Last day at Rehab Clinic

We had decided to take a break from going to Rehab Center. Ada had refused to walk or even stand up while in session. She sat with her head down in her wheelchair. It is more of a behavior problem. She does have mind of her own and when she wants to do thing her own way, she usually wins. We will go back when she is ready.

I see it as a good thing. May be her brain starts to work, to reconnect and rewired itself. While at home, she is more active and playful. She moves her arms and legs and laugh at the funny movie. She looks me in the eye, pull my arm and gives me a hug. Today we sat her at the dining table, when we all done, she turn the wheelchair around and went straight back to her room. by herself.

Val, her nurse, and I will work with Ada at home and we will find out if we can get someone to come in once in a while. Just like Dr. Jill Taylor told me; make it fun, if it works then she won't do it. We also get the standing frame and a walker for her now.

Yesterday she broke the pole that hold the feeding bag. It is aluminum pole. The leg got caught under the TV stand but Ada grabbed the pole and pull it down. I duck tape the pole to the floor lamp for now till we get the replacement. Today, she sat in her wheelchair with her feet up on another chair, daddy put a pair of pink clog on the chair, Ada grab the clog and put them on her feet. She still have them on and I though she doesn't like pink.

I sleep better at night, knowing that tomorrow will be another good day.

Hugs

Ada is in the kitchen watching mom cook. She is wearing her favorite shirt.

Ordianary Miracle???

Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you everyday
Open up and find a way
When you wake up everyday
Please don't throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
Cause we're all a part of
Just another ordinary miracle day

Today started out like so many of my days lately...making some tea, reading the paper, listening to the morning shows and wondering what my son is doing on the other side of the world. Like so many of you I want to hear that a miracle has happened and the economy is back on track...little did I know my miracle would come in another form. Since so many of you can't be here in Indiana physically I will do my best to make you part of the tiny miracle that I had the privilege to witness.

In the last few weeks Ada has not always been cooperating with her therapists or her mother. She seems to have an opinion on what shirt she is helping to put on or not put on or she might put her foot down so the wheelchair doesn't move. Ada likes to stand but not always take a step. We have tried to look at this as a positive because it means she is trying to control her world...a world that must seem so out of control to her. But today what we witnessed must mean she has been using all her energy to take even greater control.

Today was one of those late winter days in Indy...the sun was bright and the sky blue with a few clouds. The day was warm enough to work outside so my husband I went over to the Silapiruitis' to clean up the front yard of debris from the fire and remodeling. We also needed to move some furniture around the house so Ada's wheelchair could could move more easily from room to room. By the time we were done there was a pile of trash at the curb and we laughed that Ponsawan was going to have to bribe the trash man to take it all away. Ponsawan had brought Ada outside to watch us work...she kept an eye on us and sometimes a small smile crept over her face. She looked very happy to be the queen on her throne watching her subjects work.

We took Ada inside and as we were sitting around talking she started to laugh and smile quite often. Even though I have seen her do this before it still takes my breath away. I remember so many days and nights I would ask God to please let her family see her smile again...as you can see from the pictures she is still the girl with the beautiful smile that lights up the room. As we sat there marvelling at her Ada suddenly turned the wheelchair around and with her feet pushed herself down the hall. She stopped at one door and tried to open it....when we said that was the basement door she headed straight for her bedroom door and tried the door knob. The door was locked from the inside...so Ponsawan went in from another door and unlocked it. We then said "ok, try again"....she did and with a little help from us she opened the door. The look on her face said " I did it"...she then pushed her way in and pulled up alongside Arthy who was watching tv. Ada was very satisfied with herself and we all just sat back stunned because today we had seen another ordinary miracle...or was it just another ordinary miracle...I think not. But what it is ...is another Ada miracle and I will remember it all the days of my life.

As most of you know March 3rd. will be the 1 year anniversary of Ada's accident. It's hard to believe a year has passed and yet I'm sure for Ponsawan it must feel like 100 years.
So instead of us dwelling on what might have been let's give thanks and rejoice in the miracle that is Ada. Let Ada and her family know that they are in your thoughts and do what you can to continue to give them your love and support.

Love,
Ardis

More pictures

Ada and Archie at the Museum

Smile a little smile for me. Don't you love it?

Christi Friesen Workshop

Christi Friesen Workshop & Benefit April 17-19, 2009 Indianapolis
Christi Friesen has offered to do a 3 day workshop, April 17, 18, and 19th, 2009. Three fun-filled days of generously discounted classes. The Indiana Bead Society can't begin to thank Christi for her help in this event.
This workshop is a benefit event for polymer clay artist Ponsawan Silapiruti 's daughter, Ada. You may know the story: On March 2, 2008, Ada was a vibrant, caring young woman full of life, excitement, and promise. On March 3rd 2008 she was in a coma with brain damage and broken bones. Hit by a drunk driver that sustained no damage. The world changed for Ponsawan, Ada, and their family.
Full details and online registration at: http://indianabeadsociety.org/class-friesen.htm
The Indiana Bead Societ hopes that you'll attend the classes or consider a donation to Ada (and Ponsawan). Ponsawan blogs about Ada's progress at http://dearada.blogspot.com/ .
Come join us. No experience necessary. I'll be there to help you. Christi is so much fun to be around and a very good teacher. It is nice of her to offer us this workshop and the proceed that will go toward Ada's fund.

If you would like to donate your beautiful creation so we can use for the auction during Christi Workshop, please mail it out to this address:

P.Sila 5343 W. 38 th St., Indianapolis, IN 46254

Another field trip

Last Sunday, we took Ada to Museum of Art. We visited the Museum a lot when the kids were young. It is close to home, no admission, lots of things to see, not only inside the museum but also the garden and ground around it. I told them, this is your imaginary backyard. We went picnic, climbed trees and played hide and seek in the garden and learn about landscape design. Archie and Rachael went with us. Ada had a great time. She sit up straight in the car and in her wheelchair while we pushing her around.
We will go out more as the weather permitted.
Darn it! It is snowing again.
Hugs

Dare to Dream

A few of Ada's friends who stopped by for a visit had told be about how they got inspired by Ada's a chance to travel and see the world, and they had done the same. I like to travel myself but did not have a chance to do much of it, so I kinna get the idea into Ada's head that, every chances that she gets, just go out and see what is happening on the other side of the world.

Travelling became a part of Ada's life. We made a few trips to Thailand when she was young to visit her family. By Eight grade, her Chinese teacher took a group of students to China for 2 weeks, so Ada and Katherine went.

Ada has a small calender with everyday of the year fills with things to do. She was a busy girl., always has things to do, place to go. On the back was a big list of what to do this year, next year and so on. She wanted to go to Spain for Study Abroad program and she knew we cannot affort it, but off she went, anyway. She had a great time. First I sent her to London to visit my friend. While in Spain, she travelled with her friends to Morocco and France. She met David in Spain and later on went back to Paris to stay with David for 2 months.

I found her 2008 calender in her room. There were a list of things to do, places to go as usual. As of June 2008, she wrote; sell the car, move to Paris.

Many friends had followed her footstep. "I was inspired by Ada" they said. They travel to the other side of the world, they move to another country, another state. Kyle, Ardis's son, left for Korea on Sunday. He will be teaching English at the school there. I know Ada would be proud of him.

If you haven't done so already, live her dream. Go out and see the world. Here are some pictures I pulled out from facebook.

Now I have to set a goal for her. Nothing big, just want to see her talk and eat and walk again. There will be a long road ahead of us, but we will travel together, one baby step at a time.

Hugs.