Long time no update.

It was and is a slow process adjusting to being back home, so we appreciate your patience. 

Jackie remains home!! Smiles all around, I am sure.

She continues with home skilled nursing and therapy visits to help get her more on her feet. Her appointments to University Hospital were weekly but now spacing out some. They did make early adjustments to her pump and medications to help her breathing and endurance a week after being home which made a huge difference.

At first, Jackie was a bit disappointed that she was not able to complete the 'normal' day to day tasks of life like she had before the events of November. To be completely honest, after a month of being home, she is still not happy with the pace of her progress (which is an understatement). It is definitely nowhere near back to where she was before those events of November, and she is well aware she may not get all the way back there any time soon. She may be a little type "A" :) which contributes to her disappointment but that can also be a good thing to have in a situation like this. Determination. She is a mom, a wife, a young fit healthy driven person who had no prior aliments to hold her back, and this too, in time will not hold Jackie back. She may have limitations, but they will not hold her down!

So, patience is what Jackie is trying to give it. Day by day, week by week, her endurance and strength are and will come back. 

Does she like having to wear two batteries and a controller all the time...NO

Does she like having to change out her batteries and check to see if her equipment is working every morning as a reminder of what she's been through to start her every day...NO

Does she like the medications she is now on that come with frequent calls and checking in....NO

Does she like that her clothes do not feel right and adjustments are needed to try and keep comfortable with all the equipment she is attached to 24/7...NO

Does she like that she has to be plugged in 24/7...NO

There are many things that come with this she may not like and not many would...another BUT...

Does she love being HOME where her HEART belongs...YES!!!!

THIS IS A BRIDGE. SHE IS STILL HERE. SHE IS HOME. SHE CAN WALK, THINK, and LAUGH.

SHE IS STILL JACKIE. 

Those events may have taken a few months away, may have taken half of her heart away, may have taken her 'normal' life away to say the least...but it cannot take Jackie, it will not take Jackie and she will do what she needs to do, to live the best life as the wonderful Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Friend and all the things she is blessed to be and have. 

With that said, Jackie needs more time to return to seeing family and friends. It is not that she doesn't miss all of you. It is not that she doesn't want to be back in the 'normal' routine and environment of events. But it is still very fresh. It is still very real. All the things she went through over the last few months, unexpectedly. The what ifs. The reminders of how things were before. Getting back to life with the way things are now. And all that with so many wonderful, caring family and friends wanting to know how she is, the excitement to finally see her out and about, to finally get to talk to her in person, to ask her something as simple as how she is feeling, what exactly happened, what the future may hold, maybe even being afraid to touch her because of her new attachments, etc.

By no fault of any of you with all those very normal and expected questions above, it is just too much as this time. Very emotional and overwhelming. Again, with that said, Jackie is still very positive and will stay positive, DO NOT think anything different. Even the strongest have their moments. It has been and still is a very difficult adjustment. This too will take time, and this too shall pass.

So please if you see her out, do not be afraid to smile and say hello, tell her it's great to see her but allow her to be present for her kids and/or whatever event/activity it might be that she is there for. And know that your smile or hello is enough for now, for Jackie to know how much you care. Never forget how grateful to each and every one of you for praying and caring for her so much, and especially for being with her and her family along the way! 

We will be providing updates a little less often now. Or hopefully they may not be needed. We will update only if there are major changes or updates needed. Do not be afraid to text her any time. She will get to them eventually and we all know she may not have been the best texter to begin with, so again, be patient. Jackie, you would agree. If you do not get a response do not take offense. She will make a return to all the things soon enough, I am sure.

Lastly, here is a picture of Jackie on Tuesday, February 6th, celebrating the one that made her Mom turning 13. Happiest of birthdays to Andrew and a celebration for the whole family to have Jackie there, and finally out. Many more to come!

SHE IS STILL JACKIE! Young, beautiful, strong, determined and blessed to have a wonderful long life ahead!