Positive Energy, Baby

Tim is pumped! He's in a great mood, looking forward to coming home and beyond that, to becoming an outpatient.

We arrived Saturday night for a short visit - we both need to be back in West Stockbridge Sunday night - with plans to prepare for Tim's imminent departure. The first thing we wanted to do was thank the staff for such a positive experience on the 9th floor for the past four months (which reminds me that I am getting sloppy as I forgot to note the four month anniversary of Tim's accident back on November 12). So "we" baked cookies as "we" always do to acknowledge and participate in a variety of occasions. "We" also packaged them up quite nicely. With Tim's assistance, the tokens of our appreciation were distributed.

After that we spent some time just hanging out with Tim and Morgan's dad and brother, who were getting ready to attend a Dane Cook performance next door at the Garden (Morgan is the young woman who had been responsible for the comedian's visit earlier). It was very interesting to hear Tim talk about his fellow patients from an "old timer's" perspective. According to Morgan's dad, Tim has filled a valuable role on the floor as a bit of an ambassador, especially to newer and younger residents. Tim plans to stay involved with the 9th floor and will be visiting most every day while an outpatient. We also got a tutorial from Tim on the condition of his triceps - they are pretty much non-existent, but he has learned how to compensate with other muscles to get things done, such as pushing his wheel chair. You can ask him to explain that!

Tim's plans are a little more clear now. We'll drive out Tuesday night and plan to leave as early as possible on Wednesday morning. Tim will spend the long Thanksgiving Weekend with us - dinner at the Boxers, a friend's birthday party on Friday and the Homecoming Event at the (East) Stockbridge Sportsmen's Club on Saturday. Whew. Amy will take him back to Boston on Sunday to check in to his new home at the residence hotel (intelligence reports indicate a great ice cream "mecca" and great take out spot nearby). Then, it will be four, 3 hour outpatient therapy sessions each week and home to West Stockbridge for long weekends.

It was time to start cleaning out drawers and closets - clothes, gifts, notes, etc. had become a bit disorganized over the five room changes he had made. We packed all that up and will take it home. One thing we "found" at the bottom - his 12 pound shot from track days. I had brought it to him early as some sort of inspiration, but it had turned out to be a real life indication of the severity of his injury, as he couldn't even hold it back then. This night, he was able to hold it for 5 or 10 seconds before his arm gave out.

Sunday will bring some more time for planning, including a walk over Tim's next home so we can understand that part of his life a little better.

Details

Last night, Thursday, Tim spent the night in the FLAP - the Facilitated Living Apartment - a studio apartment on the 6th floor. He packed what he needed and headed down to live on his own for 24 hours. When I spoke with him, he was cooking himself dinner - pizza and brownies. It's an exercise in measuring independence in preparation for leaving. He would be sitting down today with the team and making a final decision about his discharge date. We eagerly await the news, and hope to hear tonight ............

***

I spoke with Grandma & Grandpa this evening to discuss plans for Thanksgiving and to see how their visit with Tim went over yesterday. They both agreed that he was in a great mood, knew what he wanted and was ready to check out of Spaulding. They also report that Tim ventured outside with his walker and went down the ramp and was able to come about half way up. Good news. Unfortunately, it looks like we won't be sharing T'giving with them in Orleans for the first time in many years - just too much uncertainty with Tim's living situation and the condition of our home. We'll share the holiday with the Boxers and look forward to returning to the Cape next year.

****

Tim just checked in and we have concrete plans to work towards. He's going to check out of Spaulding for good on Wednesday morning 11/21. After a long Thanksgiving Weekend, we'll take him back and check him in to his new apartment at a residence hotel. On Monday 11/26, Tim will start outpatient therapy and commute daily to Spaulding, but live on his own. He'll be coming home most weekends. That's the plan on paper, anyway. Wow. Now Amy and I have to work with Tim and figure out how we'll fit into this new arrangement. That will be the conversation this weekend. Stay tuned.

Making Plans

This week, Tim has begun fending for himself at Spaulding in preparation for his discharge. He gets himself up and dressed, makes sure he gets his meds and shows up for therapies on schedule. He has also started reading again, and finshed off the final Harry Potter to complete the series.

Today Tim had a meeting with the woman coordinating home improvements and discussed things like stairglides, door widths and thresholds. He'll be taking a trip over to the Residence Inn for a little research later this week. Tomorrow, we should know more about his release date. Things are heating up.

Tim's Get Together

Here is information provided to me by Henry Baldwin for a "Fun Raiser" that he and Lisa have organized. I know that Tim is looking forward to seeing all you "townies" after his time in the big city. Thank you to Henry and Lisa for making this happen. When I get all the details from Henry, there will be many others to thank as well.

Saturday Nov. 24 from 3:00 to 7:00 at the (East) Stockbridge Sportsmen's Club.

Menu - Chicken and ribs with sides and salad (provided by Lakota Barbeque andPete Delgrande)

Tickets/reservations - Contact Henry Baldwin at baldwinaw@verizon.net or phone @413-232-7757 - Hopefully by Monday 11/19 so I can have some idea of numbers.

Cost - Students $5.00 Old People $15.00

Since funds from this event are going to the Butters Fund, I must direct you to our statement on Fund Raising: http://tbutters.blogspot.com/2007/08/fund-raising.html

Hope to see you there

Loose Ends

Man, a week long business trip really sets one back! Here are a couple of tidbits from the time I was away.

****

First, Amy diligently took some pics in KC, some inspired by Nancy's and Lincoln's European project.

****

Then, of course, she took Tim for a campus visit to MIT. He's not sure what the future holds for him - and the official admissions deadline for 2008 Fall Semester is just around the corner - but he is thinking about college as a possibility, and he heard that this one is pretty good.

