Some of you know that my husband, Charles Gerlach, suffered a traumatic brain injury in a bike race on October 1st when he collided with another cyclist (wearing his helmet as he always does). He was rushed to a nearby hospital with an excellent trauma center and went almost immediately into the OR.
In the 10 days since, he has made remarkable progress due to his health, determination, and the excellent care he is receiving. It will be a very long recovery but I feel confident that we will be successful and have our brilliant, kind, super- dad/husband/athlete/friend/neighbor back.
In the meantime, I am so grateful to live in an extraordinary neighborhood where people have rallied around to walk dogs, mow lawns, drive strong-willed teenagers to school, and cook for me. It touches me every time someone takes the time out of their own busy lives to make us a meal and further demonstrates the power of food as an expression of caring, love, and humanity. Thank you all so, so much.
I have also been so comforted by how many people — both old and dear friends and people I’ve never met — have let me know we’re in their thoughts and prayers. You may think it is a small thing but I can assure you, it means so much.
I will be back to cooking and posting soon, I promise! I’ve got lots of posts ready to go so even though I don’t have my #1Â fan to cook for right now, you’ll be hearing from me.
So stay tuned and always wear your helmet. Yes, even on the bike path! Don’t make me pull over and scold you because I will do it!
Kate: hope Charles is up and at ’em soon. Thinking of you all.
Thank you Nancy, I know you understand what this has been like. Hope Tom is doing well too.
Kate, so sorry to hear this. Prayers for your family are on their way.
fitzie
Thanks Fitzie, much appreciated!
Oh no! I’ll be thinking of you and your family, Kate. So sorry to hear about this! Best wishes for a quick recovery for Charles.
Thanks Elizabeth, we’re so lucky to have the great medical facilities we do here in Chicago, don’t you agree?
I’m a little biased, but yes, I agree whole-heartedly!! Is Charles being treated at NMH? Hope everything is going well. Thinking of you.
By the way, I finally got my own copy of My Father’s Daughter, thanks to your reviews, and I’m loving it. Did you try her tuna melt with Gruyere? We’ve made it several times. Super yum.
Kate,
Best wishes and prayers for a speedy and complete recovery.
Thank you Jim. Recovery has been remarkably speedy so far but I think the long and slow is ahead.
Kate, I’m so sorry to hear about the tough time you and Charles are having. It’s wonderful that you have lots of support – it makes all the difference at a time like this. You are in my thoughts.
Thank you Jane. I can’t wait to cook for him again!
A big hug from us to you. Take care of yourself & I hope your hubby has a speedy recovery.
Thanks so much!
Hi Kate, You don’t know me, but I’ve been enjoying your blog for a few months now. I was just thinking yesterday that I hadn’t seen any new posts for a while when I read this. I hope that Charles is getting better every day and I’m glad you have lots of people to lean on during this rough time. My prayers are with you all.
Thanks for your good wishes and thanks for reading Kate!
I love your practical cooking guides and your love ones are in my prayers.
Anita, that is so nice of you. Thanks!
My thoughts and prayers are with you both. Hang in there!
Victoria, I so appreciate your reaching out and offers of advice on brain injuries. I have learned a lot in the past 12 days but may have some questions.
I’m sending prayers your way, Katiepie, for the full recovery of your husband. Hang in there.
Thanks S-mom. If they had cooking therapy he’d be back to his old self tomorrow!
Kate,
I so sorry to learn of Charles’ brain injury, and hope he has a quck recovery. Your family are in my thoughts and prayers!
Love your blog including the colorful pix and easy recipes!
Lucy, thanks for reading and taking the time to comment and send good wishes!
Wow, Kate, I just read this. Best wishes to your husband for a thorough and expeditious recovery.
Thanks Catherine!
Hi Kate,
All of your friends and fans here at the Vernon Area Public Library are sending thoughts and prayers your way! We enjoyed having you here for your presentation on October 1st and were shocked to find out that was the same day as your husband’s injury. We hope for a speedy recovery for your husband and strength for you and your daughter to make it through this difficult time!
Thank you so much. I thought Charles would be so happy to come home and find all of the extra cupcakes but I will certainly make it up to him later.
I hope to come back to your beautiful library sometime soon!
Katie,
Gah! WTH? A bike helmet is supposed to protect from exactly that. What happened?
Here’s hoping for a rapid recovery.
I know Fuzzy, can you imagine if he hadn’t been wearing it? I have realized that I cannot proselytize to everyone I see not wearing a helmet as it would consume my every waking hour, but I’m sorely tempted!
Thanks for your good wishes.
I am so sorry to hear about your husband’s injury. Very scarey, and I am glad that he is on a good path to recovery with the best team helping him. It sounds as though you have a great team helping you also – you are blessed to have that support so that you can focus on what’s truly important.
Thanks for posting – I will remind my kids to wear. their. helmets. And to buckle the chin strap at the same time (they are very literal – they will wear the helmet, but apparently it’s cooler not to buckle it. So they follow directions, but only a little.)
Best wishes to your family.
Thank you Susan. My daughter tells me “Mom, no one wears helmets anymore.” Kids.
Kate, I recently heard from Carol about your trials. Thank goodness he survived. My son-in-law’s nephew was killed while riding (he was only 14) last year. My thoughts are with you. I am available to help, if you need.
Kate, I was so very, very sorry to read this post. We know that life can change in the blink of an eye, but it still doesn’t hit home until something like this happens. You and Charles are in my thoughts and I hope his recovery will continue to be more rapid than expected. In the meantime, it’s a powerful example of the value of a bike helmet. I’ll certainly be preaching that to my kids and others I know (like my husband) who have gotten slack in wearing theirs. Take care.
I’m sending over healing wishes!
Hi Kate- I really enjoyed meeting you at the Vernon Hills Library Event. I was selling the books for Lake Forest Book Store. I really enjoyed your presentation and purchased Gweneth Paltrow’s cookbook on your recommendation. I was so very sorry to hear about your husband’s accident and I will keep him in my prayers for a speedy recovery. Take care.
Hi Katie,
I am so sorry to hear of your husband’s accident. My husband bikes, also, and I always worry about something like this. Biking accidents are far too common. My best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
Katie
I am so very sorry to hear of your husband’s bike accident. You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers. So glad to know that he is on the mend.
Kate – you, Charles, and your beautiful family are in my thoughts and prayers! Happy to help anyway I can…perhaps a meal? I’ll follow one of your recipes, I promise. 🙂
Sending lots of healing warm energy to the Gerlach Family!
Jenna
Kate,
I’m just reading this news… SO sorry to hear about your dear hubby, but glad he is on the road to recovery. Look forward to more posts and seeing you on “Words” again soon! Best wishes. TVBLJ 🙂