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Miracles & Real Kisses

7/29/2016

Hector and David

Early the next morning David’s smile was so warming and revealing of his deep joy. I arranged to go back to Eddy and Ana’s apartment the next day. Speech therapist Stacy and her son Ryan came to work with wood puzzles and picture cards. David responded on command to every exercise. Later during the day Hector and my sister Noemy came by with beans and cheese “pupusas”, which are typical Central American stuffed tortillas.

The following day, it was evident that David was excited to get to the apartment. For his surprise, the Lamourt cousins and Sue came and spent the day with him. He had coconut gelato ice cream, laid on his bed, watched TV and laughed just doing silly things. It was such a blessed time together. I would try to arrange and visit every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Alex, Hector Luis, Sue, David & Ana Carolina.

Having some great fun together like old times.

Back at the nursing home, I summoned up all the fun things we did that day and by the time we finished dinner, David gave me a real kiss. Wow – he remembered what muscles to use to perk his lips and kiss. There was wonderful progress happening within that we couldn’t see until it would be revealed with an external expression. That was a great way to seal the day… with a kiss. I couldn’t stop smiling until I fell asleep that night.

A few days later, the therapist placed a cast on David’s right arm. He had done so well with the first serial casting, they decided to repeat the procedure to extend open his arm as much as possible. This would be done every two weeks. The facility had very little materials and hoped they would get additional supplies for the next casting.

One of the calls I had made was to the Central Registry of the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program (BSCIP). The program is managed by the Florida Department of Health and provides services, including assistance to injured residents to return to a community-based setting versus a nursing facility. One of the requirements to be eligible for services is that the patient has to be medically stable and have the ability to safely reintegrate into the community. From the Miami office, case Manager Elio called me to set an appointment to determine if David was eligible for the program. I had great hopes that this would be the case because they would be the link that would help us take David back to Central Florida.

Again we had all prayer warriors on their knees and I continuously reminded myself that God would allow only what was best for David. I thought that if we were given the green light from the Health Department and the Avalon Park would approve David into their in-patient program we were on our way home. At least I thought it was a good plan.

The meeting with Elio was so uplifting. His assistant was a young man who was in a wheelchair and as I saw him pulling himself in front of the computer – I became so inspired of the opportunities available to people with disabilities. They both provided me with lots of information and resources and immediately had the entire paperwork ready to be sent for approval. Elio then referred me to Kim in Orlando, a spinal cord injury survivor and case manager who mentioned the benefits of moving David back home. If David would become eligible, she would be contacting me to begin the process.

Change was in the air and I was taking it all in. We didn’t know the how, the when and the where but - there was definitely change happening for us - and it was exciting. Every day I waited for the call and prayed it would be the right step at the right time. We felt so blessed with the care and therapies that David was receiving at the facility. The residents, nurses, doctors, therapists became like family to us and we wanted to ensure David would not be left out from the support and services he needed back home.

Tuesday that week, while David was working at physical therapy, the Avalon Park director called to inform me that the team did not consider David ready for their program and said he would be visiting mid December to re-evaluate him. As the therapists expressed how sorry they were to hear the news, a peculiar peace invaded my heart. I was reflecting on the news when I received another call - this time from the case manager from the BSCIP to inform me she would be visiting us the following week for an interview. She also said that taking David home and receiving outpatient therapy would be very motivating for him. I saw doors closing and others opening – God was allowing this for a reason. It had to be Him placing all the pieces in the right position. I chose not to have any expectation and continue to watch the Master unfold His divine plan. He was showering me with His peace so I would not despair but rejoice at His doings. We were moving forward.

We went back to our calendar poster in the room and tried to guess what day we would be moving back home. We agreed that December 18th would be a great birthday gift for Jorge. I just hoped that we would move in time to celebrate Christmas at home. Ultimately it was in God’s hands. He would know which was the right day. As I was getting ready to leave, David began to cry. I recited that God’s plans for him was for peace, that God was listening and that we had to plan for our trip to Portugal to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. As I leaned to kiss David good night, he gave me a real kiss again.

The social worker at the nursing home worked with the State about the possibility of transferring David back home and was constantly updating us on the process. I signed the paperwork for the transfer and now it was a matter of waiting for all the approvals to happen. The Lord had a plan and nothing was going to stop it from unfolding. Nurse Carson reiterated that the Lord would reveal the right time to leave.

