Journal entry by Barbara Bradley — Jan 31, 2013

I spent more time driving yesterday than I did anything else. Katie had her first postop follow-up visit yesterday with her surgeon. She is already just over two weeks out from her revision surgery. He is pleased with her healing. Other than not leaving her stitches alone and mommy threatening to put a cone around her neck like a dog her incision is healing nicely. There is a soft, short regrowth of hair already covering the scar and covering evidence anything happened. She is still walking and getting around a bit slower but improves every day.

She is getting back to her old self. This includes getting stuck on the same book and asking you to read it 500 times. Her favorite book right now is SkippyJon Jones and the Big Bones. For those of you that aren’t familiar, SkippyJon is a Siamese cat with large, pointed ears that imagines himself as a chihuahua when he’s feels like getting into trouble. He likes to sing rhymes in a Spanish accent when he’s pretending to be his alter chihuahua-ego. So, when you see me in Aldi clapping and singing in a Spanish accent you will know why. Even though I should have the words memorized by now I prefer to make up my own…..

In honor of my little Pickle Pants…. My name is Katie Brad-lito. (clap clap) I like to chew on my blank-ito. (clap clap) I don’t have much hair, But I really don’t care. ‘Cuz I’ve had two brain suger-itos!!! (clap clap) If you didn’t clap and use a Spanish accent, please read again.

Katie started back to school this week. Overall, she has had an amazing week despite throwing a fit last night because she was so worn out from the long day. Just two weeks out from surgery and we have probably heard 20 new words, she used a fork and ate with righty and she not only peddled an adapted tricycle at school but steered by herself…for 30 minutes in the gym. I must say we are all amazed at her progress this soon after surgery. She makes it hard for anyone to make any excuses about anything. Her next appointment is at the end of February. She will have an EEG (can’t wait) and have a follow-up with her neurologist.