Our Visit with Dylan

We left for Boise Sunday morning and got there in time to go to Dennis' sister's sacrament meeting (she also goes to a Spanish branch) and then we sent the girls to go hang out with cousin Sharlene while Dennis and I went to the hospital for a while.

 

When we arrived he was awake but incoherent. He just stared off into the distance an wouldn't respond when I spoke to him... But that was all just an act. (so Dylan... Geesh!) It wasn't long before he laughed and gave up the pretense. 

 

And then I got out the camera and this is what follows...

Almost a smile...

Got it! Bwahahaha.... That's going on facebook.

It's always a good time when you get my siblings all together (just missing Tara... She had visited the previous day) ...Okay, maybe not a good time (Dylan wishes he were anywhere else but in a hospital bed) but I'm glad that we could get together and laugh and joke. We don't do somber very well.

He wanted to know more about stroke. He googled "define stroke..."

 

And the results.... "Stroke. NOUN. The act of hitting or striking someone or something; a blow."

And now mom showing him the real details about the type of stroke he had...

It's been a long couple of days with little sleep for mom & dad.

 

 ...And Nicole who hasn't hardy left his side.

Josh flew up from St. George.

 

After scans and MRI's and bubble tests and echo graphs and whatever else the conclusion is that his heart appears perfectly normal, no holes or defects. He's not a druggie. He has no high blood pressure or cholesterol. He is young. He is fit. There are no explanations why he had a stroke.

The physical therapist came by while we were visitng. He took him on an obstacle course around the ICU (yes, he was still in the ICU, but that was only because they didn't have any available rooms elsewhere). He walked normal, moved his arms and fingers normal... It's a miracle.

This was his last physical therapy session. That's it. No more. Truly amazing.

I think the theory is that since he is young his brain has been able to rewire itself better than a more aged brain would, and therefore he is improving at an unprecedentedly (is that a word? probably not) amazing rate.

Now he just wants to go home.

...And take his comfy sock slippers with him.

We love ya bud!

I felt a little irrevrent being in the ICU. This was a special cardio wing so we assume most of the other patients were there for heart attacks or stroke. They were all feeble old men, hardly moving, hardly conscious. I will particularily remember the image of this little old asian couple. The husband covered in blankets. Still. The little old lady, hardly taller than the raised hospital bed holding his hand. Such a quiet, somber place... And then Dylan's room, always with more than the allotted number of visitors laughing and joking and celebrating youth and a full life ahead. I remember the night before Dylan's stroke Dennis and I were watching an episode of Lark Rise to Candleford (a BBC tv show set in the late 1800s) and I remember telling Dennis through tears at the end of the show, "That was so sad and yet so beautiful." In the episode most of the children in the little town of Lark Rise are stricken with Measles, leading to the death of one of the young siblings. One of the men questions his faith and wonders why God lets children be born just to be subject to pain and suffering. The wife then tells him something very profound... "because it is worth it."

I have been thinking a lot about mortalitly lately. I actually often think about mortalitly, even before all of these events. I had an impression that those words from that silly TV drama would be a comfort in the near future, but I had no idea to what extent I would need them and dwell on them. That show also made me grateful for modern medicine. Something as simple as a vaccination or two has saved countless children's lives. We can see Dylan's brain without cutting him open. They can perform brain surgery and remove a marble-sized clot and the only incision he has is in his leg. I am so grateful for the life we have been given, no matter the duration. Heavenly Father has a plan and I hope I can be open to his direction and fulfill whatever mission he has planned for me.

We have been witnesses to so many miracles this weekend. Thank you everyone for your prayers! We know they have helped; we know Heavenly Father hears them. When Dylan was in the ER here in Twin he was given a priesthood blessing and Dennis said that he would have a speedy recovery. He had no idea exactly how miraculously that speedy recovery would be. Dylan's life has been preserved, as well as almost all full function on his right side. We know that Dylan has something important to do with his life!!!

An update on Dylan...

Some of you may know that my 18-year-old brother, Dylan, suffered a stroke last night. I am posting this in hopes to keep our friends and family updated as to his condition. I will start by saying he is doing remarkably well for how much he has been through! Also, forgive me if my details aren't 100% correct. All that I know was pieced together from a number of reports.

