The following is from a close friend...who has just been awesome in helping us to deal with all we have ahead of us. I wanted everyone to read...because it tells just a bit of how Ryan is getting through all of this!!
Thought I'd share...in as few words as possible with select few -- if nothing else...to substantiate your support of Ryan and his family during this "challenge".
As per stories Brenna told me about Ryan insisting he visit with everyone in the "lobby" versus his room [with or without permission], to his desire to get back to work and continue to be a volunteer fireman 9 days after a craniotomy and coma, 2 days at SeaWorld with his family 2 wks after brain surgery, to enduring pain to eat a cheeseburger at the Rainforest Cafe in Galveston yesterday [seems to refuse to take the easy choice] which tugs on his ? mark or could cause lock jaw or refusing to use an accessible/convenient elevator versus climbing two flights of steep stairs [that leaves me winded]...enduring excrutiating pain due to 2 blood clots in leg [evident by oohs and aahs as he climbs], to BBQing our shish-ka-bobs...the man's too stubborn and competitive for his own good sometimes. Nor can the man sit still for 5 minutes -- always teasing, smiling and making jokes, i.e., "pulling the -- craniotomy excuse card". He even "swiftered" the beach house this afternoon.
I don't know about you ... but ... I just gotta say: "What a Man!" "How many people (especially men), 18 - 20 days after a craniotomy and coma, diagnosed with "brain invasion", with radiation and chemo treatments starting sooner than he'd like, share his fortitude? It was my fortune to only have known one other in my lifetime.
Over the past two days, in Galveston, "upfront and personal", I was "thunderstruck"...reeling with thoughts of "personal strength, valor, courage & patience". Admittedly, also wondering how I would respond if I were Ryan and/or Brenna.
The support Ryan and Brenna have received renews my faith in mankind. I've seen more goodness in so many people.
As Randy Pausch, Author of "The Last Lecture" [See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo] -- This book is a gift to all -- at whatever plight.] writes, "No matter how bad things are, you can always make them worse. At the same time, it is often within your power to make them better." Ryan and Brenna are a shining example of the later!
Together, we have the power to make a difference!
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