Jess had a good week at school. He is doing some interesting paintings in his art class. Amanda just puts the brush in his hand and he seems to want to move it. Jess loved to paint and draw so hopefully it is stimulating his memory of a something he loved. Amanda also put a keyboard under his fingers in his computer class and he tried to move them on the keys. Oh, how we would celebrate if he could just type us a message. We are all still working so hard on some kind of communication with Jess.
Chris just free (without the standing machine) stood him for 30 minutes . It took 3 of us to get him up and hold him in the beginning and now I just help get him up and Chris can balance him alone. Chris felt him firing muscles and turning his hips today. More small miracles that keep us going. He is also riding well at the arena. His eyes seem more aware of his surroundings. He and I drove to Boise on Friday to get one of his leg braces adjusted. On the way home I put the movie "Free Willy" on the TV in the van and he watched it intensely all the way home. Another small miracle to see him be able to control his eye gaze. As I reflect on all the little changes, it makes me feel relieved to know he is making changes. He is young and we continue to have faith that one day Jess will tell us all about this journey he is on.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
September 14th at 8:10 p.m.
I had to add to my message of yesterday. I received an email from the special friend that helped direct my letter to the Dalai Lama. She was priveleged to speak to the Dalai and to his emissary of peace, Tenzin, at the blessing of the new prayer wheel that was brought to our valley. She said she was able to thank Tenzin for taking time to visit with us and with Jess at our house and for praying for and with Jess for the completion of his healing. She said Tenzin smiled very big. He told me, "It was my pleasure to meet Jess and his family. I believe in myself, that Jess will be all fine. Jess' mind is bright and strong. He is young and still growing, his mind is awake and in some more time Jess will be very good. I have seen very much worse do very good. But Jess, his mind is very busy and his body will heal back to it." She said she ran to her car to write down his words so she wouldn't forget. We can't tell you how much those words meant to us. You are an angel, my friend.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
September 13th, 2005 at 1:50 p.m.
It seems as though the last few weeks have come and gone in a whirlwind. We have been through so many emotional events in a short period of time. The wedding was wonderful and the love we all shared throughout the planning was...worth all the worry. It is strange that as I look at the pictures of Jess at the wedding, I am struck with a reality I guess I have not seen or wanted to see. The pictures are not what I see. He did look very handsome in his tuxedo.
School was another very emotional event for both Amanda and I. It brought back memories for Amanda of the wonderful relationship she had with her brother when they were both in high school. She lost him at his young age of 17 in a terrible car accident. She was 18. I know she and Jess have been brought together for a very special reason. We are so grateful for whatever that reason is...
For me, my heart ached to see all of the kids talking in the halls, hurrying to class, laughing, hugging and watching Jess as though they just couldn’t understand how something so awful could happen to someone so much like them. We all have a hard time understanding that one.
Amanda did have some very good days as they continued to attend classes through the week. She was able to get Jess to hold a marker in his right hand in his art class and he even tried to move it to make some marks on the paper. The therapist had some very good sessions and more of his friends were able to approach Jess. I know it must be so hard for them. He is still Jess...he just can’t tell you.
I am trying to remember what I did before Jess was hurt. My sole focus is on him and I feel lost when he is not here. I am still very busy but I have an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach. It too shall pass.
We had a very spiritual weekend that will remain in our memories for a long time. I attended the Dalai Lama’s message to 10,000 people with my cousin and two friends on Sunday. He is so delightful, funny and spoke words that supported all of my beliefs. He, too, has witnessed a terrible tragedy in losing his home and his country of Tibet. He reminded us not to ever lose hope. Chris and I took Jess to the children’s event on Monday. He spoke to the children and let them know they were responsible for the future. He stressed the importance of “compassion”. “You must help others’ and if you can’t help, you should not harm others.” “We need a little more compassion, and if we cannot have it then no politician or even magician can save the planet.” It begins with you and then ripples throughout the world. He said it was a new beginning. An age of dialogue instead of violence. It was such a peaceful event in which I know everyone left with a sense of calmness and love. We are so fortunate to have been able to participate and to have Jess in the presence of “His Holiness”.
