Jay's Excellent Adventure

We completed Jay's move to rehab, the next stage of the healing of his wounded brain. It feels like we have found a home. The other patients have also experienced brain or spinal chord injuries. It is inspiring to see where they are on their journey through recovery, and to be reassured that we too will get there. The capacity for recovery of the brain is remarkable. The healing of the brain brings the return of physical, cognitive, emotional, and speech skills, and each person has a different journey depending on the part of their brain that was injured.

Jay's team of doctors are AWESOME! One very cool young doctor is a Frenchman, and it amazed everyone when he and Jay spoke French together. This doctor has had his own struggle, as he is in a chair. Dr. Edgely was so welcoming and told Jay it is an honor and a pleasure to have him here. I know Jay is moved by the amazing people around him, both those who have overcome similar challenges, and staff who are passionate about helping people navigate through this transformative experience.

I can assure you that we are not at the Ritz. University Hospital is under major construction and within the year the rehab institute will be in a brand new beautiful facility with private rooms for all patients. For now we're in an old, crowded, archaic looking unit. It depressed me at first, but quickly you realize it's all about the people: staff who love to work there, and patients who are working hard to get their lives back. Family members are welcome as part of the team and I know that both Jay and I will be touched by the lives of others. Dev will love the BIG screen tv in the rec room. There is a lot going on in a small space and I fear the noise, activity, and lack of privacy will be hard on Jay, for he's a guy who loves to relax at home. But it is what it is and none of this has been easy.

I am staying at a very cool place. The University Guest House is a dorm like hotel on the University of Utah campus. Many other patients at the University Hospital and their family members use the Guest House as a home away from home. We have a common bond, and a sense of compassion and community. Families of U of U students, foreign students, conferencing professionals, academics, diverse college students, skiers, and this weekend, Sundance Film Festival folks, make this a comfortable and pleasant place to be. I was a bit jealous of Dev's college life, but I certainly didn't want to return to dorm living myself. You just never know........

Thanks SO much for the cards you've sent to Jay. He's just now starting to read them. He got the biggest kick out of a really funny Far Side card and has continued to make jokes about it. For some reason, his sense of humor is more keen than I ever remember it. If you see a really funny card, send it his way.

Dev is flying in from Denver tonight. She is going to be so thrilled when she sees her daddy. Tomorrow's Friday all you working folk. TGIF. Dawn