Latest posts
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Notes
I’ve learned one way to get a smile from Vernon. Cuddles for the win! This note was left for me from the speech therapist: It says: “I’m Pilar, the speech therapist working with your husband. I would like for you to leave a list of your husband’s interests, names of children, and other family members, pets,…
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‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers
“Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – And sore must be the storm – That could abash the little Bird That kept so many…
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Manic Monday
I went to the Kindred hospital in Brea (Vern’s new home) hoping to spend a little quality time with him or at least get to see if his physical therapy had begun, but I showed up right when his 3-hour dialysis session had started. So much for watching new progress. There was certainly a lot…
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The Renewal
Today was the first day in the past 91 days that I did not visit Vernon. (Sorry, Vern, if you are reading this later…I still love you, I promise!) It felt kind of strange taking a full day off, but with the new distance and school starting in a week, it also seems like its time to…
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Cambria
My dad used to say that my younger sister, Cambria, and I had so much in common: she is an accountant, and I am an artist. They both start with “A.” After that the similarities stop. We may have been pretty different growing up, but one great benefit of having an amazing sister like mine is that the relationship…
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Ch-ch-ch-changes
Vernon’s accident happened 13 weeks ago. He spent exactly 8 weeks in the Surgical ICU and another 5 in the Progressive Stroke Unit. Tonight, Vernon has moved to the next level of care in his recovery to a sub acute center in Brea, about an hour drive away. I’m not thrilled about the drive, but it sounds…
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A Visit from Dr Justine
She had been kept from her dad long enough…it was time to bring Justine in on the waking action. Did you catch the “I love you? Pretty loud and clear to me. She’s watched the other videos and was ready to WORK. Watch out partner, there is a new therapist in town. PS The infection…
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Data Recovery
A couple of months ago, in the midst of everything else going on here, my external hard-drive crashed. This is where I kept all the family photos from the past few years. I know…I know…I should have had another backup, but I didn’t. It WAS my back-up in case the computer crashed. Lesson learned. Fortunately, I…
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The Moment
“Happiness, not in another place but this place…not for another hour, but this hour.” ― Walt Whitman My mother has been getting fascinating and encouraging emails from a friend (a true warrior woman) whose son was in a bad accident similar to Vernon’s. It was a long journey, and against the odds he survived. She sent the following…
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Bugs and Glitches
Bugs. Germs. Infections. Isolation. Its all par for the course in long hospital stays. But its no fun for Vernon or his loved ones. JUST SAY NO TO SUPERBUGS! He has been in the hospital for 12 weeks now and has been in isolation for two. I must say he has done pretty well, staying…