Three-Month Recovery Update (7/2/26)

This week marked three months since Chad’s stroke and brain surgery. It’s hard to believe how much has changed in such a short time!  Recovery has entered a new phase focused on building on the progress Chad has made while continuing to strengthen existing skills and develop new ones.

This brief video captures some of the journey: https://youtube.com/shorts/0OpPOd9BsJU?is=jHvCGDfwol4fzVuO

Last week, Chad had his three-month MRI and follow-up with his neurosurgeon, and we’re so thankful for a good report. There were no signs of an aneurysm, tumor, or any other structural cause for the bleed, which supports the belief that his stroke was most likely related to high blood pressure. 

His blood pressure has remained right where his doctors want it since surgery, and his neurologist has also ordered a home sleep study in August to check for sleep apnea, since untreated sleep apnea can contribute to elevated blood pressure. 

Most importantly, his brain is healing as expected. There were no new concerns, and he’ll have another CT scan in about three months to continue monitoring his recovery. 

Therapy Update 

Therapy continues to play a huge role in Chad’s recovery, and we’re so grateful for the team at Bradley-Whiteside. 

Physical therapy is now focused less on helping Chad walk and more on helping him walk well. He’s getting steadier with his quad cane, walking longer distances, and his therapists are seeing improvements in the quality of his gait—including better control of his left leg and a more natural walking pattern. He’s also continuing to build strength, balance, coordination, and endurance as he works toward greater independence. 

Occupational therapy continues working on Chad’s left arm and hand, which remains one of our greatest hopes and prayers. While functional use hasn’t returned yet, we’re encouraged by small but meaningful signs of progress. Chad is beginning to activate more muscles throughout his shoulder, arm, and hand during therapy, and he’s doing more weight-bearing exercises. We’ve learned that recovery in the arm and hand is often slower than the leg, so we’re celebrating every new milestone along the way. 

Because so many things that used to happen automatically now require intentional thought, Chad’s brain is working incredibly hard throughout the day. Some days he simply has to pace himself—especially after therapy or busier days—as we continue learning to balance activity with rest while his endurance improves. 

One thing we’ve been especially excited about is seeing Chad begin getting out on his own a little more. He’s met friends for meals, gone to the gym, and even spent a little time back at his office. Those may seem like small things, but they’re meaningful steps toward rebuilding both his independence and his confidence. 

Vision Update 
We’re also continuing to pursue additional evaluations for Chad’s vision. The stroke affected part of his visual field on the left side, and we’re hoping to better understand the extent of the vision changes and what options might help moving forward. 

He has an appointment with a neuro-ophthalmologist at Emory in August, who specializes in how the brain and eyes work together, and with a neuro-optometrist at Southeast Vision Rehabilitation in Chattanooga in September, who specializes in vision rehabilitation. We’re hopeful these appointments will provide helpful answers and direction. 

Family Update 

Another big transition is coming soon as I return to work in mid-July. We’ll be stepping into a new season as we adjust to new routines. We’re incredibly thankful to have caregiver support in place and are trusting God to guide us through this next phase. 

While we’re so thankful for the progress Chad has made, this journey still has hard days. Some days feel heavy—physically, emotionally, and mentally—as we navigate recovery while raising our family and adjusting to a life that looks very different than it did before. 

Yet even in those hard moments, we continue to see God’s faithfulness. He has carried us through every step of this journey, often through the love, prayers, encouragement, and practical support of so many of you. 

Prayer Requests 

Thank you for continuing to pray for our family. We are so grateful for every text, card, meal, visit, financial gift, and prayer. Your generosity, encouragement, and love have reminded us time and again that we’re not walking this road alone. 
As we continue into this next season, we would appreciate your prayers for: 

Thank you for continuing to walk alongside us.
 
With love and gratitude,
Amanda ❤️