Wednesday, September 28, 2016

HOUSE OF CARDS

Dear Jacob,

I have had a bunny sitting under your cherry tree all afternoon. He stretched out long, and was so content in the fall sun. I am wondering if you came to visit me. This is where you would hang out on the front lawn while I was working.

When my mom was about to pass away from her terminal cancer and I was too young to lose her, my uncle twirled his beard and tried to comfort me. He talked to me about our house of cards and how we now had to build a new house of cards as my mom would soon leave us. Her fallen card would completely shake our perfectly balanced structure of playing cards. I like that analogy, and I do like the TV series House of Cards.

My House of Cards once again has been shaking to the ground with you leaving us, and we all three are trying to rebuild a new structure of playing cards. We are trying to find that new balance to the best of our abilities.

It has hit me lately that I am only playing with three cards instead of four. Each card holding our family together in that perfect balance. I do struggle to find a perfect balance of life, and finding the good in life again. I know not everything was perfect with you in our lives, but in a way it was perfect, because it was our complete family.

I have also had to wrap my head around the fact that living under such extreme pressure with you for ten years has set its' mark. My firefighting skills and being under extreme stress became my normal. My brain is triggered that way after ten years. I don't know any other way to live. When I wake up during the night, I would have absolutely no problem to start my day at any hour of the night. This is what I did for ten years. I would wake up multiple times every night, and do whatever care was needed or deal with any emergency. That is what my brain knows. This is what I know. You know what, I miss my old life. I miss it because it is what I know. I miss it because I got so very good at it. I miss it because you were my reason to live life that way.

I realize that it's not necessary to live life that way right now, and that I need to retrain my brain. As part of rebuilding our House of Cards, I also need to train my brain for down time, creative time and sleep time. Things that I didn't always have in my life for so long. For a whole decade. It might all sound good to you, but I am scared. I am scared because there are things I don't do well. I know in the down time, I will find grief and I will find you. I know that my tendency is to go, go, go, but I am going to try to carve out down time. I am going to find time to sit in your room, talk to you, and feel the love we so deeply shared. It sometimes hit me how deeply connected we were despite you not being able to communicate all your needs and wishes. I think because of that, we connected on a deeper level where my whole body knew what you needed and what you wanted. It was sometimes a hard place because sometimes I couldn't quite figure out what you needed, but overall I sincerely miss that deep connection. A connection beyond words.

I am hoping with down time that I can find sleep. It has been really hard for me to find good sleep lately, and having to wake up before the sun is up isn't helping. I am not giving up on this one, but it's going to take some time to retrain that brain of mine that never let me sleep for more than a few hours at a time.

Lastly, I want to find more of my creative side again. I was so good at making all pieces of life happen night and day, and I was going strong for often 16-17 hours straight each day. When I finally sat down by the end of the day, I collapsed. My brain was fried. I am hoping that you will guide me here. My writing is one thing I want to make time for. It always makes me feel really good, and it helps me process my grief. I want to make more time for spontaneity and creativity, and I hope with down time, I will find that side again.

I will look for your signs and your guidance as I try to find a new rhythm of life again and building our House of Cards once again. I also believe you will always have a Card in our family. It might be that invisible Card that somehow holds us all together, watching over us, and keeping us moving forward. I need that Card.

Sweet Jacob, I love you to the moon and back,

mom.

P.S. This article was my inspiration: http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2014/01/15/7-types-of-experience-your-brain-needs-to-function-at-its-best/#5fab783f6181




Friday, September 23, 2016

WRAPPED IN LOVE

OH JACOB,

I have missed writing to you. I got sucked in to the busyness of life, forgetting to prioritize our time together. Tonight, I have an urge to write you, since I have missed telling you about life.

Your sister turned fourteen in the middle of busyness. I was a little worried how her first birthday without you would turn out. In all her life, you only missed one of her birthdays. It was the same year, Gemma got married. You were hanging at Children's with our friend Camilla while we were celebrating Gemma's wedding and Sarah's birthday. All other years, you were always home with her. I remember the year, Sarah decided you could come to her pool party and hang with all her girl friends. I know you had a good time, and you got to stay up way past your bed time. You were all smiles.

This year, I knew we had to do things a little differently, change things up a bit. We decided to go to Breckenridge for her birthday weekend. It was a good choice. The beauty of the mountains and the peaking fall colors surrounded us. We got to relax, swim, walk around town, and enjoy good food and company. I even got in a bike ride through Summit county. It got me to think of you a lot.



