Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. As we have walked through this past week God has truly been our refuge and strength during a time of trouble. We do praise God as Ryan continues to show slow but steady signs of improvements. The doctors did perform two surgical procedures today; the tracheotomy, and the placement of a feeding tube. Ryan did well through both procedures which we are very thankful for. As you continue to pray for Ryan, remember the doctors, that God would give them wisdom as they minister to his physical needs, remember his family, and Ryan’s continued healing.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Today was a day of rest for Ryan so there is not a lot to report. Tomorrow he will undergo an MRI so continue to remember him in prayer.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Waiting is not an easy thing but Isaiah 40:31 reminds us, but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. While Ryan continues to show signs of improvement they are small signs. He has become more active as movement in his hands, arms, and face is evident yet he still remains in a coma. The doctors say it is going to take time for Ryan to fully wake up. This is where we must wait upon the Lord as He continues to strengthen Ryan. Ryan did undergo an MRI today and if the results show no signs of strains in his neck his cervical collar (neck brace) will be removed. Again his family asks for your continued prayer.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

As a parent going through a trial such as this is difficult, however, God gives peace to those who put their trust in Him. John 14:27 reminds us of God’s peace by saying…Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Because of God's promises we can rest in His peace and rejoice in His blessings. This has been a week of blessings for Ryan. The MRI showed no signs of ligament damage to Ryan’s neck therefore, the doctors were able to remove the cervical collar. They have also been able to remove the chest tubes which drained fluids from Ryan’s chest. Now the doctors are going to begin to wean Ryan off the ventilator. As he begins to breathe more and more for himself the doctors will reduce the ventilator settings until they are able to remove it completely. Pray that God will continue to strengthen Ryan during this process. Some of the medications that were being administered to Ryan have also been reduced or eliminated. Ryan does continue to fight an infection in his lungs (pneumonia), a fever, and he is still in a coma.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Psalms 37:7 says…rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him. Today was a day of rest for Ryan and a day of waiting for his parents, family, and friends. While we wait we must also rest in the Lord and put our trust in Him. Continue to pray for Ryan as he fights his way out of this coma.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

There is a little quote that speaks volumes about God that goes like this - God is good…all the time. Psalms 31:19 tells us…Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee. If you know Ryan, you know that he puts his trust in the Lord and God’s goodness has been evident to him. On Tuesday the doctors began to wean him off the ventilator. This can be a difficult time but Ryan has responded well to the weaning process. The doctors are so pleased with how Ryan is breathing that they have continued to reduce the ventilator allowing him to do most of the breathing on his own. The ventilator is now only assisting him with his breathing. While Ryan still remains in a coma he is becoming more agitated. This seems to be a stage that Ryan will go though in his fight to come out of his coma. Continue to pray for him and his family as this period of agitation can be a difficult time.

The Past Two Weeks…

Today, September 29, 2006, marks two weeks since Ryan’s accident. Psalms 23:4 tells us…Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and they staff they comfort me. These past two weeks have been a valley for Ryan and his family but it has been a valley that God has carried them through. His rod and His staff have been their comfort. He has given them a peace that passes all understanding.

Following the car accident, Ryan was taken to a local hospital where it was quickly learned that Ryan was in critical condition and his life lay in the balance. He was quickly stabilized and air lifted to a hospital specializing in head/ brain injuries. When Ryan arrived at the hospital he was taken into surgery to repair the multiple internal injuries he suffered and to insert an ICP monitor in his skull to measure the pressure on his brain. As Ryan came out of surgery the doctors felt his condition was hopeful but grave; the next 72 hours would be a critical time for him. During this 72 hour period Ryan remained stable for the most part. The pressure on his brain remained within safe levels and everyone’s hope was growing. However, on Saturday morning the family received a call that Ryan’s pupils were fixed and dilated. This was not a good sign and indicated that Ryan was in a very deep coma, all we could do was wait.

As things progressed though Saturday and into Monday there was not much change in Ryan’s condition, he had remained stable with no further set-backs. Then came Monday evening and doctor’s informed the family that Ryan’s lungs were sick and they expected them to grow sicker over the next 24 hours; he was also fighting a high fever. People were called on to pray, God intervened, and rather than getting worse Ryan’s condition improved into the next day. It was later learned that the doctor’s feared the sickness in Ryan’s lungs was actually the beginning of multiple organ failure, but thankfully that did not occur.

