It was 8 weeks ago that my brother in law Bob fell and suffered his spinal cord injury, paralyzing him from the neck down. It seems in many ways a lifetime ago, because in an instant his life, and ours, changed in unimaginable ways, permanently. I learned the news from a Scituate police officer when he called from the house to say Bob was being medflighted to Tufts and I was needed to drive my sister Rhonda to him. I knew instantly that medflighting meant it was serious, and then he told me what I never wanted to hear- Bob couldn’t feel his legs. By the time we arrived to Tufts our fears were confirmed when my niece/Bob’s daughter Gabi, who arrived first, told us the news— his break was at the c5 and c6 vertebrae and he would never walk again. Only later would we learn that it was also very unlikely he would ever regain use of his hands-about a 10% chance they told us. But 10% is not zero and so we will hope.

After triage and surgery at Tufts, Bob is now at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown fighting every day to gain the physical, mental, and emotional strength needed to manage all that lies ahead. Rhonda is by his side, loving and supporting him, and learning to be his skilled caretaker. Like Bob, she is broken. Thirty five years ago tomorrow, September 1, is their wedding anniversary when they danced to the Romantics “What I Like About Yau” as their wedding song. Later, their saving grace Gabrielle came along to fulfill their lives.

 If you are just learning all this now, apologies. We are just coming out of the fog and coming to terms with our new reality. And it is that reality that creates this ask- which is big and not easy to make. Bob’s needs are substantial and highly specialized. They are also for a lifetime. Bob’s anticipated discharge date is 9/24. To get him home will take heroic efforts. And that is just the beginning. There is modified housing and a van for transportation, specialized round-the-clock care, and all the medical supplies and equipment needed to help him day-to-day to tackle his paralysis.

Please know as you read this that any effort to help is so warmly and gratefully appreciated. Please also continue with your beautiful notes and flowers and ice creams and coffee cakes. Your monetary support will fund his many substantial needs, but your continued personal acts of kindness will support his soul and fill his heart.
 - Ursula

 These last few weeks at Spaulding Dad has shown me an unmatched level of resilience and bravery. Dad has been working very hard to learn how to do everything again and adapt to his new life with limited independence. He has always been the hardest worker and is giving it his all. I’m hopeful and looking forward to our future, however challenging and different it may be and appreciate all of the love and support we’ve received.
 - Gabi