Home Again!

Hello!

It's been a while since my last update. Sorry for the delay. I'm excited to tell you that Dominic was released from the hospital last Thursday and returned home to stay! His therapists agreed that his urge to get out of the hospital and go home was beginning to interfere with his ability to stay focused on his therapy. Dominic's first night home was a little rocky. He was excited to finally be back with his family, but when we put him in bed that evening, he started crying. He said he missed the nurses and wanted to know when we could go back and visit them. We assured him that he would be able to visit them soon. He fell asleep not long after and slept through the night without a problem.

We have to be constantly vigilant with Dominic because he still isn't fully aware of his physical limitations. He is healing, but not fast enough to keep up with his eagerness to do all the things he used to. We have to make sure he doesn't try to stand or walk on his own until he's able to do so safely. This is very frustrating for him. He still asks if he can go outside and ride his bike. We've explained to him on numerous occasions that he's not able to ride a bike just yet and that his bike was damaged in the accident, but that doesn't stop him from asking.

On Saturday morning, we took all three boys (and both grandmas) to the Taste of Morgan Hill. Before taking in the sights, we decided to stop at Just Breakfast for a bite to eat. Dominic was sitting in his wheelchair at the end of the table. He was very quiet and looked deep in thought. Finally he looked at me and asked “It this permanent?” I didn’t know how to respond. Firstly, the fact that he used the word “permanent” in a sentence was a bit of a shocker. So I asked him “Is what permanent?” He answered “Chair.” (meaning his wheelchair). I told him “No, of course not.” Then he thought for a moment and asked “Am I permanent?” My heart sank. He motioned towards his weakened right arm and leg. “No, this is not permanent. You will get well, but it’s going to take a little time. This is not permanent.” As painful as it was to hear him ask the question, it meant something very important. It meant that Dominic is beginning to understand what has happened to him which will ultimately help him to begin to cope with the fallout from his accident. We have no doubts that Dominic will continue to recover. He is determined to get back to the way he was. You can see it in almost everything he does or attempts to do. He’s a tough kid with an iron will.

Whatever the final outcome, we have our Dominic back. Our family is whole again.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the Parrot Heads of Morgan Hill for the fundraiser they held for Dominic over the weekend. They’re an incredible group of people and it was an honor to have finally met them. I’ll provide more info on their organization and their efforts in a future update.

Thanks for stopping by!

David Loperena & Family

Update - Cheers & Tears

Once again, we've seen a week of firsts for Dominic. In the one week since the last update, Dominic has begun to talk! He still has not regained his voice, but he is speaking to us in whispers. There are times when we are unable to fully understand what he’s whispering to us. When this happens, Dominic becomes visibly frustrated by his inability to get his message across, but he supplements his speech by pointing to the things he wants or needs. Yesterday (Sunday) we were able to bring Dominic home for the day again. On the advice of his therapists, we took him out into the community to see how he would respond to being in a public place. It was decided that a quick trip to Safeway for a grocery run would be a good start, so off we went. I’m pleased to report that Dominic did very well. He showed no signs of being anxious or self conscious about being out in public. As we made our way through the aisles, he would reach out from his wheelchair in an attempt to snare cookies and candies, etc. (as he would often do before the accident). It was good to see the return of such familiar behavior. Even if it was a little naughty. ;)

After our trip to the store, we headed over to Grandma Loperena’s house for a dip in the Jacuzzi. Dominic had a terrific time playing in the water and even laughed out loud on several occasions as we splashed around and played with pool toys. It was wonderful to see him so happy. We allowed Dominic to play in the water until he decided he was ready to get out and go home. Sadly, he ended up getting carsick on the drive back, so we hustled him into the house for a quick shower before preparing to return with him to the hospital. It was already dark when we finally arrived and Dominic didn’t realize where we were until he was out of the car and in his wheelchair. As it dawned on him that we were back at the hospital, his eyes widened and filled with tears and his bottom lip began to tremble. It’s the first time he’s actually cried since his accident. I asked if he was sad because he wanted to be home and he whispered “yes”. It was so heartbreaking to have to bring him back to the hospital. Kim and I tried explaining that he would only be there a little while longer so the doctors and therapists could help him get better, but he still doesn’t fully understand what has happened to him or why he’s there to begin with. Kim said when they returned to his hospital room he cried some more and kept whispering “home”. He even made a couple of attempts to head for the elevator for a quick getaway, but was thwarted each time by Mommy and the nurses.

While it’s difficult to see him so sad and confused, we’re glad that he has clearly retained his memories of home and family. It’s equally heartening to see that Dominic is so anxious to come home again. We miss him dearly and want him back with us. It’s just a matter of time now. Thanks for checking in on Dominic’s progress. Hopefully there will be even more exciting developments to report over the next few days. And, as ever, thank you all for your fervent prayers and support.

David Loperena

Dominic's Visit Home

So the therapists arranged to have Dominic come home and spend the day with us on Sunday. It was a fantastic day! He was so excited to see his brothers and our dogs and a slew of familiar faces. He settled himself in right away and we put on one of his favorite movies (Spiderman 3). At one point, he smelled cooking and started scooting himself towards the kitchen. By lifting him under his arms, we were able to pick him up and help him walk there so he could see what was going on. It's clear his memories of home and family are still intact. He knew where he wanted to go and was clearly overjoyed to be surrounded by family in a familiar place. He spent his afternoon playing with the dogs, watching cartoons, playing with his toys and walking (with help) to and from the kitchen. His recovery continues to amaze us. Not only is he showing a return of strength and control to his right arm and leg, he has even begun to smile again. Within the past couple of days, Dominic has started to communicate with by nodding his head for "yes" and shaking it for "no". This is a huge accomplishment and a breakthrough in communication. This morning, I asked Dominic if he would like to watch some cartoons while Daddy was taking a shower. That got a big "yes" nod. When I asked him if he was hungry and ready for his breakfast, another big nod. As Kim was feeding him dinner the night before, she asked if he wanted more mashed potatoes (not a favorite of his). He shook his head "no". The fog of his injury is lifting and Dominic has begun to shine through. We are proud of his fighting spirit and of the progress he continues to make. Tonight he gets his first haircut since the accident. The very same barber (and an old family friend) who cut my hair when I was Dominic's age has offered to come to the hospital and do the job. Louie, if you're reading this, thank you so much. That’s all the news that’s fit to print. Thank you all for your prayers and support. Whether you realize it or not, each of you have played a role in his recovery. More updates to come…

David Loperena

Update - 9/3/08

I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, but Dominic is now able to pull himself into a standing position within his cubical bed! It's clearly a struggle for him, but he can do it. And it doesn't end there. Today he was able to maneuver himself through the hospital corridors in his wheelchair using just his legs. He has a tendency to pull himself to the left because his right leg is still fairly weak, but he moved along with purpose and the doctors and nurses who saw him coming down the hall were simply amazed that he has progressed so much in just a few weeks. Dominic’s dexterity in his left hand has improved significantly since the last update. He is manipulating toys, scratching his ears, rubbing his eyes and even picking his nose! (The doctors agree that nose-picking is considered a fine motor skill). ;) Dominic is clearly experiencing cabin fever as he makes every effort to escape from his bed and head for the door if given even the slightest chance. He’s anxious to get out and play, but he’s not quite steady enough to go exploring. Not just yet. As of today, the doctors have stated that it appears his right arm, leg and his speech will probably take the longest to recover due to the nature of his injury. But we continue to have the highest hopes that he’ll regain it all in due time. He has consistently demonstrated an incredible drive and determination to get back on his own two feet. We’ll continue to keep you posted. Thanks for checking in!

David Loperena & Family