That Was Then And This Is Now

         Today at church our friend, Jeff Hunsaker mentioned that he would be going to London on business next week. That brought a flood of memories and emotions because Jeff came to London on business about a week after Mike's stroke.  Jeff made the time to come out of his way to the hospital in High Wycombe to see us. The flood of emotions I felt as we talked today reminded me again how much that visit meant to both Mike and I. I wasn't sure how Mike would react to seeing someone from home but his entire countenance lit up as Jeff entered the room. Jeff talked with him without pity or simplicity but with normal conversation. Mike laughed and worked to speak and you helped him find the many missing words.
     The visit was very important to me as well. While I had phone conversations and emails from people back home, it meant something different to have a visit - a real person in the room that somehow connected us to life back home. Jeff's reassurance that our family was being cared for by my parents and ward members also helped me to stay grounded. Whatever emotions or thoughts he had regarding Mike's condition, Jeff left us with hope, faith and courage. Jeff was worthy and able to administer a priesthood blessing to Mike that day. He came as a friend but also as a servant of the Lord. His friendship and service made a huge difference. 

August 2013 at hospital in High Wycombe, England

After Jeff left the hospital, he sent an email home to give everyone an update.  Here is the content from that email:  

All things considered, Mike is doing well and is in good hands with the care givers at this hospital. I am certain you are already aware of many of these items, but when the stroke occurred last Friday early morning at their hotel in London, the ambulance took them to High Wycombe which is about 40 minutes from Central London. This is  apparently the best hospital for Stroke patients so according to Lynette, Mike is getting good physician and nursing care.  I spent some time with Lynette prior to seeing Mike and she is amazing. Let me repeat. She is amazing.  No surprise to any of us.  Her spirits are good but as you can appreciate, she has had her "moments".  She did not tell Mike I was coming until just a few minutes before I arrived so as to not worry him about visitors from home, but he seemed happy to see me and I believe it was a healthy spending time together.  I think a change of pace and a new familiar and friendly face from home was productive and helpful.  Just my opinion. I hope in some small way, I was able to lift his spirits a bit. I was not sure what to expect, but when I walked into his room, I saw my buddy Mike. He looked well.  Pictures attached of Mike and Lynette and Mike reading his email. 

I spent around 2.5 hours with them discussing everything...sharing memories, discussing kids and just some normal things.  Mike's mind is sharp...he is fully coherent and understands everything we are saying.  He is also making excellent progress with his speech.  Unfortunately, he still cannot complete full sentences and his speech, albeit minimal is slurred a bit, but can say enough for he and Lynette to communicate.  It is no doubt frustrating for Mike as he knows what he wants to say, but just cannot express all the words he would like. He remains paralyzed on the right side of his body and cannot write or type out his thoughts as of yet.  Lynette is confident that he will fully recover and even during the 2.5 hours I was with them, Lynette noticed improvements with his speech using words like "absolutely" and saying new short phrases. Mike is determined to get back to 100% and I sure would not put it past him but no doubt, it will be a long road to recovery with proper medical care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, ongoing prayers, fasting, priesthood blessings and faith.  

I was fortunate enough to give Mike a Priesthood blessing this evening. The LDS couple with whom Lynette is staying, came to visit and the brother and I gave Mike a blessing.  It was a very spiritual experience and what a blessing it was for me to have had that opportunity.   Lynette said something in the course of our evening that just amazed me about her humility.  She said something to the effect that "she is grateful that the Lord loved she and Mike enough to give them additional challenges so they could refine themselves and their relationship.......she said it looks like the Lord still feels they need some "polishing" and this experience will only make them stronger." Not word for word but along those lines.   I repeat....she is an amazing woman and I was humbled when she expressed these thoughts. With that said, Lynette will need a lot of help over the next several months of recovery. 

While we want to be optimistic and hope and pray over the next two weeks before they can come home, Mike will walk on the plane and all will be well, they are both hoping and praying for the best but preparing for the worst.  But once again, Lynette has a such a "positive feeling" that Mike will fully recover...it could take a year but she really feels strongly about that. I share her feelings and remain optimistic.

The Lord loves the Rays.  We love the Rays.  The gospel is true....the power of the Priesthood is real.

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 Over the past 13 months we have been blessed with amazing support from neighbors and incredible care from physical, occupational, and speech therapists.  This is Mike now, on the treadmill and continuing to defy the odds. Here are the thoughts form my journal on September 6, 2014:
    Yesterday in PT with Shane, Mike walked on the treadmill at 2.5 mph. He had the harness on for safety but he didn’t need it. I know he was nervous but he did it and it was another moment to celebrate. More and more of his muscles are turning on. A big part of the struggle is sensation. He can feel a tickle on the bottom of his foot but cannot feel his foot hit the ground when he walks. Mike is also making good progress with his right arm. He can lift it now for a handshake and also can use it to get food to his mouth. He can hold onto things better himself using the right hand so often we don’t need to use the ace bandage anymore to tie it on to the equipment during exercise. He has been working hard to relearn basic math facts and his multiplication tables as well as reading. It is interesting because he can read large words but the small, sight words like “the, is, he, she, about” are very difficult. They don’t have anything to connect with in his brain - no image, no memory, etc. We are being creative and finding ways... He is reading more and more and improving in every area. 

September 2014 in physical therapy with Shane Rosenberg

.In this video you hear the therapist remind Mike to "stand tall." That seems to be a consistent theme in his recovery and has become a message I try to relate to our children as well. We will be more balanced and more confident in the face of trials when we "stand tall."