SpillWay

CAT Scan, Unplanned

Caleb was not scheduled for a CAT scan. Like many other unpredictable events along the way, it happened anyway. Following a good night’s rest, a breakfast of champions, and a neuro-psych evaluation without throwing his milk, this day was off to a pretty good start.

Upon our arrival for lunch, Caleb was being wheeled back after completing not only physical therapy but also speech therapy with Abby, who, by the way, still reintroduced herself to Caleb daily. His new fashion for the morning included garments of outerwear for protection. He had a protective mask covering his face and protective mittens on both hands. These were not for defensive gear. He was also sporting a red mark on his forehead, much like the faded birthmark he’d had as an infant. This was unnecessary confirmation for us that Caleb must honestly believe he was stuck in a dream and not real life.

For the second time, Caleb had taken on his nurse, who is solid and fit and well over six feet tall. The first time he had gone after Nick was in response to Nick calling him Jason in his heavy Jamaican accent. Caleb had verbally attacked Nick, struggling to reach him with flailing arms as he sat strapped to his wheelchair. Today Caleb took a different approach for a different reason, but his target was the same.

Nick and Mo had awakened Caleb from a brief nap to complete his therapies, and while they were transferring Caleb to his wheelchair, he seized the opportunity to express his disapproval and head-butted Nick. According to the doctors, Nick had taken the worst of the blow, but another scan was ordered to make sure Caleb hadn’t caused a secondary injury to himself.

In the waiting where we were so often finding ourselves, the clinical manager for the sixth floor sat with Caleb and listened intently as he asked her our same questions. In her calming voice, Deanna repeatedly assured Caleb that he was not living in a dream, and that his experience was real. Though Caleb wasn’t convinced she was correct, he showed no aggression and only finally asked if he could pray with her before she left his room. Gathering herself to leave, Deanna slowly stood with tears streaming down her face and said, “Caleb, you are so special. God has a bigger plan for you, and part of it was meant for me today.”

We had been told that we would have to be the lighthouse to lead Caleb through this posttraumatic amnesia he was living in. After Caleb touched Deanna, we began to wonder who the lighthouse really was. After all, the scripture from Isaiah 42:6–7 (MSG) says, “I am God. I have called you to live right and well. I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe. I have set you among my people to bind them to me, and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations, to make a start at bringing people into the open, into light.”

No doubt, the evidence was pointing to Caleb.