Tuesday Night

Ciara made her Confirmation last week we are so proud of her. It was great that she picked her sister Julia to be her sponsor. They both looked so pretty all dressed up. On Friday Moya and I had to go to the Children s Specialized Hospital for Brain Injury Awareness Day. We were both very surprised when we got there they had all the kids in the cafeteria along with the doctors, teachers and therapist. They had different displays set up around the room explaining about brain injury. One of the displays had a maze puzzle on it with a 3 way mirror behind it. When you stood at the display you could not see the maze by looking down you could only see it in the mirror. We had to take a pen and try and go through the maze while only being able to see it in the mirror it was very hard to try and figure it

Out. They explained to us that this is what it was like for someone with a brain injury to try and figure things out. After that we were really surprised what happened. They had MikeyD get up in front of everyone with his speech therapist next to him and he made a speech in front of everyone with some coaching from his therapist. It was very emotional for us he said hi my name is MikeyD I was playing basketball on September 7^th when my heart stopped beating and I fell to the ground  it took the people a long time to get my heart beating again and now my whole brain is damaged. I now have a hard time processing information especially when people talk to fast with that he looked out at me and said ok dad everyone started laughing. The ok dad was not part of what they had rehearsed. He then said because of my brain injury my balance is off and my body is weak so I can no longer play sports like I use to.

I also have problems with my memory. Since I started my therapies I have made a lot of progress I am learning to read and write again. Moya and I were both amazed that he was telling this story we never talked to him much about what happened that tragic day. The doctors and therapist talk to him about it all the time they say that one of the things about a brain injury is that people are aware of their injury. This is another great group of professional people that are really caring and know what they are doing. This is where MikeyD needs to be for now. Peggy had a great idea to get MikeyD involved in baseball again she said we will get some kids together and play wiffle ball. When Brian Hill heard this he said that is a great idea so we are going to get the other MikeyD – Dunne ,the Hill Boys, Sully, Rob Cassin, Sean and some others and set up some games. Barbara Cassin also had a great idea and invited MikeyD  to come over and try the batting cage in their yard. Ciara, Sully, MikeyD and myself did go over on Sunday and it was great.  MikeyD got in the cage and started pitching to the batters. He could not swing a bat just yet but that will be next. He threw a lot of pitches in the cage and every time the bucket was empty he even went around with us and picked up the balls and helped fill the bucket. That is great PT for him. We are looking forward to the wiffle ball games and going back to the batting cage one day to see MikeyD swinging a bat.

We believe in Miracles !

Please keep praying and posting for MikeyD !

Sunday Night

Twenty Three of us celebrated Easter Sunday with Mighty MikeyD it was really nice. We all went out to dinner. We celebrated the Resurrection which means new life. MikeyD was given a new life one that we are very grateful for but it is a much different life than he had before one that everyone in my family is  adjusting to especially Julia and Ciara.

We know they are going through a lot and not getting any credit for it. I know one thing for sure Mighty MikeyD could not have two better sisters they take care of him like you would not believe. It is really hard on everyone in our family my mother, my father, my brothers  my sister  Moya’s mother her brothers , and sisters, and all his cousins  to adjust to this new life. I am sure it hardest on Julia and Ciara to see their little bother as he is now compared to how he was before. He doesn't know what day it is he cannot read or write he is confused and does not even know what he had for lunch. You can no longer talk to him like you could before this he looks a little bit like he use to look but he is very different. Moya’s Birthday is in April today he said mom I never knew your Birthday was in April it is sad. Both MikeyD and his new Puppy have so much to learn, you can tell that he is starting to miss the things he  was able to do before like playing baseball in the spring, hopefully one day he will be able to play baseball again. Along with Julia and Ciara being so good to him he is lucky to have a few great friends that still come to see him. I can only tell you one thing I see the best improvement when he is with Julia, Ciara and these few great friends.  Ciara will be making her confirmation this Tuesday and normally it would of been a big occasion in our family. I feel like it has been over looked for her because of all we have been through with MikeyD . I only hope that Ciara knows we are all so happy for her and look forward to seeing her make her confirmation. We are so proud of her and the way she takes care of her little brother with her sister  Julia.  Ciara also picked her sister Julia to be her sponsor for her confirmation. We will celebrate Ciara’s confirmation on Tuesday. Above is a picture of Kiona when she was taking care of MikeyD she hurt her ankle and was wearing a boot and MikeyD had two boots. Mighty MikeyD continues to dig in deep and fight his daily struggles everyday with his I can do it Spirit.

Right now he needs all the support he can get from friends and family.

We believe in Miracles.

Please keep praying and posting for MikeyD.