Monday morn

Well- not a wink of sleep for Caleb or I all of last night- his body suddenly decided to not hold meds any longer and he has had for 12 hours now the most violent projectile vomiting which coming through a tube is no picnic! Whoops - had to run once again- he is getting weak and despondent with all of this. I feel like my nerves have fused to an electric current! I will not stay on long now - I can't- but I will take the time to say thank you once again for being there for us - and all the responses about housing will be looked into as soon as I can. A special thanks to those little urchins; Madeline,Abby and Kassidy - I can't wait to meet you - and all of you out there who we don't yet know. A continued thanks to my close friends for watching vigilantly over us - must go Love, mumsie In spite all of this , Wed. surgery is still a go! Pray for him please! Don't worry about me -through all of this Caleb insists on rubbing my head after each bout - so I am well taken care of.

Like Mother, Like Son

The beautiful mother of our Captain Yellowbeard
(Thanks to Jodi Walters for this one of Sharyn and Bob LaPointe from a few years back...)

Got stuff?

The Kochen/McPartland family will be hosting a Communal Yard Sale Fundraiser for the Caleb Potter Benefit Fund
THIS SATURDAY August 18th
(rain date will be August 19th)



WHERE: 33 Cross Street (near the Wellfleet Public Library)
WHEN: from 10am - 3pm
Please show up and buy some goodies or drop of something to sell!
(If dropping off, please do so sometime before 9am on Saturday)

Feel free to contribute ANYTHING, including baked goods, art, and of course your mother's old shoes.

If you have questions, contact Allison at 349-1245.

Wicked Jag Photos

Thanks to Nate Johnson for these great photos of the highly successful CALEB'S WICKED JAG (August 1st)

Pheobe and Kendra work the door


Eric prepping the food


India and Amy get ready for the hungry crowds


Nicole and Corey: ARRRRRGGGH!


Caleb info on the mantel


The beautiful work of the Wellfleet Candy Company


Ladies enjoying the food before the dance party began


Salad anyone?


JTrees spins the tunes


Ella Mae dances up a storm


Checking out the auction goodies


Yellowbeard belt by Amy Ramsdell


Skateboard deck by Andy Jacobs


One night, many winners


Hanging out back


Brandon chows on some Flying Fish Pizza


Kai devours a chocolate pirate

Sunday Morning

Whew - another surgery under his belt - he had to have the treach tube put back in for this Wed.in order to have a secondary means for air passage. I have never seen anyone so poked and prodded as he is now..but finally after 2 long days and 2 even longer nights, he sleeps. I managed to remember that every time I get a manicure I nod off - so out came the nail file, the warm water and the lotion.. and it worked. When Caleb is wide awake, so am I. I am finding that this sleep deprivation is a marvelous thing - you go a little crazy and people pay more attention to you - I'm workin it, workin it! I am humbled by this son of mine. Last eve when he was restless I actually climbed into the bed next to his side to just hold him, but he instead comforts me by rubbing my head. Caleb has always been so compassionate, so caring. He was always reminding me of people's names as we approached them on the street. ( people I should have remembered) At best,I tolerate the human race, whereas he folds his arms eagerly around every person he encounters and drags them into his world of laughter and pure fun. Those of you who are on the blog who don't know him yet are in for a delightful treat. We hold steady as we are and I am looking forward to the healing which will take place on Wed. I will let you know as soon as I can when he comes out of surgery . P.S. A question I would like to put out there -- does anyone know of a place I could rent for a good part of the autumn..I think we will be here longer than we first anticipated and that great Doc who gave me his apt. has to come back to work sooner or later. I want to rent - not stay for free - so if you have any leads, let me know. Thank you for being on this journey with me - it means ever so much to repeatedly hear the wise, comforting, funny words you pass on to me and to Caleb. I shall no longer just tolerate the human race - I too will embrace, like my son. Love, Mumsie

Sat. Morn

So while all of you were preparing for a Friday night on the town;" sportin" the new high heels and push up bra, Caleb put on his new bare all in the backside hospital gown and went down for yet another CAT scan at midnight..He has changed his style just a bit for now! It was hard to see Kai and Max leave yesterday but they are retuning for Tyler's wedding and to make sure the fat Spud dog gets his walk. They are the cement that keeps me grounded -Caleb is in constant pain now - serious pain and I see in his eye where he wants to give up for the first time - we won't let him - but understandably he must feel like he is only going backwards when he had such a positive outlook before this! He has not slept for two days now and I can see his thoughts racing. Anyone out there who has ever loved someone knows how nightmarish watching this is and knows how how utterly helpless you feel! As a sign of unity and support, I am now "sportin" the hospital gown myself. So here is the run-down.... Caleb goes into surgery on Wed. This is the big bang- Neuro, Plastics and ENT teams presiding, they will begin through the nose - patching leaks as they go and then they splay him open from ear to ear to continue patching and repairing bones.- why so descriptive? Because I want you to know that I am doing everything in my power of persuasion and ways ( well not "all" my ways ) to pull in the best team of Doctors that is possible - but I need those prayers for Caleb in a big way this week - that is where you come in! I need you - he needs you! As I lie here watching his chest rise and fall, I am reminded of a time long ago when I wished for all the greatness in life for him - as I watched his chest rise and fall. Together, lets bring him home! Love, Mum

