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last updated 2:00PM Eastern Time, 10/29/2001 November 2001 Journal November started with Dave's trip to Colorado.
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Monday, November 5 10:30am Eastern Time, 11/5/2001 From all reports, Dave is having a great time in Colorado. Team Smot (winners of the Pike's Peak Challenge, as you might recall) held their celebratory party last week with David in attendence. I have heard a few reports that the evening was a great success, but I haven't received a full account yet. So, Denver crew, it's time to pony up -- what was it like seeing Dave after all this time? It would be great to hear from all of you about what you were expecting and what sorts of interactions you had with Dave and with other Smot-fans. And we know that between 50 and 100 of you showed up (Florida ballot counters were apparently the ones taking attendance). An "objective" opinion would probably be welcome relief for all of the other readers out there... Please send me your stories, your photos, or your clever little comments at smethurst@senteco.com. If you want to send things by mail, it's Jay Smethurst, 3216 Palmer St, Orlando, FL 32803. Tuesday, November 6 4:30pm Eastern Time, 11/6/2001 From Mom in Colorado: Put a wolf back in the wild, a bird back in the sky, a fish back in the ocean and you will not see a creature any more in its element than David Smethurst, our boy Smotty, was at the Pike's Peak Challenge Victory Party at the Handle Bar & Grill. He sat on a tall bar stool at one of the tall tables in the pool room and greeted old friends with big grins, big hugs and big "How ya doin'?"s Somewhere between 30 and 35 friends enjoyed the nachos, pizza, chicken wings, onion rings, potato skins contributed by the Handle Bar & Grill, and they managed to share "Dave time" so that he got to be with everyone, but never too many at one time. Watching him from across the room, no one would have ever dreamed he had recently suffered a traumatic brain injury. Well, there was the right hand which doesn't yet respond to mental messages, but the posture, the shining eyes, the laughter, the occasional comments, the total connection to friends….everything simply radiated joy. He was going to spend the night with Matt and Marni Baum, so (for the one time all night I swear) I acted like "The Mom." "Bob and I are leaving. Have a great time, but when you get tired, just let Matt or Marni know." He looked at me, rolled his eyes skyward and laughed. "No Way!" that laugh said, "will I EVER get tired." Looking at him I felt sure that he wouldn't. And in fact, they stayed on there until 10:30 and then headed with a group back to Baums' and he was the last to give in and give up the party. Most of the climbing Team Smot was there for the award presentation and they gave Dave the plaque. Many of the contributor Team Smot came to celebrate not only the Pike's Peak Victory (which impresses Dave and family hugely) but also Dave's ongoing recovery. We all had time up at Frisco in Barbara Bell and Steve and Jean Bodman's beautiful mountain home. Jack Bell just turned "Free" (the state if not the age that Dave is working for) and after the Manitou Springs party, Kathy, Brooke, Dave, Molly and Jack joined us. Later friends came down from Steamboat Springs. On Monday we managed to visit Craig Hospital and reunite over pizza with David's superb therapy team. It was fun to watch each in turn be impressed with David's walking down the hall and then look up and up and up to say, "Wow! Are you ever tall!" They had seen him primarily down low in a Craig bed or struggling around in a wheel chair or even slumping as three worked to help him walk a few steps. Again his eyes sparkled and the joy level registered high. What impressed them most was his evident will to recover and continued effort. What impressed ME most was their pleasure in his progress and how well they remembered him five months and manymanymany patients later. Or maybe it was the pizza. Tomorrow we head for home, but this whirlwind visit has been wonderful, well worthwhile. And when we get back out here for Christmas and we hope to see folks we missed this time….and to extend the visit with those we have seen. Over and over I write that "Friend Power" fuels David to new progress, so why am I always surprised anew at the outpouring of love and time and gifts and fun and the energy it gives Dave? Thank you again. We all thank you. Bob, Dave, Kathy,
Jay, and Johanna Sunday, November 11 8:00pm Eastern Time, 11/11/2001 David has returned to Virginia after his 10-day trip to Colorado. Here is an update from his sister Kathy:
