Happy New Year

Since Ashley was stricken on June 29, 2007 the end of the calendar year marks the 5.5 year mark of her recovery.  With God’s blessing Ashley continues to make progress.  The most dramatic visual progress is her ability to transfer from the bed to her wheelchair all by herself. 

Most mornings dad brings Ashley downstairs from her bedroom and she catches a bit more sleep in the bed still in the living room until she and mom begin their day.  Until recently Ashley would call out if she wanted to get up early.  Not anymore.  We now place her wheelchair next to that bed along with placing slip-on shoes in front of it.  Now if Ashley wants to get an early start she is able to sit up in bed, slip on her shoes, stand up, grab ahold of the chair’s armrests and pivot to sit in the chair.  She propels herself forward with her feet.

She may pick out some clothes, go into the kitchen and grab a water bottle, or even turn on the TV.

Speaking of stairs Ashley is sure-footed enough that mom is now comfortable guiding her up and down the stairs.

Her coordination with her left arm and hand is also improving.  Using a fork or spoon Ashley continues to become more independent with eating.

Voicing is still a challenge.  One of many hurdles Ashley is still focused on overcoming.  Ashley is still in outpatient therapy every weekday.  In Speech she is continuing to work on the formation and, just as hard, on the articulation of sounds and words.  Slowly but surely Ashley is increasing the range of speech. 

When Ashley can coordinate her breathing with her voicing there are wonderful results.  She can clearly state a short sentence.  Even on phone calls she has been able to state things that are clearly understood. 

Communication can be frustrating at times.  Then again when we are patient with Ashley her personality will often come through.  While visiting relatives in Valpo this past weekend Ashley suffered through a corny joke dad relayed to her Aunt Beth.  As a follow up Ashley stated (some words clearly and some with spelling), “I have to live with him.”

Now it is time to get caught up on the last half year.  We will let pictures do most of the talking…

 

It was a warm, make that hot summer.  Thank you Markley’s for the pool time!

 

Nothing beats a visit with Grandma and Grandpa at the lake during the summer.  Ah those lazy days of summer…

Standing for a stretch at Holly’s wedding shower

 

Visiting with St. Mary’s classmate Andrea

 

Center for Courageous Kids camp in Kentucky with the Transverse Myelitis Association.  Can you guess the theme?

Wild, Wild West.

 

 

 

Making a pink race car

Ashley and Libby, go IU!

 

Dancing with camp director Ed

 

Two very serious men… Sandy, President of TMA; Dr. Kerr, leading expert in acute disseminating disorders.  They must have taken a shortcut through the paint war on their way to a board meeting.

 

Let’s ride

Let’s paddle

 

Come on in the water is warm

 

Ashley should be designing race cars.  Her ‘Pink Panther’ car sprang down the track

 

Ashley first heard of the Center for Courageous Kids from her childhood friend Adrienne who worked there during summers during college.  Adrienne still had several friends working at camp so we took this photo and Ed emailed it to Adrienne who was still serving with the Jesuit Volunteer Corp in Nicaragua. 

As a sidebar, the author takes some solace in the guilt he feels for this record gap in posting an update.  That’s because Ashley saw Adrienne for the first time in two years at New Year’s Eve Mass.  Adrienne recently got back from her service in Nicaragua.  Ashley provided Adrienne with a ‘two-arm’ hug as promised!

 

Just had to throw in this photo of Ashley’s favorite flower; the gerber daisy.  Although it is an annual this flower bloomed for a second year.  It endured the record heat of summer and remained blooming through the first frost of the year.  Perhaps it was inspired by Ashley.

 

Between August and November Ashley attended two weddings for friends and was a bridesmaid in another.

Rachel and Ashley dancing at Rachel and David’s reception.  These two girls swam year round and worked together at Glenaqua pool during the summers.

 

There was a lot of catching up with other swim friends including the Parker sisters.

 

On labor day weekend we met up with all the extended Harrington family and went to St. John’s Indiana (S.W. of Valpo) to the Shrine of Christ’s Passion.  This was a half-mile narrated walk including 40 beautiful bronze statues.  At the top of the hillside of the shrine is this 33 foot tall statue of Mary, "Our Lady of the New Millennium" at St. John's church.

 

No Fall is complete without a trip down to an IU game and a visit with brother Miles. Ashley you look like you own the place.

 

During an IU football bye week we met up with Miles in Indy to watch Wade Markley’s Butler Bulldogs put the bite on the Campbell Camels.

 

In October Ashley had the honor of serving as a bridesmaid in Holly and Tyler’s wedding.

 

 

 

Miles made it up and shared a dance with Ashley.  You should have seen his Gangnam Style dancing!

 

 

Dad loves it when Ashley bakes during therapy.

 

A visit with Emily during Fall break.

 

Halloween with Ann…

And Nixon?  Oddly 18 minutes of Halloween candy was missing.

 

With Erika and her parents at Erika and Brett’s wedding reception. 

Sam, Holly and Ashley

Finishing up Christmas decorations with Aunt Lynn…

And Angela.

 

Christmas means cookies and Ashley is on it.

 

A trip to Grandma and Grandpa’s winter home in Naples, FL is always a welcome break from the Indiana winter.  For the first time in six years Miles was able to make the trip with us.

Lunch with the grandparents in Marco Island.

Taking in the sun at Fort Myers Beach.

Who dropped by but Santa.

Sunning at the pool beats shoveling show.

 

That can only be topped by sunning on the Gulf of Mexico…

 

or watching a sunset.

 

 

 

This is hard to make out, but it is a 180 degree panoramic photo of the sunset over the gulf to the right with Ashley and Miles watching it from beach chairs on the left.

 

With Notre Dame going to the BCS football Championship Game ND T-shirts had to be among the Christmas presents.  Hopefully we will be wearing Indiana University T-shirts for the NCAA basketball championships.

 

Thank you for all your prayers and support during 2012.  We ask for your continued prayers for Ashley's recovery in 2013.  We will keep all of you in our prayers for a blessed, healthy and prosperous 2013!