Friday march 30, 2006

Friday March 31, 2006 Zack’s last week with the Easter Pageant has been an exciting one. Dr. Mook from Frazier Rehab came to see him in the pageant on Wednesday and Mary Beth (Occupational Therapist) and Amy (Physical Therapist) also from Frazier Rehab came to see him last night. Zack was so excited to see them and we were able to get new pictures (quite different from the ones we took with them when he was in the hospital). Dr Mook is a deacon at Shively Baptist Church and he will make arrangements for us to speak there one Sunday night. Mary Beth also talked to Zack about us coming back to Frazier Rehab to talk with other families who are currently dealing with brain injuries. Zack enjoys going to see patients at University Hospital and Frazier as much as he likes speaking to other teenagers about his journey. He told me earlier this week that he is glad that he got in the accident, not that he wanted to die (he made that very clear) but because it has made him a better person. He says he prays more and doesn’t want to disappoint God by doing bad things like smoking or sneaking out. He is so different to be around now. If we go to an appointment somewhere and have to sit in the waiting room he always wants to talk. Before he was like any teenage boy and had very little to say to adults. He also loves babies and toddlers, always going up to talk to them. I think he would make a great youth counselor.
We had an exciting day Monday when I took Zack to get his drivers permit at 8:00 AM. He was very excited and told me he prayed most of the night that he would pass. He told Scott and I to be praying for him while he was taking the test. He passed with flying colors and was showing everyone at Frazier East his new permit. Scott picked him up after therapy and took him driving. When I got home from work Zack wanted to show me how well he could drive so off we went again. He told me his Dad cried the whole time and when I said “Did you scare him that much” he replied, “No, Dad just cries a lot”. Scott still gets overwhelmed whenever Zack accomplishes another milestone always thinking about how we nearly lost him completely. It’s hard not to think back to the days not long ago when Zack struggled to speak and now he speaks before hundreds of other teenagers. Or to remember how we thought he would never go to school and now he is driving there. Of course now he wants to drive whenever we get in the car but it is a privilege he well deserves.
We are looking forward to Spring Break when we will finally get to have a family vacation again. We will be in Hilton Head like many times before and are anxious to see what Zack remembers. We have been seeing some definite improvements in his memory since he started taking the Excelon. He is starting to remember events from the last few years although the months preceding the accident are still gone. It seems that places, or songs or movies will suddenly make him remember something from the past that was lost with his accident. He is doing so well and has met all his O.T. goals at Frazier East that once he returns to school after Spring Break he will start going three days a week. This will give him a better chance of keeping up with what they are studying and how he will handle the work load next year. Since he will be dropping to two days a week at Frazier we are hoping to extend his therapy part time through the summer. He is looking forward to relaxing by the pool this summer (he will have plenty of time for that) but we also need to keep exercising that brain to insure he is ready for school in the Fall. He wants to get back in shape and has made me promise that I will get up and run with him on the beach everyday on vacation. He has regained all his weight lost in the hospital, plus a little extra from those big meals we encouraged. He looks good but he hasn’t been able to exercise since the pageant rehearsals started so he is out of shape. By summer he will be lean and tan with that brilliant smile that lights up a room (do I sound prejudice? I am!).
I worked for 2 ½ hours last Sunday (and several more later in the week) trying to post new pictures on this site but was unsuccessful. I finally figured out how to use the scanner and saved the pictures to a disc but posting those seem impossible. I emailed them to Tim (my web master) tonight so if we are lucky he will be able to get them posted. One of these days someone needs to come and show me how to do it.
For those who wanted to know where we speak next I can tell you that April 11th we will be at Barret Middle School (in the morning) and at Trinity High School on April 26th. We will speak at two different classes in the afternoon and then to their FCA Group at 3:00. That evening we will be at Brandenburg Baptist Church at 7:00 PM to speak to the youth group from the surrounding area. I am still finalizing the arrangements with other local high schools and churches. All the churches and FCA groups would welcome any visitors for those that would like to come hear us. Hopefully we will be expanding on Zack’s speech but for now 2 – 3 minutes is great for him. Please pray that our message is received with open hearts and minds and that we can reach other teenagers struggling with the choices they make every day. Let them see in Zack the work of God and instill in them a desire to know His awesome power. Please continue praying for Zack’s complete recovery for the Glory of God.