Jennaishealed.org

Cake 1:

Cake 2:

I got to go get Jenna and bring her back here for five days, for Cooper’s birthday, which we just celebrated with family on the day itself.  Then we had another party the following weekend for his little friends at chunky cheese’s.  Cooper had a great time and so did Jenna while she was here.  The first cake was a prototype for the second, larger one.  Cooper wanted carrot cake with a spongebob on a blue background.  Im a DIY kinda guy so I took a shot (or two) at it myself rather than spend $$ at a bakery…

On a more heavy topic, I saw a news report the other night about a family who’s little daughter’s life was saved because they had heard about Natasha Richardson’s death, and the circumstances around it.  What happened was, the father was hitting golf balls and accidentally beaned his little daughter in the temple.  The little girl was fine for a day or two, but then started complaining about a headache i think the second night at bedtime.  The mom had seen the Richardson story on TV and decided to play it safe by going to the emergency room.  The girl was rushed into brain surgery where a slow-bleed subdural hematoma was patched up and the little girl’s life was saved, literally at the last moment.  If they hadn’t brought her in on complaint of that headache, she never would have woken up the next morning.

All I can say to all that is, the Richardson family can take a small bit of comfort in that Natasha’s death, and the media coverage of it, absolutely and concretely saved that little girl’s life.   Nothing more to say about that beyond the obvious (wipes tear)…

In case anyone missed it, Natasha Richardson died of complications from a head injury this week.  I just read about the autopsy results and I thought I’d comment briefly about it.  Here is a story about the results:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/19/natasha-richardson-mourne_n_176806.html

Basically, she seemed fine after the knock to her head (I believe she skiied into a tree), and they even refused the first ambulance to arrive because she seemed fine.  In reality, her brain was bleeding into the space around it in the skull.  As the skull filled with blood, it pushed down on the brain, forcing it out of the skull through the hole in the bottom where the spinal cord and blood supply vessels pass through to the neck.

Once the swelling gets bad enough, that supply of blood gets choked off, and death is certain.

All I can say is I hope something positive comes out of this.  I hate being one of those safety-first people who wants everyone in helmets, but I never let Cooper ride his bike without one (hes got a cool black one designed for hockey players I think), and he will NOT be playing soccer or tackle football when he gets older.

The brain is incredibly delicate, the consistency of jelly basically, and not to be toyed with.

The last thing I will say about this (yeah, right) is that it continues to amaze me that Jenna took a 4,000lb 4×4 truck to the side of her head at sixty five miles per hour, and is still around.  Cooper and i went to go get her yesterday and she is here for his birthday weekend, for five days.  Sometimes I lay in bed next to her, with my hand on her head, and think about what has gone on inside it.  There has been talk of atrophy, but I haven’t seen actual films of it, so I don’t know what her brain looks like anymore, or how much is left.

I just wish I could wave a magic wand and take it (the damage) all away.  Restore her, so she could have her old life back.  Then this Richardson thing happened, and I realize how lucky she was to have the awesome treatment she got at UAB back in Birmingham, and how lucky we all are to still have her around.

My heart and thoughts go out to the Richardson family, and all the other TBI victims and their familes who are injured every day but dont make the headlines.

The “castle park” was closed both Saturday and Sunday, but we did get to go to his favorite restaurant, Golden Corral.  He likes it because of the soft-serve ice cream machine, but we are going to have to find another place to go because it is just awful, horrible food.  The place was busy as hell, however.  I can’t really make any judgements about the lousy taste in food of those people since I was there too, but it will be the LAST time we go.  Just awful.

I really miss “Fresh Choice” out in California.  They have one in Chicago I think, but that is a bit of a drive for just a salad…

Anyway, Jenna was sad to see us leave, but I’ll be back to pick her up on Friday to bring her back to Indiana for Cooper’s birthday.

I got her a giant 14″ clock that has the date in month, date, day format built into it in a digital display, which should help her to keep track of what day it is, as that is one thing she is always asking me.  I am constantly telling her to write things down, such as when she makes or recieves a phone call, when she takes her meds, goes to a therapy session, etc., and the new clock should make it easier to keep track of those things.  It is one thing she is going to need to be doing if she is ever going to be able to leave that place.

more later.

but i hit the wrong button on the camera and failed to capture the moment on “film” (memory card).

Anyway, we are hanging out in the hotel room watching Spongebob with Cooper.  Later we are going to the “Boo” Rochman Memorial Park here in Carbondale, which is a great little secret here in town.  It was built by Mr. Rochman’s family and friends after he was killed in a car accident near the site.  Actually I have mentioned it on here before.  Anyway, Cooper loves it.  It has a big wooden “castle” with all kinds of mazes and hiding spots, and a ton of fantasy (Rochman was a big Dungeons and Dragons fan) characters, wizards, dragons, etc., done in fiberglass and concrete.

More later!

I know my previous post was weird.  Something is working though, because I am almost DONE with the alabama HELLhouse.  I expect to be out of here FOREVER by monday or so.  Jenna and I still talk several times per day.  She told me today that someone in her old building hung himself somehow, and that hit home for me since I have been suicidal for some time now.  That actually has improved.  The whole stepping back thing was a necessary step so that I can move on and be Cooper’s daddy.  So much has gone on, and I just look forward to moving on.  Like I said before, Jenna has no idea about the change in me.  I still treat her the same, except I am if anything more positive towards her; I just don’t get into the micromanagement of details anymore.  I bought a power inverter for the car so I can run the laptop on the go now, so that is how I am getting online at the moment.  It is amazing how many unsecured ‘nets there are in this neighborhood!  It is now almost 10:30 and it has to be 85+ degrees and 90+% humidity here in HELLabama….  I cant wait to leave here for good!