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I realize how long it’s been since we posted our last update. It’s been rather busy since we arrived back in Bethesda, but I think we’re slowly getting settled and figuring out an initial routine of sorts. Or maybe each day is different. Probably some of both. Before I go any further, David would love to see and visit with friends. He plans to restart work in early September and in the meantime, is going to doctor appointments (so many doctor appointments) and otherwise work

Apologies to Ozzy, but this is it! We’ll board a plane in Atlanta on Tuesday morning and return to Maryland, leaving the Shepherd Center - where David has been since February 23rd. All the thoughts and feelings from both of us below! While it’s a bit different than the limo driver with the hand sign that reads “Sward”, we will be met at the airport by the salesman from whom we purchased a new-to-us accessible Toyota Siena van. This is purchased with funds from YOUR donations

On May 19, I started what Shepherd Center calls its “Day Program” - intensive outpatient rehab focused on more independence and my own goals. Included among them is more strength - because all of the goals are more readily achieved through strength. During my current physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions, they mostly have me strengthening my shoulders. I often put on air splits and do scapular punches, as well as front and side lifts with weights. The weights a

“Wow, just wow.” That was David’s reaction to hearing about Friday night’s event at Babycat Brewery in Kensington - and that about sums up mine too. THANK YOU to everyone who donated to David’s fund on Hope, Love, Live that day, who came out to Babycat that night to raise a glass to David, and who sent your positive energy to us. I understand that we raised more than $21,500 on Friday when our fundraising platform waived their credit card fees. Are you kidding us??? Wow indee

We were told to report promptly by 8:45 on Wednesday morning to load up and head out to the Atlanta Hartsfield airport for plane practice. Now, please know that this was only our second morning together with our new routine, so I had some real fear that we’d miss the bus entirely. Somehow, we rolled up right on the dot. David and the 4 other Shepherd patients rode in the bus with the staff and a nurse with a carryon suitcase full of every medical supply any of us could possib

On Sunday, I returned to Atlanta for my longest stretch since David first came down here on February 23. First order of business? Moving all of the crap we’ve each accumulated since February (SO MUCH STUFF) and consolidating it into one apartment. But first? Tacos and hanging out with one of David’s oldest friends Alex - who stopped off in Atlanta to hang out with David for the weekend on the way back from Morocco to his house in New Orleans. Over the weekend, they FaceTime

As I shared in our last post, I’m down in Atlanta with David for care partner training. There is a whole LONG checklist of things that we need to be able to do together so he can be discharged in less than 2 weeks from in-patient into the Shepherd Day Program. I’m ticking things off hour by hour though. Breaking news: TeamSward is on Facebook and Insta - please check them out, follow, and help us spread the word for the May 29 event at Babycat Brewery in Kensington. I tagged

I’m on a plane to Atlanta where I will spend the week learning how to be David’s care partner. I will have much more to report on with his continued progress later this week as we’ll be together during the day so this update is about what’s been happening on the home front as we prepare for some (more) really big stuff. First, let me remind everyone about the fundraiser event at Baby Cat in Kensington on Friday, May 29. In addition to the amazing beer - of which 10% of the p

Well, we did it! Thanks to the over 20 people who came today in about 2 shifts, we made more progress than I thought was possible for one day! Old friends, former and current colleagues who I’m thankful to also call friends, and family - it was the perfect mix of everyone. We got sh*t DONE. The furnace room got emptied of the items for donation and trash, and the glasses & dishes from the dining room were all packed away in boxes where they will remain until we move back in

Greetings from Atlanta! First, a huge thanks to my dad and his wife for holding down the fort in Maryland - and to all of our unbelievably kind and generous neighbors who are walking London while the boys are at school as well as feeding my family. Thank you, thank you. Attention DMV friends (out of state friends are welcome too!): If you haven’t already saved the date for Friday, May 29 from 6:30-8:30 pm - please add it to your calendars now! We will be at Baby Cat Brewe

