One Year

Patty says: March 13, 2008- Walter had his brain injury one year ago today. Wow what a year from hell!!! I am thinking about that day-the beautiful sunshine, the warm weather-68 degrees-the afterwork kiss he did not want to give me-because he was in his snotty Walter mood-said cause that was " how he was". Yes, that is true. But if he had given me that requested kiss how truly special that would have been.

Right about now, Brian and I were at Strong sitting with a social worker and a Dr. who said that my husband's brain was swollen and that he probably would need emergency surgery as soon as possible if that swelling did not go down. Was I surprised. No not really. I put his name on his bike years ago just for this moment. I always knew something like this would happen to Walter but not this bad and lingering. He almost got hit once and was driven off the road several times. When he rode, I would be on the porch and would hear an ambulance and cringe. He still had so much adventure-loved to ski the biggest hill-bad knees and all. Still did some 4 wheeling with Homer and loved to go up North with Tom to snowmobile.

When he was in his 20's he jumped from an airplane-when he called me after the jump he was soooo happy!! My adventure man. That is why I am not surprised how this journey turned out. If he was on the deck that night reading and napping, we would still have our wonderful, wonderful, life.

Now, our days consist of medical appointments, therapy, phone calls, bathing, changing, dressing, transferring, feeding, tons of wash, paying the many bills, fighting with Preferred Care.

The good news is our friends and family who have stayed faithfully with us on this horrendous journey. This really is what is getting us through this. We love our visitors-thanks to Sue and Dave for the visit today and for the beautiful roses!!Thank you Cheryl for offering to pick up my medical supplies. I am overwhelmed and so thankful for the help. Thanks to Gary for fixing Walter's bed. Now I know what Duck tape is. Thanks to Timmy for helping me with the wheelchair. I am not a nurse or a mechanic. But I am having to learn lots of new and exciting things. I am missing our day to day conversations but when he smiles at me everything is all OK again. We are so lucky to still have Walter with us and he is fighting soo hard-still.

We still have lots to pray for and hope for. Walter will have his bone put back in in 2 months- they have to make up a new bone because his bone had staph (surprise, surprise. We must pray for an uncomplicated surgery with no infections. (I am really nervous about these infections.) Walter seems quite susceptible to these. This will be a long, long, long, recovery. Years, and Years.

Please pray for strength for The Rabitz family. I just want our simple life back-coffee on Sun. am, Walter making pancakes (but not swearing), cooking by the grill and chatting, trips to Sam's, having a meal at Chili's, watching the cooking network and me watching Walter cook with my glass of wine. Wheelchair or not -all of these things will happen-very soon. I am going to buy a handicapped van soon. The transportation charges are soo high.

The tears are streaming down my cheeks now so I must end this reminiscing. So Walter-We all love you sooo much and we know you will fight this thing-Keep smiling for the girls. You make all of our days!!!