We've now reached 3 months since Marilyn's accident and are in week 5 at Craig hospital, with another 5 to go. Once we get back home there will be 3-4 months of outpatient therapy. We are both beginning to realize the subtleties of "full recovery". No doubt Marilyn will get back to work and be fully active again. But I know that I (and to a degree she) had the idea in the back of our heads that recovery meant it would be like this all never happened. Recovery means readjustment on all fronts - a new and very different life is unfolding before us. Marilyn has approached each day with an incredibly positive attitude and many smiles, rarely expressing frustration. She exists with calm and focus in the moment. Perhaps that is a blessed side effect of the injury. Regardless, it is what grounded me when I become flooded with too many 'what if's and how are 'we going to's. We press forward with happiness and determination. Each day is a better day.
Gareth
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10 comments:
Gareth-
You two win the optimism award for 2007! You are inspiring me to get past the small hurdles that each day brings. Mar keep it up and you are going to walk right out of there! "put one foot in front of the other....and soon you'll be walkin' out that door!" you gotta love children's classics like "Santa is coming to town!"
luv Nic
STEPS!!! OMG, amazing!!
Mar, while we were visiting you, I kept trying to put my finger on your whole presence, attitude, and approach ... and it finally came to me ...
ZEN
Mar, you and Gareth are truly living ZEN, what so many of us have been reading about and trying to achieve from all those books and meditation classes and so on all these years. You are truly living in the moment, taking one step at at time (and up stairs, whoooaaaa hoooo).
You two are ZEN and it is beautiful to witness.
You guys are such an inspiration! I'll be thinking about you in so many ways at Jill's ski yoga class tonight--
Thinking of your determination, energy, focus, and striving (which are hugely motivational, but for today will inspire me to grit my teeth through those endless utkatasanas and belly exercises!);
thinking of how the community has come together in so many ways for this time in your lives (of which this class is just one of so many examples);
thinking of when you'll be home and doing these things with all of us again;
and in sending you all those good vibes you build up when you're working hard and it's paying off.
Soon! Love, Sujan
I saw a post on the Maine South Alumni page and just read about all of this. I'm saddened to hear about the accident but not surprised that Marilyn is fighting hard to recover. It's been a long time, but anyone that knew her from high school knows she's as strong as they come.
Stay positive and keep up the hard work Marilyn - we're thinking about you.
Rob Harper MSHS '89
Hello Gareth and Marilyn,
As always your updates and notes touch our hearts as well as our minds. And the responses from those who surround you are so precious. Haven't mentioned to you before that Barb experienced a traumatic brain injury (fracture with hematoma) just when she was learning to walk the first time--was carried on someone's hip for 6 mos, so walking was delayed a bit..but her family still says when they put her down she 'hit the ground' running. Language was not effected, so learned to talk early (and it hasn't slacked off yet!). Vision and hearing were both impacted, so glasses became part of her early reality...oh, how the other kids teased! All that said, Life has never stopped being an amazing adventure and other talents/skills developed because of the original injury.
And Barb wants to add that a remarkable man named Michael came along one day and still hasn't noticed the disabilites which include: four eyes, knock-knees, too chatty cathy, math impairment, et al! Wow!
Love to you both, Michael and Barb
Hello Gareth and Marilyn,
Wow, what incredible progress you have made in a very short period of time. Marilyn, you are awesome!! A true inspriation. Najib and I would like to get up to see you sometime in the next few weeks. Keep up the good work and we'll be in touch!!
Julie, Max and Najib
Mari & Gareth,
Have a good weekend!
Love you both,
mom
This was an amazing post. What you are sharing is teaching all of us more than we can articulate, and we all send our strongest thoughts and love. kco
Hi Gareth and Marilyn, You may not know me but I work for a pharma company and spoke with Marilyn shortly before she left for the trip to Ecuador. The blog site is really incredible. I am really happy to hear the progress being made. I made a small donation and I hope it helps. I know it's not much but hopefully after the holidays I can make another contribution. I passed your information to 7 other drug reps and have been telling others in the industry about your situation. Hopefully they will contribute as well. We are thinking of you. If there is anything else we can do please let us know.
KR
Hi Mar and everyone, I just talked with Mar tonight who sounds great!! Mar, your voice is really sounding like yourself again. It's so cool! Mar was busy packing to move to Craig's East Wing tomorrow, which will give her a lot more privacy and freedom, and has a kitchenette. And Mar's new discharge date is Jan 4--this is moved up, so obviously the doctors see how fast Mar is improving--very exciting!! Mar was writing with her left hand, slowly but legibly, and walking and tackling stairs, with a little assistance. She and Gareth visited Gareth's parents, and with Gareth's help, Mar left her wheelchair in the car. They also went to a Broncos game, complete with Vandy quarterback Jay Cutler. As it turns out, one of Mar's doctors works with the Broncos, and will see if Jay can come visit Mar.
There's still a journey before us, but as the Beatles say, "It's getting better all the time"
Love, Alison
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