Again, I am forced to realize that Jess is the only one in control of his destiny and all I can do is love him. Not even “His Holiness” can change his journey.
School was another very emotional event for both Amanda and I. It brought back memories for Amanda of the wonderful relationship she had with her brother when they were both in high school. She lost him at his young age of 17 in a terrible car accident. She was 18. I know she and Jess have been brought together for a very special reason. We are so grateful for whatever that reason is...
For me, my heart ached to see all of the kids talking in the halls, hurrying to class, laughing, hugging and watching Jess as though they just couldn’t understand how something so awful could happen to someone so much like them. We all have a hard time understanding that one.
Amanda did have some very good days as they continued to attend classes through the week. She was able to get Jess to hold a marker in his right hand in his art class and he even tried to move it to make some marks on the paper. The therapist had some very good sessions and more of his friends were able to approach Jess. I know it must be so hard for them. He is still Jess...he just can’t tell you.
I am trying to remember what I did before Jess was hurt. My sole focus is on him and I feel lost when he is not here. I am still very busy but I have an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach. It too shall pass.
We had a very spiritual weekend that will remain in our memories for a long time. I attended the Dalai Lama’s message to 10,000 people with my cousin and two friends on Sunday. He is so delightful, funny and spoke words that supported all of my beliefs. He, too, has witnessed a terrible tragedy in losing his home and his country of Tibet. He reminded us not to ever lose hope. Chris and I took Jess to the children’s event on Monday. He spoke to the children and let them know they were responsible for the future. He stressed the importance of “compassion”. “You must help others’ and if you can’t help, you should not harm others.” “We need a little more compassion, and if we cannot have it then no politician or even magician can save the planet.” It begins with you and then ripples throughout the world. He said it was a new beginning. An age of dialogue instead of violence. It was such a peaceful event in which I know everyone left with a sense of calmness and love. We are so fortunate to have been able to participate and to have Jess in the presence of “His Holiness”.
Again, I am forced to realize that Jess is the only one in control of his destiny and all I can do is love him. Not even “His Holiness” can change his journey.
Sunday, September 4, 2005
September 4th, 2005 at 4:00 p.m.
We had a wonderful weekend and are pleased to welcome into our family Joey’s new wife, Angela. They were a beautiful couple had a truly memorable ceremony on September 1st, at Trail Creek Cabin in Sun Valley. Chris, Jess and his grandpa all dressed up in tuxedos and looked very handsome. It was quite the miracle since two days before the wedding the 7 of the tuxes were shipped to MN. Jess was a groomsman along with 3 of Joey’s good friends and “Uncle Dave”. Joey was blessed to have three grandmothers attend and grandpa even rallied for the occasion with a sore arm. Lots of friends and family were able to come and it was so fun to see everyone. Jamie was a gorgeous bridesmaid with two of Angie’s beautiful sisters and a cute pregnant best friend and little Jahara was the flower girl. At two years of age, she danced us all into the ground and kept everyone hopping all night long. It was a beautiful day with blue skies, wispy clouds and Bald Mountain in the background. They originally had their heart set on getting married in Maui but when Jess got hurt they changed their plans so we could all be together on their special day. Chris’ mom and two sisters came out from Cleveland. It was the first time his oldest sister, Joy, had been out here and she fell in love with the mountains. Most of Angela’s family and friends were able to come from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Arizona and some of Joey’s family came from Idaho Falls. Angie’s family were all a lot of fun to be around and it was a pleasure to meet them. We all enjoyed a fun rehearsal dinner here at our house. It seems awful quiet now with everyone gone.
Jess starts school on Tuesday and gets back to horseback riding after 3 weeks off. He has a really busy schedule and we just hope the stimulation will help him figure out a lot of things he has forgotten. He was sure wide-eyed at the wedding hearing all the familiar voices he hasn’t heard for a long while and there were times we thought he was really going to say something. Boy, will that be a glorious day!
Jess starts school on Tuesday and gets back to horseback riding after 3 weeks off. He has a really busy schedule and we just hope the stimulation will help him figure out a lot of things he has forgotten. He was sure wide-eyed at the wedding hearing all the familiar voices he hasn’t heard for a long while and there were times we thought he was really going to say something. Boy, will that be a glorious day!
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