We just wanted to wish everyone good luck with the benifit tomorrow. We are doing ok here even though it is 117 degrees outside...yuck!
We will be home in ONE WEEK and can't wait to hear all about this weekend, take lots of pictures!!
Lots of love, Kate and Jeremy

Hello!!
I know I am the worst blogger ever; I am not doing the best job at keeping everyone updated, sorry about that. We have been so busy since Jeremy is doing an 8 week program in 4 weeks we have not had a lot of extra time. Plus I think blogging is kind if a pain in the butt, I would much rather call everyone but I know that would never work.

Jeremy continues with all his regular therapies focusing on real life obstacles that he will encounter in a wheelchair. He is doing tons of strength training, stretching, standing frame work (this is beneficial for keeping good bone integrity, kidney and bladder function and it’s positive effects on the circulatory system) and he has also been on an FES bike (functional electrical stimulation) these are bikes where electrodes are attached to the muscles on his legs which stimulate the muscle to power the legs to pedal the bike. Pretty high tech stuff!! He also tried out a “sports chair” and we attempted to play tennis…He did fine but I really sucked.

We have been taking full advantage of our push pass, we’ve been to pretty much every restaurant we can walk to, and we are trying to avoid hospital food as much as we can. This weekend we have a day pass which means we can get in the car and leave the grounds…YAY!!!!!  You can get this pass when you have had enough education and you complete all the “nursing” training.

I, as some of you know, have the worst sense of direction in the whole world. Jeremy always says that I can get lost in a parking lot; this is only partially true depending on the size and user-friendly-ness of the parking lot. Anyway, I have not been exploring Atlanta much because I’m so scared of getting lost. Now that Jeremy (who ALWAYS knows where he is, where he is going and the best, shortest, fastest, smartest, yet to me extremely confusing way to get anywhere) can come along we are hoping to do some touristy stuff like going to the Atlanta Aquarium and doin’ some shoppin’J .

Overall we are doing fine. Some days are better that others and there are obviously moments of frustration and sadness but we are absolutely doing our best. We miss everyone very much and CAN NOT WAIT TO COME HOME!!!

See you all soon! Love, Kate

Hey ‘yall!!

I just wanted to drop a quick line and tell everyone that Jeremy and I are doing fine. He did not have a lot of therapy over the weekend so we did some exploring around the Shepherd facility. We also tried to spend some time relaxing in the gardens with Jeff and Jason who arrived on Friday night. It rained most of the morning on Sunday but overall the weather has been in the 80’s and sunny. Heat does not bother me so I’ve been loving it!

Jeremy has a set schedule every week; he has 1.5 hours of Physical Therapy, 1.5 hours of Occupational Therapy, 1 hour of Therapeutic Recreation (whatever that is),  1 hour with his Psychiatrist and everwhere in-between he is busy with “nursing”. Wow…It makes me tired just typing it!! Tomorrow he starts what they call “Key Classes “, these are the Key to Independence classes. They will be teaching him about every system in the body and how those systems react to a spinal cord injury, focusing on possible complications that could arise and how to prevent them. I will also be taking these classes but I don’t know when.

It’s kinda weird how nice everyone is down here, even at the grocery store. I purchased some beer last week and when I gave the lady my ID she was like” Oh honey…You’re a long way from home, I’ve never seen a Maine ID before!!!” She proceeded to tell me that if I needed anything she would be working all weekend from 3: oo to 11:00 so just stop by. You have to imagine this in a very thick southern accent, she was wonderful!

 

Jeremy and I send our love to everyone and hope you all are well.

Love, Kate

Hello to all our family and friends!
I'm sorry it has taken me so long to start updating you all, I'm sure everyone has been anxious to hear from us. I'll try to give you a brief summary of everything that has happened so far.
Our flight overall was fine, fairly long and VERY BUMPY. Jeremy did well, I know he was not comfortable strapped to a small, lightly padded back board for almost six hours, he never complained. Me on the other hand I think I complained the whole way! My seat was way in the back, it was a cushion over the toilet, yup that's right...The toilet! We arrived safe however and that's all that matters.
The first two days have been a whirlwind of meeting Doctors, Nurses and Therapists. It seems like we met hundreds of people and I don't remember any of their names. Everyone at Shepherd is positive, energetic and knowledgeable. All Jeremy's Therapists are blown away at how much he can do already. They are all saying he is going to fly through in-patient rehab.  
It is fast paced around, teaching a wide range of things to make his life easier. Some things, as Jeremy put it are, "Not the most fun he has ever had" but he is 100% ready to learn it all!
 I am going to try to blog every day or two, I only get a wireless connection outside in the garden and it keeps raining when I'm trying to wright...Sooooooo...I'll do my best.
We miss you all like crazy and can't wait to come home. Thank you again to everyone for their love, support and hard work. We love you all so much!
Tons of love, Kate & Jeremy

Sara Here.
From what Kate reports Jeremy is already blowing the Shepherd staff away with his great skills- and they don't think it's going to take him long to learn what he needs to learn. Can't say we are surprised here at home. It sounds like if he continues on like this, at such an accelerated pace that we can expect him home in no time (or, perhaps 4 weeks instead of 6?) We'll see!
Since I'm here, not there, I don't have any clever quips or deep insight into the details of the program. However, I'm sure that everyone is glad to hear any good news- and this is!

Anyone who wishes to catch up on the past few weeks check out: http://thumbelina115.livejournal.com/

I think that by now everyone knows that Kate and Jeremy are going to the Shephard Center, in Atlanta Georgia and not going to Boston.
This is an excellent turn of events, as Shephard is highly regarded as THE place for spinal rehab, especially for younger people. 
They made the trip down today, in a 4 seat plane (bumpy). They arrived safe and sound and have made it thru the admissions process. 
Kate and Jeremy will be taking over this blog at this point (unless I hack in to add my 2 cents!!)
I'm sure that I speak for everyone when I wish them the very best of luck!!
We love you guys,
Sara

This journal is going to give everybody news and updates regarding Jeremy's progress in rehabilitating after the severe spinal injury he sustained on June 21, 2007.

Kate will be doing most of the posting from Boston, and hopefully Jeremy will drop an occasional line to his legions of adoring fans!

Thank you everyone, for your ongoing support and goodwishes. They mean the world to all of us and we can not imagine going thru a time like this with out an AMAZING group of friends and family.