{Karlton Bontrager}

It was exactly a year ago today that we got the news of Karlton’s accident. What an awful day that was. And how long we had to wait to get any concrete information about his condition. At first there was only a glimmer of hope; then a ray. That was followed by a series of accomplishments—opening his eyes, registering recognition, sitting up, swallowing food, sitting on the side of the bed, standing with assistance, expressing himself in writing. On and on the list goes. What a terrible yet wonderful year this has been.

When Karlton arrived in Providence, I wondered if it was wise to leave the computer in the study on the second floor. To check his email he would have to climb up the stairs and then down again. Watching him on the stairs made me very nervous. But he assured me that to date he had never fallen, and he wasn’t about to begin falling now.

Climbing the stairs was hard for him, but email had an attraction that he could not resist. With time he became more sure of his step, and I learned not to hold my breath each time he went up or down. One day he had something to show me. He could go up the stairs by alternating his feet. Not too long afterwards, he was able to go down the stairs the same way. Thanks to hours and hours of therapy and concentrated practice, his gait has become steadier with less swaying from side to side both walking and climbing.

In retrospect, it was a good thing to leave the computer on the second floor. It gave Karlton a therapeutic challenge to overcome within his everyday activities. The latest news is that Karlton now has enough muscle control in his left leg and ankle to make optional the wearing of the L-shaped AFO brace.