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One day during Bellevue visiting hours, when we had asked that visits be limited to a half hour, one of Jillian’s friends said on her way upstairs, “I’ll try to stay in the time limit, but it feels so good to spend time with Jilly that I just don’t want to leave.” So now it’s time for a bit of self-pity from her parents, who, after spending so many hours a day in her company, will have to say good-bye to her soon. We’ve done it before, so we can do it again, especially since she’ll join us in Michigan for Thanksgiving.*

Here in New Mexico, Jilly has been seeing an acupuncturist and a therapist. She’s been focusing on regaining strength and getting her head around what happened to her. Now it’s time for her to check in with her Bellevue doctors and have them check out several small symptoms that are more annoying than debilitating: clogged ears, the not-quite-healed PEG site, sore knees. She’ll also call on them to help her find the level of activity that will facilitate continued healing as she satisfies her urge to get back to her full life.

On Saturday, Jilly boards a plane for New York (yes, Miss Karen**, she will have to fly alone, and yes, we too are worried about that). I’m counting on her many friends there to make sure she plans her days to allow for plenty of rest. New Yorkers, if you see her out past midnight, call her a cab. If you notice that she’s gone quiet and doesn’t seem to have an opinion about anything, take her home. All you wonderful people helped her through those early days, and I know you’ll look after her now, too.

All our best,
Ingrid

* Some of you may remember that Raymond and I had our annual Michigan trip scheduled to begin on August 20. I miss my family, so we’re going next month.

* * Miss Karen was Jilly’s dance teacher from age three through high school whom we visited yesterday. She thinks we should still get to tell Jilly what to do. I think so, too, but the law is not on my side.