With the news of Ryan’s improvement on Tuesday the family was able to breathe a sigh of relief thanking God that He had brought Ryan through the night. By Wednesday his pupils began to respond to light and his fever seemed to be under control. On Thursday, the family continued to receive good news as the doctors felt it was now safe to remove the ICP monitor measuring the pressure on his brain. This indicated that the doctors were no longer concerned with his brain swelling; another milestone had been reached.

On Friday, one week following Ryan’s accident, the doctors began to express hope that he would pull through this. While their hope is in their medical skills and knowledge; our hope was always in the Lord. We knew that when their medical knowledge ceased, our Lord’s continued. We praise God for the skill He has given to the doctors but ultimately Ryan is in God’s hands. Now his reflex actions began to increase, his fighting spirit was evident, and the prayers of many faithful Christian’s were beginning to be realized. On Saturday, Ryan was strong enough to undergo two surgeries; a tracheotomy, and the placement of a feeding tube. The trach would allow the ventilator to be removed from his mouth and reduce the risk of infection. Ryan came though these surgeries with no set backs and then spent the next day, Sunday, resting.

As Monday came and Ryan moved into the second week of his recovery he became more active as movement in his hands, arms, and face became more evident. While he still remains in a coma these are positive signs. On Tuesday, the results of an MRI show no fractures or ligament damage in Ryan’s neck and the doctors were able to remove the cervical collar supporting his neck. The chest tubes, which drained fluid from Ryan’s lungs and chest cavity, were also removed and the doctors began to wean him off the ventilator. Through Tuesday and into Thursday Ryan responded positively to the weaning process of allowing him to breathe more on his own and allowing the ventilator to simply assist him. By Thursday most, if not all, of the fluids that had accumulated in Ryan’s face, arms, hands, and body had dissipated and he looks very good. Through all of this we praise our Savior who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think… (Ephesians 3:20).

Friday, September 29, 2006

There was not much change in Ryan’s condition today. The good news is that his lungs seem to be clear and healthy but he continues to fight a fever.

Saturday/ Sunday, October 1, 2006

Ryan remains in a coma and continues to fight a fever. The doctors believe that the infection causing his fever is still in his lungs so they are now treating that infection. There are positive signs that Ryan is fighting his way out of the coma but waiting for him to wake up is difficult. Romans 8:18 tells us…that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. While Ryan and his family are facing present suffering it does not compare to the glory that awaits those who put their trust in the Lord.

Monday – Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Ryan continues to fight an infection which has caused him to have a high fever. The doctors are now treating the infection or infections with three antibiotics. The doctors did place Ryan in a chair today for about 5 hours to get him out of the bed for a while. As you continue to keep Ryan in prayer please pray specifically that the doctors can get the infection and fever under control and that he will continue to progress out of his coma. We are reminded in Philippians 4:6-7 to be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. While this is a difficult time for the family it is through prayer and supplication that the peace of God can reign in our heart and mind.

Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Sunday-Monday, October 15-16, 2006

Ryan continues to show positive signs of progress. While he is still in a “light coma” he is becoming much more responsive. Each day the doctors begin rehab at 8:30 in the morning and continue throughout the day until 4:00 pm. During that time they are working with Ryan to retain his muscle tone and on his mental recognition skills. The mornings are when he is most alert and able to respond to commands but as the day wears on he becomes very exhausted and less responsive. Over the last two days he has been able to recognize individuals, colors, and even listen as his girlfriend spoke to him on the phone. He even took the phone and held it himself as she spoke. These have been two encouraging days for Ryan’s family and his friends.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

The doctors met with the family today and gave them some very encouraging news. First, they do not consider Ryan to be in a coma but this does not mean that he is alert and communicating either. He is more alert and responsive in the mornings but after a day of rehab he grows very tired and less responsive. The doctors have referred to this as a stage of minimal consciousness. Secondly, the doctors are encouraged with Ryan’s progress and feel that it will continue, although, it will be a long road of recovery.

Friday-Saturday, October 20-21, 2006

Yesterday the therapists worked with Ryan on his colors and his numbers. They placed a pile of sand bags in front of him and asked him to pick out the green ones. He was able to accomplish this task with no problems. Then they gave him numbers that he was to place in the corresponding puzzle. Again Ryan was able to accomplish this task with no problems. They also worked on hand and eye coordination kicking a ball to him and he was to kick it back.

