Tanner & Daddy

Many of you have been asking about Tanner & how we are dealing with Erik's accident relating to him. I have received a bunch of great ideas from not only friends & family but also the Child Life Specialist at OHSU who works at dornbecker. As of now, Erik and Tanner have not seen each other. I do not want to scare Tanner and I do not want to have Tanner scared in front of Erik.

We are taking this step by step and I when I think Tanner is ready, I will bring him to see his dad. At home we have a bunch of new doctor and hospital books & a doctor kit (thanks a million to my mom and Jacque). We also have a 'big big big owie' doll that now has the same injuries as Erik. I have drawn on the top of the dolls bald head a 'railroad track' just like Eriks. I am working on fashioning a neck brace too. I will use eye shadow for bruises. We will be able to take off the neck brace and wipe away the bruises as time heals Erik. Just before Tanner sees Erik I will take a photo of him and show it to Tanner. This way when he visits Erik, the shock factor will be lessoned.

We will take the hospital visit very slow. I will bring him to the really neat 'sculpture' garden that is near the tram. I will show him the tram and walk through the hospital, maybe get some icecream (maybe get a milkshake to bring to daddy). We will peek in to Eriks room from a distance before we go in. If Tanner freaks out or feels uncomfortable at any time - even before we go in to the room - we will back off and very possibly leave. I will try the first introduction to the hospital sometime this weekend. If Erik is moved into a Inpatient Rehab Center before we get Tanner to OHSU I will figure out a similar plan for their first visit.

I know that Erik misses Tanner & cant wait to see him. He has been asking for him and we talk a lot about Tanner. Tanner also misses his daddy. I am working it, and I will bring him in when I think he is ready. It will be good for both of them - as long as Tanner is not scared. I have heard, from people with previous experience - that Tanner might not be as scared as I fear.