what a difference a year makes…

Thanksgiving 2009. Gabe, Donna, and Kierie at Kentfield Rehab in California. Gabe’s Thanksgiving dinner was a melt on the tongue hint of applesauce, cranberry sauce and a drop of sparkling cider. A bed sheet was the tablecloth for their OT room dining table and Kierie and Donna felt guilty that they were eating while Gabe watched.

Thanksgiving day 2010. Gabe’s extended family, Kierie, Summer, Larry, Allison, Mike & Donna all got together for an excellent sit down feast in Winterport. He sat in Marion’s old wheelchair to fit his legs at the table and nommed olives, goat cheese, squash soup, mashed potatoes, pickled beets, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and apple sauce–all the veggie T’giving goodies, multiple pieces of homemade pies and drinking sparkling apple juice from his wine glass — no straw! Now speaking in short sentences, standing for a family picture, replying in pig latin to Mike’s pig latin statements.
His vision has improved by his use of his new glasses; his muscle control on his left side is improving. His walking skills have increased. Noticeable differences even from week to week. He can now interact much better with his visitors, and is even back on Facebook and gets on his blog via his laptop.
Soon, the recumbent trike we ordered for him will be here, and he’ll be cycling again. That will further help his motor control, and strengthen him more, and build up his stamina and help work off all the pie he ate today.
Gabe is learning new skills and expressed a desire to learn German with Kierie. So the Gab is on the move. If you have been holding off communicating with him, now’s the time to change that.. A short e mail, a phone call, a visit, that means a lot to him and all of us.
Kierie, Summer, Donna, and Allison have been his cheerleaders….They are all amazing. He still has a long way to go in his recovery, but he’s got the best cheerleaders on the planet. More to come later.