It is no secret that I am the biggest supporter of my boys. Home, school, sports, work - I will always have their back and brag about them to the point of embarrassment. That is just the kind of Mom (& Daddy) I had so it is the kind of Mom I am. I have never felt the need to apologize for it, I have never felt like a helicopter parent due to my pride - in fact, and if you as the boys they will probably agree, I am harder on them than other kids simply because I know they can reach their goals. They both have all the tools they need to do work and accomplish whatever they set their minds too. This is one of those proud moments for the kiddo - the one that used to be the short one.
Today I am on one of my random trips. Some people think I am crazy, I am probably am, but sometimes I think you need to use your miles, get on a plane and go for an adventure. This adventure took Alex & I back to Dayton - UD specifically - for the biggest game to date for our Flyers.
Today I dropped him off at the back of the Arena, a door I never knew existed in my 4 years here, so he could do work. My son will never wear a basketball team uniform, will never make the winning free throw (and not just because he misses those - always) in a D1 game, will never be in the player hall of fame, but that kid? He goes through the back doors to the UD Arena. He, and his fellow managers, set up the benches, the locker rooms, the uniforms, the water bottles / towels / chairs with smiles on their faces. If not actually on their faces, they have them inside as they know what a privilege their jobs are. Every time they enter the arena and hit the floor, they have the same butterflies the players do. They feel every swish, every miss as if they were suited up to play. They do their own shoot around before the players hit the court. While I know in reality this is just shooting hoops with buddies, part of me wonders if they do it to make sure there is nothing wrong with the rims, the balls, the shot clocks. There is nothing these managers won't do for their players, their coaches, their team.
It might not make sense to everyone, and it sounds irrational when you say it out loud to be sure, but tonight, as I am cheering on our Flyers, I will have butterflies for those men behind the bench. For those who do work because they love it and because they know that it is their job to ensure everything behind the scenes works so their players can go and make the shots and get the win.
Moral? Decide what you want to do, do the work, go through the secret doors and get it done. Somewhere, your mom, grandmom, dad, grandpa, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, or friend (okay, all of the above I am sure) have butterflies for you. Know you are going to get it done right because whether you are the guys on the bench or behind it, someone has faith in you and knows you can get it done.
Showing posts with label Journey of Alex. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Journey of Alex. Show all posts
Friday, January 6, 2017
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Lucky to be along for the ride
Since December 2011, a group of us have run the New Years Double. We have run 5ks or halves or both, and by run, I mean everything from walking to running to dancing in the ice rain crying our eyes out. This year was no different and yet it was.
This year, we had some - shall we say 'bump?' (hahahaha that's funny stuff so laugh) - along the way that put our NYD in jeopardy. See, I still do the back-to-back races because of Alex, it is a mother son tradition that has come to be a love and hate in our house. Last year, it was ice raining on the Day so we didn't run. I thought about it but realized I really wanted to do it with him and ice rain alone wasn't the tradition! Sure, my other crazy friends were still out there doing it but Alex wouldn't be and my bed was warm (as warm as the champagne was the night before admittedly). Back to this year, this year, we weren't sure Alex was going to be able to complete 3.1 miles. It is a lot longer than you might think, and, well, that bump again. But guess what? Once again, the kiddo taught me that if you just put one foot in front of the other, we can solve any problem. Okay, maybe this year I taught him too. We taught each other.
This year, we lined up in the cold before the sun was up to complete our last 5k of 2015. As always, he took off like a bat out of hell (damn 17 year old) and I sprinted to keep up with him. Only this year, he had a brace on his ankle. A small, almost unnoticeable brace, that kept his foot from dropping, that kept his ankle moving the way it is supposed to normally. This year, like all the other years, he hadn't ran since the last NYD event, only this year, he also spent some time not walking. This year, he sprinted to the 1 mile sign like every year, but this year, the 1 mile sign was his goal - it was his race finish line. When he made it to 1 mile, he tapped that sign, which he does for every mile marker, and stopped with a huge smile on his face and I cried. You read that right, I cried real tears down my face. I was running with a buddy of mine who I met in a race years and years ago and he saw it. I walked up to Alex and hugged him and he hugged me back. A short 8 months and 11 days after having a paralyzed right leg, after using a big stick to walk, Alex ran a mile. This was a cry zone moment - the pride was just too much.
Of course, it was then that the real race started, the 2.1 mile walk (that seemed so much longer due to a mistake on the course causing us to walk loops instead of out and back). We spent the next 40 minutes or so talking to each other about the year, about the future, about the hills, about the ducks (I always talk to the animals). We joked around and we were serious. We watched the sun and the clouds. We did every step together. That time together? Well, I will hold onto that forever.
