I Guess I Should Update You, Huh?

Hey Ya'll!

First, thanks for all of your prayers and kind words while my family was going through this ordeal. Long story short, my Dad had a small heart attack, followed by a bypass surgery, followed by a stroke that affected his speech and language part of the brain. It's called severed receptive and expressive aphasia. So that means, for awhile he was basically babbling. He could not understand us nor could we understand him. The neurologist said that he "could possibly improve" but he may be that way forever. What? My Daddy? No way!

As I watched my mother nearly give up before my eyes, I knew that we just had to continue to pray. It hurt me just as much to see her lose an ounce of hope because she's always the strong one to tell me it's okay when I start to spaz out. He was restrained because he wanted to get out of the bed and walk, but could not. It was surreal to me. Since then (two weeks ago), he has improved drastically. He can still read and write a little, still say some words clearly. He's in a rehab hospital receiving intensive speech therapy. He's back to being Daddy again. During this time, I learned a few things:

God is so good. Watching Daddy progress is watching God perform a miracle right before my eyes. I cannot say THANK YOU GOD enough.

Prayer really works. Try it.

I saw, not for the first time, but magnified, unconditional love between my Mama and Daddy. I can't say I see that all the time, but my mother NEVER left his side for a minute. She prayed over him day and night. I hope I will have a relationship like that some day.

Hard times do bring people closer. I think I'm closer to my sister than I was before.

Daddy is still funny, even when he's sick.

Sometimes you just need to be alone and other times you really need someone to talk to.

You have no control over what happens to you in this life. All you can do is trust in God for strength and endurance.

I got my sensitivity and that dang crying from my Daddy's side. lol

That's about it. It's still a long road to full recovery. In some aspects, it's like teaching a child to read. It takes time and we are prepared. It makes me smile to hear his voice. When he says, "What's up, Kiddo?" that makes all the times I wished he would zip it when I was going out late or asking for directions to a place fly out the window. I rather hear that all day than nothing at all.

So all it all, again thanks!