WELCOME HOME DAN

Sorry to be silent for a while.  It's been a very busy few days.

Dan was discharged on Saturday!  Not all better, not out of jail yet.   We are home, but he is now considered an outpatient with a full dance card of appointments that will keep our schedule packed.  In fact, we are working this morning to put things on the calendar (part of his therapy) and figure out how to make it all work with my schedule and Sarah & Julia backing me up.

He is not allowed to drive or work for a while - to be determined.  He must have 24 hour supervision for at least 3 weeks.

So - you can see that there has been a lot to do to get organized.

Also, we have had to make modifications to our particular living situation to make it more comfortable and accessible for Dan.

He still has rib pain appropriate for 2 out of 6 weeks healing time.  It's hard to watch him navigate around the boat, clearly struggling with the pain.  And my "no-narcotics, no addiction" husband has relented to the prescribed dosage of pain meds which tells me a lot about the level of his pain.  If you know Dan, you know it must hurt something awful for him to take meds for it.

Cognitively - well - it depends on the time of day.

His therapy will be a combination of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Counseling, and Speech (Cognitive) Therapy.

At a welcome home gathering on the dock the Saturday afternoon, I raised a glass in thanksgiving for the fact that Dan is home.  This could very easily have been a different kind of gathering.  So many of you have acknowledged this fact to me.  I think we have all learned how precious life is - how easily it can turn on us.  How in one moment it can all change.

Cherish it.  Cherish each other.  Be grateful for what is.

Love,

Irene