ASCENSION! 

A DIFFERENT 

MOTHER’S DAY STORY

They didn’t think she would walk again - let alone climb the 13 steep steps in their house to the second floor. She did both. It took time, but she did it - with a little help from her friends.

The accident happened two Novembers ago  - after dropping her son Christopher off - a sophomore in high school - their surprise baby -   at a Friday night football game. He hadn’t made the varsity team yet. It wasn’t a drunken driver - but it was a teenager in a rush - trying to do too much -  trying to get somewhere on a Friday evening. She was in a hurry.  The teen age girl didn’t get hurt - but Terri did. Their car was totaled - and her legs were somewhat crushed.

At first they didn’t think she would walk again. She did.

It took a lot of rehab - a lot of courage - stubbornness - surgeries on both legs - a wheel chair - a walker -  time - a cane - lots of time - and lots of sacrifice by her husband Tom and their last son, Christopher.

There two other sons were both married. One was in the military and the other got a great job in San Francisco.

At times Terri felt like a hundred year old woman. She was only 55.

After getting out of the hospital and then the rehab center, Terri finally got home. A big decision had been made: upstairs or downstairs?

Tom told his son, Christopher, “13 steps are a lot steps.”

Christopher said, “I can carry her up and down - she’s not that heavy. She’s my mother.” 

Both smiled at that.

Terri was only 128 pounds.

She liked to tell folks she was never over 130 pounds in her life. She liked to run. She liked to walk. She liked to exercise. Good thing she was athletic.

Terri was not in on this decision of: “Upstairs or downstairs.”

Tom said to Christopher,  “You won’t always be home. We have a bathroom down here - and we could put a bed in the living room. And what happens if my back goes out?” 

“Dad,” said Christopher, “there is no shower or tub down here. Would you want that if this was you?”

Pause….

“You’re right,” said his dad.

Terri went along with the decision - but she felt guilty at times -  especially when her husband had to carry her up or down those 13 steps to or from the second floor. 

With Christopher it was different. In fact,  she felt great - having her son - her surprise baby - her secret favorite - her football player - carrying her up and down those 13 steps.  

With Tom at times it was the opposite. After a long day - seeing him hold his right hip at times after the climb - and then seeing him wince and give a slight sniff with his left nostril - she wanted to get better - and better fast.  Wives know their husbands body language - especially when it’s frustration. She could hear him thinking: “We should have chosen the first floor.”

Step by step - life moves forward.

They were doing this as a family.

The conversations - between Tom and Terri - on the steps - were always about the steps and the tough of it. 

“I always wanted to know what it would be like to climb Mount Everest.” That was a comment by Tom. 

“And I wanted to climb the rest of the Presidential Range in New Hampshire.” That was a comment by Terri. She used to go backpacking while in college in Boston.

“Your mom,” said Terri - “used to say, ‘Once you hit 45 - always buy a house that has only one floor - if possible. You never know what’s going to happen in the future.’ Next house will be one floor.... Right?”

The conversations on the steps between Terri and Christopher were always about  their lives.

Christopher would talk about something that happened in the classroom that day - as well as going to college next year - where he might be going - and all that.

Terri would tell Chris, “I’m dying to get walking and driving again - to get back to work again. I miss teaching. I miss the kids. Thank God we have good medical coverage. Thank God for that. Thank God for you and dad.”

Then the day came. Actually it was just two weeks ago. After lots and lots of one step at a time - as well as lots of physical therapy - the day came -  when Terri was able to climb those 13 steps on her own. Okay - along with a sturdy banister. Tom and Christopher - were behind her all the way. She did it. That day she did it. She climbed those 13 steps on her own. Both of her men in her life were there for the celebration. Both clapped and clapped, “You made it to the top!”

“Phew” all three said at the same time!

It was like the sound a mom and dad and their kid  make when they blow out his second birthday cake - all together.

“Phew!”

You should have seen the smile on her face.

After that it was a piece of cake. The walker and wheelchair and the cane were put in the garage off to the side. They will be reminders at times - of what she went through - and then they will just sit there - that stuff that stays in garages forever - till someone has a yard sale - or needs a walker or wheelchair or a cane or they move.

That Mother’s Day her two sons and their wives and kids made it home to be with mom and dad and their brother Christopher.

All went to Mass - Mothers’ Day  - together in two cars.

Nobody but Terri got it when the priest said with a smile, “It’s rare when Ascension Thursday falls on  Mother’s Day - a Sunday -  but this year - that’s the story.”

The priest continued, “And I have no clue on how to connect the two. However, as we learned in the seminary - ‘Whenever it’s Mother’s Day, no matter what the readings are - even if there is no connection - you better say something about Mother’s Day - otherwise you’re toast  - well with at least half the congregation - and probably the whole congregation - because everyone has a mother.”

He then proceeded to talk on and on about something - while Terri made her connection....

Ascension - those were her 13 steps up those stairs.

Ascension - she was thinking about this past Lent - when Tom took Terri to church with the help of her walker - on Friday evenings for the Stations of the Cross. This was the first time either of them had done that since they were kids.

Terri wanted to go every Friday evening in Lent because she told Tom  she was making the connection between her recovery and Jesus stepping those 14 Stations of the Cross - as well as those 13 steps up to the second floor at home.

She added, “If Jesus made it, even though he fell 3 times, I can make it to top of those steps - and to the rest of the Presidential range of mountains in New Hampshire next summer.”

She made that last comment with a wink in her voice….

Then she concluded, “And I hope to rest of my life.”