Possibilities

Things are still going pretty well for the Popster. He spent another Sunday afternoon at home with Mom, Becky, and the grandkids...and I'm told it was a good day. Dad said that each time he leaves the hospital (and it's only been 3 or 4 times) it seems to get a little easier. I'm so thankful that it's taking so long to get him home for good because it's allowing him to gradually ease into reality...it really is a blessing. Too much reality too fast would be too stinkin' hard...for all of us. So he came home for another beautiful sunny Sunday and mom got to test out the new transfer lift she had ordered. It allows her to get Pops in and out of his chair all by herself. She said it worked well. He also got to test out his new bed and his 'go-go-gadget' mattress that automatically turns him every 30 minutes. It's very high-tech, very James Bondish, and very cool. What we won't do for our Pops.

I guess they even ventured out of the driveway and took a walk downtown with the grandkids. I asked how dad did with that, and mom said he did pretty well. He said it's hard to hear the sound that his wheelchair makes on the sidewalk because it reminds him of the sound his rollerblades made. As mom said, there's no looking back...all we can do is look forward.

It was a good day...no mishaps, no surprises. Mom has a twin bed pushed next to dad's and I guess they were resting (or trying to) as the grandkids jumped all over them....what a great picture. I know dad loved it. Little Mikey even feel asleep on Bapa and they took a nap together. How beautifully normal.

His coming home is probably still about two weeks away due to some possible surgeries in the future. There are some exciting things happening...nothing for sure, but the possibilities alone are exciting. First off, they will be doing some work on his trach hole to get it to close...it should have closed on it's own by now, but it hasn't and he still loses a lot of air when he speaks. So this week they should have it closed for good and maybe then a fourth swallow test right away. That would rock.

They are talking about another surgery soon to implant a dialysis catheter that would allow him to have dialysis at night while he sleeps. This would be so great as he hates dialysis...it's long, boring, and takes up a good chunk of his day. If he gets this surgery, he could do his dialysis at night three times a week and sleep through the whole thing. That would rock.

The most exciting possible surgery would be a nerve transplant in his left shoulder. The doctors want to go in and try to repair/transplant many of the nerves that were damaged in the accident. The best outcome of this would be movement in that shoulder. That would rock.

It sounds like all of these surgeries could be happening soon, and we pray that they do. Lots of possibilities for change in the next few weeks, and that's exciting. As a person that hates change, I'm actually learning to embrace it, even the kind that rips the floor out from under you. Because no matter what change brings, we serve a God that doesn't change; a God that in a world of pain, confusion, and chaos, remains solid as a rock. Change is good. Bring it on. With God, all things are possible.

And that rocks.