Christmas Day

For those still keeping count, Christmas Day marks 151 days since the surgery. I honestly stopped keeping count, but I added it up today being a landmark holiday.

First of all, Merry Christmas to all of you from my family to yours. We spent the last 24 hours much like we do every year, obviously with some exception. The winter blast that the NW has seen the last week, has put our street virtually impossible to get up and down. I discovered this personally, when arriving with presents yesterday after work. I found my Mom, and my Dad's nurse (Fred) out shoveling a path in the street for our cars to get in. This was a valiant effort, but nothing in comparison to all the neighbors pulling together to shovel tracks for cars to get through. I was out there as well, digging in the cold, thinking the whole time we were trying to get all the neighbors up the hill to their families. After about an hour, I learned that this was not the case. We were digging a path for my Mom to get in and out, should my Dad need to leave in a hurry. I was floored by the generosity of the neighbors....young and old, out digging...for my Dad.

Earlier in the week, he had a "brief" hiccup in which the nurse thought it best to take him to the ER. Turns out, it may just be a mild case of bronchitis...but it cost an entire afternoon sitting and waiting for my Mom, and my bro. But, once again, when they needed a path, the neighbors came to his aide...digging, so that he could get to the hospital. The sand trucks made special trips up his street, that normally does not get touched, because my Mom called and requested service, explaining the situation. We were put "on a waiting list", but received almost immediate attention. Even the neighbors were surprised, until I explained why, that their street was sanded.

The last week has seen the Christmas spirit alive and well. The strength in numbers coming together for one small cause, is astounding. This has been relavent the last 151 days to me. Family, friends, strangers, coming together to follow their hearts and do what is right.

My digging was interrupted yesterday by my fathers request for me to come inside. He wanted to give me his present while Fred was still there. This present, could not have been better timed. All the struggles, all the negative feedback from the doctors, all the shutting down of "keeping false hope", all leading to this moment...on Christmas eve. My Dad's present to his family was taking steps. Both feet, limited assistance, the length of the kitchen.

I hope his doctors may somehow be reading this. You can try to scientifically predict how my father will end up, but he will prove you wrong. You can tell us we have to make a decision after three months, he will prove you wrong. You can tell us that his most significant signs of improvement will be within those first three months, and well....he DID prove you wrong. You can tell us all these things till your faces turn blue, but what you cannot do is account for a man's love and devotion for what matters most in his world, his family.

Merry Christmas to all of you and our sincere love and appreciation.

~The Petrovich family.