Donna's departure from Galveston was quick and joyous on December 19. Lots of thanks and goodbye's but it was easy to see that all those professionals there needed to get on with their new challenges and so did we. The day we left Galveston, we needed to stop back at TIRR for a doctor appointment with our new (reacquainted) doctor. I dropped Donna at the outpatient door near the therapy room as I parked the car and as I turned to head for the car I could her one of the therapists calling"Hey Donna!". While not a family anyone is clamoring to join, the TIRR family is a special group of people. By the time I got back to her, Donna had visited with several "family" members and over lunch we ran into James (Donna's OT therapist who really challenged her) who sat down and joined us for a while. All joyous moments filled with Donna showing off abilities James had only hopes for when we were there. News spread quickly that Donna was there and before you knew it, doctors and therapists were showing up to say hi. You can imagine how special for these people who care for people at their most challenged moments to finally see an outcome (albeit incomplete). The reunions were fun and stories were swapped. The only bizarre thing was that Donna was only a limited participant because her memories only contained small spots from those TIRR days. They were quickly filled in and the familiarity and love was apparent.
And then we were home....aaaaaah!! Yes it really was that sweet, for Donna and for me too. The first days were filled with Christmas anticipation, last minute errands and lots of just staring at Donna and smiling. Just before Christmas, we got our hands on Sarah, John and Nate and headed out of town to Lafayette to spend a little time with Donna's family. It was great to see her in that setting doing such "normal" things. Many had not seen her in a good while and her new skill, "the standing two armed hug", was unleashed in full force. Be sure to get one of these if you see her.
Christmas for us was just what we could have dreamed; quiet and home. Mass on Christmas Eve was special and our Christmas Day was the Colosimo standard, pajama's, fun and relaxing. There were so many great moments to savor Donna's presence and we squeezed in a little exercise with a large dose of relaxation. We so appreciated those well wishes received for our homecoming and holiday.
We soaked up the joy till December 31 when instead of our normal journey to Lafayette for the new year, we spent the day completing Donna's out patient assessment in the Houston medical center (TIRR outpatient). It was actually better than it sounds as Donna took the opportunity to show off a bit with her expanded cognitive abilities. They are very strong and she easily demonstrated no need to stay in the medical center for outpatient therapy to get that help, paving the way to get outpatient therapy at the new TIRR facility near our house. We're still working out the details there so we'll be in the medical center this week and, with luck, sorted out near the house the following week.
The last few weeks of being at home have shown us a glimpse of our new and exciting lives. Donna's mobility and abilities to interact in the home environment grow slowly but steadily. Our roles have fully reversed, I'm the busy home mom and Donna sits and relaxes a good bit. This is such a revelation as I expect those roles will only trend toward the middle and never go back to where they were. My eyes have been opened. I have too much appreciation now for her and her efforts. (hint to you guys out there). I am also an apprentice at all things female. I never wanted that knowledge but hey, we do what we need to do right?
Donna still has a way to go but small improvements add up and her attitude and desire to get better are both strong. It is clear that this journey, that we now just call life, will go on for quite some time and patience, hard work and much love will be a big part of it. We try hard to do normal things ranging from games where she still kicks my butt, to lunch out with friends (which we enjoyed this week), to a simple visit with a good friend in her living room this past week. I just smile watching Donna in all these settings and I pray that I will never tire of the amazement of seeing Donna live her life. We seek to live it to the fullest now so no activity is off limits as long as it can work around therapy.
So this blog in its current form comes to an end now. The blog itself has been so much more than ever expected; a journal of our journey, a communication to those friends distant and loved, a therapy for me, a read someday for Donna. The website we use keeps statistics. The blog (with its now 111 entries) has received over 81,000 page views from 10 countries. So many wonderful family and friends. Donna and I have talked about how rarely in life people get to know how deeply they are loved and that Donna has had that blessing bestowed on her here on earth. Just one of many blessings we've experienced through this ordeal.
From here we'll use this space for a once per month update on Donna's physical improvements for all of you that are distant and can't see her in person. It won't really be a blog as we'll keep it focused on her progress and keep it short. I'll try to post it around the first of the month. For the rest of you, come and see her. She is experimenting with email but it will be a while before you can expect a timely response. Its still a lot of work for her. If you don't have our contact info, drop a note to colosimeaux@gmail.com and I'll get you the appropriate contact info.
I leave you with a few photos to enjoy.
Thanks so much for all of your wonderful support and we look forward to seeing you all in person. We love company and hearing from you. Drop us a note, call, or come by. All are welcome.
Deepest regards
Bob and Donna
Thanksgiving Joy:
Our Christmas Gang:
Christmas in Lafayette: John, Sarah and Donna
Donna at the Eye Doctor this week. We had to get a photo at the pediatric giraffe
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