The Last Four Years

I can't believe it's already been four years since life as we knew it completely got flipped upside down.  It was May 31, 2013 that our sweet Jake came in complaining of a headache and three hours later he was having emergency brain surgery. When I think back to those first hours there are some details I remember so clearly, I will never forget them. There are others that I only remember because they were written here on the blog. I spent an evening a couple months ago going back and reading everything from the beginning. It was pretty overwhelming...he was in such bad shape.

On the flip side I have the joy of seeing where he is today, now 14 and a good half a head taller than me. As I think about the last four years, one thing really stands out. Jake's drive and determination hasn't wavered. He worked so hard to get better in the hospital, hours and hours of therapy every day. He had a goal to be able to walk out of the hospital when he was discharged and he did. He has done things over the past few years that I honestly wasn't sure he'd be able to do and it's been very inspiring to watch him push himself and try things. He has become so disciplined about his home exercise program and stretching. He now makes notes of what he needs to do in his phone and then just does it on his own. All of his appointments, OT, PT, stretching, acupuncture and neuro-feedback continue to be a pretty big part of his life and probably will be for some time. It's something we've gotten used to and it's just part of what we do, just like other families spend a lot of time on sports, we go to a lot of appointments. I'm extremely grateful we have so many great resources and therapists in his life. They have really become friends and trusted advisers, not to mention how much they have helped ease the affects of his muscle tightness with his grow spurts.

And to top everything off - we are now of the verge of having a high schooler! Jake finished 8th grade last Thursday and will be heading to high school in the fall - crazy. All I know is, time is going by way too fast.