Nurse Rose gave me Deuteronomy 8 to read. Nurse Rose was very close to my heart. From the moment she started working at the facility we clicked. She was a woman of faith and it amazed me to listen and watch her walk in obedience to God’s will. Even though she had no plans or desire to move from her job at a local correctional, circumstances brought her to the nursing home and she accepted the reality - not knowing how much God would use her with us. She would enter the room singing gospel music with her beautiful voice and always had a scripture to share. We developed a beautiful relationship. We became spiritual sisters. David always smiled when she would come to see him. Every morning on her scheduled working days, I would feel relieved to see her burgundy truck parked. I would be anxious to learn what the Lord would say through her every day.

After being absent for a few weeks, Nurse Rose returned with a heavy heart for she had lost a son to a bacterial infection. Her pain became my pain. With tears in her eyes, and with an inspiring zeal she made known to me how every word of encouragement and hope she had shared with me throughout months had all come back to her throughout the agonizing moments as her son was loosing the battle to the infection he had contracted. She emphatically explained how the Lord had prepared her in the course of our talks without her knowing what she would face in the coming months and sustained her with love, as a caring father would do. She was back to continue the work of love through serving all of us and caring for our loved ones - with the same joy and songs of praise. My faith was strengthened through her example of fervor and perseverance.

Meanwhile the therapists placed a cast on David’s left foot and kept mentioning how his arm progress was miraculous because they had no other explanation. It was not pressuring against his chest anymore.

We continued to go to Eddy and Ana’s apartment every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and spent time with family who continued to shower us with their details of love.

Elio from BSCIP called with the good news that the transition program would cover 90% of the costs. God continued to repeat in different ways that we were not to worry about financial burdens and that He was in charge. We continued our prayers of thanksgiving all the time. On Wednesday, December 7th we met Martha from the State of Florida. She proceeded with the interview and paperwork to take David home through a waiver, which would provide links to initiatives and various services at home. Her demeanor was refreshing and uplifting. She took the time to answer all our questions. She couldn’t guarantee any dates because we were heading into the holidays and this would delay some of the process but promised to work hard and complete every step as soon as she could.

The next day Martha called to inform us that a few miracles had happened to her and that it was not a coincidence that the people involved in David’s case were the right ones. When she placed a call to the case manager line, the person who answered was the one who had originally interviewed me over the phone months ago. She remembered our conversation and mentioned that my husband played bongos at church. She indicated to Martha that she would expedite David’s case.

We were overwhelmed with joy with all the good news. God was at work and it was wonderful to see it.

That night David gave me 3 real kisses. I told him I loved him and asked for him to practice saying “Hi mom”. The reading for the day said not to worry about the future. We knew God was running the schedule.

The Lord always fulfills His promises. He calls upon his people to work out His plan. For God - a promise and fulfillment is one in the same. When your trust is in the Lord, hope does not disappoint. The Lord and Our Lady were carrying us in their hearts and that is why we experienced peace throughout this time of so many changes.

(Jeremiah 29:11; Mathew 6:34; Deuteronomy 8)

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Thankful Hearts.

7/15/2016

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Cousin Alex

Cousin Alex Javier and Gaby visited David and were amazed to see him feeding on his own with little assistance.

I kept thanking the Lord for the graces and the peace we experienced all the time and thanked Our Lady for always protecting us.

On the Monday of Thanksgiving week, the Avalon Park representative came to evaluate David. To every command David responded like a champ and stood up twice and sat down on his own. Julissa talked to him about David’s progress. He mentioned that David was ready for rehab and that he would contact us with information on the program. I felt grateful that he had not been able to make it before. At that moment I realized that it had been a perfect day for the evaluation.

God our Father kept saying not to fear and to trust him all along. I had to remember not to dwell into fear, because it would confuse and deceive me to believe the Father has abandoned us. That is a tough temptation to resist because it draws us away from God by loosing our faith. I just needed to open my heart and not fear during the “waiting” time.

The next few days David was in deep thought. He remained still and quiet.

The new speech therapist, Imbal, was pleased with David’s disposition in learning how to spell by dragging letters into place on an Ipad.

Eddy L. came to visit and made David laugh with an inside joke which he understood and I rejoiced for that moment of encapsulated memory. He left several movies for David to watch.

Thanksgiving day arrived.

Many of the residents had left to be with family for the weekend so the facility was pretty empty. I had arranged, signed all the paperwork and coordinated the transportation for David’s first trip to Eddy and Ana Carolina’s apartment the next day. We were all anxious for Friday after Thanksgiving to arrive.

In the meantime, Aunt Flor had Ana Carolina cook at her house and together prepared a special feast. Noemy had prepared another feast at her sons’ Alex Javier’s apartment.

Noemy prepared a feast at cousin Alex's apartment.

