Hello faithful family, friends, and followers and welcome to Friday. We’ve had a good week and while not without its challenges, had more positives than perceived setbacks. I’ve mentioned Victor Frankl before; he held that three key areas for meaning making in life were: purposeful work or creativity, pursuing love/relationship, and finding courage in the face of adversity and I feel this week we checked the box on all three of these.
Joy has continued to work very hard on her physical, occupational, and speech therapy homework. In addition to her physical workouts, she is very diligent in her voice and reading exercises as well. We continue our language practice of alphabet, vowel sounds, letter combinations, word categories, and pronunciations. Along with vocal exercises twice a day, it keeps us busy. Joy has shown a new resolve this week in her recovery work as she has, “found courage in the face of adversity.” Even with progress hard fought for, a millimeter at a time, Joy has shown real determination in pressing forward. I know I say it frequently, but I am so proud of her.
Joy continues to pursue creativity in knitting and crocheting projects showing amazing skill despite her self deprecating comments on her many and wonderful creations. She also has published a new post this morning as she pursues her desire to express her personal experience, faith, and her appreciation for all those who have supported us on her healing journey.
In addition, this coming Monday, Joy plans to return to the Knitting Grandma’s group which makes hats for newborns at Maple Grove Hospital. This will be Joy’s first time back to the group since the accident. The members knitted/crocheted a beautiful afghan for her while she was hospitalized and many have been faithful followers of our journey with prayers and support. I pray the time will be a blessing for all.
Joy and I have enjoyed wonderful times together as well as with family and friends this week. We explored some new hiking trails and new dining options in addition to our multiple daily walks. I had the opportunity to have an extended time with Revan last Saturday and then time with Liam on Wednesday. We also enjoyed lunch with Alyx, Ethan, and Nova at our favorite dog friendly restaurant which is always a treat for us and obviously for Nova (I’ve shared before they have their own doggy menu and Nova prefers the ground beef with quinoa bowl 😊).
One of the most “Joyful” times of the week was on Monday when Joy finally had the stitches removed from her Moh’s procedure. They could have come out a week earlier, but the provider was on vacation and so she had to wait an extra week. That meant an extra week of greasy hair/head from the Aquaphor and hat wearing to cover the incision site. Joy was excited to get home and shower after the removal and we are pleased to report that we are successfully covering the spot well with some creative brushing and hairspray application. Again, Joy is very pleased.
While we continue to ask for your prayers for healing of Joy’s right upper quadrant blindness and language center, healing of her aphasia and apraxia, we have a new request for you this week. I (Gary) have been struggling with back pain for months and had just attributed it to sleeping in a chair beside Joy's hospital bed for much of 8 weeks. However, a recent MRI showed that I actually have a compression fracture of my T6 vertebrae which has not been healing correctly. So I am scheduled for a Kyphoplasty procedure next Wednesday the 25th. It is a same day procedure and Alyx is taking the day off to be my driver and medic. Please pray the procedure will be successful with no complications and a quick recovery.
We thank you and again ask you to stay faithful in your thoughts and prayers for Joy and our family. As Joy expresses in her own post, I pray that her awareness, appreciation, and prayers for your overwhelming support will help encourage you to continue with us in this marathon we are all running. ❤️🩹🙏