4TH PATH : BRIAN FRANK STRONG

I don't count the days anymore. I just try and take it one day at a time and ignore duration of time passed because it's irrelevant and all happening in God's timing. For those of you not following along via my Instagram stories... After the covid test saga, we returned to rehab and Brian had a great week. He looked really great and everything seemed to be getting back to normal. We discussed a discharge plan for mid-September, which is still a work in progress (the short story - they feel they've exhausted all they can do medically for Brian and he just needs more time before he can return and participate in therapy once he's further along and awake). The good news is I believe we have found a local facility in Illinois that might be a good fit. There are a couple of options I'm exploring and feeling good about (but I mean...let's keep praying that God decides to wake Brian up between now and then, am I right!?) Anyway, after this past hospital visit with t...

I'm not really sure what to update on because the last month has become a fog, but I'll do my best to highlight the major stuff. 2 weeks ago today I woke up to an early phone call letting me know that Brian was being rushed to the ER with an elevated heart rate & respiratory rate, a fever, and a declining blood oxygen level and low blood pressure.  As you can imagine, my worry overwhelmed me - praying for him to stabilize and praying that our ER visit would be attentive. Luckily, as soon as I got to the ER I found him in an observation room where doctors and nurses were constantly tending to him (thank god). He was fairly stable by the time I got there and they admitted him within a couple of hours.  They diagnosed him with aspiration pneumonia & tracheitis (and at that point we believed he also had shingles). On day 2 of his admission, the 'shingles' rash disappeared completely. Both swabs tested negative for it prior to the treatment, so now no one believes he...

I'm exhausted. Last week really has my nerves wrecked. The ER experience was unacceptable, disgusting and negligent to say the VERY least. Something that was highly avoidable that almost cost Brian his life. In a nutshell, Brian experienced neurostorms throughout the course of 25hrs that became more severe and more frequent and the ER staff told me to 'calm down' and 'wait our turn' while they left him on an ER cart. They did not tend to his needs as a minimally conscious patient. They did not replenish his meds or fluids when his g-tube leaked twice. They did not rotate or turn his body unless I asked. They cancelled his order for nutrition when I left to catch a couple hours of sleep. They dropped the suction piece on the floor several times and still attempted to use it in his mouth (I did not let that happen).  When Brian was finally admitted, he was near critical (heart rate 180, temperature 104, sweating/bright red, postured, pupils blown, gasping for air). An...

 We spent 25 hours waiting in the ER for Brian to get admitted for long term EEG monitoring. While there, overnight Brian's episodes worsened. He's either sleeping or having a severe episode (muscle tightening, shaking, hot/red skin, elevated heart rate and respiratory rate, elevated blood pressure). Id say they happen about every 20-30 minutes now. I called everyone I could think of - the current hospital case workers, medical directors, charge nurses. His previous hospital doctors, his rehab hospital. I fought to get him admitted or moved all night and day while I watched him suffer. We finally got him in the room, after lots of tears and anger and lost sleep. He's currently getting the EEG probes placed as I type this. I'm exhausted and scared. And I'd like to recruit our army of people to lift Brian up in prayer over the next 24 hours. People covering him throughout every hour of night and day for a full day. I'm asking for 24 people to cover each hour so we...

A fellow ISP wife, along with a few others, suggested fasted prayer to me a few weeks back. I took it as a sign to consider, but wanted to wait until I felt it was the right time. Below, I mention that I met another wife (Molly) yesterday, just 10 doors down in the other direction from us (Becca is 10 doors to the left and our new friend, Molly, is 10 doors to the right) . The three of us had lunch together and quickly bonded - we all even had similar outfits/colors on. I already couldn't believe God put Becca and Cale in our path, and now we have met Molly and her husband Cory, and I feel God is saying now is the right time to propose this fasted prayer. For all three of these men: Brian Frank, Cale Harper, Cory Hicks. Thank you to Natalie, Laurel, and Jean for sharing your heartfelt, prayerful suggestions and for typing up thoughtful instructions for anyone that would like to participate.  (( Another dear friend of ours, Vera has felt led to kick off another 24 hour prayer for ...

Lots of updates - I'll dive right in: Last Wednesday, I delivered 250+ letters to the executive office at the rehab hospital. THANK YOU everyone that is standing behind us. I simply do not have the words to properly express my gratitude for the immediate outpour of support. I spoke with the COO. Conversations are being had! Currently, we do not have a discharge date set as we all explore options and continue to watch Brian improve. Monday I received 3 awards on Brian's behalf (with Layla & our sweet neighbor, Haley). Recognition we all know he deserves, but even beyond what I knew about Brian. He received CRIMPAT Officer of the Year for 2020. He has received that twice since joining the team in 2018. That award moving forward be titled the "Brian Frank Award" (which was a surprise announcement made Monday). At the end of the ceremony, Colonel McGreal spoke about an award that was supposed to have been presented to a trooper back in 2018 that for whatever reason, s...

Hey everyone! Today Brian held up his head for almost his entire PT session (with a few breaks in between). So impressive! They also think he's ready to be capped on Wed to trial that again and see if they can decanulate (remove his trach) soon! Otherwise, the only other major update is that they decided to push the Ambien drug trial to tomorrow morning! I am posting to request prayers that Brian will be receptive to it. The stats say 5% (conservatively) respond paradoxically to the drug. You can read more about it here if you are interested: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269231 Let's pray into this together, for tomorrow.  Now to Him who is able to do exceeding   abundantly   beyond than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. *** Please Lord, return Brian to consciousness now. Please exceed our expectations, abundantly ... beyond ...