My Brother
We went to TN for Thanksgiving, and I got to visit Cory several times. Last time we saw him he had lost a ton of weight and while he was opening his eyes a little it was hard to tell how much he was aware of.
This time was so much better. He's gained some weight back. He was much more alert, especially this morning when he was awake for our whole visit. He turned his head to look at me when we got there and smiled at me. There is no doubt in my mind that he knew who I was. He's responding so much more, even though it's still not consistently. He held his mouth open for me to wipe his tongue off (usually he bites down) and mom said that after we left the CNA got him to lift his head so that she could wash his hair.
He's also obviously trying to talk. He moves his mouth and tongue. Mom said that she's managed to get him to say "yeah" a couple of times. Speech is really hard to recover, so just the fact that he's trying is such a big deal.
It just amazes me how much progress he has made in a few months. Three months ago we still weren't sure he was going to make it; the doctors were telling us it was likely that while his major body functions were working he would never recover the part that makes him Cory. Now Cory is obviously there, he is aware of his surroundings and understands what we're saying. My brother is still here and now it's just a matter of giving his body time to recover as much of its abilities as it can. I realize that recovery from something like this can take years, and he still has a long way to go, but I am so thankful for all the progress he's made in such a short time!
I don't think I have ever been as grateful to know how stubborn and contrary Cory is. He was a pain to grow up with sometimes, but I know he's a fighter. I know that the more he's been told he can't do something the more likely he is to push himself until he can do it. There's still no way to know how much he will recover of what he lost, but there is no doubt that I have not lost my brother.
This time was so much better. He's gained some weight back. He was much more alert, especially this morning when he was awake for our whole visit. He turned his head to look at me when we got there and smiled at me. There is no doubt in my mind that he knew who I was. He's responding so much more, even though it's still not consistently. He held his mouth open for me to wipe his tongue off (usually he bites down) and mom said that after we left the CNA got him to lift his head so that she could wash his hair.
He's also obviously trying to talk. He moves his mouth and tongue. Mom said that she's managed to get him to say "yeah" a couple of times. Speech is really hard to recover, so just the fact that he's trying is such a big deal.
It just amazes me how much progress he has made in a few months. Three months ago we still weren't sure he was going to make it; the doctors were telling us it was likely that while his major body functions were working he would never recover the part that makes him Cory. Now Cory is obviously there, he is aware of his surroundings and understands what we're saying. My brother is still here and now it's just a matter of giving his body time to recover as much of its abilities as it can. I realize that recovery from something like this can take years, and he still has a long way to go, but I am so thankful for all the progress he's made in such a short time!
I don't think I have ever been as grateful to know how stubborn and contrary Cory is. He was a pain to grow up with sometimes, but I know he's a fighter. I know that the more he's been told he can't do something the more likely he is to push himself until he can do it. There's still no way to know how much he will recover of what he lost, but there is no doubt that I have not lost my brother.