Nov 23

Ian came home, off the mountain finally

Discharge date

It's official, we got a discharge date, Nov 23. It is truly going to be a Thanksgiving this year.
the discharge meeting went well and now there is so much to do to make sure everything is in place; details, details, details
and I know you are not crazy about your new lift stander, but all new things are a transition. It will come and you will get used to it. You are tough and strong and I get it the new thing to get is a motorized chair. It will all come

Dr Stein

met with Dr Stein today, first mtg. came to Keene and the mtg went pretty well and then to Armidillos for lunch. By now you are seemingly thoughtful, when I asked you started to talk about have to wait, it's frustrating , and I know it is - but you ill be home soon I truly hope Benny comes to see you today and that you get to talk to Mike.
They called me from the mountain Tues nite. Dr K saw you and wants to start you on Trazadone at bedtime. I said no I have to do some more thinking and research, they just can't drug you for all the answers, but I am so glad you are in a new room

survivors mtg on the mount

When I went to see you Tues(10/6) Mike told me that you had gone to the survivors meeting with him on Mon and that you spoke at the meeting; that you told them you were glad you were alive, he was so proud of you and I am so very proud of you, that is huge, you have told me that you have been given a second chance and the fact that you would come out and talk to people you don't even know, is such an amazing thing. It is truly a beginning to healing

do you remember

I was talkin with you dad this past Thurs. 10/7 and he tells me that you have told him that you remember that night, that you remember the bullet hitting you; it felt like someone hit me the face with a 2x4 and that you remember Benny finding you. You told him you never left. Ian how much do you remember. Oh Ian you can help so many people.

Enragement party-Sept 25

Sept 25 - the enragement party for Deej and Sara
when I went to see Ben a few weeks ago Deej asked me if Ian could come to the party, he said it would really mean a lot, Ian was family and it would be great to have him there. So I decided I would do my best to get you there. and it did have its struggles gettting the van, but alas Mom prevails and thet people at Chesko are wonderful and offered the use of one of their vans so Ian gets to go to the party. what a time; we got to the party about 4:30. This is the biggest event you have beeen to to date since before the accident. What a great time, you look so happy, I know you are excited, you have said so ever since I told you you were going. Ben and Deej and Sara were just as excited as you to have you there. You were hanging around listening when Aaron brought it to our attention that Benny wasn't playing until like 10. Ben confirmed; "what", " I'm staying" So the night was set and so many people came over to see you, Ben was by your side a lot as was Aaron. You seemed so happy and alert and even trough the trials of transferring into the house and the bathroom and then the wildest transfer of all, downstairs cause that is where 'Molly', Ben's band was playing. You are one hell of a trooper, and it was so great to see you have such a good time. People were so happy to see you again and I know it was so good to be in a normal setting. The bands were great, the music awesome Ben was so happy, Deej and Sara, Pete so many people just happy to see you and have a happy evening together in the real world. We didn't leave until after 12:30, didn't get back to the mountain until 3AM. You were impressive my man, alert and with it and happy the whole time.

stander

Thurs Aug 26 Ian Phelps stands up in the stander for 30 min proving to himself and the therapy dept at Crotched Mtn. there is now an order to stand in the machine 30 min twice a day. Ian did great, and he was still smiling at the end of 30 min. Happy is not even the word, but this is such a good thing!

psych

Ma met with my psychologist today, I have to say that those people need someone who knows the individual better than they do in order to get things straightened. " I am scared, I keep saying that, they don't get it. Yea I have had hallucinations again and they are giving me something for depression, but I am scared "regardless". Ma is talking to them about anxiety. This guy Mike is okay, and I hope it will all be okay. Mom says it will - oh Mom

