I looked through photos on my phone to try and find some before and during and after pictures to share. I discovered that I took very few pictures of Rich and I in 2019-2023 during those dark times. 

Maybe I was too busy trying to keep everything together and making it ‘normal’ for the kids, protecting them from the hard times we were walking through. Maybe I unconsciously didn’t want to save images of how he was at that time. I do know that it hurts to look at the few that I do have. It hurts to remember how it was, living one hour at a time, my daily focus being keep him alive and to find out what was wrong.  

Sometimes I think, “If only I knew then what I know now.” But then our journey would not have looked the same. We wouldn’t have been supported and cared for by the amazing people who I can ever thank enough.  If we hadn’t walked those steps would our faith be this strong now? Would my dependence and trust in my Heavenly Father be as it is now? I can honestly say I would not be the person I am today if our journey had been different, easier, faster. 

So I am making myself remember to share with ya’ll how absolutely incredible it is that Rich is how he is today.  

I met Rich in college, so I never knew him before the TBI. He had several different symptoms that doctors could not explain. He was pushing through those symptoms, just trying to ignore them and live life the best he could. 

Rich has never been a desk job kind of guy. He took physical jobs that allowed him to move, create, and fix. I won’t label him as a hyper active kind of person, just that there was always movement. I first noticed him because he was the drummer on the church worship team at the church I started attending. The love of worshiping through music is one of the interests that we share. Rich had to stop playing the drums in 2014. His brain was under so much stress that he could no longer keep time and there were some physical limitations due to the brain and muscle connection being disrupted.  This disruption would continue to get worse over the years and he ended up in a wheelchair in 2022.  I watched my active, vibrant husband slowly deteriorate into to someone who was bedridden for days or could only sit and stare at the floor. 

I am now struggling to find the words to explain the joy and other emotions I experienced as I watched Rich heal from that state. July 2023 was a huge turning point in our lives after he had that first intensive treatment. Right way he was able speak to me above a whisper again. He eventually left the wheelchair behind. It makes me chuckle to recall the look on our friend Justin's face the first time he watched Rich walk up the stairs again at church. It is sometimes so overwhelming to witness all these little miracles. 

However, even with the healing that has happened the past 2 years, he has still not been able to play the drums again. His dream and my prayer is that one day very soon that will change. There are still parts of his brain that need focused healing for this to occur. Another week of intensive treatment with the Doctors and some specialized treatment procedures they want to do, could be the key. 

Please join me in prayer for this. Please pray with me that the funds will be provided for this needed treatment and that Rich will once again be able to play his drums in worship for our awesome God. 

 

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory forever and ever!”  ~Eph 3:20-21a