Dave's progress is remarkable, his new head is beautiful, and his recovery attitude is as solid as ever. What I found myself becoming aware of on this recent Colorado trip were some of Dave's deficits that aren't apparent to the naked eye but are interesting to me as we learn more about brain trauma recovery.. As you know, we do not dwell on the negative or the things that we don't have, but really focus on the positive strides that Dave makes daily. Because we focus on how well he is doing, some of you may not realize what challenges he still encounters. I myself am not aware of many, I'm sure. It was in one of the few alternative therapy sessions that I took him to that I was made aware of a few issues that I had not known he was struggling with. You may find this fascinating too. There is a woman in Colorado Springs that has created this therapy based on a combination of a few modalities. Brain Gym is one. Her method is called Brain Integration Therapy and it is a re-patterning technique that helps the brain to relearn things that it has lost through movement. It was remarkable what she was able to accomplish in one hour with Dave. I wish that we had videoed the session. She began with him tracking her finger from left to right. It was a very difficult task for him as his eyes jumped everywhere and lost her finger when it got too far to either the left or the right (vision cuts). His eyes were working independently not together. After she worked on him (hard to explain her technique so I won't), his eyes glided effortlessly from left to right. His face looked shocked. "I see better. More color. No double vision (I didn't know he was dealing with that) Wider". WOW Next she moved onto his hearing. Afterwards, he had that surprised look again. "Clearer. Not muffled". WOW WOW He probably didn't even realize what he was living with until it changed. His speech even cleared a bit as she worked. It will take about 6 weeks for the full effect of the therapy to sink in. By then, they'll be out for Christmas and we can go again!! She informed us that with his type of injury, he probably isn't hearing "the little voice in his head". Only then did I notice how often I hear that little voice inside my own head. Am I crazy? Don't you hear that voice too? Think how hard it would be to organize your day, mentally prepare for any task, or complete an activity, if you didn't have that skill. She also worked on an area of his brain that helps him to become more aware of others, to help him to ask what is going on in their lives, to help him to be less egocentric. To me that has been the biggest difference in the pre-accident Dave to the post-accident Dave. He used to question and care about my life, my kids, my husband. Today, that is beyond his capabilities, he doesn't think to ask those questions. But he can learn...and he will. What I hope to convey is that despite how well Dave is doing, there continue to be some deficits that are not outwardly apparent. I believe that as his brain reconnects those skills will return. In 2 sessions, she accomplished some miraculous things. Dave is up for anything to help him get better so we'll keep trying everything. He's incredible. His positive attitude blows me away. The words he utters often ring true in my ears "I'm coming back". the lucky sister...Kathy Sunday, November 25 9:00pm Eastern Time, 11/25/2001 This will have to be a teaser of sorts. I have just returned from an entire week spent with Dave, and I will be forced to fill in particular stories over time. Here is the overview of the week: On Saturday, November 17 I flew into National Airport in DC, where Dad and Dave picked me up. We then met up with Bago, Jud Sokal (sp?) and the Spillmans for dinner and a Washington Capitals (ice hockey) game in DC. Dave continues to bring luck to Washington area teams. The Redskins are undefeated since Dave attended their first win in October, and even the lowly Caps were able to win while we were there! Between Dave and Jordan, maybe even the Wizards could make a season of it... Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were very relaxing for me, even though Dave had therapy during the week. Wednesday we drove to New York to spend Thanksgiving with the O'Callaghans. This was far more social activity than the more introverted Smethursts are used to, but it was right up Dave's alley! Friday we drove to Easton, Maryland (on the Eastern Shore) to spend the weekend with our cousins Sadler. Sunday, I flew back to Orlando, and Mom, Dad and Dave drove back to Woodberry. Whew! Now, I would like to ask any of you who participated in any of these events to please send me your thoughts and stories. Also, any photos would be appreciated. I didn't get batteries for my camera until we got to Easton, so the new photos on the photos page only include Sadler and Smethurst shots. (Yes, I have the photos from the Gurley's party