August 31 (Friday) - 1115pm

I am writing this at the end of a special day; i.e. Jeannette's birthday!   We tend to take birthdays in stride in life; another year, another candle on the cake.  But some birthdays are clearly better than others.  To me, this day was a very special celebration of hope for many people, all standing by Jeannette and wishing her a speedy recovery.   How long has it been?   Forty-three days? WOW!    When I look back on all the updates and posts that have marked the journey between the THEN and the NOW, its hard to take it all in.  

To me, this day marks the very real signpost that futures are possible, and clearly Jeannette continues to get stronger with each and every single day.  While the day when she goes home is still in the future, it seems to me that the path for her to travel is marked out and the uphill journey is perhaps getting more level now.   So, unlike a lot of birthdays we have in life, this one to me seems far more special than most.  It is clearly not the age one has reached that is important, but rather that Jeannette is here and living life and gaining strength.   And that's a nice birthday to have!

Jeannette had a LOT of visitors today; so many that in fact Sam had to set a "nap time" to make sure Jeannette could get some rest!    Her day started with her grandson Matt, flown up on donated airline miles thanks to Laura and Claire.   Oh what a present that was!   Matt went into her room with the mandatory cap and gown and hospital mask, and so at first Jeannette was confused and was trying to figure out who this new very young "doctor" was.  And then he pulled the mask down and grinned, and OH DID SHE GET EXCITED THEN!  

Rich was there today too---he said all last night he couldn't sleep because he was so excited to be going in to see Jeannette.   Doug brought him in as planned and he stayed with Jeannette for much of the day.   They had some real time together, to talk, to hold hands and to just "be there together."  Rich was able to help with the little things, and it was great to see them together.  Rich can't stand up all that long, but when he wasn't standing he was sitting right beside her.  For sure it did tire him out, and seeing her with the tubes and the IV lines and in the midst of all the action that defines the ICU experience was emotionally difficult and draining for him.  But at the same time without any question seeing Rich sure brightened up Jeannette's day!  

Many neighbors came by too, and the stream of supporters and well wishers was almost non stop according to Sam.   On top of all of that, Jeannette had to deal with the "wound patrol" -- the all important nurses that change her bandages on a regular basis, and today they even replaced some of the  'restriction devices' that keep things that cannot be moved from moving.  (her neck is still in a brace, and her broken legs can't be moved).   Through it all and in the midst of her "guests" she took it all in like a trooper, taking it in stride and once again proving to everyone that she will not let this beat her!

The doctor came by too at some point of course, and he outlined more of the "big plan" and its crystal clear that the road to recovery is still going to be a long windy trail.  The surgery she needs on her legs will be a major operation, and Rich asked a lot of questions about that and the doctor took the time to go through the steps, along with the risks, and the hoped for outcomes.  He made it clear that a lot of things need to heal before they do the "big surgery" and Rich, being the pilot type who wants to plan for every possibility, asked a lot of questions to try and understand everything.     Pesonally I've learned in the previous weeks that have passed not to ask too many questions, or try to look too far into the future.   It's oh so much easier to take each day as it comes, to win the battles one day at a time and to get a little stronger one hour after another.   I trust her medical team, and the doctors that have done such an incredible job so far.

So, in summary, the big news is that Jeannette had a good birthday, a 'great day' in so many ways, and the strength of all of her friends and the well wishes of those who care so much is making a huge difference.   Sam read the many cards to her, and there was even a video birthday greeting sent to me which I have since passed on to Sam.    It should get played tomorrow. She had a birthday cake too....well, sort of.   At least everyone called it a birthday cake.   Yeah...it was an "apple birthday cake with white frosting."   Umm.   Well, the apple cake was actually apple sauce....and the white frosting was really greek yogurt, but hey, at 14 grams of protein per serving she wasn't complaining and seeing her eat real food is another clear milestone that progress is being made.   To many of her medical team, as well as to me, Jeanette is a miracle lady that amazes us all every single day.--John