Studio One. Click picture for FB video. Friday night, after dinner Jorge, David and I drove to drop off Fernando at University Cats. Julie J. and the Studio One crew invited David to come into the gym. He was so happy watching them dance hip-hop, break dance and spin. We left around 1:00am. It was the first time going to bed so late.
The next day we went to Shaka to get a haircut and then spent the day with Ana Carolina.
Before she headed back to Miami, she “kidnapped him” for a ride. It was his first time riding in the car with her after a year.
Before she headed back to Miami, she “kidnapped him” for a ride. It was his first time riding in the car with her after a year.
Chris, Erik, David, Mike, Justin, Steven and Fernando. Eddy drove from Miami and took David to the movies. It was his first time going to the movies. Afterwards, like good old times, they went to spend some time with friends at Justin’s house.
We celebrated Easter Sunday with Jorge’s cousin Carmencita and Pili. We had so much fun dancing for David.
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For a college project, Eddy returned the following week to videotape the founder of the Tote of Comfort & Hope Program and Mothers for TBI Hope, Tracy Porter. After arriving to the Trauma Center where David had been admitted in Jackson Memorial Hospital, the staff handed me a tote bag with toiletries, literature and other care needs. This was the work of Tracy who had been through the frightening experience with her son suffering a severe brain injury in 2004. Her story was inspirational and full of compassion. We had a wonderful time at Downtown Orlando’s Lake Eola, and thanked her for such a beautiful mission of love.
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Lenny L. from the Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Program stopped by to drop off special boots to help keep David’s feet in the correct upright position. David began rolling on one side in bed which meant he started activating core muscles.
 | At therapy he worked on the motorized bike and became more aware of using his heels versus the toes when standing up. It was becoming obvious that David was gaining more independence as he asked not to be helped with feeding and wanted to use the fork instead of a spoon during meals. |
We registered at the Winter Springs Senior Center to access the heated pool and worked on balance. It would be the first time David would be completely submerged in water. At first David became nervous in the water and hanged on to my neck. After a few visits he learned to relax and grew confident that he would be ok even though he had very little control of his body in the water. I meditated much on the gift of free will and how important is to recognize it - for it sustains hope.
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Just like he always used to do, David enjoyed writing out on a poster his short and long term goals and placed a sign language poster up next to his bed. By this time we had finished the third book by Henri Nouwen, Can you drink my cup.
| For about two months, CNA Denise helped us at home with David. She was a big blessing for us. She had the patience and dedication to genuinely care for our needs. As time went by, David was more active in using his body adequately to assist in standing up from the chair. This meant we didn’t need Denise anymore. It was a bittersweet decision because it was hard to say goodbye but at the same time it represented David was progressing. |  Denise became our angel at home. |
During the next few weeks we had family visit us. Jorge’s cousin Lourdes, Esteban, their son Quique, nephew Jose and grandma Doris came to visit from Puerto Rico. Grandma Doris led a beautiful-powerful prayer over David. Kris O. and wife Joyce who were also visiting joined us in prayer. Noemy and Hector visited the following weekend from Ohio followed by Mayito and Tere from Puerto Rico.
 Lourdes, Quique and Esteban with David. |  David, Fernando and Kris. |
 The fun crew. |  Doris, Fernando, Kris, Quique, Lourdes, Esteban, David and Joyce. |
Uncle Mayito brought David an IPad, which fascinated him and immediately began to explore it.
As David surfed on the Web on the IPad, he saw a position as a project manager with Cirque du Soleil. I saw him clicking to apply for the job and asked him to point to the qualifications he met and as he looked through the criteria he then pointed at “great communicator”.
We talked about this skill as a motivation to continue working at speech therapy and I thought internally how much of a strong communicator he already was without using words but by his great faith and joy.
We talked about this skill as a motivation to continue working at speech therapy and I thought internally how much of a strong communicator he already was without using words but by his great faith and joy.
Gaby came to visit on the Friday before Mother’s Day, which marked one year since David’s accident. As a surprise she prepared with David a delicious breakfast for me.
| | Carmencita and Pili shared some fun time with us that evening and we sang and danced to the 70s music. |
A year ago on Mother's Day, David had given me a trip to Spain as a graduation gift. I was to leave on a Friday from Miami but on Tuesday of that week he would suffer the accident that caused the brain injury. I kept thinking what a blessing it was that I had not left and could be by his side.
 | Here we were a year later celebrating a new day every day together. He was so happy to invite me to a coffee, gave me a beautiful card and my favorite perfume for Mother’s Day. When we went to cross out the day at the calendar like we did every night before going to bed, he insisted on not crossing out Sunday because Mother's Day would never be over. |
Kimberly, David & William. The following Saturday, Kimberly came to spend a few days with us. David was so excited that for almost a week before she came, he kept waking up several times at night hoping time would pass by quickly. On that Saturday, we waited for her at church and we all went to confession. Afterwards Jorge, Kimberly, David and I went to Aloma Cinema grill for dinner and a movie.
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We watched “Battleship” and had a great time together.
We had learned that standing up would allow David’s bones to bear their weight keeping the bone density and muscles strong, preventing overall atrophy. We met his brother/friend Tony at the gym for some stretching and bone strengthening. He was energized to work out with Tony. Prior to the accident, David was in the best physical shape - so after a year -working out at a gym felt invigorating.
 David & Tony working out. |  |
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My cousin Arturo also visited us that weekend and noticed that David was more involved in the conversation and that he was attentive to his right arm which was now slightly moving at command.
