This post has been long overdue...but I have been a very busy scrapper in the past two weeks, to say the least. I have determined that I can no longer keep one foot in landscaping, and the other involved with brain injury, so I have turned the businees over to Kai, who is perched and ready to fly. Meanwhile, I have connected Caleb up with three other brain injured men at this end of the Cape and they had their first bowling/pizza night out this past week. What smiles on those faces! We plan on seeing how this works for all of them, and then we will add movie nights, week-end activities etc. I am so happy for Caleb to have new friends in his life and the freedom he experienced last week was delicious!
We have been working on our barn for the past couple of weeks, transforming it into a space for Caleb to hang. As soon as it is painted ( right after Christmas) he will be more on his own. He is volunteering at the Library 3x a week, works with the after school program in clay, and sits in with the preschool crowd once a week. His schedule is intense, and I as his secretary am finding it taxing to keep up with...but oh is this good for him, for me, and for everyone involved.....We have turned another corner and it is looking bright out there for the first time in awhile.
I still toss all night .... each night, but now I find I am less stressed being wide awake when even the roosters are still, knowing that we are moving forward.
Not what I wanted, not what I thought I would ever be dealt...but what we have.....and having the best time with it possible.
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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.
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.
Adding Comments
Please feel free to add your comments to the blog. All you have to do is click on the number of comments at the bottom of one of the postings. Then write your comment in the box provided on the right side of the screen. Thank you to all of you who have been commenting so far; we're creating quite the community on here! Be well...
A BIG Thank You
In this season of giving thanks and celebrating family togetherness, I wish to extend a warm thank you to everyone who has been involved in a myriad of ways with my son, Caleb Potter, and his recovery. On July 4, he was involved in a skateboarding accident in our little hometown of Wellfleet on Cape Cod, that caused him serious injuries. He came home from Spaulding Rehab in Boston just before Thanksgiving. Through the blog we started:
http://calebpotter.blogspot.com/
the Wellfleet community of support stretched far and wide across the country, and in fact, throughout parts of the world, with many people offering prayers and words of wisdom. We could not have come so far without this legion of support from all of you, in Wellfleet and beyond. We are sincerely grateful.
Sharyn L. Lindsay and family
http://calebpotter.blogspot
the Wellfleet community of support stretched far and wide across the country, and in fact, throughout parts of the world, with many people offering prayers and words of wisdom. We could not have come so far without this legion of support from all of you, in Wellfleet and beyond. We are sincerely grateful.
Sharyn L. Lindsay and family
DONATIONS
THE CALEB POTTER
BENEFIT FUND
Donations may be made in person at any branch of Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank or mailed to the bank at P.O. Box 697, Wellfleet, MA 02667.
Thank you SO MUCH
for your contributions.
With love,
from all of Caleb's friends and family
BENEFIT FUND
Donations may be made in person at any branch of Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank or mailed to the bank at P.O. Box 697, Wellfleet, MA 02667.
Thank you SO MUCH
for your contributions.
With love,
from all of Caleb's friends and family
Official Information
If you have questions about calebpotter.blogspot.com,
email Sky at:
novembersky.freysscole@gmail.com
email Sky at:
novembersky.freysscole@gmail.com
For Sending Cards etc.
Caleb Potter
c/o Sharyn Lindsay
45 Sapokonish Way
Wellfleet, MA
02667
(please be respectful)
c/o Sharyn Lindsay
45 Sapokonish Way
Wellfleet, MA
02667
(please be respectful)
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19 comments:
What a fantastic post! So glad you guys are all turning a corner!!
Sharyn
A corner has indeed been turned toward a life that Caleb has been given and independence to boot. Truth be told, most of the time, we like to hang with our comfort range and Caleb is doing that right now and I can guess, loving it. He is such a bright light he will bring joy to whoever he hangs with. You can take some weights off your personal barbell and feel lighter...things are moving ahead.
Sharyn-It might not be what you wanted, or ever thought about, but the brain injury community, needs people like you!
Wow...this sounds so positive for all of you!
Sharyn, your courage, love and resilience are a true inspiration. Caleb is so blessed to have you. Keep turning those corners!
Amy from western MA
Sharyn, thanks for letting us in on the great things happening for you guys right now. I've been thinking about you a lot and continue to check the blog everyday to see if you've posted. It's great to think of Caleb back in the barn- it's also been nice to think that he's in the library in town- that has always been one of my favorite places to hide out and I hope I get to see him there, once our life here is together enough that we can get our butts down to Wellfleet. Also, congrats to Kai, with all the big changes in your lives, it sounds like he is taking on a new one as well, tho you had said before how much he had been taking on at work and that's he's ready. Lots of love to you all, Neil, Carrie, and our three boys
Awesome news! Very constructive on all counts. I hope, most of all, that Caleb is [more] happy with these things going on.
