Back to work

It felt good to get back to work today. Lots of hugs and concern and plenty to do.

The state's protection and advocacy agency held a press conference this morning to present a report about how three people died in less than six months because the state's psychiatric hospitals didn't plan for their post-discharge care.

I talked to one of the victims' mothers tonight. As she talked, I thought how lucky I was to have been able to hold my son's hand and tell him how much I love him. He died peacefully. The man whose mother I talked to tonight died by shooting himself a day after being released from the state psychiatric hospital. He was sick, but nobody cared whether he lived or died.

We talked for over an hour and my heart went out to her.

Rob and I went upstairs today to thank Randy Hammer personally for all he did while Mike was sick and dying. He gave us all the time we needed to get ready to get back to living. That meant a lot. Then he gave us cash to help us pay for our expenses in taking care of Michael. Now we're talking about doing some serious coverage of the health care crisis in this country.

I went to the gym after work and did 40 minutes on the bike and eliptical machine.

It's good to be back in a routine, even though life will never be normal again.