It hasn’t even been a week since our last update, and a lot has happened for Bryan. The physical and occupational therapists are going to be seeing him 5 days a week now, since he is more responsive and getting stronger. On Friday, they had Bryan sitting on the side of the bed and he was able to support a lot of his weight. Being as responsive as he has been tires Bry out so they recommend giving him breaks of quiet from time to time. He’s been saying a lot but it’s still a few words at a time, not full conversations. We have tried to recall everything he’s said these past few days to share with you:
-He says hi and bye to people as they come and leave his room. Usually it’s with prompting of, “Bryan, can you say hi or bye”.
-We have made a video of him saying, “Hi mom, hi Erin. I love you. Bye” and blowing a kiss. Today, we made another one for Tyler and Tabby of him saying, “Hi Tyler, Hi Tabby. I love you. Bye” and blowing them a kiss.
-He is responsive when you ask him if he wants something, like the fan on.
-Our LA friend Brian was visiting and talking to Bry and Bonnie said, “Bry…he’s annoying, huh?” Brian said, “Bry, if I am annoying you, blink twice.” Bryan blinked twice! We started laughing and looked at Bryan and he had a small (yet so big) smile on his face. Obviously he still knows he’s funny.
-Today his nurse Eric was joking around and we said, “Bry, isn’t Eric funny?” He responded, “Eric is very funny.”
-Today, Ann was on her cell phone in his room (she isn’t supposed to be). Bryan was trying to say something and Bonnie told Ann that technically she shouldn’t be on the phone and Bry said, “She isn’t supposed to be on that.”
-One of the chaplain’s who regularly visits Bry, Fr. Bruce, came in and we said Bryan, it’s Fr. Bruce and asked him to say hi. He said, “Hi Fr. Bruce.”
-Erin and Bonnie were talking to him and mentioned the Great Hodge, his childhood superhero name. He said, “My superhero name”
-Today, Bonnie pointed to Erin and said, “Who is that?” and Bryan said, “Erin.” Erin pointed to Bonnie and asked who she was and he said, “Bonnie.” When pointing to Ann and asking who she was, he replied, “Mom.” Dave wasn’t there so we took down a picture and showed it to Bryan and asked who it was and he said, “Dad.”
On Friday Bryan said something that perfectly fit the moment, and really describes these past few days. We got the OK to take Bryan outside for the first time in almost 6 months. He was moved to a cardiac chair and we went out to a secluded patio. Bonnie asked Bryan how it felt to be outside. Bryan, sitting in the sun, with his eyes closed said, “It’s magical.”