Moving On Up!

Last night I had a few really good conversations with Ryan. He cried when I told him how he was found unresponsive after at least 15 hours of being alone, and how his co-workers are so concerned about him. I also told him how grateful we are that he chose to hang on for so long, and that he keeps fighting to overcome this injury. He is trying so hard, but things are very difficult.

Last night he was moving quite a bit, and complaining that his hips were hurting really bad. His movements don't seem to be super-controlled, but he was moving enough that we were concerned he might roll himself out of his bed. At one point, he picked his entire left leg and foot off of his bed. I cheered for him, and asked if he could do it again. He grimaced and then lifted his leg again! I cheered some more and said, "That's so awesome, Ryan! Can you do it one more time?!" It took him a little longer to get the third repetition in, but he finally did it! It was wonderful! (Now we just need him to do that when the physical therapist is in the room!)

The physical therapist came fairly early this morning because his afternoons on Fridays are usually filled with new patient evaluations (this hospital admits a lot of people on Fridays). So of course, Ryan had just settled in to his very still, sleeping period, and it was really hard for him to stay awake and respond to the therapist. At the end of his therapy session, the therapist asked Ryan what his name was. He wasn't responding, so the therapist asked, "Is your name Billy?" and Ryan shook his head. Then the therapist said, "Tell me your name," and Ryan finally mouthed "Ryan." Then the therapist pushed, "Tell me your last name," and Ryan mouthed "Muench." That was the first time I'd seen him say anyone's name, so the fact that he remembers his own name is really good!

Also last night, our bishop and his wife came to visit. I'm glad that Ryan was fairly awake while they were here. The bishop told Ryan how much he was needed back at church because they just got some new technological equipment that only Ryan knows how to run, and since he wasn't there to help last month, they had a really rough time with it. That made Ryan smile really big -- he clearly seemed to understand what the bishop was talking about, and he was pleased to know how much he is needed and cared for by all of the members of our ward family. 💙💚💙💚💙

So now the plan is just to let Ryan continue to rest this weekend. They aren't able to get him in for his MRI until Monday or Tuesday (because they have to schedule with the respiratory team as well, because he'll be so heavily sedated). They talked about trying to send him up to the University of Utah for the MRI, but they are booked till August. Sometimes it's so hard to just sit and be patient!!! Especially when he wants to speak so badly, but they won't switch out his trach until after his MRI! But we'll trust that things are in God's hands, and just do our best with the circumstances we're in!