Tatum ’s Story

Site created on January 29, 2021

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Newest Update

Journal entry by fiona mckenna

We’ve struggled with anything approaching a final update’ for months now. Concerned that it may require unnecessary attention on the past or involve an exercise in how far we’ve come as of some specific landmark along the way. Come off as a kind of progress report related to Tatum’s current and continuedjourney. Expose some aspect of her private life and struggles. Anything that may conflict with her/our desire to be…as Tatum puts it…’just normal girl’. When truth be told there is nothing normal about her. She is in fact an extraordinary young woman.

 

Make no mistake, Tatum still has many rivers to cross and daily/lifelong challenges to confront but she has come so far and put in so much timeeffort and work that it would be remiss to not acknowledge some of it before getting into what we really want to accomplish here. Thanking everyone who has done so much for Tatum and our family during these difficult timesMake some attempt at letting all those people know how truly gratefulappreciative and life affirming their empathy and kindness has been throughout this past year.

 

When Lorrie and I were preparing for the transition from theincredible Shepherd Center to their even more impressive Pathways out-patience program we had sort of debriefing/exit review with a less than optimistic Neuropsychologist who asked us about our realistic short-term and long-term goals. When we responded with a return to school, full physical recovery,continue to work on her language deficiencies related to her Aphasia, eventual drivingcomplete independence, college, etcWe were told in no uncertain terms that we really needed to wrap our heads around some new reality. That we were setting ourselves up for failure and disappointment…bordering on delusional. To which my beautiful and beyond optimistic wife…especially under the circumstances…replied…”You don’t know Tatum and you don’t understand where we live.”

 

Less than 10 months after that conversation and Tatum hasreturned to school last fall for her senior year and is on schedule to graduate on time with her class. She has been inducted into the National Honor Society, serves on her SGA board, a contributing staff writer on the school newspaperis an activeand competitive member othe swim team, preparing for a supporting role on the women’s lacrosse team, continues to improve almost daily in all facets and phases related to her Aphasia, is drivingwith supervisionand currently investigating numerous post graduate education options in hernear future

 

It would be an understatement to say none of this would have been or continue to be possible without the help and immeasurable support of our incredible Outer Banks community. So many people have reached out, offered to help,showed us genuine love and been there for us it is quite simply impossible to thank you all individuallyThe network of friends, neighbors, classmates, teammates, professionals, administrators, teachers, doctors, therapists, coaches and others who have been there for uis nothing short of astonishing. It has been a revelation. The example of how we should all aspire to live our lives. The reason that during our darkest hour we have experienced the brightest of light. Why the most heartbreaking year of our lives has been filled with the most incredible love we have ever experienced. We are blessed to be a part of this community and cannot imagine going through this without you. We will never be able to thank you all enough foall you did…and continue to do…for our family.

 

As we look back on the most challenging time of our lives, I’d like to share a few absolute truths we discovered were critical to weathering the storm no matter how rough the seasEmbrace the positive energy. It is amazing what is possible when you believe it is in fact possible. Nothing good comes from negative energy…ever. You can never have enough gratitude in your life. Being truly thankful is a gift. And finally, being happy is a choice. Keep your sense of humor and always, always, alwaysFIND THE JOY!!

 

So with that…let us all raise our glasses…cheers to you Tatum Lindsey Love!! 

 

 

“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have.” – Bob Marley

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