Part 4 Andrew's recovery after accident

When the social worker at University Hospital had told me that Andrew was stable enough to move out of the ICU he had only been there 2 weeks.  I was really confused as to why we were moving him out of the hospital, however I was happy to know he was stable.

The social worker told me to look at Kindred Hospital.  She told me I could look other places if I wanted to, but Kindred was the best.  I took my in-laws with me and we went to Kindred.  The facility was older than University Hospital but I felt good about the move so we said ok.  It was now July.

My mom and I took the kids to the hospital to see Andrew.  Miles was sleeping, Avery was running around but Andrew was watching him.  Avery had his stuffed Ponyo toy.  Ponyo is a sweet movie if you have not seen it.  We think it brought Avery some comfort,  Ponyo is a magic fish and she has magical healing powers.  I had explained to Avery that his daddy was really hurt and was away to get better, and we think he brought Ponyo along for that reason.  The kids would come with me every now and again.  Kindred was called "Daddy's house." 


Then there was the day that I lost it.... the social worker at Kindred came to see me while I was visiting Andrew.  She had told me that they felt he was no longer improving and they wanted to move him to a new facility, a Skilled Nursing Facility.  This was in August now and exactly 3 months since the accident.  She said I needed to find one right away because they wanted to move him the very next week.  After she left the room I could help but cry hysterically, right in front of Andrew.  "I need you to get better."  I cried.  We knew he was understanding us and trying to communicate but they did not seem to see it.  They were not satisfied with his ability to nod to answer "yes".

Two days later my in-laws and I were scheduled to tour a SNF.   Deak, Andrew's dad, and I both stopped by Kindred first.  A nurse named Noelle came in to the room and surprised us by asking "Does he talk your ear off?"  He started to tell her that we have not heard him talk since before the accident.  "Oh he can talk," she said, "he can say 'hi'.  Say 'hi'  Andrew."

"Hi Noelle." he said.  Even Noelle was going to cry, he remembered her name.  He said even more, but we had to leave for our appointment to view the SNF.  We saw it and did not like it but that was ok we were now excited.  I had return home to the kids but I received a call from my mother-in-law telling me I needed to bring the kids and come back to Kindred.  As soon as I walked in the room the first thing Andrew said to me was "I love you." I am still crying about this one.

Andrew later told me that he thought he was talking to us the whole time, he did not know we could not hear him or that he was not talking.

 * 90 days after the accident while at Kindred.  This was before Andrew started talking.  I had just given him a hair cut.  This was also the first picture I took of him after the accident.