Journal entry by Todd Rendle —
Friends and family,
While Clara still has a lot of recovery to do, we’re home now and the worst is behind us so it feels to me like this journal needs to be wrapped up. I’m unsure how to do it. We lived a year in the last week and I couldn’t possibly sum it up concisely.
Before that, perhaps a quick note on how Clara is doing. In a word, great! Her improvement since this past weekend is nothing short of stunning. She amazed the medical staff, several of whom thought she would be there for weeks at a minimum. Importantly, Clara understands the care that needs to go into the next couple of months and she’s ready to take it on. A big concern for us is sufficient daily calories, so we started yesterday to work through a few different styles of smoothies - Eva’s mashed potato smoothie was a hit - and we have a touch of optimism on the jaw wires so far. She is able to manage her pain for now and she’s working on getting her energy back after a week in bed so she’s a bit unsteady on her feet. But she’s happy to be home, and in great spirits.
She will still be out of school for awhile and we aren’t going to allow visitors for her just yet. Apologies on the lack of visitors - and we’ll let up soon, but it’s super important for her to focus on her recovery now and not get sick. Her lungs are still recovering, and if she gets a stomach bug we may have to cut her jaw wires in an emergency to clear her airways. Lastly, she’s still getting used to her neck brace - she says her head feels “heavy” - so until she gets a bit more confidence with her balance we need to closely supervise her. But no worries, she’ll be drinking milkshakes even after the jaw wires get cut, and we’ll have plenty of time to schedule visits. She can’t wait, in fact.
As as a family, we’re doing great. I want to reiterate that we don’t need anything material, and also reiterate how sincerely appreciative we are of offers of material or financial help. In the opening journal post Kaly Sullivan mentioned a few places that you could give a charitable gift if you felt so moved. We have firsthand experience with the Albany Ronald McDonald House and the Albany Medical Center PICU and the wonderful work these organizations are doing for families and children. Eva and I continue to be moved by the other families we met in each of these places with sick or injured children, many of whom have been dealing with much more serious issues, for longer periods of time, with less resources to bear, and far more grace. Please don’t feel obligated in any way to donate, but if all of this led to an extension northwards of the support that we felt from you all, even a little bit, we would be pleased. Albany will forever be a special place for us, although we’ll DEFINITELY try to limit our visits to the summertime. Did I mention how cold it is up there? Wow!
Now, for the thank yous. Not sure where to start - we have a little girl here who feels LOVED. The toys and activities have been so welcomed and she is already quite happily keeping herself busy. And the food! Our fridges and freezers are almost as full as our hearts. The posters her friends made (the Narberth baseball one made it up to Albany, and it was the pride of her hospital room), the homemade cards, the decorations, all of your thoughts and prayers, the messages on this caringbridge site...you have all lifted this girl’s spirits more than her mom and I ever could have alone. I truly believe you sped up her recovery. She has talked in amazement about all the people that have asked about her: she has said - incredulously, not boastfully - that she’s “famous.” I don’t know what of this adventure she’ll retain in her memory, but I pray she remembers this feeling she now has forever.
I’d also like to thank you all for looking after Henry, Calvin and Penelope, and for checking in on my parents as they all had an extended grandparents camp. Thank you for caring for Eva and me from afar - and for taking the time to read these journal entries. They have been like therapy for us, helping us to talk about and process each day, and then play it back with context and perspective. Again, we promise to ask for more help if we need it. But with Phase I: The Albany Chronicles behind us, we’re mostly looking forward to seeing you all soon, and telling you in person how much we appreciate what you’ve done for her and us this last week.
I hope you truly do understand how valuable this outpouring of support has been for her and for all the Rendles and Kingsburys after the accident. We don’t know how we can ever repay you all. We’ll do our best to always pay it forward, to make sure we ask how you are doing, and to listen to you and help you when you are in need. But this morning that seems an inadequate gesture.
For now please accept a simple but sincere “thank you.” From the bottom of our hearts.
