Out to Halifax! Happy Easter!

It was a wish!

It became reality!

Charb wanted to go visit his cousins and aunty Leyla!
The last time he stoped there was on Tuesday, September 27/ 2005! He spent an hour with Guy, than headed to Dartmouth, and from there to Windsor. The accident happened on the way home, that night!

Since he "woke up" over a year ago, Charb asked million times to go to aunt Leyla's house! We all wished he could! But there was not lift to handle him, no ramp to push his wheelchair in, no accomodations for him....

Lately, he was getting more insistant in going there. "I wish you could walk", I would say. And Charb never failed to say " Yes, I can walk! Help me get off my chair!"

Well, as I mentioned before, we attempted to help him walk. He still weak and needs more time. But the will is present, so it is a matter of time and hard work!

Charb spent all morning asking what time are we going, " I can not wait anylonger, lets go now!"

We left around 1 o'clock... They were waiting for us! as excited as Charb was! Guy and Joe, Ellen and Gerald took care of lifting his chair up the stairs and fitting him into the narrow doors! For sure under the watchfull eyes of Norma and the incontations of Aunty Leyla!

Once inside the Hallellua and laughs cascaded! For the next few hours, Charb was so excited, so agitated and hyper, he was remembering the olden days, staying at Leyla's and playing games all night long with Joe and friends! " Joe, tell Ellen about that!" he was saying!

We all enjoyed Leyla's turkey and Norma's ham. Charb had plenty in his plate! ( Remember, he can chew! He can eat real food now!) But he refused to have a beer or aglass of wine! (We weren't serious about it!!!)

When it came time to leave, Charb, the old Charb, the one who does not listen anymore once his mind is set, "refused" to leave! " I am staying here! Mom and Dad, you can go, I am not coming with you!" For more than an hour, we all tryed to explain why he can not stay; are you kidding? "I am not leaving!" That was his answer!

He refused to put on his jacket and hat, he pushed away his blankets, he wouldn't let anyone fasten his seatbelt.... On and on and on...

After very generous promises of plenty of chocolate milk and all exotic fruits, he calmed a bit .... and sadly for all, especially Aunty Leyla, we drove back home!

... "When I walk, can I go there and stay with Joe and Guy?" That was the topic of the whole drive from Halifax to Windsor!

You sure can, sonny!

(Click on a picture to enlarge it).