Day 4

At the end of the day...Kevin isn't being released tonight. The physician's asst (PA) came later this afternoon, whom I waited for all day and happened to miss, and would like the outpatient rehab center (Mapleton) to do a more extensive evaluation tomorrow - don't know why yet. I think they just want to be really sure what sort of therapy he'll need afterward...

I was with Kevin all day - he was out of sorts when I showed up this morning, says he's very restless at night - isn't sleeping. It hurts in a lot of places - his head the major one! I think he's really feeling it today now that the shock has worn off of his body. He's acknowledging often that he really messed himself up. He's restless at night and then tired during the day after doing just a few simple things (like shower). Sleep is the best thing for him - I sat all day with him and kept quiet and a washrag over his eyes so he could rest. He walked the hallways several times this afternoon. He gets up by himself and walks around - loaded a VHS tape to watch - then heads back to bed. He feels like crap! He doesn't want to be there tonight, but knows he's feeling the worst that he ever has.

I just read Corey's post and am in tears. She says all the things that this other aunt would like to have said and says them so well! Please read and take her post to heart, Kevin. We all love you too much! I, like Corey, am so glad that you were not one of those other head trauma victims that your Mom said the ICU staff described. I am so glad that you continue to improve daily. Even this old lady learned something from this accident. I'm getting a helmet before I ever get on my bike again. Even at this age, we can bow to peer pressure. The couple we ride with laughed when I mentioned needing to get a helmet, since we are never on anything but paths. Accidents can happen anywhere--even to old lady bike riders on bike paths.
Like Corey said, we're not trying to take your fun away--just enhance the experience by hoping you will do it safely. I would really prefer to keep you in a bubble, but knowing that isn't realistic, can only hope that the lesson was learned and you will act to protect yourself with safety gear. As the big sister, I couldn't bear to hear the tremble in your Dad's voice! Instead of driving down to Laredo for Poppa's birthday, I wanted to get on the next flight to Boulder. We all love you very much and are SO HAPPY to know that you aren't just some statistic!

Not a Rock Star

Obviously, when a loved one calls with news of an accident the first thing you have to do is to remember to breathe. It seems that they can't talk fast enough for you to get the whole story. I'm so grateful that Kevin is going to be okay but what's really bothering me at this point is the comments that are being made on the news article of Kevin's accident. I have not read them personally but my sister has told me that along with all the well wishers are "kids" posting things like "skateboarders rule" and things like that. Essentially making Kevin a rock star. He's not. He is one EXTREMELY lucky young man. This could sooooo easily have gone the other way - call it karma or whatever you want but it just wasn't his time. How do we get through to these kids that they are not invincible? We don't want to take your bikes and your skateboards and your motorcycles away but what we want is for you to play smart. There is a reason that safety equipment is made and improved upon year after year. I'm not so naive to think that it is foolproof in the event of an accident but it damn sure strenghtens the odds in your favor. THIS is what I want people to learn from my nephew's accident; life is precious and there are no guarantees. Be smart. If not for yourself then for your loved ones. This is hard. Hard from the outside looking in...hard from 17 hours away...hard to listen to your sister cry and know that there isn't anything you can do but say you are sorry. Kevin has a long road ahead of him but he's lucky. WE'RE lucky. Kevin...please, please, PLEASE learn from this and know how quickly it could all be gone. Count your blessings - daily. If you love someone - tell them. This is all too important.

Kevin's recovery

I can't think of a better mother's day yesterday to walk in at 7am and hear Kevin tell the nurse during his hourly neuro screening that the date is Sunday May 10 and also that it's mother's day. He could not answer that question on Thurs evening - sometimes thought it was November 25, sometimes thought it was 2007 - but always knew Obama was president! He has steadily gotten better and faster at his responses. Several nurses in the Neuro ICU told me that they have never seen anyone come in who has sustained an injury of that force and recover so quickly. Curtis told me yesterday that patients with epidural or subdural bleeding (and Kevin has one of each) usally get worse by day 3 and then better and Kevin just steadily increased. Many of these patients lay in ICU for 2 or 3 months, or are impaired in minor or major ways for life, if they don't lose their life!! The Neuro ICU staff have seen it first hand, on a daily basis.

KEVIN IS ONE BLESSED PERSON - Thanks for so many thoughts and prayers

HOWEVER - we can't forget he has sustained a very serious head injury. His skull is cracked and his brain is badly bruised and it needs lots of sleep and low doses of stimulation right now. Steve and I heard that over and over from the staff. We'll be trying to help him help himself (okay - we'll be nagging him) to stay near home and keep visits by friends low-key for a while. Apparently there can be side effects from this for up to a year. Brain injuries are serious things and we'll be educating ourselves about them so that we can help Kevin in the best possible way.