Stanford Strong

 August 28, 2022 HOPE Since Julian's accident, this is the word that keeps coming to mind when we think of Julian's future.  We have always said you have to remain hopeful that his injury will improve.  My sister and I had been talking about getting a tattoo that said hope for his 1 year anniversary of injury.  Jess jumped out there and called me to tell me she got hers.  So I scheduled an appointment and went the next couple days.  I am 45 without a tattoo, but this has been the only meaningful thing I have thought I would want to look at every day.  And I catch myself glancing at it here and there, it is a constant reminder not to give up.  Surprisingly we told our dad we got one and he went the next day and got the exact same one for him as well.  I'm sure they were shocked that a 70 year old came in for their first tattoo as well.  I was looking at quotes last night that involved hope and it made it so much clearer that this is the word that will keep us moving forward

 August 23, 2022 I was thrilled when we found out Julian was getting to be transferred to Shepherd Center in Atlanta after 10 days at Richland. I was getting instructions over the phone and froze when she went over the Covid rules. Shepherd was allowing 1 “sleeper” per patient and once in the building this person was not allowed to leave and come back. It meant that for the foreseeable future it would just be Julian and I alone to essentially keep fighting for his life. I wouldn’t be able to see my other children or husband until restrictions lifted since Shepherd had a very vulnerable population. The ambulance transported Julian, and my dad drove me to Atlanta. Thankfully, Kelly’s good friend, Corrie worked for Shepherd and met me to escort me to ICU. Having a child on a ventilator and paralyzed from the neck down is traumatic in itself. Having to do it with no family support elevates it to another level of difficult. Julian was extremely upset, in pain, anxiety through the r

 In preparation for our 1 year anniversary of Julian's accident: August 21st will probably be the anniversary date that out of all the dates in my head, I will never forget.  I’ve been dreading this day for many weeks.  I’ve watched how other SCI families have handled their first anniversary with perspectives I hope I can have when it’s our turn.  My dear friend Kristen is calling it a Celebration of Life, because we saw first hand how fast our boys lives could have been taken away.  I am beyond thankful that Julian is still here and mentally the exact same Julian as before the accident.  That is the positive.  The realist in me sees how life will forever be changed.  Life will never be as it was before that night.  Chris and I are continuing to raise our children in 2 different states.  We are seeking the best possible treatments for SCI we can find.  I am using my medical background to scrutinize everything I read and find that could help.  Chris is being his “salesman” mind to s

 August 18, 2022 The study has begun.  Julian is doing therapy 4-6 hours a day at Frazier.  He is doing so much work and not one single complaint.  I wish hard work end was all that was needed to equal success with this injury but sadly its not the case.  We heard from the beginning that it was up to the Lord, the Cord and what we do with it.  We are investing everything we can so that 1 of the 3 leaves no doubt we put 100% into finding a recovery.  I still find it hard to believe the Lord would allow something so terrible to happen to someone so young.  Being a nurse, I understood that bad things happen all the time that shouldn't and aren't fair.  It's hard though when it's your child.  It hits home and is a lot to bear.  I know I feel it and I know Chris does as well, the huge weight of the trickle effects of this injury.  Our life will not be the same,  this will alwasy be a turning point in our life.  I just pray we come out of this whole and a strong family unit.

 August 17, 2022 We got to round off the summer with me flying Alex home so he could get ready to start school.  I flew with him to Charleston, and Chris, Lilly, Lilly's 3 friends and a friend of Alex's met us down there for a fun weekend.  It was an extremely quick trip for me, but the kids had so much fun which is all that matters.  I found 2 nursing students that stayed with julian.  Clare and Jill are so sweet and it was great to leave them with them for a few days.  I had to do a quick crash course on spinal cord injury but they did wonderful.  Chris and I got to see each other and the kids enjoyed all that Seabrook has to offer.  Then I came back to Kentucky to be with Julian and Chris and the kids went home to start the week and school on Tuesday.  Hard to believe the twins started 8th grade.  It was sad I wasn't there to send them off, but hope they knew how much I loved and missed them that day and every day.  Being apart is far from ideal but it's the only thi

August 10, 2022 The past few weeks have been good as we have visits from friends and family in Kentucky, I had a trip home for Lilly's gymnastics banquet while Britt's caregiver stayed with Julian.  Alex returned to Kentucky with me for 2 weeks.  Julian's best friend from Connecticut, Braden and his Mom Ali, came for a few days which was incredibly special.  They have been friends since Julian started 2nd grade in Connecticut.  Then Jess and her kids spent a weekend with us in Kentucky.  We tried to be good hosts and we went to the Louisville Zoo one day, and enjoyed the apartment the second day.  Wouldn't know what i would do without my sister.