Dear Friends and Family,
Well, we made it! Debbie is finally home!
After five weeks of hospitals, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and more challenges than either of us could have imagined, we were released from The Orchards a little after 11:00 a.m. on Thursday.
And wouldn’t you know it, even Mother Nature decided to give us one more challenge!
Even the Flooding Couldn’t Stop Us!
Balboa Island was experiencing unusually high tides and rising water. Sandbags had been placed along the seawall surrounding the entire island, creating a barrier approximately four to six inches high to help keep the water out.
But after everything Debbie and I had been through, a little flooding certainly wasn’t going to stop us from getting home!
We were determined to make it back to our little house on Balboa Island, and that’s exactly what we did.
Home Sweet Home, With a Few Challenges
One thing we discovered almost immediately is why rehabilitation facilities have so many wonderful people helping their patients!
At The Orchards, there was always someone available to help Debbie move from her bed to her wheelchair, use the bathroom, get dressed, or handle the dozens of little things we normally take for granted.
Now we’re home, and those responsibilities belong largely to the two of us.
Our little home on Balboa Island is wonderful, but the hallways and doorways are narrow, and even the smallest bumps and thresholds can become obstacles when you’re navigating a wheelchair.
Getting from the wheelchair to the bed, from the bed to the bathroom, and especially onto the toilet are all challenging. Things we have done without thinking now require planning, patience, and sometimes a little creative engineering!
Our first day was a bit of an adventure, but each day we’re learning something new. We’re discovering what works, what doesn’t, and what needs a little adjustment.
Hurry Up and Slow Down
At our appointment with Debbie’s surgeon last Wednesday, we were reminded that healing takes time. Debbie still has several weeks before she can begin putting weight on her legs.
That’s difficult news for someone who is so anxious to get back to her normal life.
In the meantime, we’re learning to celebrate the little victories.
Today’s Big Event: A Shower!
You might laugh, but one of the highlights of today will be Debbie’s first shower at home!
We’ve installed a special shower chair and made some adjustments that will allow her to sit comfortably and safely while enjoying something as simple as a warm shower and shampoo.
Who would have thought that taking a shower could become such an exciting event?
But that’s what this experience is teaching us. So many of the ordinary blessings of life are anything but ordinary when they’re temporarily taken away.
Thank You for Walking With Us
We continue to be overwhelmed by the love, prayers, encouragement, and generosity of so many friends and family members.
We are grateful beyond words.
We’re home. We’re together. And while there is still a long road of recovery ahead, there’s something wonderful about waking up under our own roof.
Our journey continues, and we’re thankful you’re walking it with us.
With love and gratitude,
Jim and Debbie Hogan
Hogan’s Journey
www.hogansjourney.com