On the fourth of July, 2007 Caleb Potter was involved in a skateboarding accident.
He suffered serious injuries and continues to need all of our positive thoughts and prayers.
This blog is to serve as a space for updates on Caleb's journey of recovery.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

going back to Spaulding

It was so wonderful to be home for a short visit to Fleet and to be a part of the prayer group. What a sight to see - all of you who love Caleb and cherish him as we do! He is being transported back to Spaulding today and will resume Physical Therapy for one week at which time he will travel again to Mass General for what will be his last surgery! They will make an incision at the hairline and will go into the left area of the skull to lift up some of the bones over the eye so as to get rid of that droopy hangover look that some of you recognize Caleb by. At that point we as a family will determine if he can continue with his therapy at Spaulding affiliate in Sandwich. He is back at his antics again so soon after surgery- I put a swab in his moth to give him a bit of water and he bit it off and started chewing on it like an ole farmer crews on straw! As the weeks go on and he is stronger, all of you will play a big part in his healing, so it would be nice to have him a bit closer to Fleet! Caleb will need pictures of all of you, music,movies and just your beautiful and handsome faces looking into his, keeping his spirits up! Thanks for all the "eye" stories - you all continue to amaze me- I thought this news might put you off a bit - but no - now you are off and running with one eyed stories and pirate and patchy themes! God - do I cherish all of you! If you have a chance to go to the concert tonight, say hello to Dennis who is that hot Doc. who gave me his apt for the summer and I want to thank all of Caleb's nurses who follow the blog religiously - two of them live on the Cape. He is fine and will rock on one eyed-Mum

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Prayers and Love fromt he Upper Cape. We are getting together like you are in Fleet, lighting a candle (Manifest a Miracle) and keeping up to date on the blog. Peace and love be with you all!

Anonymous said...

Potter-Lindsay family—Please know that those of us who feel grateful to share your town in the summer, share Wellfleet’s intense concern for Caleb and are sending positive energy to him and to you. Every day since hearing of his accident, I’ve logged on—first from NY and now from Wellfleet--to read about his stupendous progress—you go, Caleb!—and to make sure Sharyn is in a loving and supported place. Thank you, Sharyn, for your daily updates. Your strength, humor and grace under pressure are beautiful.

Every day, when thinking of Caleb, I’ve thought about the spectacular recovery of one of my closest friends, from an injury similar to Caleb’s; their stories have some poignant similarities. Her story has a happy ending; I know Caleb’s will, too.

About fourteen years ago, my friend was driving from Madrid, where she grew up, to Granada, where she lives. She fell asleep at the wheel, and in the ensuing crash, suffered damage to her brain, head and face. Like Caleb, she was some distance from the excellent hospital where she subsequently ended up, and spent her first night at a smaller facility, with medical personnel who didn’t think she’d make it. Like Caleb, her mother was by her side, pulling for her and helping her pull for herself.

My friend was in a coma for three weeks and blind for three months. But she recovered, with lots of hard work and lots of positive energy. Like Caleb, she needed plastic surgery to lift one eye, in which she permanently lost some of her vision. Her eye sags a little; she is still gorgeous, and still makes beautiful art, as she did before her accident. She has a wonderful life, and no longer sweats the small stuff, as they say. In the many years post accident, she is more caring, more patient, more joyful, more fully focused on what matters on this planet. Those of us who love her are, too. We laugh more together, and there for each other more generously.

By the way, the first time I saw my friend again after her accident, was when I brought her to Wellfleet one cold October weekend. Our summer landlord was nice enough to let us turn the water in our cottage back on for a few days, so we could reconnect in this special spot. There is no better place to heal, and Caleb will be here soon.

Peace, joy and a speedy recovery, Eve

Anonymous said...

Sharyn,

Wonderful news, thank you as always! Much love for you, Caleb, Kai, Max, Jeniie, and Jan.

Anonymous said...

I will sing my ass off tonight for you Caleb. Never before has my voice been used for such good!!! I love you and can't wait for you to see all the videos of prayer circle and the benefits. You are missed but not for long!!!!

xoxoxox,settie

Anonymous said...

give em hell ya ol boy!!

Peter Krumpelbeck said...

Hey Caleb,You're on the longest ride of your life now,and you won't believe how many friends and pirates will be on the beach to welcome you when you get back,hang tough, breath deep and you'll be fine.... Peter Krumpelbeck and family

Anonymous said...

I'm a friend of Sharyn's from Willy's and have just returned from a bike trip out West and was so sorry to learn of Caleb's accident. My heart and prayers are with him and with a Mom like Sharyn he will be back on the Cape soon.

G Coyle said...

Nik shared news of Caleb's accident with us in Louisville. We've added a Dixie loop to the ever-widening prayer circle. Sorry I can't be there in person this summer - my own medical issues - ugh. Sending love Caleb - fight the good fight!
Gina

Anonymous said...

