Kaleidoscope

Chapter Three

Danny was his usual quiet self on the ride home. Tom, missing an opportunity to capitalize on being alone with his only son, didn't speak a word. They were complete strangers in an enclosed space. Maybe being home alone together would help them learn to communicate with each other.

As soon as they walked in the door, Tom headed for his study and got on his computer to check on work. Danny disappeared into his room. A hush fell on the house. Finally, Tom knocked on Danny's door and entered hesitantly.

"Want something to eat, sport?" he said. "We could order out for a pizza."

"Fine, Dad, whatever you want." He paused before going on. "Dad, is Theresa going to be okay?"

Tom suddenly realized how the events of the past few days had affected Danny, too.

"It's going to take a long time, Danny, but she's strong and she'll pull through physically. But getting over Kelly's death is another story. And we still don't know about the possibility of paralysis. There's a lot for her to digest right now and we'll all have to be there for her."

That was the most conversation Danny had had with his dad in a long time. It felt good.

Danny's life became static. He went to school every day, played soccer and then sat in his room night after night, only going down to the kitchen to grab something to eat. He and his dad were more estranged than ever. Tom went every weekend to see his daughter, giving Rose a break, but Danny begged to stay at home by himself; he couldn't face Theresa. After her tirade in the hospital, he didn't know what to expect from her. It would be better just to stay out of the way.

This pattern continued for weeks. Theresa's injuries slowly began to heal, but the paralysis remained. She desperately tried to wiggle her toes, convinced that with effort she would see some movement, but her legs lay lifeless beneath the sheets. The doctors still had hope that it was only temporary, but with each passing week the hope diminished.

"We need to face reality; Theresa may be permanently paralyzed from the waist down," the doctors finally warned Tom and Rose. "The swelling has almost completely disappeared and we haven't seen any movement yet." The Fosters refused to give up hope even as Theresa began to come to terms with it herself.

"I'm just glad to be alive," she said stoically one day, forcing a smile, her thoughts turning to Kelly. Tom and Rose hugged their daughter, not wanting to accept the obvious. When they left the room, Theresa pounded furiously against her legs, willing some feeling to return, her resolve to put on a good front for her parents a sham. Outside, Rose leaned against a wall to steady herself. Tom stood alone off to the side, trying to absorb all that this meant for the family. In the meantime, back home, Danny stayed to himself. He retreated into his room, his haven from the world.

After weeks in the hospital, Theresa was transferred to a local rehab center. When they rolled her in she cringed at the disabilities she saw. And then there were the people who didn't seem to need rehab at all. The reality of what she was facing finally sunk in. She couldn't walk.

"This is Warren," the head nurse said. "He's going to be working with you to get your strength back. You'll also have someone to teach you how to make life adjustments when you go home. There's a whole team of us dedicated to your well-being. Our goal is to make you as independent as possible."

Theresa held out a limp hand in response.

Independence, she thought. She would never be independent again as far as she was concerned. She would be confined to the damn wheelchair. How independent could she be? Resignation reared its ugly head.

Once Theresa was settled in, Rose made herself comfortable so she could watch Warren work with her daughter. The nurse asked her to please leave and let Theresa work with him alone.

"She needs to do this herself, Mrs. Foster. We encourage as much independence as possible."

Rose was devastated. She couldn't imagine leaving her child.

"Do you think we could move her closer to home?" she asked.

"Let's get her stable first and then we can talk about it. She may not be ready for such a long ride. She's just beginning her therapy."

Rose accepted the inevitable and left for her hotel room. It would be so much easier if she were close to home but she was determined to stay by her daughter's side.

The next day, Rose was introduced to the people responsible for her daughter's care. In addition to the Case Manager who oversaw everything, there were physical therapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation therapists and psychologists. The list was overwhelming. Her head was swimming with names and titles and discovering the role each one would play in Theresa's recovery. Why did this have to be so hard? For the first time, she allowed herself to wallow in a bit of self-pity.

After two weeks, during which time Theresa made remarkable progress due to her determination, the Case Manager suggested that she could now be transferred closer to home to continue her rehab. Rose researched the best facilities near home and prepared her daughter for the move.

Theresa balked at first. She had gotten used to her caregivers, especially Warren, who knew when to push her and when to back off. But she also realized that the expense of having her mom living in a hotel and the strain of her dad going back and forth every weekend were taking a toll on the family. She finally agreed to be moved and hoped she would be able to move back home as soon as possible. She didn't know what awaited her there but it was, after all, home. Her journey was just beginning.

Once again, Theresa began to adjust. She got to know her caregivers and how they approached her therapy. Surprisingly to her, the routine was just the same. She guessed there was only so much change they could make when working with a spinal injury. She tried harder and harder each time - her goal, to be home.

After a few weeks, the old Theresa spirit finally emerged and she was released and allowed to leave. Her parents retrofitted their house with ramps to make her adjustment a little easier. Physical therapists and home health aides to help with her personal needs now became part of the family. Danny tiptoed around her, avoiding the subject of her paralysis.

"Damn this carpet," Theresa spat out one morning as she struggled into the breakfast room from the hall.

"Here, let me help you," Danny said as he made his way over to help her with her wheelchair.

"Leave me alone. I can do this by myself. Why the concern? You didn't even come to see me when I was in the rehab center."

"When I tried to visit you in the hospital you practically threw me out."

"Whatever," Theresa mumbled as she reached for the cereal box, just out of her reach.

"I suppose you'd like me to get that for you," Danny offered sarcastically.

"No just back off."

Danny, trying his best to understand what Theresa was going through, but failing miserably, thought back to all the times she had nagged at him, long before the accident.

Hurry up, Danny, we're going to be late for school.

Can't you get off the damn computer and get more involved in school?

You'll never make it into college if you don't spread your wings a little.

School, school, school. Why did she even care? Just because she was multi-talented and involved in everything didn't mean he wanted to be too. He would do what he wanted, when he wanted. His grades were fine and he was a good athlete, but none of that seemed to matter to her, or to anyone for that matter.

He swallowed his resentment and went off to his room, selfishly wanting just to get away - far away.

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