Highlights from the recovery

I wanted to share some highlights of Brian’s recovery, so that those of you far away will know what types of mini-miracles are taking place each day.

For starters, mini-miracles are taking place each day. Isn’t that just awesome to know all on its own??? Every single day he is pushing himself a bit farther (with the help of Sarah and a couple of awesome PT’s) and able to do more than he could the day before. Brian is completely un-tubed and unconnected. No help breathing, no help eating, no pressure monitors – nothing. He is free to move about the hospital with assistance and he does this whenever he’s feeling the need to get out of his room (which is often, and will probably be happening much more often as he gets antsier to go home).

He is speaking completely now. At times (like when he is tired) it’s a bit slow, but the rest of the time when he is awake, he doesn’t miss a beat. And through it all, he is SO HIMSELF. Each time we saw him, the time was spent laughing, crying, talking, more laughing, and more talking. He has the most hilarious (as expected) relationships with all of the nurses and hospital staff. He gives them a hard time and they dish it right back, and everyone seems to fully enjoy having him in their care. Sarah and Brian are using humor to manage and deflect all the difficulties that come with healing and it is so awesome, encouraging and funny to watch. He is cracking jokes, muttering smart-mouthed comments under his breath, and using sarcasm to its fullest (even though the doctors said that people with injuries like his don’t understand sarcasm)! He truly is defying the odds, and all with great spirits, despite how hard it must be.

He is doing physical therapy twice a day, sometimes for hours. In one week, he’s gone from barely standing with assistance, to walking himself about a quarter mile through the hospital halls (which we got to see, which was amazing!) He is such a powerhouse. He is taking the standard of healing, putting it on a whole new schedule, and doing it five times as fast. It truly is amazing.

Pray for patience and continued (quick) healing for Brian. He is ready to be home (and says that frequently!), but they’ve still got at least another week of work to do before that is possible.

~Rach Clear

p.s. There are two other NEW posts below this one.