Thursday - late afternoon

So the sob in the back of my throat has dissipated and we are looking forward to moving onward and upward! For all of you who post, light candles, say prayers, stop by a hurt child in the road; your are invited to a glass of wine in room 2232! I had heard that someone was with Caleb on that day - God Bless You - it is so good to know he was not alone. They have located the leak in Caleb's cerebral fluids and he will have surgery towards the beginning of the week to close that up. This will be a big event in so many ways - the leakage is dangerous to him and once closed up he can begin the process of healing. We are excited! Caleb is weak and sleeps through most of the day except for when he fidgets. I put a rolled up magazine in his hand to help with his frustration and he whacks Kai in the head with it - Nothing changes , does it! He is trying to form words and sometimes they spill through. Max says " Rest Caleb" " I will" says Caleb and we look around the room to see who said that. I do believe that Caleb will get through this surgery just fine,he will roll up his sleeves to his hospital gown and walk home - he has had enough! As for Kai and Max - well I just couldn't do this without them They are equally incredible personalities. So I must sign off but just know that at night when I hold his hands, I whisper into his ear and yours " Good night my love. Mumsie

WALK, BIKE or RUN!

Hi everybody!
For those of you who have not yet heard, there will be a:
Walk, Bike or Run Benefit for Caleb THIS SUNDAY (August 12th).
Participants will meet at Mayo beach at 8 am and we'll get going at 8:30.
The route will be from Mayo Beach to the Chequessett Golf course and back again (a total of 5km or 3.2 miles).
The cost is $25 dollars to participate.
The first 100 or so participants get a fabulous (locally-designed) t-shirt!
It's going to be a great morning so we hope to see you all there.

PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

Registration form (CLICK TO ENLARGE)




Thank you to Ariana Kmiec, Becky at Wellfleet Recreation, the Letendres and everyone else involved in this wonderful effort. Yet another beautiful example of community support. Gotta love it!

Candles for Caleb

(A message and photos from Caleb's aunt)

Just returned from a trip in Germany, where I thought of Caleb every day and lit candles in all the great and ancient cathedrals for his recovery. Caleb candles are currently burning in Bamberg Cathedral, the Minster of Freiburg, Hamburg's St Peter's, Landsberg's town church, Luebeck St. Mary's Cathedral, the Marienkirche on Munich, and in St. Jacob's in Regensburg. May they all bring light!
Lots of love,
Ken

Bamberg:


Freiburg:


Hamburg:



Landsberg:



Luebeck:



München:



Regensburg:

Comin through

For those of you who hesitate to write on this blog- just remeber that I read carefully every comment and I do not believe I could not be doing so well without it..yesterday's writings fed my soul and we are back, strong and steady! After a 30 hour wait in emergency room - Caleb has once again worked his magic and landed a room on Ellison 22 where diplomats who need to be hospitalized come to stay. - Beautiful, big private rooms, great nurses always watchful, a beautiful view of the Charles-a bed for mumsie- just tops! He is resting, infection has calmed down - the bags under the eyes are dissapearing, fevor gone, the fluid leak in the brain is being addressed. He will stay right where he is until he is totally stable and ready for re-hab once again. This place is an amazing machine and although my approach to illness for my children has always been more homeopathic and part vodoo, I find myself astonished and blown away by this group of professionals. Kai and Max have become shadows to Caleb and are always just a movement behind him. Their tenderness towards him heals just as much as the IV. This boy of mine is otherworldly to me - I know that I could not come close to mustering up the courage that he has had to in order to endure so much! Not a wonder that "Endurance" is right up there on his favorite list of books. He has become a Shackelton to himself and he will not allow himself to fail - we can see it in that one pirate blue eye that still looks at us with deliberate intension and says - " I will be in Fleet again - jockey me out a here and get me back on me ship" We all thank you for your ever growing presence and loving thoughts. Thank you - thank you. Mumsie

