This will most likely be my last post concerning Marshall’s recovery–and what a journey it has been. Thanks for being a part of it, and for your faithful support to him and to us. There’s some big news, but I will get to that in time.

Anniversaries matter, and May 1 was the 9-month mark since Marshall’s brain bleed, and launched a season of life Marshall and all of us will never forget. What I’ve tried to describe in this journal these many months are the bigger moments along the way. But as you would imagine, there are so many less noticed, but yet still powerful “smaller” ones that make all the difference. Some come to mind right away such as:

• When we see a helicopter fly by–esp a life flight, and contemplate the power of that modern mode, and its life-giving consequence for Marshall, and how our niece’s husband Corey could track the flight details to make sure he arrived at OHSU from Lincoln City. 
• The goodness of the nursing staff who were front-line heroes for Marshall both in the ICU and on the Neuro floor at OHSU. Too many to name, but is best summed up in the long, tearful hug one of them gave Marshall when she saw and remembered who he was and the condition she last saw him three months earlier. She said they never know what happens to their patients when they leave the ICU. She was overwhelmed to know Marshall was going to be okay. 
• The ICU night nurse during his first few days - he saw the guitar we had left in his room–we left it there hoping/praying he’d have the capacity to ever play again–and this nurse put the guitar in Marshall’s barely conscious hands and had him play–and he did. He knew what to do! 
• Providing us yard maintenance service while we were spending all our days and evenings at the hospital. Scott and Alex–thanks. 
• The indescribable brotherly care provided by Blake who was by his side every moment he could, and many times, took the reins to make sure his brother had the best of everything to heal and recover. Watching Marshall respond to Blake during his visits was a balm, almost like church to us–a long extended arm of the Almighty working through those two was all we needed to revive and restore our own tired souls. 

There are countless more but I’ll leave it at that for now.

The latest big news of note is that Marshall was able to move out of our home and settle into an apartment at the beginning of this month. His dabbling in house-sitting for his brother during the month of March became the proving grounds for his ability to manage this move with success. He’s transitioned to a more urban, arts-focused and 30s-something neighborhood, unlike our suburban setting, but this fits perfectly his personality and interests. Moving him was a breeze with the help of his brother and cousin - and nearly two weeks in, so far, so good.

The other big news is that he found out after his recent appointment with his neuro-ophthalmologist that his upper right field of vision in his right eye has continued to improve–and dramatically over the last 7 months since our first appointment with her. Unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily mean he can see in this area yet since his brain needs to learn and recognize these improvements. But his usually matter-of-fact doctor, who originally said this may not ever happen, was ecstatic with this steady, tangible improvement, and assured him that in time the vision in this quadrant will recover. How much time is the question.

Finally, we don’t take lightly the power of what you all have done to support Marshall and all of us along the way. Words fail, as they often do to give the proper credence to what you all have meant to our family. Thank you for what you have done, said, prayed for, provided in big or small ways to help this journey. All of it has made a difference for Marshall. Truly.

Later this month the three of us will take in a Jacob Collier concert who ironically was scheduled to come to Portland on his current tour. Seems serendipitous, right? Jacob was the composer of the song, “Little Blue'' who Marshall introduced us to shortly after he came home from the hospital and whose song I posted back in the fall. I’ll post it again here. Seems full circle that we attend his concert. I’m sure we’ll hear “Little Blue”, and remember the gratefulness of all of you who have made such a difference to our family. 

“Don't be afraid of the dark
In your heart
You're gonna find a way
To carry the weight of the world
On your shoulders
You're gonna find a way home” 

Thank you again for loving on our family. 

With Gratitude,

Todd, Brenda and Marshall