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Where you go, I shall go |
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Dear all,
We are home.
Thank you Jesus, we are home.
It was almost a 20-hour day, all told; up at 4:15, flight from Munich, to London, to Chicago, and finally, to Sioux Falls, after an excruciating hour or so delay at O'Hare.
But we are home.
And what a welcome. The local TV station and newspaper had been alerted, and so we were greeted by very discreet photographers as we entered the non-secure area. Then, we exited the elevator, still a bit away from the main lobby of the airport, to find an elated "Oma," my mother, waiting for us with a Pooh-Bear balloon and sunflowers. Oh, how good it was to see her! And then we rolled out to the crowd of people waiting to welcome us home, with Karl and Else in my lap, I in the wheelchair holding both my babies. I have never felt such emotion in my life, embracing my children, and at the same time, all three of us being embraced with such deep love, and shared grief, and confident hope.
God is good, people.
We were not alone during that flight, Dad, Karl, Else, and I. A wonderful nurse from Sioux Valley Hospital flew over to assist us, sponsored by Children's Miracle Network. Her name is Althea, and she was indispensable during the hours that she was with us, a mere 36 or so. She is an intensive care nurse and a flight nurse, both skills being greatly reassuring to me under the circumstances. Karl is medically stable, but the what-ifs plagued me: What if his stomach tube is pulled out over the Atlantic? What if he has a sudden and unpredictable seizure in-flight? and so forth. But all went very well, thanks largely to Althea's poise, and willingness to indulge Else as well as Karl!
The hospital, which had representatives also welcoming us to the airport, allowed us to bring Karl to our house before we checked him in. We are all convinced that he remembered this home. I could not help but think of the glee that Bill would have had, showing me this home which he and Karl had picked out all these many weeks ago. It is a good, good, house, with a yard to be coveted, really, especially by children, and open, airy, light space inside its walls. The house simply gives off warm feelings, and I can't believe that it is mine.
Then, we went to the hospital. Karl had fallen asleep in Robin's arms; she and Ann Pederson came with us to the house. The little boy slept all the way there, and in fact until the early morning. The admissions people were expecting us, and once checked in, off we went to Karl's room. One of Karl's doctors, Bonnie Bunch, was also waiting for us, and after we answered a few questions, little girl Else and I went home, and Oma stayed the night.
We slept so well...until 4:30, when Else wanted to see her new digs in pre-dawn light.
After we got up and running, we were back at the hospital, and it was a busy day for Karl, with conversations with his therapists, his three doctors (neuro, rehab, and pediatric), and wagon rides about the place. His spirits were wonderful.
We weren't to stay at the hospital long, however, as the goal was to get him into rehab ASAP. So on Friday, after insurance questions got finalized, Karl was picked up and moved to the Children's Rehab in Sioux Falls, also about five minutes from our home. Here, the little boy will have a team of therapists working with him, twice a day, with music therapy twice a week. He is in good hands here. The love of the entire staff is palpable, and Else has already begun to sweet-wave her way into their hearts as well.
Amidst all of that action, we have been trying to get ourselves somewhat settled in our new home. Topping the list was to get a new washer and dryer, as I had no appliances but a fridge, dishwasher, and microwave. So yesterday Dad and I dashed out to Best Buy to find me a way to get clean clothes, and the appliances were delivered today. I sculpted 45 minutes of alone time for me today and got myself a cell phone, and picked up my first political yard signs!
If you can believe it, amongst all of that chaos, Karl has still been doing new things, saying proudly, "me," "hi," and looking at and wiggling his toes when Robin and Ann wanted him to show them his new slippers. I think that he knows that he is home, for he is as relaxed and content as I have seen him since the accident. My goodness, will this process be long, but he will do it. Just breezing through my emails has demonstrated to me yet again how much this little boy has pulled off, especially in the last three weeks. What will he give us tomorrow, I wonder.
(Please see September 18, continued)
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