Sunday September 24, 2005

Sunday September 24, 2005 Zack was up at 8:45 ate breakfast, showered and dressed. He was ready for a walk. Mrs. Funderburk is with him this morning and he tells her they need to find “that place”. They head towards McDonalds and walk around the block. He is looking for something and she can’t figure it out. She asked again for the name of the place he is looking for and he smiles and says Kroger. As soon as he said it her knew it
wasn’t right and laughed (hopefully he is starting to recognize when he uses the wrong words because that will start the end to aphasia). They head to Wall Street Deli but it’s closed so they walk through Jewish Hospital. Zack is concerned that they have been gone too long and comments that they better go back or that man (Mr. Funderburk) will get tired of standing. Back in the room she reviews word picture cards and he does well. After a while the aphasia kicks in and he gets stuck on one word. He is tired and decides to take a nap before lunch. At 10:00 Katie from Cardio Pulmonary comes in to attach a heart monitor that Zack will wear for 24 hours. They need to be sure that everything is O.K. before he is released especially since he was having orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure). Zack is so patient and cooperative while it is attached (the staff can’t help but love him). After his nap they head to Norton’s cafeteria for a slushy. Back in the room he decides to show off his card playing skills and beats Mrs. Funderburk in Blackjack. Then Mr. Funderburk reminds Zack how to play table football and Zack proceeds to beat him 25 to 13. They had a great time together and we are so thankful to have such loving, qualified people taking care of Zack so we can go to church as a family. This morning as we sat waiting for service to begin and the Masters Men began to sing, I leaned over to Scott and told him that if Zack doesn’t go to Dallas then next Sunday he would be in church with us. We both began to cry so overcome with emotion that Zack was doing well enough for us to talk about him being in church again. When I arrived at the hospital with Dylan, Kyle and Logan (yes I am that brave) Mr. LaFan from Southeast was there to give Zack communion. I had the kids wait out in the hall until I could talk to the Funderburk’s and Zack could see them through a crack in the door. He decided it was too much to bear and asked if he could “be with the visitors in the hall”. When they all came back into the room Logan informed me that they did “appropriate things”. Zack returns to his seat and Mr. LaFan can pray with him. The Funderburks leave and the rest of us gather around the table. As Mr. LaFan prays he is overcome with emotion and has to stop to regain his composure. I am reminded just how tragic our situation is but at the same time feel blessed to be where we are. It is so apparent to believers that God’s hand has been with us from the beginning and He will continue to open doors and lead us. Once we say goodbye to Mr. LaFan, the kids say they are hungry and it’s off to McDonalds. Zack is so sweet to his sisters and jokes around with Dylan. At times he will point to one of the girls and say, “this one here doesn’t know where she’s going” (he has trouble remembering their names but he knows who they are).
We enjoy are walk there even though we have to take the pedway because it is raining. Back in the room Zack, Dylan, Kyle and I play the card game “Golf”. We laugh and joke around and Zack wins again. Kara Zutt comes to see Zack before our game is over. Zack tells her how much he wants to go home and back to school. He gets in bed and they throw a ball around and talk about what’s happening in the world outside. Trey and Nick arrive with several other friends and they play Texas Holdem. Zack may not remember their names but he knows who they are and how to play the card games. One group of kids leave and another group arrives. We teach Avery how to play “Golf” and Zack is surprised that she catches on so quickly. It is a nice way to spend a rainy Sunday (but I do worry about his friends driving downtown on wet streets). Andrew reminds Zack he only has a week left before coming home and ask him if he’s ready. He responds, “I’ve been ready!” Scott arrives so that I can leave with the kids. I explain how to record Zack’s activities in the journal for his heart monitor and leave them to spend quality time alone. Kaitlyn and her Mom arrive later and the music comes on. When a slow song is played Zack dances with Kaitlyn. Scott calls me at home and we pray that if Zack goes to Texas he is back in time for Winter Ball. At times we seem so desperate to have him able to participate in all the normal teenage activities. Donna calls and when I tell her I am sad about what Zack is missing out on, she reminds me that Zack will experience things that his friends will never share. One day he will speak before his classmates on his experiences. He will speak at the Brain Injury Survivors Reunion next summer. He has met a dedicated, compassionate staff here at Frazier and conquered battles that his friends can only imagine. He is brave, strong, determined, cooperative, polite, loving and kind. I don’t know if I could have said those things about him prior to his accident. He was a good student who never gave us any trouble but now I understand the depth of character that Dr. Kraft told us about. I hate to think which kid I would chose to have but I know I am happy with the one God has given us. I ask for your continued prayers for a complete recovery and specific prayers for an end to the aphasia. Regarding Dallas pray that the Lord’s will place us there.