Cunningham-Ramos AML & Stroke after TBI Journey

After Maria spent a couple of months in the US taking care of matters left undone while focusing on getting Kim down to Colombia (as well as filing taxes, sorting/donating belongings, hiring handyman and painters 😬), Maria returned to Colombia to find Kim in good spirits, looking healthier and very happy to see her back.

As Maria travels from the north to the south part of the city nearly daily, using a direct, very efficient, electric public transportation bus system, it has become very clear that visiting Kim daily is exhausting. It takes nearly 3 hours between leaving her home, walking to the station, hopping on the 45 min-1 hour bus, then taking a 15-minute walk to Kim’s center. Then the visit which extends into the evening as she spends time showing him news; doing exercises when the therapist does not visit; watching sailing or nature videos on YouTube; calling and videoconferencing family; sometimes taking him for wheelchair rides when the weather cooperates; and just keeping him company. María is finally able to focus on things that really matter when being with Kim since the nursing staff takes care of all of Kim’s needs.

When the weather is comfortable, as it has been this month due to ongoing tropical rains, it is a meditative gift to Maria to walk from the end of the bus station to Kim’s center along the path bordering a small river where one can see all kinds of wildlife and birds. It reminds Maria of what her parents often used to tell her, that this country is ‘paradise on earth’ because of the abundance of amazing wildlife and its landscapes. She wishes she could say the same about the government!

Fortunately, Maria’s childhood friend since the age of 5 years old, is still a wonderful friend, and her large apartment is a 10-minute walk from Kim’s place. She’s welcomed (and insisted) that Maria spend some nights in her apartment so that she can visit Kim all day for a few days in a row. Maria has done that a couple of times and it is working very well. They are also catching up recounting childhood stories and relating new ones missed after so many years living apart. It is like Maria’s life has done a complete circle taking her back to her roots and to the support she had growing up. She could not be more grateful for this gift of life.