IFP

Fri. Aug 20 well time for meeting to figure out what to do when Ian comes home, there has to be a plan in place to do the day programming, therapies, etc. It is exciting to think about, a little, no a lot scarry too. We will make it and life will be okay again

here we go

Carol Ann, your caseworker at MDS came today while I was on the mountain. Ian has been okayed and now is the time to plan for his work when he comes home. She explained to him and he listened very intently to the process and what we have to do. She left us with homework and we have work to do before the IFP next week, that the plan put together and presented to the vendors who will help Ian do all the dayprogramming and stuff that he will be doing and it certainly sounds like he will be busy boy. We spent much time putting down your interests and thoughts and I do believe you are seeing the big picture. Wow Ian, this is such an exciting time and it will only get better.

glasses

Brought your new glasses up today and what a wonderful thing, "I can see, I can see" You look good in glasses, well you did before, still do. My superman is a happy boy! I would be too if the world started looking more normal again. Amazing what we take for granted, until it is not there to be taken for granted.
I made sure to tell them that you need them everyday, so they don't forget cause for now it is a new thing for the aides anyway.
almost every time I come you are out on the pation, you once told me it was your freedom and it certainly better than looking at four walls, wide open space does have a greater sense of freedom.
Ian I promise I will work on the tedious stuff with you, I know it is hard to know so much and not be able to get it out there, damned apraxia - we will overcome - it will all come together, the letters, the words, the written word. We will work on that tedious recognition stuff and one day the short term memory will match your long term memory skills.
like Benny told you you beat the bullet, you can do anything
God has great plans for you my son.

apt

moved into your new place today, your new official address is 112 Gilsum St #4. The fellowship helped me. I cannot wait til you get to know them, they are wonderful sweet people and now they know my 3 great guys.
what a job

July 30

it sure has been a week. Off to see the eye doctor today. I have asked for an eye exam for your 'good' eye, cause you tell me the vision is blurry so I figure it must be hard enough to go through rehab but if what you see is fuzzy then it is even harder. So we got to Dr Weinburg's office in Concord and they did give you an exam, the one with pictures and you wore the funny glasses, the ones they can change the lenses and it was just a joy to hear the elation in your voice as the images got clearer; like WOW! "duck, horse", the tone in your voice was beyond belief, the joy was definetly there. They got you to almost 20/20 so now we can get glasses, it a great thing and Doc took out some more stitches from the left eyelid. I will bring you your new glasses as soon as they come in.

July 29

big day here, care plan meeting and it looks we find out the day you may be able to come home.
Benny came and I am so glad he did. We did find out the day and the date given was Oct 27. There is so much work ahead in the next 3 months. Not that you were happy with the news cause I can tell you you were not, you were so sad and it was heart breaking cause you wanted to come home Aug 1 when your new place is ready. As I said I am so glad Benny was there. so much emotion, but Benny can get through to you in a way like no one else; gonna win that cumatae! Like I said so much to be done in the next 3 months, for you and me both. You are going to have a new speech person, she seems very nice and you must work with her very hard. You have been saying no to physical therapy, I know it hurts and I have made sure, as best I can that you get pain medicine before therapy, I think I may have to take you back to Dartmouth to deal with the pain thing. But you have to work, pain aside cause it is the only way you will get your independence back.
you have gotten so much back and it is amazing, you can carry on a conversation, recite poetry, sing songs, make and "get" jokes. You are such an amazing young man and have so much to share with the world. Superman those of us who have priviledge of sharing your life with you are truly blessed, you just keep shining.

July 28

so you see the dentist, you have been saying your teeth hurt. It could not be all the sweets cause you have definetly got the sweet tooth going, nowhere near the healthy eater you were before, but as you say, "hey you like what you like" so hope the dentist is a big help and we can deal with those toothaches

7/21 - add on

your Dad says he thinks you laugh more and are funnier than you used to be, I am not sure about the funnier, but I think you resrvedd your humerous side before and now you don't, but your reply was interesting; "you have a choice", and of course the arm from side to side, "it's like this and that, you can be happy or be sad" - I guess for the most part you have chosen it's better to be happy. In conversations we have had earlier this month I know you wish you had thought that a lot sooner than this.
but as you told your Grampa a couple weeks ago when he came to see you this is a second chance for you. You are a miracle
"I am many miracles"

