Mommy and YaYa found a new ride and Paw Paul calls YaYa, "Mrs. MacGyver".   PawPaul has always been the real MacGyver.  (We will show you what we mean about that this summer.)   Also Mommy said “Goodbye” to Dr. Konrad.

Hillary doesn't use a wheelchair much anymore.  Sammie had been pushing Hillary saying the chair was in need of repair and the strategy had worked.  It was the perfect reason for keeping our girl with both feet on the ground. So when we realized her chair was not going to fit in my car for our trip to Nashville, Hillary and I thought all would be fine without it.  I remembered there would be easy access in Dr. Konrad's neurosurgical clinic with a drive through entrance of sort.  Besides, once there we would have access to plenty of wheelchairs if we needed one.  There was only one problem with my theory: Hillary's "drinking problem" (as she calls it) with diet coke, tea or sprite would naturally require a pit stop along the way and I had completely failed to think that through. When "the need" hit we decided a small hotel would be the best.  When I sat the hemi-walker in front of her, Hillary rose out of her low seat with steady ease. And then in a flash, 40 mph winds hit and her walker and these two women began digging our heels into the very thick and imperfect cobblestone walkway that appeared forever ahead of us!!!  The wind and terrain would have been tough for anyone, but for someone physically challenged, it was beginning to feel a bit insurmountable.  But bless our girl's heart, she did make it to the front door, and as we passed over the entrance threshold we saw every one of the desk staff and manager exhale in concert. 

She walked and walked trying to make her way to the rest room.  Suddenly I thought, "If Dr. Konrad sees her exhausted he will think she has digressed."  I knew that wonderful man needed to see the beauty of his work in full miraculous form, so about that time I said, "Hillary, would you be OK with me giving you a ride on a hotel luggage cart?"  She laughed and said, "Sure!"  So she piled onto the cart and I apologized profusely for the less dignified wheels and approach for her final destination but off we went. 

Mrs. MacGyver's ride 

 It was more hysterical than it was humbling but only because of her.  I would say, "I'm so sorry we need to do this" and she would respond, "This is not your fault Mom.......it's just fine and I'm OK"   And in a few minutes we would both say the same thing again.  (She has an excuse for repetition with her short term memory issues....my repeating was just nerves.)  While in the rest room I of course had to take my own opportunity and she asked, "What is it that makes peeing contagious?"  I laughed and laughed and then she did because at our house laughing with each other at some of the crazy moments around our journey has become even more contagious than peeing.  I suspect in our darkest times with Hillary each one of our family members thought we might never feel happiness strongly enough to ever find laughter again 

When we arrived at Dr. Konrad's office, Ashley and Vance were waiting for us.  They were a welcome site and our two first born crazy daughters had the whole waiting room in stitches…including ones who only scowled when we first arrived. 

Aunt Hillary and Vance

 Then it was time to see our hero, Dr. Konrad, and hear what we thought would be good news.  He spent thirty minutes with us and answered every question we have had after telling us the bone flap was 100% successful and her body had accepted the replacement perfectly.

Will she be in pain for the rest of her life?   "No, as difficult as TBI is for a year or so, she will not suffer the life long pain or difficulties associated with what those with a spinal chord injury would have to deal with. Spinal chord injuries can deal with down the road problems such as kidney damage and other extremely difficult problems. Her TBI will continue to be visible less and less as her memories reconnect and her speech comes back to normal.” 

He did go on to talk about one area of concern: "I'm concerned about her left shoulder. Any residual pain will not be from her brain injury within a very short time.  She is going to be OK.  She just needs to get every bit of her life back to normal.  Normalcy and structure is the key.  They are a must! 

What about restrictions?  “None....get her life back to normal   She needs that so much…and the consistency of schedule as much as possible. Be sure she sticks to same times for bed and waking... every day if possible, too”

No restrictions?  Driving...surely not driving?  “No restrictions” (Though we can tell you, we’re not ready for her driving yet, so we’re going to ignore that for a bit)

What about starting back to work when she feels better? (knowing she had planned to cut Lexie’s hair the next day with with help from Jodi who just held Hillary's combed sections before cutting)  No restrictions!  . (I sensed Dr. Konrad thought, “Do I need to write this down for you in big letters") 

He went on to say: “...the only thing I worry about for any pain and long term challenges in the near future is the arm.   It's so important for her work Stay very close to Dr. Rommelman too.  Her Physiatrist is paramount to this last leg of recovery. But in the mean time, can we just have her come here once a week and let her travel from the lobby to back here with us? We love her and the way she makes us feel.  (I told him she was already booked for one day with Dr. Tressler's team in the clinic for haircuts, but we'd see what we could do.)

Why does the right side near her temple still have a little "cave in" place?  It's just waiting for muscle to build back over the skull again.  It will come. But it doesn't matter anyway; it will be under her hair. 

Just before leaving she hugged him and hugged him thanking him so sincerely for saving her life.  Dr. Konrad then asked her to consider being a volunteer with him for reaching others in speaking out for prevention education.  He said, "She is going to be great for that and she's going to be ready for that kind of help for others soon." She was honored that he had asked her. Then, as we left his office, I was reminded it had been only a few hours ago in a Holiday Inn Express where she must have already felt her new calling.  As Hillary and I finally piled her butt onto that luggage cart she smiled and gave a little queen type wave to the hotel staff saying, "Wear your seatbelts!" and we all laughed but also shivered. 

She's going to be great at her new job!

Thank you for the many prayers that made her goodbye to Dr, Konrad and staff so sweet.  She’s said goodbye as his patient and now preparing to be a part of his team in a very special way.  While her singing voice isn’t back yet, it appears Hillary’s voice is going to resonate much more than musically….and on many fronts. 

XOXOX

--Shawn 

(image removed) 

Still her most important and favorite job.  MOMMY