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