Birthday 6/22

turning 24 on the Mountian was not on the wanted list for all the things you wanted to do in this lifetime, but it was still a great time. There were like 9 of us there, I know it makes you happy to see people come. It would truly be awful to be forgotten just because you can't get to see people, they have to come to you. Birthdays can sure be fun days, lots of laughs and smiles and tusseling with your brothers, and don't forget the presents; which of course you opened first, 'WHY WAIT" I know it's that instant gratification thing, and you are really into that. The Jordan's ice cream cake was as good as you remembered so you said, another good memory. You remember so much, now short term is another story, but in time that will come.
Ian, Ben, Aaron, Mom, Dad, Jahleh, Nana, Sara, her Mom. We love you Ian and it is so great that you still love life.

July 21

a day at the beach - nice that Crotched Mtn has a beach house down on the lake. It was a great day! Would have been nice if it had been a little sunnier but it was warm and the change of atmosphere and being by the lake was a nice change. Jahleh came and Ben; it was so oooo good to hear you and Ben laugh together and just have a good time, it was good for both of you I know. and then of course Mom and Dad. We all got along well and a lot of laughing.
worked on recognition after you got back to your room and you have gotten better even though you doubt yourself, if you go with your first thought is if often the right answer, but glasses I think will improve that, it does seem as though it will be better once you can see better.

July 23

had a meeting today with Molly, your caseworker and Carol Ann, your caseworker for MDS. There is stuff to be done before you come home and I am certainly glad you have Carol Ann on your side to help us get thru the maze. I must say that when she came up to meet you you did good, it is so cool to see you lift that R arm and leg and I am sure it is for you too even though I know you get frustrated cause it is not all coming back as quickly as you would like. You certainly are a charmer Ian Phelps. You told me you were a bad boy, oh yea I remember telling you you were quite a guy, to which you replied I'm a bad boy, then gave me that funny guy look, "a bad boy huh", the girls like bad boys and there's that Ian charmer look. You have certainly retained your wit

mobility

June 8, I am so psyched, it is the first time I have seem you propel yourself in your wheelchair, it is WONDERFUL! Only the lef arm, and so a little guarding once in a while, but that is so huge. You are coming by leaps and bounds, I am told you can stand for 5 minutes now, just imagine what the next year will bring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

apt

June, wow heard from Keene Housing, you have an apt on North and Gilsum. That is huge - "one more thing down" that is what you said when I told you about it. so much to look forward to. I can't wait - but there is so much to get in order, but it will be so good to have you home and I hope you know you will be working harder than you ever have on he Mountain. But I know you will, you have great strength, GOOOO SUPERMAN

June 23 existentialism

sometimes your words really are so deep. Let's see you see yourself as an existentialist, the unforunae thing in that is that you see more of the "reality" in Sarte and Camus. They are without a doubt the darker side of the philosophy. I told you I would share Kirrkegard with you, he is my favorite of the existentialist philosophers. Sometimes we such deep conversations, but I wish we laughed more, I do so love to hear you laugh - and sing. But you make me laugh, you are amazing my wonderful young man. I am glad to hear from you that you had a good time on your birthday, it does somewhat distress me that you tell me you are dead and have been dead for a long time. But that can be taken in different ways and I am believing that you will be born again. I have told you that Jesus will heal you, maybe now you can believe it, cause He will!

the big 24

Wow what a day, Ben and Ian, hard to believe it is 24 years. Such a good day. The weather was great! Ice cream and presents out on the pation at Crotched Mtn. You seemed to have a great time, but then you always seem happy when there are people around, that seems only right though, you always were a social guy and this has not changed that. "hey, the gangs all here". You seemed to like to Wii and seems like it will be a good thing Ben, Ian, Aaron, Jahleh, Sara, her mom, Nana, Ma and Pa

