Nonsense, or another coincidence?

Today, I HAVE to continue my blog on coincidences.  In February, I wrote one of my blogs about finding pennies, https://aprojectforkindness.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/

In that blog, I had written that I had been told, that because it reads, “In God we trust,”  that when we find one, we should count our blessings from God, and that we should trust that God has placed it in our way for a reason, therefore thanking him for our blessings at that moment! I have been finding lots of pennies since my mom died, (but I always find them – I think I am just noticing them more).  Several people have told me that finding pennies are signs from our loved ones.  All superstitions, I know, but today my strange coincidences continued.

Many of you know that I have been suffering from headaches for about five months now.  After several doctors, an MRI, different medications and visits to a chiropractor, I finally saw a neurologist today.  To get to her office, I had to pass the cemetery  where my mom and Francine are buried.  As I drove by, I decided that I would stop there on my way home to “visit” with them, so I said out loud as I passed by, “See you later mom”.  I got to the doctor’s office and sat down in a chair to wait to be called on.  The receptionist called my name and I went up to do the usual paperwork for a first time patient.  I went back to my seat, and lying there right in the middle of the chair, was a penny.  I smiled, thought of mom, gave it a little rub and put it into my pocket.

I went in to the doctors office, and as she entered the room, I knew that I had met her somewhere before – I just could not place where.  I even said to her, “I think I know you from somewhere”, but neither of us could place where, and I don’t think she recognized me…yet.  My check up was going on routinely and we began talking about family history.  I had already told her about my mom and Francine passing away, (not the details), but just because I wanted her to know that these were not stress headaches due to them dying.  They started months before that.  I mentioned my mother’s heart history and suddenly she asked me what my  mom’s name was.  I told her and she asked if she had been a patient at St. Barnabas a few years ago on “2300”, (that was a floor on the hospital she had been on that time).  I said yes, and we realized that must of been why I recognized her.  We continued going over family history when all of a sudden, it hit me!!  This doctor was the woman who was dealing with Francine’s brain injury just a few weeks ago.  She and I had been talking several times during that day about the severity of her brain injury.  We both realized now that we did indeed “know” each other.  She realized who I was and she asked about our family and how we were all doing.  She was concerned for my brother, and expressed her sympathy.  I told her about our close knit family and how we were all there for each other and she said she could tell that from the way we all were at the hospital.

I did not leave  with any new answers for my headaches, but I will have another MRI, this time of my cervical spine, and a new medication to try.  I am hopeful, and I feeling quite positive after this visit.  Was it the penny?  Did it just give me that feeling that I needed to walk out of there with a positive attitude?  I don’t know, but I do know that the penny wasn’t from my  mom this time, but from Francine.  As I walked out of the office building, I actually burst into tears.  So many emotions were filling me.

Oh!!!  And did I did not even mention, that as I walked into the building, there was a lot of construction going on.  A new cement sidewalk had just been laid and in the base of it someone had carved into it, “DREW”.  The name of my son, who has had numerous visits to different neurologists over the last year due to his concussions – another coincidence?!?!?!  Perhaps, but for me I am taking it as another positive sign, knowing that we are going to get to the bottom of this and have an answer and some relief soon!

Peace Amid the Storm

Last year, my son Drew, (who was ten at the time), suffered two concussions.  One in hockey and one in soccer.  The initial symptoms of the first one seemed much worse.  He lost consciousness, spent a night in the hospital and suffered severe headaches.  The second concussion, did not seem as bad, but the lingering affects have been much worse.  He was only able to attend school for half days for nearly a month and his concentration level was very poor.  The worst symptom by far, (for all of us), has been the emotional, angry outbursts.

Drew has always been our funny kid. He makes everyone laugh.  He is a ball of energy and is non-stop from the minute he wakes up until he goes to bed.  He never fails to bring out smiles in everyone he meets. Everyone wants to spend time with him.

Most people do not talk about having an “angry child”, but since the concussion, Drew’s days can go from calm, happy and fun to intense, fiery and out of control.  He screams, runs, punches pillows and cries.  I don’t often talk about it because I feel like people will not understand, or think that I can not handle my own child.  I deal with 22 children everyday and I have complete control, yet I can not handle just one of my own!  In school, these angry outbursts never occur, and this I am grateful for. He seems to reserve these tantrums for home.  Of course I love him.  I do so with all of my heart.  This is the child who will still curl up on the couch with me for “snuggle time”.  The child who could melt my heart with his smile but these rages can be set off by anything and we never know when one is coming!  It could be homework frustrations, being told no, a change in routine….anything.

Dave and I have finally sought the help of a psychologist.  We were told that post-concussion symptoms can last for awhile.  We never expected it to be this long or this intense.  I am worried about lasting psychological effects.  I want my Drew back.   We are lucky to have “regular” Drew most of the time, but then, the “concussion monster” rears his head and it all falls apart.  The storm can last for hours but then, like a rainbow, it ends, almost as quickly as it began.  I am hoping that the psychologist can help him through this and give him ways to manage his anger.  He was not like this before and I am convinced it is a result of the concussions.  I will never make him give up sports.  We are more diligent with precautions.  He wears soft head gear for soccer and we have not had him back in hockey.  We will never be able to shelter him completely but the research I have done says that every concussion after the first, is worse.   I hope we can find a solution and that we don’t have to deal with the symptoms much longer.

I do not want to write something that is going to cause him embarrassment or shame.  That is not my plan at all but Spring soccer started today and I was speaking to a friend who had not seen us over the winter.  She asked me how Drew was doing since the last concussion.  She has a friends who’s daughter is having very similar symptoms and her mom is at a loss as well.  This made me think that there must be others out there who are dealing with this.  I want to find out what they are doing and how they are getting through it.