like crumbs from the overdone cookies the women were eating. As much as he loved Colby, he found himself desperately hoping there was nothing the Gillette Children’s Hospital could do for him.
Sarah looked almost as shocked by the news as Michael felt and the conversation faltered as she contemplated the ramifications. Sarah hated to lose her closest friend, but she could never begrudge her for wanting the best for her son. She tried to sound hopeful for Karen’s sake, but she found it hard to imagine there was a way Colby could ever lead any kind of normal life. She was glad the doctor’s appointment she had scheduled for that morning would cut her visit a little short, because she wasn’t quite sure what else to say.
Michael was a wreck for the next few days as the trip to Minnesota approached. Under any other circumstances he would’ve been ecstatic at the chance to see the sights and explore another part of the world he usually found so fascinating, but all he could think about was the possibility of losing Jessica.
As they listened to the doctor speak, each word was a sledgehammer, knocking another hole in the crumbly plaster walls that were holding Michael’s world together. Words like spasticity evaluation, rehabilitative therapy, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation all tore such giant chunks that Michael knew the walls were about to fall. Meanwhile the doctor and the Conrads smiled and rejoiced as they imagined the possibilities for Colby’s future and their happiness flooded Michael with guilt as he realized he should be celebrating this new development not mourning it.
The Conrads decided to extend their stay in St. Paul for another few days as they researched homes for sale in the area and soon Mrs. Conrad had fallen in love with a beautiful Victorian with a backyard big enough for her rowdy brood to host their own football league. Gingerbread trim decorated every corner of the pale blue and yellow exterior and a wide wraparound porch inspired fantasies of warm summer evenings spent relaxing in rocking chairs, watching the boys catch fireflies in the yard. With fall on it’s way, the Conrads were anxious to get settled before the start of school, so they made an offer and hurried home to start packing.
Karen was excited to tell Sarah all about the revolutionary new treatments the hospital was pioneering to assist cerebral palsy victims in the quest for rehabilitation, but she knew the move would probably mean the end of their friendship. Long distance calls were expensive and once Colby’s treatment began she was unlikely to have much time for anything else. She would miss the companionship they had developed and she knew Colby would miss seeing Jessica. No one could make him smile like she did. She was pretty much his favorite person in the whole world. He would make new friends in Minnesota, she assured herself, maybe even some kids with CP like himself. Kids who shared his limitations and would make him feel like he wasn't the only one who had them.
The day before the big move, Karen invited Sarah over for one last visit, and even though Sarah thought Karen had no business hosting a coffee klatch when she still had so much work left to do, Karen insisted and Sarah gratefully took the opportunity to have one last chat with her dear friend.
“I brought cookies and this time I didn’t burn them,” Sarah announced with a half-hearted smile as she traipsed into Karen’s kitchen without so much as a knock at the door. Karen’s head was barely visible over the stack of cardboard boxes that cluttered every surface and Sarah choked on the overwhelming odor of Pine-Sol and bleach.
Karen navigated around the boxes and grabbed Sarah in a hug. “Thanks for coming, hon. Sorry for the mess.”
“Is there something I can do to help you?” Sarah offered, glancing anxiously around the room.
“Nah, the only thing I need right now is some girl
Sarah looked almost as shocked by the news as Michael felt and the conversation faltered as she contemplated the ramifications. Sarah hated to lose her closest friend, but she could never begrudge her for wanting the best for her son. She tried to sound hopeful for Karen’s sake, but she found it hard to imagine there was a way Colby could ever lead any kind of normal life. She was glad the doctor’s appointment she had scheduled for that morning would cut her visit a little short, because she wasn’t quite sure what else to say.
Michael was a wreck for the next few days as the trip to Minnesota approached. Under any other circumstances he would’ve been ecstatic at the chance to see the sights and explore another part of the world he usually found so fascinating, but all he could think about was the possibility of losing Jessica.
As they listened to the doctor speak, each word was a sledgehammer, knocking another hole in the crumbly plaster walls that were holding Michael’s world together. Words like spasticity evaluation, rehabilitative therapy, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation all tore such giant chunks that Michael knew the walls were about to fall. Meanwhile the doctor and the Conrads smiled and rejoiced as they imagined the possibilities for Colby’s future and their happiness flooded Michael with guilt as he realized he should be celebrating this new development not mourning it.
The Conrads decided to extend their stay in St. Paul for another few days as they researched homes for sale in the area and soon Mrs. Conrad had fallen in love with a beautiful Victorian with a backyard big enough for her rowdy brood to host their own football league. Gingerbread trim decorated every corner of the pale blue and yellow exterior and a wide wraparound porch inspired fantasies of warm summer evenings spent relaxing in rocking chairs, watching the boys catch fireflies in the yard. With fall on it’s way, the Conrads were anxious to get settled before the start of school, so they made an offer and hurried home to start packing.
Karen was excited to tell Sarah all about the revolutionary new treatments the hospital was pioneering to assist cerebral palsy victims in the quest for rehabilitation, but she knew the move would probably mean the end of their friendship. Long distance calls were expensive and once Colby’s treatment began she was unlikely to have much time for anything else. She would miss the companionship they had developed and she knew Colby would miss seeing Jessica. No one could make him smile like she did. She was pretty much his favorite person in the whole world. He would make new friends in Minnesota, she assured herself, maybe even some kids with CP like himself. Kids who shared his limitations and would make him feel like he wasn't the only one who had them.
The day before the big move, Karen invited Sarah over for one last visit, and even though Sarah thought Karen had no business hosting a coffee klatch when she still had so much work left to do, Karen insisted and Sarah gratefully took the opportunity to have one last chat with her dear friend.
“I brought cookies and this time I didn’t burn them,” Sarah announced with a half-hearted smile as she traipsed into Karen’s kitchen without so much as a knock at the door. Karen’s head was barely visible over the stack of cardboard boxes that cluttered every surface and Sarah choked on the overwhelming odor of Pine-Sol and bleach.
Karen navigated around the boxes and grabbed Sarah in a hug. “Thanks for coming, hon. Sorry for the mess.”
“Is there something I can do to help you?” Sarah offered, glancing anxiously around the room.
“Nah, the only thing I need right now is some girl
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