Sunday, December 28, 2008
Merry Christmas from the Shumaker family and best wishes in the coming year to all our dear friends. It seems I begin every journal entry with an apology for not updating the journal with more regularity, but our lives are so full...so again, sorry my friends. Actually I didn't realize the last journal entry was in July until my dear friend Tammy (who lives in North Carolina) said something....thanks Tam.
Stacey continues to work very hard at physical therapy, every day in some form or another. She now goes to PT and OT twice a week at Glade Valley in Walkersville, they are really wonderful there. Denise and Paula are her therapists, and again, we feel so lucky to have them in our lives. She continues biking three times a week and standing (sometimes up to two hours!) every day. These are great times to tackle the incredible amount of homework she has. Stacey devoured the "Twilight" series in two weeks and went to the movie twice with her friends. I suppose you could say she's a typical teenager. She continues to see Dr. Lindy in Gaithersburg whenever we can. Between her school, mine and Bill's work, we do the best we can. This winter break is greatly appreciated by all of us!
I must say thank you to all the beautiful Christmas cards we've received and the heartfelt words of encouragement in them, you are all very special to us. Stacey remains so upbeat about her situation and we try to surround her with positive energy. Our biggest worry is her world shrinking. It would be so easy to just stay at home and go to doctors and therapy sessions only, but we make every effort to get her out in the world as much as possible. She just went to see "Peter Pan" at the Olney Theatre with my sister's family a couple of weeks ago, what fun that was. She and I did the mall thing a couple of times, she was good with the crowds, however I wasn't....just isn't my thing I guess. We've been to four weddings this year, two were out of town, she loved going. On February 2nd, Stacey has been asked if she'd be willing to participate in a class at the University of Maryland for students in their final year of study to become physical therapists. The class is on spinal cord injuries and they want to"work" on her! She didn't have to think very long about the opportunity, definite YES! I'm sure missing a day of school didn't even enter her mind! Denise, her PT said this is a good opportunity for her to become known at the university as the professors there are always conducting studies, maybe some robotic studies in the future. We will pass through any doors that are open to us, you never know what will happen. So she is off to the U of MD, my old school, come February.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Tom Kelly, the Guay family, The Lynn family, Joe and Joyce Seng, The Jarvis family, Libby Santacroce, The Constantine family and many others for their work on the fundraiser they put together on our behalf, we cannot say thanks enough. I know I say this over and over, but we truly blessed each and every day. We give our thanks to God during this season of peace, and wish everyone a new year filled with hope and happiness.
Love, Janice