Back home, my son Fernando cooked his first turkey as well - along with Josuan (dad’s personal assistant), who remained at home helping with the dogs while Jorge would travel back and forth to and from Miami. It was the first time in over 30 years that I would not cook the special “pavochon” or turkey.

Uncle Hector and cousins Alex Javier and Hector Luis visited before joining the rest of the family for the Thanksgiving banquet. Visiting from Puerto Rico, cousins Cristina and her husband Chemi also came to spend some time.

Cousin Cristina and husband Chemi came to visit David.

For lunch, Ana Carolina brought David his own feast. It was her first turkey and it was amazingly delicious. While they both celebrated Thanksgiving, Jorge and I left to have dinner with Aunt Flor who had prepared so many delicious plates.

Aunt Flor cooked a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

Afterward we went to join the rest of the family at Alex’s. I continuously gave thanks to the Lord for family. What a blessing to re-energize with the warmth and love that family can offer.

The next morning I arrived at the nursing home to find David dressed and ready to go. The smile in his face was telling of the excitement of a new adventure. The staff was as thrilled as we were. They asked me to take pictures for them to enjoy later. The special van loaded David on the wheelchair and locked the chair into special hooks on the van’s floor. I sat upfront at the passenger’s seat. I kept looking at David to make sure he felt secure. He just held a smile as he looked out the window during the entire ride.

papassan chair

We arrived around 11:30am. Jorge was already there. Eddy and Ana were waiting and their smiles expressed their joy of having their brother be out for the first time and spend it with them. After he was brought down and in to the apartment, we all hugged and cried. It felt unreal. We were having a moment together. Eddy sat David on a papassan chair with his legs up on an ottoman.

Eddy & Ana Carolina

We had the traditional leftover Thanksgiving lunch and David observed and listened to everything attentively.

Jorge, David and I having lunch at Eddy & Ana Carolina's place.

Ana Carolina showed him his safety box where he kept all his belongings and he immediately knew what knobs to turn to open it. Jorge and Eddy played with a remote control mini helicopter, we skyped Fernando and laughed at his turkey cooking experience.

We told stories, made funny faces on the computer and laughed together like we had not done in 6 months. It was a special time we would cherish.

Transportation picked us up around 4pm and off we went. We would do this again on Sunday and already couldn’t wait. David’s smile never left his face until he fell asleep that night.

Our Thanksgiving meant a special time to honor God and thank him for all His blessings. We were so grateful for being together. There is nothing like family. And it has nothing to do with spaces. It has everything to do with each others presence.

(Psalms 100:4; Psalms 50:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

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Love bears all things.

7/4/2016

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Martha

One of my calls was to a dear friend and former supervisor Martha who suggested I look for a neurologist in Central Florida and ask for recommendations for places close to home. And so I did. I learned some facilities would not take David because the time allotted for acute rehab had elapsed or he had used all the time authorized by the insurance. Other places could not accept David because according to policy - he was too old. 27 years was old? Health insurances and assistance providers separate the benefits into 2 primary groups: the group up to 18 years of age and the group over 18 years of age. For the system - David was considered old to receive certain rehabilitation benefits. This was mind-boggling.

Now the journey became challenging. Finding a place for David that could offer him the medical benefits he needed was not an easy task.

The Director of one of the rehabilitation centers in Avalon Park called to schedule a visit. I looked forward to it and we all hoped this would be the facility God would guide us to. The place looked beautiful on the website. The rooms were well furnished; it had a pool and many different activities as part of their rehab program. It was only about 30 minutes away from home in Casselberry.

In the meantime, David was becoming more alert and would sleep less during the day. There was something different about him which I couldn’t pin point but there was an unveiling happening and I could feel it.

His therapist Stacy would continue to introduce a variety of food that included meatloaf, rice and macaroni. David’s endurance at different exercises during physical therapy continued to grow. He would initiate the routines, follow commands, worked hard at standing up and tried to eat on his own.

He would have to learn how to manage everything with his left side. David’s right side had been seriously affected to the point where there was barely any movement of his right leg; his arm was bent from his elbow up, his wrist curled in and fingers firmly closed to his palm. His arm would place so much pressure against his chest, we had to constantly monitor for pressure sores.

