August 9, 2021- a year ago- an instant changed our lives permanently. A spinal cord injury affects the entire family, not just the one left paralyzed. It has been a while since I updated Caring Bridge but thought today was an appropriate time to do so. 

We have experienced many blessings since our last post. We have settled in at and worked through my work/school schedule and a summer schedule. We are blessed that medically Tim is pretty unchanged. C5 paralysis persists with an occassional random tingle. Muscle spasms have increased as expected. We have been a little surprised with some minor seizures lately which we are not sure the cause. Tim continues to be on high doses of blood thinner as vetebral artery clots persist. We have been blessed with very limited boughts of autonomic dysreflexia. Summer has allowed Tim to be able to navigate all over our property. In July we discoverd that we can get him into a Ranger with the lift so we added a Ranger to our vehicles. It has been very nice to drive around the pastures, to Groton, to hayfields, to the lake sitting side by side.Tim has also enjoyed advising on the fixing of some machinery. Insurance has stopped overing therapy now which is a bummer. Tim's dog Badger has become a house dog and a great companion and therapy dog for Tim. Badger never leaves his side.

In a few weeks I will go back to school, however, I will not be coaching any longer which feels really strange. Just tonight I was printing some pictures at Walmart when I overheard two Aberdeen Central debate students talking about Mr. Konda (Aberdeen's debate coach) and debate practice starting. Their conversation has left me thinking about how I am going to miss the time I spend with debate students. This summer we were blessed to find great respite care for Tim while I participated in the NEA Global Learning Fellows field study to Peru which I extended for a five days in the Amazon. Visiting a develping country sure makes me appreciate what I have like water from the tap that is safe to drink! My trip also gave me so fabulous new friends from across the United States. I judged a few horse shows and showed at a couple of shows but decided to send my horse back to the SDSU Equestrian team early which they were glad for as they are hosting a special event this fall. It seems strange to not have a horse of my own to ride right now- I only have broodmares and our older stallion on the place. The rest of the horses you see at our place our our kids.

We are blessed with fabulous kids, Joellen's spouse Jordan and Stan's girlfriend Emily, and beautiful grandchildren that make us smile. Both Dayton and Maggie seem totally adjuste to grandpas new way of getting around. They both like to catch a ride on his power chair or in the Ranger. In December Joellen and Jordan are expecting baby girl number 2. Dayton is going into first grade and Maggie is 2. Stan and Emily have taken over all the cattle and haying. Sometimes Tim can drive them crazy with questions and commentary, but they are patient. Joellen and Jordan jump in and help any chance they can as does my brother Damien, his wife Amy, and our nephew Dylan.

We have enjoyed the visists with people that have stopped! It can get rather lonely on the ranch as it is not as easy as it once was to jump in the pick up and go places. Going places always means lifts or transfers. It is also difficult for Tim to go out yet but I did get him out for lunch not to long ago and into Walmart. :-) 

We continue to be in contact with some of Tim's care team from Denver. It is so awesome to hear from his therapists and one of his nurses regularly. One of his main techs from Denver has been in our thoughts and prayers as he is from the Ukraine and much of his family still lives there.

It is so hard to believe it has been a year. Sometimes it seems like yesterday and some moments it seems like an eternity. We are so grateful for the commuity we live in!