June 11, 2011 9:20 AM
A visit with Josh and Hattie, then on to Glee
Thursday marked a month for Hattie's current hospital stay - made even more challenging because she'd only been home 9 days after her previous 3 1/2 week stay. Thank God that He has placed such good support in their lives. Josh has crews working for him which allows him to stay with Hattie each day until 9 pm, when visitors have to leave. And Hattie;s mom comes to relieve him a couple days a week so he can go home and pay bills or maybe catch a dinner with us.
Last Thursday was very interesting for us as well as Jill's House gave our family three donated tickets to see the touring company of Glee at the Verizon Center in DC (Thank you to the amazing Jill's House!) . I took Jonny and Jesse and we made the most of the opportunity by leaving a few hours early to visit Hattie. Jonny had been to visit her in the hospital before but Jesse hadn't. He was very quiet, so I know he was processing a lot.
We now have to wear gowns and gloves to visit:
Hattie is out of the hospital bed and in the recliner during the day. She is pulling up to her walker by herself and walking laps around the nurses' station. On good days, Josh can take her out in a wheelchair, but it was over 100 a couple days last week, so that hasn't happened much lately.
She is still in pain from an internal drain they inserted, but her body will eventually get used to having a foreign object. In the meantime she does have pain relief.
They are really hoping she can come home next week - home being to her parents house, which is closer to DC (and doctors) than Josh and Hattie's. Also, she can have constant care there while Josh goes back to work, coming to spend the night there himself until she is able to go home.
I know you all are praying and Hattie and Josh wanted me to express their gratitude for your prayers.
After our visit, we drove to the Verizon Center - 35 minutes to go 6 miles - parked, and joined the mad throng streaming in to what I suddenly realized was going to be a lot to handle for Jesse. But he was a real trouper, especially considering he had to deal with scary things like escalators (we don't see much of those in the country unless we go the malls, which we don't) and the fact that our seats were just five rows down from the very highest row.
The dark, crazy lights, smoke, fireworks and SCREAMING masses of girls was a lot for a guy with Down syndrome and autism to handle, but he did get through it - most likely because he adores music and so the vibrations were speaking his language.
Jonny, on the other hand, was screaming with everyone else; "I love you! I love you so much!"
It's been a long time since I've seen a popular concert in a huge venue like this. But the teeny-bopper girls and their passionate screaming reminded me of when I went with my best friend Candy to see the Beatles in 1964 (their very first concert in the United States! and I was there!) I guess some things never change.
Comments
So happy to see their smiling faces! We will keep praying for Hattie's full recovery!
Posted by: Eileen | June 11, 2011 10:28 AM
"Joy & Woe are woven fine,
A Clothing for the Soul divine;
Under every grief & pine
Runs a joy with silken twine." William Blake
My husband Dennis and I, like so many of your readers, pray for Josh and Hattie and feel like they're are part of our family. Thank you for this bittersweet posting.
Posted by: Judy | June 11, 2011 2:49 PM