We continued to be held by prayers from so many and blessed by the act of faith by others. A dear friend of my mother, Aguie , had sent David a picture framed of St. Raphael the Archangel, who in the Christian tradition performs all manners of healing. A relic of St. Padre Pio in Italy had touched the picture frame. Another friend of hers, Vito sent David 2 medallions from his visit to the Saint Ann’s shrine in Canada. He shared the miracle of a relative who in the past had walked after visiting the shrine. While in Rome, Gaby mounted the Holy Staircase or “Scala Santa” on her knees, praying for David. The holy 28 marble stairs are reputed to be those walked up by Christ on his way to trial before Pontius Pilate. The staircase was brought to Rome in c.326 AD by St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, who was a pioneering collector of relics.

St. Raphael the Archangel

Jesus on the stairs with Pontius Pilate

St. Ann's Shrine in Quebec, Canada

Holy Staircase brought to Rome in c. 326 AD by St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine.

Special visits continued to bless our days, Zi came to cut David’s hair again and had a fun time listening to his stories. A long time friend from high school, Jonathan and his wife Luisa also spent some special time with David. The “Sandwich King” cafeteria owners Gustavo and Lily also visited and told David how his sandwich had become such a premium item and most popular in their menu. Sebastian and Raydel from Segafredo surprised David one evening and smiled at Raydel when he asked if he recognized him.

Jonathan and his wife Luisa came to visit David.

Gustavo & Lily

David recognized Raydel.

The regular lunches with Eddy and pedicure, shaving and manicure sessions with Ana were so therapeutic as well as the every 3 weeks visit from Gaby who would point out the progress and work with puzzles and games with David to encourage his cognizant improvement.

It was evident that all these visits had a great effect on David and were part of the healing process.

My sister and brother in law, Noemy and Hector were traveling back to Miami and were preparing the traditional Thanksgiving lunch for family and friends. It was hard to accept we would be celebrating the holidays away from home. Ana Carolina was adamant about David having the traditional meal even if it had to be finely chopped. She decided to bake her first turkey, a sweet potato casserole and green beans just for him to have.

The neurologist at Jackson Memorial recommended a Baclofen pump to treat David’s stiff muscles and spasticity. The surgeon would place a pump system – a round metal disc, under the skin of the belly near the waistline attached to a catheter (a small, flexible tube) to deliver baclofen directly into the spinal fluid. A tiny motor moves the medication from the pump through the catheter. The doctor would refill and adjust the medication every 1 to 3 months and at the end of the battery’s life span (usually 5 to 7 years), the doctor would remove and replace the pump system

The other option was Botox injections, which had been discovered to help patients with spasticity. Botox is a nerve impulse ‘‘blocker.’’ It is injected directly into the affected muscles. The fluid attaches to nerve endings and prevents the release of chemical transmitters, which carry the ‘‘message’’ from the brain that tells a muscle to contract.

The neurologist persisted on the pump because the insurance would not approve the amount of Botox needed for an effective treatment plan. Both options were not 100% guaranteed.

After researching and getting feedback from professionals and patients, as a family, we chose the Botox treatment. David would be scheduled to begin in mid December with the first injections.

After much anticipation, the Avalon Park center representative never showed up for the scheduled appointment. My heart sank. I was so disappointed. Preparing for his visit had involved the staff and the family. The therapists coached David so he would demonstrate his ability to respond to commands. This opportunity promised a step closer to home. We waited for hours hoping he was just late. He didn’t even call.

It took all my energy to stay focused on my mission. The thought that “loving others was a form of penance” personally resonated deep within me. Instead of allowing my frustration to turn into resentment, I prayed to rely on the constant whisper of trusting in the Lord and pray for every person I would come in contact with - including those who would fail on their promises. It was not easy… especially because it wasn’t about me. I had to surrender to love regardless of my disappointment. It was not easy… because our pride always gets in the way. The need of being right or first or taken seriously or being respected - is in our nature. It was not easy… to avoid the temptation of being able to justify the injustice or wrongdoing against us. It was not easy… to keep away from hardening my heart through the experience of resentment and bitterness.

I kept reciting the Lord’s words which had been given for David to read from Jeremiah: 29: 11-12 – “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you… plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope…

This was a journey of love, of trust, of patience, faith and endurance. I was not going to fight against what I had no control over and instead I offered up my disappointment with love. Tomorrow would bring something new.

(Jeremiah: 29: 11-12; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

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Authors

My son, David Arroyo and I, Ana Curras, collaborate together. This is our story. Our story because we are connected. We all are. When you hurt, I hurt, when you succeed, I succeed, when you have joy, I do too. It's in our design as human beings. Our story is intended to give hope, joy, encouragement and light. We pray to be inspired by our Creator, guided by Jesus Christ, moved by the Holy Spirit and accompanied by our Mother Mary.
We believe.

NOTE: Bible verses referred to in each post are linked to open to the verses for your convenience.