Two Days of Celebration

Tyler is 21!  We are so grateful he is here to celebrate his 21^st birthday with those that love him so much.  The trauma surgeon was talking to John and reemphasized how unique Tyler’s case is.  He said before Tyler, he had never spent that much time operating on a patient in one setting.  He also said what a miracle it is that Tyler broke the combination of bones he did.  For instance, If he had broken his femurs he wouldn’t have made it past one week.  He talked in length to John about what a miracle Tyler is.  At the benefit concert John also recalled when they first arrived at the hospital on that fateful night.  A social worker met them in the parking lot and was trying to prepare them for the worst.  She kept trying to get John and Karen time with Tyler.   Finally, she was able to get them 6-8 seconds with him.  I tremble at the thought about what that would be like as a parent knowing that you had seconds with your precious son who is fighting for his life, not knowing if you will talk to him again.  It is things like this that make me reminds me once again that our God is a God of miracles.  Tyler is here and is doing so well!

Using 4-wheeler ramps to get into the house on his birthday.

Tyler had an eventful birthday!  The rehabilitation facility transported him to a movie theater where he and John watched Interstellar.  Immediately after that, Kelly picked Tyler up and brought him home where we all threw him a party.  Becki had the house decked out in birthday decorations.  Karen made the family blintzes (a family tradition for birthdays) and a delicious chocolate mint cake.   We sang “Happy Birthday” 21 times, all in different ways, throughout the evening.  We played a card game and sang Christmas songs around the piano while Tyler lay on the couch and Karen combed through his hair.   It was honestly a wonderful night.   It was so wonderful to have Tyler at home, even if it was only for a few hours.

I wasn’t with Tyler for Christmas, but I know it was a great day filled with family and lots of food!

Christmas Eve.  The family went to the rehabilitation center to open Christmas pajamas.

Christmas Day playing games at Standfields.