Thursday October 13th, 2005

Thursday October 13th, 2005 Zack helped make his own breakfast this morning of scrambled eggs, bagels and fruit. He was excited to be going to Christian Academy and kept asking “will my people be there” (that would be his friends). When we arrived we had to sneak him into the school so no one would see him because we wanted it to be a surprise. As the middle school sang “I will never be the same again” Donna brought him up a side aisle where I was and sat him next to Dylan. Although I gave almost the identical speech it was more emotional this time. Every time I looked at Zack he would smile while the rest of the audience was crying. Before long, tears were streaming down my face but I was composed enough to complete my speech. The entire middle school prayed for him and then we hid him back stage as the high school entered the auditorium. He was dancing around to the music behind the curtain and saying “my people are out there”. As we looked for the separation in the curtain I took his hand and he looked at me very concerned and said, “You can’t hold my hand Mom ‘cause my friends don’t know I do that”. He obviously has forgotten the many times they walked the halls with us at Frazier and I held his hand. I think they understand that after nearly losing him and then willing him back to life, I am entitled to hold his hand sometimes. They sang and then introduced him as the special guest. Zack came out grinning to a standing ovation. Then they presented us with a $10,000 check that was raised by selling t-shirts (700 students were wearing CAL loves ZH shirts). It was very emotional and Zack quietly kept saying thank you. There is so much love, prayers and support I could just feel God cheering with us saying “Look at my people”. We stayed for the High school chapel and Zack got to sit with “his people” and had pictures taken by the Courier Journal and all his friends. Then we headed to University Medical Clinic to have his stitches removed. As we drive downtown he asked me if it was going to hurt and would there be blue stuff running down his face. I ask him if he means blood and remind him that blood was red. He said, “O.K. will I have red stuff running down my face?” Before we enter the building I take a phone call and we stop on the sidewalk. Zack keeps looking at the people coming out and asking them if they got their head fixed. Then he would take off his ball cap and show them his head and tell them he was getting his stitches out. It was quite amusing. He talked to every body in the waiting room and when we checked in he asked me again, “Is it going to hurt?” I don’t think so. “How do you know?” Because I won’t let them hurt you. I’m in big trouble if this hurts but fortunately I remembered and gave him a pain pill right before we came in. We see Dr. Janjua walk in and he asked us “What are you doing here?” I respond, “We are getting our stitches out”. He says, “Already?” I am very surprised and say, “You told us to schedule the appointment for today”. He just shrugged his shoulders and walk away, saying he would get us right in. I filled out several sets of paperwork (it seemed for each hour we waited I had to fill out more). Zack had to go to the bathroom so we walked down the hall. I told him to hurry because they might call our name. After sitting back down for another 15 minutes Zack asked, “Did anybody come out for us when I was in the pooping room?” I couldn’t help but laugh and told him, “You mean the bathroom”. His aphasia is at the stage where he gets his point across he just has a different way of saying it because he can’t always remember the name of the object (or place) he wants to say. He looks around at all the people waiting and then at the clock (it is already 3:30). He tells me, “I don’t think we are getting out of here anytime soon”. I’m afraid he is right. Finally at 4:30 we are called back to an exam room. Dr. Doss comes in to talk with us and is amazed. He hasn’t seen Zack since we left University in July and he can’t believe how well he is doing. He told Zack the last time he saw him all he could do was lay in bed and moan. He shows us the CAT scan and Dr. Harpring comes in to discuss the results. There is definite improvement from his CAT scan prior to the bone flap replacement. There is still a little bit of fluid (visibly evident at his right temple) but that would be absorbed. Everything looks fine and he should continue to recover but it is too early to take the stitches out. The ones on the side and back could come out but the ones on the top (where they had to reopen to remove the drain) were not ready. Zack seemed disgusted that they were not taking the stitches out and that he still couldn’t wash his hair (not that he has much). We scheduled another appointment for next Thursday and said goodbye. Zack was very tired since he hadn’t had a nap today. As soon as we got home he was in bed. After dinner several of his friends arrive and he plays pool. Our system seems to be down to a science. We are so happy that his friends want to come hang out with him because they are a big part of his recovery. I think of the song we sang today and how appropriate it is for Zack. We will never be the same again but we are genuinely happy. We have that peace that passes all understanding and we can’t wait to see what the future holds. Zack is a unique human being, a child of God with tangible evidence of His love. Continue to stay with us through his recovery and pray that the Glory of God will be revealed in its completeness.