Dear Family & Friends, Gina Gronlund
(The picture was taken last Thanksgiving. Clockwise from top: Gerry, Tatania, Anessa, Polina, and, center, Lori.)
Dear Family and Friends,
I never got around to getting Christmas cards sent out this past year. I am touched by the warm response from many, many who sent cards or called to inquire what was going on with our family. Many others have requested I provide an update. This is my attempt to provide a recap of what’s currently going on two years post-accident.
Gerard is attending a free Brain Injury Program in
Gerard has begun vision therapy in
Additionally, Dr. Ron Higuera, a friend at church, who conducts ATC therapy which stretches the muscles, is working with Ger and has lessened the constant pain Ger experiences in his neck and left foot. These are the same problems that we spent days in the hospital attempting to resolve with no success. Ron affirms that Ger is still in an awful lot of physical pain, which certainly affects his disposition. Ger rarely complains, however, stating “you just have to suck it up; it is what it is.” Ron has always been willing to help but initially Ger wouldn’t allow Ron to touch him because the stretching itself hurts, causing a lot of pain to bound muscles and tendons. Pray that Ger will continue to put himself through these painful stretches in order to experience permanent relief.
We have been surviving off of unemployment, savings and occasional gifts. To date this has allowed me to stay home. Daily, we all go to Belinda’s home and school together. Surprisingly, home schooling has proved beneficial to Gerry. He sits and does school right along with the children; when they do math drills, he does math drills. Sometimes he just listens, but this is a form of indirect therapy where he is not “on” all the time. He especially enjoys Bible class, (Machen’s commentary on the Catechism), Worldview and Spanish classes. He often interjects appropriately and is good about correcting our mispronunciations in Spanish. It seems as if his brain is loading back up.
My desire is to educate my girls and witness God’s hand in healing Gerard. I have been preparing for and teaching several classes and I am enjoying every minute. Working alongside Belinda has been my therapy. I’m grateful that she allows me to sneak away 2 days a week to take Ger to therapy/TBI school. I couldn’t do it without her. Pray that God would continue to bless her and her efforts! She does a wonderful job, is exceedingly patient, and is constantly faithful. What a godly example of self-sacrificing friendship! We have noticed a calmness the past several months and the girls are all doing quite well at school, benefiting from the structure and extra attention.
Finally, almost 2 years after the accident (3/17), our family is experiencing a full but more peaceful schedule. I’m realizing how much the girls need my attention “after the storm” and desire this season of “normalcy”. As most Moms know, I am working harder than ever. I have a passion to redeem the time and feel a sense of urgency because I don’t know for how long this season of staying home will last. Partly because of what has transpired in our lives, it is of utmost importance to me to instruct my children in good Biblical doctrine to ensure they have a firm foundation. Apart from God, nothing makes sense. Knowing God is central. It has been everything to me. My zeal is purposely to provide for them the same foundation so that they can understand what has transpired from “God’s perspective.” Knowing Him truly is our only hope.