May 23, 2025

“There’s No Place Like Home” – Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz

When Mike woke up on Day 3 in Albany Med, I was by his side. I asked him how he was doing. He told me “I keep waiting to wake up in my bed and know that this is all just a bad dream.”

I said, “I know, honey. Me, too.”

When you think about it, our journey in life can be likened to the story of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

The tornado lifting the house off of its foundation and transporting it to an unfamiliar place represents the stroke wreaking havoc on Mike’s brain and completely upending life as he knew it.

The yellow brick road represents the path we follow in life. We make choices every day which direction we will take. But sometimes along the way, detours beyond our control appear that force us in a direction we would not have otherwise chosen, the road ahead unpaved and littered with debris, making it challenging to pass through and delaying arrival to our intended destination.

As we navigate this unknown terrain, we meet our own Cowardly Lion who shows us that when confronted with our biggest fears, we have the courage within ourselves to overcome these challenges and anxieties. And perhaps, most important of all, our Scarecrow and Tin Man who show us we are not alone in this journey.

At the end of all of this, I envision Mike waking up in his own bed and seeing his sons, his family and friends along with me around him, and he says, “I had this crazy dream where I was in another land living an alternate reality of my life and you were all there, caring for me, loving me and praying for me. And I was able to find my way back.”

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Mike’s first day home was very bittersweet. There’s nothing better than sleeping in your own bed, being in your comfortable space surrounded by loved ones.

His first meal at home was pizza which he ate sitting in his favorite spot on the couch, his feet up on the coffee table. Suzie-Q and Johnny, our cats, reacquainting themselves with him, affectionately curious about him, cuddling and then running off after a few minutes of petting, knowing daddy is back and okay.

But…REALITY BITES. And bites hard.

The severity of his condition is hitting Mike like a tornado’s destructive winds. He’s been knocked completely off his foundation. The time has come to rebuild, but the tools he has to work with are compromised. Defeat lies around every corner.

Simple tasks like dressing and undressing are now monumental challenges. Activities of daily living are exhausting and overwhelming. And he needs help with everything.

He confesses to having thought that somehow being home would automatically “fix” him. That he’d be able to just get up and walk around the house. And even be able to get back to work. He confided in me that maybe he should go back to Sunnyview.

But he is no quitter and acknowledges he is blessed to still be here and to have his mind intact. He also knows he is lucky to be able to convalesce at home with his son, Mike Jr, as his main caregiver. Not many people have family members willing and able to take on such a role. Being a full-time caregiver is no joke.

Mike has two other sons, close friends and, of course, me to help however we can in whatever way is needed. Everyone is stepping up to the plate.

It all comes down to time and patience. There’s no way around it. No shortcut. No magic words. You have to go through it to get through it.

So for now, he’s enjoying the little things. Good, home-cooked meals from family and friends. Non-alcoholic beer (surprisingly a good substitute for the real thing). Cuddling on the couch watching movies together. Sleeping in his own bed. No one poking him in the middle of the night to take blood or give him injections.
And… the realistic hope of a better tomorrow.

Planning our wedding is a fun topic and keeps him in a positive mindset with something to look forward to. It’s going to be epic! We are embracing this celebration next year of life and love… with a little bit of our combined crazy built in ❤️

In-home PT and OT should start next week. That will be 2x/week. Home health aides will also visit and they came yesterday to evaluate how much they are needed.

Every day, the little steps forward bring Mike closer to being back on his chosen path.

At the end of The Wizard of Oz, we see that hope and resilience can prevail.  And while Mike still sees scenes of cats and children running around, at least it’s not flying monkeys. 😜❤️