In prayer one morning, David chose 2 Psalms that spoke to our hearts and revealed his gratefulness for the Love he was receiving from God. The best way to express what was in his heart spoke through these Psalms. Reading both Psalms in its entirety and reflecting back - can only provoke deeper thoughts today and reveal the beautiful relationship of a son and The Father. There is no doubt in my mind David has chosen the best part of his life to rejoice in the Lord. Here is a verse from each: Psalm 40:18 “ Though I am afflicted and poor, my Lord keeps me in mind. You are my help and deliverer; my God, do not delay!” Psalm 52:11 “I will thank you forever for what you have done. I will put my hope in your name – for it is good, in the presence of those devoted to you”.
In prayer one morning, David chose 2 Psalms that spoke to our hearts and revealed his gratefulness for the Love he was receiving from God. The best way to express what was in his heart spoke through these Psalms. Reading both Psalms in its entirety and reflecting back - can only provoke deeper thoughts today and reveal the beautiful relationship of a son and The Father. There is no doubt in my mind David has chosen the best part of his life to rejoice in the Lord. Here is a verse from each: Psalm 40:18 “ Though I am afflicted and poor, my Lord keeps me in mind. You are my help and deliverer; my God, do not delay!” Psalm 52:11 “I will thank you forever for what you have done. I will put my hope in your name – for it is good, in the presence of those devoted to you”.
Dr. Joshua R. Langford Because David’s heels had rotated and his foot drop was so severe, the physical therapists referred us to Orthopedic Dr. Joshua R. Langford in Orlando. Immediately he scheduled David for surgery at ORMC on June 11th to install the “Taylor Spatial Frames” on both legs to correct the deformities. Dr. Langford explained that the frames were circular stainless steel external fixators or rings that would be surrounding each leg. It would have wires fixed to the rings, passing through the skin and into the bone. Pins would be attached on one side of the frame and wires going through the bone to the other side of the frame where it would be attached and held under tension. There would also be rods between the rings to make the frame stable and to make adjustments by turning special nuts every day. The concerns were the possibility of infection and ankle dislocation both common for this type of procedure.
These apparatus would gradually lift his feet to the upright position and turn the heels straight facing forward to allow him to stand on both feet. Because the process of healing would take about 8-9 months, Dr. Langford recommended placing the frames on both legs to avoid having to wait so much time in between surgeries and allow David to begin weight bearing on both legs as soon as possible. I would be in charge of the adjustments at home and would have to watch for complications. Showers would be challenging, moving David around would also become strenuous and sleeping in bed would be demanding but, after a year we were excited to see his feet back to the normal position and watch him stand up. He would have to wear the frames for 4 months - so our day to day would be changed dramatically.
| Eddy and Karina came the weekend prior to the surgery and took David on the boat with Justin. He was so excited to go. |  |
 Eddy, David and Justin. |  |
 |  Eddy, David and Fernando. |
On Saturday we attended a beautiful healing mass at St. Augustine in Casselberry. After mass, on Sunday, at Saints Peter & Paul Church, Ms. Ann brought David a bottle with holy water from the grotto of Lourdes in France and told him that she prayed every day for him. Father Derk officiated the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and made a beautiful prayer over him. We were ready for surgery.
Driving back from picking up my mother from the airport, the night before David’s surgery, Jorge called and asked that I hurry up coming home. When we arrived we saw David on the floor of his room. He had tried to get out of bed, held to the curtains and then fell on the floor. Unable to pick David back up into his bed, Jorge placed a pillow under his head, covered him and sat next to him on the floor until we got home. We laughed and thanked God that he had not been injured. David was so happy to see Mama Aby. They always had a lot of fun together.
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The next morning, we woke up at 3:30am and headed to the hospital. The surgery began at 7:30am and lasted about 4 hours and was successful. I stayed with David the first night and we barely slept.
 Prepared for surgery. |  David, Mom and I. |
He refused taking any pain medication insisting he had no pain and never complained. The nurses were impressed of his great disposition and joy.
 Pins in each toe. |  Fernando, David & mom. |
The following day, the hospital’s physical therapist came to train Fernando on transferring David. For a second I felt overwhelmed of the new challenge, especially because David not only had these huge frames with wires and bolts but also had exposed pins on each toe. Fernando would stay the following nights at the hospital so that I could rest.
 |  The ORMC staff were amazing! |
The PT Mike recommended for David to go straight to rehab or to a nursing home for at least a week but it wasn’t approved so we made transportation arrangements to take David home on a stretcher. The staff at ORMC had been wonderful and we hoped they would be there when we would come back to remove the frames.
We would be homebound for at least 4 months so we selected great books to read and to start off watched a magnificent DVD series my mother had sent us called “Catholicism” with now Bishop Robert Barron. We learned and revisited doctrines of the Catholic Church and marveled of the brilliance of the Universal Church.
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 | David began noticing crosses in the sky, on a fence, in clothing, even water marks on a window. It amazed us how he would notice and point out crosses everywhere. He was now crossing his arms and became more efficient using the IPad. |
During this time, Shaka would come home to give David a haircut because it was impossible to drive him around with the frames. The only outing we had was to and from doctors’ appointments and we had to transport him on a stretcher.
David’s high school friend David LM. came to visit with his children and a few days later, his special friend Michelle O. visited him with her son Joshua. They hadn’t seen each other for over 5 years. He enjoyed the visits very much.
David’s high school friend David LM. came to visit with his children and a few days later, his special friend Michelle O. visited him with her son Joshua. They hadn’t seen each other for over 5 years. He enjoyed the visits very much.
 David LM visited with his children. |  Michelle O. and son Joshua with David. |
New changes brought new challenges. We had no idea what tomorrow would bring but we knew Who would be with us every step of the way.
(Psalm 40; Psalm 52)
(Psalm 40; Psalm 52)