With much love,
Eva, Todd, Henry, Calvin, Penelope and the INEVITABLE Miss Clara
While Clara still has a lot of recovery to do, we’re home now and the worst is behind us so it feels to me like this journal needs to be wrapped up. I’m unsure how to do it. We lived a year in the last week and I couldn’t possibly sum it up concisely.
Before that, perhaps a quick note on how Clara is doing. In a word, great! Her improvement since this past weekend is nothing short of stunning. She amazed the medical staff, several of whom thought she would be there for weeks at a minimum. Importantly, Clara understands the care that needs to go into the next couple of months and she’s ready to take it on. A big concern for us is sufficient daily calories, so we started yesterday to work through a few different styles of smoothies - Eva’s mashed potato smoothie was a hit - and we have a touch of optimism on the jaw wires so far. She is able to manage her pain for now and she’s working on getting her energy back after a week in bed so she’s a bit unsteady on her feet. But she’s happy to be home, and in great spirits.
She will still be out of school for awhile and we aren’t going to allow visitors for her just yet. Apologies on the lack of visitors - and we’ll let up soon, but it’s super important for her to focus on her recovery now and not get sick. Her lungs are still recovering, and if she gets a stomach bug we may have to cut her jaw wires in an emergency to clear her airways. Lastly, she’s still getting used to her neck brace - she says her head feels “heavy” - so until she gets a bit more confidence with her balance we need to closely supervise her. But no worries, she’ll be drinking milkshakes even after the jaw wires get cut, and we’ll have plenty of time to schedule visits. She can’t wait, in fact.
As as a family, we’re doing great. I want to reiterate that we don’t need anything material, and also reiterate how sincerely appreciative we are of offers of material or financial help. In the opening journal post Kaly Sullivan mentioned a few places that you could give a charitable gift if you felt so moved. We have firsthand experience with the Albany Ronald McDonald House and the Albany Medical Center PICU and the wonderful work these organizations are doing for families and children. Eva and I continue to be moved by the other families we met in each of these places with sick or injured children, many of whom have been dealing with much more serious issues, for longer periods of time, with less resources to bear, and far more grace. Please don’t feel obligated in any way to donate, but if all of this led to an extension northwards of the support that we felt from you all, even a little bit, we would be pleased. Albany will forever be a special place for us, although we’ll DEFINITELY try to limit our visits to the summertime. Did I mention how cold it is up there? Wow!
Now, for the thank yous. Not sure where to start - we have a little girl here who feels LOVED. The toys and activities have been so welcomed and she is already quite happily keeping herself busy. And the food! Our fridges and freezers are almost as full as our hearts. The posters her friends made (the Narberth baseball one made it up to Albany, and it was the pride of her hospital room), the homemade cards, the decorations, all of your thoughts and prayers, the messages on this caringbridge site...you have all lifted this girl’s spirits more than her mom and I ever could have alone. I truly believe you sped up her recovery. She has talked in amazement about all the people that have asked about her: she has said - incredulously, not boastfully - that she’s “famous.” I don’t know what of this adventure she’ll retain in her memory, but I pray she remembers this feeling she now has forever.
I’d also like to thank you all for looking after Henry, Calvin and Penelope, and for checking in on my parents as they all had an extended grandparents camp. Thank you for caring for Eva and me from afar - and for taking the time to read these journal entries. They have been like therapy for us, helping us to talk about and process each day, and then play it back with context and perspective. Again, we promise to ask for more help if we need it. But with Phase I: The Albany Chronicles behind us, we’re mostly looking forward to seeing you all soon, and telling you in person how much we appreciate what you’ve done for her and us this last week.
I hope you truly do understand how valuable this outpouring of support has been for her and for all the Rendles and Kingsburys after the accident. We don’t know how we can ever repay you all. We’ll do our best to always pay it forward, to make sure we ask how you are doing, and to listen to you and help you when you are in need. But this morning that seems an inadequate gesture.
For now please accept a simple but sincere “thank you.” From the bottom of our hearts.
With much love,
Eva, Todd, Henry, Calvin, Penelope and the INEVITABLE Miss Clara
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