Hey guys.
I am so sorry that it has been a hot second since we updated everyone. My mom has been asking me to do this for a while now, and I understand her request as a lot has happened since we last updated you. To start, I graduated from 5 months of outpatient therapy with high fives and hugs from some great therapists in Austin. We found out I have a rare genetic blood disorder called PAI-1 Gene Locus 4G/5G which could have been a contributing factor into why I developed a blood clot. 

The kids and I have been back in Durango with Andy as one family of 4 again for about 2 months, and life has been fast and furious in a good way. We are soaking up summer and getting used to the swing of things again. We came back to a new rent house that Andy moved everything into before bringing us back from Texas. The new house is a bit smaller than our last so that I can keep up with it easier, which has been nice for me. 

Stroke wise I am feeling good!!
My brain for sure works different than it did before, I kind of feel A.D.D if that makes sense, maybe just a bit scattered. I am quieter and more reserved although I don’t hesitate to say what I’m thinking. I second guess a lot of things I say or do, I play circumstances or conversations repeatedly in my head to make sure I am seeing or understanding them correctly. I forget things more often and can find myself being less engaging. I am slower physically than I was “before” and I still have to remind myself to use the left side of my body, my brain just kind of forgets it’s there. The majority of my creative thoughts are kind of muted, but I am believing He will return 100% of this gift to me. I can dominate about three days in a row and then my brain needs a break and taps out. 

Overall, I am walking down a path of gratefulness. Just being aware of the miracles and blessings that have been bestowed to me and my family along the way. I am thankful that God placed certain people in my path- some have been real treasures. I am beyond thankful for each and every one of you and the specific roles you played in this wild journey, from meals, to gift cards, your gifts you gave to us through Go Fund me and the extraordinary amount of prayers that spoke measures to my heart. All the support carried me when I couldn’t hold my arms up for myself. 

Next steps: I will fly back to Austin at some point (soon) to see my Cardiologist and have a chip placed in my chest to make sure my heart is firing correctly, which my doc will monitor from Austin (totally big brother style) and I will also follow up with my neurologist and Hematologist every 6 months. Besides that, I will continue to Trust that God is good and His plans for my life are far better than the plans I have for myself. 

“My life has been forever changed by a brain that doesn't work as it once did.  AND yet I have been also forever changed by a God who chose us to live a life we never imagined we’d be living and to live it well”- Katherine Wolf, Hope Heals

XOXO,
Corey, Andy, Whittaker and Molly