On March 11, Paige took her Math exam under Judy's supervision at the Greenwich Library, finishing her four winter exams. She left the next day to visit her grandparents in Florida and to banish her institutional pallor.
Paige missed not going to spring training with her Lacrosse team, and she moderated her Florida activities as requested by her doctors. She still managed to get her father away from work long enough for a daily dunking in the Atlantic, sometimes at night when the water was calmer but the turtles and sharks were more likely to be around.
Paige returned to Connecticut in time to get clearance from her neurosurgeon to go back to Kent, and on Monday, March 30, she returned to school. As she approached the town of Kent, Paige began to shake with excitement, and by the time that the school appeared to the west, she was nearly breathless.
Paige had somehow negotiated with her doctor to do drills with the team, even though she could not play. However, her very mature friends, their trainer, and her own good judgment convinced her to be prudent and manage the team instead.
On April 3, the swim team banquet was joyfully filled with both earnest and humorous awards, Lily's emotional video tribute, a very imminently expectant head coach, and a happy send-off to the well-loved seniors. Paige's teammates honored her by electing her a team co-captain.
Paige warned her parents not to expect her to leave Kent for a moment before graduation, but on Easter weekend, she surprised her family by coming home long enough to see visiting family from Virginia and attend Easter Sunday service in the church where she was in Sunday school and pageants as a little angel. The minister and congregation gave her a heartfelt welcome.
On April 20, Paige's neuropsychologists offered their preliminary findings from the tests conducted in March. They reported on progress in areas that were likely affected by the injuries and confirmed that healing the brain takes at least 9-12 months.
We are so happy that Paige is back at her beloved school with her great teachers, role models and friends. We hope that this report concludes an incredibly intense phase of Paige's recovery.
This miraculous journey could not have gone so well without all of your love and support. We are very grateful for the comments from so many of you and for all of you who followed Paige's progress every day. Thank you.