To communicate with Ryan he responds by giving a thumbs up sign for yes or a fist for no. When asked if he knew his name he responded yes. When they gave him a wrong name and he did not respond when they said his name correctly he gave a thumbs up. They also did this with his birthday and when they gave the right date he again gave a thumbs up sign. These are good signs indicating that Ryan is remembering people and important dates.

Today was a good day for Ryan as he was very aware of people and things around him; he was even able to spend some time outside. He still gets extremely tired and by the afternoon is less responsive and mostly sleeping.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Ryan takes his first steps! Ryan finally got approval from the doctor to put weight on his right ankle and he took his first steps right away. This ankle was injured in the accident and until today the therapists did not have permission for Ryan to put any weight on it. Once permission was granted he took his first steps since the accident; that was 5 weeks and 4 days ago. Psalms 37:23 reminds us that the steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

The doctors are also considering completely removing Ryan’s trach. Once this is done it will help him with his voice. Right now he is talking but usually he only says one or two words at a time. He is still using a thumbs up sign for yes and a fist for no to answer most questions. The therapists continue to work with Ryan on his motor skills, balance, and verbal communication and at this point they are very pleased with his progress.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Another step on the road to recovery! Today the doctors completely removed Ryan’s trach. This is another positive step of recovery that Ryan has taken. It is also a good step because Ryan has pulled it out twice, so now this is one less worry for the family. As Ryan continues to improve the therapists continue to challenge him. Since he was able to walk a few steps they challenged him to step up onto a platform which he was able to accomplish. His brother Darren also challenged him to a game of cards and beat him. Come on Darren where is the compassion. (Just kidding!) Psalms 28:7 says…The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. We want to praise the Lord for all He has done in Ryan’s life. Tomorrow will mark six weeks since his accident and God’s hand has been evident in Ryan’s progress and healing.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

With the removal of Ryan’s trach his ability to talk has improved each day. While he does not carry on a conversation with you he is able to clearly answer questions. He still gets very tired and when many people are visiting at the same time it seems overwhelming for him. Here are some pictures of Ryan taken this week.

 Saturday, November 04, 2006

Ryan has continued to show improvement over this past week. His ability to communicate has significantly improved and he has begun to ask questions, participate in conversations, and calls people by name when they enter the room. The therapists are working each day with him on his hand and eye coordination and also assist him with walking and navigating steps. While I was visiting him he said that in three weeks he wants to be completely out of his wheel chair. Since his accident he has been fed through a feeding tube but this coming week the therapists plan to introduce solid foods to him. I know Ryan is looking forward to eating once again. Yesterday when asked what he wanted to eat he said, I want chicken! It’s good to see his sense of humor is still there. While Ryan is progressing very well he still has a battle ahead of him. You might say he has won the war now he has to keep battling back to regain his full motor and verbal skills.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

You never know how a card or word of encouragement might be received. One card, received by the family, included the following verse from Isaiah 41:13…For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Ryan’s right side seems to be more affected by the accident than his left but this card and verse was such an encouragement. As the cards and mail keep coming it has affectionally been called Ryan’s fan mail, which he enjoys getting.

As noted last week the therapists began Ryan on solid foods. He has responded so well that they have completely removed his feeding tube and now he is once again enjoying regular foods. When it comes to green vegetables he still refuses to eat them; he never liked them and it looks like he never will! Ryan is continuing to work on his walking but still needs assistance. One area to keep in prayer is his vision. There does seem to be some problems in this area so he will be seeing a specialist on November 20.

Correction: There was a misunderstanding with the removal of the feeding tube. It has not been removed but is only acting to supplement Ryan’s diet. It allows the dietitians to monitor Ryan’s diet and make sure he is getting the necessaries calories and nutrition. It will remain for another six to eight weeks.

Saturday, November 18, 2006

It is hard to believe that nine weeks have passed since Ryan’s accident. On September 15th he was admitted to the Shock-Trauma Unit with life threatening injuries where he spent three and a half weeks fighting for his life. The first few days were especially difficult, but as the days passed, Ryan’s condition grew more and more hopeful. Finally, on October 11 Ryan had improved enough to be moved to a rehab hospital where he would continue his recovery.

