Nomination Letter

My son's closest friend and biggest ally is his regular BrightStar caregiver, Javier Lagunas. Javier started caregiving for my son last fall when he (Javier) was only 21, a full decade younger than him. My son was just transitioning home after almost a year in the hospital recovering and rehabilitating from a horrific big rig accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury affecting every facet of his life -- to this day, he has significant cognitive deficits as well as weakness in his vision and left side. He now requires 24-hour care. From the first day Javier came to work with my son, he jumped right in -- making him at ease and giving the rest of our family huge comfort in the knowledge that he was safe in Javier's care, and also having fun with a buddy. Within a very short time, they were on their own schedule, with Javier driving him to his rehab hospital each weekday and taking him to service dog classes as well as lunch and movies or plays on the weekend. Javier has joined us for every holiday, and comes on family outings regularly, which enables my son to participate but still be independent -- of utmost importance to any disabled adult. But the most amazing demonstration of BrightStar care was yet to come. Just after the New Year, my husband Randy was diagnosed with a recurrence of his very rare cancer, and he and I moved to Houston, Texas. We were gone for more than 3 months so Randy could resume treatment with his original oncologists. My son returned to his rehab hospital from Monday through Friday while we were gone, but every Friday Javier picked him up and brought him home for the weekend. During our absence, Javier trained my son's other caregivers, and I was (and remain) John's point person communicating with the BrightStar LVN who comes to the house to refill pill boxes bi-weekly, therapists, doctors, our service dog trainer, and family/friends to make appointments and arrange gatherings. Javier takes him to museums, the zoo, Disneyland, the gym, and theatre events, always completely in sync with his's medical and social needs. Until very recently, my son was incontinent, but Javier handled that issue and attendant complications with such grace and ease that he was never self-conscious or embarrassed. Javier decided when my son no longer needed "pull-ups" overnight and during the day. Only he could have made that decision, because only he was aware of how my son was doing in that regard on a daily basis. In addition, my son has needed his wheelchair or cane to go any distance. Javier has made sure John spends time outdoors and takes walks to a nearby park daily, always encouraging him to be independent and active but providing back-up when needed. Javier has also greatly contributed to our son's progress in conversing, as they chat and joke with one another constantly about sports, current events, and everything else under the sun. Javier has a talent in giving care that reflects incredibly well on BrightStar. His gift has changed the lives of my entire family, but his effortless grace, dedication, and constant friendship has made my son whole. We are forever grateful to Javier and BrightStar.