I know I’m a few weeks late, but that’s okay. I think every day should be Thanksgiving.
Because I am so thankful.
Thankful for every comment, text, phone call, dollar, card, letter, Facebook message and hug we’ve received. Everyone who has taken even just a second of their day to pray.
It’s working.
Slowly. But working.
More of Ryan’s day is spent awake. He’s working hard at the rehab center. His communication is getting stronger. He asked to “talk” on the phone with us yesterday. Lots of vowels accompany the words and most of it we can’t really understand, but he’s trying. The communication is working from the brain to the mouth, the mouth just isn’t quite working as it should.
He pulls me in for a kiss. His face lights up when he sees me or his daughter. He’s working so hard at the rehab center. Pushing himself to learn. To readjust. To figure things out.
He will get better. There is still no independent movement on the right side, but the feeling is returning.
Most importantly….his brain is intact. He is still himself. My husband. The man I married over 5 years ago. So every time he looks at me with those eyes that just scream love, or squeezes my hand or pulls my hand up to kiss it and brings it to my lips to do our “pass the kiss” moment, I am thankful. My heart sings and I am thankful.
Thankful for the health he does have.
Thankful for the family and friends in the area who are holding me up when I feel like my own right side is gone.
Thankful for the beautiful baby girl who misses me when I’m gone and runs screaming with laughter when I walk in the door.
So very thankful for life and love and living.
So thankful.
edited to add: tonight on the phone, he said “I Love You” and it was fully understandable! Both of us then proceeded to cry. God is good!
mrssoup.wordpress.com 
What a lovely post 🙂 SO SO happy for healing!
So lovely it made me cry. You three will survive and thrive. Much love. ❤ We love you Ryan! You are an inspiration to us all. I think Colin wants to be like you :p He wants a guitar for Christmas! lol We will continue to keep you all in our thoughts and prayers Kathy! Please let me know if there is anything at all we can do! ❤
Glad to hear Ryan made it to rehab and is working hard. I’m keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
I love that you can still see so much to be thankful for even with everything that you are facing right now. So happy to hear of the progress Ryan is making every day! Love you lots!
Thank you so much for your love. ❤
I hope he continues to recover well. We love you guys and wish you nothing but the happiness from here on out! Hug that wonderful man for us and that adorable kiddo too!
Thanks, my dear!
this is very encouraging, kat! thanks for the update. i know you have a long way to go, but just know that we are praying for you and ryan here in florida and we won’t stop until things are back to normal, girl! love you! (even though we’ve never met – feels like i know you 🙂 )
Thank you! They are arriving from Florida nice and warm!
Kathy, your post brought tears to my eyes. I think of you and your little family every day, and am continuing to send up prayers for all of you. *Hugs*
Thank you for the prayers and hugs. You are so sweet.
I am so thankful that things are going well for you and your family. I know this is not an easy road but please know there are still people out here in the world praying for you. I wish the very best for your holiday season.
Thank you so much for your support!
Here because Aunt Becky sent me and, as one of her loyal pranksters, I do what I’m told. 😉
What an awesome, amazing update! Sending prayers your way. 🙂
Sending prayers and best wishes from Canada, glad to hear there is light and hope for you too.
I learned about your need for prayers from “Aunt Becky”. I send them to you without haste and in abundance! Your fortitude is inspiring. God has a plan even in the midst of crisis. I look forward to hearing more about your husband’s recovery. Hugs.
Hello Kathy,
I read something about you from aunt Becky’s blog. I feel for her because you have been a F’ing good friend and I feel for you too. I have a boyfriend that I love so much and just imagining this happen to me too would make me feel lifeless. Kathy this is just part of some challenges we experience in life. I know everything will be back to normal… just like a normal day can be rainy and sunny. Stay strong for hubby and your baby! MWAH ❤
I will pray for your husband's health everyday and to other women who's experiencing this from their very loved ones.
Thoughts, prayers, and many hugs coming your way from Ohio.
Oh yeah, Aunt Becky sent me! 😉
I just wanted you to know that you and your family are in my prayers. I was grinning from ear to ear when I read the edited part of your post. Hearing those three words must have meant the world to you. Hugs and prayers to all of you! Hang in there.
hi there,
you don’t know me, but i’m one of aunt becky’s followers, and her post today was about you and ryan and your little girl.
just wanted to send you and your family some love and prayers and keep-kickin-ass-spirit from calgary, canada!
hang in there! i’m sending you all my best wishes and energy for your husband’s recovery.
kage
via Aunt Becky. Thoughts and prayers and encouragement for you all from Vancouver, Canada.
Came here via Aunt Becky, have seen your comments there for ages and I came to say, blessings! Peace! Good tidings we bring! I’m glad you have that delicious daughter to love on – I find that the most amazing moments of my life may be the ones where I simply sit and let a daughter wrap herself around me and just be mine. My two year old had a stroke when she was two days old, because of a then undiagnosed metabolic disorder and a nurse’s failure to start a glucose IV on time . . . been dealing with CP now for a year and a half . . . and you know what? She is awesome. We hound her with therapy (disguised as play) and the results are amazing. In the last ten days my mom has stroked twice, just went into rehab and I hope the results for her are as amazing (she is 81, so maybe not quite) but I really am astounded by the effects of good OT and PT work. It sounds like your husband is a fighter and with the support he has in you, he really has much good ahead of him, and as you’ve said, much to be thankful for. Come visit my blog for an inspirational stroke survivor picture now and then, and know that we are pulling for you guys, and have real faith in the work of occupational and physical therapists and stroke survivors. My heart goes out to your family!
