Tobias' Recovery

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about what Tobias says and his attitude toward his and our new life. This blog entry was inspired by the phrase, It's just not fair what happened to Tobias' life.  🌍 Life Isn’t Fair—But Life Is Still Beautiful Why does life seem unfair? We see and hear about war. We live among children, young adults, and elderly people with severe health issues. Many of us struggle with mental illness or physical pain. Life can feel heavy and full of suffering. And yet — in the middle of all this — the world we live in is beautiful. Nature teaches us the cycle of life: blooming, slowing down, and dying. It is a quiet teacher, showing us that everything has its season. The universe gave us Earth — a place to live, learn from, take care of, and live off. In response, we humans created ideas to make sense of it all. One of those ideas is fairness . What is fairness? According to the dictionary: “Fairness is the quality of treating people equally or in a...

  Every Day is a New Beginning: Embracing Renewal Beyond New Year's Day As the calendar turns over to a new year, many of us find ourselves reflecting on the past and planning for the future. The concept of a "fresh start" is often associated with New Year's Day, a time when we set goals, envision new beginnings, and dream of positive change. But is January 1st the only opportunity for renewal?  The truth is, every day—indeed, every moment is a chance to begin anew. Life reminds us of this through its many challenges and victories, offering lessons that encourage us to trust, breathe, and have faith. The Power of a New Day Each sunrise brings with it the promise of a new beginning, a fresh slate. This idea isn't confined to the arbitrary turning of a calendar page. Life teaches us, often through its trials, that growth and renewal are continual processes. Tobias, for example, faced pain today—a hard and disheartening experience for both him and those who love him....

  Conversations That Touch the Heart: Tobias’s Connection with the Past Hello, dear readers of Tobias’s Comeback , 😍 As we navigate the winding paths of life, there are moments that remind us how deeply connected we are to the people who have shaped our journey. For Tobias, one of these moments came in the past few weeks during a heartfelt conversation with his mission president and his wife, the Bentlys. Now retired and enjoying life on their peaceful farm, they spoke with Tobias over the phone, creating an exchange that was equal parts fun, touching, and inspiring. A Mission Full of Challenges—and Love As parents, we always wonder how our children are truly doing during their missions (in our case, the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints). Are they happy? Are they safe? Tobias’s mission in Santiago, Chile, was not an easy one. From facing a gun pointed at him just two weeks after arriving in Chile—Santiago—to enduring riots with fires breaking out in stores and ATMs, Tob...

  Update on Tobias Tobias has rocked the past two weeks. Even though we had a lot of cancellations on therapies due to colds and vacation, we did our own thing. To be honest, I enjoy these quieter weeks at times. They give me time to focus on all those things I wanted to do with Tobias but never get to them. Especially cognitive work, which I find personally so rewarding; of course the walks and chats with him. Tobias is making progress, and it’s incredibly fulfilling to see positive feedback almost immediately. My biggest wonder and fears when I am down:  Will his ability to learn new things ever fully return—or will it only partially come back? How will he ever learn new things? Learning is tied to the frontal lobe and thalamus, and both areas have suffered damage. Here is an example. We went to the temple on Saturday, but Tobias does not remember. Tobias cannot remember which day it was yesterday. The good thing is, his awareness is there. If I ask him, "Did you go to the t...

  What Defines Us in Life: Embracing Faith and Letting Go of Control Life often reminds us that we are not always in control, and this truth can be unsettling. For those of us who find peace in stability and certainty, moments of chaos or unpredictability can feel overwhelming. Living in a restless world like ours can be a challenge for those who find peace in stability. On Wednesday night, I have faced a harsh reminder of this. A sudden, major, yet familiar panic attack hit me out of the blue, with no warning signs. It is a physical manifestation of the mind and body’s struggle to cope with the unknown. As the pressure built in my chest, my stomach churned, and dizziness overtook me, it felt as if my legs were about to give way. Tyler was traveling, and I was home alone with Tobias. Though Tobias was safely in his chair, the thought of fainting while he needed me was terrifying. These attacks are not new to me.  At the start of Tobias’ healing journey, they happened daily. Ov...

  Here Are Our Events This Week Tobias has many therapies, and every time I write them down on my calendar, I catch myself wondering if he has too many. This week alone, we have three physiotherapy sessions, two occupational therapy (OT) appointments, four speech therapy sessions, one session with a neuropsychologist, and a volunteer who comes by to support us. On top of that, there are two of my own therapy hours and Mandy, who always finds wonderful and engaging activities for Tobias. Despite the packed schedule, Tobias does have some free time and is usually excited to wind down and head to bed by 7 p.m. Still, I find myself asking: What is too much, and what is not enough? How do we know when we’ve struck the right balance between progress and rest? That's my question for the day. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. How do you feel when your day is fully packed? How does your brain handle that level of activity? What Does “Too Much” Mean for the Brain? When our brai...