Mama....I'm Coming Home...

At the 11th hour today we got the news that Children's had an acute care bed for Alistair and would be available to accept us tomorrow! We are coming home! The amount of relief I felt course through my body would have brought me to my knees if I wasn't already sitting down. I want to go home, I don't feel anything anymore, I am tired and just feel like I am moving through life. But most importantly I stress about Alistair getting his rehab needs met. The nurses and therapists are doing their best to work with him and help him here, but there are much easier ways to work with him and help him. He will get assessed by the team there and then will get lined up to be admitted to rehab. 

The road continues to be long and probably hard, but will be made more tolerable by being home and having more support. The last few days have felt like we have been treading water and not moving anywhere. You start to feel numb. Everyone is at the end of their emotional rope, it doesn't take much to bring us to tears. We asked Alistair if he remembered Airlift Northwest and he said yes. Then we said they were sending him a private jet to bring him home. He said, "that is nice of them!" 

Today was a decent day. Alistair slept for a long time this morning. He finally got up and had breakfast, did some PT and then had a shower. He didn't seem to enjoy it at the time, but later said it was relaxing. Once all that activity was over, he took a nap. Gabe, Ranae and Sully came down for one last visit. Alistair had his lunch and then we took Alistair on a field trip out to the courtyard. He slept through most of it, but did some interacting. Once we got him back to his room, Seth and I went out to lunch with the Sandholms and then said goodbye for what we hoped was the last time (and turned out to be!).

When we got back, PT was here and put Alistair on the tilt table to do some standing and weight bearing on his feet. We got him up to about 60 degrees again...which was what he did last time. But the last time was in the ICU, which was a few days ago. Once he was up that high, we all gave him hugs and kisses. It was very cathartic and emotional for all of us, including the nurse and the PT! Lots of misty eyes! :) He slept for a while again after that and then we decided to put him in his wheelchair for dinner and head out to the atrium to eat. He slept for the longest time as he started a new medication today that helps relieve his tremors better. He actually was relaxed, breathing deeply and you could see his eyes darting in REM sleep...so important for brain injury recovery.

We are looking forward to getting home tomorrow and continuing care for our son in a spectacular institution like Seattle Children's. Having spent time there 9 years ago, I know we will be in extremely capable and caring hands. I do want to give huge kudos to the doctors, nurses and other support staff in the care of Alistair and us while being here in Rochester at the Mayo Clinic. Our nurses were especially wonderful and I will miss many of them! 

Washington, HERE WE COME!!!