HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!!!!

June 30--Has always been a special Day, as it is Daves Birthday!

Happy Birthday Dave!! Keep up all your hard work and Know that there are many people

100% behind you and Love You Very Much!! Today you have ALOT to celebrate!

And the next year will definately be better!!

Love, Amy

Home is where the heart is...

...and home is where Dave is. 

Sharon brought Dave home yesterday for the first time in 7 months.  A friend helped them out by transporting him by ambulance as Sharon does not yet have a van that can accommodate his wheel chair (it is on the list).  The move back went very smoothly and before long Dave was back in his own kitchen, with his own dogs and loving every minute of it.

As anxious as I was to call Sharon yesterday, I held off until tonight after I was sure Dave would be asleep and Sharon would have time to talk.  She is very positive and more confident than ever that this was the best move to make.  Both her and Dave are working on establishing a rhythm and routine for each day and after talking to her tonight I am positive that they will find their stride soon enough.  There have been some hiccups with the special lift that she uses to move him from the bed to the chair or from the chair to the couch (yes, he is sitting on his own couch again!), but it sounds like that will all be worked out within a coupe of days.

Since I feel as though Dave's home coming marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next, I decided it was time to change the look of the blog.  I picked the sunset background because after being at their house a few weeks back I realized that they have A LOT of pictures of sunsets, so they both must obviously love them.  Here's to you Sharon and Dave!

Great News!

All of the work that has been done on Dave and Sharon's home has all paid off!  The finishing touches were completed yesterday and today the house was evaluated to ensure that Dave could be brought back and be cared for comfortably and safely.  The house (and Sharon) passed with flying colors!!!!!! 

DAVE IS COMING HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I spoke to Sharon this evening and it looks like either Thursday afternoon or Friday is the day.  Although this is not the end of Dave and Sharon's struggle with this disease, it is definitely a huge milestone.  I think Dave has told Sharon, Matt, his family, my family and any one else who comes to visit him everyday that he wants to go home.  I am so very happy that finally he is going to get what he wants. 

so...

when's it gonna happen?! I've lain off calling Sharon. I know the delay comes from finishing the bathroom. I also know Dave DeBerdizzle has been doing A-1 (for DB's giggles now)"Qwahhhlity" work. I know the tile and grout and spackle needs time to set. I know.

but when?!? I know I'm being impatient but I just can't wait to hear the call: "Dave's home."

As much as everyone's put into visiting Dave and traveling to and from, it settled home with me this week talking to Sharon.

I said something regarding the fact that Dave hasn't seen home in five months.

She said, "No... more like seven months."

seven months?!!

Yes indeed, seven months.

The reason I bring this up is that one of the last times I visited Dave I thought he was being lethargic (well, lazy) and I called him out on it. He goes through a lot for therapy but sometimes slacks and asks to be put back in bed just after one PM.

As he was getting "resty" at one-ish that day I said, "You're always sleepy any more."

He said, "I won't be sleepy at home."

I know that the next time Sharon posts Dave will be right there next to her.

God bless them both and please keep the comments coming.

Your responses are soul-soothing.

home... it's where i wanna be...(ramp's done)

listen to more Talking Heads.

All I know right now is that Dave might be coming home this weekend. I'm writing to say,"thank you" to a few important people. Without Bryan, Mike, & Don of S&S construction(giggle) this would never have happened. Thank you guys so much. Special thanks to Gumble Bro.'s for the supplies. Their donation saved Dave & Sharon over five bills in expenses.

Thanks to Billy G.

Whereas his straight-shooting kept him from all the dirty work, his connections made all of this possible.

love you pop.

thank you B,

love you too.

Also, this was a busy weekend for everyone else!

Sharon's sister Wendy & her husband Scott and Dave's brother Bob made over 200' of chain-link fence appear as if over night!

Wendy is now registered as a dominatrix (kidding).

And now for Dave & Deb DeBerdizzle; I know you've been there every bit you can. I'm in awe as to how you've taken Dave in to your family. Whatever happens, I'm so glad to know it's you that has Sharon's behind through this.

As a small aside, Sharon's dad does a bit of remodeling.

This man has single-handedly renovated the first floor of Dave & Sharon's home.

I know Sharon would say," Thanks for bringing Dave home."

...and I know that would go out to everyone who helped.

Dave & Deb, Wendy & Scott, Bob, Bryan, Mike, Don, Bill G., Darren H., the Gumble Brothers.

A Wonderful Day to remember!

Yesterday was a beautiful day to remember! Not only did Dave's good friends George and Paige get married, Dave also got to attend the day with them! This was Dave's first day out other than, going out for Drs appt's. When going out for a Dr appt's Dave is transferred by an ambulance. Today with much going back and forth-a van is what was used for this transport as well as Dave sitting up in a wheel chair.


