Maru Maru from the State of Florida continued to call us with good news and kept referring to all that was happening as miracles. We knew who was really running the show. It was amazing how everything was coming into play in a perfect manner and at the perfect time.
Things were moving fast. We all had our own projects to complete for David to come home. Jorge was coordinating to receive the medical equipment at home including a hospital bed and a lifter. Fernando was painting and preparing David’s room. He drew on the wall a saying from St. Francis which read "So that I may be an instrument of your Peace". Ana had to go through and box David’s belongings to give to Jorge to take back home. Eddy was in charge of gathering all records from the hospital and to coordinate and update with key people of the new address so that we would continue to receive assistance. Every project had a timeline and had to be completed. We were all on a mission.
Driving David home in my van was out of the question. Other transportation options ran around $2,000 for the service. We decided that David and I would travel by train because not only was it affordable but, they had offered us a suite on Amtrak at no additional cost and it gave us the option of laying David on a bed if we needed to.
I was packing all my things and as much of David’s stuff as possible. We couldn’t believe it was happening. It became a bittersweet event. On one hand I was going back home with David, Jorge and Fernando and on the other hand my son Eddy and daughter Ana Carolina would stay behind. This event meant it was the last time we would see so many people who had become our community and our support at the nursing home. My aunt Flor, Uncle Carlos, cousins Christina, Kimberly, Catherine, Michael, nephews, friends would be 4 hours away vs. the closeness of regular visits and daily sharing moments.
The next few days everything seemed a little different. Interacting with the residents from the nursing home had an unusual effect on me.
I recognized how the culmination of my life experiences, the economic, the cultural background and upbringing had shaped my perception of safety, of fear, of justice, of privileges, of happiness and freedom. I also appreciated how my faith facilitated the breakthrough of hidden realities and aided me to embrace a truth I would have possibly not explored voluntarily. We had been placed to share our day to day with people with different cultural backgrounds, worldview and life experiences. We became the new strangers who somewhat would change their daily routines. We became the newbies who would have a story to share. We became the new catalysts of interaction and changes typical of newcomers.
As “they” and “us” willingly opened our hearts - we became one in the same. We relied on each others smiles and greetings every morning. We worried; rejoiced and cared for each one we met every day. We went from strangers, to allies, to friends. This place had turned out to be the perfect temporary home for David.
As “they” and “us” willingly opened our hearts - we became one in the same. We relied on each others smiles and greetings every morning. We worried; rejoiced and cared for each one we met every day. We went from strangers, to allies, to friends. This place had turned out to be the perfect temporary home for David.
We began to share our excitement of going home with everyone at the facility. We also started saying our goodbyes. Goodbye to Dona Luisa and the walks at the patio pretending we were walking to her mother’s house to have lunch. Goodbye to Mr. John who had patiently waited for David to feel comfortable at “dabbing” or fist bumping him back. Goodbye to so many residents and CNAs, nurses, cafeteria staff and receptionists. We knew the hardest ones to say goodbye would be the therapists who had believed in David’s potential from the beginning and dedicated themselves to work hard with him week after week almost every day.
When I said goodbye to resident Lesly at the computer room – he called me St. Theresa of Calcutta. I recorded this event in my journal, not because I believed I could be like her but because I thought much about her mission all along. She dedicated herself to strangers. What a true example and work of love, service and commitment and she remained faithful for so long. Her back must of hurt so many times and her legs must have gotten weak at times. She must have been exhausted but kept going with a smile in her face and the joy in her heart. I thought of how we are all called to this type of service. For every moment of my own suffering, extra effort, hard work, difficulty and act of kindness – I remembered to offer it up for souls and thought of how Jesus “thirst” for each one of us.
As things were unfolding, I realized it had been 7 months since the accident. 7 months away from home. I told David that the first day at home, I would stay in my pajamas all day long. I couldn’t wait to sleep in my bed, sit on my couch, watch a movie in my living room with my family, cook in my kitchen and water my own plants. I also thanked God for allowing me to witness, every day, the signs, wonders and miracles in each of our lives especially in David. Nurse Rose reminded us that we would see God’s favors and not to forget His love for us.
