Many Americans love celebrating the Fourth of July, no matter how conscious they are of what the day stands for in history. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress representing the American colonies signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to announce their freedom as a people from Great Britain. Historically, the day stood for the rebirth of liberty and death of monarchy and tyranny. An Encyclopedia Britannica article notes how the day has lost some of its political... Read more

Christopher’s eyes often respond to motion. His head and eyes turn at times to follow where the sound is coming from in his room. I wish that I could say the same for myself when it comes to my spiritual experience. There are way too many times when I have difficulty sensing God’s movement, even when God is moving a divine hand in front of my eyes! I might not have endured a traumatic brain injury earlier this year, like... Read more

We received a report from the therapists yesterday that my son Christopher has come to a state of rest. He is not responding to prompts in therapy, as he did several days ago. One of the therapists provided assurances to us by saying rehabilitation is never linear in caring for patients with traumatic brain injuries. She also said that she and her colleague have taken Christopher under their wings. Their consoling words and care led me to think about Psalm... Read more

What’s it like to go through life without a father, or a good dad? I think about those whose fathers passed away before they were born, or when they were young, or those whose dads were dead to them even when they were alive. I think about these questions especially now—on Father’s Day. My son Christopher is a dad. A very good dad, but he can’t talk or see his little girl today. Due to a traumatic brain injury suffered... Read more

This post “Don’t Stop Now. It’s Never Over at Halftime” is a slightly edited version of the graduation address I delivered at Trinity Academy, Portland in June 2019. I wish to thank Dr. Joannah Clark, Head of School, for permission to publish it here. My daughter Julianne graduated from Trinity in 2020. My reason for publishing the piece now is twofold: first, students from across the country and world have graduated from various schools and institutions over the past several... Read more

I was talking to our medical consultant the other day about my son Christopher blinking at times to hand and finger movements in front of his eyes. How I wish his blinking was more consistent. But at least my son is now blinking intermittently in response to close movements. That’s a positive step for someone who has suffered from a devastating traumatic brain injury (TBI). I discussed Christopher’s intermittent alertness with his sister Julianne as we visited him yesterday in... Read more

On June 1, I went back to the gym. It was my first time back since COVID struck and shut so many things down. The aftermath of my son’s traumatic brain injury (TBI) suffered in January has taken such a toll on me and I knew I couldn’t hold off any longer with reinstating my exercise ritual in pursuit of mortal glory. So, there I was working out on the elliptical and weight machines, fully vaccinated, wearing my facemask, applying... Read more

Have you ever experienced and endured an uncontrollable situation, like a great storm in life? It can be overwhelming. Well, that’s how I often feel in dealing with my son’s traumatic brain injury and its aftermath. Of course, as I have noted in some of my posts, we experience encouraging days where Christopher is responding in positive ways. He may respond to a prompt. He may smile. He may say a word. My soul soars in those moments in uncontrollable... Read more

I never thought too much about that line “Smile, God Loves You” growing up, though I heard it often enough. I would also see it emblazoned on my late father’s coffee mug (pictured here), from which I’m drinking my morning brew today. Surely, if I’m honest, there have been times in my life journey where I have been tempted by tragic and devastating experiences to write and say just the opposite—“Scowl, God Hates You” or “Sulk, God Just Doesn’t Care.”... Read more

There is so much about the brain that remains a mystery. There is so little we know, including with my son Christopher’s traumatic brain injury (TBI). Even a neurosurgeon acknowledged the vast unknown in speaking with us a few months ago. There is really no way of knowing at this point what’s going on deep down inside Christopher’s brain where hopefully neurons are firing and rewiring. We may not see any change on the surface much of the time, but... Read more