Ok, Peaches & Herb, I see you: Reunited and it feels so good! Despite the absolute hot mess of chaos at BWI on Saturday morning, we made it to Atlanta. We arrived more than the 3 hours in advance of our flight as BWI recommended, but we did not make our 9:50 am flight. We did, however, make a 3:50 pm flight after finally clearing security at 10:45 am. Thankfully, every adult - and most kids too - (with the exception of one cranky grandma who lost it) we encountered in the lo

There are some days where it’s too much to feel like the day has been a win (or even a draw). Instead, I’ve been trying to identify important occasions or situations that are wins and last week, I dubbed them “ victory moments .” We’ve had quite a few in the last 10 days. I know this update has been awhile in coming: spring break delayed its writing and sending. And believe it or not, March 22 marked 6 weeks since David’s accident. Longest 6 weeks ever. Thankfully, after 2

The setbacks we didn’t have in Baltimore found us in Atlanta. After David’s surgery, the medical team worked to grow the cultures to figure out what infection was responsible for opening up his wound. But in the short-term, the IV antibiotic the infectious disease doctor gave him was the nuclear option. While necessary at the time, it resulted in a secondary infection that led to David being confined in his room and his bed. On Tuesday, David conferenced me in with the doctor

While we’ve been quiet this week, there’s been a lot happening - and we wanted to catch you up! First, an update from Atlanta: David’s progress from surgery continued this week, albeit more slowly than of course he wants. David’s neurosurgeon Dr. Frankel came back a couple times to check on him, including on Thursday to remove the drains from the restitched surgical site. Because of the infection in the wound, David will now need to be on some hard core antibiotics for 6-8 w

A quick update from Atlanta - David’s surgery went well and he’s in recovery. He now has four layers of sutures plus one on top keeping everything together. I think Dr Frankel was determined to make sure this time it sticks and nothing opens up again. Our friend will be waiting for David when he returns to his room in Shepherd. Tomorrow, David will be able to resume his rehab, with healthy respect for the sutures on the back. Thanks to all who sent such kind texts today!

It was one month - four weeks today - that our lives changed forever. We immediately felt so much love and caring from each of you and in that time, we’ve had many more moments of gratitude than piles of shit. Unfortunately, the piles of shit aren’t going away and one of the larger ones was dealt to us on Friday. I asked David to explain what happened: “Things became very busy for me on Friday afternoon (he said sardonically). My surgical site opened during OT on Friday, and

After two back to back days of surgery and medical procedures (really do not recommend), I was released from Piedmont Hospital on Wednesday. They were able to wheel me through the tunnel between Shepherd and Piedmont where the walls are covered with fun hand painted murals so I could go straight up to be with David. Our new friend Alex, who works at Shepherd and came to us by way of another dear friend, met me at the Shepherd line. It felt like some sort of military prisoner

Hello friends! Our next post was supposed to be about a day in the life for David at rehab, and while we’ll do that, first, some breaking news. On Tuesday, I made a tragic mistake of being hungry for the first time since David’s accident - and then picking up a grill cheese sandwich from the cafeteria. While that childhood/ comfort food staple may have sounded like a good idea at the time, it set off a whole chain of regret: apparently the grilled cheese knocked loose a gal

David has described feeling like he’s in the eye of the hurricane - he knows there is major action happening all around him, but in his bubble, the skies are calm - for which both he and I are grateful. But we know this bubble has the potential to become isolating - especially as I head home on Sunday to be with the boys. Now is a great time to show him and help him feel the incredible support he’s been getting from all of you since Day 1. We’re not going to post this on th

Greetings from Atlanta! Greetings from Atlanta! We got the call late Monday morning: the air ambulance crew would pick us up around 5:30 pm. It had been touch and go on through the morning on whether we’d get out on Monday, and we were trying not to get our hopes up - would we get the insurance clearance early enough so that a plane & crew could arranged? But once it was confirmed, various hospital staff who supported David from Day 1 stopped by to say goodbye, wish us good