Pre-Easter Miracle! (And bonus video of laughing babies!)

Re-posted from an e-mail sent to friends and family today:

Friends and family,

I have not posted an update in a couple weeks, mainly because for awhile, not much was changing. Rashad was there, but barely so. His eye would open, giving us hope, but there wasn't much behind his rheumy stare.

And then, in the last week or so, Rashad started showing more and more signs of awareness. If you directed a finger at his eye, no longer would he just stare, unblinking. In fact, he began following us -- slowly and inconsistently -- but following us, nonetheless.

His grip got stronger and he'd squeeze more often on command. He would sleep most of the day and night, but grimace when the nurses cleaned his tracheostomy tube. Once, when a nurse pinched his toe, he subtly jerked his arm back, as if in pain.

And then one day, one blessed day last week, we walked into his room and his eye was clear as it ever was. He was AWAKE!
We could see him in there, plain as rain! My Mom gushed and loved all over him, and then asked him if he was OK. And Rashad NODDED HIS HEAD! She asked him if he was in pain and he NODDED HIS HEAD!

For those of you who may have missed my Facebook update earlier this week, that is the miraculous good news I wanted to share with you today: Rashad is awake. He is no longer in a coma. He is no longer unconscious! He is awake just like you or me! Our prayers have been answered.

The nurses are astounded! They have shared with us that when Rashad first came in the hospital, "no one would have bet a nickel that he was ever going to wake up again." It's clear the doctors didn't believe he would either. It's only in the last week that they ordered leg braces for him that are meant to stimulate the muscles and help prevent atrophy. Clearly, they thought he would never need those muscles again. Well, the Lord -- and Rashad -- has proven them wrong.

Thank God! (You know how people say that sort of absently? No, I really and truly mean thank GOD!)

And in the time it's taken me to get my act together long enough to send out this update, there's even more good news.

Rashad mouthed "Hi Mommy!" to my mother! (He also mouthed that to my Dad, but oh well!)
He mouthed "Hi baby" to his girlfriend, Cortney.
He can't say my name, but when I ask him if he knows who I am, he nods.
He can sometimes pucker when my Mom kisses him.
He moves his left arm so much that nurses have had to restrain it. (He's pulled out tubes!)
He can hold onto a little Nerf basketball, and even sometimes reach for it if it rolls onto his lap.
Cortney says he smiled yesterday when a friend in his room was playfully teasing him.
And when my Mom asked him if he could stick his tongue out, he did it! Slowly and wobbly, out his little pink tongue came!!
We all cheered like he had climbed Mount Everest. Which of course, he might as well have done.
Although he is still battling lung infections and scarring, the doctors have just about weaned him off the ventilator.
In fact, today, he is likely being moved to an Intermediate Care ward -- a sign that doctors no longer believe he is in "critical" condition.
That is wonderful, wonderful news! (Don't worry; we're taking all your cards and notes and stuffed animals with him to the new room!!)

Neurologically, however, we don't know what's really going on.
He is clearly agitated and frightened and confused. When we hold up a picture of his daughter, he stares and stares and stares, but he doesn't say her name. He doesn't consistently respond when we ask him questions, sighing instead, and turning his head away. And sometimes, he answers yes when he should answer no. His heart rate skyrockets when the nurses are cleaning his trache tube. He seems to have very little control of his movements.

The neurosurgeons have been largely silent about what they think about his progress. They seem not to want to give us hope that he will continue progressing. It's entirely possible, they've said, that Rashad may get better. Or he may stay this way -- childlike and barely mobile -- forever.

Once again, we refuse to believe that.

Rashad WILL get better and better. Day by day, week by week.

So even though we have happily spent the last few days rejoicing and praising God for His OBVIOUS miracle, it is now time again (just before Easter, no less) to get back on the prayer grind.

We want Rashad healthy and whole -- back home with his family, fully functioning physically and neurologically. So, if you have any prayer left in you -- please offer some up for him along those lines.

I can't thank you ALL enough for all the love you have given us during this time. I have never, ever felt so much a part of a community. Your goodness (truly) made me KNOW even during my darkest moments, that this was going to be OK. Thank you all for that assurance. I love you all -- and best believe you will be invited to the party we hold in his honor when he's back to normal again!

Praise God for all of you. God bless you! And, sincerely, thank you.

###

And now --what we've all been waiting for: Electronic proof of Cary's adorable silliness! And Dean's spastic, I'm-an-evil-villain laugh!




Now I ask you? What could be better than that note and these two laughing babies??