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Model healing at Craig
By Buzzy Hassrick
This document was published online on Monday, May 12, 2008
About every inch of surface and wall space in Bobby Model's hospital room contains mementos and memorabilia, given and assembled by family and friends.
Of the multitude, one of the most touching to his mother, Anne Young, is a recent photograph from a first grade class at Livingston School. The students are holding letters that read, “We are thinking of you.”
He's at Craig Hospital in Denver recovering from a traumatic brain injury that occurred during an incident in Cape Town, South Africa, in early June 2007.
Photographs spanning childhood to adulthood cover one wall, while a large Wyoming state flag dominates another wall, a reminder of his home state. Bobby was born May 11 in Cody - Mother's Day this year - 35 years ago.
A poster with a 1940's image of Mount Kenya and a textile with a geometric African pattern decorate other walls, reminders of his work as a professional photographer headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
From the ceiling at the foot of his bed dangles a mobile of recycled flip-flops, found in Africa and transformed into colorful elephants and butterflies. On a surface below is a pair of metal hands, life-sized, posed in a praying position and fashioned out of pitons, reminders of his adventures in rock climbing. On the same metal base is a holder for a candle that, when lit, will make the hands shine.
“The support we've received is so touching,” Young said last week.
Still, not until about one month ago did Bobby start making recognizable progress, agree his two primary caregivers, Young and her daughter Faith Model. The Model siblings were traveling together when a chunk of concrete crashed through the windshield of their vehicle, striking Bobby in the head.
Though they agree about the progress, they disagree about his first word since the accident. Faith says it was “Mom,” while Anne says it was “Bobby” and then “Mom.”
“It was a breakthrough with speaking,” said Faith, who came next on his list. “He pointed to me and then said my name.
“He's obviously talking in his head. You can ask him anything.”
His responses came from his right hand - thumb up for yes and two fingers for no - during a physical therapy session Thursday afternoon. A therapist was moving his arms, legs and shoulder blades and also showing the proper process to his caregivers, since they'll become more actively involved in his recovery in preparation for his eventual discharge. That entails a schedule.
“It's just like being in school. It's not like a real hospital,” Young says. “They're actively working to get us out of here.”
While that date remains uncertain, the current plan is to stay in Denver so Bobby can participate in outpatient therapy at Craig, such as work on his speech. During a recent session, Bobby was shown words spelling two different animals - such as an elephant and giraffe - and asked to indicate the elephant.
“He pointed correctly,” Faith said. “So he's basically reading.”
Bobby can also work his iPod, she said. He helps brush his teeth, Young added, and holds things upon request, such as her cup of coffee when she's pushing him in a wheelchair.
“He's made major progress in the last two weeks,” she added. He focuses on the therapists and works with them and has even moved both legs back and forth. Young recalled that a Denver doctor had said it'd be a miracle if he could move his left side.
“A miracle's already happening,” Faith said.
“Bobby's put his heart into this,” his mother adds.
During his morning shaves, Bobby signals to the barber about what to do and what not to do, preferring at this stage to keep his sideburns shaped like mutton chops, Faith said.
“All these refined, complicated things, Bobby can do,” she said. “The staff is amazed at how well he's done and how far he's come.”
Both caregivers praise the staff, Young describing them as “incredible” and Model noting their “camaraderie.”
The mother and daughter have no set schedule regarding their time in and out of Denver and find little free time in the city.
“It's a busy day here,” Young said. Just recently, however, Faith has found some time to resume her work, sitting at her laptop by the window of Bobby's sitting area and helping draft grant applications for Shea Butter, her African project involving 800 women.
“Bobby's progress has allowed us to start re-engaging in all the exciting things there are to do in the world,” she said. “It's fun to start writing again and do research.”
Model said she's used the time with Bobby as an opportunity to examine what she wants to do, to analyze what she's done, what she wants to continue and what to discard.
“I have all this time to be honest. That's a huge blessing,” she said.
Blessing their efforts are two strings of prayer flags given by Bobby's boss at National Geographic. On a nearby shelf are crystals blessed by the Dalai Lama, along with small stones of various colors and shapes. Included in the display are two hand-forged crosses, a heavy metal one with a loop for a necklace and the other a hollow one containing a piece of paper that reads, “Rejoice.”
A metal, silver-colored, hinged object in the shape of a Chinese cookie reveals, upon opening, a fortune - “You will heal and thrive. Your life is a blessing and a gift.”
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Estie Thirion "