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<\/p>\nFor me few things take precedence over birds but a visit from my daughter Shannon is one of them. There’ll be no birds today.<\/p>\n
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Shannon and her husband Rick are here for the weekend and yesterday was our day to visit, reminisce and just enjoy each other’s company. For the past 3+ years regular readers of Feathered Photography have followed the ups and downs of Shannon’s recovery from a severe TBI (traumatic brain injury) so I thought another update that included a few photos would be both appropriate and appreciated.<\/p>\n
Shannon’s recovery has been slow but miraculous, especially considering the fact that her husband and son were told by ER doctors on the night of her accident that she had “zero chance of surviving the night”. After four months in the hospital, several years of therapy and an incredible amount of work she has proved them wrong. Today about the only physical sign of her ordeal is a bumpy skull from her craniotomy and the titanium screws they used to put her back together.<\/p>\n
Her cognitive recovery has also been dramatic and essentially complete. She still struggles with some short-term memory loss but most of her old personality has returned and she no longer has speech or vision issues except for a minor loss of some of her peripheral vision.<\/p>\n
I have my daughter back – quite a contrast to the fact that I fully expected her to be dead when I got off the plane in Florida the day after I received that truly awful phone call from Rick.<\/p>\n
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There are two heroes in this story and you’re looking at both of them. Shannon worked her butt off during her long recovery, remaining cheerful, buoyant and optimistic through it all. But without Rick it simply could not have been pulled off. In every imaginable way he was her champion, pulling strings to get her into new and innovative therapies, being her cheerleader and supporting her efforts. Shannon’s mother Mary also played a significant role, staying with them for months after Shannon was released from the hospital when Rick had to return to work.<\/p>\n
The relationship that Shannon and Rick have has been key to her recovery. It’s filled with love, respect and humor. There have been minor changes in Shannon’s personality, just enough to be noticeable, and for them both to jokingly refer to the “old Shannon” and “new Shannon” as sisters. Rick likes to tease her by saying “I’ve slept with both you and your sister”.<\/p>\n
As her dad I love seeing the support she gets from Rick. They make a wonderful team.<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For me few things take precedence over birds but a visit from my daughter Shannon is one of them. There’ll be no birds today.<\/p>\n