Friday, September 28, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
If Not Now, When?
Thinking I would be in New York for a few weeks at the
most, I left all my furniture, clothing, books, personal belongings and many
precious memories back in Missouri. Four years later, I am not home yet, but
all things going well…we are heading home soon.
After four years and a life-changing accident, many
things have changed and home has a whole new meaning. Pre-accident, my son
Michael left home after high school graduation. I became a single again woman
on the go, and I might add going as I pleased.
Post-accident, the “I” has again become “we.” And my new
normal has become advocating and caring for my recently brain injured and
amputee adult son.
When I left Missouri, it was sudden and without warning. Being
totally unprepared, I feel I have become a bit of a vagabond in the process. I
am not sure where home is anymore, but if home is where the heart is, as the
saying goes, I am in the right place. I am so blessed to be able to care for
Michael and so thankful to God for his life. Each day I get to see what a
miracle looks like.
Choosing to care for Michael at home meant staying in New
York indefinitely because relocating in his condition was not an option. He had
been in the hospital four months and another 11 months in a nursing
facility/rehab. He had come so far but still had a long way to go. I got
a small apartment in the area. Finding a place with wheelchair accessibility
proved to be quiet the feat, but I found one just in time to meet my goal of
having him out of institutionalized life by Christmas. We moved into the apartment on December 1,
2009. We had nothing much, a couple of beds and a dining room
table--but it was the best Christmas EVER!!!
Now with all the progress Michael has made, we can
finally put down some stakes—yes, we are going to finally put some pictures on
the wall, make a special place for his collection of baseball caps and settle
in. But where—New York, Missouri….or somewhere else?
I’ve done some research and given it a lot of thought and
prayer. Now it’s time to decide.
I am going to be presenting some information about housing
needs for the disabled, posting some of the houses we are considering and maybe
even asking you to vote. Then at the end of this class, I will reveal our new fully
wheelchair-accessible home.
So stay tuned as we search out the next place we will call home in our new normal life.
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