Journal entry by Barbara Bradley — Dec 9, 2010

My cup runneth over. What a great couple days! It is toddler bootcamp around here. Her first session today was at 7:30 this morning. Her breakfast hadn’t even arrived yet. The therapist popped in with barely a knock and said, “she can eat after her session”. Sir, yes sir!!

I kid you not, during that first PT session this morning while riding a therapy tricycle I heard that sweet little hint of a laugh and by the time Billy and Nathan arrived at 4 pm she was full-on giggling and laughing. She is back, baby!

Yesterday she had just started sitting up unassisted with someone behind her and when Billy got here she rolled herself over in the bed when she heard his voice….onto her left side. Tell me how that is possible with her not able to move the right side??? I didn’t see it until she was already over.

Katie is using an adorable, tiny wheelchair here. Although I really didn’t want one it does make life easier so we will most likely have her fitted for one. We certainly don’t expect her to need it too long but a 30 lb kid is very heavy when they can’t move half their body. Of course there is the lack of walking aspect too. The chair also gives her more support than a stroller.

This is terrible to admit but I didn’t want to face the “chair” before. Prior to surgery I could go out in public and no one really noticed Katie was different on first glance. If I didn’t want to talk about it I didn’t have to. Now things are different. She is bald with a huge incision and in a wheelchair. Upon seeing her I now get the sideways, lips pressed together sigh of sympathy.

We met another little girl here the same age as Katie. This place could be its own reality show. Everyone has a story and that is probably the reason hospital TV dramas have been around so long. Her parents lost site of her for a second and she drown in their mostly drained swimming pool. When Katie stopped breathing 60 times a day a month ago, this little girl took her last breath…. or so they thought. They were about to pronounce her dead when she came back. She is now a 33 lb infant (their words not mine) and will need lots of therapy and interventions but she is alive. Everyone here is here for a reason.

I hear everyday how strong I am and I must say I am no different or better than any of you. I believe we are all capable and no one really knows what they can handle until they have no choice but to handle it.