Jay's Miracle Journey

Welcome to Joseph (Jay) Dale Briseno, Jr web page. We created this website to provide our friends and relatives about his progress.

Journal

Thursday, November 8, 2007 3:25 PM CST

Greetings! The heat is slowly going away in the Washington, D.C. area, cool air is making its slow entrance which reminds us that winter is around the corner, and my Washington Redskins still have a chance to make the playoffs this year! Regardless of this year outcome for the Redskins season, they still deserve one big hooah!

This is a short update on Jay's positive progress and thanks to God no more setbacks.

Last Friday, 11/02/07, Jay visited the Washington, D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center for routine appointments.

One by one, doctors and specialist took their time to examine our Jay, and overall results, Jay is doing very well.

To our friends who are endlessly supporting us with love and prayers, we cannot thank you enough for your thoughtfulness as we deal with this thorny period in our family’s life. Your support, love and prayers are deeply appreciated.

I have been actively member of Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, if you wish to help our Jay, many disabled veterans, and many people who have paralysis or other diseases, please join and become an active member of the foundation, here is the website http://www.christopherreeve.org/

Good Morning America (GMA) shows Reeve children work for a cure, mentioned Jay's name, to view the video, see link below.

Rap singer Eminem sing the song title ‘Lose yourself’, the lyrics reminds me of the decisions I made for the last four years, the lyrics goes like this…

Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted-One moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?

On Veterans Day, the Briseno family would like to share with you to reflect some memorable moments of over four years giving care of our Jay, five different hospitals, met numerous wounded warriors/family members like us, and countless 911 calls from home.

This is how the war impacted our lives and many other lives. When a soldier gets injured in the war, the family of that soldier also suffers.


...to think of my Jay

I would like to ask everyone in the room to close their eyes.
I would like to ask you all to imagine yourselves next to a hospital bed…
and then imagine that in that bed there is a Soldier…

Imagine that this Soldier cannot see…
Imagine that this Soldier cannot walk…
Imagine that this Soldier cannot speak…
Imagine that this Soldier cannot feed himself…
Imagine that this Soldier cannot bathe himself…
Imagine that this Soldier has one leg…
Imagine that this Soldier has no legs…
Imagine that this Soldier is missing an arm…,
and imagine that this Soldier has a brain injury.

Now…imagine that this Soldier is your Husband, or your Wife, or your Son, or your Daughter…
Imagine that your Soldier has been through numerous surgeries…
and imagine that your Soldier continues rehabilitation as days, months, and now…even years, pass through the calendar.
Imagine that you have become your Soldier’s primary caregiver…
and it is you who has become the greatest advocate of your Soldier’s recovery.

Now…imagine that the funds your bank account ran out six months ago…
Imagine that you needed to quit your job to assist your loved one with his or her daily tasks…
Imagine that you are now behind on your house payment and cannot afford the utility bills…
Imagine that you have exhausted all government programs to assist you.

This is an unnecessary burden for wounded Soldiers and their families to carry.
While these caregivers are providing treatment for their loved ones, they are often forced to accept heavy expenses over the long term.
But they accept these expenses to ensure the continued recovery and rehabilitation of their Soldier.

I ask one small favor, if I may, and that is for you to think of my Jay, and remember that nothing is impossible.
When this event is over, and it is weeks, months, years down the road, I ask that you think of my Jay.

When you hit that dead-end, when you feel like the breakthrough will never come – think of my Jay, and of our family, to remind you that nothing is impossible and everything is possible.


The poem I created for my Jay.

With Jay by Our Side

With Jay by our side, in the basement together we endured pain, joy, grief, and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit abiding with us.
We rest next to a bed with tubes and wires invading our Jay
as monitors watch his motionless sleep.
We will desperately pray for him, re-position his arms and legs, re-arrange pillows, layer blankets on top of him to keep him warm,
and share the morning's peace at the foot of his bed.
And when we kiss him good night, we will hold him a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that we will thank God for, our Jay and ask Him for nothing, except one more day..............

With Jay by our side, early each morning,
long before the roosters wake,
our Jay instinctively makes sounds, saying hi, to tell us that he is awake.
His daily voyage always leads to suctioning fluid from his lungs,
and is followed by thanking God that our Jay had a pleasant evening.
With Jay by our side, we think we know what he’s been asking for;
we think we know what he’s been trying to say. We think we know when our Jay is in pain, discomfort, or wants to be turned. Mom, Dad, and sisters go through similar pains as we wrestle back to sleep.

It's now 3:00 a.m. and we find ourselves fighting for rest.
This arrangement leaves us tired, arms sore, at times with pounding headaches, legs trembling, and sleep beyond our reach. We lie silently in the morning calm as tears fill our eyes
and we consider how truly blessed our lives are
with our Jay by our side.

With Jay by our side, we promised him we would never leave him. Beside his bed is Mom, joyful to be asleep, and Dad not very far.
And our Jay should always know, wherever he may go,
No matter where he is, we will never be far away.

If we find ourselves next to a stone that speaks of our Jay,
We will heartfully beg to reset the clock
to when our side of the bed was not our own.

To realize the value of one millisecond,
ask the Brisenos who live with Jay by our side.
We treasure every moment that we have!
And we treasure it all the more because we shared it with someone very special —
special enough to spend your time with.
And to remember in so doing that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.

That's why we call it the Present and thank God that in it we have Jay by our side!


In heartfelt Love – Dad

Read Journal History

Hospital Information:

Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Washington DC

Links:

E-mail Author: Jays_journey@hotmail.com

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Note: The foregoing information was authored by the patient, parent or guardian, or other parties who are solely responsible for the content. Such announcements or their content are not necessarily endorsed by CaringBridge, Inc. or any sponsoring agent. This information does not confirm that anyone is or was actually a patient at any facility.