Hello Everyone-
Rob and I have big news to share...news that for us is a double edged sword. Due to Rob making amazing strides at Project Walk we have decided that we cannot return to NJ late February as planned. This of coarse has lots of implications as one can imagine. I resigned from my position at Newton Memorial Hospital yesterday and our house will be on the market by the end of this week. Heather and John have graciously agreed to take care of our cats as long as necessary and I have started a job hunt here in Carlsbad. We took a trip to Sparta over the weekend in order to pack and organize our belonging and trust me when I tell you that it was the hardest thing that Rob and I had to do since this injury occurred. In many ways it was like being re-traumatized. We basically spent the weekend crying. We couldn’t sleep, our stomachs hurt and it truly felt like we were in mourning all over again. I know it might seem a little over the top but our home was the last representation of our ‘old life’. Rob and I felt like we were watching a movie of the days when Rob would work in the yard, play with the dog, and walk around the property. Our home was very special to us and it killed us to have to say goodbye. On top of that, we also said hello and goodbye to our cats who met us at the house for a visit. We hadn’t seen them since September 1st and we realized that they now identify more with their new mom and dad then they do with us. We know this is temporary but letting them go again was torture. Then…we had to say goodbye to NJ the place where I got my masters degree, where Rob started his career, where we got married and became a family with our little furry friends. We also said goodbye to our NJ/NY friends…the ones that have been our saviors during this last year and a half….the ones who went above and beyond. So needless to say were aren’t having a good week but we are glad to be back where the sun is shining and where there is hope for a new life. We attended a meeting at Project Walk last night where they are trying to build a support community for families who are visiting from out of town. I think we’ll offer to be on the welcome wagon now that we are pros at giving up everything to be at Project Walk. Seriously though it was nice to be among people who know exactly what it means to live this injury day in and day out. We will keep you posted on the sale of the house and my job hunt. Please keep us in your thoughts now more than ever as on top of everything else our lease is expiring on our apartment and we have to find a new place to live as this apartment will be converting into a vacation rental. Just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who helped out this weekend w/the cleaning, organizing and such….Eileen, Nanny and Pop Pop, Diane, Tom, Kyle, Erin, Lauren, Courtney, Unc, Doreen, Nicole, Pam, Heather and John, Aunt Diane and Uncle Eric, Nick and Erica, and Pat. We couldn’t have done it without you. Sorry we weren’t the best ‘company.

Greetings from “Support the Wall”...thank you John for the suggestion (and to Ben for all his efforts in the spirit of competition). Rob had the best day at Project Walk today. He started his session by WALKING into the gym instead of being pushed in the wheelchair. It only took about 7 minutes and he did really well. He was greeted by one of his trainers cheering and clapping for him which created quite the entrance. There were definitely some heads turning in the gym. The great thing about his walk was that he was only using one of the walker extenders (an extender is an attachment that makes the piece you hold higher...so you can lean into it with your elbows). So essentially his left hand was holding the walker as it should be used and his right arm was using the extender. Since he could do it, the trainers decided to try out walking sticks instead AND HE COULD. Then his trainers decided to try it without the walking sticks AND HE COULD. One of the trainers had a strap around his upper body so that he wouldn’t fall (and he would have if it hadn’t been there). Rob felt really encouraged after the session and I think some of the other clients in the gym did too. It is remarkable how fast things are progressing at this point. We feel so blessed that Rob is responding to the treatment at such a rapid pace. Maybe we’ll be home soon…