Hi All,

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all (photo 1)! 

Lisa and I made it to Massachusetts, and settling into our small apartment (photo 2 living room). I recently put up some simple photos though-out our apartment of Lisa's friends and family to help with her memory using Mixtiles. They are great to easily stick to the walls, adjust position with magnetic backing and move to another wall if needed.

We really miss our home and friends in Colorado, but making adjustments here in MA. It appears I maybe taking an unplanned early retirement to care for Lisa and luckily our funds from the house sale will help. I've been looking for remote jobs so I can care for Lisa during the day, and landed a few interviews. Hoping something pans out in the New Year! Been navigating the medical insurance options which is the 2nd most expensive part of living after rent, but signed up for Cobra for now (wow $2,500 per month!) to cover Lisa's PT sessions we plan to start again. The Mass Health Plans are a bit less which is good, and most likely will switch for 2024. May need to find a less expensive place to rent/live so looking at FL and NH where there are no state income taxes. Heard of "The Villages" in Florida. Looks interesting.

Lisa is adjusting to the new living environment here in our apartment, and likes it so far! Its nice to be close to Lisa's family and NE friends. We celebrated Thanksgiving with Lisa's brother and his family this year at their lake house in NH and we had a lot of fun playing cards! Lisa won at Phase 10 too! Great turkey dinner! Thank you Laura and Mark!

Lisa's progress in walking was impacted a bit during the move, but we plan to pick up Physical Therapy at Spaulding hospital in Boston with additional outpatient sessions next week. Decided not to continue Speech and OT per feedback from Craig Hospital, and focus on PT. Hope to be able to get back in the swing of walking again, but I did move our treadmill into the apartment to help Lisa. Special thanks to my friend Brian for moving it from our storage facility! Since then Lisa has been walking on the treadmill everyday up to about 1 mile during the day. We tried to walk across the street to the Club House in our apartment to use the gym, but it is a bit challenging still for Lisa to make it over there. Lisa's brain due to the TBI gets over stimulated and shuts down like fainting causing a fall risk. I just picked up the Wahoo trainer and Lisa's bike from the storage facility today to get that setup in the apartment for Lisa during the winter months.

We also spent time this fall after the move to visit the ole gang at the Crow Island Airpark in Stow, MA (photo 3). Lisa walked 1/2 around the island with her poles! Watched some R/C flying during the day. Very happy to have met my friend Barry Maggio flying his Gyrocopter (photo 3 right) one last time before he passed away from Cancer last week. Very sad. At least he will not be in pain anymore. He was so happy that day and I haven't seen him in 4 years! The same day my friend Brian took me for a short flight in his Cessna 180 tailwheel plane (photo 4). Ended the weekend with a campfire drinking some beers and eating pizza (photo 3 to left). Good to be home. The apartment is only 10 minutes down the road from Crow Island airpark which gives me a place to hang out a bit with lots of nice people.

Thanks again for all the wonderful support and past generous donations for Lisa during this very challenging recovery time! She has the very best friends, family, caregivers and doctors! 

Hope everyone has a great holiday season and Happy New Year! 

Dave and Lisa 

(Most likely the last post on Caring Bridge! Be safe everyone!)