shopping

so Ian comes to Keene to go shopping for a birthday present for Jahleh. Went to Target first where the selection was not exactly great, Ian's word for it was "tacky", some of it "gaudy". Did not have what he was looking for and he definetly had something in mind, so off we went to TJMaxx to find something else in the jewelry dept. He looked at a few things and "gaudy" was still the main word for it. In the meantime Jahleh and Ben were chomping at the bit because they knew Ian was coming to Keene to go shopping, but not really what for, anyway Jahleh showed up at TJMaxx in the middle of looking the jewelry dept. Ian was set on it being "expensive", Jahleh got told the purpose of the shopping trip, she was quite surprized. Ian has been thinking about this for like 3 weeks and of course the van trip had to be set up which it why it did not happen until now. So in the end she picked out her present, she told him it is often wise to let a women pick out her own present and she picked out a ring. "If that is what you want". He looked at the pricetag after she picked it out and still wasn't impressed but she told him it is not the price, it is the thought and she was just very pleased that he wanted to get her a present. All in all it was a tender moment
Ben just stands by his brother, there is so much love there. It's good for Ben to see Ian do things that are natural.

nothing like instant gratification

Ian called Jahleh today and was kinda of confused at first cause of course there was the ringing and then the message machine, he just looked at me and said "not Kosher" so I said just leave a message, well he did; "Jahleh, I need to see you". so later in the afternoon who should show up at the mountain but Jahleh, she had gotten his message and acted on it. Ben and Grampa also came to see Ian today. We all had a good time out on the patio, "fo sure" Ian even recited the Jabberwocky, in entirity, and that is pretty amazing seeing as it is a two page poem from Alice and Wonderland. Some things just stay with you, I believe it was in the fourth grade Benny said they put it to memory. WOW

May 23 - cookout time

well first cookout of the season. A good time was had by all, Ian and Jahleh, Ben, Aaron, Mom and Dad. Dad did great food as always "oh yea" Ian was so excited, I am told from the time he got up, was ready to just get out and make it happen. Ian sang for us, and ate very well and is just amazing. There is so much to be amazed by and Superman you are quite a guy. It seems so good that you have come to find a way to find some happiness, something has changed in the past couple of weeks and it is good.

as good as it gets

I am so amazed at how much you talk now and how well you thoughts are formed, still when you get aggitated you get perseverated in your speech and "the soundwaves" "the soundwaves are not good" have a whole new sadness to them. Tonight when we were visiting you said to me that "I think (pause) that this is as good as it will get" I truly hope that is a passing thought cause it is so painful to hear. It is good to think that you feel comfortable enough with me to express your sadness, something I wish we could have done a long long time ago. At any rate the hope is that this too will pass and that life just gets better and happier for you. You have me one of those half hearted laughs when I mentioned being happy. And I must say it is understandable for you have been through so much and yet have so much more to go through to rebuild your life, cause it is from this day forward, no looking back at what we do not have anymore or what we have to do again. Depression is a very real thing.
still you are a young man trapped-life is teaching you some very hard lessons and I have to share that is good to know that you feel that you have lessons to teach other people. Yes Ian you are a born teacher and have much to teach the world

housing

May 5
call today from Jamie at Keene Housing, we have an intake interview set for the 19th of this month. We may have an apt for Ian as early as July. That is awesome and wonderful and terrifying. You my buddy have to work your butt off between now and then!!!

care plan

May 6, 2010
care plan meeting today and it was pretty cool that you sang for the crew. "Landslide" They had not heard you sing a song through and so I am sure it was pretty neat for them. Oh Ian if you only knew how my heart soars when you sing.
Your case worker Carol Ann was there and I guess the whole process is coming along, as far as services when you get outside and just an undersanding of who you are and how you are.
also part of the BIG news for the day was that the G Tube came out. That was such a good thing and a huge thing. You have been changed to thin liquids which means you can have anything now, YEA!
James said your speech is doing well, but that he is still working on consistency of answers; Judy informed everyone that you are standing with her. From what I can tell OT is still your shortfalling and I am not sure why that is, perhaps their approach, perhaps you do not see the logistics of what they do. I still know that you do better if you understand why people do what they do and it seems it is then that you work at it harder. That would make sense and almost seems like one of those "duh" things, but I guess not really

