Michelle’s sister, Jackie, is flying into SLC tomorrow morning and will be spending the weekend with Michelle doing puzzles and participate in her rehab sessions.

Great news. We received word today Michelle is being discharged from Univ of Utah on Tuesday,  Nov 20. Ahead of schedule by about a month. Her progress has been remarkable and she is now ready for the REAL work to begin at outpatient rehab in Idaho Falls on Nov 26. She has a long journey still ahead of her as her healing process continues. 

Michelle spent four weeks at Intermountain Medical neuro ICU and then was transferred to Univ of Utah for neuro rehab. 

The Univ of Utah rehab team specializes in stroke / brain injury recovery and I’m a believer. What they accomplished with Michelle in such a short time is remarkable. Such a talented, bright, caring team. While she has improved greatly in many areas, Michelle’s cognition, memory, and decision making, will be a focus for weeks and months ahead. 

They want her back in the gym right away working on basic functional movements and balance. And I’ll get Michelle back into her routine ASAP and help her ease back into life. I’m seeing this as a great chance to simplify what’s in our house and declutter as much as possible to help Michell be successful with her daily routine. No driving for a while. 

My parents, Rich and Sonja, will be staying with us a good chunk of Jan / Feb as Michelle can’t initially be left unsupervised until her cognition improves. They will also help with getting Michelle to her aggressive 3x week outpatient visits. In return, they receive a much milder winter than Fergus Falls, MN and we’ll go to Jackson Hole for coffee and cinnamon rolls on the weekends. :) 

Our three children also plan on coming home to assist as needed in the months ahead. 

This is will probably be the last caringbridge and future updates will be given through our normal social media. My Instagram is @darrinjohnson1 if interested in seeing more updates as Michelle continues to heal. Feel free to follow or unfollow me as you wish. 

Thanks to all. We are overwhelmed with gratitude at your messages and prayers. I simply can’t get my head around the fact she’s actually coming home considering her condition just two weeks ago. While we celebrate Michelle coming home, our hearts are with those who recently lost loved ones or
their loved ones continue to fight in the hospital this holiday season. 

We are thankful for the numerous families and health care professionals we have met during Michelle’s recovery from her aneurism. All I can say is thank you. I’m amazed at the amount of good in the world. 

Happy Thanksgiving. 

Soli Deo Gloria. 

Darrin

PS: A friend of mine recommended I read the book "Hope in the Dark" by Craig Groeschel. Great book if you've every felt God doesn't seem fair.  I recommend highly.  From the book: "Author and scholar C.S. Lewis explains it this way: "I'm not sure God wants us to be happy.  I think he wants us to love, and to be loved. But we are like children, thinking our toys will make us happy and the whole world is our nursery. Something must drive us out of that nursery and into the lives of others, and that something is suffering."