"I have a dog, too," Kevin clearly replied when asked what he likes about working with Ted, Anne Barnes' therapy dog, while working with him in early November 2003.

At that time, Kevin had been a St. Camillus Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program patient for just over two weeks.

Kevin's mom, Rosemary Crowley, felt that it was easy for Kevin to work with the St. Camillus therapy dogs because of her son's bond with his own dog, Skeeter.

This all happened during Kevin's second session with Angie. During their first session, Kevin used only hand gestures.

Initially, St. Camillus therapists focused on getting Kevin to better use his right hand, which was most affected by his accident. Also on Kevin's list of things to accomplish through rehab was getting his memory back.

Though he really wanted to get well so he could play sports and ride his bike again.

Rosemary and Kevin would regularly go bike riding at Onondaga Lake Park just about every day that summer before Kevin's accident. After the accident, Rosemary couldn't bring herself to go back to the park without him.

Then came a fair-weathered Saturday in early November. The day's events would have a profound impact on them both.

Rosemary took Kevin on an outing to the same park where they had spent so much time together just a few months earlier. They visited the park's new skateboarding park.

"It felt good," Rosemary said, shortly after their trip. "There was a big grin on Kevin's face. I can now go back there [without him]."

After their visit to the park, the mother and son team attended mass together at their church.

"We've been very devout Catholics [since that day], going to mass more," said Rosemary, after the two had attended mass together. "The first thing Kevin said he wants to do when he gets out of St. Camillus is go to mass. It's strengthened us more."

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