When he first arrived at the rehab hospital the doctors classified him as being in a minimally conscious state. At this point he was not focusing on people or able to communicate but within the first 10 days he was showing further signs of improvement. While not yet talking he was beginning to focus on people and communicate by giving a thumbs up sign. By the third week of rehab (just 7 weeks after his accident) the doctors had removed his trach and Ryan was beginning to talk. As the first week of November came, Ryan was talking, able to participate in conversations and clearly recognized people as they came into his room, even calling them by their name.

Ryan is continuing to show signs of improvement and is growing stronger each week. He is able to sit up without assistance, he is eating solid foods, and doing very well with his physical therapy. He is able to stand on his own and is walking short distances but needs assistance to maintain his balance. There is much good news to share and much to be thankful for in Ryan’s recovery. One area of concern is his vision. He seems to be having some difficulty focusing and sometimes he is seeing double. He is scheduled to see a vision specialist within the next week. He is also scheduled to have his right ankle x-rayed to see if it has healed from the fracture he sustained in the accident. If it has healed the doctors will be able to remove the boot which hinders him while walking.

Thursday is Thanksgiving Day and this will be the first time Ryan will leave the hospital and be able to spend a few hours at home. The doctors have given him a day pass but he will have to return to the hospital that evening to continue his rehab. It is very possible that he will be well enough to go home my Christmas. Stay tuned!

We do want to thank the Lord and praise Him for all that He has done in Ryan’s recovery. One of the responders to the scene of Ryan’s accident recently e-mailed the family and said that when they arrived on the scene that the outcome for Ryan looked grim. Even after seeing the report from the trauma center and reading of Ryan’s injuries they did not think he would survive. He went on to speak of the power of prayer and being thankful to have had the opportunity to share in Ryan’s miracle. He said, “I believe that Ryan will return to be the vibrant, God fearing young man that he was prior to the accident.” What a testimony! He further said, “God, the ultimate physician, healed him.” For that we offer praise to our God. Psalms 146: 2 says…While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Verse 5 continues…Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. Throughout this trial our hope has been in the Lord and we praise Him for what He has done. We trust that you also put your hope in the Lord!

Monday, December 5, 2006...Ryan Heads Home Soon!

Ryan is to doing well; he continues growing stronger, and will be able to go home soon. He is currently set to be discharged from the rehab hospital on December 19. Over Thanksgiving he was able to get a day pass and spend Thanksgiving at home enjoying time with family and friends. Since our last update he was able to remove the boot supporting his right ankle which was injured in the accident. He also saw an eye specialist who fitted him with glasses to help with his blurred vision. He will see the eye specialists once again on December 11. The doctors believe that as his brain injury continues to heal so will his vision, therefore, he should only have to wear the glasses temporarily.

Ryan continues his therapy which is very intensive. Each day is divided up into three areas; occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy.  Occupational and physical therapy is helping Ryan relearn to balance himself and to walk. Speech therapy is, of course, working with Ryan on his communication skills. This week he had aquatic therapy where they had him walking in a pool. Ryan was able to walk down the steps into the pool and again up the steps to exit the pool. While in the pool he was able to walk by himself.

Ryan’s right side seems to be more affected from his injury than his left side. However, as his therapy continues, the strength in his right arm and right leg has also increased. He is using his right arm and hand more frequently and he can raise it almost as high as his left arm.

The therapists are also working with Ryan in his short term memory. While his long term memory is fine the events that took place over the last 6 month to a year are not as easy for him to recall. Even events from day to day are easily forgotten. His short term memory has improved and most likely will return to normal with time.

 
We thank the Lord for Ryan’s progress and appreciate the cards, letters, and words of support from all of his friends. We are especially thankful for all that took the time to pray for Ryan over these last several months. Now we are looking forward to him coming home soon. Stay tuned…

  
Sunday, December 10, 2006

Ryan is continuing his therapy and is progressing nicely. The pictures below were taken of him while his therapy was actually taking place. You will notice part of his therapy included horseback riding which helps him with balance. Other pictures were taken while his friends were visiting him.

Monday, December 18, 2006

Tonight Ryan will spend his last night at the rehab hospital! That's right - he heads home tomorrow!!! Nearly three months after his accident he will leave the hospital. He will continue outpatient therapy over the next several months but he finally gets to go home.