Week 14, Day 3: Saturday Sept. 19, 2009

Day 101: Travis tried to stand today. He pulled his walker to the bedside. I put a small stool on the bed to sit him up higher. Then up he and I pulled to get him to the standing position. His knee was stiff. It wouldn't straighten. He was not strong enough to hold his weight through his bent leg. His arms bore the weight for a few seconds. The pain was intense. He sat down. He held his hurting hands. I wondered what went through his mind. Travis--a healthy, young, athletic man in his prime--"got thumped!" as he puts it. What a challenge! In my mind, I imagined standing to be a great moment. Instead, I find these amazing steps forward to be full of more pain than triumph.