April 21 2020

Every year for our kid's birthday, we take them out on a Mom & Dad date. They get to choose where we go. Some of the picks, depending on the kid and their age, have been Chick fil A, Red Robin, Outback steakhouse, Longhorn Steak House, and Bahama Breeze. But there is a favorite place, and it's not easy to get permission for us to take them there. Fogo de Chao is a Right of Passage restaurant. If you aren't familiar with it, it's a Brazilian Steakhouse where they bring the meat out on swords and cut a piece off for you at your table. You flip a disk on the table from red to green when you want them to bring you meat, and toss it back to red when you can't eat any more. There is also an amazing salad bar. Fantastic, actually. Anyway, back to kids eating. We won't take them until we know they will eat enough food to make it worth the pricey price. Thus- the Right of Passage. (oh boy, there stories to tell you about going to Fogo- it could be a whole new blog) I think Shannon was 16 or so in this photo of her at Fogo, enjoying the family favorite Guarana Brazilian Soda. One text with a photo of one of the kids drinking this will make all the other family members salivate and possibly rage with jealously. Of course, that would never actually happen, because my kids are all so kind and loving to each other.....

Today, being TUESDAY...Shannon was pretty excited when I told her I bought some Guarana at Wegman's last weekend. I'm giving her three cans a week, to make them last longer and make sure she doesn't get sick of them (as if that's even possible!) As mentioned before- it's an essential item, and you have to ration it! See how it brightens up her hospital table? :)

And that's not all-- I dropped off a Wawa turkey sandwich, and she ate half for lunch, also some Wawa mac n cheese, and tomorrow morning, she's eating Swiss Bircher Mueslie (Shout out to you- Aunt Nancy) which is a fancy way of saying overnight oats with yogurt and fruit. My kids LOVE that stuff. We eat it for all special occasion days. Also,  my little baker Krisha whipped up some of her now famous Raspberry Lemonade Bars. So basically- we brought all the favorites Shannon needs to eat happily so she can get off the tube feedings and gain some weight :) 

I know you are all waiting to hear how things went today at Shannon's appointment with her spine surgeon! First of all, I need to share a side story. As a reminder, Lancer works at the Rothman Institute, which is where her spine surgeon works. We went downtown and were chatting with Lancer's boss and the CEO, and a few other people. Everyone is still being so wonderful and supportive of whatever we need to do for Shannon. They are all still praying for her and our family- which is such a blessing. When it was time to meet Shannon, we went downstairs to wait in the lobby. A mother, father and teenager came in the door, and as soon as they walked in, they were told only one parent can be with the son. The dad got irate, but waited for his wife to go upstairs and see if he could join them. He couldn't. My heart lurched a bit at the situation. We were both able to be with Shannon, and I am so grateful for it. I definitely was counting my blessings that Lancer works where he does, and knows who he knows so we could both be with Shannon.

The office manager came and met us and Shannon got more X-rays. If you are friends with her on Facebook, you probably saw her post about a midnight x-ray last night. I don't know what that was about, but she needed some done the way Rothman wanted them done, so she got a double dose of radiation for the day. We hung out in the exam room with her for a while joking and chatting and just enjoying being together,which was wonderful. Doctor Vacarro came in and the first thing he said was that he has been praying for Shannon and us every since the accident. The second thing he said was that he wanted to be sure there aren't any studies that Shannon could be in for her spinal cord injury. He called an associate that handles those kinds of studies, and there aren't any that are for her region of injury. I expected to be disappointed when he told us that, but I wasn't. I feel very much at peace that Shannon will heal without the need of new upcoming treatments. It's weird, I suppose, but I'm not worried about it.

Dr. Vacarro took time to explain to Shannon what her injuries were, showing her the x-rays, and discussing what he did to correct it. Then he shared that he usually has a least one main concern at this point. But he doesn't have any concerns with her! Everything is healing well, looking great, and exceeding expectations. He said that he wanted to make sure she is doing some neck exercises to build up her neck muscles so she doesn't slump. But otherwise- picture perfect. He was blown away by her arm and upper body strength. When he saw her a little over a month ago, she couldn't even move her arms. Now she's doing all kinds of amazing things. She's killing it! He will be checking up on her again in another 6 weeks. He named several doctors at Magee and asked if we have met or talked to them. We hadn't even heard of them. Apparently, they are the main doctors at the rehab center, and he's keeping in close contact with them about Shannon, and making sure she is taken care of. Just another bonus of knowing him so well. We could not ask for better care.

Shannon FaceTimed later, just after I dropped off her clean laundry to her hospital. She was with her speech therapist- and was using her new speaking cap!!! I just love hearing her talk! It's all whispery, but it's so fantastic-- and, as predicted: she started being able to talk right when I started getting the hang of reading her lips. So, now I have a new talent that I can use in my everyday out-of-earshot life.

And speaking of speaking: Here is a little treat for you! (turn up your volume!)

And that's NOT with the speaking cap! Doesn’t she look amazing? You don't have the frame of reference that we do, of course, seeing how she looks now compared to right after her accident. She looks like the Shannon we all know- so you’ll just have to trust me when I say she has healed beautifully and  so quickly! Shannon is a little disappointed that some of her scars are fading already, but she still has plenty of gnarly looking scars to tell her story.

Other news for today- well, that's plenty- I think!

I second Shannon's message- thank you for the prayers, and for all you do. I don't remember a time in my life that I have prayed so hard, and been so grateful for the prayers of others. Shannon needs continued prayers for her respiratory and speaking to improve so she doesn't need the trach, for her core muscles to continue to strengthen, for her to have the endurance to do all of her therapies, for her spinal cord to continue to heal, for her blood pressure to regulate, and for her to continue to feel at peace with her situation and know she is being looked after by a loving Heavenly Father, and so many others who care for her. Please also pray for her to not feel alone while she continues to be in isolation. 

Meme for the day: (this is perfect because this song has been stuck in my head all day long)

Disney quote:

Yes, words are useless! Gobble, gobble, gobble….too much, darling, too much! That is why I show you my work, that is why you are HERE!

Edna Mode- Disney's Incredibles