Also, from everything I've read (and obseved from afar) I expect great things from Kai at the helm of the business. I've only met Kai once or twice, face to face, but it's clear to me that the guy has a good head on his shoulders and will make the most of this leadership/business opportunity. Kai, best of luck to you. BTW, I know a couple of teenie bopper girls (WAY too young for you) who have a wicked crush on you. But you didn't hear that here.
Forward, positive motion... keep it going!
Love to all always,
Jerry
Thank you for sharing your wonderful news, Sharyn. Good luck, Kai; congratulations, Caleb, on all of your incredible accomplishments; and Sharyn, you are an inspiration to all of us.
NY/Wellfleet Mom
Sharyn,
When showered with lemons-----. Your recent post makes me breathe happier for you. I've been sitting with your last post and trying desperately to be able to "fix" things for you or at least make life easier for all of you. But of course you need only to follow your own instincts. I think your choices are perfect and make sense for everyone. Kai, good luck! Caleb, enjoy your freedom. Sharyn, trust yourself and know that you are loved.
Jackie in NY
TOTALLY inspiring! Yea!
Sharyn,
I "SO ENJOY" watching Caleb's great progress!! His shit-eating grin is priceless... ;-)) Every good day is one less bad day! If I start talking about your roosters you will probably have to delete this post...I'll leave it at that!
Kevin
I was hoping that the delay in posting was because of all of these things you just told us. Hooray for you, and Caleb! You have indeed turned a corner and I am so glad. I wish I could give you all a big hug in person, but am sending one out in my heart!
Kai,
Best of luck to you in this endeavor!
As always, with hope and love,
peg from PA
I am very excited for Caleb. His future is bright and the sky's the limit!
Sharyn,
I'm so glad for you and Caleb. This is what has to be, going forward, and as usual you are doing it with so much creativity and imagination! You and Caleb, essentially, are being reborn into a new and unexpected life but now you are in control of it. I was reading a very interesting "power of positive thinking" style article in this weeks Psychology Today. The article followed up on some studies of cancer survivors and elderly people dealing with the losses of old age, confinement in nursing homes, etc...
The argument of the article (for what its worth) was that studies show again and again that the difference for people's happiness or unhappiness is not what is happening to them but how they handle it. And how they handle it is a function of how they come to terms with the problem of loss-grieving the life they thought they would have--and whether they can accept loss and move on.
Its not the case that for every illness there is a cure, or for every sorrow there is a fix--but it seems to be the case that accepting the current situation and then working with what is left makes people happier than continuing to rage against the dark. I suppose we knew that since we had "better to light a single candle..."
I think of you and Caleb as venturing out onto a new life. And because you are both extra-ordinary people, it will be an extra-ordinary one. Because you are both joyful people, it will be joyful. Its going to be different from the old life. But you are taking the necessary steps to make sure it is full and rewarding for both of you.
much love
aimai
Hooray! I was hoping that NO news in this case was GOOD news and it surely is!! The best to you all and Caleb's new friends.
Keep us posted. Love and best wishes,
Penny on St. John
Always knew you were a scrapper. The plans sound great. Much Success to Kai and you all.
Hope prevails!!!
Dear Sharyn,
I echo Aimai's comments. After my little one was diagnosed with a brain tumor, there was all of the medical stuff and then just the "leave me the f alone" stage and then finally we got into "battle mode." This is the place where I finally felt like I could do something positive to make a crappy situation somewhat less crappy. In our case we started a foundation with some other families and in 3 years together have raised more than 4 million dollars for research. Caleb is your cause today and at some point I know he will be independent enough to manage his own affairs and execute all of the wonderful elements of his new life that you have put in place for him. And then you will begin to make a new life for yourself. perhaps through advocacy for TBI, perhaps through something else that fulfills you. I am so proud of you and so impressed by your honesty as you continue to grow and evolve through this experience. You inspire me and so many other people. You continue to give me hope on my sad days and I feel a connection to you and your wonderful spirit. Congratulations on another brave step forward. COngratulations to Caleb and Kai and Max for their are all achieving despite the unexpected and they and you will all shine brightly. You just cant help it! Love, Risa in Needham
Sharon, I firmly believe that it is not what happens to us that matters in the long run, but rather how we deal with it. This has been a long, painful process for all of you but you have made a natural evolution and chosen a wise path. Good luck to Kai, congrats to Caleb, and may God bless you, Sharon.
I'm proud of you . . . but then, that's nothing new! Love, El
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