7.31.13...The other day we were just sitting together. Both of us were very quiet, deep in thought. I looked at you and you smiled a small smile that cut deep into my heart. I said to you, "sometimes it doesn't seem fair, does it, bear?" Your reply was, "It's fair, mama. It's just life. God is with me and I'm getting better." Teaches me to have a case of the poor me's!! MB

7.31.13...The other day we were just sitting together. Both of us were very quiet, deep in thought. I looked at you and you smiled a small smile that cut deep into my heart. I said to you, "sometimes it doesn't seem fair, does it, bear?" Your reply was, "It's fair, mama. It's just life. God is with me and I'm getting better." Teaches me to have a case of the poor me's!! MB

7/30/13...Aloha Cole! It's been 21 months and two days since that rainy morning in October. You have come such a LONG way...you've been working so hard...you have NOT given up...you continue to inspire! Your balance is getting so much better, if we could just get that spasticity in that left leg under control, you would be walking in no time! But the leg IS slowly coming around and I am certain you WILL be walking, running, SURFING! More and more you are using the walker to get around in the house, (assisted) instead of the wheelchair. You have some great therapists here on Maui and they are coming up with some very challenging therapy and I must say you are rising to the to the challenge daily. We were at Puamana recently and we got a lot of water time in and it was much easier for you to control your movements in the water than before! You have now started to get in and out of bed by yourself...all of a sudden you just show up at my bedside! I guess I was taking to long to get up! You are also transferring yourself into your chair in the front room! Getting sick of waiting for me to get off the computer! You cruise to the fridge to see what there is to eat! Wheel over to the door to let the cat in! It's great to see you having SOME kind of independence! The other day you asked me if your brain had bruises on it. I explained that the bruises are gone but that the injury, the "sheering", will never go away. That 20 years from now if they did another MRI it would look the same as the ones they did after the accident, that your brain is "re-wiring". And re-wiring it is!! Next thing I knew you were googleing "sheering of the brain". Bless your ever loving heart! All this being said, there is still a long road ahead, but as you tell me almost daily, "I'm not giving up Mom!" You make me so proud, Bear! Stay strong and paddle on! I love you...to the moon and back... Mama Bear

Dearest Cole, i see you are making alot of progress, accomplishing alot and moving forward! PROUD OF YOU! keep up the hard work, cole! one step at a time. cole, with each step you take you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident, more and more successful. start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. recovery is a journey not a destination and remember with God anything is possible. praying for you, thinking of you. sending positive vibes and love your way...BIG HUG! btw, i touched your feet while you were in the hospital, haha, just thought i let you know(: (sorry if that sounded alittle weird/awkward, [blame it on chavez], haha.) hope to see you soon, cole! aloha, Ciemone.

7.29.12...Cole, 9 months and 1 day since the accident...Weight 132, (your all time low was 116), Feeding tube out, check (as of Friday), Botox to your right arm to help with the spasticity, check, sense of humor, as well as your sarcasm, in tip top form, mowing down your food, taking all your meds orally, able to tolerate decreasing some of your meds, making and answering phone calls, dialing some numbers by memory, commenting on facebook posts, playing games on your I pad, explaining to Hilary about your new cousin, including her name, (Tory Colette) fixing my I phone, finding a water bottle that neither Hil or I could find, taking steps with a walker (and some assistance) enjoying lunch out with Markie, Hilary and I, chiming in on conversations when I didn't even know you were listing to, some days your pain is better...Shall I go on? You've come such a long way and you are working so hard. You continue to inspire and amaze! Keep paddling...one day this will be over...you life will be yours again! I love you, Bear! ♥ mama ♥

7.8.12...doors being blown down, Bear cub! Walking while holding the parallel bars...15 steps before resting...steps controlled...balance and posture pretty much maintained! Then, 10 or so steps with a walker (and other assistance from PT) but awesome! Yes...once again, you reduced me to tears of happiness and my heart was swollen with pride! Then today...you stood up out of your wheelchair BY YOURSELF!!!! You have had lots of visitor this weekend...Ty, Spencer and his girlfriend Sara, Allan, Poon and Taylor Gee. You really enjoyed spending time with your homies! You also got a visit from sheba gagnon, too! She jumped right up on you!! Oh yeah...haven't used the feeding tube for over a month for food and haven't used it for meds for days now. You are knocking back your meds old school! PADDLE ON Cole! Once again...I love you! ♥ Mama Bear ♥

6.30.12...well son...you are a couple of days over the 9 month mark and "paddling" something fierce! You have been eating like there's no tomorrow and since I'm determined to get that feeding tube out of your body, I started giving you your meds orally as well! Today was the first day, but you had no major issues with it. I crush them up and put them in applesauce. Next step...swallowing pills! I have no doubt you'll get there soon! Your body is still struggling to keep up with your mind, but of this too I'm sure, soon they will be as one just as they once were! Your pain is still a MAJOR problem, but Dr. Patterson has some other med else up his sleeve that we will start next week! Come on depakote!! Jill has given me some articare gel (organic pain reliever) to rub on you pain filled arm and leg...seems to help...a little. Anyway, we are paddling forward with help from Hilary and Julia...bless their hearts! Noho ikaika...stay strong, paddle hard, dig deep! Your strength never ceases to amaze me! Aloha nui loa, pea...I love you very much, bear! ♥ Mama bear ♥

6.30.12...well son...you are a couple of days over the 9 month mark and "paddling" something fierce! You have been eating like there's no tomorrow and since I'm determined to get that feeding tube out of your body, I started giving you your meds orally as well! Today was the first day, but you had no major issues with it. I crush them up and put them in applesauce. Next step...swallowing pills! I have no doubt you'll get there soon! Your body is still struggling to keep up with your mind, but of this too I'm sure, soon they will be as one just as they once were! Your pain is still a MAJOR problem, but Dr. Patterson has some other med else up his sleeve that we will start next week! Come on depakote!! Jill has given me some articare gel (organic pain reliever) to rub on you pain filled arm and leg...seems to help...a little. Anyway, we are paddling forward with help from Hilary and Julia...bless their hearts! Noho ikaika...stay strong, paddle hard, dig deep! Your strength never ceases to amaze me! Aloha nui loa, pea...I love you very much, bear! ♥ Mama bear ♥