angels among us

Hi everyone, it seems lately I always start these posts the same way.  An apology for the length of time between them, and my inability to keep everyone updated as often as I would like.  Jo is home and doing great, a brief update of the events of the past few weeks:

• Since Jo's discharge in early April he has been a rock star with no further complications or "mystery pain".  He has resumed his normal busy schedule of rehab out of our home.
• Jo continues to receive outstanding therapy sessions from Rehab without Walls.  We are very blessed for their expertise and drive with Jo's recovery process, they are amazing!
• Jo has had his first "taste" of real food!  He regularly eats small amounts of his favorite yogurt and it is so exciting to see such a huge step towards "normal" food!
• Jo had orthopedic surgery on the 18th with no complications from the surgery itself.  Unfortunately it took Jo longer than expected to recover from being intubated and he needed a little more time in the hospital.  He was discharged on the 23rd and is back to 100%.  
• Jo will be in casts on both legs for the next 3 weeks to help position his feet for standing!  Although it is a bummer that he has to deal with the casts in the end it will be a huge benefit to his rehabilitation!

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The family is doing well and this week was Bella's birthday, so hard to believe she is a teenager now!  Last year her "party" was at Jo's bedside in ICU, a day we will never forget.  We are still reviewing our options to get Jo upstairs.  We've come to the conclusion that a ramp from the back deck is the best option.  Now all we have to do is get it done, and fast for the summer!  One of the most difficult realities of our situation is how much Jo enjoyed the summer.  At times the nicer the day the worse we feel, and the more we remember what once was.  We know that someday we will be back in that happy place, PLEASE GOD PLEASE.

The past week has been extremely tough for our family.  We have chosen to look forward, focus on recovery, and never lose hope that Jo is coming back to us each day.  The difficult part of this week is you are forced to remember what was just 12 months ago.  The things he did in the days leading up to his injury, the words he said, those precious moments before our world was turned upside down.  You cannot help but feel cheated and ask what if.  What if we did something that day, spoke for a few minutes longer, went somewhere, just hung out together for a few moments longer, what might have been?  Each of us have our own personal memory of the days leading up to accident that we recall so vividly.  Once at the hospital we were focused on the next minute, next hour, making it through the day.  Hours have led to days, days to weeks, weeks to months, and now we are one year from the worst day of our lives.  We always look forward, recognize this is not up to us, and place our faith in Jo and God.  But this week, and these few days, we can't help but glance back at what might have been, the pain can be unbearable.

Along the way we have been so blessed to always have someone there to lift us up.  A random text of love and support, a warm genuine hug that lifts our spirits.  Someone to cry with when it's the only thing you want to do the only thing you can do.  A type of generosity I've only heard about suddenly allowing us to take care for our family.   We are so blessed.  I've learned that all of this support, and where and when it happens is not by coincidence.  It always happens at just the moment you need it, and how it happens is almost always inexplicable.

As I walked through the airport the other day I was clearly at one of those moments, reflecting hurting, trying my best to be strong.  The gravity of our families worries and struggles was weighing heavy on me in that moment.  I suddenly heard a voice from my past, one I had not heard in over 17 years.  A dear friend happened to be sitting at a departure gate, approached me and we embraced almost immediately.  I snapped out of my trance.  She contacted another friend from the a long time ago and we all talked.  It was an amazing experience, that type of love in friendship is so powerful, it renews your spirit somehow . We laughed, I told them about Jo, we wept, and we agreed to never drift apart again.  We all live in different places, with different challenges, but for a moment we were together and they saved me,  being happy and laughing and was all that mattered.  You can't tell me angels don't exist, you can't tell me they don't watch over us and make miracles happened, I am a witness many time over.  Love and faith got us this far, and love and faith will carry us...every time

Thanks again for everything each of you has done to help us get this far, without a doubt we would not have made it without you.  Jo is doing great, we have our faith and we know he is coming back!

Jojobinks, there are no words to express how proud we are of how far you've come.  How hard you've fought, and continue to push each day.  We know you will never give up and we will never leave your side.  Rest, heal, and FIGHT!  We love you to the moon and back sweet angel, YOU'VE GOT THIS!