I was honored not only not only being able to attend this special Day, but I also got to spend a very special day with Dave. To be able to be an outsider looking in, it was wonderful to see the joy in Dave's face when he was 'SPRUNG' as Sharon put it! It was also special to see him greet friends that mean so much to him. Many times I was moved to tears to see Dave just be apart of the day. It was a mark of achievement. George and Paige are such good friends and missing this Day was NEVER an option!


The weather held off on the rain, that was unfortunately on its way, not only for the ceremony, and cocktail hour, but having it also hold off for Dave to actually be there for it. The 'boys' had to take the wheelchair stoppers off so that the wheelchair could easily move across the lawn. Which worked GREAT--I enjoyed handing them in to his nurse at the end of the day with a 'we took them off to move in the grass--but look the screws are right there to put them back on!' .


My job at the wedding was to take pictures for Dave, as he too is a picture person-his hands inspite of now being able to hold a fork and feed himself, just are still working towards gaining back his fine motor skills! Dave laughed at me when I said to him "Dave, see how much I Love you?! I charge most people to photograph a wedding!" He watched the wedding, yet, Boy was he on me at the same time! lol! "AMY-take pictures" he said to me, numerous times. These pictures I snapped on my cell phone, the others were on his camera.


Just as the sun came out perfectly, almost as a sign, only for the wedding ceremony, the rain held off till Sharon and I were just about back to the Nursing home. The timing on Sharon's end was perfect. Dave attended only the wedding and cocktail hour. As Sharon was thinking that it might be time to head back, Dave began to show us signs he was done. Even though he enjoyed the conversations with all AND the yummy egg rolls, his legs were beginning to hurt, and his body was exhausted from sitting and enduring a big day out. We loaded him up and on the way back is when the rain began. Sharon, had a hard time leaving Dave at his nursing home, because he SOOOO wanted to go back to the wedding too. I stayed behind with Dave, fed him, and helped his nurse getting his ready for his shower. As I took Daves shoes off, his nurse said that it was ok she could do it she knew I had a long ride home, to which I replied under my breath, "Dave is worth 5 more minutes to me!" and Dave added ever so softly "I love you Amy"


May 23, 2010 is truely a day to remember. A beautiful blessed day for George and Paige. A fantastic day of achievement for Dave. He wanted to be at this wedding and he now has proof that he really can do it. His journey however is not over and will still continue to be One day at a time. I didn't speak with Sharon, but I can almost bet today Dave was wiped. George and Paige, not only was your wedding day a day of your lives changing, it also marks Dave's and Sharon's lives changing too. In a few weeks Dave will be going home. And my heart is so happy for everyone!


I want to share a quick story with you all and Dave too! I showed my son Daniel this picture of me and Dave. I still smile as I remember his happy shout out "MOMMY! Uncle Dave is all better? That means he WILL be able to go to Long Beach Island with us!". You see Dave everyone is still praying and pulling for you--even the little people in your life who just love their Uncle Dave! The positive things like getting out for George and Paige's wedding, sharing a beautiful day with all your friends who love you so, your nieces and nephews helping you see postive when sometimes all you see is what you can see in front of you, Sharon encouraging you to "Keep that head up" and "straighten those arms"---THATS what will keep you motivated to keep getting better!! Keep seeing the positive Dave, everyday you are one step closer. And everyone is 100% behind you. Sharon, Keep up the hard work, and know how everyone who loves you and Dave, are behind you too and with you 100% of the way and are ready to help you with WHATEVER you guys need! Its a new chapter for you and Dave and we look forward to helping you write it and get through it!

To all, please keep the positve encouraging thoughts and messages coming! and Thanks to all who are helping getting the house ready for Dave to come home! It is appreciated by all.

My daughter is

my HERO. I never knew Sharon had such incredible strength. I have been in on this journey since the very beginning, what started out as a possible case of Lyme's disease, to maybe MS,then it seemed to take on a life of it's own. As the more common ailments were discussed then ruled out, thru the different hospitals, different doctors, the whole time watching Dave get worse & not having any answers, she has been a tower of strength for Dave. I've held her when she cried, seen her handle insurance problems & administrators, gotten called at 5:30 in the morning when he was moved to ICU with pneumonia. But every time she walked into Dave's room, she dried her eyes, put her chin up & never, ever let him see how worried she was. I'm so proud of her, anyone would be lucky to have her in their corner.



Now onto Dave, I haven't seen him in awhile, but he had a good report from the eye doctor, and this is huge, he held a utensil & raised it to his mouth 3 times before he tired out, TRUE PROGRESS!! His upper body seems to be coming back pretty well, lower body a little slower, but everyday seems to bring some positive progress. Everyone is busy trying to get the house ready for his return, which takes lots of money & hard work. The insurance says they won't pay for him to stay at Lake Aeriel, & the doctors won't sign his discharge unless the house is in order. Talk about being stuck between a rock & a hard place.



So PLEASE, PLEASE keep your encouraging posts coming to both Dave & Sharon, the response to Matt's last post was great & I know it helps them keep going.