On Tuesday the 13th Ana Carolina came with cupcakes she had baked for David. I left to fill out the discharge paperwork. I knew once I signed those papers, David would no longer be part of the Jackson Memorial system. I had the confidence of moving forward and requested Friday, December 16th as his discharge date. I also arranged for transportation to pick us up on Saturday morning and take us to the train station. The plan was for Jorge to travel by train to Miami on Thursday, drive back to Orlando in my van on Friday and pick us up at the Winter Park train station the next day Saturday. Ana Carolina asked for time off at work and decided she would travel with us. We would pray and wait that all the official papers would be signed and ready for Friday.
It all pointed as if we would be home for Christmas. I was opened to continue to accept God’s plans even if that meant we would have to wait a little longer but I had this hunch that we would be leaving on Saturday.
On Tuesday the 13th Ana Carolina came with cupcakes she had baked for David. I left to fill out the discharge paperwork. I knew once I signed those papers, David would no longer be part of the Jackson Memorial system. I had the confidence of moving forward and requested Friday, December 16th as his discharge date. I also arranged for transportation to pick us up on Saturday morning and take us to the train station. The plan was for Jorge to travel by train to Miami on Thursday, drive back to Orlando in my van on Friday and pick us up at the Winter Park train station the next day Saturday. Ana Carolina asked for time off at work and decided she would travel with us. We would pray and wait that all the official papers would be signed and ready for Friday.
It all pointed as if we would be home for Christmas. I was opened to continue to accept God’s plans even if that meant we would have to wait a little longer but I had this hunch that we would be leaving on Saturday.
Thursday came around and we still had no word on the approved paperwork. As therapists Julissa and Harold were working with David at the physical therapy room, Jorge called from the train station back home and asked me - for the last time - if I was sure that he should leave that day. The train was leaving at 1pm and we still hadn’t heard from Maru. I took a leap of faith and confirmed that he should take the train and not to worry.
 Harold, David, Maru & Julissa | One hour later, at 2pm, Maru walked in the room, with her arm lifted up high and papers in hand yelling, “it’s official, you can go home”. We all cried. We were going home! We would be home in time for Jorge’s birthday and we would be home for Christmas. I called Jorge and the rest of the family and cried of joy some more. |
Maru gave us the details of this amazing miracle. She insisted that getting all the paperwork and all the signatures including those from Tallahassee, during the holidays was nothing short of a miracle. She then said David’s case had been the fastest turnaround case in her career. It had taken her 7 days to complete.
The facility staff began to bring in copies of David’s records. Nurse Mrs. Carson trained me on administering David’s medications. It started to sink in. We would leave at 6:30am on Saturday and arrive home around 2pm. My cousin Kimberly had been on a special project of her own. She had been pitching for donations and prepared Christmas baskets for the residents, which filled our hearts with joy. It would be a perfect way to say goodbye to so many special people.
The facility staff began to bring in copies of David’s records. Nurse Mrs. Carson trained me on administering David’s medications. It started to sink in. We would leave at 6:30am on Saturday and arrive home around 2pm. My cousin Kimberly had been on a special project of her own. She had been pitching for donations and prepared Christmas baskets for the residents, which filled our hearts with joy. It would be a perfect way to say goodbye to so many special people.
 Cousin Kimberly |  Christmas gifts for the residents. |
All of a sudden I remembered that back in August I had written in my journal - Jericho – 7th day – 7th month. As it turned out… it revealed a unique chain of events that would again show God’s plan. We were moving back to Jericho Drive, in a turnaround of 7 days, after 7 months. I would have never guessed what that meant back then but, now it made perfect sense. I looked up and smiled.
We all have been given an inner force to build a specific project for the betterment of others. All these projects are intertwined with others in different manners. Some projects are built in a short time, others take a longer steady pace to complete and others are left undone because of the lack of perseverance, lack of sacrifice and lack of desire to pursue the mission that leads to victory and freedom. Incomplete projects lead to dissonance and disagreements, which consumes extraordinary efforts from others to take on additional responsibility and carry other peoples’ load. The completion of projects maintains the harmony between everything created. We have all been summoned to actively participate in the building of the Kingdom here on earth.
(Hebrews 6:10; Philippians 2:4; Proverbs 3:27)
(Hebrews 6:10; Philippians 2:4; Proverbs 3:27)