Positive Healing Thoughts for Caleb

Tuesday - mum

It took only a touch of Kai's fingers to my temple to let the flood that my lids have been damming to open up -Caleb is once again back in intensive care,suffering a low blow of menningitis. His spinal fluids were seeping out of his nose and it seems no one was alarmed by it at Spaulding except for his immediate family.. this has put a big dark cloud over us and once again I don't really know where we stand at this point - but we are feeling grim once again after so much positive progress. Sorry - I am trying to look at the positiveness in this one and am still digging deep. We have spent the last 25 hours in a room in ICU - not even a real room and are not finding any answers to sooo many questions. Caleb has morphine injections and is still in a lot of pain, and the rate at which he spiraled down took our breath away--- want to get back by his side - so now again is a good time to pray. We love you all. Sharyn

Glorious Sunday morn

Tonight is the benifit for Matthew Dieltz Williams-- please take the time to support another local boy. Matt lost his arm in a car accident and I know prior to Caleb's accident, he was on board to do a raw bar for Matt and I know he would want you to be there. I don't know all the details but it is today at the Elks club - Please go! Yesterday was our first set-back day and tho I expected it sooner or later - I was thrown off balance and lost it. Caleb was in alot of pain and was vacant for most of the day -- he has not required pain medication for about a week now but he was down for the count and kept asking for meds. This is one of the most painful situations a parent can be in - you feel so helpless! I have not seen him yet today but Kai and Max are arriving and I hope his spirits will be up and running once again. When Caleb graduated from high school I helped him pay for a trip to Europe to travel with Chad and Mike D. Caleb was dating Grace at the time and he promised he would celibrate their one year anniversary at midnight. After a long night out (as I think every night was) with the boys , Caleb dragged himself out into the alley outside of the hostel, lit a fire with toilet paper and little sticks in spite of the continued drizzle of rain, opened a bottle of whiskey and in Caleb's own way celebrated their union - which means he was loud - yelling Grace's name into the night. A man and his two little children came out with a hot bowl of soup and warm towels and in that moment Caleb realized that they mistook him for a bum in the streets. Since he didn't speak German he could not begin to explain, but that experience of pure love and compassion stayed with him. At night when I drag my weary self to the bed and lie there thinking about Caleb, I too am touched by all the love and compassion - I feel like in your wishes, you bring us hot soup and warm towels each night. Thank you. Mum

Friday from mum

So I gathered all of your sage advise - went home a bit earlier last night, watched a movie and pounded down a bottle of wine and now I am all better - thank you! Caleb had a wonderful day - tho as always when he has company, he is pooped out! Barney, Baglioni and Chad all traveled to Spaulding for an eventful visit. Caleb pulled in all his resources and walked the full length of the hall - down and back, still with help, but that is the farthest he has gone so far and I know he wanted to put his best foot forward (no pun) for these guys! They were cheering him on! He wrote on a paper "Rough it up good. Don't let anything dangerous change your mind!" Now just where does he get that strenght from? - I am in awe! His spirit just shines through and he is climbing above the timberline to get a new perspective. He also wrote - Hi mom , I am alright- after I pressed him for an answer. We have had a mini van donated to us by a very generous man who used it(Lucky is it's name) for fundraising for his close friend in a similar situation. I am wondering if Andy would do a paint job on the new "Billy Rig" as Shaye called it. Thank you for the van, the $$, the prayers,the picture books, CD's, the new tube of red lipstick..your time and energy! I think that Caleb is ready for mail so - Caleb Potter 8th floor Spaulding Rehab Hospital 125 Nashua St. Boston, MA 02114-1198. I would love for Caleb to hear from any of you who don't know him as well as his close friends. I am so changed by all of this in so many ways and I know Caleb is on a journey that only he can take, but that he will return. I am thinking about writing a book titled "Menopause and Brain damage" a womans guide to gliding through menopause without even noticing! We are fine and our hearts cross pollinate each day along with yours. So I will leave you with the words that Richard said to me which ring through my soul every day. " Without Caleb, I am rudderless. He points me into the wind" I love you all and know you feel that too.

Thursday already

Hi out there - I didn't write on the blog yesterday as I knew most of you would be busy at Caleb's wicked jag! I called Kai around 7 pm and could'nt hear a thing! Thank you to all of you who work so hard for Caleb. Today they have begun feeding him simple slide down foods like applesauce and juices - he did well with that and when he can master it,and get his food tube out - he will be down to one tube- for urinating. That one will go when he is more stable on his feet. He is looking more and more like the Caleb I remember - handsome and spirited. On so many occasions he reacts just as he would have prior to the accident and in others - well... that will be a wait and see situation. He is drawing alot and I feel that will be such a big part of his re-hab. He looks sad and that always affects me - I just wish I knew what is going on inside of him - so many unanswered questions I am assuming. I felt that the period of time after the divorce with 3 little kids was going to be my greatest challenge in life - but this one has it topped. Caleb and I will move forward each day and not try to look back.. so far so good. Thanks for always being on the other end of this journey - I am blessed, along with Caleb to have such support. Be well - all of you and know that in my mind I always picture Caleb and I driving into Fleet with smiles on our faces - we will do this!