7 years later

This 7^th anniversary update should have been posted from Italy but due to the COVID pandemic, that trip has been postponed until next May. ☹ What a crazy time these past few months have been.

It's amazing how much can change in a seven-year period. In 2013, Jake was still in elementary school just finishing 4th grade when his aneurysm burst. He was back at school in mid-August for a few hours a day and needed a ton of support. He started 5th grade using a bike to get around school because walking that much was way too tiring. Some of school was really hard because of the areas his brain was injured. And whether he liked or it not, he had to depend on for many of his day to day activities. Jake also was attending A LOT of therapy in the early days. 

Fast forward seven years later...Jake just finished his junior year of high school. (I still can’t quite believe he's going to be a senior in the fall.) He’s getting around a very large high school, needs no classroom support, and has even taken some advanced classes (plus he’s getting really good grades and even got inducted to the National Honor Society.) He was in pep band again this year, is driving, had a job at Target last fall/winter and is quite self-sufficient. He’s still doing therapy, just not quite as much in clinic since we’ve switched to pretty rigorous home program instead.

His biggest struggle continues to be his left arm/hard and the excessive tightness. He adapts quite well in a lot of areas doing things one handed, but not being able to drum two handed is his biggest frustration. He was really hoping to move up to Jazz Band II at school this year after being in Jazz I for the past three years. Unfortunately, even with all the heart he puts into his drumming he didn’t play as well as the other two-handed drummers. He didn’t make the cut and he made the difficult decision to leave band. I was so heartbroken for him since I know how much he enjoys band but supported his decision to not take the same beginning band class for a 4^th year in a row. We’re trying to find another musical outlet for him once things start opening up a bit more due to COVID.

We’ve continued to get involved with some great adaptive programs this past year; I think the highlight for Jake was wakeboard surfing. The instructors were so good, and he got up on his second try. The instructor also got on the board with him to give him a little bit longer ride. It was so fun to watch.

Jake is growing into an extraordinary young man. I think all he has been through has really shaped his character in a lot of positive ways. He’s kind, hard-working, helpful, appreciative, even keeled, self-advocates, and is a joy to be around. I know this next year is going to be a whirlwind and he finishes high school, so I’m really trying to enjoy the time we have together.