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My Son (Inspirational Journey Through Recovery From a TBI)

2/19/2017

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I originally wrote the post below nearly two years ago; March 2015. Today is the fifth anniversary of that worst day of my life. As you can see from the timeline, he recovered----we were blessed with a miracle.

​So what is he doing on this fifth year, after those days when we had no idea what his future would look like?---exploring Antarctica. He is experiencing yet another trip of a lifetime, on his quest to step foot on every continent. 

Life's roller coaster. Even at its very lowest point, we must keep in mind----it goes back up.

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My Son - My Hero
From severe traumatic brain injury to complete recovery.
Was he changed? Of course he was. Who wouldn't be. (We all were.)
We were blessed with such an amazing recovery
​and inspired by his direction forward.

From day 1
​when I was told, "We are treating his body in case he wakes up." 
​
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To day 16
when he was transferred to rehab.
To day 27 
his first day home.
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Home for a month.
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Birthday!
 (8 months)
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College graduation 
(15 months)
Who sobs uncontrollably at a college graduation?--me! 
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Extensive testing 5 months after "that day" had the evaluator asking, "Are you sure he had a brain injury?" No cognitive, speech, or motor deficits. No memory loss (other than the accident and most of the two weeks in the hospital) and no pain. 
​Personality?--the same! 

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Siem Reap Cambodia

From Recovery to Beyond

Traveling halfway across the world - solo.
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And jumping out of an airplane. 
(I think I should make him buy my gray covering hair dye, don't you think? lol)
I always believed Michael would recover. My faith may have dimmed at times, but I just knew.
I thank God every day. And I thank Him for my amazing family.
My son may be the hero in these photos, but I also discovered what true heroes his sisters are; such amazing strength and support every step of the way.
​And my husband - by my side and my son's throughout. We were all so supportive of each other, including Michael's dad and his step-mom. We truly were all "Team Michael."
 And, of course, I learned so much about myself--my own strength and my faith.
Writing was my therapy. Putting it all on paper was my way of relieving those memories rather than reliving them. This is the result:
The Syrup Maze: An Inspirational Journey
​Through Recovery from a Traumatic Brain Injury​
This book includes updates written by both my son and his friend/passenger 3 1/2 years after the accident. They both severe brain injuries, and they both experienced amazing (beyond what was ever expected) recoveries. Truly, truly amazing!
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Included are the struggles we faced with gluten free in the hospital and in rehab, and how a forever change was made in that particular rehab facility. Mistakes were made.
We should be able to expect safe food in the hospital when a patient has a medically required special diet---but too often,  this isn't the case.
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4 Comments
    We are transitioning to:
    GlutenFreeRespect.net
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    All new posts will be added to the new site.
    A Children's Book
    for Adults.
    Helping Others Understand
    Gluten Free.
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    Our inspirational journey also includes the frightening reality that hospital food isn't always safe for those who need to be gluten free.
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