Forever touched by the Rally for Allie

Dear Friends,

What words can I possibly put here to show the feelings in my heart? For such an outpouring of love and support I think only a poet could respond with anything close to expressing how my family and I feel.

Ron, Adam and Anjel were totally blown away by the hugs, kisses, and well wishes of the crowd. The rest of my family was completely in awe of our community and the good feelings being generated in that skate rink. Unbelievable turn-out to say the least.

I have given much thought to different ways to offically thank first off the organizers who put in an incredible amount of hours, creativity and love. Unfortunately, I have come up empty. Stacey, Samantha, Crystal, Laureen, Kim, Cheri and Deb. All I can say is YOU ROCK. The event from what everyone has told me was expertly executed. Having been an events manager in a former life, I know what it takes. You all did this while working other jobs, managing families, etc. THANK YOU. You are an amazing group of compassionate powerful women. I wish for you only the greatest gifts life has to offer! I look forward to a time where we can get together and talk about Allie's inspiring recovery and what a part you played in it.

Thank you to all the other people that helped in any way including those at the door, selling tickets, collecting donations, putting up posters, etc.

Thank you to all who participated in the event, bought raffle tickets and bid on the incredible donated items.

Thank you to all who donated items making this event such a huge $$ success. Unbelievable!!!!!!!

A special giant thank you again to Stacey for starting the process. What an angel Allie found when she went to work for you!

Thank you always to Katie MacCallister for all her support in making the online communication possible and for being a source of information and inspiration.

I also want to give a huge thank you to Robert Ludlow for his guidance, insight, legal advice and assistance throughout this process. Another angel my family has been blessed with.

Thank you to all of Allie's friends who continue to visit and assure her by their presence and conversation that she is the same person in their eyes and that she still has a place in their lives. What an incredible group of young adults we have in the valley. We are a lucky group of parents.

Thank you to all my friends that continue to care for my pets, provide my family with meals, prayers and visits.

Thank you to my sisters for all their love, support, visits, and shopping trips. Thank you to my sister and brother in law for the use of their motor home which has been invaluable to me.

Thank you to my brother Doug for his faithful night visits that allow Ron and I some time for dinner together once or twice a week, but mostly for the soothing effect he has on Allie when he is here.

The adjustments that Allie and the rest of my family continue to make are life altering to say the least. You all are making them so much more doable (is that a word?).

So, I could go on and on thanking the people that are helping, but I'd better get to how Al is doing or the thank you's could go on forever.

We moved down to rehab yesterday! Yaaaaay. Now the work begins. The schedule will be much more agressive and demanding down here. Allie will be expected to be up and ready to start the day early. She will attend more therapy sessions and also be expected to participate in some peer group and education classes.

Allie has made some huge accomplishments in the last few days. Thursday we took her out to the parking lot and her Occupational Therapist, Kathi showed her the hospital van. She then asked if she wanted to try and go up on the lift. Allie was pretty scared but said she wanted to try. Before we knew it Allie was loaded in and she Brianna and I along with Kathi were taking a ride around the parking lot. If this doesn't sound like much you've never seen someone go up on a ramp in a wheelchair load in, get the chair strapped to the floor and go over speed bumps for the first time!! I'm not sure who was more nervous Al or me. The look on Allie's face during the ride was akin to the fear and determined smile that you see on someone's face during a roller coaster ride.

Yesterday Allie, Brianna, and her therapist Mira and I loaded up again and went to Jamba Juice. The smile on Al's face when she took the first sip was priceless. She drank almost a third of it.

Allie is slowly getting use to the valve that will allow her to talk, eat and drink. She will be expected to use it for longer periods of time starting on Monday. She will get to go to the gym (which she is looking forward to). Her new doctor told her yesterday that she will love him and hate him. It's his job to push her forward. He is extremely knowledgeable with injuries such as hers, and seems like a personable and straight forward guy.

She continues to have pain and some stomache issues. I think her body is negatively responding to all the meds and way in which she is being fed. I'm hoping with some new eyes reviewing her condition, things will improve soon.

Allie's road is a long and bumpy one. But a road, I believe toward recovery. She is strong, and otherwise healthy. She has an unbelieveable support group in all of you. She has the intelligence and determination (not to mention the fact she is a bit on the particular side) to see her through this.

Construction is under way at the house. Allie will have a new bedroom and bath downstairs. We are looking forward to the day we get to go home. It will be a bit scary, I'm sure, but we'll be as prepared as we can be.

I pray daily for Allie and Jerry's full recovery. My hope is that Allie's first sign of recovery will be her ability to breathe on her own. She lives in fear every second. My heart breaks that she must endure such a challenge.

Peace, Love & Happiness,

Deborah