When Life Slows You Down
Lessons from a Father's Bedside Vigil
From Jim’s Desk
There's something about watching your child sleep in a hospital bed that reshapes your understanding of time. The minutes stretch into eternities as monitors beep and nurses whisper in hallways. It's been three months of this journey now - Bella's surgery on December 6th, those long weeks in the ICU until December 31st, rehabilitation until February 6th, and then those additional days inpatient that seemed both endless and fleeting.
As I sit here in the quiet of our home, finally with all of us under one roof, I'm reminded of Hal Borland's wisdom: "Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence." Never have words rung more true.
Fellow parent, I don't know what battles you're fighting, but I wanted to share some reflections from this unexpected detour in our family's journey.
Before all this, I was the dad constantly checking his watch, mentally calculating how to fit more into each day. Board meetings for the educational nonprofit I lead, advocacy calls for better education policies across Pennsylvania, family dinners, and community events - our family life moved at the relentless pace of modern parenting. We were always racing toward the next thing.
Then came Bella's surgery in early December. Planned, but still terrifying. We thought we understood what lay ahead, but nothing prepares you for a holiday season spent in the ICU, for counting the days until a new year while watching your child fight to recover. The weeks in rehabilitation that followed showed us a different kind of strength - hers and ours.
Trees grow through seasons, weathering storms, standing firm. Grass bends but doesn't break, pushing through even when trampled. These past months, I've learned to be both.
I've learned patience during those 25 days in the ICU, when every small improvement felt like a mountain climbed. I've learned persistence through rehab sessions when Bella's determination outshone my own. I've learned that winter - both literal and metaphorical - eventually yields to spring.
The strangest gift in all this? Time slows down. When your world shrinks to a hospital room, you notice things. The way your daughter's hair curls against the pillow. The particular sound of her laugh when, despite everything, something genuinely amuses her. The fierce determination in her eyes during those challenging rehabilitation sessions.
You learn that recovery isn't linear. There are setbacks and breakthroughs, sometimes in the same hour. You learn to celebrate tiny victories - one more successful therapy session, two more bites of food eaten, five minutes of genuine happiness.
To you, parent in the trenches of your own battle, I want to say: you are stronger than you know. Like the tree, you will bend without breaking. Like grass, you will emerge after being trampled. The landscape of your life may look different now, but growth is still happening beneath the surface.
As we settle back into a new normal after these months of hospitals and rehabilitation, I know I'll gradually slip back into old patterns. My advocacy work for Pennsylvania's education system will continue. Board meetings will fill my calendar again. But I hope I'll carry something of this slowed-down time with me - this deeper appreciation for the ordinary miracle of having my child healthy, whole, and home.
"Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence." And knowing my child through months of recovery, I've learned what truly matters.
In The News
A new bill in Pennsylvania, House Bill 803, aims to equip high schools to respond to overdoses. Link
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is offering grants to help students recovering at home from serious medical conditions continue their education.
The Shapiro Administration has announced $300,000 in available funds through the Keystone Telepresence Grant Program. Intermediate Units (IUs) can apply for up to $30,000 per IU to purchase equipment and services. Link
Mrs. Ulmer, a high school teacher, gives her students a $20 bill and a mission to perform good deeds. This initiative is not just a valuable lesson but also a call to action for the students. Link
Dennis Cahill, a teacher from the Centennial School District in Warminster, PA, has retired following allegations of physical violence against two children. His retirement was approved by the school board in a 7-2 vote, despite public outcry. The board members expressed concern for student safety and the community's feelings, noting that failing to approve the retirement could have allowed Cahill to return to teaching. The allegations, which included hitting a child with autism, led to administrative leave while the investigation was conducted.
A school bus crash in Butler County on Thursday morning sent eight elementary students and the driver to the hospital after the bus struck a tree. Around 20 students were on board, and while eight students were treated and released, the driver’s condition remains unknown. Local parents and bystanders quickly responded to assist the children. This incident marks the sixth school bus crash in the Mars Area School District in seven years, prompting calls for improved safety measures.
A 16-year-old student from Penn Manor High School in Millersville, Pennsylvania, was cited for possessing a marijuana pen, highlighting ongoing efforts by school resource officers to combat the use of such devices among students. Officer Jason Turner explained that when a vaping device is confiscated, he tests it to determine if it contains THC oil, which leads to disorderly conduct citations. The school employs vape detectors and an app for reporting suspicious activity, while many corner stores fail to properly check IDs, allowing minors access to these products. Link
The Safe2Say Something anonymous reporting system in Pennsylvania schools has been credited with preventing potential acts of violence and providing a means for students to seek help for themselves or others. Since its establishment in 2019, the program has led to the recovery of at least 123 weapons, including guns and knives, based on information from tips. While the system is not without its drawbacks, such as false reports, school officials emphasize that the benefits of the reporting system outweigh unintended consequences
In Harrisburg
Senator Doug Mastriano has announced plans to introduce the "Creation of Law in Our Schools" Act, which will require public schools in Pennsylvania to prominently display the Ten Commandments, the Declaration of Independence, the Pennsylvania Constitution, and the U.S. Constitution. Link
House
Monday, March 17, 2025
9:30 AM
EDUCATION
Add to Calendar Outlook (iCal) or Google Calendar
Voting meeting on HB 354 & HB 819 and any other business that may come before the Committee.
Room 205
Ryan Office
Representative Liz Hanbidge is circulating a co-sponsorship memo for legislation that would prohibit the use of deceptive interrogation tactics when interrogating individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism. Link
Representative Stephenie Scialabba announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at amending Section 6318 of Title 18 in the Crimes Code. This amendment seeks to expand the definition of unlawful contact with a minor by including new offenses such as incest, endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors, and human trafficking.
Representative Jamie Barton is proposing legislation to amend the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program to include funding for soft skills programming in public schools. This initiative aims to address the noted deficiency in soft skills among students, which employers have identified as crucial for success in the workforce. By allowing EITC funding to support a soft skills curriculum, the legislation seeks to equip students with essential life skills, leadership abilities, and self-awareness, ultimately preparing them to thrive in their personal and professional lives.
Representative Gina Curry has announced plans to introduce legislation aiming to allocate $50 million for enhancing safety in school corridors across Pennsylvania. The funding is intended to address the increasing incidents of crime and violence affecting students' safety while traveling to and from school. Link
Representative Andre Carroll outlines proposed legislation aimed at amending the Public School Code to ensure that privately hired applied behavior analysis (ABA) providers can deliver services to students within schools. The bill seeks to eliminate barriers that prevent access to essential ABA services, which are crucial for children with conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD.