fIrSts

    Aaron has gone through a lot of "firsts" and here is his timeline that I have kept. In the beginning, it was the simple things like moving his legs and walking but now it's the exciting things like going to baseball games and water parks. I went through the ICU events in the last blog about so these events start in September 2008, after he moved on to the rehab facility.

2008

September 1: First pushed call light on his own to get his nurses.

September 6: First mouthed anything...."Hi mom"!

September 12: First time continuous tube feed was turned off.

September 19: First (high back) wheelchair came in!

October 9: First time I squeezed into bed with him!

October 21: First time left fingers FINALLY started moving!

October 27: First time really bending right and left legs on his own. 

November 12: First time standing up!

November 19: First initiated steps!

December 9: First time whispering..."hi"!

December 13: First typing... "i love you beautiful" after I asked how he was feeling,  then typed "I am okay, I love holding you".

December 20: First time rolling over in bed and got the side rail down without help.

December 30: First time writing me a letter in speech therapy with help!

2009

January 19: First started using rolling walker in therapy!

February 16: First time riding in the car for the, first time speech therapist confirmed he was whispering!

March 24: First time "minimal voicing" was heard in therapy. 

March 30: First (of many) swallow studies.

March 31: First introduced to apple sauce and honey thick liquids in therapy. 

May 6: I first started talking "at" Aaron on the phone!

May 14: First ENT appointment, good news on Aaron's vocal cords!

June 1: First time Aaron picked up his own phone when I called!

June 13: First trip out of rehab to a nearby park! 

June 16: First year accident anniversary.

June 19: First trip to the movies with friends!

July 31: First started using rolling walker outside of therapy. 

August 29: First big social event with friends!

September 12: First time coming home since accident!

November 21: First time going to church!

December 24: First time spending the night at home!

May 31: First trip to the beach!

July 3: First time out of rehab two nights in a row, first time on a (mini) vacation to see his parents in Sannibel!

August 11: First thin liquid trial, he got to have Diet Coke for the first time since before the accident!


September 25: First concert!

2011

January 22: First time Aaron was caught getting in and out of bed on own, rails up or down!

March 7: First started trials of mechanical soft foods.

June 16: First time time eating regular food! First trip to Disney!

June 22: Went to Trauma Awareness Day at LRMC and met some of the staff for the first time!

October 23: Aaron's first time flying and first trip to Ohio since the accident!

December 31: First time swimming in the pool!

February 4: First time "driving"!

June 16: First time eating at Hooters since the accident and first Rays Game!!!

July 4: First time at a water park!