Conor Walks

As you all know, Conor has had therapists come to the house ever since his discharge from hospital. This team (all lovely ladies by the way) provide a great deal of support to Conor. They mark his progress and by using their experience, provide tips and tools to progress even further .. even quicker. The Occupational Therapist brought her hand kit ... complete with balls, bean bags, and putty. After fifteen minutes ... Conor has been able to move his wrist back an extra centimetre ... he's thrilled.

Yesterday, Conor had the speech pathologist in the morning, and the physiotherapist in the afternoon. We had a few deliveries of equipment throughout the day, namely, a gutter crutch (the crutch has a horizontal pad for supporting the forearm) and a muscle stimulator. Julie, the physio, arrive late in the afternoon, and set to work. Five minutes after her arrival, Conor is walking (on crutches) down the hall. Ciaran and I are standing in the kitchen, and witness this incredible milestone. Ciaran turns to me and says "Are you crying, Mum?" Those of you that know me, know that I cry at everything ... TV shows, Hallmark commercials, paragraphs in novels ... and Ciaran always asks the obvious ... Are you crying? in that disgusted male voice. Of course I'm crying. Tears of pure joy. Conor has a look on his face that I will tuck away and place in that "vault" mothers all have in their head. You all know that look ... "Look at me ... I'm doing it!" He slow, he's cautious ... but man ... he's walking. The hard part for the physio is making sure he doesn't put more that 30 pounds of weight on the bad leg ... but she's enjoying this too.
She lets him enjoy this for about 5 minutes ... then it's back to the "torture chamber" for more exercise ... more progress.

I know I say this in just about every post ... I can't help it ... it's been my overriding emotion for the past 8 weeks. Gratitude. The word does not do justice to what I feel. To family .. to friends ... to these "strangers" that are making such an impact on our lives ... thank you. I feel so very inadequate in expressing what I really want to say. You all have touched me very deep inside ... and I don't know how to reciprocate.

I believe in "karma". I believe that what you "do" --- will be returned to you. My beliefs tell me that what I cannot "repay" ... the Great Weaver will repay. Your incredible acts of kindness and grace will be rewarded ...somehow--someday! Until then ... pat yourselves on the back and smile ... and know that you have truly made a difference. Bless you all!