" Second time fly fishing, First Steelhead, Chico Fly Shop, Joe Sousa and me ," A day on the river"

01-17-2009
0512 Hours

What a day that was, new to fly fishing, caught fish, good friends, good weather, what more could you ask for. It don't get no better than this or.........................does it.

I think it does, last evening I learned from Dr. D that Dar is not in a coma any longer, in fact she has probably been out for awhile. Yeee Ha

Now the rest of the story, abridged version for now but I will add pieces as the days and weeks go by.

The steak and patatoes is this, Dr. D came to Dar's rom a skeptic and left a believer, I was already aware the she had examined Dar and found it hard to believe that Dar was capable of anything. Well, Dr D left Dar's room a believer, a believer so much that when we were in the conference room she told Dar's mom and dad and myself that Dar "is not in a vegitative state, she is awake, she is processing, she is not in a coma". She probably has not been in one for awile, possibly 1-5-09, (see blog that date.) that is when I posted that Dar was laughing and smiling big time. That was the day after my birthday.

Dr D continued with her assesment of Dar and basically explained it this way,

Dar is not in a vegitative state, but her brain is processing information faster than her body can respond. She is very much awake, the fact that she is showing these signs 2 weeks post the event means that this "is not an up hill battle", "in fact the odds are very much in Dar's favor".

Time is Dar's best friend and sleep is her best tool, Studies now show that sleep is what these patients need most. Thats when the body heals and the brain cells can heal. Dr's. Dahorty and Waters have a big row to hoe, keeping Dar healthy and strong. The therapists have a big row to hoe, keeping Dar fit, continuing her ocupational therapy, her speech therapy. I have a big row to hoe, staying strong, staying healthy, staying fit for what will be a long marathon. Yes, this will be a marathon, a bumpy road, uphill,downhill, whatever you choose to call it, this is going to be a very long road to recovery. Please keep in mind, again, we do not know what recovery means, there may be some residual affects, there may be some issues, we do not know. Time will tell.

Just remember, Dar is not in a coma, she is awake, she is processing, she needs rest, sleep, therapy, and most importantly................... time

Dar will receive all that she needs and more where she is at. Everyone, please believe me, Kentfield is absolutly the best place for Dar right now. This place is fabulous, get this, last night I met the CEO of Admissions or something like that, (sorry Chris), because I was enquiring as to a WiFi service for my laptop. This guy (Chris), comes out and starts chatting with me and asking about Dar, I have know clue who he is and how he learned about Dar, well he told me that he has a way that when Kentfield Rehab info is on the web is gets sent to him to his email. Chris started following the first day that I mentioned that Dar might be going to Kentfield. He has been following ever since. How cool is that, how cool is it that when I left yesterday I pretty much have in my briefcase every phone number, email address and, permission to use them in the event that I simply panic or get anxious about something, or just have a question. How cool is that.

Again Dar's Dream Team just keeps getting bigger and better, and goes to show me how much the "Man upstairs" has had his hand in this, from Oroville Hospital and the fantastic staff of Team Players to the "New" staff of Team players at Kentfield, Dar has had nothing short of the best that medicine can provide.

Again to the staff at Oroville Hospital, all my new friends in the ER, Unit II, Emergency Room, First Responder Transport, Thank you Thank you Thank you, you are all lifesavers and you mean the world to Dar and I.

To Kentfield Rehailitation and Speciality Hospital, my new friends I am getting to know, Dr. Waters, Dr. Dahorty, Ana, Nicole, Debbie, Chris, Elsie at the front desk, Ramon, Dar's CNA last night. Mike in Physical Therapy, Jennifer and Linda from Speech Therapy, to Ocupational Therapy (not met yet). To the friendly folks that smile as you walk by in the hallway, to the other family members like myself that find themselves displaced as they care for a loved one, To everyone that God has chosen to bless and bring into Dars and my life today, tomorrow and the days to come, we love you, we may not even know you yet, but we love each and everyone of you, Thank you is such a small phrase, a small word but can do and be so much.

I am reminded of the movie starring Helen Hunt, the movie, Pay it Forward, If you have not seen it I challange you to rent it and watch it with your family, it will impact your life, it has mine and I believe I am beginning to pay it forward.

OKAY OKAY enough for awhile, I need top get some coffee and wipe the tears, thank you all, you are the best.

More to follow as the day goes by, I return to Kentfield tommorow for the day, resting today at home with Mav. Napping

Love ya