Caleb was sitting up this a.m. - ready for his lumbar puncture. This will determine ( after 3 such procedures) whether or not Caleb will need a permanent draining shunt to be inserted into his brain with tube running to the belly. I was trying to prep him by practicing the word Pain to let me know if he needed help. He responded by saying Pain..... I said once again - what are you going to tell me if it hurts when the Doc punctures you -- He said " Mother f----r! I almost fell to the floor with laughter. Since the 4th I have been holding my breath wondering if the true essence of Caleb's personality was in there --Caleb is all about laughter and making people feel easy. He has a quick to light up, cat ate the canary sort of smile and coupled with lightning speed deliverance, he is quite the mumbo jumbo of lightheartedness and wit. I think I can say with confidence, that our Caleb still resides in there- in full glory.
Quick notes - I would like to ask the person who knows about the singing Doc to get in touch..I am opening up my e-mail address so that anyone out there with helpful ideas can write...please know that in spite of all this blogging, I am a recluse and adore my privacy - so be gentle! Sharyn_lindsay@yahoo.com. Please be brief.
The first of the "company" for Caleb arrived yesterday. Cedar; Caleb's best friend from day one and Ethan ( who now is dating Cedar's sister, Sky) - ( starting to sound more like Fleet, huh? ) who has been watching over Caleb's grant and is a "new" best friend. Caleb was shy and quiet around Cedar and I asked him ( when Cedar stepped out) if he was happy to see him - he shook his head no ! Initially I was surprised and then guessed that Cedar would be the one who most reminded Caleb of who he had been and of the contrast now. I am taking this as a good sign. If Caleb has a keen sense of who he was prior to the accident then I firmly believe he can get back there. It didn't take long for the comfort level to come seeping back. After about an hour they were hangin like the two year olds they once were, sitting together on my living room floor, poised on all fours, and ready for trouble.
Caleb is coming along: smiles a bit more each day , completes words and pronounces more clearly. He is now able to tell me when he has to use the bathroom and 4 out of 5 times - we make it! He dresses himself and washes and shaves. He is depressed, and rightfully so, but grins when I tell him that he will be back in Fleet soon with his brothers and dad and millions of friends and supporters. He is more and more, himself.
When first in the city, I thought I would find it cold and distant and lonely. I felt I would be lost in a sea of passing faces and that I would be mining my memory for faces of home - those people who smile and greet you. This is what I unearthed... The couple at the liquor store who always smile at me and speak as if we have known each other for years, the manager at the restaurant where I go late night for an appetizer and a glass of Riesling who sneaks me a second glass and joins me for conversation, and the sweet chef where I go for comfort take-out who, while I wait
( and he is trying to close down for the night) hands me a warm oatmeal cookie on an even warmer plate. I will be bringing them all home with me. Love, mumsie
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29 comments:
Beautiful post Sharyn,I feel I know Caleb even though we have never, and will probably never meet. I continue to laugh and cry with you everyday...and today is a good one, I burst out laughing with the swearing bit!!
Ali Manchester UK
Sharyn, It is wonderful to hear that Caleb made you laugh. Doesn't that say a whole lot! I feel for his frustration and yours, but it must be wonderful to see the progress he has already made.
Your last few lines remind me that people everywhere---not just Wellfleet---are essentially good and that we all need each other and know it. Even in the big city, people want to touch and be touched by others. I am sure your warmth (though I don't even know you) comes through when you meet people, and they respond in kind.
Amy
:) I'm speechless (a first). Take care, lady.
Love Paula
This is weird but I feel like I can't really start MY day until I hear about YOURS, and CALEBS.... good thing I'm on the west coast and three hours behind you!
MotherF@#*er indeed! He's a fine one, that Caleb. Love and laughter and a good cuss word, that's what it's all about!
Glad to hear you are finding the good there in Boston too, Shayrn.
No worries Sharyn, Caleb has only changed in that he will come out of this stronger, more loved, and I am sure will appreciate everything/everyone that much more! It seems since he first was able to show emotions, or movement he was either stroking your head, bullying his bro's, or smooching Jennie.. so I think things can only get more "normal" from here on. It's been a long, trying recovery..but things can only transform for the better. I just feel it. He will ALWAYS be that hilarious, charming, humble, crazy guy he has always been! I am so happy Cedar got there, I am sure it was all around a complete relief for them to be around one another.
