www.thejasonshepardbenefit.com
Both raffle items and silent auction items continue to come in with the promise of many more and the website will soon be updated with auction items that have arrived. After the blog plea for sports tickets it was so amazing to find out two Redskin tickets, which include a parking pass, were donated! (And it's for the Redskins/Ravens game!) How incredible is that? It would be so awesome to have more sports events to offer so don't hesitate to keep them coming in!
Not only was this a great Fall weekend weather wise but we had a great visit with Jason in every way! Aaron, Lindsay, and their two boys drove down from MA on Friday afternoon and once they arrived Aaron went right up to see Jason. As soon as Aaron walked into his room Jason said, "Hi brother!". Though Aaron had been hearing the incredible progress Jason has been making, it's another thing to see it in person - especially when the last time he saw him, (was it really only 3 weeks ago?), he couldn't hold his head up without support, his wheelchair was specialized to tilt him back, he was wrapped in blankets, and his only communication was an occassional nod yes or no.
Saturday morning David got a huge grin from Jason when he saw his Dad walk in. It was the first time seeing more than a little half smile so you can just imagine the feelings David felt seeing how happy Jason was to see him. It's so hard only getting to see him once a week - we can't wait til he is closer so we can see more of those smiles!
Early afternoon Carolin wheeled Jason out to a big grassy area by the hospital. We sat by a big beautiful tree in a little semi circle around Jason while both of the little guys ran around with David and Aaron. We saw plenty of grins from Jason as he watched David kick a soccer ball way high in the air and Cole run to get it and then tumbling around with his Grandpa. It was so perfect and relaxed - Jason interacted with our conversation when he wanted to and otherwise there was no pressure on him to "visit". At one point Cole gently threw a rubber ball towards Jason, which landed in his lap, and Jason was able to throw the ball back to Cole - it was a memorable moment for me. He was out with us for about an hour and a half when Carolin said it was time to go in for his meds and a nebulizer treatment. Before this when we would visit him, Jason would be exhausted and ready for a nap after about 45 minutes, but this time he told Carolin he wanted to come back out afterwards. We were so tickled!
And sure enough about 30 minutes later he was right back under the tree with us. Kids are so incredible with any kind of change in people - even the previous visit 3 weeks ago the boys, (3 1/2 and 1 1/2), just seemed to accept that Uncle Jason couldn't interact with them the way he usually did and played at his feet. This time Cole was chattering away and a few word answer from his uncle was fine with him. Meanwhile Owen would toddle over and line his little plastic dinasours up on the bottom of the wheelchair. It was very healing for all of us I think.
Later in the car ride to go to dinner Cole excitedly said to me, "Mimi, Uncle Jason was talking to me! Last time he couldn't talk and now he talked to me!" At dinner he talked about it again and said now he would change his prayers from please make Jason get better to please make Jason, "keep", getting better. Even the little ones are gaining so much more of a sense of faith through this awful experience! (Cole was even more excited on Sunday to tell his Dad that Jason called him, "little dude".)
Though Jason still has alot more to accomplish we truly saw our son this time. His smile is almost in his eyes and a few times he said things that were typical Jason humor. Even sitting in his wheelchair he had his legs crossed in the way he has always crossed them. Best of all - though in the past it drove me crazy - he was cracking his knuckles! That really reassured me he will come back to us the Jason we know and love. (Anyone who has spent much time with J knows he frequently cracks not just his fingers but other parts of his body as well such as his neck, etc.)
Because his appetite is still not there the therapists decided to go ahead and see if he could chew okay at the end of last week. Sure enough he did fine with a graham cracker and tonight he will get his first taste of a meal not pureed. He will be alot more interested we're sure!
Also at the end of last week we found out his right shoulder and collar bone are pretty much all healed and his ribs are looking pretty good as well so today he was started on strengthening exercises for his right arm. Unfortunately that made those areas pretty achy but once he builds his arm back up it will be much easier for him to do things. In therapy he is also continuing to work on his speech and reading. We haven't heard anything more about his right eye but we will be with him Wednesday afternoon and will hopefully find out more then.
We are so humbled that this miracle is happening to Jason - and so to all of us and all of you as well. At times we are just speechless. He still needs round the clock care but it is seeming with each passing day that the prayers that someday he will be able to resume a "normal" life may indeed be answered. One of the worries is that people will forget and think he is okay and not needing those uplifting prayers - he still has a long way to go and even after he one day leaves the rehab hospital will need daily therapy to continue on his journey. So please keep praying for him because God is listening no matter what religion or belief system you have!
This was one of Jason's - as well as all my boys - favorite songs growing up and the words seem to fit right now too.
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