January 24

Tom celebrated his 66 birthday today.  He received emails, cards, and even a visit from some of his Nantom employees of the past 20 years or so.  Thank you all for your kind words -- they were appreciated!  What a blessing for him to see all those whom he has impacted over the past 2 decades (and more). 

Please pray for his eye surgery tomorrow at 11.  It is a pretty routine surgery that will restore vision to his left eye.  (and give him perfect vision at that!)

Please pray for no complications and for a quick recovery.

Thanks so much for the prayers!  Rejoicing in the miracle of Tom's life today!

Brenna

January 17

Yesterday was the 6 month anniversary of Tom's aneurysm.  It is hard to believe it was only 6 months.  And still amazing how far he has come since last July.

Tom's cataract surgery was re-scheduled for Wednesday January 25th.  Please pray for no complications to hold up the surgery this time, for wisdom for the doctors, and for a smooth recovery with no complications.

Please also pray that he will be able to start his next 2 months of therapy soon after the surgery.  Please pray that he will understand his need for it and not be resistant.

Tom's 66th birthday is Tuesday January 24th.  Please pray for a good day for him :)

Thanks for praying,

Brenna

January 11

Tom's surgery was rescheduled for January 25th.

Please continue to pray for hope and peace as they wait 2 weeks.

Thanks for your prayers,

Brenna

January 10

Tom finished his therapy at the Homewood facility.  The therapists recommended for him to continue 8 more weeks of therapy at a facility that is close to home.  Please pray for the transition to this new place.  He does not understand why he is changing therapists at this point, and is frustrated.  He has made progress, but the time at this place has ended.

He will be having cataract surgery on his left eye on Wednesday morning.  It is a pretty common procedure, which will result in his vision being perfect in his left eye.  He has not seen clearly out of that eye since the aneurysm, so we are excited for his vision to restored, and be even better than before!

Please pray for a smooth surgery and smooth recovery.  Because of the brain injury, surgeries can set him back a bit.  Please pray for the recovery to be quick, and for the improvement in vision to give him hope for getting back to normal soon.  Pray for Nancy as she cares for him.

Thanks again for praying with us,

Brenna

December 13

It has been almost 2 months since I have updated.  Tom continues to improve.  His therapy at the current facility ends in the next week, and he will continue with some more outpatient therapy at another facility closer to home. 

He has been meeting with his primary care doctor now, and that has been a blessing for Tom and Nancy.  He brings another perspective to the situation, and has known Tom and the family for years.

A few weeks before Thanksgiving, Tom (and Bryan and Nancy) met with the neuro doctors from Loyola.  Again, everyone was amazed as to how far he has come since he was last at Loyola.  The doctors said it could take up to a year for him to get back to "normal," with his cognition issues, but again they were hopeful.

We had a great time at Thanksgiving with the whole family.  It was amazing to have the whole family together and have Tom pray for the meal for all of us.  It was the best time we have had together as a family for a long time.  A wonderful new memory as we move forward, and Tom continues to improve.

Please continue to pray for Tom and Nancy.  Progress continues, but it is slow, and some days are better than others.  Please pray for both of them as they transition to a new facility, and a new schedule for therapy.  Please continue to pray for hope and encouragement for Tom, as some days are very frustrating for him. 

Thanks for your continued prayers,

Brenna

October 28

Thanks for praying!  Tom did not have issues with the clots in his arm the past 24 hours!  He went to see the eye doctor this morning, and everything seems to be healing as it should.  Nancy was able to get the medications Tom needs, because the eye doctor was able to talk to the doctor at Loyola.  I believe Tom is not able to get into Loyola for an appointment until December or later now, but at least the doctors were able to talk and figure things out for the time being.

Please continue to pray for a smooth recovery for his eye and continued progress in his therapies.

Thanks for praying,

Brenna

October 27

Thank you for praying!  The surgery went very well.  Please pray for sleep tonight, as he is in some pain.

Please pray for the next 24 hours that the blood clots that have been in his left arm would not cause any issue.  One of the nurses did not read his chart carefully, and took his blood pressure from his left arm the WHOLE TIME. He has had strict instructions NOT to draw blood or do blood pressure on his left arm since late August, when they found a blood clot.  There were signs all over each hospital room he was in.

Bryan got there when she was checking his blood pressure.  They were  concerned that it was high.  Bryan asked if they had been checking on his left arm, and the nurse went white, switched to the other arm, and apologized and apologized.  Obviously, it could be very dangerous if the clot moved. 

The doctor put him on 24 hour watch, and Nancy will closely monitor him tonight.  Please pray that it will be an uneventful night over there!

We are SO thankful that Bryan got there at the right time to notice the error, and that the eye surgery went well.

Thanks for your prayers,

Brenna