Monday, February 16, 2009

More Progress!! Thank You For Your Prayers!

Let me start off by apologizing for being late on my weekly blog post! I am going to start writing a new entry every SUNDAY NIGHT! So be sure to check out the blog weekly for the new updates on my life and you can see the results of your prayers!

In the past few weeks my legs have started feeling in such ways I had never had them feel before! I am getting new sensations that are strange and exciting at the same time. I am starting to feel my muscles flexing in my legs. I can feel most all the way through my legs. Light touch is still lagging a little, but deep pressure and moments are coming along GREAT! My proprioception (which is the ability to know where your body is in space without looking at it) is WONDERFUL! I can close my eyes and tell you exactly what you are doing to my legs. I can tell if you are raising it, lowering it, moving my ankles exc. I can feel my legs well enough to know what they are doing!
My movements have also increased dramatically. I am starting to get much stronger and my legs are moving now, without me having to think about it! The knees and ankles are still slow, but they are coming in! My quads are firing and my hips have gotten really strong. In the past few rehab sessions I have been able to raise my leg in the air at the hip and HOLD the leg in the air. I can then lower my foot back to the ground slowly and stop my leg at anytime during the decent! This takes VERY STRONG muscle control and strength to maintain the weight of your own leg in the air! PRAISE GOD!!!
Your prayers are working and I am getting more and more return in my legs. This is a very, very slow process, one that takes a long time but the goal of walking is getting closer!
Last week I received a phone call from a man who is considered a CELEBRITY in SCI circles. He is the poster child for what is possible with someone who has a spinal cord injury. He SWEARS by ACTIVITY BASED THERAPY as being a huge reason he has regained so much return. Pat Rummerfield was involved in a high speed car accident in 1974 at the age of 21. Pat broke 4 vertebrae in his neck and was a QUAD! Pat started working out EVERYDAY on a motorized bike and doing activity based therapy. HE NEVER STOPPED working! After several years...he could stand and barely walk....after 17 years of INTENSE ACTIVITY BASED THERAPY, He is walking PERFECTLY FINE!! NO limp, no cane, no braces. He has done several marathons and triathlons to raise support for SCI victims! Pat called me to encourage me and tell me that ANYTHING is POSSIBLE, if you never give up and have HOPE! Well my hope lies in God, and my faith does also! With the prayers and support of so many of you! I know I will overcome this and WILL WALK AGAIN ONE DAY!!

(copy and paste this link to watch this AWESOME video of Pat Rummerfield!)

http://www.aarp.org/aarp/broadcast/Quiet_Heroes/Walking_Proof/

I LOVE YOU ALL!
SO MUCH IN HIM
BRENT

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

O.K. We will consider that a commitment. Every Sunday you will write and then on Monday we can start our week off praising God. Can't think of a better way to face the week. I love your attitude and your heart.
Loretta P.

Dave Reed said...

Awesome, God, keep those nerves growing in Brent's legs. Brent this is real exciting, I am so glad that you are making such great progress. I am still working on my end to make things happen, so say a prayer to help speed things along!!!! Keep up the hard work it does pay off. I thank God each time I read your Blog, He is great and so are his loving and miraculous works.

Robin Pruitt said...

I always enjoy good news. Thanks for always providing that. God is good and prayers will continue. Robin and Kathy

Anonymous said...

Hi Brent!
Awesome news! I start every Tuesday reading your blog. Guess I'll have to get used to reading it on Monday morning now :) Praise God for your successes. We know there is more to come because He answers prayers.

Anonymous said...

Brent, It was great reading your blog tonight! Awesome on your recovery...I am so happy for you. I know how huge all of this is. Your faith and determination is what will bring you to your feet again. Pat Rummerfield is Matt's mentor.. he is the most wonderful man and truly an inspiration. We have met him several times and he and Matt stay in touch which I am so glad. He lifts everyone up when he walks in the KKI gym. Tell your mom hi and can't wait to read your next blog!

S. Courson (Arkansas)

sensdelune said...

Brent this is an awesome blog, I was picturing you lifting up your leg and it brought me to tears of joy! The call from Pat is awesome, you say he is the hardest working guy in spinal cord injuries but you are giving him a run for the title :) God is great! Love ya, Kimberly