Labor Day Update: Taking It One Day at a Time
Inching Forward, Pushing Edges, and Finding Our New Normal
Happy Labor Day, everyone.
It feels strange to write that—not because I'm not grateful for the holiday, but because our concept of normal days and holidays has shifted so much this year. But here we are, September 1st, and we're still moving forward.
Tab keeps inching ahead. She's more and more awake, alert, and her writing is getting better each day. Those small victories feel enormous when you're watching someone fight their way back to themselves piece by piece. We have a medical team meeting on Wednesday to discuss next steps, and I'm cautiously optimistic about what that might bring.
Wednesday also brings another milestone—school starts. But this year, it's a weird feeling for me to only have one kid going back to school. Bella is having some anxiety about it, which is completely understandable. Starting a new school year when your family is in the middle of something this big isn't easy for anyone, especially a teenager trying to navigate her own world while watching her mom recover.
We just all keep taking it one day at a time, trying to handle things as they pop up, keep pushing the edges of what's possible. Some days that means celebrating small wins. Other days it means just getting through. Most days it's somewhere in between.
Speaking of things that pop up—still no state budget, but I'm not shocked. Some things never change, even when everything else does.
What hasn't changed is the incredible support from this community. The messages, the prayers, the check-ins on me and the kids—it all matters more than you know. I know a lot of you have said "call me anytime," but I also know everyone's busy and I don't want to call at a bad time. So here's a solved problem: I've set up a calendar where you can schedule time to talk with me if you want to catch up or check in. No pressure, just an option if it works for you: https://calendar.app.google/588xMqF7oaAo9EjU7
On a more practical note, I had a bit of a reality check this week. Between gas and the occasional snack during long hospital days, the daily costs of being here are starting to add up. If you've been wondering how to help and you're in a position to do so, here are a couple ways:
Venmo: @malliard
PayPal: paypal.me/Malliard
Please don't feel bad if you can't contribute—your messages, prayers, and encouragement have meant the world. We're just grateful to have you walking this road with us.
The work continues too. Advocating for children in Pennsylvania, fighting for communities that need voices—if anything, this experience has made that work feel even more important. When you've sat in hospital waiting rooms and watched families navigate systems that aren't always designed with compassion in mind, you understand even more deeply why advocacy matters.
So that's where we are this Labor Day. Tab is getting stronger. Bella is preparing for a new school year with all the mixed emotions that brings. I'm learning to ask for help when we need it and to celebrate progress however it comes.
We keep pushing the edges of what's possible because that's what you do when someone you love is fighting their way back. You show up, you adapt, you find new ways to move forward.
One day at a time. One inch at a time. One victory at a time.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Your support makes all the difference.