Loving you much, and am so smiley knowing you are feeling like there is true hope.. have fun this weekend with the boys, and know we love you dearly! Blesses, and BIG hugs.. Xo Clance
Love to you all, Zack is on his way to see Caleb and he is SO excited. Ella Mae has given her Daddy a little something to give him. It almost made me cry when she was scrambling around the house looking for something as her Daddy was trying to leave. She wants him home for Halloween "so he can be a Pirate".
xoxox,settie
Today is the first day that I just want to cry. You are so close Sharyn I can feel it. The last paragraph is like a movie, people are so kind and so familiar even in a large city.
Dressing himself, shaving, almost making it to the toilet everytime. This brings such joy to my heart, such promise. Hang in there, you are doing so well and your son is so strong.
As always prayers and hugs from Woods Hole.
I think we should all be pirates this Halloween!
J
aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggghhhhhh
dear pirate man/boy
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxox
Sharyn - GREAT GREAT news. I agree it is normal for Caleb to feel depressed. And I agree in a LOT of ways this is another GREAT sign of normalicy for him and your family (blood and extended which I believe is growing daily). It touched me so to read about how you cherish your privacy - and through this you have SOOO openly expressed your fears, joys, frustrations etc. Please take some pride in knowing that by doing such you and your family are touching a LOT of people - some you know and some you don't (like me). I've written you a few times that Caleb's COURAGEOUS battle has given me a fresh perspective on life and my love for my children! Thank you! And when Caleb gets out and about and if you all ever come to South Florida please look me up. We'll take you all fishing, we live minutes from the beach and have PLENTY of surf boards, skim boards! And my frig always has cold wine and beer!
As always your family is in my thoughts DAILY and PRAYERS constantly! P.S. I've convinced my youngest son to be a pirate for Halloween! In honor of your pirate....I hope this is ok! Becky - Deerfield Beach, Florida
Hey Sharyn,
How dare you go to another Liquor Store! Did you think you where going to find bad people in a Liquor Store besides mine? OK, your forgiven this time...
Caleb sounds like he's feeling his oats... That can only be good for all of us! Sharyn, as soon as I know my schedule better I am hoping to get to Boston soon...
Sharyn, why don't you put Kai's cell phone number on the blog here so everyone can call him while he's in class! His comment yesterday to you here cracked me up!
I hope you can get some more time for yourself. That would be good for both you and Caleb. I think so anyways....
Be well,
Kevin
Hi Sharyn.
We are so happy to hear about Caleb's progress! What a beautiful and moving post. The insight you share is powerful. I want to thank you for sharing this journey with all of us. Like so many others, I feel the need to check in with you via this blog (even though we have never met) every day.
Now it's our turn to thank you, your family, and all of Wellfleet for showing the world what community is truly about. We are a typical local family struggling to make ends meet and recognize how special it is to live within the rich tapestry of Cape Cod year-round. Through the Richardson Family Farm/Caleb Potter fundraiser and raffle, my family was fortunate enough to recently win the Stella Pink Dogwood Tree. We have decided we want ALL OF YOU to share in our good fortune. We would like to donate this tree for everyone to enjoy and have it planted in a public area in Wellfleet, in honor of all the pirates and mermaids who have rallied around to support Caleb and Shaye.
I have placed a call to the DPW in Wellfleet and I am awaiting a return call to see what we can work out. If anyone has an advice or ideas on how to navigate this I would greatly appreciate your input. Is there any update on the Village Green prayer area? Are they going to allow it to stay there? Would this be a suitable place for the tree? Any ideas (and maybe a flatbed truck to assist in transport, unless DPW steps up?) - please let us know.
Kindest regards and all our love,
Nora, Scott, & baby Nathaniel Eldredge
Sharyn, it's so good to hear of the progress Caleb has made, and Caleb, hurry back to von Sapokonish way. We miss the calls of the von chickens.....Hugs and God Bless everyone. Natale
you know...we can all find the poetry in the people who see us, and who we see. this is the fabric of life; us supporting one another. i am glad that you have created the well worn path magic up there too. the city is really just a town within a town within a town.....
i found that sameness when travelling (all over the world) for 10 yrs...it is just another town that is special within itself. the world sees and feels you. so do we. love to you and the boy, lisa
give em hell ya ol boy
Give that foulmouthed scallywag a big kiss. Progress is progress! Caleb, you made my day. I'll keep praying for more words!
I've lived in Boston since 1983 and I love it here. I'm glad that you've had an opportunity to see the heart of this city which is, of course, the good people who live and work here. It's not Wellfleet but there can be only one Wellfleet as there can be only one Boston! Big hugs to Caleb as he moves through the next step in his journey. His honesty about first seeing Cedar again and the way the two of them worked it out so that they could relax together was beautiful. It's all about the journey, right?
