Setting Records

Jon and I went to see Paul this afternoon to spend the rest of the day and evening with him before we go to New Hampshire for Jon's wedding on Sunday, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. We were feeling very emotional about having to leave one son to be with another, as each of them have an important reason for our physical presence. We left Paul sleeping, and the peacefulness on his face reminded me that all is right in God's world. He has brought Paul this far and His Will will be done. Our prayers for the loving protection of God to surround Paul will be answered and I place my trust in Him. So, we will be off to celebrate the much anticipated wedding of our first son, Jon, to Marie Hennessy. Their marriage will complete the joy of this year and will begin 2006 with all that God has intended for them. God's love for us has no limits and this becomes more clear by the day!!

Paul was not on the mark today as he has been the last 2 days. I was actually thinking he may not be feeling well, because he did not eat any of his dinner. But he does not have a fever and his vital signs were all good. It could be that he has had enough of the hospital food and wants some more of the Chik=fil-A waffle fries that his brother Mike brought for him a couple days ago. Paul basically 'inhaled' those waffle fries and the memory of them may have returned tonight, making his meat balls and squash less appetizing! Anyway, he did not eat as well as we hoped he would. They feel confident that his appetite will return and he will be able to have the stomach tube removed before he comes home to live. If it is not - we will just bring in meals from Subway, Wendy's and Ruby Tuesdays. We'll have him off the Ensure feedings before he can say "I love fast food."

We did hear some other very encouraging news today from one of the doctor's who is working with Paul. He came into the room and asked Paul how he was doing and Paul gave him the thumbs up sign. He then told us that Paul is setting records with his recovery. I will, at this point, quote that title from an earlier blog in the first 2 weeks......."Coincidence, I THINK NOT". This is just a reminder to everyone about who is in charge of all this ..........GOD. How else can one explain all the many miracles we are seeing and in so quick a time frame? This doctor said that Paul was making great progress and that he will have to work hard in the area of recalling words as he tries to speak, but it will come in due time. He was doing well with reading sentences and showing an understanding of what he was reading. These are very good signs concerning the extent of Paul's recovery. The important thing to remember as we walk forward is that Paul is making progress. Every day that he makes improvements, it is a positive sign about his recovery. Kelly, the speech therapist who worked with Paul at Gwinnett Medical Center, came by to see Paul today. She was at Shepherd Center for a conference and she said she had to see how well he was doing. She asked that we get a picture of him to the nurses at Gwinnett Medical because they had asked her to check on him to see how he was doing. Kelly said it was so good to see Paul with hair, no tubes, sitting up and giving responses so readily. He has made great progress and it made her happy to see him like this. She was also happy to hear we are going to bring Paul back to the Neuroscience Unit at Gwinnett Medical as soon as he can walk a little more steadily and can speak better. She said it really helps them to see their patients again after they recover.

Paul came back to him room after dinner and did not do any wandering around checking on other patients. He was very tired, which may also be the reason he didn't feel like eating. We gave him his deck of cards and he practiced shuffling them with both hands. He got frustrated with the weakness in his left hand, so his dad asked Paul to join him in a game of War. Paul was able to play the game with the same speed that anyone would play, and knew each time who had the better card. He even remembered how to set up the cards when they had a 'War' situation. He also took time to check the cards he lost in War, to see what he was losing. I video taped it for him to see later. (I am so excited I have a video camera to keep a record of all this. Thank you dear sons and husband for this great gift!) After he played for a half hour, his dad helped him get cleaned up and we got him into bed. He fell asleep within 15 minutes. I asked him to join us in prayers and while he didn't speak the words out loud, he mouthed the words of the Glory Be. He also signed himself before and after our prayers. When I reminded him that he could always say the name of Jesus when he was struggling, he immediately gave me the thumbs up. He knows God is with him and indicated to us he fully understands that God is helping him.

We have met so many wonderful people at Shepherd. Their sufferings are so much greater in some cases and we are in awe of their strength and their trust in God. It helps us keep this in perspective and we always thank God that He made our cross so easy to carry. There is another incredible story of a young lady (18) whose younger brother (16) saved her from death after their accident in which the van they were in rolled four times. Her boyfriend was killed in that accident and her brother was one of the pall bearers at his funeral 4 days after their accident. What courage they have all shown. They are a very loving and faithful family and we have drawn strength from them as we watch their daughter's recovery and wait in prayerful hope for her full recovery. It is a reminder to us that there is so much suffering in this world and if it is offered up to God, He will help us bring about His Glory and it will not be in vain.

We read the comments tonight when we got home and it brought us such joy knowing that Paul's suffering is not in vain - that the Glory of God is being seen by so many people in all this. We will continue to pray for the guidance of God as we share this faith story with you, so that it remains His story and His works. As Blessed Mother Teresa said " I am the pen in God's hands."

May you all be instruments of the Lord, so that His peace will reign in your day.

Love,
Jon and Rebecca Fidero