Friday , March 24

Last night right when I finished writing the blog, Hannah started throwing up.  And she was sick all night and this morning.  This afternoon they put an I.V. back in because she was dehydrated and also so they could give her some medicine for the nausea. Tonight she seems better.  Hope it was just a 24 hour thing.  There should be a rule that if you've had a stroke you are immune from all other ailments for at least 6 months-ha ha   If only life worked that way. . .
There are just three teenagers in rehab right now-Hannah,  a 14 year-old girl and the 17 year old boy I have talked about.  Today he went home.  Hannah didn't even get to say good-bye because she was sick but he sent her a message telling her good-bye.  As happy as I am for him, it was kind of sad.  These three kids are all pretty different, and probably wouldn't even be friends under different circumstances.  But here they have come together because of their similar situations, and I know they all feel a special bond with one another.  No one else can really understand what they are going through.  Even though their situations aren't identical, all of them were living normal lives a couple of months ago and then overnight their lives were turned upside down.  It's been nice for them to have someone else who understands what that's like. We will miss him and I hope and pray that things will go well for him. I've also been thinking that when the time comes we will feel guilty going home and leaving our other friend.  She's going to be here awhile.  But I definitely feel so grateful for these sweet, determined, and courageous kids who have been able to love and support one another.

I've been thinking about the things we are able to do when love is our motivator. Next door there's a darling boy, I think he's about ten, who was in an accident.  I think his parents must have to work and they live pretty far away, but his grandparents, who are probably in their late 70's, are here EVERY DAY AND NIGHT! And they have been here since NOVEMBER!  I frequently complain about the situation we find ourselves in, mostly just in my head but sometimes not, and then I catch a glimpse of those sweet grandparents caring tirelessly for their grandson and I feel so ashamed.  They are so amazing!  This is hard stuff being up here 24-7, and it's got to be physically hard on them because they aren't all that young anymore. But here they are every day, with smiles on their faces, caring for this very sweet boy that they so obviously love.  I admire them so much and often find myself wondering how they do it?  The only answer I can come up with is love.  It seems when love is our motivator, we are capable of doing some pretty amazing things!