Hi – I found you through Mommy Wants Vodka. I’m so sorry you’re going through this! Sending you good thoughts and prayers for your husband’s recovery.
Arrived here from Aunt Becky (who is the most awesome). Sending you (((((big hugs)))))) and asking the Goddess to look after you and your family. May your Christmas be full of magic as Ryan continues to recover xo
Hi, Kathy. You don’t know me, but I learned about you from Aunt Becky. I read about your dear husband, and my heart hurts for you. Interestingly, my family has been going through a similar circumstance with my brother (although he didn’t have a stroke). And his illness began on November 30 also, which is a poignant detail for me. His story is inspiring, I think, because he wasn’t supposed to live. If you can find a few minutes, check it out. Maybe it will give you some encouragement.
http://www.dothesekidsmakemelookcrazy.com/2010/11/01/the-absence-of-funny/
Just know that random strangers are sending you cyber-hugs & strength from far away. :O)
Just visited your blog for the first time today, thanks to Aunt Becky, and am so inspired and uplifted by your incredible spirit & light. Much love, strength, laughter, and healing to you & your family!
You have been put in my global healing jar to be included in the universal healing energy and prayers at 12:00 noon and 8:00 pm (GMT). If you want to join in, simply stop what you’re doing at those times and focus healing energy and prayers to all who need them. It’s been going on since the 1940s so there are many people all over the world praying for you and others in need.
There are no words to make this any easier for you, but I’m delighted at Ryan’s progress — that’s an excellent sign. {{{HUGS}}}
I don’t even know you and this is the first time I’ve read your blog, but I came over here from Becky’s blog. I wanted to let you know that my family is praying for your family. I will also send out a prayer chain in my church. I pray that your husband recovers fully and quickly!
This brings tears to my heart. I will be praying and sending healing thoughts and love to your little family.
I found my way here via ‘Aunt Becky’. I loved this post. You are such an inspiration. I admire how thankful and upbeat you remain when things are far from ideal.
I hope Ryan continues to improve and is able to join you at home soon. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Also, I love that picture of you and your daughter. It fits so perfectly with this post. Take care & have a wonderful holiday.
Just another comment from a stranger, letting you know that you and your family are in my thoughts.
Like so many other commenters, I came over here from Aunt Becky’s post. I’m praying for Ryan, you, and your precious little one. God bless!
I came to you via thebloggess, who sent me to mommy wants vodka, and then I saw a post about your husband which sent me here, and here I sit, tears streaming down my face in utter admiration of you and your strength. I’m praying for you.
Aunt Becky sent me over. ((hugs))
I’ll pray that the doctors do all the right things and the support he gets after he’s released from the hospital helps him to regain his strength to his fullest abilities and he is able to be a mentally and physically capable daddy to his beautiful daughter. Lots of prayers for the whole family.
Also via Aunt Becky, praying for you and your family.
Dear Kathy –
My name is Lori. I found you through Aunt Becky.
I’m a speech pathologist – adult medical and neuro and have been a rehabilitation director much of my career. I understand – deeply and personally- the circumstance you and Ryan are finding yourselves in. I have made a professional life by working with people who have gone through what Ryan is.
I am also the founder of a year-long fund-raiser for the American Stroke Association, so when I saw Becky’s post…I just wanted to come here and offer words of love and support. Because…this is why I wanted to do that. Because of people who go through this. People like Ryan, and you, who need the love and the support, and information and resources. I wanted to help the organization that does that.
If you have questions about stroke or language or rehab, although it sounds like you have a great team who’s taking care of Ryan, please email me. If I don’t know the answers myself I will try to point you in the right direction.
pointsforlori(at)hotmail(dot)com
But if nothing else, sending love your way. Heaps and heaps.
We got you covered in prayers sweetie. Like so many others, I’m one of Becky’s pranksters and we care about what’s happened to your family. I’ll be up during that lunar eclipse tomorrow night and will be sending positive healing prayers through the universe and over to your husband. Take care.
I found you through Aunt Becky & I am a big teary mess. thank god your husband is doing better & continues to heal! Sending you all the extra thoughts & prayers I have your way! (((hugs)))
Aunt Becky sent me here, and I’m glad she did. This was a beautiful post, and my heart goes out to you, Ryan and baby girl. Thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Amazing. I followed the link from Becky’s blog, Mommy wants Vodka, & am glad I did. Will be thinking of & praying for your family & appreciating mine even more because of your words.
Keeping you all close to my heart, and sending prayers for Ryan’s speedy and complete recovery! (Aunt Becky directed me here, and I’m so glad I visited!) {{{hugs}}}
Thinking of and praying for your family.
I just wanted you to know I’m sending healing happy thoughts for you and your family. I hope the universe knows who your friends are, (ahem, Aunt Becky) because she is a force to be reckoned with, and I wouldn’t want to mess with her. Much love to you and yours, for the holidays and everyday.
Another one here sent by our lovely Aunt Becky. I read your posts and even though I only know you from what I’ve read, I would love to give you and your family a huge hug. My heart, prayer and good thoughts go out to you, your husband and beautiful daughter. Bless you all.
sent over from AB – sending up prayers for you and your family.