"Tell me 'gain" is Kevin's favorite sentence. He says it after any affectionate sentence or any comment with his nickname of O'Connor-boy. Here are a few examples:
"Kevin, you make me proud."
"Tell me 'gain."
"How are you O'Connor-boy?"
"Tell me 'gain."
I gave Kevin a book for Christmas last year that enables recording, so he can hear my voice as he turns each page. But rather than read the story, I inserted catch phrases that I knew would make him happy. On page two, I recorded, "This mama bear loves her baby and I love my O'Connor-boy." After listening to page two, he always says "Tell me 'gain." He will always ask in multiples, so a typical conversation is:
"I love you Kevin."
"Tell me 'gain."
"I love you Kevin."
"Tell me 'gain."
"I love you Kevin."
"Tell me 'gain."
"I love you Kevin."
I need to re-record the book so I pause to give Kevin time for his response and then I will repeat the phrase twice more. He usually says it three times, unless he is especially happy and then he may go for four or five rounds.
Recently I met Kevin at his doctor's appointment and the staff person from Kevin's group home told me that Family Feud is his new favorite TV program. And that every time the host says, "Survey says!" Kevin responds ,"Tell me 'gain."
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
United We Wait
I'm a travel pro. I fly on 5-10 airplanes a month. I arrive at the airport less than an hour before my flight and feel good about it. I wear loafers, just like George Clooney in "Up in the Air" so I don't have to bother with laces after the security screening.
Nothing prepared me for Monday. I know Monday departures from Newark are not ideal - all those business people (oh wait, that's me) lining up to start their weeks in some other city. With a lot on my agenda in St. Louis this week, I just had to leave on the 9AM flight. Or so I thought.
After posting delays to 9:30, 10:15, 11:00 and 12:30, United cancelled the flight due to mechanical difficulties. We shuffled our way to the customer service counter, which is a euphemism for "stand in line." Twenty minutes later I received my wait-list slip for the 1:30 flight, departing from a different terminal. Thankfully I am gold status, otherwise I would still be stand in the looping corral queue in Terminal A.
As I approached the gate for the 1:30 flight, I saw it was delayed until 2:00. Ominous. At least I received the good news that I had a seat. We boarded the plane and sat for 30 minutes until the announcement came that this flight was also having mechanical difficulties. Leaving our gate-checked bags behind, we re-entered the terminal to wait it out.
The 4:45 flight left while my bags were still held hostage on the broken plane. At 5:45, the gate agent informed us a new plane was being sent over to take us to St. Louis. At 6:30PM, we took off. I received a coupon for 10% off a future United flight, which didn't seem quite adequate for a ten hour wait in an airport.
This coming Monday I will give United a chance to redeem themselves. Same flight. Hopefully not the same result.
Nothing prepared me for Monday. I know Monday departures from Newark are not ideal - all those business people (oh wait, that's me) lining up to start their weeks in some other city. With a lot on my agenda in St. Louis this week, I just had to leave on the 9AM flight. Or so I thought.
After posting delays to 9:30, 10:15, 11:00 and 12:30, United cancelled the flight due to mechanical difficulties. We shuffled our way to the customer service counter, which is a euphemism for "stand in line." Twenty minutes later I received my wait-list slip for the 1:30 flight, departing from a different terminal. Thankfully I am gold status, otherwise I would still be stand in the looping corral queue in Terminal A.
As I approached the gate for the 1:30 flight, I saw it was delayed until 2:00. Ominous. At least I received the good news that I had a seat. We boarded the plane and sat for 30 minutes until the announcement came that this flight was also having mechanical difficulties. Leaving our gate-checked bags behind, we re-entered the terminal to wait it out.
The 4:45 flight left while my bags were still held hostage on the broken plane. At 5:45, the gate agent informed us a new plane was being sent over to take us to St. Louis. At 6:30PM, we took off. I received a coupon for 10% off a future United flight, which didn't seem quite adequate for a ten hour wait in an airport.
This coming Monday I will give United a chance to redeem themselves. Same flight. Hopefully not the same result.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Tuesday, Tuesday
Today was a tough day. Too many meetings, too many issues, too many calls. On my way home, while fielding one last call from a co-worker, I heard the beep indicating another call was coming through on my Blackberry. It was Kevin's group home calling. Then, they called again two minutes later. I knew it would be another report of Kevin misbehaving and asking me to talk to him to calm him down. After my work call was done, I called Kevin's house, my nerves about to implode.
