News!

Thursday resulted in another hurdle climbed, we had a meeting with case management which included our representative, a representative from the IPSC, Jason's doc, a nurse and a representative from the Forces.
Jason returns to work in 18 days! He will start out with may be 3 half days for a month, be re-evaluated, then move into some full days, and so on. Well you could not wipe the grin off his face. Or mine for that matter!
In the meantime he will have his two medicals, be evaluated by all sorts of military medical docs and case management people and then a decision to retain with restriction or to release will come down the pipe. Jason hopes, of course, that he is retained with restriction (no overseas postings but continuing to contribute at work). He can only work 3 years max like that but he wants to work, be a part of the CF. Possible transfer to civie street workign within the CF is possible as well. Of course there is always a chance of medical release, thank you for your time, bye. But that last option is not one of ours.
Jason has defied every law of physics, broken every rule of neurology and medicine, every small success has gotten him and me to here today. I have been inspired and empowered by Jason in his recovery (don't tell him I said that, wink!). In the wake of the past 18 months I have somehow managed to feel better about myself. And my self-esteem was high to start with (ha).
When Jason had his heart attack our marraige was strong and could take the brunt of that ordeal. Today I am happy to say it remains strong. I did worry about it faltering as we went through this, knowing that it may be a lifetime of ups and downs (which is what marraige is anyways so I don't know why I was worrying about it). I cried in the shower yesterday morning and on the drive into work. It hit me that the day he puts his combats back on is fast approaching. I remembered the cardiologist telling me early on he may never go back to work meaning that he would be lucky to survive let alone hold down a job.
Last night Jason was talking to an old friend on the phone and he asked me if he had an IV in during his hospital stay (they were talking about IV's, his friend in is the hospital right now). Of course I replied ever so delicately "IV? You had an IV, a central line, a feeding tube and a ventilator, oh and don't forget about the trach!" Jason replies over the phone (while ignoring my loud comment) "Yeah I guess I had an IV". ha
I wish I could forget some of that early trauma sometimes but it does remind me of how far we have come. Together.