Sun, 5/2

Ian you are the answer to so many prayers. the speech, the movement, even getting to have more patience with yourself. lots of company for my Ian today. It is good to know you are not alone even when you are stuck away on the top of a mountain. But they are helping you and you can do so much more than when you got there. Sometimes we have to look at the big picture, those of us that are on the outside looking in.
Jahleh came up while I was there, she is quite something. It was so sweet to hear the two of you sing together
and I brought goodies, you have developed quite a taste for the sweets, shows in the increased girth, but you are still a cutie
"surprize me" famous words from the Ian man
Judy your physical therapist tells me that in another week you will probably be in the stander, cause you are doing so well at standing with her and you have so much determination.

May day, 2010

I so love it when Ian is in a good mood, we had subs out on the patio and then sang. It's great to hear him even though he says "my voice is not that good anymore". If he only knew how goods it sounds to those of us who love him and just are so happy he can sing. He remembers lyrics, lots of songs, it is wow stuff how the mind can bring those back, but music really is a wonderful thing and has a very special place in the brain. That is obvious. He sang lots and I explained why he needs to drink lots, (I explain everthing to him cause even though he really knows, he just doesn't have a medical sense -- well_)We played ball out on the patio, he accepts my shortcomings a lot more these days

Olive Garden outing

Thurs., April 29
a planned outing for Ian. It was a great day. He got to see some people he had not seen in a long time and they all got to see Ian. He is doing so well and now everyone knows it. The folks at the Olive Garden were great. They seemed so happy to see him. There must have been more than 20 people there to say hi and then us of course. Ian, Mom, Dad, Jahleh, Ben, Aaron (the camera man) and Nick. O G treated us to dinner, Ian ate very well, with a little help from Jahleh, she is so good with him. Love is a wonderful and powerful thing.
Ian had so much joy in his eye and was so happy; he hugged everyone, it was great to be on an outing that was just for the sake of doing something fun.
The people at the Olive Garden thanked us for bringing him down to them, they really do love this guy, but he is pretty special guy. He has been thru so much and this was I am very sure good for his psyche. I know it was good for Ben as well, cause Ben wants so much for Ian to enjoy life again. I know Ian was a little scared but mostly excited about going.
and now it is done and we can plan the next outing, cause there really is so much living beyond the mountain, even though right now the mountain is safe.

Tues, 27th

Shopping for Ian today. He needs to have some clothes that fit him for his trip to the Olive Garden on the 29th. We are all so looking forward to it. I am sure it is a mixed bag for Ian. He is really excited to go, and I know he wants to see his friends. Ian's friends have always meant so much to him. I got him new pants and bought him a BMT from Subway. The look on his face wasy absolutely delightful. He handled the sandwich very well. That young man is so impressive. He wanted it so much and had such a hard time with the getting the point across that he wanted it, we went through a lot of negative yess's and positive no's and questions and aggitation and pain before the right question was asked and we gave him the sandwich in bed with the badtable and sitting upright in bed. But he did it and very obviously enjoyed it and he was a contented boy after that.

Mon, 26th April

I brought the lasagne Ian wanted but he is in need of something, he ate the lasagne but there is something missing, obviously something he is need of, perhaps it is a need to use the bathroom. There are certain things that happen with consistency, and one of them is the type of aggitation that you see when the bathroom is needed. Ian knows but doesn't or isn't able to exactly relate is probably a more correct version of what is actually going on.

Sun

well Ian told me he wanted california roll so I stopped on my way and got him a rainbow roll. I must say he absolutely loved it. He seemed very happy with it and can certainly eat well when he has the desire. I believe he has had the desire a few times as he has gained a bit of weight since going to the mountain. I have to buy new clothes cause none of his old clothes fit him.
Jahleh was there with him when I arrived, they must have had a good time together since hwas in such a good mood. Jahleh told me it was so nice to be able to carry on a full conversation with Ian. I think the timing is good, she needs his strength as her life has not been all that easy as of late.
Before giving Ian the rainbow roll I made him move that R leg for me. He does it very well and it is work, one can tell. And lift that right leg he can, leaps, bounds, great strides.

