July 2-3 1830

Tyler had a restful day, catching up on his food and sleep. We toured Traurig house, the next step in Ty's rehab. It's primarily an assisted living facility designed to help the patients practice day to day chores and living. The nice thing, it's located on the Gaylord campus, where Tyler could continue his various therapies as required.

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere.
~Frank A. Clark

July 2-2 1115

Tyler was all smiles when Grammy and I arrived. There's a chance he may be able to watch the Wallingford fireworks display out his window this evening. He is doing well strengthening his left arm and leg. He's thoroughly enjoying the bottle of cola we got him. Ty has the rest of the day to relax, and abbreviated therapy for Sunday and Monday. There's rumor, Tyler may get a special guest appearance from that star of stage and screen, Diva the dog.

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.
-Ben Williams

July 2-1 0820

Another restful night, followed by a full breakfast. Anyone else notice a pattern? Ty has his scheduled PT sessions, and on Tuesday we're going to find out about starting Tyler on aqua-therapy. Gaylord has a gorgeous, huge pool, and Ty is a true water baby. The combination hopefully will do wonders.

Bad is never good until worse happens.
~Danish Proverb
Note:
(This is why we never ask, "What else can go wrong").

July 1-4 1700

Ty had a good afternoon, and is settling into his new digs, down the hall from his old digs. His Mom is visiting this evening, and is trying to put together some ice cream for him. Tyler was asked if he wanted to go for a walk earlier, and see the Friday movie in the recreation room later, he declined both. It seems by Friday evening he's exhausted. He's entitled to some rest.

It just wouldn't be a picnic without the ants.
~Author Unknown

July 1-3 1430

Tyler had a nice lunch and was treated to some cake as an extra desert supplied by his neighbor Martin in honor of Canada Day. The laptop will begin the journey to repair, and Ty and I had a nice talk regarding his situation and the future.

Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs of tedium and distaste. The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labor is immense.
~ Thomas A. Bennett

July 1-2 1100

Per Nic's instructions, I checked Tyler's computer and determined the only problem to be the beautiful Picasso like mosaic the screen produces due to the drop. We will be pursuing the warranty today to get the laptop back to Ty ASAP. Tyler had a good AM, and did well at PT. I've brought him a pizza slice as a surprise before lunch. He has been moved down the hall to room 209, once again right across from the nurses station, but right next to the elderly lady who constantly mumbles, and occasionally yells out. Yahoo!!!

July 1-1 0900

Some great pictures from Playing for Pollock. Ultimate Frisbee.

Ty had a good night, recovering from the trauma of damaging the laptop, and the ensuing cathartic release. The staff are closing the floor where Tyler is currently due to lack of customers, and moving him to the 1st floor. A lesson in hospital economics.

''Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.''

- Matthew 11:28-30

PS

I know it's a repeat, but I just love this photo

Ty's buddy Nic called me back and informed me the reason he wanted Ty to get this particular laptop was for the accidental damage warranty. Apparently the computer repairs or replacement will be covered. Nic must be psychic. I also talked with Larry Fiddler, our Lakota healer friend, and he's expecting a visit from Tyler, Josh and me when he's up and around. I told all this to Ty and it put his mind at ease.

''Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.''

- Deuteronomy 31:6

June 30-2 1820

Kids and friends

Ty continues to do well in PT, while maintaining a positive attitude. Earlier today 4 of us including Grammy, Josh, and his friend Hilary had a nice visit. We hooked up the new Dragon word recognition program to Tyler's 3 month old laptop ,the same one I use for Blogging. I just received a call from the nurse,Tyler was using the computer and doing very well, he went to move it, and it fell shattering the screen. Tyler got on the phone and was beyond upset. I think it was a bit of an overall emotional release, never the less it was a chance for him to try and resume some normalcy and joy of his previous self, and he wasn't quite able to manage it, and this hurt him (and me) very much. I can't help but feel lately Ty has been asking,why me, or what did I ever do to deserve this, and there just aren't any answers to these questions. We chatted for a time, and I assured him all would be well. In true Tyler form, he put himself back together and got ready to go to the recreation room for an evening activity. This is one amazing kid!!!

"Everything will be OK in the end, if it's not OK, it's not the end.''
- Author Unknown

June 30-1 1200

Tyler is lovin' the real food menu. He keeps shoveling it in like a machine. All his bodily functions are, for the most part normal, and PT is working on his mobility, movement, speech, and vision. Ty has an appointment on 7/12 with the surgeon to plan his reconstruction surgery for his skull. Gaylord is also taking about a tentative discharge date of the 12th as well. This presents a few logistic problems, such as transportation, house accessibility, and care. The date is still tentative, and we feel her should remain at Gaylord until he's self sufficient, and there's nothing further for this hospital to do. A friend has graciously supplied Tyler with a Dragon computer program. This will enable Ty's computer to use voice recognition to word process. A wonderful gift, andf one that will come in very handy.

June 29-2 2130

Ty is thrilled, he is now on an unrestricted diet. Regular food, and drink, just no drinking from a straw. The therapist has also braced his left leg and arm to reduce the muscle tension. A good day!

June 29-1 0900

A restful night followed by a hearty breakfast, finished of with bouts of PT seem to be the norm lately (thank G-d). Tyler is in a nice and rehabilitative routine. Progress remains agonizingly slow, but forward.

Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that final victory comes.
-Buddha

June 28-2 1330

Holy crap can that kid eat!!! We ordered Chinese food to be delivered, and in the interim his regular lunch arrived, so he ate all of that. Then the takeout showed up, and he ate the entire serving of the General's Chicken, rice, egg roll, and fortune cookie.
The sessions of PT are exhausting for him, but he perseveres with a smile.

If you want to get somewhere you have to know where you want to go and how to get there. Then never, never, never give up."
-Norman Vincent Peale

June 28-1 1130

The staff says Tyler's progress is terrific, earlier he did 2 laps with a hemi-walker (half walker). This morning he did some basic self care items 80% independently. We are going to discuss the discharge date with patient manager a bit later to see if the tentative July 11 date is realistic, and what criteria directs that.

June 27-2 2200

Ty had a very productive day, advancing to the next stage of food consistency. He ate a sandwich for lunch, and the only concern is the speed which he wants to eat. Tyler had the usual rounds of PT, with the addition of a session of eye therapy designed to strengthen his optic muscles, hopefully treating the double vision, and clearing his sight.
Tomorrow is exciting, as Ty is going to order Chinese food for lunch. He's been talking about this for some time now.

"Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best. "
~ Henry Van Dyke

June 27-1 0720

It is incredible that June is almost over, and it's been roughly 2 months since the accident. Tyler had a good night, sleeping comfortably. He is pushing himself everyday to be slightly better than the day before (a lesson for us all). His appetite remains shark like, and people are cautious not to place hands or fingers near his mouth while he's eating (minor exaggeration).

" Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. "
~ Mark Twain

June 26-2 1550

Tyler is the most amazing person I know. To fight so hard with such good humor and attitude, knowing full well the long, uncertain, uphill road that faces him is truly something few people could ever accept, let alone accomplish. And we have no doubt he will. Today was a nice restful day with Bob and Brian Donna visiting this afternoon (so far). Tomorrow we crank up the machine again.

"Problems are only opportunities with thorns on them."
~ Hugh Miller

June 26-1 1230

Tyler got a good nights sleep, and been eating everything in sight. Today after he finished his lunch I brought him some curry turkey salad from Whole Foods. He ate the entire 1/4 lb while I gave him a fashion show of some new clothes we got for him. Sundays are generally a down day, giving Ty a chance to regroup for the start of a new week of PT.