First day home

Mom came to get me from the hospital on June 21, 2008. I said my goodbyes to the nurses, the nurse aides, my therapists, and Dr Hayek, my rehab doctor.  I packed everything, including a walker my therapist Kirsten had gotten for me. I packed what it seemed like a hundred cards from everyone who supported me through all of the healing.  I packed a star, with a powerful saying on it, it read "Don't Quit", one that I keep to this day. I packed pictures of my son, of my niece Jade, pictures of my brother, of my parents...all memories I would cherish forever.I dont remember much of the trip home. It is still very vague to me. I do remember getting home, mom getting my wheelchair and walker out for me, and beginning the process of going up the deck stairs. Through my physical therapy, I learned how to get up and down steps, safely with my walker to my side. But, I only did that with Kirsten by my side, with a gait belt around my waist. Now, here I stood at the bottom of the steps, questioning my own ability to do this safely.
It seemed like baby steps, but slowly, I made it up those stairs. Mom behind me, my dad in front with my bags, I took a step at a time, and made it to the top. First of a billion things I'm going to have to conquer, I thought to myself.
They set the wheelchair in front of the sliding door for me to sit down on. I remember almost feeling lost. Nothing looked the same, even though nothing new had been done.....