We are Truly Blessed

Update. We returned home late Tuesday Evening for Our Thanksgiving Break which was our longest trip home!!! We had Thanksgiving Lunch at East Tennessee Iron & Metal with our Awesome Coworkers and Family.  We had Our Traditional Family Thanksgiving at our house.  My Wonderful wife and my two sister-in-laws Cooked some Amazing Food.  We also had Steak Dinner Thanksgiving on Saturday with Christie's Family.  The Amount of Food we consumed was Legendary!!!   Most importantly at each event we were able to reflect on The many Blessing we have received and Give Thanks for those as well as Giving Thanks for so many important people in our lives.  I was able to take both my Boys Deer hunting with the help of our Good Friends Doug and Ethan Crowder.   Jacob busted a nice 7 PT Buck  with a 192 yd Sniper Shot and J.T. Had one of the best Hunting days ever the story I can't elaborate on correctly in this short update.  I was so Awesome to be out in Gods Creation.  We did get to watch football which by the way we will not discuss except to say that We The Brooks Family are Vols For Life!!!   We also got to attend a Movie as a family.  I got to Love on my Beautiful and Super Smart Daughter Miss Peyton Brooks who I am so proud of.   I can not Thank my Wife Christie enough for all her hard work.  She is Truly a Gourmet Chef!!! You guys could not fathom just how much she can do in a Kitchen.  It felt so good to sleep in my own bed next to the Love of my life for an extended period of time.   J.T. got to Sleep in his new bed an actual real bed.  He got to take a shower in his new Bathroom and All in his new Bedroom that is almost completely finished.    We still have ramps and money other items to finish but atleart he has a room.  We are now back in Atlanta.  We  have two weeks of therapy left. Last week we only had two days but he said they were some of the toughest he has ever had.  He is Really Busting his Tail.  While home this morning we had God provide us with another Glimmer of Hope.  We are so Thankful for this progress.  The last two weeks here we will continue to ramp things up.  We have so much planning to do for our arrival home  we actually had some Prayers answered in respect to some care planning but we have so much more to work out.   The momentum we have gained in therapy is something we want to build on and continue to push when we get Home.   Please continue to Pray for Healing, Patience, Understanding, Strength, The ability to make good decisions,  and most of all for Gods Will!!!

Thanks again for everyone Concern and We are Truly Blessed and Thankful for you All!!!  #Fightfor5 One Day at a Time!!!  God Bless You All!!!

Take the time to Enjoy the Little things for these are Truly Blessing!!!

Update. We have spent the last few weeks with J.T. Busting his tail in BT. I walked in and saw him after his first day and he was white eyed!!!  These are the type workouts he is used to.  He has been doing tons of Core and Upper Body Strengthening.  His Attitude has been the same ole J.T. .  We have a Schedule that usually consists of Tuesday thru Thursday and in between we have been traveling back and forth to Home.  He has School as well during the week.  With our time in Atlanta drawing to a close preparations are being made at home with the finishing of his room and bathroom . As usual it will be right down to the wire.  We have also been in the planning stages of getting his accommodations for rejoining his Classmates at Cherokee For the Spring Semester.  I never realized all the things that needed to be done.  At times it seems overwhelming.  We just have to try and clear the next hurdle in front of us.  With Travel back and forth sometimes I feel like all I do is pack drive unpack and then repeat!!! While it is hard it is still better to spend time at home with Christie, Peyton , Jacob and our Family and Friends.  We did get to Go and see The Vols take on Kentucky and Win!!! We have also been preparing to do a little Deer Hunting at Home.    The Weather did not really cooperate this weekend but we will hit it hard come Thanksgiving Break!!! We traveled back this evening to get in two days of therapy before heading back Tuesday Evening for a Family Thanksgiving that has been a Focal point for us for a Long time.  We can not wait to Feast on some Amazing Food, Spend time with our Awesome Family, Watch some Football, Catch a Movie, Do some Deer Hunting, and Most of All Give Thanks for All Our Many Blessings!!!  As far as Progress goes he Continues to make Strength Gains.  He has had some minor developments that give us Hope.  We have had to Battle a few medical issues.  We have been so Lucky to have Dr. Chris Calendine be available at a moments Notice to help deal with many things .  He is not only an Amazing Doctor,  he is Our Friend.  He traveled to NYC and Competed in the NYC Marathon Raising Money for The Reeve Foundation.  While we were home over last weekend he had stopped in and was checking on J.T.  He Secretly left a bag of Goodies for J.T.  That just happened to contain his Medal he was Awarded for Finishing The NYC Marathon.  I just want to say Thanks which is in no way enough for All that Chris has done for Our Family!!!   We will be able to attend Our Company Thanksgiving Lunch Wednesday with the Wonderful Employees We have at East Tennessee Iron & Metal.  They have been so Supportive during our very difficult time.  I have the pleasure of having so many longtime and Trustworthy Employees.  That Peace of Mind Enabled me to spend as much time as needed in Atlanta with J.T.  I was able to do most of my duties via Phone, Text,  or Email.  Having a Company that is More of a family than a business is a Great Blessing to me.    I would also like to say that when I lay my head down at night and say my Prayers I Thank The Good Lord above for my Community that has Supported us every step of the way.  I would also like to Wish Everyone of You a Happy Thanksgiving.  I can Truly say that you should not take anything for Granted especially Your Family and Friends.  Take the time to Enjoy the Little things for these are Truly Blessing!!!  Please continue to Pray for Healing, Recovery, An Easy Transition, and Patience.  God Bless You All!!! We Truly Love and Value Each and Everyone of You!!!

