Surprise Visit from Elder Ryan
Elder Ryan and Elder Bryce
The Two Companero's
The PANTS!
The Dresses from El Salvador
Seeing if the dresses pass the twirling test!
Ben Lomond Peak painting
Thanks Grandma Stakebake for taking the time to teach Bryce.
The Rainbow after the Rain
With school starting up again, it seems that time has sped up. I am anxiously waiting for the time change- when we gain an hour.
August 14th, we had a Physical Therapy appointment and they encouraged Bryce to start walking around the house without his crutches... and walker. So, I hid the walker. It was a hard thing for me to up and disappear that walker. I'm not kidding. All week long, Bryce would say, "I miss my walker." And I had to smile and say, "Thank you Mr Gardener for loving me enough to cut me down." (Taken from "The Will of God" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson) Then I had to leave the room because I knew that he still hurt to walk and that he would much rather take the pressure off his hips to relieve the ache, but it wasn't going to help him get stronger. He needed a gardener.
Soon after the walker disappeared, he was up and walking around, only using his crutches on the stairs. On August 20th- reaching 12 weeks after surgery- his restrictions were lifted and he is now able to do what is tolerable. We are trying to keep in mind that it takes a year to fully recover.
On August 26th we attended our first Institute Class for fall semester at Weber State. This time, Bryce is strolling in on his crutches instead of a wheelchair. Going long distances still wears him out and crutches keep him in a vertical position when he gets tired. We are grateful for the progress he has made since last January. We are also grateful for any progress he makes daily- even if they are 'baby steps'.
On August 29th we were so blessed to have a special young man come to our home with his parents. (Elder) Ryan Defigueiredo, who served with Bryce in El Salvador just before coming home, came all the way from California to see Bryce. He also brought Bryce "the pants" that were made by the ward mission leader of the ward they had served in. The pants are huge, but Bryce was in heaven when he felt how soft they were. Ryan also delivered Emma's dress that was not available before Bryce left. Bryce had shopped for some pretty dresses for the girls around Christmas and they had one for Gracie, but not one for Emma. So Bryce left behind some money and Ryan purchased one for Emma. The girls were so happy!
Ryan talked to us about how grateful he was for Bryce. Bryce was transferred the day after Christmas to Ryan's area and he referred to Bryce as his "Belated Christmas Gift." The two of them were anxious to work hard and to work together. Little did they know what was about to happen. (This may take me longer to write than for you to read, because I have to keep wiping my tears so I can see.)
One week into their time together, Bryce started having a hard time walking. They did have some hills to walk and Bryce started stretching and doing some exercises, hoping that the pain would go away. Then Bryce wrote home on New Year's Eve to tell us of his dilemma. I wrote to Sister Glacier about Bryce and they did some calling around to the mission doctor and set him up with a Physical Therapist. Then he was sent to an Orthopedic Surgeon. Ryan was an angel in the right place at the right time. He offered to carry Bryce a few times as they had to walk the streets to the Doctors office from the bus and back again. Bryce remembers fighting back the tears on a few occasions because he didn't know if he could keep going. Ryan was there helping him every step of the way.
I already knew he was an exceptional young man, but after meeting him for the first time, I love him even more. What a great example of the Savior. I am so grateful the two were able to work together for those three short weeks. I am grateful for their influence they had on each other and for the way their friendship blessed both of them. I am grateful for angels that are sent to bear us up. Thank you Ryan! You will never know what it means to me (as a mom) to have someone like you when I couldn't be there for my son.
Thank you for your visits and for your love.
Here are some of the other fun highlights of the last month-
Hank Smith has become a new addition to our motivational library. If you haven't heard him speak you should! One of my favorites is "Running Down Your Dreams." Thanks Grandma Hales for getting us started!
Watch the CES Devotional by Elder Russell M Nelson-
Finished the Book of Mormon as a family
After Fasting and Praying for Rain- we got it along with a beautiful rainbow!
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