Declarations of Independence

"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" Compared to last summer and early fall, Amy and I get the feeling that things with Tim are moving along more slowly now. However, as I gather my thoughts I can see that there is still quite a bit happening in his life and it's all good. One thing that has changed is our time with Tim. He's making a concerted effort to become independent, starting with spending longer periods of time in Boston. He has used taxis and the T to visit friends and take care of some business needs. He is using his iPhone and email to make arrangements for various appointments and medications. One thing he isn't doing is cooking, still relying on the plethora of delivery options in Chahlestown (at 19, that makes sense!). He is quite comfortable with his situation, and the one remaining piece of the puzzle is transportation, his adapted van, and that hit a snag since I last wrote. He was all set to take his driving test, but the instructors would not allow it as the horn didn't work. Very frustrating, and because the dealer is in Hartford, the repair work is difficult to coordinate, but the van is now in the shop and we hope to take care of this last item shortly.

Recreationally, Tim has found couple of new things to keep him busy. After reading that Wii - a wireless video game in three dimensions www.wii.com - was being used for physical therapy and recreation for wheelchair bound folks, Tim decided that would be a good use for the Butters Fund. Tim can work on his arm movement, and have fun at the same time, "playing" tennis and bowling. It's very cool. One day, Amy headed out to Boston with cousin Ben and took both of them to Mt. Sunapee in NH for a day of skiing. Yes. Sunapee is home to the New England Handicap Ski Association http://www.nehsa.org/ and they have a great program. Tim caught on to the special equipment (a sled like device) quickly and enjoyed feeling the wind in his face for the first time in a long time. A bonus was the several hours he got to spend with Ben that day. From a conversation I had with him last night, it seems that he will be attempting to use the hotel pool sometime soon. Of course, the Sox are back in town, and Tim is making plans to get over for a game sometime soon. He says that standing room only tickets are a particularly good value, because he already has a seat!

Socially, Tim has met with Dr. Kantrowitz a couple of times in Pittsfield and has enjoyed reading two books he recommended, written by Nobel Prize winner Gerald Edelman, and focused on the workings of the brain.
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&q=Gerald+Edelman&sa=X&oi=print&ct=more-books-link&cad=author-navigational
He has also been spending time with his former Spaulding floor mate, Dr. Kim, who is recovering well as an outpatient. Thank God he has developed relationships with people like that. Amy's and my contribution to his cultural and intellectual growth was a trip down the street to see Micah Stone and his band perform at the Card Lake Inn. http://www.micahstone.com/ The website is designed and maintained by Micah's brother, who is also paralyzed, hurting himself the same way Tim did. David was at the show, and Tim spent some time talking with him. Tim also saw his friend Travis there and they were able to catch up. When Amy is in Boston, she will sometimes take Tim up to a rehab facility in Cambridge, where his friend Sarah is living and recovering. Of course, Grandma and Grandpa continue to visit on Thursdays and Uncle John keeps in touch and gets together with Tim regularly. Brigitte visits occasionally as well and back in the Berkshires, friends Matt and Tyler have stopped by.

Therapeutically, there is also good news. Since my last posting, Tim is feeling stronger and has taken his first walks outside, going down the Charles with his walker, a therapist by his side and has stood at the railing to feed the fish. Arm and body strength continue to improve and he can now pull himself up into an "on all fours" position, from laying on his stomach.

And now, drum roll please, Tim has taken another huge leap. On Friday and Saturday, he walked with the aid of crutches - the kind that strap to his forearms. He is pumped! The first day he went 80 feet and then doubled that the next. Spring is in the air - warm weather and long sunny days are ahead. A perfect time to be in Boston. A perfect time to heal.