More than once, my mind wandered to our Breckenridge get away in October last year. Memories of you being in the outdoor pool, cuddling with you on the couch as we were taking in the beauty of the nature surrounding us, and simply having family time together. That vacation was on your bucket list, and I am so happy we did it when there was still time. We never ever saved anything for tomorrow, we always did things when the opportunity presented itself. How thankful I am for that today.






I think we have started a tradition. You will always give your sister a special gift. You should have seen her face when I gave her your gifts this year.

She opened this one first:


Remember you're team Jacob t-shirt! We presented together at Children's about Team Jacob during an Awards dinner and we received much to our surprise these t-shirts from Amy. Do you also recognize your Minion t-shirt? You always looked stellar in your black and beige t-shirt. I think this was a gift from your grand parents.




And then she got this! This is a true piece of you, a true piece of perfection:


This project started early August. I gathered all your favorite t-shirts and brought them over to our neighbor Charlayne. I found her on the mobile app Nextdoor. I told her our story, and she immediately understood the importance of this piece of art work. This was not just a bunch of t-shirts. Each of your shirt is a treasure, and tells a story about you. Each shirt is filled with memories and love. The shirts still smell like you.  It's you hidden in the middle of fabric, bundle of colors, and softness:


Remember when Sarah's volleyball club was cheering for you when you were sick in the hospital?


Selina's grandma made this shirt for Sarah. It had to join the quilt.


And this was your shirt from Selina's grandma.


Remember nurse Ana going to Carlo's Bakery, and getting you this shirt from Buddy? Just because you're so special.


Your Coyote Ridge shirt! We have so many happy memories from you sporting this shirt in school.


Your Miracles for Mito & Team Jacob shirt put together! It's all about awareness.


and some of your favorite Minions! 


Your bike shirt from nurse Libby! She got you an extra large size, so you wore this shirt for years!


This is our absolute favorite shirt! When daddy got to dress you, he always picked this shirt. The striped shirt in the back is my favorite shirt.


And this is the back of your quilt when Sarah needs to have you close to her.


See how your Minion shirt was incorporated!


And look how perfect it turned out on her bed!

Sweet Jacob, Sarah asked us to have cake with her on the couch watching Friends on her birthday evening. She and I were both cuddling under your special blanket, and it was so very special. It completed her birthday. Thanks for being part of her special day.

I love you to the moon and back,

mom.

P.S. If anyone wants to get in contact with Charlayne for a memory quilt, please let me know. I would gladly share her information. She's simply fantastic.







Tuesday, September 13, 2016

I FOUND MY RESILIENCE TODAY

Oh Jacob,

I found myself in a very familiar place this morning. I found myself in one of your old hospital rooms on the 9th floor at Children's. I wasn't prepared. I felt the familiar walls close in on me as we were standing outside the unit. I knew there was only a matter of minutes before we would enter the unit, and it was on your side of the 9th floor.

We were doing rounds in our board meeting this morning. I had chosen the Breathing Institute. I love innovation and research when it come to breathing. I was late. The traffic had me stuck on the highway for over an hour. I was rushing into an empty boardroom, only to turn around to take the elevator to the pulmonary clinic. People know what happened to you here. People I don't even know know. They see me, and I can immediately see it in their eyes. They know you're not physically here any longer. As the medical director gave her speech, I could see her eyes slightly shifting as she saw me rushing into the room. To this day, I am amazed with the impact you continue to have on this hospital. Not one department, everywhere. You left your beautiful mark.

After visiting the outpatient clinic, we moved to the Sleep Center. Yes, it was a little uncomfortable to be in the room where you had had numerous sleep studies. The coffee maker had not moved from its place. In the middle of taking in the familiarity of the room, my fascination for future innovation in sleep studies and EEGs took over. So much cool things that will soon be available. A sleep study will be a breeze, maybe even from your own bed? I can't even wait to share with you how an EEG will look like in the future. Remember all the EEGs you battled through?


The cutest kid in the sleep lab on Halloween 2007.

And then we started to move towards the far elevators. No, no, no...We were moving up to the penthouse. I have found comfort being in meeting rooms and the coffee shop at Children's, but I haven't entered your territory, your space. How was it that I hadn't realized this could happen today? We were told we were going to meet with a trach ventilator patient. I felt a sigh when the check in lady wasn't at her desk. I knew she would have asked if you were inpatient again. I wasn't ready to tell her the truth.

And then the big hospital doors opened to the East unit. The sound of the large hospital doors hasn't changed. The smell hasn't changed. The yellow plastic floor is as yellow as before. The sanitizing soap smells the same. The whiteboard is filled with names, just not your name. I had to lean on one of my strongest friends and supporters. It was hitting a little too close to home. His hug gave me the courage to enter the hospital room. Your room looked very differently. It had a crib instead of a regular size bed. The pumps were in different places. The room was decorated with well wishes for this very cute 11 months old boy. And he smiled right at me, and I smiled right back at him. I saw a shimmer of you in his dark brown eyes. Jacob, he has spent his first eleven months of life at Children's. He is almost ready to go home. He is almost ready to enter this world, Jacob.