Tues - Ian stands

Tues., Ian stands up with PT Judy. no no tilt table, just Ian and his Physical Therapist and of course Ben and Dad and Aaron were there to see and cheer him on. Judy tells me she was quite surprised at just how strong his left leg really is, she says she was just stabalizing him cause of the right sided weakness but that he was actually standing on his own.
Aaron says he looks like he was in a lot of pain and I am sure it must hurt like hell.
When I asked Ian he said it hurt a lot but that it was a good feeling.
God is so good and just keeps giving us those miracles.

Mon eye appt

all goes well and Ian will not be loosing an eye. Ian is a relieved and happy boy
no more of "this is crap" which is the statement of the day for Mon before the appt.

Thurs, speech intonation therapy

Thurs., I had the privilege of watching your speech therapy session. I was amazed and joyful and so full of pride. I was in back of the curtain when James came into the room; and I heard you say to him, "hey, can we play that board game". You have come so far, you have purposeful forethought, so I watched you and James work with the keyboard working on phrases which you put to music so that the words come to mind with a certain melody. It works and you have to know how cool it is. Your voice really is your tool. It helps you get the words out so you can get your needs out, or have you just learnt how to play the game. At any rate it is evident that the right side of your brain has taken over the left brain functions.
And then at supper it was so cool to hear you, "I have a craving" what Ian, "Lasagne".
Seems like not that long ago it was good to just hear you talk, and answer questions, then hold a short conversation of back and forth banter, but now you actually initiate thought and your wishes for prensent and future things.
I know you will be an inspiration to many, you already are and have no idea of the impact you have on others.
We love you so!!!!

right leg

your dad called me to tell me you moved your right leg today and he asked you to do it again and you did it, intentional movement, that is so amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and to think when I saw you last, which was Thurs you kept telling me that "this is not going to work". You have been saying that a lot lately, like for the last two weeks, I think it is just cause you are scared and then we remind you of all you have done and ask those questions, could you do this 2 months ago and then you realize you can do a lot that you could not do 2 months ago or 3 months ago. Still it must be very scary.
But you moved your right leg. Purposeful movement, wow. Superman in action, where is that damn criptonite.

a great day

Today was such a good day. I got a dragon roll on the way up to see Ian, he loves them and I was sure he had not had one in quite a while and now that he eats regular food time to enjoy some of the good things in life.
so he ate the dragon roll like crazy, and then we had crab rangoons and I have to say Ian seemed to really enjoy lunch. After lunch we went for a little walk outside and then we worked on some word phrases with music intonations. It was fun and Ian really seemed to enjoy the time. He was so upbeat today. I explained the music intonation theory as it relates to the right brain taking over the left brain function. Ian does so much better when he understands and I think he really does on those days when he gets past the day to day existance.
He had acupuncture and it really seemed to relax him, he went to sleep and then when he woke we talked for a while, and did some range of motion with his right arm and leg.
He rolled over, grabbed the bed rail to stabilize himeself, then took my arm, drew it over himself and then put his arm around me, purposfully. It was such a nice way to end our day, a purposeful hug.
Ian has a new roommate, he is Spanish and his family was in, big family. I told Ian he is likely to learn Spanish by default. We'll see
and Ian is coming home for an outing on the 29th. It should be a good day for him. The van is all set you go Superman!!!

