Christmas Day 2013 Post Card from Sue and Robbie

Hi Friends,  

Robbie has now been home for 5 weeks and he and I wanted to send an update from us. 

After 24 hour care in the hospital, on November 15, Robbie was loaded into the car with all his belongings and as we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge, this new chapter began to hit me and I thought “oh, now what?”  We arrived home to find some good friends welcoming us and ready to assist with anything we needed.  For the first time, Robbie was faced with getting out of the car and getting himself from the street to the house.  No small feat.  With the usual strength and determination he walked/pulled himself up the new railing that was installed a week earlier by our amazing group of smart, talented and committed friends and kids.  Once he was seated inside the house I immediately burst into floods of tears; relief, happiness, stress, fear, joy, and the enormous responsibility were hitting all at once. 

Things have settled down since his first week home and we have established a new routine and are adjusting well.  I still work every day, but have the good fortune to have some flexibility in my schedule.

We continue to enjoy the regular support of our wonderful community.  We have many visitors and offers of help.   We have been eating very well due to some delicious meal deliveries from our tribe.  Enchiladas, mulligatawny soup, French onion soup, roast pork and potatoes, lasagna and so much more.  We are so extremely appreciative of the homemade, international cuisine. 

Not every day is easy, but there is so much forward momentum and motivation to get healthy that it is truly inspirational. Robbie is dedicated to his exercises, range of motion, strength and stretching, which he does every day.  He makes use of the railing by twice daily walking to the street and back.  We have two physical therapists who come to our house several times a week. They have helped enormously in the continuing recovery efforts and taught us a lot about how to improve and cope with Robbie’s condition.  We also have caregivers during the day while I am at work, for one main reason, if he’s left alone, he may try to walk downtown. Haha. We could not have had this excellent and necessary level of care without the generosity and kindness of all of you who participated in the fundraiser.  We are eternally grateful and consider ourselves incredibly lucky to have the necessary care in order to recover more quickly.  Next week Robbie graduates to outpatient therapy in San Francisco where his options for exercise and rehabilitation will increase and intensify.  Also, beginning January 1 he will have health insurance.  Thank you to President Obama.

Last night, on Christmas Eve, we celebrated with all family that was nearby.  Our children and their spouses/partners and our grandchild were all here, with my brother, sister, brother in law and niece.   It was a full house, a sparkling celebration, and a fabulous meal supplied by all.  Jake was the cutest Christmas elf.  We enjoyed every minute and feel fortunate to have family close by.  We have other family members in England, France, and New Zealand that were in our hearts too. 

The holidays have brought about many celebrations and gatherings. We recently enjoyed a weekend with our niece, Tracy, and her husband, Mike, on their way from England to Hawaii for their honeymoon.

Last Saturday we left the house for our first outing to Runnymede for a Christmas party and dinner in the barn.  The weather was beautiful and we stayed for the night.  We enjoyed seeing everyone and had a great time. 

Thanksgiving was another special day.  Max, Fran and her parents (Steve and Beth) brought the holiday feast to our house.  What a gift! After dinner we enjoyed live music by Misty, Fran, Max and Steve. 

As we move forward, we continue to feel blessed every day.  We are dedicated to each other and to getting stronger and healthier. Our family has stepped up in every way and I can’t begin to thank them.  Our four kids (Cory, Misty, Max and Oscar) are reliable, helpful, kind, funny and are here at a moments notice when needed.  They are the best.  Our community of friends has consistently reminded us what friendship means.  And as 49er Football Fans say: “Who has it better than us?”

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

Lots of love,

~Sue and Robbie