Time for an update on Benjamin. Benjamin continues to live in Colorado and is doing very well. He lives in an assisted living home for young TBI survivors. Ben is active and healthy. He handles his activities of daily living well. He reads, loves word find puzzles, takes long walks, and uses an iPad for frequent texting and FaceTime calls. He has friends in his house and honestly makes new friends every time he steps out of the house for activities or errands. The house is in a beautiful suburban neighborhood and looks just like every other home in the area. Ben is not in an institution. Finding this level of care for him is such a place of rest. It is a miracle. The directors of his program love him and take care to see that his life is healthy and full. Jim and I visit as often as we can.

The struggles involving Ben’s memory, cognition and behavioral health remain. Although he can remember much of his former life, Benjamin’s mental age seems about 5 years old. He cannot remember if I visited last week or last month. The same questions are asked over and over again. Handling overly social behavior in public has become routine. He remains on fairly powerful medications for mood stabilization. The medications are working and Ben is happy. The joy is the the first thing people notice when they meet him. 

The dramatic story of Ben’s life seems more settled today. Of course nothing stays settled with long term care of TBI survivors. For now, it is good. Ben still tells everyone God saved him for a reason. Today we are just walking the journey.