Firsts are truly exciting for us!

It’s our first week of summer (because our favorite resident just got home for the summer....with significantly more time scheduled for home than away), Hillary took her first dip in the pool and I am on my first train ride.  Oh and her son has his first practice and game all in one week...something he has longed for since being away from his long time friends.  He's also here for the first Birthday party he's been able to attend with his friends since last September having missed "waaaayyyy too many" in his words.  He's now saying "Yippee Skippee", too

(Oh yes, and Boss Kevin-- I think I'm going to have to take my first ever two week vacation off, if that's OK.)  Double Yippee Skippee!!

I have been away from home for too long and I can hardly wait to get there.  Hillary and I have been text messaging all day and it’s so great to read her sweet notes.  She is so happy to have her son home---as are we ALL!  And he absolutely cracks all of us up as Hillary mothers him and he says, "Wow!  That's awesome Mom!.....You are doing exactly what you should....getting after me when I'm not being very good."  What a sweet and old soul that kid is!

Hillary is really just getting back into the swing of things after her visit to Nashville.  BSILE (Best Son-In-Law Ever, Billy) told us a story from her visit.  She was out with friends at Virago and feeling pretty blue with her circumstances....particularly the wheelchair.  At some point the group asked her if she'd like to lose the wheels and sit at the table with all of them.  They sort of kept the chair out of site and "like a switch, says BSILE and Jim" she was the old Hillary and teaching all of them to use their chopsticks.  They cannot get over the change and it will be a lesson for all of us for the future.

We hope to continue to be able to update you about our injured angel’s journey through this site.  We hope the contents and images along with prayers continue to uplift not only our circle, but other trauma survivor families who continue to share their stories with us as they visit Hillablog.  Our family is excited to be a part of a new resource coming soon to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and through that, Hillary’s journey will continue to be a much needed story for families who need to see the light at the end of the tunnel of trauma crisis.  (More on that later)   And I'm sure there will come a day when her pages and story (and pictures) will be quite different and much more typical of the sites one can find all over the internet on MySpace and Facebook.  But for now, we are very proud of this site and you… and all Hillary and her son and our family and friends can do to support others in need of hope after trauma.

Thanks for staying with us until we could get back to you with another update.  We still feel your prayers of support in every way!

 XOXOX

--Shawn

To our wonderful friends:

We ask your forgiveness for our lack of updates since heading to court.  As you probably already suspect, we are still waiting for Court decisions to be entered and felt we must respect the court as we await the orders.  Obviously, we don't want to wait another minute after reading your many concerns, but realize this note may be our last one.  That is a scary thought for our family in light of the power your prayers have provided for our injured angel, her son and our entire family.  It feels terribly like letting go of a life force...and the true champions who interceded with God on our behalf for the miracles we are able to see every day.  Each one of us realize it was against so many odds.  We will never let you go...and we hope you will continue to hold on to her (to all of us) as well.

 Just today, our cousin wrote:

"I petitioned for God's comfort, mercy, and will for a part of my family that was in great need.  I got back so much more than I gave in reading about His answers to those petitions...." 

We can't even tell you how hard it has been to see your notes and not respond.  But again, we felt we must be respectful of the court and still do.  We knew you would understand once enlightened of the situation. That said, we expect to hear from the Judge tomorrow regarding our summer and can not wait another minute to tell you all is OK.

Hillary is doing great and continues to improve every day as her very proud medical team was happy to report recently.  She is out and about as often as possible, yet it is often not enough for her.  She was in hospitals and then at home for so long, getting out with her family and friends makes her feel like she is "in the real world" and a little more back to reality as she remembers it.  We have to admit she is beginning to grieve for her former self.  Remember when we were in McDonald's and met the beautiful young Brittany from Indiana who had experienced a traumatic brain injury?  She stated the hardest part of her journey was the mourning she endured as she realized she might not completely "return to herself" once at the end of her recovery.  We have such greater understanding of what Hillary is feeling and trying to describe to us having met Brittany and hearing her own heartbreak and challenges of the recovery process.

But still, every day is absolutely better here!

Hillary is climbing our full staircase multiple times per day in preparation for her weekend with her sisters and BSILE and Josh in Nashville while Paul and I celebrate our anniversary.  I don't know which one of us is the most excited as we count down the hours before hitting our separate trails.  This week, Ashley called Hillary and Big Sis had absolutely no idea who she was speaking with until Hillary actually repeated herself.  (It was pretty clear then it would have to be me or Hillary once repetition entered the picture)  All of our girls sound so much alike, and Ashley said, "...it was her voice inflection.  It was incredible because she had more 'Hillary animation' in her voice!"

We hope we will be able to let you hear from her very soon.  She is dying to say "Thank you" and we hope we might be able to post a video message from her to you within the next few days.  Please know why if she does not.

Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts:  First, for your fervent prayers and support...and secondly, for your understanding in the last few days. 

XOXOX

--Shawn

PS--Hillary's email is hilltharp@hotmail.com.  She would LOVE to hear from you!  You may get the same message more than once until she can build the footprints for each note to tell her she has completed that process, but we know you will understand when that happens.

