March 04, 2011

Friday, March 4, 2011 4:00pm

We had another great day of rehab. Garren is working hard.

Here are some of Garren's baby steps:
  • He is coughing more - not a strong cough like you or I, but enough to begin clearing his lungs and throat - certainly more than a week ago.
  • He is really trying hard to move his head. You can see him working to pull it to the side. It does move, ever so slightly.
  • When you try to open Garren's eyelid, he pulls it shut. This is new within the last two days.
The doctor today said that Garren's response are not 'typical.' I said "That's our Garren." What she meant was this: normally you see reflexive responses early on in the rehab process. But Garren seems to be making movements that are not reflexive, but more intentional.

These movements are very small and labored. I am proud of Garren. He is working so hard, you can see it in his eyes.

Saturday is a light work day, and Sunday is rest day.

Nancy and I and the girls are all four going home tonight. This will be the first time we have all been together at home in four weeks. Tomorrow Nancy is going to be joining the team at The Closet for the prom dress event. I will be at church on Sunday.

I'm looking forward to a great weekend.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great to hear about the progress. Enjoy your night together!

Steve

Anonymous said...

Oh, my goodness, what changes!!!! We are so happy for you guys and proud of Garren! He is quite amazing!!!! Enjoy your evening together. Our prayer is that you will all sleep very well and wake rested tomorrow. I am so thankful you have come to the point you feel you can leave for a while together. We will keep praying and come see you guys Sunday.
I think it's ironic that the "word verification" below is the word grace :)
Carman

tammywingate said...

yeah! Go Garren Go!!!We are now praying as the sun comes up in the morning, each time we see it filter in through a window, when we catch our lazy cat "catnapping" in it, and as it goes down each evening! We are thankful for the "sunshine" that Garren brings to all who know him and even the ones that don't know him YET!!! (we are so looking forward to the day we get to shake his hand!)
I am happy for you all being home tonght.That is great news! This is a huge baby step for Mom and Dad! We are proud of you both.
The Wingate family would also like to purchase some of those team t-shirts!Praying For Sunshine!
<>< t

Unknown said...

Praise God!

Anonymous said...

I am so proud of the four of you deciding to be at home! This is good; it shows trust in God to take care of him (Garren) without you being there to make sure that He does...so happy to read that Garren is working so hard...we need to ask God to give to him the strength he needs to continue...so dear family...enjoy your time together, refresh, and lean on our Lord...love and prayers, Sandy & Russ

Jennifer Thoms said...

WOW, I would say that makes for an amazing week of rehab....super progress!!! Great Job Garren! Continuing to pray for you all.
Have a super night together!
Love and prayers, Jeff and Jenn

Bob and Barb said...

Way to go Janes family! You are all working so hard! Praying for renewed strength! renewed joy! renewed courage! May your perseverance be sprinkled with laughter (because that is good medicine also!)

You've been in our prayers even though we haven't written or commented for awhile. Looking forward to seeing you Sunday.

Cheering the baby steps!!

Anonymous said...

So excited for all of you to be able to go home and just be around each other and familiar surroundings, a form of normalacy in the midst of the unknowns the last few weeks. Our hearts and prayers are still with you all and we pray for God's angels to keep watch over Garren in the hospital while you are away.We praise You Lord for this good news and ask You continue to reveal Yourself in this trial. Metrocrest Presbyterian people

Anonymous said...

That is great news. We are continuing to pray throughout each day for all of you.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

Have a great night together.

Lance and Jennifer Lassiter

Anonymous said...

So proud of Garren's "intentional" movements. I don't have any doubt that he feels the impact of all the prayers. So glad to hear that you, Nancy, and the girls will be together tonight...I'm sure it's not an easy step from the parental perspective, but it just shows your faith all the more.

We just got home from Worship night at the Weddington campus. Pastor Greg sang "Your Love Never Fails" and it was beautiful. The chorus, "You stay the same through the ages, Your love never changes, There may be pain in the night, but Joy comes in the morning...And when the oceans rage, I don't have to be afraid because I know You love me, Your love never fails." I remember writing on the blog a couple of weeks ago that "joy comes in the morning," so tonight, all I could think of was Garren and the Janes family the whole time he was singing it.

Rest peacefully...Garren's in great hands and so are you...Continuing to Pray, In for the long haul, The Sisk Family

Diann Harvey said...

In my bible reading this morning I was brought to Nehemiah 4:6...so we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. I immediately thought of Garren and how hard he is working in rehab. I continued to listen to the story of Nehemiah and realized this.....Garren will continue to work hard, regardless of any opposition, because, as you said, "That's our Garren." In this passage they speak about The temptation that the Jews had to become so worried; so terrified by the opposition - that they might pray and pray and wring their hands and wait, AND STOP WORKING. And it does say that the people did express fear and discouragement, but these were their emotions....NOT THEIR FAITH. They didn't stop working....

Neh. 4:9
But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

I was thinking about this, this is where we come in, your prayer warriors, guarding your family and Garren as he works to "rebuild" himself.

Neh. 4:13-14
Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

As time goes on in your marathon, I will continue to station myself around your family, equipt with my sword and spear, as Garren continues to "rebuild his wall" - because just like the Jews, Garren will "NOT STOP WORKING"...."That's our Garren".
Thinking of you today and praying for continued baby steps.....Diann Harvey

Sara G said...

Praise the Lord! Praying for more progress!