Monday September 5, 2005

Monday September 5, 2005 Zack slept through the night last night and didn’t have any Trazadone to help him sleep. That is a very good sign because he hasn’t needed anything to help him sleep since Aug. 30th. He ate breakfast and was still hungry so he had a piece of Key Lime pie. As he was finishing Dr. Mook came by and Zack asked him to open his can but then he started to open it himself. Finally he got it right and was tickled when Dr. Mook shot the snake out of the can. Then we had to look for more victims. We got several of today’s nursing staff and the lady that brings the food cart up. We had a little down time before Mrs. Funderberk was coming, so I asked him if he remembered telling Amy (P.T.) that God showed him the world. He said yes and we talked about it a little. He said God showed him the world as it is now and it was not good and God told him he had to change it. I asked how he was suppose to change it and he said he didn’t know. At 9:00 Mrs. Funderberk arrived and worked with him on handwriting (copying cursive letters) and the picture word cards. Our aid came in and told us that he had speech therapy at 9:30 so we went downstairs. Beth (speech therapist today) worked with him on sentence completion (the boat went eastward) and he did very well. Then she showed him a picture and two words and asked him which word matched the picture. He needed lots of help. When she had him follow directions he did it perfectly, even when it was three commands in a row (touch your chin, point to the ceiling, raise two fingers). After speech Mrs. Funderberk took us to McDonalds for a milkshake. While we were waiting in line Zack was very happy and dancing to some beat in his head. It was so nice outside that we decided not to take the pedway and walked back to Frazier on the sidewalk. We sat outside in the courtyard and discussed people smoking and why Zack couldn’t be around cigarette smoke (causes seizures). Back in his room he told Mrs. Funderberk good-bye and took a little nap. After lunch his cousins arrive (Erica, Steven and his wife Raquel). Before long we had a game of “hot potato” going with 4 balls. It was fast paced and Zack loved it (we dropped the ball as much as he did). Several of his friends arrived and he got to visit for a little while before heading to the gym at 1:30 for O.T. with Ann. Zack plays a game called “Shut the Box” which requires him to add dice together and chose how to take the numbers off the board. I was surprised that he understood the concept of the game and did pretty good. Next the three of us played Chinese Checkers. I have never played before and I’m not sure that Zack has either. After a little while he got the concept and started thinking ahead on what move to make next. Zack won fair and square. We headed back up to his room and Zack told me, “I whooped you guys”. When we got back to his room his friends were waiting. We go to the conference room and they played several games of UNO. Zack decides it’s time to go so we head to McDonalds for cheeseburgers. It is a beautiful afternoon and we all walk back to Frazier when we are through eating. Zack looks like any other teenager (except for the helmet) hanging out with friends. When we get back to his room they have to leave and Zack ask me if he can go with them. I tell him he has to stay to get his mixed up words fixed and until he is not passing out any more. They try to convince him that they are just going to do homework .He looks at me like he is mad and says very little as they leave. Fortunately he is tired and soon falls asleep in his recliner. When he wakes up it is time for dinner and he has forgotten that he’s mad at me. Rita came later so that Scott and I could go to Dylan’s football game. Once I left, Zack told Rita that he wanted beef jerky. He told her he was hungry and hadn’t had any dinner. She gave him yogurt and a cookie. Then he said he wanted a shower but she talked him into a walk. Scott called and said he was on his way so Rita rode Zack down to the parking garage. Scott pulled up in his truck and Zack said put this in the truck (meaning his wheelchair) and lets go. Scott walked Zack back into the hospital and they stopped at the fountain and threw water on each other. Back in his room Scott gave him a shower. They talked about the rubber bracelets Zack was wearing. He told Scott that one of them said, “Be good to your Parents and the other one said, “The 2nd degree”. I think somewhere in there is a teenage slam on parents. They talked about all his friends that visited and Zack told Scott he wished he had a girlfriend (the staff around here says he has a dozen girlfriends). It seemed like such a normal thing to say. Zack had a busy day with many visitors so he was in bed early and asleep by 10:00 P.M. I am anxious for tomorrow so we can get back to the task at hand…therapy. I saw many supportive friends and families at Dylan’s football game. Everyone is genuinely interested in Zack’s recovery and concerned for our family. We feel so fortunate to be part of God’s loving family. We feel so lucky to have Zack and a powerful message to tell. Please pray that this message will impact many teenagers to think about the choices they make. On Thursday I will be speaking at Christian Academy High School chapel to 600 students and guest. I believe that God has prepared us for that day. I pray that the choices Zack made, his experience lived out in these pages and the healing hand of a loving God will be a message not forgotten. Please pray that we can reach hardened hearts and defiant spirits and Zack’s journey will be seen as a noble warning whispered from heaven.
Pray for Zack…Thursday is his 16th birthday!