Category Archives: family

Top 5 Lessons F.I.R.E.S. Has Taught Me — Lesson #4

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Jeff 1 Comment

This is the second of a series of posts with the goal to not only provide a brief update on Drew and our family, but also to share some of the things that I have learned along the way during … Continue reading →

family, FIRES, Top 5 Lists

Top 5 Lessons F.I.R.E.S. Has Taught Me — Lesson #2

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Jeff 2 Comments

Obviously, it has been a while since the last update. I have thought a million times about adding an entry, and I started multiple drafts that sit unfinished. However, this week marks the one-year anniversary of Drew discharging home from … Continue reading →

family, FIRES, Top 5 Lists

Drew Strong(er) #5 (May 2018) — High School Graduation

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Jeff 3 Comments

Saturday, May 19th, 2018 — 10:00 AM My phone beeped as a text box appeared on the screen. “Dad, we’re done now if you want to come and pick me up,” Drew texted me at the conclusion of his mandatory … Continue reading →

family, FIRES

Drew Strong(er) #4 (April) — The Return of the Seizures

Posted on June 11, 2018 by Jeff 3 Comments

Thursday, March 22, 2018 — 8:15 AM ”Excuse me, but which seat is 26A?” I asked the young lady sitting next to the window even though I already knew the answer. As this was Drew’s first time on an airplane, … Continue reading →

family, FIRES

Drew Strong(er) #3 — Highs and Lows

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Jeff 4 Comments

In a previous post, I discussed the theme of the 2000 movie, Cast Away, in which Tom Hanks plays Chuck Noland, a FedEx executive, who survives a plane crash and becomes stranded on a deserted island. After four years on … Continue reading →

family, FIRES

Drew Stong(er) #2 — Finding Courage Again

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Jeff 7 Comments

Jan. 14th, 2018 I am frequently asked how Drew is doing, and this past week, with Drew surpassing the 3-month anniversary of his discharge from the hospital, it seemed only appropriate to provide an update on his progress. Needless to … Continue reading →

family, FIRES

Drew Strong(er) — Enter Stage Left

Posted on November 7, 2017 by Jeff 7 Comments

November 7th, 2017 — (25 days since leaving the hospital). On the FIRES Group Facebook page yesterday, an obituary was posted of a 16-year-old boy in Minnesota who didn’t make it out of the ICU. He fought his seizures for … Continue reading →

family, FIRES

It All Started With A Fever, Part 25

Posted on October 15, 2017 by Jeff 12 Comments

The Chronic Phase: Home Again The Social Worker at Primary Children’s Hospital told us that writing in a journal can be therapeutic. Even more, perhaps sharing our journey these past few weeks may help other families with children who suffer … Continue reading →

family, FIRES

It All Started With A Fever, Part 24

Posted on October 7, 2017 by Jeff 2 Comments

The Chronic Phase: The Rehab Homestretch The Social Worker at Primary Children’s Hospital told us that writing in a journal can be therapeutic. Even more, perhaps sharing our journey these past few weeks may help other families with children who … Continue reading →

family, FIRES

It All Started With A Fever, Part 23

Posted on September 30, 2017 by Jeff 6 Comments

The Chronic Phase: Field Trip The Social Worker at Primary Children’s Hospital told us that writing in a journal can be therapeutic. Even more, perhaps sharing our journey these past few weeks may help other families with children who suffer from … Continue reading →

family, FIRES