What a Difference a Year Makes!

Excited Campers!

5th year for these two!

We are in the thick of August right now when the bulk of our Rehab time was spent last year. Every day I find myself wondering what we were doing a year ago. Yesterday was a particularily poignant day for me. We took Alistair and Gillian and Alistair's buddy Levi to Camp Colman to drop them off for a week-long camp. They will be home next Saturday. This is Alistair and Levi's 5th year going and Gillian's 1st. They were all very excited and the camp staff was excited to see Alistair back after everything he has been through. As we sat there in the car waiting to be waived through to park and check-in, I glanced at the blog to see what was happening a year ago...

Alistair and some buds at camp showing off their swim bands

A year ago we took Alistair out for his first outing to U Village where he got to buy some team wear (he went with Sonics) and then bought some groceries to have a football party in his room for the Seahawks first pre-season game. I remember the process of having to pack his backpack with drink supplies (thickener for his drinks, straw, special cup), extra clothes and bathrom supplies. We had to find the right head rest for his wheel chair so he could safely ride in the car and have his neck supported when he got tired. Then we had to sign paperwork to check him out of the hospital for an hour or so. Once down to the van, we had to load him in the back, strap his chair down and find ADA parking at U Village. Everything was a process. It was a good day because we got to take him somewhere away from the hospital, but I remember feeling overwhelmed and wishing and hoping that we weren't facing this as our own permanent reality. 

What a difference a year makes!

Hennessey Island ready to take on the tide!

One happy family enjoying the fun in the sun!

Factory 5 Racing Car Kit Factory

Alistair and Uncle Ed taking us on our afternoon cruise!

Enjoying one of many nights of Cape Cod League Baseball

Alistair is doing really well. We had a phenomonal vacation back east. We were gone for 3 weeks and never missed home! We all had a great time relaxing, playing and enjoying friends and family. I don't know if it was the environment, the change of scenery and routine or if he is just in another upward trajectory again, but Alistair seems to be making huge improvements. There was a very noticeable difference between when we landed on July 17th and when we left on August 6th, He is trying to write and draw again, he is throwing a ball better, he is doing more with his right hand and he is slowly requiring less help with things. 

Drawing an airplane!!

Museum of Flight outing

Alistair getting ready go Up, Up and Away!

I asked him if he felt different, if things were getting easier for him. He said yes, he thought so. We found out he is going to have Dora, his para from last year, again this year. We are very excited about that, but he was slightly indignant about it, "I don't need a para! I can write!" Well, he may not need her all year, but I think a few more months at least! 

This past weekend Alistair got to go flying with our neighbor. He took him up in his plane and they went out for about 90 minutes. Alistair LOVED it and it looking forward to getting to go again sometime! Thank you, Tim, for your kindness and generosity!