Rob got back from Kodiak two days before I had to leave on a business trip. We had so much to talk about in that short time, and we both hated that I had to go. I can't believe how much his walking improved in six weeks. He looked so much stronger, and was putting a lot more weight on his right leg. His gait was faster when he walked. I could tell he has picked up what might be considered "survival" habits in his walking. I can't imagine what it must be like to have to tell yourself stuff like, keep your hip forward, bend your knee, keep your foot straight, don't drag your toe..... all to take one step. His walking has surpassed the point that I can help him anymore.... Now he needs his PT to fine tune things, and help with the limp. While he was gone he wasn't able to exercise his arm/hand. He was amazed when he went to work out on his exercise equipment of how much he lost. A true test to use it or lose it.

I had the day after he got home off - and we had a lazy day. We walked over to look at his airplane, and he climbed in. I just stood there, to be of help in case he needed it, but it actually went quite well. He is so strong with his left side.... he really compensates for what he has lost on the right. When he was sitting in his plane he showed me how he needed to be able to "dance" on his rudder pedals with both feet - and how he could modify the throttle so he could use it with his right hand. He showed me how he needed to be able to work the "stick" quickly when he his landing. I took a picture of him, sitting in his plane, looking happy. I think he still wants to sell it, because he knows it will be a while before he will be able to fly.

I was thinking about what it ment to Rob to put that pack on his back this Spring. In his profession, a guide earns respect from his client in many ways. Often hunters may believe they don't need a guide, and only do because the state law requires they hire a guide, for the animal they wish to pursue, and they don't believe they really need the guide. After the game is taken, and the pack is loaded, a guide often gets a tremendous amount of respect when the client tries to even "move" the pack. This usually happens after the guide has made the long pack back to the beach in and out of the boat - and the hunter will just try to be helpful to move the pack out of the way..... and find they can't even budge it. Putting this pack on his back must have been a important step for Rob - perhaps in believing that he can guide again. Putting this pack on his back was a lot bigger than the fact that there are people that never had a stroke that couldn't do it -- it must have been so much more than that for him.