I felt tears burning when I left your room. I felt relief to be in the hall. I felt comfort from the hugs from your nurses and my rounding team. And right in that moment, I knew you and I still share some resilience. It might not look exactly the way it did when we had major emergencies and long complicated hospital stays to conquer, but it's still there. I made it today. I made it in one piece visiting one of the places that reminds me the most of you. A place with so many mixed feelings. A place of love and healing, a place where we finally lost you.



Jacob, thanks for helping me find my resilience today.

I love you to the moon and back,
mom.

Friday, September 9, 2016

I MISS ME SOME RESILIENCE

Dear Jacob,

Fall is in the air. Fall was your season. I found myself finishing up my workweek on the front porch, and I could picture you on the therapy mat under our cherry tree. Often I simply had you in a t-shirt and diaper, so you could feel the sun against your bare legs. We often moved therapies out on the front lawn. It was your time of the year to enjoy the garden, to go for walks, and to breathe the fresh air. I enjoyed those moments with you so very much. What I would have done for another fall together.

The other week, I found myself outside on the front porch with your night buddy and nurse Libby. The grapefruit beer tasted extra good, and my heart soaked up all the love for you. It's something so comforting to spend time with your inner circle of friends. Your friends who I can simply sit with and cry with. There are no needs for words. We cherish your memory as we feel the void from you not physically being with us. Despite tears and heartache, they are the ones who carry me forward.


Libby still has a hard time understanding you're truly physically not with us any longer. She remembers the endless times you were fighting for your life, and how you always fought through. Sepsis, pneumonia, status epilepticus, bacterial translocation of your gut, so many emergencies and you always came through.

In this new life of mine, I miss the resilience we shared. How we were knocked down by emergencies and worries for your life, and how you always decided to come back stronger than ever. You had an ability to rise rather than letting failure overcome you and drain your resolve. How I miss that strength you gave me. I remember those long nights in the hospital when the nurse woke me up every hour, and how I still got up the minute I heard your breathing change, which meant you were awake. How I got you all ready for the day, doing your vest treatment, double-checking every medication, changing your diapers, repositioning you, and putting on Curious George on your IPad at the same time as I was sipping the weak Hazelnut hospital coffee. And when you were ready for your morning nap, I ran. I ran around the hospital exactly eight times which translated into six miles. I found energy to run no matter how sleep deprived I was. I found the energy to fight for you no matter how tired and worried I was. I found energy to juggle hospital life with family life and work every single day. I found resilience every day to fight for you, to fight for us, to fight for our family.


I miss that extreme strong power taking over my body and mind. I miss your strength. I miss your fighting spirit. I miss you, my sweet Jacob.

As we're taking baby steps to figure out our new normal and figuring out how to be a family of three, I am seeking resilience. I get knocked down by people looking the other way rather than acknowledging what happened to you. I get knocked down by seeing your sister and dad having hard times. I get knocked down by finding a new purpose in life. I get knocked down by the simplicity of this life. I get knocked down by the hours and moments I could have spent with you. But because of you being you, I still find the ability to rise each morning, I get on the phone before the sun rise to talk to my employees in Europe. I might be tired, I might need coffee, but someone needs me on the other line. After early work meetings, your sister needs me to wish her a good day and prepare the simple act of her lunch box. I fill my days. I fill my void. I surround myself with true friends. I surround myself with kindness and love. I seek for a new life honoring everything you taught me, and I search for resilience. I miss me some resilience. I miss you.



I love you to the moon and back,
mom.

Friday, September 2, 2016

PARTING GIFTS

Sweet Jacob,

Another week without you, my sweet boy. As work has become really hectic and occupying my brain during the day, the car ride home has been my place to connect with you. It has hit me several times this week that you are truly, truly gone. It's like the biggest punch to my stomach, to my soul. It's so unbelievably big to take in. The thought of not you being part of my life any longer is unbearable at times. You're not coming back, my sweet Jacob.

