My daughter Julianne had a dream about her brother Christopher a few nights ago. In the dream, she and some of her friends were gathered together in Christopher’s room. They were talking quietly in the far corner. She grieved out loud to them. It had been nearly seven months since her brother endured the traumatic brain injury. How she longed for Christopher to speak and to surpass his minimally conscious state. All of a sudden, she heard a voice behind... Read more
Thirty-one years ago today, Mariko and I were married. Those vows we made August 11, 1990 ring true today: “to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance.” How do those vows we made then ring true today? For one, as to “sickness and in health,” I’m sick in bed today, writing... Read more
It’s important to make plans rather than coast aimlessly through life. It’s also wise to make contingency plans in order to account for the unexpected. Still, things happen that one would never imagine needing to prepare for, like my son Christopher suffering a traumatic brain injury earlier this year. It’s hard to see anyone lying on their back most hours of the day, especially someone so young with a young family and a storehouse full of energetic plans and aspirations.... Read more
We have experienced scorching heat several days this summer. As a result, one or two plants in our yard have died. Other foliage has not yet recovered from sun shock. One or two forms of vegetation didn’t even get that far. They never emerged from winter hibernation. One of those dormant-gone-dead garden victims was a flowering plant, or so we thought. Yesterday, my wife Mariko shared the good news that the flowering plant we thought was dead is alive. She... Read more
For centuries, theologians and philosophers have debated whether there is conscious control or random processes at work that shape the universe. No doubt, for some of us, the episodic discourse is a nail biter. For others, it’s a real yawner. Regardless of your convictions and conclusions on divine sovereignty and control vs. human freedom and/or cosmic chaos, I am trying to discern instances of what a neurologist said: my family and I are to look for indications of conscious control... Read more
Sometimes you hear or read about voiceless people, like being a voice for the voiceless in advocacy work. I believe everyone has a voice, but are they using it? Are we listening well? Everyone expresses themselves regardless of whether they use their vocal chords to do so. Are we paying attention? Do we help people train their voices, amplify those voices that are soft spoken, and assist those who need to find alternative or new ways to express themselves? We... Read more
I just know Christopher would love to hang out and talk about life with the nurse tending to him the other night. I said as much to Christopher and the nurse. Both men have diverse and intriguing perspectives arising from a deep well of personhood. They could talk for hours. Hopefully, some day that will be reality for my son who suffered a traumatic brain injury in January. Christopher is making more noises these days and speech therapy will soon... Read more
I love the word “emergence.” I have far more positive vibes with “emergence” than I do with “emergency,” as I suppose you would expect. Still, in our family’s life situation, I wouldn’t be thinking as much about “emergence” if it weren’t for an emergency. My son Christopher is seeking to emerge. He may not comprehend at this juncture most of what his body is doing in trying to emerge and recover from his traumatic brain injury suffered in January of... Read more
Dignity is a rather slippery word. It’s hard to get a handle on it. I have been thinking a lot about dignity given my son Christopher’s traumatic brain injury that he suffered in January this year. One example comes to mind, which triggered further reflection. Recently, a medical leader at my son’s rehabilitative care facility told me that they want to keep a sheet covering over Christopher’s person in bed to affirm his dignity. We had been discussing how much... Read more
We can debate what astronaut Neil Armstrong really said after taking his first step on the moon back in 1969. According to The Associated Press and Navy Times, the commander of Apollo 11 tried to set the record straight in 1999. Millions of people watching live on tv or listening to the radio heard: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” But after returning from space, Armstrong said that wasn’t what he had planned to say.... Read more
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