Hello friends! Welcome to the final installment of my Caring Bridge journal, yet the beginning of a new, amazing season for me and our family.  As promised, Candace handed over the reigns of writing the final update to me. Believe me, I have big shoes to fill!

I want to start by thanking my sister, Tina, for setting up the Caring Bridge site.  It was an effective way for us to communicate with a wonderfully supportive large group of friends.

I also want to thank Candace.  She is the best wife a man could ask for, and she was a rock through all this turmoil. And if ever two young people had to mature into adulthood overnight, it was most definitely Caroline and Grant.  They have been extraordinary in every way in this journey.  My family and our faith has been my firm foundation.

I am grateful for all of you that read the updates and left comments on this page.  I read them daily in the hospital and they were a huge source of encouragement to me.   I can say without doubt, I felt the impact of your prayers in a very real way each day.  1 Thessalonians 5:11 says “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” This is what you did for me.  Thank you does not begin to express my deep gratitude.

So on to the update!

Our last post was early December and I was just starting Baylor’s day neuro outpatient program.  The last two months have continued to be nothing short of miraculous.  The team at Baylor is exceptional, and I have been in great hands.  Rehab has been 6 hours a day 5 days a week: a rotating schedule of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy in 45 minute blocks.  I was assessed extensively when I entered on November 23, and believe me they are ninjas at determining just how much they can push you to make progress.

A family friend told me a therapy joke that my fellow patients seemed to really enjoy:

Q:  Do you know the difference between a therapist and a terrorist??

A:  You can negotiate with a terrorist!

Seriously, my therapists were tough and pushed me to progress.  PT began as basic balance drills and strengthening exercises.  It ended more like a personal training session. Core strength exercises, squats, lunges and planks became my daily standard workout by the end of January. In occupational therapy, the focus was on functional skills of daily life, which meant daily torture with left-handed fine motor skills.  Think about putting tiny pegs in little holes, or picking up small items with tweezers, etc.  Speech therapy focused on my swallowing and eating safely.  All of this progressed to a series of therapies to test and heal the functions of the various areas of my brain.  

Therapy is a lot of individual work, and also an educational process.  I have learned a tremendous amount.  I graduated this past Thursday January 27^th.  I rang the congratulatory bell, had tears in my eyes, and hugged and thanked all of my therapists.  They gave me a gift of a Baylor Rehab t-shirt.  It may be my all time favorite.

My strong recovery allows me to return to work on Monday,January 31^st.  Physically and mentally I am ready, as I have missed my work intensely.  And equally, I am ready for my “stroke sabbatical” to finally come to an end.

These past three months I have been truly humbled by the outpouring of support, prayer, and encouragement for Candace and me.  During the dark days, to know so many were covering my family in prayer gave me tremendous peace.   I am grateful for my family, my friends, and my colleagues.  I can’t say thank you to you all enough.  I am blessed by each of you and I am forever changed for the better by this experience.  

May the Lord bless you all for caring for me so well.  Thank you again and I look forward to connecting with you soon!