Two Years...

Today is two years since Jake had an aneurysm burst in his brain leading him and our family down a very unplanned path. Looking back it's really hard to believe it's already been two years, this past year has gone by especially fast. The doctors initially told Jake it would take a year to heal. I don't know what they determined "healed" to be, but I am really thankful he didn't stop his recovery at the one year mark since he's made some huge strides this past year.

On this second anniversary, I wasn't nearly as emotional as I was last year. I didn't find myself thinking about the events of that evening on May 31, 2013 as certain times passed on the clock. I was watching him play outside this afternoon and am pretty amazed at how far he's come. The kids had a lemonade stand and were up and down the street several times getting supplies. There is no way he could have done that a year ago. Today, I am going to focus on and celebrate all the progress Jake has made in this past year instead of dwelling on the things that are still a struggle.

Jake's transition to middle school went better than I could have ever hoped for. Yes, there were a few bumps along the way, but as he's just a few days from finishing 6th grade I'd have to count this year as a success. His independence grew as well as his self advocacy.

His walking has continued to improve and he is actually starting to run a little for short distances. There was only one time the entire year that he needed his wheelchair at school and that is because he got sick.

His stamina and endurance have really improved. We were so concerned about him getting around the middle school because it was so big and he did get tired earlier in the year. Now, it's really not a big deal. A year ago, we used his wheelchair consistently when going places like Costco or Target and now he doesn't need it. He can also be outside for several hours at a time hanging out with friends without getting overly tired. We also avoided doing certain activities because we were worried it would be too tiring, not so much anymore.

We're beginning to step back, not hover and watch over him quite as much. So much of his life has been under a microscope since this all happened and at times it was hard to just let him be. We were at a friends BBQ recently and he was out of our sight for huge chunks of time. It felt a little odd and good all at the same time to not go check and see how he was doing, but he didn't need us to. He was just hanging with the other kids. So many things he's going through now are normal for a 12 year old boy and have nothing to do with his aneurysm/stroke. Hearing some of those things was a big eye opener for us at his IEP meeting about a month ago.

Jake and Luke's relationship is continuing to evolve and change. I've caught a few moments of Jake stepping back into the big brother role which always warms my heart.

Jake is getting a little less fearful and more willing to try things. He and our daredevil Luke are still miles apart, but it's good to see him stepping out of his comfort zone.

Jake has grown this year in so many ways, there are countless little things that I didn't mention. Some of them are recovery related and some are just growing up, but both are good to see. We will continue help him in every way we can with therapies, support and space when he needs it to figure things out on his own. We are so thankful and feel very blessed that he has come as far as he has and can't wait to see what the next year brings. Thank you to all of you who continue to follow Jake's progress offering your love, prayers and support.