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Who needs 2 wheels when you have 2 feet
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.
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.
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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