After 39 days at Riverbend Hospital- in the Emergency Room, the ICU, the Neurology Floor, Short Stay, Surgery, Orthopedic Floor, and the Oregon Rehabilitation Center our beloved Ben is HOME!

We have settled into our new life at HOME, and how sweet it is!  Because of our amazing community of friends and supporters, we were able to make some modifications at our house to welcome Ben home.  Family installed a gorgeous wheelchair ramp, an amazing friend-of-the-family installed an awesome wheelchair-accessible outdoor shower, and we've cleared the floors of rugs so Ben can access most of the first floor.

Ben will have Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists coming to the house on a very regular basis.  We're learning how to access the services available to us in Lane County and are so thankful to have help navigating a whole new experience.

We have another week or so before we go back to the orthopedic team to help us figure out the next steps.  We're hoping Ben can start putting some weight on his feet and legs.  We're ready for him to start working toward walking again!

Russell is loving having Ben home- we keep catching him just gazing adoringly at Ben.  These two spend a lot of time in front of the fireplace relaxing.  Ben has also spent a bit of time outside- it will be so nice to have his company while I'm puttering in the yard.  I feel a big trip to pick up plants is in my future.  It is so nice to get back to some semblance of normalcy.  Before you know it, we'll be picking peas!

Our entire family is so grateful for all of the continued support- for the messages, flowers, notes of encouragement, home-baked pies, meals, donations, well-wishes, emails, and joyful celebrations.  We feel so surrounded by love.  Getting back to spending time with you all is a huge reason to keep working at getting stronger.  We have so much to look forward to!  It seems rather fitting that spring, the season of growth, is just around the corner.  Here's to sunny days ahead!