Ken – How did you deal with the transition from hospital to home?

One of the things that they taught in the hospital was: do not change anything at home until you get home and see what you really need to change. So many people were so anxious to help us, so they said, “oh, we will redo your house and get you all set up.” But wisely, they told me in rehab not to do that, but wait until you get home and try things out. Because so many people have the experience of having their house redone, and then show up and not be able to utilize what they had just done. So, I came home with the house being the way it had normally been, and then learned what it was like to get through entrance way, and how to get up a step, and where do we need a ramp, and what would be easier for me here. And we took notes on all of that, and then sat down with an architect, and with a builder and said, “here is what we need.” And then they designed the house addition and the changes to fit what I needed. And you know, I lived in the living room for four months while they redid everything, and you learn how to adapt to those kind of things, but it was well worth it in the end.