Evaluations...like test only easier.
OT & PT evaluations started for Alex today. Of course he faced them with the dedication and drive we have seen all week. OT was playing Rush Hour. Do you remember what Rush Hour is? It is a car puzzle game where you have to get the red car out of the lot. It is a logic puzzle that sounds easy until you have to do it standing up with a leg you can't control and you pick the hardest level card because you are convinced you can work it out. All of your focus is on the strength in your leg making the game more challenging and that is exactly the point. Alex took one break to relax and sit down then right back at it until the car was out.
PT was all about ballet. Okay, not really but kind of and that makes me giggle so ballet it is. He worked with parallel bars to balance and reallocate energy to the right leg. As he can't engage his right leg, ankle or foot yet, it is a lot harder than it sounds. The PT would put a stair under him so that he would rest his leg up and have to balance (with her help and the omnipresent pink PT belt firmly in place) on his right leg. She would then try to push him out of the position. I got to see this first hand as I will soon be 'certified' to be able to help him move around without a nurse/PT present using the belt. Following his ballerina movements (it just makes me laugh to tell him that), he walked around the PT floor with the help of his walker, an orthotic that stabilizes his foot as he still can't control the ankle or foot. He took a small break when he told the PT he was recognizing that he kicked his foot out and got lazy. This is BIG as he felt he was doing it wrong.
Time to pop wheelies
Because of the drive and dedication Alex has shown towards his recovery, they have decided that he can go anywhere he wants on the property in his wheelchair with friends or family. He is working hard and they are recognizing it! There is a great patio off of PT...just saying. His buddies have decided there will be wheelchair races ala Scrubs. Hey - if it keeps him motivated, I bet he could get away with it!
Moooo.....
Jesuit Rugby was playing in the first round of the playoffs yesterday so I was back and forth between rehab and Jesuit. In fact, the only regular event we have had in this whole week is the fact that we are spending a lot of time at Jesuit :). Coming back from the amazing rugby victory, I decided average fast food just wouldn't do for lunch so off to food trucks I went. Actually, I was cutting through down town and had to call my food guru to find out where Klyde Warren Park was but I digress. Nothing less that Ruthie's The Boss would do to motivate success today. Actually, it was because - months ago - Alex was telling me about this AMAZING sandwich that he got from some truck with a pig on it and I told him about the AMAZING one I had and they ended up being the same place - Ruthie's Food Truck. He might not admit it, but all his good stuff? He gets that from me of course (just go with it - give me this one please), Anyway - I got us The Boss (although I really want to try the grilled cheese so that might happen later this week). When I got to the room, some of his baseball guys were there so of course I offered them a bite. No one took me up on it (they preferred the cookies) so I promised - if you guys win out the season (2 games to go) - Ruthie's sandwiches for each of you. And they better hold me to it because I will deliver.
Back to the field - not as easy as I thought it would be
Alex asked me to go the baseball game and support his guys so, of course, I couldn't let him down. I am not going to lie - walking back to that field wasn't easy knowing the last time he was on it this adventure started. There was a high puncture the sky kind of pop fly to shallow center. I didn't like watching it and kept saying - catch it. don't let it hit you. catch it right now. The home runs flew in the game - these kids stepped up and finished that 13-1 victory in 5 innings. It was the district clincher and win #300 for his coach. The team celebrated with a picture on the field, silly Jesuit posed letters (by humans - yup you can laugh now), and videos. I had to get out of the stands and hide for a minute behind my very dark sunglasses. He should have been there celebrating. He should have been there in the dog pile, in the pictures, on the letters in the line up. I know he wanted to be there - and was there in spirit for sure. Moment of honesty people - yes, we are strong when our kids need us to be, that is what parents do. However, at that moment? At that moment I was ready to quit being strong and cry. I was hurt for my kid that he was missing out. Then I got over it because it was time to celebrate on the field with the parents and Alex would be there soon enough. So I went out and took a pic to send to the kid. In the words of Tom Hanks - there is no crying in baseball.
Zzzzzs
PT is hard. Alex thinks he isn't doing much work and gets angry that he us worn out. That is crazy but I get it. He is a 17 year old boy who thinks he is invincible and the super hero cape isn't helping him fly right now. This mental trial is something he is going to have to work through and is part of the journey. He is tired but gets jazzed up by people - not seeing people and being reminded of all those pulling for him to get out is his kryptonite. The motor skills issue isn't.
Moment of thanks
A moment isn't enough, but that is what we have right now so let us take it. Thank you to everyone who has visited, called, texted, tweeted, FBd, SnapChatted, instagrammed, taken selfies etc. Thanks for the hugs when you see us outside of the building or for the non-judgement shoulder when we have a weak moment or chink in the armor. Thanks for taking time to walk up with a joke about the situation or a tender word - both are equally as helpful. This week our family has lived a year in a week (thanks for the perfect way of putting that Mom) and it is effecting all of us from the dogs, to the kids, to the adults. I have always said it takes a village and right now? Wow - this village is big and going way above and beyond.
It's the fun
- Coach "He hit another homer after visiting Alex and you know us baseball superstition guys. Maybe Alex should stay a little further into the playoffs, you know he respects the baseball gods!" And you know what? He does and if it was a sure thing that Jesuit would win state if he was in a hospital room, he would move in for sure!
- Buddy "I got into that cookie cake. I used to get them and put them in my passenger seat." It is vital to have snacks in a boy room. And apparently, the chocolate chip variety of snacks are the the key.
- Buddy "You don't mess with the Jesuit family. We are the Jesuit Mafia and no one can stop us." Never has that been more true than this week and they have risen to the occasion.
- Alex "We are having a party in here - I got half the team and more friends. Gotta go." When I called seeing if I needed to come down before my HoF dinner for a spirit lift. He didn't even want to talk to me...sigh and yeah all at once. Okay, much more yeah than sigh!
- Seeing all his different friends interact...at first, they don't know what to think with each other but after 2 minutes? It's like they all have known each other all their lives and Alex is throwing a big dorm room party and not stuck in bed.
- Alex "I have to deal with my own emotional bullshit so I moved to my chair, turned on hockey and am chilling." after a rough night of 'I just want to move my hamstrings so they can fire everything else up' in response to my question if I needed to come back down. This might not seem funny, but to us? It very much is. Game on my friends. Game on.
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