paying it forward, he speaks.

If I am successful, the video that will be linked to this post; although a poor cell phone quality video, was taken at a time when my son could not speak. The video was taken November 19, 2007 when for the first time after the accident, Michael was off the ventilator. A therapist had just left the room after completing one assessment to determine if Mike would be transferring to a nursing home or to Mt Vernon Hospital’s Brain Injury Rehab Unit. The test was necessary because after a month of endotracheal intubation and ventilator support, there was a 50% chance that after extubation, he would have swallowing difficulties. He really didn’t meet much of the criteria to get in to Mt Vernon, but if he had swallowing difficulties, he would not have been accepted.

By chance, I happened to be there when they performed the assessment and in amazement I watched as Mike purposefully followed 1 out of 3 commands (not quite what they were looking for but it worked) and was able to swallow ice chips, applesauce and orange juice with ease. I remember watching it all play out and feeling so giddy with excitement! When the director said “let’s send him to Mt Vernon”, I wanted to throw open the windows to tell the world that God hears us and through our prayers, thoughts and believing in miracles, Michael was receiving!”. I didn’t throw open any windows, but if you’ve been following this journey, you know I blogged about it.

You will see and hear on this video that although there was a lot of background noise, Michael made no sounds. He could not speak. The broken pathways in his brain were not yet able to help him remember speech but we believed that those connections would find their way and one day, through continued prayer for healing, we would hear his voice again.

Michael’s brain was injured on October 21, 2007 after he made the decision to get behind the wheel and drive after drinking but tomorrow; three years, six months, six days or 1285 days or 30,816 hours or 1,848,960 minutes after the decision that changed the course of his life forever, Michael’s voice will be heard.

On April 27, 2011 at George Washington University, as a member of Brain Injury Services Speaker’s Bureau; for the first time in public, Michael will use his voice to spread awareness. How will he tell this story in a ten minute capsule?

There is a season and a reason for all things.

Stay tuned…

Livestrong, Michael!
xxoo