This is especially good news because of his upcoming surgery. He needs to be as healthy as possible going in... he will need all of his strength for recovery.
Doc continued to chat with Graden, who adores him. My dad got to go with us, which made me smile. I could see the pride in my dad's eyes as he watched G interact with Doc (with little help from me). I tried telling Dad how strong Grado was, but it's so much better when you can see it for yourself. Everywhere I take him, he makes friends (Dad and Graden - ha!).
During their chat, Doc told Graden how happy he was with his progress. Our Bi-Pap machine has really helped G sleep better at night - not to mention how it lets Mom sleep a bit better, too.
Doc said, at this point, we won't need to revisit our Pulmonologist until October (long after our recovery, we hope), and then he said, "...and yearly thereafter." Talk about music to my ears...
Of course, he did tell me our Neurosurgeon would be the doctor ordering follow-up tests (MRIs, Swallow Studies, etc.) after surgery, and he reminded us that this surgery wasn't a "cure all," which we never forget. Still, he seemed positive that Graden was reaching the point of "living successfully" with his Chiari, which we know changes over time, but it sure sounds great right now. So, the BiPap helps, along with inhalers and medications as needed... Chiari can still cause concerns, but it seems his lungs are strengthening each day. Amazing!
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Today, I took a trip down memory lane...
As I did one last "walk through" at the old house, cleaned the floors, and backed out of the driveway for the last time, I realized how much has happened in that house. It was our first home as a family. We moved in Memorial Day weekend (ironic timing!) in 2006. A lot of memories in seven years... Sure, it drove me crazy with clutter some days as we worked to squeeze in, but most days, it was perfect, and it was ours.
I suppose it's appropriate to move out right now, as we take the next turn on Graden's journey. But, I can't fight this feeling (oh, wow... I just typed that to the tune of REO Speedwagon... yikes!) like I'm missing something, leaving something important behind, or doing something wrong.
I have to keep my head up, though, and remember why we made the move. It was not because of anyone or thing; it was for all of us, especially Graden. We need to be able to pay past doctor bills and save for future care. We don't know what we will need, but we have to be able to afford whatever it is... Deep down, I know we made the right choice. In fact, I can already see how much we have benefited from the move financially.
Have you seen "Meet the Robinsons?" It's a Disney movie, and one of my favorites of theirs, too. It's about a little orphan; his name is Lewis (he reminds me of Graden, despite the glasses), and he tries to be an inventor and build a time machine. He really, really wants to meet his mom and figure out why she left him on a doorstep. While that sounds heartbreaking, he actually goes on a journey and learns through a time machine mishap that life is not about the past. In fact, his "future self" teaches him his famous motto, "Keep moving forward."
Why am I telling you this? Because it's a cute movie and you should watch it, but also because I like this little guy. Often, I think of my own past, Graden's past... I wonder "should I have done this?" or "if I would have done this, would G be better or different?" But, then, I remember that those memories, the past, doesn't change anything now. It's too late. It's done. So, instead, I have to "keep moving forward."
I know I can't worry about moving out of our first home; those memories are done -- that chapter is closed. We're moving forward.
I sound like a broken record, but we truly are going one day at a time, and we will certainly "keep moving forward."
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