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His name…..Scotty Roberts, now 17 last October, alive and well yet not the same yet reality is hard to bare but misinformation makes it harder so here are some details you may find helpful, I apologize for not keeping everyone up with accurate information, he’s just had so many ups and down times. First, he is NOT paralyzed, all his extremities are moveable in some cases involuntary, others slow in voluntary movement.

Scotty’s medical problem is mainly the respiratory system still and it has tried to take him down several times but he keeps tackling every problem, (coaches would be proud). He has had many severe infections attacking his lungs, diaphragm, urinary and trachea areas but he keeps pushing through them all with the aid of wonderful and loving Pediatric doctors, nurses, aids, child life associates and case workers that believe in him and have become his positive support and cheer leaders. It’s extremely important that the brain injured receive encouragement, so when we visit we go with the specific decision to help him become encouraged as sometimes he looks downright lonely and discouraged and that breaks our hearts. He especially loves hearing about his family and friends, so interested and then mouths (trying to talk), he’s so "there". Then I show him pictures on my camera of his nieces, clouds, sunsets, the beautiful bird pictures from a magazine, even him and he was totally in concentration. Also he loves stories read to him by his teacher especially sports stories of youth.

Here’s the kicker: His traumatic brain injury is the enormous area of need and with time will increase in ability, and here’s something you may not have heard of ….it’s called "locked in syndrome". That means he’s awake and alert and understands (slowly sometimes) exactly everything that is said but he just can’t do anything about it, meaning if you ask him to lift his leg, he can’t do it voluntarily YET. They can move but (at this time) when the brain pulls a stunt on him, then they move involuntarily. When he "mouths" he’s saying something but the sound and the formation of the words aren’t there, he blinks yes or no when asked a question.

Tyler visited him on Friday and Saturday a couple weeks ago, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of Tyler according to Marie. I know he had much to share with Tyler, but that will have to wait for a book that he may write…… who Scotty!....wrong, not Scotty. I guess you’ll just have to wait for his stories told personally by him, won’t that be a wonder !!!!! I research and found that the word "wonder (ful)" is another word for "miracle" in almost every language except English? How bout that. Isaiah 9:6 And He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

If any of us had ever thought that something like this would happen to us, we would be more cautious of every step and every ride we take, we would not speed nor cut in front of others on the highway as we experience daily on 281, 1604 and the 10, we would not jay dart on major highways especially with our children, or dart across on a bike, we would respect our own life and the lives of others more for yes this type of tragedy could happen to any of us. Occasionally, I ask myself what if this were me?

He has mostly been in the hospital for the past 6 months with care that has brought him up to medical standards. In all fairness I will report to you also that no hospital takes the place of home, nor does a nursing home but the one nearest to us besides Meridican would be in Tyler if all we desire is a nursing home. Meridian is the only one near us that takes under age kids with trachs…..so !!!!

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There is now a chance that he could go for rehab for a while to increase his abilities and for that it’s worth him going to Houston. The biggest decisions always has to be "what is best for him", not us. I may not like him being far away but God is the engineer and we will trust His direction. At this very moment 11:30 AM 02/01/10 I just got the call that he has been accepted at Warm Springs rehab, San Antonio to see what he’s got, Praise God, it’s that chance we’ve been asking for. Houston may be a step as wellwhere he can also get to his ultimate neurologically as well. We are thankful for all precious gifts from God and rehabs. I pray for God’s guidance on all these opportunities.

Last Saturday, January 30, 2010 marks a full year for that dreadful day in 2009 when the collision and spinning of the car, as back seat passengers, changed all their lives forever. I know in our hearts we all struggle with his condition but I’ve learned just how powerful and inspiring a person he really is, he’s not giving up and I am so proud of his faith in God. The Word of God says that God loves perseverance and Scotty must really be pleasing God, he’s not giving up, he’s working in faith at doing whatever he can, he listens to whatever positive encouragement with thirst and hunger. Just yesterday I told Don Piper’s story of his accident, a pretty long story and he was magnificent, he listened to every single syllable, he’s so hungry for that. If you visit him, go intending to tell a lot of stories and updates, he loves it.

For Hyatt, bless his young vibrant heart passed away to be with the Lord on January 31,09 and to this day his friends call his phone for a re-connection. Tyler who has gone through his own share of grief and pain, he pushes on, in total faith that all will be ok, having had some additional surgery on his legs recently yet is standing strong; this has truly touched his heart, allowing him to be learning wisdom rather than staying a child he’s become a young man. Thank you Tyler for being a good friend to Scotty too and staying in belief and faith that he will be made better too.

I ask that prayer continue for Scotty and Tyler too. Yes it changed all our lives too but that doesn’t come close to what Scotty is going through. We miss the old Scotty but are very grateful that we can see, touch and express our love to him now. Keep the faith in God, Scotty does;………if he can, we can too!!!

IT’S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM FOR SCOTTY PART 2

I reported many realities about Scotty’s condition and now I want to bring forth more about what he faces. As in most deliminas in life, each day brings something new to the story, so since the brain is something so hidden in even the medical and psychological parts of it’s nature, we as a human race are at the very beginning of knowledge. The brain is the most important and fascinating part, maybe because it has so much mastic or maybe because it’s so intricate and yet so basic with layers of depth.