Tomorrow is an important day for Mommy and Max...although what day isn't?

There is so much to tell as we received the latest updates from Hillary's therapists including her progress in occupational, speech and physical therapy this week.  There is very little left of brain injury "tone" except her wrist and thumb and most of her physical challenges (her left arm) are due to her physical injury....still in an aggressively healing mode.  But tonight we are all preparing for another important day for our family on different venues, and we ask your prayers for God's will and guidance for the best possible decisions for those who are empowered to do just that. 

BSILE is here tonight and as he said "Good night" to his sweet sister-in-law, he came back in the living room and said, "It hit me when I said good night to her.......'Honey, we almost never got to do that again'."  What a perfect thing for him to say tonight....and a perfect reminder of why tomorrow must happen.  Like it or not....if not for miracles we wouldn't be heading to a forum for difficult decisions about Max.  It is never fun to navigate unchartered waters on any front...but particularly in the courtroom.  But thanks be to God  we can navigate our way through the process, and at the end of the day,our daughter is alive and here with us and she will be able to hug Max the next time she sees him; no matter when that day comes.  And if miracles hadn't happened and our girl hadn't survived, its likely none of us would have been with Max at all.  So whatever tomorrow's outcome....one thing is sure:  Very soon, we will be laughing and screaming and hugging and swimming and jumping off of the back of an ugly old houseboat in the best waters we know... Kentucky Lake.  And Max will be there....and so will our Hillary.  

Thanks for your prayers tomorrow....and every day.

XOXOX

--Shawn

It was "Sarah Day" yesterday around here.

It's obvious it is getting more challenging to keep you posted on Hillary's progress.  The days between updates are getting longer and longer as Hillary's social calendar becomes "fully loaded".  And my apologies up front for any repeated information on her progress as there is no time for looking back)  We hope to take in a movie with our friends today-- though she is very tired from "Sarah Day". 

So first a quick update:

Hillary is no longer going to be in physical therapy three times a week.  Her therapist, Hope has determined with the amount Hillary walks at home the three day schedule is just no longer necessary moving her down for now to two days and soon to only one.  We expect them to work a bit on swimming this week to be sure Hillary can enjoy fun in the sun, but for the most part, her time with PT will be for e-stem and learning exercises Hillary can manage for herself as she finishes her recovery process.

She probably could have been walking more from the beginning if we'd only used a garden hose.  Apparently all it takes to move our girl to the next level of progress (literally level) is a downpour and she's willing to climb mountains to avoid getting drenched.  Last week Hillary and her dad had been downstairs when it was time to head to the main floor for dinner.  Now Hillary can access every corner of our home, but to move from one floor to the next she has to go outside to access the opposite level.  As Paul opened the door to take her out and up, they looked at each other, both deciding it was time to find a better way in light of the heavy rain in front of them.  At the bottom of our L-shaped staircase, Hillary grabbed the handrail with her right arm and advanced each step with her left leg (yes, her left leg!!!!) and made it to the top.  She had climbed another mountain to independence and I could hear the sounds of victory and feel them both beaming as they shared their news on the phone with me.

And though that milestone was thrilling, perhaps the more important benchmark for her was the news that came from her Occupational Therapist, Katherine Meueller.  There are three movements one must make with their hand and fingers to naturally pick up something.  Hillary successfully proved her ability to master all three this week.  ZOOM ZOOM!!!!

And now to Sarah Day: 

I remember the moments Hillary's two Sarahs shared their news with her and the importance of their friend's presence in their exciting upcoming celebrations of love.  The first was Sarah Adams-- one of Hillary's childhood best friends.  I believe Hillary was in Cardinal Hill (if not in Vanderbilt) when Sarah shared the news of her pregnancy with Hillary.  Sarah told Hillary how much she needed her to get well and to help her with advice and assurance along the way.  At the time, Hillary was unable to talk and  deep in my soul I prayed, "Oh God, let her be well enough to be aware of that baby's birth and the sweetness of friendship."  And later, very soon after Hillary returned home, it was Sarah Rottering and her fiance Justin who announced their wedding plans to Hillary while she still spent much of her time in her veil bed.  Hillary--Part One--would have shouted her excitement to the world if she had heard such news before the accident--having thought Justin and Sarah were perfect for each other.  Again, I prayed she would be able to be there for their wedding day; all the while holding my breath that she might not ever make it there as she refused to eat and began slipping deeper away from us. 

I am happy to report "Sarah Day" wore our girl out having first attended Sarah's baby shower for her soon to arrive daughter, Bianca---and in the evening/, with all of her colleagues from the shop (and many other friends), our girl attended the wedding of Sarah and Justin.  She had a wonderful time!  Our blessings are more abundant than we deserve. 

So until the "Sarahs" can post their pictures from the big day for all of us, above are some more of our abundant blessings.  Happy day after "Sarah Day"....and thank you for your prayers to The One who gave our injured angel the chance to be there.  We are eternally grateful.

XOXOX

--Shawn