Posted by Jodie on June 23, 2009, 10:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Gibbons update: 7th surgery goes well, his hand is free"
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Hi everyone and thanks for your patience, and for supporting us along our journey. Today we walked into Jason's room and there he was, sitting in his wheelchair, a black eyepatch over his eye and a hook prosthesis. Sometimes his sense of humor runs over the top of us, sometimes it runs through us. Nevertheless, the kid is back!!!!!
We were given specific instructions, from Captain Hook himself, on how NOT to help him but to assist him IF he asks for it. He spends hours learning to transfer, learning to care for himself, and is very proud of his accomplishments. He has cut the umbilical cord once again. We are very proud of him , but can't understand how he can do all this without his mother!
Times have changed. Jason and Kathy are very eager to begin, once again, a marriage, and we think it will be at the Kiwanis House where he can go for physical therapy at the outpatient clinic . It has been a long journey for them.
We are not out of the woods yet as far as the left hand is concerned, but we are hopeful. Time will tell and he is trying very hard to be patient and hold it in place as it heals. The right prosthesis, a hook is what they start with, is coming along amazingly well considering he has had it only 2 days. The PT doctors are quite impressed with his progress which he attributes to his football 2-a-days in the heat of the day. He knows how to work hard!
I haven't heard him complain yet. You forget the little things: he showered himself, ate by himself, transfers from bed to wheelchair to all manor or other things. He is grateful for each day's accomplishment and revels in the work to achieve it. The doctors just may skip inpatient rehab and send him straight to outpatient rehab.
Without Kathy, we would all be in trouble, she teaches us so much about strength and softness. Joe and I will celebrate our 42nd tomorrow and with "the Kids", could you ask for any more than that? May they have 42 and laughable memories.
He will be getting his very own wheelchair soon, and his feet. Then there's no stopping him. I shudder to think what he will be doing in 3 months. Is UCD ready for this? Both Kathy and Jason continue to amaze us, we learn from them. Thank you for sticking in there with us, we still have a journey ahead, but with your help and prayers, we can do anything! We say good night for the first time in a long time with a sigh and a long breath of relief. Life is good. The joes
(Jodie, tell Jason he'll have to keep it polished.—O'D)
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