March 10-14, 2006
Laura is making these updates rather easy and enjoyable to write. She is back on the recovery path, quite possibly having her absolute best therapy day on record. After what many would call a lull or stall, she is right back on track. The staff had Laura standing in the standing frame machine for over a half an hour (an incredible feat of strength at this stage). Laura was shrugging her shoulders and moving her head in a more controlled manner and to command. In addition, she was following these commands with seemingly little to no hesitation. While Laura has not yet been approved or reached a level to qualify for admittance to a more intensive program, we have complete faith of that impending reality. Now, it appears as if the medical community is leaning closer each day to this certainty. All Laura needs is a chance, one opportunity and she will seize it!
In an effort to better understand brain injury and increase our ability to manage Laura’s care, we have been busy researching. Here is an interesting passage from a book called Head Injury (Sturm, Forget, Sturm 1998). “A fairly rare injury can occur in which the higher functions located within the brain are fully operational and the patient is awake but unable to move any part of the body. This unfortunate condition is called the ‘locked in syndrome,’ in which the patient appears to be deeply unconscious and immobile but is actually completely awake.” Speaking with the professionals working with Laura, this is rather likely in her case. With this said, we are not only requesting, but requiring that conversations around Laura remain encouraging, hopeful, and positive. After all, you wouldn’t want her upset you when she is back with us!
Let’s be real for a minute. This process and many times our lives are completely exhausting. This situation is exhausting for family, friends, supporters, medical professionals, and especially for Laura. Left on our own, we would certainly lose faith, grow weary, and be constantly overwhelmed. The great news is that we are not left on our own and we don’t have to deal with our circumstances with our own strength. Because of what Jesus did for us, we have a direct link to God and have access to supernatural strength. This reality exists in the Spirit, but is verified and confirmed in the flesh. How else could all of us continue in this manner 8 months and counting? When you think about this story, Laura’s struggles, and what everyone is doing; please remember, we are not really doing anything, He is. God receives all the credit, praise, and glory. We simply are not equipped to handle these situations. We are all profoundly blessed to have our reliance and dependence on Him brought into our conscience awareness through this daily struggle.
HAVE YOU NEVER HEARD? HAVE YOU NEVER UNDERSTOOD? THE LORD IS THE EVERLASTING GOD, THE CREATOR OF ALL THE EARTH. HE NEVER GROWS WEAK OR WEARY. NO ONE CAN MEASURE THE DEPTHS OF HIS UNDERSTANDING. (Isaiah 40:28)
We love you,
Jeff and Laura Laughlin
In an effort to better understand brain injury and increase our ability to manage Laura’s care, we have been busy researching. Here is an interesting passage from a book called Head Injury (Sturm, Forget, Sturm 1998). “A fairly rare injury can occur in which the higher functions located within the brain are fully operational and the patient is awake but unable to move any part of the body. This unfortunate condition is called the ‘locked in syndrome,’ in which the patient appears to be deeply unconscious and immobile but is actually completely awake.” Speaking with the professionals working with Laura, this is rather likely in her case. With this said, we are not only requesting, but requiring that conversations around Laura remain encouraging, hopeful, and positive. After all, you wouldn’t want her upset you when she is back with us!
Let’s be real for a minute. This process and many times our lives are completely exhausting. This situation is exhausting for family, friends, supporters, medical professionals, and especially for Laura. Left on our own, we would certainly lose faith, grow weary, and be constantly overwhelmed. The great news is that we are not left on our own and we don’t have to deal with our circumstances with our own strength. Because of what Jesus did for us, we have a direct link to God and have access to supernatural strength. This reality exists in the Spirit, but is verified and confirmed in the flesh. How else could all of us continue in this manner 8 months and counting? When you think about this story, Laura’s struggles, and what everyone is doing; please remember, we are not really doing anything, He is. God receives all the credit, praise, and glory. We simply are not equipped to handle these situations. We are all profoundly blessed to have our reliance and dependence on Him brought into our conscience awareness through this daily struggle.
HAVE YOU NEVER HEARD? HAVE YOU NEVER UNDERSTOOD? THE LORD IS THE EVERLASTING GOD, THE CREATOR OF ALL THE EARTH. HE NEVER GROWS WEAK OR WEARY. NO ONE CAN MEASURE THE DEPTHS OF HIS UNDERSTANDING. (Isaiah 40:28)
We love you,
Jeff and Laura Laughlin
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