two weeks ago. I will post them soon!) Send me more stuff and more stuff I will post! Dave has returned home for another month or so of therapy. Christmas will see a return to Colorado, and in mid-January, David will probably begin a very-intensive, six-week therapy program at Woodrow Wilson in Waynesboro, VA (where he is currently an out patient.) This program will require him to stay on-site during the week, but will leave his weekends free. This program is (we are told) state of the art and targeted at people who suffer from aphasia, like Dave. We are all quite excited for this to start! Happy Thanksgiving to all. We Smots count all of you among our many blessings this year. Family and friends are an amazing and boundless gift. All of our love, David, Johanna, Bob, Kathy and Jay Wednesday, November 28 12:00pm Central Time, 11/28/2001 A Thanksgiving report from Brian O'Callaghan: November 28, 2001
The warmth of the room mixed with wonderful memories shared by my family and closest friends created a truly relaxing moment. As I looked through the photos, I felt like I was there. Locations ranged from Westchester Hospital, to Chappaqua, NY, to Lawrenceville, NJ, to Granville, OH, to Riverside, CT, to NYC, London, Paris, Maryland, Nantucket, Lamson Lodge, Germany, and beyond. I had some laughs, got a little misty and became overwhelmingly appreciative of everyone around me. There were pictures of births, weddings, engagements, idiotic weekends in places like Mertle Beach, grown-up parties, people just hanging, Fass dancing, Puts rubbing his chin, parents at the Derby, Cal playing football, Mike with his shirt off, Dan swinging a club, Karen riding horses, Suzanne and Linnie, Pete with a Donkey, Keith and Steve watching Lacrosse, numerous people holding fish, but mostly friends enjoying friends. We all look so young, so happy and so hopeful. Over the years, our hair has grown thinner (or gone away for people like Beau), waists larger, number of people in pictures smaller, but all along our smiles remain. I snapped out of this nostalgic world to find The Smots at my front door! I rushed outside to find Smotty with one of those huge smiles flanked by Johanna, Bob and Jay. With his trusty cane and very ugly Redskins jacket on, he greeted me with a resounding "OAKIE DOAKIE!" This was going to be a wonderful Thanksgiving. That night we had dinner at my mom's house with all of my family and most of Suzanne's. It was awesome. We sat around for hours attempting to tell every Denison story possible. Also present were Andy Walsh ("Snacky") and Pat Churchville ("Info Man"). Smot's eyes were as wide as beach balls as we covered every inch of every exaggerated story. Snack, as usual, had everyone in tears as he told the Roanoke Lacrosse story for the 3,000th time--Snack was an Assistant Coach for Denison Lacrosse in ~1987. One time, while scouting the Roanoke team, he also decided to scout the Roanoke bar and fraternity scene. After a couple of beers and some liquid courage, he apparently challenged and was subsequently beat-up by a bunch of college kids, the night before the big game. His speech the next day was epic and unforgettable as no one could understand a word he said due to his lip being the size of a small barge. At dinner we continued our incessant story telling with Smot offering his own thoughts in a few words here and there. Hearty laughs were provided by all. Each story led to the next with end in site. We ate my mother's famous twice-baked potatoes like ravenous raccoons and talked and talked and talked. It was very cool. We awoke Thanksgiving morning to a beautiful day in the high 60s. After breakfast at my Dad's, we went back to our house for some early appetizers, pro football, competitive bacci (Sue and I took 2 out of 3 from Bob and Jay). Suzanne and Big Sue got ready for our 26 guests! It was the best Thanksgiving I can remember. Everyone was in a great mood and truly thankful. Perspective, once again, proved to be quite powerful. It has been a challenging two years for many, but with all of the obstacles, the common theme has and will continue to be that we are lucky to have shared and appreciated wonderful relationships throughout our lives. As difficult as it has been to see some of that change, we remain grateful and our memories are stronger than ever. Smot is doing well. He is walking and talking and continues to show considerable determination. Johanna, Bob and Jay are also well. We really missed Kathy and Brooke. It was incredible to have the Smots at our home for Thanksgiving as they helped us bring this misunderstood and unappreciated holiday to a new level. They are truly a part of our and we are grateful to be a part of their family. The future is bright.
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