Dylan has been complaining of numbness on his right side off and on for about a week. I remember texting him about it as I was in the mother's room at church on Sunday. I jokingly asked if he was having a stroke and asked him if he could think clearly. We determined it must just be a pinched nerve and kind of brushed it off. Last night around 9pm he was getting ready to go to a movie. His girlfriend, Nicole was with him. He collapsed all of the sudden and had no control of his right side, had slurred speech and a painful headache. Nicole (whom I just have to say is amazing) called an ambulance and got him some water and aspirin. He was assessed by the medics, had a normal blood pressure reading and was taken to the ER here in Twin Falls. We got a phone call from my mom & dad, who were already on her way from Hagerman to have Dennis meet grandpa Jim & Nicole at the ER to give Dylan a blessing. Dennis' sister, Kati was over at our house and we were just starting a movie. She offered to watch the girls and I hopped in the car with Dennis.

We got to the ER and waited, and waited, and then they allowed the men to go in and give Dylan a blessing. Soon after, Dylan was showing almost a 100% recovery. He was talking normal and had feeling in his arm and leg. The doctors were debating on whether or not to give him blood thinning medication. They could see a dense mass in the c t scan they gave him. If they were going give it to him they would life flight him to the hospital in Boise because if he were to have any internal bleeding (highly unlikely) they wanted him to be somewhere where they had a neurosergion (we don't in Twin) because bleeding would be very dangerous and he would need surgery right away. They had just decided that they were not going to send him to Boise when he suffered another stroke. They changed their minds and he was sent to Boise via helicopter. En route he had yet another stroke and was admitted to the ICU upon arrival in Boise. My parents and Nicole drove to Boise to meet them there and Dennis and I went home to take care of our girls.

Dylan was given multiple tests just as a precaution because they thought there was a very small chance that he would need surgery on his brain (1-2% chance). He was given an angioplasty to get a better image where they saw the clot, it was a very large blockage and decided to operate immediately to remove it. I have been told that it was stuck in tight and that it would have flat out killed him. Minutes later we may have lost him.

The doctor performed the surgery to remove the clot and the only incision Dylan has is on his leg where they entered the femoral artery. I find that simply amazing that you can operate on the brain through one's leg! The surgery was successful at getting blood flowing through his brain again. He was awake through the surgery because sedation would be too dangerous, but he has suffered few pains and is only taking Tylenol and complaining of hiccups. He is now starting to feel a little sore but we are truly amazed at everything that has happened (or not happened) thus far.

Doctors are still at a loss as to why a healthy 18-year-old like Dylan would suffer such a massive stroke. They suspect he may have a heart defect, possibly a hole in his heart where the clot may have passed through to his brain. They are running multiple tests (involving echoes, bubbles and letters that don't make any sense to me) to try and get to the bottom of it and we hope to hear results over the next few days. He will be in the ICU through tomorrow until the anti-clotting drugs ware off and will be in the hospital for at least a few more days.

My mom said that "as of 1:00 pm, Dylan continues to improve. He can speak, swallow, read, move his right arm and leg (though not at full strength). He will continue to undergo a battery of tests over the next few days, looking for a cause and any damage done... Truly a miracle thus far!!!"

His doctor says he is doing great but not out of the woods yet. They want to be sure they removed all of the clot and figure out what caused it in the first place. Mom and dad will be in Boise for sure through the weekend and I will be traveling up to visit him tomorrow morning since I am taking pictures at a wedding this evening. All in all we feel very blessed that we are surrounded by such awesome people that have helped save my little brother's life. Please continue to pray for Dylan and I will try and keep you updated. I firmly believe that all those that have helped Dylan (from Nicole calling 911, the decision to fly to Boise, the tests ordered, the surgery given...) have been divinely inspired.We know that Heavenly Father is aware of us and hears our prayers!

Tip Toe

If you've met Clara in person you might have noticed that she likes to walk on her toes... But did you know she really likes to walk on her toes? Quite literally...

 

It's kind of funny, but it's also quite concerning. I try to discourage her (I'm sure it can't be comfortable!) She's broken multiple toe nails but yet she continues! What to do???

May's Half Year Portraits

We're calling them half year because 6 month doesn't make too much sense since we waited until she was 7 1/2 months old. I wanted her to be able to sit up solidly on her own. :) I made her outfit and I love that it has sleeves! I also love the new floral backdrop.

 

Merry Christmas!

Just a couple pictures from these past few weeks...

 Our branch Christmas party... Clara was intrigued with Santa, but would only get close enough for him to hand her a bag of treats. No photo. :( And May really didn't want to look at me. Oh well.

 

Some of my favorite ornaments...

The Holidays can be exhausting. :)

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Photo Shoots