March 27, 2010 Reflections By Donna

Life is so uncertain. It is challenging, full of change. If you are open to the possibilities there can be profound happiness in the slightest of encounters that open up in your day like delightful little presents. Of course there are the days, the people, the happenings that remind you this road to recovery is uphill and you have to be alert, strong, and ever open to the possibilities that come your way or you make yourself.

When Gabe was injured the family was plunged into the Alternate Universe. It is the dimension where we are challenged every day yet rewarded by the more than coincidence happenings that leave you wondering and nodding that yet another Alternate Universe happening has occurred. Gabe’s traveling nurse on the trip East was Allen Friend. Can there be any more appropriate name for a fortuitous journey? A young woman I met yesterday in Porter Square took the time to tell me about her sweetheart who fell to his death and in death had gifted six organ donations. She hugged me to her when I told her our Gabe was going to be fine. We cried together. Her last name was Gabriel.

The Spaulding speech therapist’s last day with Gabe before she went on vacation and Gabe leaves for New Hampshire was this Friday. And Friday was the day Gabe first spoke word after word to her, not in his usual whisper but using vocal cords they had both been struggling one frustrating hour after another to awaken. She was ecstatic. Similarly, back in California the last day of Gabe’s speech therapy with Speech Department Head, Linda, was when Gabe’s “whisper” voice awakened. And how sweet was it that the winner of the Tony Maietta Bike Raffle the proceeds of which brought Gabe to Boston had the winning ticket purchased for him as a gift. Then he generously gave the bike to his wonderful girlfriend who had a dream “homeward bound” theme tattoo painted on the frame. Thursday Tony, Jarret, and Brie joined together in Gabe’s hospital room while Tony affixed the powder blue handle bar tape, adjusted the fixed gear and attached the bike chain. It was the most beautiful bicycle I had ever seen. May its new owner ride it safely and have great times on it. The gift of having Gabe see the final assembly was priceless.

On Friday Kierie and I had to show the PT and OT staff that we could safely do “stand and pivots” with Gabe in order to transfer Gabe without Spaulding help. One of us in front and one behind we position our bodies to help Gabe sit up, then he leans forward, together we rock three times to gain momentum, Gabe rises on his legs, and we pivot him and lower him to the new surface. The first time in occupational therapy (OT), I failed, Kierie failed and even the therapist who supervised failed to get him more than 5 inches off his seat. Gabe was the proverbial 175 pound sack of Maine potatoes. Later in the physical therapy (PT) gym we were asked to try again this time to get Gabe to stand all the way erect. This therapist got him to stand for 5 seconds. I agreed to try and Gabe amazingly stood for 15 seconds. Then Kierie tried. Love conquers all and Gabe stood his tall 6’5” for a full half minute. The potatoes were gone and we had a new confident Gabe who later was heard to whisper “It’s all in the mind…”

So interesting things happen every day. We are tested. We meet and encourage critically injured patients and their relatives who are on our same path. We receive encouragement from our relatives and friends from near and far. Gabe himself never gives up.

Join us after April 5th for Chapter III in Crotched Mountain Rehab in Greenfield, New Hampshire. One more month of final strengthening and Gabe, Kierie and I will be ready to travel home where the Alternate Universe will continue to challenge and spread its gifts.