My strength relies on My Savior, My Family and My Community!!! God Bless and fightfor5

Update. It's been a awhile since I have posted an update.  We have been very busy.  Last weekend we came home for the last Chiefs home game.  It was Senior night and since J.T. Started on the Varsity as a Freshman he felt incredibly close to the Seniors.  He has such a strong bond with them and he has said multiple times thru tears that he will miss them dearly.  So many of them have been so supportive.   Especially River, Eion, Huston, Grayson and Miskus.  He truly Loves his teammates and can not wait to be home.  We made it home to see five of the games this year.  Next year he plans on being with them every step of the way.

    While at the game I was so humbled by the show of support from our friends from Grainger County.  I had a long conversation with the principal Briscoe at the game .  I am really good friends with his brother and have gotten to know him over the years.  He was truly compassionate in his concern for us.  J.T. Got to see an old friend and teammate who played for Grainger Jacob Bunch .  He is a Great kid that I coached as well.   He also visited with the Grainger Cheerleaders one of which is his Cousin and visited with his cousins Stephanie, Ally , Alexis , and Aeryn Mitchell who Proudly wore Fighfor5 Gear.  We had a long weekend with family and then headed back to ATL. To begin the next step which is Beyond Therapy.  BT is a very intense and strenuous program in which we hope to gain core and upper body strength and aggressively pursue gaining more momentum toward his Goal of walking one day.  We will have access to cutting edge machines which include the Lokomat.  After the first day of evaluations I came into the Gym to find him after a three hour workout completely white eyed.  He was spent and the therapists and he himself said he went all out with Great effort.  This part of rehab is prob what most of you envisioned he would be doing all along.  It has taken a long time to get to this point and we are so excited.  The strength he gains will hopefully give him a huge bar to build on and continue once we come home for the rest of the Winter and into the Spring. 

   We ended the week and J.T. Had planned on being home for the 5k which was took place in his Honor Saturday morning.  He ended up being selected by his recreation therapist Chris Ravotti to go on a Special Deer hunt at The Lauren's County Handicap Sportsman Club in Dublin Georgia.  Home of one Ballou Barrett.  It was an opportunity too good to pass up.  J.T. Had been going Shooting at the range with Chris who had taught him to use a rest that attaches to his chair and a trigger attachment.  He is quite the marksman.  We loaded up all our gear. It seemed like everything we had and traveled to Dublin, Ga..  The Hunting club had an opening night Dinner.  We got to together with the landowners who raise money all year to plant food plots and set up blinds to accommodate these Handicap Hunters most of which are Veterans and Kids!!!  We hunted out of a scissor lift blind that was attached to a trailer and had ramps . They had brushed it in with camouflage and We had a Blast.  We did not see a ton of deer but just to meet other hunters and hear how they overcome obstacles and pursue the passion they have for hunting is so therapeutic.  You would be amazed at some of these folks!!! The last few minutes of light a doe showed up in the food plot we had been Hunting and J.T.  Patiently got in position and Dropped The Hammer on her.  The look on his face was worth it all. To know he could still do this was Awesome!!! The Lauren's County Hunt Club deserves so much Thanks for providing The Hunting, Meals and mostly the Encouragement to these Hunters.  We can not forget Chris Ravotti and The Shepherd Center.  Things like this are what make learning to move forward possible.  He gained so much confidence and continues to build a network of friends that have told him of many opportunities for him whether it be Hunting or just dealing with this SCI.  We were exhausted and headed back for R&R before we start back at BT next week. We returned to find some Wonderful Cards and Notes from ERBC Kids lots of whom J.T.  Knows personally some of which are Zander Harris, Owen Snodgrass, Cade and Cole Putnal.  It brought tears to my eyes and warmed our heart to read them all.

    Lastly I want to mention The Fine Folks at our Church ERBC, Jason Royston, the Youth , Robin MacLellan and our whole Community who came out and Supported J.T. In the 5K Run/Walk.  The Pictures and Videos are so Humbling.  The Prayers and Support can Never be repaid. We Love You All!!!  Please Continue to Pray for Healing, Understanding and Progress.  We desperately miss being Home and especially Christie, Peyton and Jacob.  I seem to struggle so much in the down times and  my mind tends to race the questions never go away. My strength relies on My Savior, My Family and My Community!!! God Bless and fightfor5

 

5K Walk/Run 11-5-2016 Come out and join us!!!

UPDATE:  5K Fundraising Event happening tomorrow 11-5-2016 in Rogersville in honor of JT Brooks.  #fightfor5 We hope everyone comes out and joins us!!!



Jason Royston organizer of the event said-- ”We currently have over 80 signed up.  We will start at East Rogersville Baptist Church and go through Historic Downtown Rogersville to Armstrong St.  At the end of Armstrong St, we will go East on Broadway to Depot St, then East on McKinney Ave back to church. We have over 20 volunteers that will be at registration, crossings, pictures, water station, and finish line.” 



You can register online at www.Thefightfor5.com or at the event tomorrow at 8:00am at East Rogersville Baptist Church  1100 E McKinney Ave. Rogersville, TN 37857

Thanks to all the runners, walkers, volunteers and supporters!!!