I got to read the book "Badger's Parting Gifts" by Susan Varley this week. It's this book about Badger who passes away, and his friends are so sad. As they grieve, they all realize the beautiful parting gifts Badger gave them. I would recommend this book to anyone going through grief independently of age.
.
It got me to think about you, and the gifts you gave me. I was thrown into a new job this week that I haven't done in over ten years. I was winging it as I was diving into the details. I made decisions hoping they were the right ones. I figured things out, and had to say "I don't know" many times. I laughed when things just got a little too crazy. I got very dependent on my coffee as my day started long before the sun was up. But you know what I didn't do. I didn't freak out. I didn't get all worked up. I didn't get all stressed out. You, my friend have taught me what things are truly important in life worth getting worked up about. You taught me what is truly important in life. You taught me what a true crisis, a true emergency is. Remember those times we shared together, and how we came through on the other side.

You gave me the gift of being able to live in the moment. It's something you had to work with me on for a long time, actually probably your whole life. Remember when we were completely in synch getting you ready for the day, and the happiness to simply be together, right there in the moment. You gave me that gift. I am hanging on to that gift, since it's so easy to lose sight of that when life gets busy. My happiest moments where always when I lived fully in the moment with you. So simple, but sometimes so hard.

And you gave me your love for life. Gosh, did you love to live. And you sure knew how to love. This is why this is the hardest gift to receive. It was so much easier to just watch you do what you were best at, but now it's my turn to keep that going. To make sure I give your gift justice. So, each day I try to find the good in life. Thanks for showing me the path on the days colored in grey, and on the days when I feel my eyes tear up at any kind word or the tiniest thought of you. Thanks for your gitf on the nights when I so desperately want to put you to bed and kiss your tiny little nose one more time.


And as hard as it is to be left behind, the one gift that will always keep us together is the love we have for each other. That is the best parting gift I can think of, but also the hardest one to receive - being left behind. This picture showed up on my Facebook feed today. I felt the love just looking at us. Forever.


I love you to the moon and back.
mom.









Friday, August 26, 2016

A WEEK OF CHANGE

Dear Jacob,

It's Friday night. Your dad and I are sitting outside on the front porch with a glass of wine. It's a little chill in the air, an early reminder of a season change. I can hear the neighborhood children in the background. Sitting outside in my chair on the front porch is such a familiar place, but I do miss the physical Friday fatigue from caring for you, sweet Jacob. I miss not having the baby monitor next to me, so I could keep an eye on you as you were entering dream land. I miss YOU.

I did something this week that I haven't done for seven years. I went back to work full-time. As I was getting closer to Monday, I started to feel a little anxious. I had gotten used to a slower pace allowing for grief and pain. At the same time, I knew I was as ready as I could be. I felt very welcome back at work. I felt a a sense of appreciation. I know I am lucky liking what I do for work, and I have some pretty great colleagues. Many loved and admired you, little Jacob. Many have followed you since you were born. I think you would be proud of my first week back at work.

As I entered the larger world rather than my protected circle of friends who are always on my side, I kept thinking to not lose sight of you. It's so important to keep the life lessons you gave me. You simplified my life in a beautiful way. I always knew what was truly important in life. I want to keep that in my life. Sarah and I have cuddled on the couch without phones and computers. Your dad and I ended up on our yoga mats together one evening, stretching for an hour. I even fell asleep in one of the poses from being so relaxed. We also went together to a beer and biking event. We had a great time, but it still makes me a little guilty when we do enjoy ourselves. I know you are happy for us, but I think it's the bittersweet truth that we would not be able to do this with you in our lives. It comes with a big emotional price tag.

My work at Children's keep me grounded. I got to tell your story at their Strategy retreat at Denver Zoo this week. There were over 100 people in the room, all creative minds thinking about how to make Children's a better place, but they needed to be brought back to the core of why they were all there. They needed to hear your story. I didn't tell them about your endless hospital stays (your dad and I think you had at least 100 hospital stays in your life, but who kept counting?). I told them about what made Children's our second home. I walked them through holidays spent at the hospital, craft parties with friends right in your hospital bed as you were having an EEG done, about us making Dr. E. late for her concert by her visiting with us as we had to make a difficult decision about your medi-port, the famous ICU Spa, and times when the medical team did everything in the power to get you home for Mother's Day or Christmas. I found the courage to show this last picture of you and your sister. I told them about the worst day of my life, the last day we shared together at Children's. I told them about the most empty feeling to walk out of Children's without you.


I first struggled with this picture. It brought back so many sad heartbreaking memories. Something switched this last week, and I just see beauty in this picture now. I know it will make some uncomfortable because of your breathing tube, but I just see the love between you and your Sarah. How I wish you two had had more time together. I know your love for each other will last forever, and it will make your sister do wonderful things that can't be taught, only lived. The price is just so very high.

Thanks for watching over your sister, Jacob. She had a much better week. She settled into a rhythm at school, and she's happy when we pick her up from volleyball practice. She is out with friends watching the high school football game tonight. She's growing up, your sister.

