Before the Accident
RJ played this musical instrument in high school.
Drums
RJ suffered this serious injury in the car accident.
traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Stephanie and Emma turned this room into a hospital room for RJ.
his bedroom
Stephanie’s insurance company failed to provide this important benefits document
Summary Plan Description
After the accident, RJ found comfort in attending this weekly religious service.
Mass
RJ was cast as this famous character in his school production of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Atticus Finch
RJ was driving to visit this person when the accident happened.
his best friend
RJ received nutrition through this medical tube in his stomach.
a PEG tube
This federal law was violated when Stephanie’s employer and insurance company acted illegally
ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act)
The word RJ said most often after losing much of his speech ability was this.
Mom
RJ attended this type of school where he got in trouble for his long hair.
Catholic school
Stephanie first recognized RJ in the hospital by noticing this.
his haircut
Emma jokingly said she would help care for RJ as long as it did not involve this “zone.”
the “Speedo zone”
Stephanie lost her job shortly after taking leave under this federal act.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Stephanie compares life without RJ to this astronomical event.
total eclipse of the sun
After RJ got his haircut, Stephanie realized this about her son
that he was becoming a man
The hospital Stephanie was taken to had this specialized medical unit.
a trauma center
RJ slowly regained the ability to communicate “yes” and “no” using these hand gestures.
thumbs-up and thumbs-down
Stephanie could not afford this amount of money that an ERISA lawyer requested as a retainer
$30,000
At the end of the story, Stephanie wonders if her purpose was simply to do this with RJ.
walk with him
Stephanie describes feeling this emotion immediately after RJ was born following three days of labor.
exhaustion
Although RJ had many injuries, Stephanie initially worried most about this broken body part because she did not yet understand TBIs.
his pelvis
One sign of RJ’s personality returning was that he did this to Emma, but refused to do it to his mother.
flipping her off
The experience inspired Stephanie’s friends to create this type of organization to help families battling insurance companies.
nonprofit organization
A major theme of “Walking with RJ” is the enduring power of this type of relationship.
mother’s love