On June 27th you helped celebrate Steve’s progress by attending, participating in, working on, and donating (financially and emotionally) to his golf outing. It was a wonderful day filled with friends, beautiful weather, friendly competition, and contests.
This is what it also was: A day on which Steve was reminded that there are so many people out there who love and care about him, and celebrate his many victories. People who recognize that he has come a long, long way but has many things yet to accomplish, and sacrifice their time and provide financial support to help make that happen. Put yourself in his shoes for a minute, and think about the impact this would have on your life and your hope and your determination. It’s huge. Beyond huge. We just cannot thank you enough.
It was also a day when we were reminded once again to never be afraid to try new things, or to stop thinking of challenges to put before him. The first picture was taken of the four of us early in the day. A few minutes later I summoned up every ounce of courage I had and suggested that he drive, knowing that I could always pull his foot off the accelerator if we got into trouble. There were times when he had to be reminded to watch out for things, and turns where it was hard to maneuver the steering wheel with one hand, but the fact that he could do this was shocking and wonderful. We got in one situation where we needed to go in reverse, so he adjusted the gear and turned around to look behind us as he backed down the path. We just could not stop smiling. Here’s a picture taken shortly after the first, when we encountered Uncle Dave and Miranda. “A picture is worth a thousand words!”
How can we thank you, old and new friends, for the part you have played in Steve’s recovery? There really are no words. As we have said before, being on the receiving end of something like Steve’s Scramble changes your life.
Please know that our appreciation is from the bottom of our hearts. We will never forget that day, or stop being amazed by and thankful for the support you have shown to our family.
Love,
The Percha Family
Here are some additional pictures from Steve's Scramble:
Steve's Golf Outing Pictures
5 comments:
What a difference a year makes...just AWESOME!
Uncle Don
I could not agree more, wow. God bless you all.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I have four....WAY TO GO STEVE!!!
Love, Aunt Gail
Good morning Linda, Steve and Rob
Don't know if the Detroit Sunday papers carry the Parade Magazine insert (www.parade.com if not) but this morning there was an article by the wife of Bob Woodruff talking about TBI. Here is an excerpt that I found interesting.
"While each injury and recovery is as varied as the patient affected, scientists now know that the healing process in the brain can go on much longer than originally believed. For instance, even three-and-a-half years after the bomb blast, Bob’s speech continues to get more fluid.
Innovations in cognitive rehabilitation have played a key role in improving people’s outcomes. Twenty years ago, rehab consisted of rote memorization, repetition, and trying to get patients to meet certain benchmarks. “One of the advancements in rehabilitation is to make the therapy person-centered,” says Dr. Lori Terryberry-Spohr, brain-injury program manager at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Neb. “We can tailor it to the individual’s goals, strengths, hobbies, interests, and occupations.”
Colin Smith, 22, is a Marine who was shot in the head in October 2006 by a sniper in Iraq. He lay in a coma for five weeks. When he awoke, he couldn’t talk, move his limbs, or track movements with his eyes. But thanks to the rigorous rehab regimen he is undergoing near his hometown in Ohio, he has regained those abilities. As part of therapy, animal-lover Colin walks dogs for a local shelter. This activity helps on many levels: It improves his mobility, uses his sense of direction, and helps him get re-accustomed to working amid the noise and interruptions of normal life."
Hope you guys have a great day.
Uncle Rick
Steve,
Hope you're having a great time at the beach. Can't wait to hear about it.
Uncle Rick
Post a Comment