My 40 year old cousin Bruce was born and raised in Orleans. Sunday he was in a bike accident and flown to Mass General. He is still there in Trauma 2 and doing his best to recover. Boy how I wish he was from Wellfleet! Be proud Caleb, your town is embracing you and surrounding you with so much love.The support your family and the prayers being sent your way are amazing. I know you are but I will say it now, Be Proud Young Fleetian, you come from a fabulous town! Bruce has 4 children and one grandchild, if you have any extra strength Wellfleet pray for him and his family as well. D

Anonymous said...

dear caleb, the thought of you biting off that swab makes me remember the day sharyn hired me to babysit you. i think you were 8 and i was 12, and i knew how unstoppable the potter boys were even then... i have never been so terrified in my whole life! no doubt you'll take every step in your recovery with the same fierce intention and love of life, and you'll grow stronger every day until we're all terrified again.

sharyn can make the sandy soil of wellfleet bear fruits and blossoms like a jungle; you are so lucky to have the wisdom and support of such a healer by your side. lots of love to all of you, and positive thoughts all the time. --Alexa

Anonymous said...

Just got back from the Wellfest at Mayo and wow, SO many people there, it was great to see, I swear I think the whole town turned out for this. Fantastic music, great people, nice vibe, makes me wish I lived in Wellfleet year round, not just in the summer, to be part of this community. Slapped a Caleb sticker on back of our car, bought a flag that our 6 yr old held out the window and almost hit several tourists in the head. And friends visiting us this summer have taken stickers and thoughts of Caleb with them back home to places like France and NYC.

Great to hear of Caleb's amazing progress, our family talks and thinks about him, and you Sharyn, every single day.

xxx Beth W.

Anonymous said...

Just got back from the Wellfest at Mayo and wow, SO many people there, it was great to see, I swear I think the whole town turned out for this. Fantastic music, great people, nice vibe, makes me wish I lived in Wellfleet year round, not just in the summer, to be part of this community. Slapped a Caleb sticker on back of our car, bought a flag that our 6 yr old held out the window and almost hit several tourists in the head. And friends visiting us this summer have taken stickers and thoughts of Caleb with them back home to places like France and NYC.

Great to hear of Caleb's amazing progress, our family talks and thinks about him, and you Sharyn, every single day.

xxx Beth W.

Anonymous said...

Sharyn (and family and friends),
I was in Wellfleet a few weekends back and saw the signs for Caleb posted all around town I have eagerly kept up with Caleb's progress since through this blog.

Sounds as though you and Caleb are fighting strong together and the support from the community is nothing short of amazing.

I wanted to finally send my comments along though because of your mention of Spaulding's affiliate in Sandwich, RHCI. I work as a traveling physical therapist, and am working at RHCI for the summer. I've previously worked in Boston and am very familiar with Spaulding as well. RHCI is a wonderful rehab facility. I've found the staff to be very compassionate and knowledgable...everyone from aides to physicians. The building itself is fairly new, very bright, clean, and has a great rehab gym. The therapists are great too and are very experienced with brain injuries.

I'm sure the thought of moving facilities must be somewhat anxiety provoking, but I wanted to reassure you that RHCI is indeed an excellent facility should you decide to come down.

Best wishes. My thoughts are with you.

Monica

Anonymous said...

hey hey mumskys..
the concert was a big hit...raised lots of money for the billy, and there were many a bootys shakin!!
It was great to see everyone and celebrate your boy.. ...So have you told him that he is famous yet...He might need a little warning...It was great to see you in fleet town, luv ya sharon, you rule!! luv weeks

Anonymous said...

I think we should have an annual Potterfest to celebrate Caleb's incredible recovery- That concert was amazing. The singing, dancing, the raw bar, baked goods, raffles- what a BLAST!! Steve at the Bomb was pleased as planters punch to see the crowd that flowed through his door at 9:15! It was a true Wellfleetian event! Young and Old, locals and washashores, a good time was had by all!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Sharyn,
Just wanted to express what a pleasure it was to meet you and Caleb this week. My colleagues and I are truley inspired by you, your family and your community. I shared this websight with other MGH staff who have cared for Caleb, because you are both in our thoughts and prayers. We look forward to hearing of his ongoing progress.

Anonymous said...

My Dear Sharyn,,You know, "vision" has little to do with eyesight! You have a remarkable young man there, whose path has been altered a bit, but who will leave his mark wherever he passes. Be assured of that! There are tough times ahead, but there is also great Light, Joy, Passion, Compassion, Love and Peace. You are a amazing family, and everything you are doing for "your boy", every act of kindness sends a ripple into the universe, for us all to feel. We all have so much to learn, and share and be grateful for.

I will be "working" on Caleb tonight when I arrive in BoothBay Harbor, ME. I will call tomorrow to get some specifics on his condition.

We hold you all in Light and Love. Expect wonderful things.... Blessings, Melinda, ENERGETICA Wellness

Anonymous said...

Look out Jack Sparrow cause Captian YellowBread is moving in!!
Caleb even though i have only meet you like 2 times i still pray and think of what a fast recovery you have made and when you get abck to wellflett you will be surrounded by the town that you hold so dear. And by some chace when you fully recover no one tells us that you are coming back and that night, by a guess u will proabably sneek up on us at your pray circle. My thoughts are with you. LONG LIVE YELLOW BEARD!!!!! ARGGGG!!!