The 3 mile marker came (it came twice and the first one was a cruel joke that resulted in him running and losing some steam) and he took off again as he was bound to beat me of course - which he did. He then did something that I have seen him do before, that I have done since I was his age and younger - he stuck his arms out and we flew into the finish line. He got his medal, his water, his bagel. He hugged me again and simply said 'I did it Mom.' Then he stopped and did something else that shows how much he has matured, he said 'I am tired and sore.'
Yes, there are people who have it much harder than my 17 year old kiddo, but this isn't about that. This isn't about Alex's struggle either. This is about his victory, his maturity, his amazing spirit that knows when to take it one step at a time, when to sprint to a line and when to fly. This is about a mother/son tradition that has stood the test of high school and everything those 4 years have brought us.
The next day, Alex stayed in bed and I ran the race with my friends for both of us. With every step I thought about Alex and our tradition. In his spirit, he wanted to be there, but in his mind, he knew it was time for the body to heal once again. The NYE race was a vital part of healing his mind and his body - reminding him about his journey, his success. The NYD rest was a vital part of healing his mind and body too - reminding him about his journey, his success again.
Alex and I might not get the chance to do this race again, but if life has taught us anything, it is you never know what is going to happen next. What I do know is that after an adventurous 2015, Alex walks, Alex runs, and Alex flies. I am just lucky to be along for the ride.
This year, we had some - shall we say 'bump?' (hahahaha that's funny stuff so laugh) - along the way that put our NYD in jeopardy. See, I still do the back-to-back races because of Alex, it is a mother son tradition that has come to be a love and hate in our house. Last year, it was ice raining on the Day so we didn't run. I thought about it but realized I really wanted to do it with him and ice rain alone wasn't the tradition! Sure, my other crazy friends were still out there doing it but Alex wouldn't be and my bed was warm (as warm as the champagne was the night before admittedly). Back to this year, this year, we weren't sure Alex was going to be able to complete 3.1 miles. It is a lot longer than you might think, and, well, that bump again. But guess what? Once again, the kiddo taught me that if you just put one foot in front of the other, we can solve any problem. Okay, maybe this year I taught him too. We taught each other.
This year, we lined up in the cold before the sun was up to complete our last 5k of 2015. As always, he took off like a bat out of hell (damn 17 year old) and I sprinted to keep up with him. Only this year, he had a brace on his ankle. A small, almost unnoticeable brace, that kept his foot from dropping, that kept his ankle moving the way it is supposed to normally. This year, like all the other years, he hadn't ran since the last NYD event, only this year, he also spent some time not walking. This year, he sprinted to the 1 mile sign like every year, but this year, the 1 mile sign was his goal - it was his race finish line. When he made it to 1 mile, he tapped that sign, which he does for every mile marker, and stopped with a huge smile on his face and I cried. You read that right, I cried real tears down my face. I was running with a buddy of mine who I met in a race years and years ago and he saw it. I walked up to Alex and hugged him and he hugged me back. A short 8 months and 11 days after having a paralyzed right leg, after using a big stick to walk, Alex ran a mile. This was a cry zone moment - the pride was just too much.
Of course, it was then that the real race started, the 2.1 mile walk (that seemed so much longer due to a mistake on the course causing us to walk loops instead of out and back). We spent the next 40 minutes or so talking to each other about the year, about the future, about the hills, about the ducks (I always talk to the animals). We joked around and we were serious. We watched the sun and the clouds. We did every step together. That time together? Well, I will hold onto that forever.The 3 mile marker came (it came twice and the first one was a cruel joke that resulted in him running and losing some steam) and he took off again as he was bound to beat me of course - which he did. He then did something that I have seen him do before, that I have done since I was his age and younger - he stuck his arms out and we flew into the finish line. He got his medal, his water, his bagel. He hugged me again and simply said 'I did it Mom.' Then he stopped and did something else that shows how much he has matured, he said 'I am tired and sore.'
Yes, there are people who have it much harder than my 17 year old kiddo, but this isn't about that. This isn't about Alex's struggle either. This is about his victory, his maturity, his amazing spirit that knows when to take it one step at a time, when to sprint to a line and when to fly. This is about a mother/son tradition that has stood the test of high school and everything those 4 years have brought us.
The next day, Alex stayed in bed and I ran the race with my friends for both of us. With every step I thought about Alex and our tradition. In his spirit, he wanted to be there, but in his mind, he knew it was time for the body to heal once again. The NYE race was a vital part of healing his mind and his body - reminding him about his journey, his success. The NYD rest was a vital part of healing his mind and body too - reminding him about his journey, his success again.
Alex and I might not get the chance to do this race again, but if life has taught us anything, it is you never know what is going to happen next. What I do know is that after an adventurous 2015, Alex walks, Alex runs, and Alex flies. I am just lucky to be along for the ride.
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| 12/31/2011 - 12/31/2015 One foot in front of the other - always together. |
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.
 |
"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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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.
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