As happens all to often, I have procrastinated updating this space for far too long. My justification this time is the amount of time this holiday season spent in a hospital. And with an intro like that, why beat around the bush…

One morning a few days before Christmas I got a call from my sister Jen telling me that her twin Jaclyn was in the hospital for an unknown reason. It was an emergency… she couldn’t speak, couldn’t move, couldn’t really react… couldn’t do much of anything. The night before she had gone to her husband and not being able to speak tried to motion that something was wrong. When she couldn’t do more than a blank stare, he rushed her to the hospital.

Skip forward after examinations, scans, and all manner of medical testing it’s determined that my sister had what was described to me as a massive stroke. She had movement in her legs and left arm, but no speech or real use of any of her limbs. Considering this news I decided to leave CA a day early to help out where I could.

Skip forward again to 7 days after the stroke. My wonderfully determined sister is making what can only be described as a miraculous recovery. She’s walking, has movement in both arms (while no articulation in her right arm), and can actually speak full sentences. It should not be taken lightly how difficult all these things were to achieve, and I’m sure it will be an uphill battle for the rest of her life.

I don’t want to go into great detail. I would simply like to say how wonderful it was for me to spend several nights in the hospital doing what I could to make my sister comfortable while she goes through this. She’s doing so well, and while this stroke terrible in every way, I count her determination and speedy start to a recovery as a real blessing for her and the family.

As another note, I’m so amazed by the outpouring of community and family support when events like this occur. People really step up and do what they can. It gives a person great faith in humanity to see it all come together to help someone you love.

I’ve said it before… stay strong Jac. I love you, and I have no doubt this will just be another of your incredible stories to tell you children and grandchildren.