Lesa
Sharyn your post brought a swell within me. I can sense the frustration Caleb must be feeling and relate to the pain of seeing a friend who reminds him of the "what ifs".
I am confident that Caleb will make it through this, I don't know why but I do. In my mind's eye I see him back working his grant and then hoisting a few with friends and being with Jennie. That is the image I keep in my daily meditations.
I also firmly believe that through this his character will become even stronger than it was before and this will enable him to compensate for what ever long term stuff comes along. The body also has the amazing ability to relearn.
He has also been given a tremendous gift of knowing now the impact his life, his witt, his caring and his presence has had on so many people and (with the help of your eloquent writing) has inpired and drawn in people that he has never met to be witnesses and supporters to his journey.
Yes in Boston and elswhere there are warm people who just need the opportunity to show it. I am sure that you invite that, knowingly or not.
So enough of this sap.....you tell that @#!*@#& not to be too discouraged and to not take stuff too seriously and to enjoy all the attention and visitors.
all the best from the west
Cheking in from LA.
So glad to hear that people are wanting to dress as pirates for Halloween in tribute to Leb. I was thinking the same thing. So I spoke to Shaye a few weeks ago and I will be donating a lot of cool pirate costumes and accessories to be sold at Shayes booth for Caleb at the oyster fest. So everyone wait on getting your outfits together. Stop by the booth and get your pirate gear and support Caleb to boot!
ARRGGG!!!! See you there!
Also I will be putting a special package together for you Leb. Keep up the good work!
Love,
Kim Harris
caleb potter,tiss goom bah.kiss sharyn lyndsay rah,rahh,rahhhh.scro
if caleb is feeling depressed he should not be on pharmacudical drugs.its probably making his moods much worse.he needs to be drug free as well as tube free.no drugs!!!
Sharyn...You are so sweet...
Hi Sharyn,
Tubeless! Sounds like a new fashion trend or better yet, something related to sex! Congratulations on all the good news! I hate to say we told you so, but we did, didn't we? And I love the cussing....it's so darn normal and we all want normal back for you! So normal to feel pain and cuss! Great! And I think you should give us all Kevin's cell phone number so we can call and bug him anytime! It sounds like he needs to be annoyed! Ha! I am currently sitting here shedding tears of joy for you and Caleb and everyone else! Giddy with relief and gratitude for a tough battle fought and won!
Love you and miss you,
Sue
Sharyn,
Know of 3 "singing " Docs -
A duo that sings medical paradies -
A doc who does satirical songs
and a doc from New Mexico who does healing singing for animals...
Are any of these the one you're looking for?
Carol O
I have been checking in on Caleb's progress as regularly as I can, as my daughter also has a brain injury is requires constant vigilance. I wouldn't be anywhere else. I just wanted to say that when we recognize the "true" self inside coming through, it is a miracle and so comforting to know Caleb has come through into the light! Keep it up Caleb, you are a shining star.
Courtney's Mom, Julie
Sharyn, I love that. That's what I would say too! I hope the procedure went well. Caleb, Keep being brave and strong. All your fans know you can do this. I lived in downtown Boston for years and it really is a little village. I am glad it still has that quality. Love, Susanna
Hi Sharyn-
Obviously, Caleb comes by his love of laughter and ease with people honestly (not to mention the cat-got-the-canary smile). Sooo you. As for the jewels unearthed in the big city - you get what you give. Even in the rough you sparkle.
Prayers for contiued progress for Caleb that bring peaceful nights to you and yours.
Hugs,
Denise
hi sharyn,
Its funny, everytime I say mother fu----. (which is pretty frequently these days) I think of Caleb. I dont know why, even before the 4th... mabey it is the way he says it, and aways has. i think evrything he says, its with athority, like he means it.... thats probubly why i think of him ...He says a good mother fu..........
love you mama,
weeks
Sharyn,
That was BEAUTIFUL, and very insightful into your life in Boston. I think that is wonderful that you've found familiar faces and souls to share your days and nights with. Familiarity is the simple key to your happiness sometimes. I know that when I go to Lowell and I am in a city of 300,000 people, those 15-20 people that I DO know make my stay alot easier. Nothing is like home though...Especially when your home is WELLFLEET!!! The "Compassion Capital", as one blogger previously said. The little town of about 3,500 year-round residents who are ALL connected in some way or another. Who are ALL familiar with eachother. But....we WILL see you back here soon with Caleb and all the Potter/Lindsay Clan. Back to the familliar, the norn...YOUR HOME....And we will be so enthused to have you here with us.
Love, Hugs, Peace, Serenity, HOPE, and all the other great blessings that I can throw your way.
~Nicole Miner :)
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