****

Mail bag treats while we were gone included thoughtful notes from Paula & Preston Lockenwitz, Joanne Campbell, Donna Sanzone and the faithful O'Malley/DeMaranville family. Thanks everyone.

****

We got a message from Henry and Lisa, and it appears that there will be a Thanksgiving Homecoming event in Tim's honor at the (East) Stockbridge Sportsmen's Club on Saturday the 24th from 3 - 7. Henry promises me more details in an email tomorrow and I'll post them when I get them.

****

Finally, TODAY was the day that Amy and I got to see our son walk. With the aid of a walker, and very slowly, but what a wonderful sight. He is not allowing photography, but we will be bringing the walker home with us over the Thanksgiving weekend. I'm not sure what his plans are ........... Helping Tim with the walker was part of our preparations to welcome him home. The date is not yet set, but it will definitely be sometime between Thanksgiving weekend and the first week of December. It's been a pretty intense few months for all of us, but the next couple of weeks will turn up the volume a bit. Stay tuned.

A Pleasant Day on Pleasant Bay

Circumstances prevented us from visiting Grandma & Grandpa at the Cape this summer and fall (!), but today was the day to make up for lost time. Before we took off, we made a little detour into Charlestown to scope out the Residence Inn where Tim will be holing up when he's in town for outpatient therapy starting sometime in December. It's a nice place, overlooking the harbor and not a bad walk to Spaulding.



After an uneventful drive down Route 3 (and memory lane for Amy and me) and over the Sagamore Bridge, Jancy took the wheel for the balance of the trip. G&G were so excited that they were getting a two-fer that they came out and met us on the street. They hadn't witnessed Jancy's driving or Tim's new effortless transfers, so a good time was had by all. A relatively easy trip up the newly named Tim's Trail had us in the warmth of the kitchen for a nice afternoon.

Grandma had a nice couple of snacks ready for us, and of course Grandpa served up a round of beverages for all. We caught up on a lot of things and sat down for a very nice pre-Thanksgiving meal. We worked it off with our traditional walk down to Pleasant Bay and thoroughly enjoyed the crisp salt air.

Then, all too soon it was over and we drove back to Spaulding. Tomorrow we get busy planning for a November 21 discharge date, so I'm guessing my post will have some interesting new info.

JCK Remembered

Saturday's itinerary was all Tim's idea. We had all learned several weeks ago that Deerfield Academy would be dedicating the Varsity Girl's soccer playing field to beloved alum, teacher and coach Jamie Kapteyn - Tim's uncle and Amy's brother - who had died unexpectedly and inexplicably in January, leaving a huge whole in many hearts and lives.


Tim knew that he wanted to attend that event, and take care of another loose end while we were "on the road." You see, back on July 17 a quiet family ceremony took place alongside the Alford Brook in Great Barrington. Jamie's ashes were scattered on to the flowing waters that he had played in as a boy with his best friend Adam. Tim, as you may recall, was not available to attend that ceremony, and I chose to stay with him at BMC with a promise to each other that we would keep our own portion of the ashes to scatter when the time was right. That time came this weekend.


So, we had an early riser morning and took off for Deerfield around 7:30. A quick bathroom break in Ludlow serendipitously found us parked next to Max, Tim's contact at UTI. We know that he's been paying attention as he teased Tim about hanging around with the Governor. It was great for all of us to catch up with him. We arrived and joined Jancy, Lou, Russ, Peter, Sarah and Tessa for a beautiful dedication ceremony featuring words from colleagues, friends and players.

Afterwards we spent a lot of time catching up with Kirsten, Ingrid and Ilse as well as others who attended. It was a beautiful fall day in a beautiful setting and we easily shared tears and laughs. After watching parts of three games, we headed out to the Berkshires.
Arriving in town, Tim and I took a slow sight-seeing tour while Amy procured a lunch of Tim's favorite sub from Public Market. When we got to the house, Tim was able to take advantage of the brand new driveway and sidewalk to the front door, installed this week by Chris & Billy and their crews. As expected, a perfect job. Tim transfers in and out of the car more and more effortlessly as time goes on. More work will be going on inside of our house over the coming weeks so that he'll be able to have a comfortable home life. After sharing the love with old girl Sam and making a few practice runs around the first floor, we headed off to Great Barrington.


I chose to take the Alford Road route as it is one of the most beautiful drives anywhere (shhh, don't tell anyone). Amy had contacted Adam's mom Peggy, who of course welcomed us back to her property today and in the future, for directions to this special place. After Tim, Amy and I had our own remembrance, Peggy joined us for a few minutes. Then, Tim and I added our ashes and thoughts about Jamie to the current. Tim said that he knew that Jamie would have been in constant contact with him, and would have had just the right words to help him through. I gave Tim his first rod & reel, but I'm forever grateful to Jamie for teaching Tim what it can mean to fish.

James Cornelius Kapteyn

June 22, 1961

January 16, 2007

HobNobbing Blogging

Hello Tim! Honestly, I leave you for one week while I move house from one country to another and next thing I know you've gone and had tea with the governor and some realy famous red sox !! Hobnobbing indeed! Next thing you know you'll be walking over to the State House. It's amazing to hear that you are walking...any chance of producing another UTUBE video?? Would soooooo love to see you from way over here. From what I am able to see of you, you look GREAT - your positive outlook really shows itself in your facial expressions in all your photos!!! Well done You, for working so hard and accomplishing so VERY much in a short time. You have really grown up over the past few months. Guess it's only onwards and UPwards from here...what's this about MIT? Can't wait for more instalments. Lots and lots of love from Aunt Carolann en Provence.