Wednesday November 2, 2005

Wednesday November 2, 2005 Zack got to sleep late today because Scott was taking him to play golf. Last week all of Zack’s friends were out of school for a couple of days on Fall break and Zack had to go to therapy. He didn’t think it was fair that he still had to go to school when his friends didn’t so Scott promised that he would take him to play golf as soon as he could take a day off from work. Today was the day. Yesterday Scott called Frazier East and spoke with Leslie about Zack being out a day. When she learned that he was going to spend the day playing golf with his Dad, Grandpa and Uncle she thought it would be good therapy for him. Spending all day in therapy at Frazier East is hard work for Zack so he deserves a break now and then. When I asked Zack how he played he said not good but Scott told me he didn’t play that bad and even out drove him on a hole. When Zack would concentrate and listen to Scott coaching him he would do well but when he didn’t have his Dad next to him telling him how to take the shot he didn’t do so well. All things considered he had a decent game (even professionals have a caddy advising them so Zack has nothing to be ashamed of) and a lot of fun. It was good therapy for Scott to spend time with Zack. After 18 holes Zack was very tired and anxious to take a nap. I was preparing dinner when he woke up and he asked me how long before we ate. I told him it would probably take an hour and he said, “What about church?” I told him that there was a concert at church tonight and since it was so late I didn’t think we were going. He wanted to call someone to find out if his youth group was still meeting so we called Ashley. She told us that she was going to the concert so Zack decided that’s what we should do. Dylan came in from tennis practice and quickly changed so he could go with us and I told Scott the dinner would be ready in about 45 minutes. Dylan, Zack and I arrived at church and met up with Ashley and four other girls. We got in our seats just in time and Zack was satisfied that I was at the opposite end of the group so I got to sit with them. The concert was very good but mostly slow songs. Zack was antsy to stand up so towards the end when they played a lightly upbeat tune the six of us were standing and clapping our hands (while the rest of the sanctuary sat quietly). When the concert was over and we were out in the hall Maddie asked Zack if he knew her name and he told her “Maddie”. She squealed in delight and I teased her that she must have kept repeating her name to him during the concert. No…instead she wrote her name on his hand and Ashley wrote her name on his other hand. This way he not only knew who they were but what side they sat on during the concert. They had invited him to go out to dinner this weekend and promised to come over tomorrow night, so on the way home he kept checking his hands and repeating their names. He told me he hoped it didn’t wear off before tomorrow so he wouldn’t forget their names. He remembers people, how they made him feel, whether they were friendly, but he has a hard time remembering names. Even the names of people he has known for along time. This has less to do with memory and more with the aphasia so it should improve with time. When we arrived home Tiffany was waiting and then Kera arrived. They played pool and after Kera left the three of us played the card game Golf. Zack beat us both…life is back to normal. He told me he doesn’t want to go to school tomorrow. He had such a good time today he thinks he should skip therapy tomorrow too. I reminded him that therapy is what helps make him well and if he wants to go back to Christian Academy then he needs to work hard in therapy. He agreed (still very compliant). But he said it “still stinks”. He wanted to know when we were going back to church again and when I asked why he said “Cause I want to stand up and hold my hand up when I sing”. It makes me so happy that he wants to spend time at church and is anxious to worship. Maybe this is another reason that God has used his accident…to show others the desire to worship. Zack was not the type to be so demonstrative in church before his accident so this is another blessing. There are so many that I intend to sit down soon and write all the possible reasons why our lives were changed so dramatically. Please pray that Zack will continue to recovery completely and God will continue to reveal His hand in our lives.