BATMAN TO THE RESCUE

Terry’s brother turned 60 this past Monday.

However, Tommy’s birthday party will have to be delayed for an indefinite period.

He was hospitalized last Saturday with breathing problems, aspiration pneumonia to be exact. His prognosis was grim for a few days especially when the hospital confirmed he had also contracted a virus called RSV. On Wednesday evening, his nurse asked that we contact family members to tell them he might not make it through the night.

Terry stayed at Tom’s side until it became evident that he had rallied back from the brink.

We hope that he’s now on the road to recovery and we are grateful for all the care and expertise that the nursing staff at the MacKenzie Health Centre has provided.

As I’ve written in the past, Tommy is mentally challenged operating at the cognitive level of a two and a half year old. Although he is non verbal, Tommy can make his needs known most of the time with hand gestures and guttural sounds. At times, he can seem lost in his own internal wonderland.

However, during his illness, a real and open personality has miraculously surfaced as Tommy endures the discomfort and anxiety that comes with not being able to breathe normally.

He graciously acknowledges visitors, patiently endures lengthy and invasive procedures and uses hand squeezing to convey his appreciation for a story or a hug.

During his most difficult times on Wednesday night, Tommy was strengthened by Terry’s recounting tales of Batman’s heroics, particularly the story when a young Bruce Wayne’s falls down a well and is caught by a swarm of bats.

How fitting that Tommy’s lifelong passion for superheros saw him through his most perilous moments. Of course, it helped that he also had a warrior princess at his side.

Tommy continues to teach all of us about the will to survive and the strength that comes from believing in a superhero, whether he fights crime in Gotham City, paddles the waters of Georgian Bay or walks the hills in Galilee.



.