Another post from me as in (Brent) ta-da!

Hello!
I guess I could take this time to write about how difficult my life has become but I believe I should be thankful for all the blessings I have received instead. We spend most of our lives worried about how rough we have things and dont take time to look at the small blessings we are given everyday! Since my accident I have been blessed with so many great new friends. My church family at Pleasant Valley has been amazing. I am so glad I have been able to start friendships with new people who I might not have otherwise been able to meet! I have had the privilege of meeting wonderful new people who have boosted my spirits and have given me so much encouragement. I can not sit here and type all the names of the people who have affected my life since the accident, they're too many to name. Both in Arkansas and back home in Florida I have realized that my family is much bigger than I could have ever imagined. However, I have been blessed with prayers from across the country. I have new friends from celebrities (Kevin Everett) to my Occupational Therapist Cristina who has been so sweet to me! I also have to give thanks to my mother who has not been home since December 8th. She has been with me the whole time and has helped me adjust to rehab and my constant medical needs. I love her so much! AWWWW!! (she is right behind me as I type this!) I also want to thank my father for his constantly being there for me and making my life so easy. He just pretty much takes care of everything!

On another note I have not yet stop believing in my complete healing. I know that one day I will get up and walk again I just have to give it time. I was fortunate enough not to have a severed cord which means the sky is the limit on my recovery. However, nerves grow back.....really slowly so patience is a virtue I will have to learn! haha My parents will give an AMEN to that! I will not put a time frame on whatever plan God has for me. I just know that with as much support and love that I have I know I will make the best of my situation. I would like to leave you all with a scripture!

Psalms 50:15 - I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give me glory.

Please continue to pray for me! I love you all!
In Him,
Brent

Its me!!

Hello everyone!
Well I have survived the first week in my new apartment. Things are going well I have my schedule to keep me busy. Physical Therapy, Occupational therapy, arm ranging, leg ranging, medicines, shots, theraband treatments and then more meds that pretty much encompasses my daily life now! It has taken along time but I have come to terms with my current situation. Notice how I say CURRENT situation because I do not know what the Lord has in store for me. Doctors and specialist do not work on the same agenda as God. I know he has a plan for me if not I do not believe I would have made it through the initial injury. I have made the decision that whatever path the Lord puts in front of me I will walk it and not complain. The Doctors do not know how I will heal but however the outcome I will use whatever gifts he gave me to glorify him. On another note (a good note) I have been getting some sensations in my rear and top of legs. I feel as if the top of my legs are asleep or numb. Hey-its a feeling, I will take what I can get! I also got a new Nintendo Wii (compliments of Farner Barley and Associates) I use the gaming system as part of my rehab or in other words its Wiihab!! (haha). My arm is getting better everyday. I am getting more and more movement and range. I can not wait until I can bare weight on my arm cause this shoulder is really affecting my curve ball. (stupid joke I know). I want to personally thank everyone for their continued love and support. Keep praying for my complete healing and I know that through faith I will make it through this time! I love you all

In Him,
Brent

A message from Brent

The Phone Call!

Wednesday evening around 5:30 I received a phone call from none other than Kevin Everett! For those of you who are not sports fans Kevin was the tight end for the Buffalo Bills who was seriously injured during the first of the season this year when he was hit by a player for the Denver Broncos. Kevin received a fractured neck and was paralyzed after the accident. However, as of today he is WALKING! Kevin has recently been on Oprah, Sports Centers special, and Good Morning America. He beat the odds and was able to overcome his injury through perseverance and prayer and I hope to do the same thing. Kevin gave me two pieces of advice 1) Be Positive 2) Be Patient. I know these two pieces of advice all too well. I would like to thank Dave Reed from my home congregation in Florida for setting up the telephone call it was a great inspiration.

I told Kevin that I would write about him in my blog so that my prayer chain could include him as well. He greatly appreciated the offer and told me he would be praying for me as well. If you would please pray for both myself and Kevin so that we may completely overcome our injuries I would greatly appreciate it. Keep the Faith

In Him,

Brent

Feb. 11, 2007
We have gotten settled into the apartment here in maumelle, Brent is adjusting well. Today we have had physical therapy as well as occupational therapy come to the apartment to work with Brent. He did well working with his range of motion. We also determined what we will be working on in the coming weeks as far as therapy goes. His spirits have been up, as you can always tell when he starts making jokes.
Brent does enjoy having visitors, and we appreciate you coming by. If you could call before your visit that would be greatly appreciated due to the fact that we never know when we will be working with pt and ot.
Please continue to keep Brent in your prayers! We are still praying for a full recovery!

Sorry we have not been keeping the blog updated as much as we would like to. Yesterday was a big day for Brent. He was released from rehab yesterday and has now settled into his new apartment just outside Little Rock, in Maumelle. We want to thank everyone who has helped in getting the apartment set up for our family. It is wonderful! Kathy and Brent both feel very secure here. They will be staying in the apartment until he is able to go back into rehab. Brent will have home health coming to the apartment at least three times during the week, this includes a nurse, physical therapist, and an occupational therapist. An apointment has been set for March 19th, with the orthopedic surgeon to determine the condition of the left shoulder. The left shoulder must be able to bear full weight before he will be able to go back into rehab. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. Please pray that Brent's shoulder will continue to heal, as well for Kathy to have the strength to take care of Brent to the best of her ability. They're a great team together!:) Brent request that you pray for a complete healing. We believe there is power in prayer!

I just took a look at Brent's blog, couldn't believe it's been so long since I've updated it. So, to bring you up to date on everything........here goes.

Most of Brent's days are filled with waking up, eating breakfast, getting ready for physical therapy, going to therapy for an hour and half, coming back to his room and crashing. Eating lunch, getting ready for more therapy, going to therapy (another hour and half), coming back to the room and crashing, eating supper. Getting ready to do it over the next day!

Everyone here at Baptist Rehabilitation is amazing, his physical therapist are so caring and professional. I'm not sure we could have found a better place for Brent if we had searched all over the country! (which we did do)

Now for the latest news; as most know Brent is going to need to come out of rehab. for several weeks. This needs to be done until he can bear weight on his left shoulder and arm. Hans O. and Jeff S. spent a lot of time going out and looking for apartments in Little Rock that will meet Brent's needs. They found several, Kathy and I went out and looked at each of them. The last one we saw held the most promise, it is located about ten miles from Baptist Hospital in a suburb of Little Rock called Maumelle. It is small but very nice and in a gated complex, you have a sense of security and safety. We gave Brent the choice of either coming back home to Florida or staying here in Little Rock....he really wanted to stay around here because of all his church friends at Pleasant Valley Church of Christ.

So it looks like Friday the 8th is going to be the big moving day for Brent. I'll be coming in late Thursday night and staying thru the weekend. Pleasant Valley is getting some help for Brent and Kathy lined up for the 4 days each week that I'll be working. There is no way we could do this without our church family! We are so thankful for so many things and have been blessed in ways that we can't even describe.

Please continue to pray for Brent's healing, we have not and will not, give up on Brent's complete healing.