I wanted to show you what your old nanny Jac did for Sarah. Do you remember this favorite t-shirt of yours? She made it into a pillow, and Sarah sleeps with it every night. I love the little message you sneaked in on the back. We love when you leave signs for us.



We also worked on your room, Jacob. I want your room to be a place of sanctuary. A place of peaceful tranquility and introspection. I have really struggled to go through your things. I kept reminding myself that you were too wise to care for material things, but they are connections to you. Bonds of  love and memories. I wanted to have the room ready as I went back to work. I guess it's the organizer in me. I am pretty happy how it turned out. I have many more ideas of what I want to do, but there is a right time for everything. I can't force this work. It will come little by little.







I love when I get to visit with your friends. I visited with Mrs. Nerma this week. She misses you so much. She's in your old classroom every day, and I am sure you give her all kinds of signs. You two had a very special bond. Be gentle with her. Gosh, that school of yours is killing me. There is so much love for you just walking through those doors. What was I thinking dropping off your school picture and then heading in to work? It was not an easy transition between the two worlds I am living in.


Jacob, you are always on my mind. I love when you come and visit with me. I love the signs you leave for me throughout the day. I love all the butterflies you left for me on my run around the lake today.

I love you to the moon and back, sweet Jacob.

Love, mom.





Friday, August 19, 2016

2 MONTHS, SWEET JACOB

It has been two months today since you passed, sweet Jacob. It feels like an eternity. 62 days, and every 24 hours we add another day to the count of life without you. Day #19 each month will remind me of your last hours here on earth with us. Today, you're sharing the day with your grandpa having a big birthday. I am forever grateful you two had your special moments earlier this year. So many beautiful memories you made together.

I wasn't sure about how the two months mark would be. I have had to learn that I have no idea how any day will go right now. Some days, I do surprisingly well and can even laugh with you about the good times and all the good memories. Sometimes the loss is just unbearable. The fact that I will miss you forever, and will need to find a way to figure out life without you is heart breaking.

Today was going to be about you. I started the day with a breakfast meeting with the new Chair of the Quality & Safety Committee of the Board. He was learning about why it's so important to involve parents in all parts of the hospital work. I got to talk about you, and all the things we learned by caring for you in the hospital for those beautiful ten years.

Right after breakfast, I was talking at the Research Symposium at Children's. You and I were asked to join the Symposium this spring, and we had accepted to tell our story of you furthering research by the five studies you were involved in throughout your life. It felt strange to go without you, but I wanted to honor your life and all the contributions you did to research. You should have seen the teary eyes of the audience as I had to tell them you couldn't be there physically today. I am so fond of your liver doctor, and he gave me a big bear hug as I was walking in. I wanted to be on the panel partly because of the study you did with him. I told them about what your diagnosis meant to us, that I would not put you through another liver biopsy due to the pain you experienced afterwards, and what the mitochondrial drug epi-743 did for you and your ability to find your own voice with the help of a communication device. We got SO many questions, and the panel ran way over time, but I think it meant we did ok. I hope you listened in.

As the panel wrapped up, the organizer announced that the Research Committee had decided to donate a large amount to Miracles for Mito in honor of all the research you contributed to Children's Hospital. Wow, Jacob. The mark you have put on that hospital just keeps amazing me. It gives me the true power to continue telling your story. By simply being you, Jacob, you impacted so many people. I was so surprised and honored to receive this donation on behalf of you.

After our panel, I got to talk to your PICU doctor from the weekend you passed. She wanted to know how we're all doing without you. She said because of you being YOU, this will not be an easy road ahead of us. I couldn't agree more. I got to chat with one of the neurologists taking care of you throughout the years, and he said your passing impacted the whole neurology department. You sure kept them on your toes your whole life, but they also saw the special boy you will always be in our hearts. Jacob, I found so much comfort from being at the hospital talking about you, and feeling that even if you can't physically be there, you're still making an impact. I am only your voice, and I am not even half as cute as you are.

As I came home I had a laundry list of things to do, since I am going back to work on Monday. I decided to take a moment, and watch this 2 minutes video from your balloon release at the top of Flagstaff. It is a beautiful memory. I hope you loved the balloons we sent you that morning:



I also wanted to tell you that today was ok, Jacob. I hope your sister is having a good day too. This week has been incredibly hard on her. Please watch a little extra closely over her as she's encountering so many "firsts" starting high school.

I also wanted to show you the beautiful necklace Sarah and Joakim gave me for my birthday. I am now having a little piece of you close to my heart every day. What a special gift.




Until next time, Jacob.

I love you to the moon and back,
mom.