Hi Everyone,
Most people think of January 1st as their New Year, not me. I have always thought of Labor Day weekend as the transition date for our families New Year. Summer was officially over and our new year began with new schools, new classes, new friends, new schedules, new teams and new social activities.

Facebook has been flooded with pictures reflecting the first day of this New Year for many of our friends. In some cases, our friends post a comparison pose from the previous year to highlight the transformation that was captured by the camera’s shutter yet eluded the naked eye.

The transition from year to year can be surreal. The common question “Where did the time go”? “How can we be starting the next new grade, job, life experience”? We might not have noticed the day-in-day-out changes but hopefully when we take a moment to glance back through our minds eye, we can answer, “wow, look at what we accomplished!”

I haven’t been able to get the words ‘transition and transformation’ out of my head. These words, for me, represent my definition of our New Year. I don’t have a side by side photograph to post for you but the following summary will give you a clear portrait of Corey’s last year.

Transition, n.; movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change:
Transformation, n.; the act or process of transforming; change in form, appearance, nature, or character.

This time last year, Corey could stand with the assistance of a walker and a therapist for 10 minutes. Gravity and weak muscle strength would give way to a bend in her knees as we jokingly chanted, “you’re melting, oh what a world, what a world”. Corey’s long distance walking was consistent; she averaged 100-150’, with an all-time high of almost 400’.

This time last year, we flew to Texas for vision and vestibular therapy at Cerebrum Health Center. When Corey was first evaluated, she spent the majority of the day in her wheelchair except for short distance transfers, she couldn’t focus or work on the computer to answer the concussion IMPACT questions and her alter ego, Corinne, was a daily influence in the form of volatile outbursts.

This time last year, she had been suffering from chronic migraines for years. We met a Neuro Optometrist who corrected Corey’s vision using a prism. Suddenly she could see the world around her, read with more accuracy and only complained of headaches as the barometric pressure changed with impending weather.

This time last year, we were discharged from Bryn Mawr after receiving 5 years professional therapy post injury. That in and of itself was an amazing accomplishment but as many of you remember, I was terrified of this transition; what would the ‘New Year’ bring? How can I continue to help her make the transformation she needs to continue progressing and live each day to the fullest with her physical limitations? Now What? How does she keep advancing in this TBI school of recovery? Does she ever graduate? Will she ever realize her dream of becoming a Chef?

I can’t answer the last few questions but we were lucky enough to learn the definition of a new word -HARNESS, verb.; to bring under conditions for effective use; gain control over for a particular end.

A verb is an Action word and Miss Corey is certainly gaining control for a particular end…INDEPENDENCE! She is now walking at a slow but more controlled pace. Each morning she walks from the chairlift to the kitchen without my holding onto her gait belt. She’s managing the turns around the island with more control and speed! We continue to practice long distance walking at the grocery store; last week we added hills. Caitlin challenged Corey to get the mail at the top of the driveway. Saturday Corey wanted to get the mail again, only this time I pushed her to try and go further, so up the hill past our box, along the street to the neighbor’s mailbox and back (600’). Labor Day, Corey has never been scared of hard work. She surpassed every long distance record to date; up the driveway, past the neighbors mailbox, turned the corner, down the hill and WALKED ¾’s around our block for a total of 1300’! Corey hasn’t walked through the neighborhood since September 2010!

We’ve learned so much in our 5th year of recovery.
1.‘Action is difficult, complicated and inconvenient. And action is worth all the trouble, because action will make a difference. Action will bring you experience and achievement, and provide options you never had before. Action will transform problems into opportunities, and dreams into reality’ – Ralph Marston
2.“When life knocks you down, put a Harness on and stand back up” – Devina Kumar

Wonder what lessons the New Year will bring? xoxo