JETTING TO CALIFORNIA

Jetting to California

Travelling by private jet to California was a gift beyond measure. We were able to drive Riley right up to the plane without the chaos and startle-evoking noise of the airport terminal. The jet also flew faster than a commercial airliner and travelled at a  higher altitude; avoiding the turbulence found at lower elevations.

 

 Lear 35 getting ready for take-off  





Evan co-piloting



My cousin and her husband have graciously opened their spacious “Tuscany” style home and given Riley a quiet room with a view of lush rolling hills carpeted with grapevines, orange trees and lofty oak and cedars.



Riley's Room on main floor (right)    



We took Evan along with us to see where his brother and mother would be staying and my mother also came to lend a hand. We are fortunate as well to have my brother and his girlfriend living nearby. They have been tremendously supportive. 

The day after our arrival Riley met with both of his doctors. It quickly became apparent that our trip to California was critical.   Despite frequent phone consults, the medical team seemed shocked by how ill Riley had become in the last few months and let us know that it may take over 6 months for him to truly begin to feel improvement-devastating news.

Fortunately, their expertise with the complexities of Lyme disease had them suggesting a number of medical options and local resources.

It was extremely difficult for Riley to adjust to his new surroundings and we had a number of brutal evenings where his level of anxiety, nausea, and discomfort rose to new levels.  One night it took three of us to get him to the washroom and he described “demon eyes” telling him he was not trying hard enough and would never get well. Listening to Riley’s fear of not having the strength to continue the battle (at one point he stated that he wanted to die) was one of our lowest moments to date. 



Evan having a moment with Riley



Last Sunday the time came for us to leave Riley and Christine in California and return to school and work.  Words cannot begin to describe the level of sadness surrounding our departure.  We knelt beside Riley’s bed while he painfully draped an arm around each of us. Slowly and tearfully he raised his hand to his heart space and Evan and I returned his tender gesture. It is counter-intuitive to leave your sick child behind...something akin to being told you cannot enter a burning building where your son remains trapped. So with heavy hearts Evan and I left for the airport.

We arrived back in Calgary late that evening to discover that friends had left Evan and I food and words of encouragement...something to take the chill off our otherwise cold and vacant home. Christine also informed us that evening that one of Riley’s medications had been changed and his evening had been better; lower anxiety and startle.

For now, our family photo has been torn in two rough pieces...Christine and Riley in the U.S. for an undefined period of time, and Evan and I left in Calgary to return to the new “normal”.  Yesterday I awoke to this poignant e-mail from a friend:

“I rise...I stretch...I wash...I dress...I sip...I stress...I think...

And I hear a voice, I don’t know whose, from where, in the dark that I try to push through this morning, reminding me of this desperate soul making gasps in California and his mother and father and brother whom I have know so long, whose lives are something completely different today than any I could have ever imagined only a year ago.

Sadness...Brokenness...Nonsense...Ridiculous...Evil...Anger...Tears pouring...

Ouch—deep, long, defeated, aching of rage.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE COME BACK RILEY!! I NEED YOU! WE NEED YOU! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? STOP!”

Yes it is true that we need Riley to turn a corner and to witness a lessening of his symptoms! Until such time we continue to marvel at the outpouring of support we have received. So many compassionate and generous acts...reminders that despite worldly forecasts of doom and gloom, generosity and kindness continue to be alive and well!

Gratefully, Terry

Taking turns having a few moments of fun and exploring our new surroundings:

 

Evan with Grandma Lindberg and Elaine



An Afternoon Exploring San Fransisco