"Oh hi. Kevin just wanted to talk to you,' said one of the staff in a cheery soprano voice.
Kevin got on the phone and with some prompting from the staff person, told me about his trip to Dunkin Donuts that he was about to take because he had a good day.
And I relaxed and took a deep breath, reflecting that sometimes its all about the coffee and donut at the end of the day.
"Oh hi. Kevin just wanted to talk to you,' said one of the staff in a cheery soprano voice.
Kevin got on the phone and with some prompting from the staff person, told me about his trip to Dunkin Donuts that he was about to take because he had a good day.
And I relaxed and took a deep breath, reflecting that sometimes its all about the coffee and donut at the end of the day.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Two Good Days
It's been a few months now that Kevin has been acting out at his group home and his workshop. The frustration of not being able to decipher what is wrong is palpable in me and in the staff. I know that I want to throw things across the room every once in a while, but I can hold back the urge. Kevin can't. He punches the air and sometimes his fists collide with other people. I worry about their safety, I worry about Kevin's peace of mind. Just what is going on inside that brain of his - the one that knows all his colors, but can't tell the difference between the numbers 2 and 3? I've asked dozens of questions in a myriad different ways to try to ascertain what is wrong. The answer is always, "nuttin."
His misbehavior started on weekends and spread to the weekdays, even manifesting itself with his favorite staff. Now, finally, things seem to be reversing a little. He's having good days during the week again. Is it the reward system of giving him a daily star for achievement of each of four criteria (not hitting, keeping his hands to himself, good manners and another that I can't remember) or the introduction of a new medication? Is it the dinner he had last week with Vinnie, his favorite staff member, who left the group home a few months ago? Or is it a combination of all of the above? I long for a graph, a chart, some analysis that tells me the exact proportion of factors to pull together to elicit good behavior. The tough fact is it's trial and error and it always will be.
Upon hearing the news that he had two good days, yesterday and today, I felt relief fill me, revealing to me again how much I worry about him. I try to remember that I am not in this alone. My older brother and his family, the group home managers, the workshop team, his case manager - all these people want a happy and healthy Kevin.
Tonight, as I was saying good night to Kevin on the phone, the staff member was egging him on from his end, reminding him to say good night. Then she said, "Tell Sissa you'll talk to her tomorrow."
And Kevin said, "Good night Sissa. Me talk about you tomorrow."
It's moments like this that make it all worth it.
His misbehavior started on weekends and spread to the weekdays, even manifesting itself with his favorite staff. Now, finally, things seem to be reversing a little. He's having good days during the week again. Is it the reward system of giving him a daily star for achievement of each of four criteria (not hitting, keeping his hands to himself, good manners and another that I can't remember) or the introduction of a new medication? Is it the dinner he had last week with Vinnie, his favorite staff member, who left the group home a few months ago? Or is it a combination of all of the above? I long for a graph, a chart, some analysis that tells me the exact proportion of factors to pull together to elicit good behavior. The tough fact is it's trial and error and it always will be.
Upon hearing the news that he had two good days, yesterday and today, I felt relief fill me, revealing to me again how much I worry about him. I try to remember that I am not in this alone. My older brother and his family, the group home managers, the workshop team, his case manager - all these people want a happy and healthy Kevin.
Tonight, as I was saying good night to Kevin on the phone, the staff member was egging him on from his end, reminding him to say good night. Then she said, "Tell Sissa you'll talk to her tomorrow."
And Kevin said, "Good night Sissa. Me talk about you tomorrow."
It's moments like this that make it all worth it.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Lives Well Lived
I have attended two funerals in the last week for parents of friends. One was a father who died suddenly. The second was a mother whose death was expected after a brief illness. Having lost both my parents, I know the pain of this loss, the memories that sweep over you like waves in the ocean, the worry about a surviving parent who is overcome with grief. I see in both these families the love that will carry them through these times. I see the upbringing by the parents they have lost reflected in my friends' actions, their gentle nature, their kindness and strength. There is no better tribute.
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