Thursday December 28, 2006

Thursday December 28, 2006

Sorry it has been so long but I really did not think people were still reading the website until I went to a basketball game at Christian Academy recently. Several people told me they still look for updates so I was convicted to post again. We have had a busy fall with the kids back in school. Zack is doing very well, thanks to all the help he receives from Carol Britton (his tutor) and the fact that he only has four classes right now. His grades are good but he still struggles when there is a lot of reading involved. We are seeing the impact of his limited short term memory but Carol explains that his deductive reasoning skills are excellent. If he is able to talk a question through he can usually come up with the right answer. Mostly he struggles with memorization of names and dates. We received the PSAT test results that he took this past October. Although it was expected that he would not do as well as he had before (he excelled on this same test as a Sophomore before his accident) his 30 point drop underscores how the accident has impacted his cognitive abilities. We are still thankful that he is reading, studying and taking tests at all, considering we were told he would never return to school.
Zack still battles daily with aphasia (the language disorder). During Christmas he was looking for the “covering for presents” so I helped him pick out wrapping paper. When he was loading presents in the car he told me he needed a “covering” and I asked him why he needed more wrapping paper. He explained “not that kind of covering, for the liquid from the sky”. I corrected him, pointing out that it was raining, and we laughed as I found him an umbrella. Usually the aphasia makes us laugh and he rarely gets frustrated by it. Occasionally though when I am trying to explain where something is or ask him to find something for me, it can get tiring. Last week I called and wanted him to measure a headboard that was stored in our garage. I thought I was explaining it well, telling him what it was used for and exactly where it was at, but he kept going back to our lawn chairs. Finally, Dylan got on the phone and showed Zack what I was talking about. There is no cure for aphasia. It has improved a lot since the beginning of the year and we expect it to continue to get better, but he may experience it for the rest of his life. We are very blessed that Zack takes it in stride and those around him are understanding and patient. When he does run across someone that seems annoyed or puzzled by his odd description of things, he pulls out a picture of himself from his wallet. It is a graphic head shot in the hospital the day after his scull was removed. He will show it to them and say, “I was wrecked and sometimes I forget words”. They are always sympathetic and frequently embarrassed that they may have been insensitive. Zack then tells them all about his accident and how God saved him. He is never embarrassed and it has frequently led to a free lunch. Zack is aware of his deficits but he is even more conscious how blessed he is to be alive. He is always the one that asks family members of other patients that we visit if they believe in God. While I am the one helping to explain what they may encounter with a brain injury, he is the one that tells them to pray. He tells them it really works, God hears you and it is the most important thing to do. I am always thanking him in the elevator as we leave the hospital that he shared his faith and gave God the credit for his recovery. It reminds me why we have come so for when many others are not near as fortunate. We are given concrete evidence of our blessing every time we visit people at University Hospital or Frazier Rehab.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving we received a phone call asking us to visit a family at University whose 21 year old son had received a brain injury from a car accident. When I told Zack about the call he said the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he was anxious to go see them. We spent about two hours with the family and went into ICU to see Andy. Zack told his Mom that Andy looked good, to keep praying and not give up hope. We saw several of the nurses that took care of Zack when he was there and they were amazed at his recovery. We promised to come back again to see Andy that weekend and left feeling as blessed as they felt encouraged. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, as I was putting up Christmas decorations, we received a phone call with devastating news that Andy had died the day before. I was heart broken, even though I had only just met them, because of the connection through Zack’s similar situation. I wept with compassion for the family and humble appreciation for our blessings. Zack came home with Scott and we all cried as we discussed what had happened. Zack left to watch the U of L game at a friend’s house and I could only stare at a half decorated Christmas tree. When the phone rang again I never expected it to be Zack and certainly didn’t anticipate the reason for his call. He told me he just had an accident. I couldn’t believe him. Finally I asked him if he was OK and he said, “yes but it’s really bad”. I got Scott out of the shower (not daring to go myself) and he met a shaking Zack on Shelbyville Road. I was frantic waiting for them to return or at least call me. When they finally came home, Zack was stunned but uninjured. His car was totaled but he had his seatbelt on (one lesson he will never forget) and Scott was distraught. He said that if I saw the car I would not believe that Zack could be OK. Zack stopped us and said he had one thing to say. He said God saved him again and he knows that God has a special plan him. For the next hour I just sat on my couch and stared out the window, numb with emotion and filled with gratitude. Zack has no car now (and we have no money to buy him another one) but it seemed so insignificant. Later that day, when the car was towed to our house, I couldn’t even go out to look at it. Zack and Scott both tried to convince me come outside but I just couldn’t do it. The next morning I peered out the window and finally got the nerve that afternoon to get close enough to touch it. All I could think of was how God would use this to glorify Him. Zack complained that his neck hurt a little in church so on Monday I called Dr Mook. When I told him Zack had a car accident he blurted, “He didn’t hit his head, did he?” I assured him Zack’s head was fine, he was wearing his seat belt, but he had a little whiplash. Dr Mook felt he should check Zack out so we went in to see him. He agreed that Zack was fine and it gave us another opportunity to visit all our friends at Frazier. Then Zack asked Dr Mook if he could play baseball. Dr Mook is a big baseball fan so I was not surprised when he agreed (it will be 19 months since his accident by the time baseball try outs start). On the way home from Frazier Zack made an important phone call. He called Jeff Wagner, Andy’s cousin, who we had met at University Hospital. Ironically, Jeff had told Zack when he was ready to play baseball to give him a call and he would have him in shape in 3 months. Jeff played for St X High School, holds the home run record at Notre Dame and played 5 years professionally for the Angels. He retired from professional ball a few years ago and coached for both Trinity and St X. They made arrangements to meet that weekend to discuss a training program. Now Jeff picks Zack up several times a week and works with him one-on-one. Who would have thought that our visit to University Hospital one evening a month ago would have introduced us to the perfect batting coach for Zack? Coincidence. I don’t think so. God continues to put people in our path, to build circumstances that only He could envision, to light our path. I don’t know if Zack will make the baseball team but frankly I can’t imagine otherwise. There are many people watching…waiting to see him play again. Dr Mook, Dr Perry, Amy (PT) and Mary Beth (OT) will be smiling in the stands as Zack comes up to bat. The kid that wasn’t expected to walk again will be hitting homeruns. Don’t laugh…stranger things have happened to us since this whole “God thing” started on July 8th 2005. To God be the Glory!