4TH PATH - Brian Frank Strong

I'm doing my best keep everyone updated while juggling visitors, participating in therapies, and trying to spend some quality time with Brian in between his sessions (on top of trying to plan the unforseeable future and research on potential next facilities). But I do think it's important to keep everyone informed so here's the latest: Today the doctors have increased his dopamine medication to the maximum dosage, in addition to a few other meds to help decrease his muscle tone. Yesterday he scored 3 more points on the rancho scale!  (the Rancho Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning Scale is a renowned clinical tool used to rate how people with brain injury are recovering. The ten levels of recovery noted in the scale also help to decide when a patient is ready for rehabilitation. As patients "wake up" after a head injury, they go through different levels of recovery on the Rancho Scale. Each level describes a general pattern of recovery, with a focus on cogn

"If you're a loved one, grieving and worrying about someone who's in the hospital, it can be really difficult...But we see from Scripture that God is there throughout all those moments and that his love for us doesn't change. When you really dive into Scripture and realize he is merciful and that his steadfast love for us  never ceases, when you observe things in the hospital, you can pick up glimmers of his love breaking through. It doesn't discount the tragedy of what you see, but you can still see his grace and love at work." "...their hardest trials are really their mercies in disguise. They are mercies because they force us into the arms of Jesus where, otherwise, we might not be inclined to go. When we see trials that way, our unruly hearts learn that this world is, in no way, our home."  "I see mercy in the dusty sunlight that outlines the trees, in my mother’s crooked hands, in the blanket my friend left for me, in the harmony of the win

The videos Lauren sent to me of Brian today were uplifting. He looked good, alert, even seemed aware more than he has before.  But it’s not enough.  It’s not enough to keep the “what if’s” at bay.  It’s not enough to unbreak a shattered heart and a broken soul that’s missing it’s mate.  It doesn’t offer a promise or guarantee of the future.  Words, reassurances, even facts that are optimistic just fall short.  So tonight, please just spend some time talking to God. Ask him to fill Lauren’s heart with an abundance of peace.  Let Him know what’s in your heart and on your mind.  Pray for our girl and for Gods supernatural comfort.  XO 💙 Sam 

Brian is back and settled into therapy/rehab as of Wednesday night. Thankfully, there haven't been any complications since his shunt operation. The medical team at rehab have all commented on how much better his eyes look & that he seems to be moving around more. They will be meeting tomorrow morning to have a meeting and provide a more thorough update/game plan for me this go. Today he's been pretty alert & I've heard him making more sounds than usual. Tomorrow, they are going to start him on a new neurostimulant drug (that's basically high dose dopamine). Because of his inconclusive history with potential seizure activity, it is considered a riskier drug to try, so they are going to start once a day on a lower dosage than they usually would to see how he responds and slowly increase it if they deem it safe. This drug is also one that has been proven to help patients in Brian's state, so I'm really praying that it is effective and we start to see big im

Brian's shunt operation went well - the surgeon said he was really happy with how it went and how Brian did and he's been stable post-op, no complications! Thank you, God! He rested for the weekend, though we did see him alert quite a bit, which was encouraging. I fully anticipated he would be groggy after anesthesia and surgery, but his alertness encourages me that the shunt perhaps has already started to relieve any pressure that may have been present before. Praying that it means he will be even more receptive to the neurostimulants and therapies (he goes back to rehab tomorrow)! Another encouraging thing to see is his eye movements, pupil sizes, and centering seem to be improving too! Also, my dad was able to visit Brian for the first time this weekend now that he's vaccinated, and I know that was really special for my dad to be with Brian again.  Please pray with me that the shunt is exactly what he needed to continue making progress towards consciousness. I'm spe

Brian's doctors determined they would like to place the shunt after all. The operation will be tomorrow (Thursday 6/3). TBD on time. Please pray with us that this is exactly what he needs to make progress in rehab toward emerging to full consciousness. Pray for a safe, quick procedure, guide the doctor's / surgeon's hands. Let there be no complications. Let this be God's display of his perfect timing on this long road to recovery. Let it be long only to result in FULL restoration. Keep me patient & trusting in the waiting. I pray these things in Jesus' name, amen. I am simply all out of words today. So I thought I might share today's devotional (from 'Streams in the Desert') as it spoke to my heart & soul today: ---