Hello, It's Me

Paul watching as Mike blows out his candles. Work hard Paul - you will have 22 to blow out in 7 short months!




Mike and his Godmother, Aunt Mary Beth








Paul sitting on front porch and Mike getting ready to wash his car.







Mike washing his car while Paul watched. Very normal for Paul :)








Two steps forward, and there didn't appear to be any steps back for Paul this weekend. He started off with sleeping in until 8:00 A.M. That meant we all slept in that long! Paul's face reflected he was feeling well when he woke. We eased into the day and I had a big breakfast ready when he came down from his shower. He is eating only when we bargain with him, but at least he is eating. He has not done as well all week with liquids, but that will be the focus of my work with him this week. We let him get extra sleep this weekend so that he would be strong as he started the new week and to help him recover from all the activity of this past week. It has proven to be very beneficial for him, as he has made some gains in a couple of areas.

On Saturday, my sister Beverly came over to our house with her son Joseph so that he could say goodbye to us. He was leaving Sunday for his flight to Washington D.C. and then on to Germany. When they got here, we were getting dinner ready to celebrate Mike's 17th birthday. (It's march 5th, but we wanted to celebrate before his Aunt Mary Beth and James left.) Paul was upstairs sleeping. We were having a terrific time with my 2 sisters, James, Joseph, Matt Velker and Michael and there was a lot of talking and laughing. All of a sudden, Paul walked into the kitchen. He shocked all of us. He has never walked downstairs by himself, nor has he shown any initiative to do anything like this before. We all hugged him and he sat down at the kitchen table like he would normally have done before the accident. I was so happy for Joseph that Paul came down because I wanted Joseph to be able to see Paul before he left. He was in basic training when Paul's accident happened and he had been given special permission to come home for a few days to see Paul. Paul was still in a coma and it was tough for Joseph to see Paul in that condition and then have to leave without knowing what was going to happen to Paul. Seeing Paul come downstairs and say hello to everyone was a big surprise for all of us. And the talking and laughter continued on for another half an hour until Bev and Joseph had to leave. It was so much fun reminiscing about when the kids were smaller. Bev had lived on the street behind us and her kids used to climb the fence all the time to get to our house. The 8 cousins (my 4 and Bev's 4) were very close and when they moved, it was only 2 miles away. They have been blessed to have had each other all these years.

Here we were, 12 years later and Joseph remembered that it was on Mike's 5th birthday that he (Joseph) had climbed the fence to come back to my house for the party with all the family. My parents lived in town, as did my oldest brother, so everyone was at our house. Joseph had run home for something. When he came back, he fell off the fence and broke his arm. We went on with Mike's party, but everyone waited at my house until Bev and Joe came home with Joseph so that we would know how he was doing. Now we were having to say goodbye to Joseph as he was leaving to start a very new pathway in his life. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. One thing is for sure. I can hardly wait until we can be back in my house again, celebrating Joseph's return and Paul's recovery. It will be about 2 years before Joseph comes home, but it will go quickly when I think back on how fast the last 12 years has gone. Jon's dad used to say "You think the first 25 years went by fast - wait until the next 25". Very true statement. Which is why I am glad I am learning even more how to take each day and realize it is a treasure.

Today, which is Mike's birthday, we went to Mass and then had Mike's birthday breakfast. (Food has always been a big deal in our house...........5 men!) After breakfast, Paul took a short nap and then he sat outside and watched Mike wash his car. Then he sat in Mike's car as Mike finished. Paul was enjoying the music that was playing. After awile, he went to the driveway to sit near his dad as he was changing the oil in our cars. Jon was in high gear to catch up on so many things that have been neglected over these last months. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day and I was enjoying another 'pocket of peace' in God's world as I tended to another garden. When that was done, we took Paul to St. Stephen's to walk around the parking lot. He made it 3 times around, due to Jon being there with us. Paul usually only makes it around 1 1/2 - 2 times with me. Then we stopped at Kroger and Paul pushed the cart and unloaded all the groceries onto the check out counter. We are trying to let him do as much as possible so that he will gain more independence and excercise. When we got home, he took another nap. He was definitely 'spent'. (He used this term once to answer his dad about why he could not eat anymore. He said he was "about spent".)

When he woke up, I had him sit at his computer for awhile. He got up and said he really wanted to go back to bed, but I told him that he needed to do something else, as he had only been up about 1/2 hour. He had his cell phone with him and he started to play with it. I asked if he remembered how to use it to make calls. He scrolled down the numbers and then he called his brother Jon! Unfortunately, he got his voice mail. I know Jon would have enjoyed getting that call. Hopefully, Paul will continue to try to use his cell phone to 'reach out and touch someone' and to leave a message the next time.

A very special moment for me was late Saturday night. Mary Beth and James had a 7:30 A.M. flight, so they came into Paul's room to say goodbye to him. He understood what was going on and James leaned over Paul and Paul hugged him and said " Goodbye Jamesie". We all prayed, holding hands. We prayed for Paul's continued recovery and also a prayer of thanksgiving to God for answering the heartfelt prayer that Jamesie said on November 11, while he held my hand as we stood under the crucifix.

Time does fly by. Thank you all for staying with us in thought and prayer. It continues to sustain us.

Love,
Jon and Rebecca Fidero
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL FIDERO - WHO IS ALSO AWESOME!