Please realize that Scotty’s prognosis is not all doom and gloom, that he has huge amounts of hope in him. Now I’m not saying just for his inner strength but also because the body is designed to heal itself and to fight for life depending on one’s attitude and inner strength of desire.

Last week it was looking back at the past year, today is a new day with the Jan 30,09 accident year end OVER !!!!!!! now February 1 begins with newness and yet in some ways the hardest part is to come, we will not give up with the past lurking in our thoughts and woe is me. Scotty is in the beginning of his restructuring and reanalyzing so to speak, he’s realizing in the formation of his mind that there is hope finding HIS new "norm". I know he hears and understands, slowly at this point but nonetheless, he does comprehend. The brain controls the body yes, the brain is the fire house of electrical forces that makes the generator run and tell the various parts what to do.

I will tell you that Wednesday the 27th they placed a speech valve (that allows air to the larynx) on the trach, the therapist said say "hello", and he yelled a bigtime HELLO !!! I was there, he said hello plus he vocalized some other words but I couldn’t make them out. Friday again with the speech valve on he really tried intentionally to get it out, it will take time, he needs time and so we understand that the brain is processing the information and it has to go from one place to many others to have the processing of return to the functioning area (the whole verbal process in this case), we must remember that he has not had the air, most needed to the larynx because of the trach, he’s having to learn lots of new things step by step; one day he will be able to speak better… HOWEVER !!!!! Saturday was another new day. Nurse Beth placed the speech valve on in the morning with Becky the RT…..that was a start. Later we arrived and Beth said we’ll replace the speech valve and you can be here with him. I tried, I talked, I shared and I told him the importance of the speaking, so that we could prove that he has the ability to speak and beapart of rehab again, he listened with intensity. Well, it was a endurance test for grandpa and me but grandpa leaned over to his left ear and whispered "say hi"….Dale did it again, whispering into his ear "say hi Scotty". I was on the other side of the bed and about 5 or so minutes later I could tell he was thinking about it, I kept nodding yes and then he was diligently trying to say something and yes there it was, totally clear and voluntary ….." hi " …." hi" … Oh such beautiful words, I will never forget just as I don’t forget that enormous "HELLO" a couple days before. Yes effort, - lots of it, yes struggle sometimes too much to bare, yes striving to do as asked and to prove to himself as well, that he was able. I’m so proud of this young man’s endurance, it can’t be easy but he will be stronger for it. He’s going to surprise a lot of people someday.

We all are privy to having the most valuable tool that could be placed within the body. We can’t have a healthy body without a healthy brain; Damage the brain and the body fails. And you can also create a malfunctioning brain by damaging the body by doing things that are not good for it. I’m talking of such things as loss of memory, depression, addictions and additive behaviors, thinking deficiencies, lack of sleep, language problems, anxiety, diseases, dementia, the dreaded Alzheimers, Parkinson’s, stinkin’ thinking or happy attitude without drugs, ADD, ADHD, aggressiveness, laziness, etc. can be re-nourished with the proper nutrients and neurotransmitters. The body and brain work together but we do take it for granted or at least I have and I believe most do.

Anyway, for the human brain, the electrical wires can be twisted, sheared, torn in an accident, so they need time to re-build, that could be 6 mts, 1 yr, 2 yrs, 3 yrs or more, we wait. It used to be thought that brain cells could not be re-made, but that’s not the case anymore as progressive research has taught that the brain cells can be renewed (unless cut) or new ones found which is an enormous subject to cover at this time…Scotty waits.

When we clip his nails, he moves a lot as just touch can stimulate everything from distributing energy, sharpen feeling (skin) to pain. The ends of the toes and fingers stimulate the brain as well. So while he can’t move just to move, his legs have the ability; arms, hands and fingers have the ability and some do at this time….also from the connection of the brain’s neurons and axons (cells and wires). There’s just so much, ya’ll need to check into learning about your brain…..it could change every part of your future and respect for life.There’s more to life then just getting up, going to school or work, there’s that brain….. desiring healthy care and positive generated movement to get the job done.

Here it is, straight and forthright. Scotty needs rehab big time. His body is in the process of becoming better and good to be reconsidered for neuro rehab again. Rehab is an absolute for this vital young man’s future potential to become more "connected" in his brain, to help it complete the process of healing …

please pray that first his body’s respiratory system become even better, viable and totally healed and second prayer, that the neuro rehab see his potential for rehabilitation. Doctors sees it, nurses see it, respiratory therapists it, his case manager sees it and we see it and hear it too……his potential is there, he’s a warrior fighting a battle to be seen and accepted as a candidate for recovery…..plus and even more mighty than that is the fact that he loves God, he knows Him. He is so alive within, yet some days are very hard and other days are really good as is with all of us. So there it is.

Also I have had communication with Acquire the Fire youth bands plus, they are checking into visiting Scotty late February……these young people are wonderful believers of the faith that help others and in doing that they automatically are blessed with mega amounts of blessings for themselves, there’s just nothing but nothing like helping others in the time of their need, that shows the fruit of a caring heart, I’m so grateful.

Well, Thank you for checking in on Scotty. THIS IS SCOTTY’S YEAR !!!