Wends

some days are just days. When I got to the Mountain, Ben was with him. They were watching a movie. Ian was not having a great day, he had a hard time expressing his need. Things progressed and he did end up being changed, I am sure he was hotter that a raped ape in Costa Rica in July as he was in flannel pants and a waffle shirt. Shorts and a tee shirt were much more appropriate. I can not get over what people are thinking sometime.
Ian did a lot of reaching for the back of his head and said his head hurts. Not sure what that is all about but it does need to be addressed. He is so volitale and labile in his thoughts. Ian, I am praying will soon take his frustration and anger and feeling bad and use it to fight - soon.
It has been 6 months now and sometimes that seems like such a long time, but really it is not, so much more work to be done and really I so want him to just come home. We can take him to therapy here and having people around him that care on a more frequent basis will be good. I love my boy, and I want him to want to work, cause he has to.

frustration

I have to say all in all today was a very frustrating day for me. I called Dr Renna with regard to taking all the stitches out of Ians' eye. He doesn't feel that is wise cause if the eye isn't functioning then we would have to go to a specialist to deal with the issue of a glass eye. I said then at least we would know and we could proceed from there. Instead of agreeing with me as I hoped he would do he cancelled Wed's appt and referred me to a specialist who will evaluate Ian on the 17th. So I guess from here I deal with the specialist, Then I had to tell Mark who was harder to deal with than Ian. He kept telling me the same thing over and over like 6 times, I asked him if I could give him Renna's number and then he could tell him how he felt. I know he care and he has an opinion, but I get it after the first time. Sometimes it is very hard, none of us have gone thru this and brain injury is such a HUGE thing.
Other than that Ian had a tired day today, it is to be expected. Healing takes so much energy from the body. He talks so well, but when he gets stressed the tone just takes over. Still perseverating on "I never said anything bad" I do so wish I knew what he was referring to so I be of some help to him. I asked Ian today what is the thing he wants to regain first and he said to be able to use both hands. Even now he is so eloquent, he is a great guy and somehow thru all this he will be a greater guy.

Easter

Ian seemed pretty happy to see the family when we arrived.
He had tears and "wow, I had never seen anything like this. And then he realized Aaron was there too and his eyes got big and wide. It was cool. Of course I know he get so lonely sometimes cause he has too much time to think - how much he can not do, cause he knows. He has a hell of a road to hoe but I know he can do it, and I know Ben will help him. I can only imagine the kind of love those two have for each other. The other night Ben and I were talking and he told me there is no one on this earth he loves more or could ever love than Ian. Ben and Ian have always had a very special bond, the twin thing.
Ian keeps talking more and better. It is so amazing how the mind can retrain itself.
We went tod the treehouse, its is such a cool thing. They have a ramp up to a huge treehouse, it is very cool!We also brougt Easter Dinner - Nana sent it over for Ian and I must admit he thorouly enjoyed it. All in all a good day, left him and Ben watching Cadddyshack.

Ian says he never said anything was bad, you can make your own opinion of what that statement is refering to. When I asked him he said it was about before the accident,
Ian is talking so well, I am so amazed by how far he has come, this is not a common thing to have to go through and the superman is one tough cookie.
We went to the treehouse at Crotched Mtn today. What a cool place. I think it is the nicest treehouse I have ever seen. They say it is the only one of its kind in the state and I can believe it. I think we will be making more trips there, and I am just so glad it is summer, 4 walls inside a building can be so confining especially when you feel confined within your own body.

intro

Ian suffered a traumatic brain injury last Sept, yes Sept 11, pretty ominus. Initially they told us he wouldn't make it, but he did. Many prayers went up for Ian and praise the Lord He answered them. Ian is with us and is in the biggest fight of his life, cause h e is in fact fighting for his life.
He now lives in a rehab facility and gets very frustrated cause his body will not do what he mind is capable of comprehending. Ian is a very smart young man and what he told me last about this whole ordeal was that "this is not fun"./ He perseverates on things and until he can find a way to make some happiness out of the life he now has there will not be fun. Life is different now and that means for all of us who love and care for Ian.
Ian truly has come a long way, he can talk, quite eliquantly now and in a normal tone. His command of the English language is amazing. We have decided to take him out of the facility for some time at the end of the month and perhaps every couple of weeks for outings for the day.
A change of pace should help his psyche.