What does Jack think about quarantine?

I usually feel confident that Jack understands everything, but sometimes is hard to know for sure. This is one of those times.

I’ve been getting Jack up around 9:00 every morning and when I walk into his room, he pops right up and smiles. He doesn’t have the bags under his eyes that are becoming my new signature look. When I check the camera app to see how many times he woke up in the night, there’s no significant change since the old days (before COVID-19). Dan and I have been experimenting with night-time teas and melatonin and pm medications and one more glass of wine to help with sleep (maybe it’s just me who is trying the “one more glass of wine” method — it doesn’t really work, but I’m gonna keep trying). Jack doesn’t seem to need any help transitioning from the day to a restful nights sleep. 

Jack definitely knows that his family is all home, but that it’s not a normal weekend or vacation. After his morning shower, he marches into the office – where he knows his Dad will be. And after breakfast, he starts walking towards the stairs, wanting to go wake his sister.

He no longer watches out the dinning-room window looking for his school bus to pull into the driveway. Instead he knows it’s time to sit at the kitchen island or out on the patio in front of the computer. When he sees his classmates or friends on Zoom, he smiles and stays on his stool so that he can hear what’s going on.

My parents and Maria (Jack’s wonderful caregiver) are the only other people who have entered the house is 36 days. Jack is always happy to see them, but seems to understand the there are no more hugs or licks and signs I love you from several feet away. 

He definitely knows that life has changed for now, but doesn’t seem too worried. Jack has always lived in the moment. Long before ALD, he was never a kid who stressed too much about what’s coming — or what might be coming. He trusts us and trusts things will be okay.

That trust/faith was strengthened 14 years ago when we promised him that we would keep him safe. With the help of wonderful doctors, nurses, tons of prayer/positive energy and luck, we were able to keep him safe then and we are trying our hardest to keep him safe now. It’s worrying about his safety, and the safety of our entire circle of friends and family, that has me up at night and yelling at the television during the day.

I’m so worried that no matter how careful we are, bad news might find it’s way into our lives. This is a terrible virus and there is still so much unknown and no clear path to reaching the end of it’s horror.

I’m trying to hold it together, but Jack has witnessed me melting down several times over the last five weeks. Just last night he found me in bed, yelling at the television screen and he walked over and climbed onto the bed next to me. I haven’t seen him do something like that so seamlessly in a very long time (any task with more than one step can be a challenge for our boy). It was just what I needed. Jack might be silent, but he is able to share his heart, strength and faith clearly.

So, what does Jack think about quarantine? This is all I know for sure — he’s missing school, but loving having his family around all the time. He’s missing his buddies, but enjoying long walks and the spring weather. And, he’s living in today and trusting that things will be okay.

Stay strong, wash your hands and try to live in today.

Love, Jess