On July 29th I flew to Colorado where I ran an outdoor camp for blind teenagers for the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center. I had planned to spend the entire month in working/traveling in Colorado and going to Burning Man. My intention was to move back to Austin. I had an apartment there and I was also accepted to nursing school at University of Texas. My primary reason for being in Texas at all however, was to be close to my dad. I felt that I needed to live somewhat near him to support him in anyway he needed since we are all still getting over the fact that mom is not in our lives.
Anyway - I am eventually getting to the point of the story. While on vacation in August in Colorado dad mentioned that when he is done with his career (whenever that might be), he wants to head west and work as a campground host. That made me think to myself, "If he might not live in Texas down the road, why am I planning to be in Austin long term?" As soon as I asked myself, I thought I want to go back to the mountains!
After that one thing lead to another and the most absolute perfect thing fell right into my lap. My best friend, Nicole, had been considering a job as a live in care taker for a woman with cerebral palsy. Nicole had to decline the job because she could not manage the job, go to nursing school and maintain her job at the hospital. So we talked about splitting the job. I had 2 days left in Fort Collins where I could meet Hannah and go for an interview. Our stars were aligned and they squeezed me into the interview and this amazing family wanted Nicole and I to help take care of Hannah.
Flash forward to September 12th - I moved into my new home in the town of Fort Collins. I am living with my best friend Nicole, and together (along with many other beautiful souls) we are helping to take care of Hannah. It is rewarding, scary, overwhelming, loving, emotional, fun, challenging - it is so many things I cannot even begin to put into words. This is more than just a job - Nicole and I have become part of the family in a matter of days. Living and working in the same space will prove to be challenging and beneficial. The house is beautiful and in the most absolute perfect part of town. We can walk or ride our bikes to the downtown of Fort Collins!
Nicole and I have committed to this job for at least 12 months. Who knows what the road has in store for us. But I can say with confidence, without a doubt in my mind that Hannah wants me here, Hannah's mother wants me here, Nicole wants me here and more importantly I want to be here. I am in love with my life and blissful moments are around me each and every day! I miss my family dearly - I wish somehow the Yates clan could relocate to Colorado. It would make my life so much easier!
I have so so so much to learn from Hannah. She is non-verbal, so I have to learn her body language and her visual cues. She does have a box that can speak for her, but it is a fairly limited choices of words or phrases she can choose from. She uses glasses that can detect her visual patterns and she scrolls to the words or phrases she wants to select and the machine speaks for her. She is pictured sitting on the couch with her boyfriend of 8 years. It was date night and I got to cook for them!
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