Facebook post from Chris on October 31, 2021
A quick note on our posts. The purpose of sharing is both with the interest, and also hope in sharing, perhaps this may touch someone here just as you continue to touch us. Touch someone personally, touch someone you know, someone you don’t know. Maybe just look at someone in a wheelchair differently, someone with a disability differently (not just paralysis), or spark curiosity that may lead to a positive impact.
I also want to add for me, that we are sensitive in that we don’t always respond to comments. I am noting as we simply can’t keep up with all the kind, warm, and sincere notes. My concern with responding even periodically is that I don’t want to imply that any are more important. We read them all, and we are extremely grateful.
When Julian and this group comes home, we will begin a new chapter which is navigating a world where a disability is the outlier and next steps to continue to move forward. But he’s not there yet. Here at Shepherd it is the norm. While treatment and therapy are a significant part of it, so is the fellowship. Fellowship for the kids and adults directly impacted and for the families. I offered in the last post my perspectives were changed. This afternoon we had a 16 year old girl and her mother come by to talk and share some candy. In conversation her mom offered she will never look at someone in a wheel chair the same way again. This is the tip of the iceberg with what I mean by perspectives change, but it’s one we can quickly relate to. More conversations offer the normalcy and complete randomness that lead these families here. And a step deeper, the kids lucky enough to have a family member with them (perspective . . . )
The accidents and stories whether for a 16 year old, 22 year old, or 55 year old will give you chills and draw a tear. It could be anyone. We know this now.
Statistically paralysis is extremely traumatic, rare, and doesn’t have the scale of many illnesses. It’s also complicated and science just hasn’t developed a cure yet. So while stem cell research and stimulation offer potential pathways and hope, this is the cards we have now and this is where we focus.
This was a great picture from last night. Saturday football and a World Series being played 7 miles away. These are kids, adults, and families that have become family through a journey we wouldn’t wish on anyone at the same time. But it’s a journey we are sharing at the same time and through this the bonds deep. Yesterday was a great day. Love this crew and the families behind.
Thank you for taking the interest to read. Hopefully it sparks a conversation.
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