February 25, 2010

Wow, it has been quite some time since I wrote Jordan’s last website update. Writing the updates is somewhat hard because I really have to be in the zone and really go inside my head. To write for Jordan is special, I can’t just sit down and throw words together. For Jordan it is always selfless and thoughtful, never flippant. Our family’s love for him continues to grow and carry us through. Well, that and a lot of support from friends, family and those whom we may not even know. You should never think that the lack of updates means that Jordan isn’t improving. Jordan is doing really well and we are as positive as ever.

Jordan is doing great. He is receiving physical therapy three times a week for one-hour sessions. Sometimes he seems to enjoy the workout, and sometimes not so much. He is also still doing the hyperbaric treatments twice a day. He seems more cognitive every day and is laughing and smiling more than ever. I’d say about 99% of the time his laughing and smiling it’s in response to some stimulus around him. He’ll laugh when we are talking about things and don’t realize he is listening. This response is a very positive thing and it shows that he is more and more aware of what is going on around him. Though, you could never tell us that there was a time he didn’t know. Also, those times that he laughs and smiles and we don’t know why—maybe he knows why. Either way, hearing him laugh is a pure blessing and another step in the right direction.

A few months ago, we started a Facebook support page called “Love, Support and Prayers for Jordan Terry” so that people can follow his progress and just show their support and the response has been so overwhelming. I never thought people had forgotten Jordan, but to be reassured that people are still curious about his progress and supporting his recovery is so humbling. Last time I checked his Facebook page, he had more than 600 friends! That is amazing and touches our hearts so deeply.  It is so cool to have a place for people to post comments and Happy Birthday messages and rest assured-we read all of it to Jordan. It’s also a great way for us to post current photos of Jordan to show everyone how well he is doing. If he could talk I am sure he’d say something like, “duh Shan, of course I have 600 friends, hellooo.”  He’s never been a shy one ya know.

Jordan had a really great Christmas and we were so excited to see a few old friends stop by to visit. We want to thank Jason Wolfe, Phillip Pierce, Jacque and Scott Brown, Drew Denham, The Brays, Jenny Knox, Becky Lamb, Devan Drury and Debbie Mayberry and Elizabeth Mayberry-Witt all for stopping by and visiting with Jordan (and us). He got lots of Christmas presents too like the DVD TV on a stand so he can watch movies easily and he got A LOT of DVD’s including Saved by the Bell and several other favorites. We feel so fortunate to have Jordan at home all the time but especially for the holidays.

I gave Mom, Dad and Jordan a very special gift for Christmas. Ever since day one of Jordan’s journey we have received countless cards and notes of encouragement and have kept every bit of it. I had an entire Sterlite container full of things that told Jordan’s story and I decided to put it all in books for Mom and Dad to keep until Jordan is well and can read it all himself. I mean I kept it all—from the pink notepad kept in the ICU waiting room with handwritten notes and phone messages written on it to every birthday card, get-well-soon card—all of it. So the week before Christmas I found myself at Staples five different times because I kept having to go back and get more notebooks and sheet protectors. I filled up two 600-page three-ring notebooks with handwritten notes and cards and little things I have collected along the way. I got to a point where as I was putting it all together (chronologically of course) I had to quit reading it or I never would’ve finished. I cannot tell you how amazing it was to see all of those names and notes and while it was hard to sift through, the sheer volume of it all warmed my heart all over again. I just cannot wait for Jordan to see it himself. Only then will he get a small idea of the kind of support he’s received and how many people have been touched by his story. The two notebooks I made are cram-packed, so Mom and I decided we would start notebook #3 together (look out Staples). Pretty cool stuff.

In January, Dr. Andy stopped by to check on Jordan and do a preliminary exam on his teeth. It turned out that he had a few cavities so Dr. Andy found Jordan a great dentist in Nashville, Dr. Michael Vaughn, a dentist that works with patients who have similar needs as Jordan. Dr. Andy is the only dentist that Jordan has been to so Mom and Dad were a bit apprehensive but Jordan needed to go so the appointment was made, Dad rented a van and off they went. Mom, Dad and Nurse Tina, who was just as anxious as the rest of us, drove Jordan to Nashville to meet Dr. Vaughn. When they got to his office, Mom went inside to make arrangements to get Jordan into the building for his consultation and was greeted by Dr. Vaughn’s wonderful staff. Upon meeting everyone, Mom asked if it was okay if she said a prayer with them and they all happily obliged. In her prayer, Mom asked that they see Jordan’s kind spirit and know that he wasn’t just any patient. As Mom headed out to get Dad and bring Jordan in, Dr. Vaughn and his assistant followed and came into the parking lot where they introduced themselves to Jordan and visited with Jordan and Mom and Dad for several minutes right there in the parking lot. After that preliminary visit, the appointment was made for January 27^th to bring Jordan back to get the small amount of work done that he needed. Again, Dad, Mom and Nurse Tina along with Uncle John loaded up into a rental van and took Jordan back for his appointment. It was a two-hour procedure and it went really well. Jordan had a teeth cleaning, a couple fillings and that was it.

We owe the good health of his teeth to our fabulous Nurses; Angie, Tina, Cheryl, Dean and Jennifer. They continue to find problems before they get out of hand. Lately Jordan has been dealing with an ear infection but the nurses caught it super-early and kept it under control. This is why it is such a blessing to have the same group of dependable nurses, because they know Jordan so well they can tell something’s wrong even when we can’t see it sometimes. They are all wonderful nurses and people and we are beyond fortunate to have them.

So all-in-all Jordan is doing really great. Mom and Dad had both of Jordan’s recliners reupholstered and they keep one in the house so Jordan can come in and watch football with Dad and Uncle John or just hang out with Mom. It was great to have a comfortable place for him during the holidays so he could be right in the middle of the action like he always has been.

As always, we want to thank everyone again for your love, support and prayers. Remembering Jordan in your prayers or telling us of dreams you have had in which Jordan is better, or that he is walking and talking to you—we hold on to those images and prayers and carry them with us to help get us through each day. Those small things DO make a difference, and we thank you for it. Through it all, we go on for Jordan’s sake. Giving up is simply not an option for us or for Jordan. It is a miracle that Jordan is alive and it is a blessing to watch him come back from all of this, slowly but surely. We live for baby steps and celebrate each one as if it were the first, with excitement and a positive attitude. Jordan would never give up on any of us and we will continue pushing until he’s back. When it gets really rough, I listen closely and can hear Jordan’s sweet voice in my head saying, “Love you Shan. Don’t worry, it’ll be ok.”