4 1/2 months since Olivia's accident.

Over the holidays and through January Olivia has been rebuilding a more normal life. Some of the great milestones include her first time back on the ice, graduating out of OT, continued healing of her leg wound, continued rebuilding of strength and stability for her leg, regaining more independence, taking on a new job in the deli area at Target.

In the pictures you can see a giddy Olivia about too step on the ice, helmet and knee pad in place, helping coach the Mighty Duck's group, reviewing some of her scans with her neurologist, and one of the many hopping exercises in PT.

During Olivia's extensive neurology visit the injury to her brain was reviewed in more detail. Based on the recovery trajectory she has to date, it is unlikely she suffered serious "shearing" injury to her brain. There is no scan or test that fully confirms this, but her outpatient neurologist holds the opinion that if serious shearing injury had occurred, Olivia would not be clearing the milestones that she has. Basically, her recovery is evidence that the injury was of a less serious grade and what appeared to be shearing in the scans taken shortly after the injury was more likely bleeding. Her brain has now successfully stopped and dissipated the bleeding.  It is the long road rather than a scan or test that truly reveals recovery from a traumatic brain injury.

It was emphasized by the neurologist that Olivia is still in the first 12 months since her injury, known in the trade as the "Golden Year". The vast majority of a person's recovery occurs in the first 12 months following an injury. It is important to get good rest, maintain good nutrition, and also to continue challenging the brain throughout this time. We encourage Olivia to keep challenging herself in the many different ways important to continue rebuilding her independence.

Olivia and Grandma Suzanne are preparing to visit VA in about 10 days. A trip that would have been unimaginable from the bench in her ICU room 4 months ago. We look forward to seeing the young ladies go on a little adventure together!

Blessings to all of you as our New Year settles in and January ends!!