Mama, We’re Coming Home

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 to Help Hope Live. We are so grateful to each of you who has contributed to allow this purchase to happen.💗💗 We’ve experienced in Atlanta that without an accessible vehicle, David is pretty much stuck. 

While the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad’s offer to pick us up and bring us to the accessible home being lent to us (double gratitude!!), we decided to opt for the van pick up since we have no idea how to get him in or out of the van or how to strap David’s chair in. 😂We definitely need some hands-on training so David doesn’t sail through the windshield and send us back to Shepherd. We’ll be the crazy people outside National - hoping that David in the chair buys us extra time with TSA!! 

While we can’t wait to be home, both of us are feeling apprehensive about leaving the Shepherd Center “bubble.” This “bubble” description is something that we’ve heard about since the beginning of his time here - everything at Shepherd is designed for people in wheelchairs who likely have other challenges - whether it’s full use of hands (like David), or acquired brain injuries like some of the other people we’ve met and become friends with here. We’ve also gotten used to the supportive culture, the exchange of smiles and hellos as we walk down the halls, and the fact that everyone here has something hard going on. While we know that’s the case outside of Shepherd too, the almost automatic grace and kindness from people we’ve never seen before will be missed. We’ll work to bring some of this grace home! 

I’ve marveled at how much progress David’s made in just the last few weeks at The Day Program, especially on his fine motor skills. Over the course of the last two Tuesday night Family Dinners, his ability to slide the bingo card covers went from bumping two numbers and needing me to slide back the wrong one to doing it all himself. It’s not easy and requires concentration but damn, it’s exciting and impressive.

On Thursday, David’s PT and rec therapy therapists had me disassemble and then reassemble the manual wheelchair he’s being sent home with until he gets his power chair (more on this momentarily). But as a reward for MY success in taking apart & putting the chair back together, David got to play ball with the therapy dogs (I did get to pet them). Fast forward to Tuesday….once we get to the door of the plane, David will be lifted out of the chair, and i need to remove any pieces that can be before we turn the chair over to Delta for storage underneath the plane. The thing folds up nicely - it will be great fun to get it put back together on the jet bridge given the heat.🥵

Unfortunately, David’s insurance company, which has been very good and responsive overall, is really dragging its feet on approving his new power chair. This is extra hard since he can’t operate the manual chair, and will also need help being tilted backwards for weight shifts every 30 minutes (weight shifts alleviate pressure from the skin to reduce/prevent pressure sores from forming so please don’t be surprised when you see him tilted back with his arms spread wide!). We recognize the chair isn’t a small investment but the excuses for denial are a bit transparent. Thankfully, we’re not alone in advocating for this to be resolved and hopefully it will be soon. 

A huge thanks to Mel, Jake, Melinda & Matt, Michelle, Sharon, Regina, Sandra, as well as Matthew and Colin for all of your work to make our landing in Bethesda go smoothly. So greatly appreciated. 

We’ll share more about when/where we’ll be once we get settled! 

A Final Note From David From Atlanta  

First and foremost, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone. We’re going to spend some time during the first few days getting settled and being with the boys, but after that, I’m looking forward to finding times to see you. 

I’m especially looking forward to being together as a family again - not just with Erika like we’ve been at Shepherd, but with the boys and our pets. The boys have gone through their spring semester while I’ve been in Atlanta. I am eager to be a family that’s together again. 

I want to fully acknowledge Erika’s immense hard work making all of this happen to bring me back to Maryland. (Emoji from Erika:🥰) 

No sleep till Bethesda! 

Love, David & Erika