Thursday October 22, 2009

Ryan Update

Ryan Update
No matter where I go or who I meet, the one question I get more often than any other is, “How is Ryan?”

I had a nice grandmother tell me the other day that she was mad at me. She said I had not given any updates on Ryan lately and I should include a short section on the blog on his progress more often. So today let me give a detailed update and I promised her I would a short paragraph each week on the progress of our miracle.

For those that are not familiar with his situation I guess a little background would help. Ryan was the passenger in an automobile accident while on his way to school on June 2, 2008. He suffered Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and second degree burns all over his body. He was given a 50-50 chance to live the first day of the accident. Ryan was in a coma for over two weeks and spent 76 days in the hospital. His injury was in his cerebellum which controls balance, speech and fine motor skills. Ryan faced long odds in surviving and even longer odds of a normal life.

The news is great for Ryan. He works extremely hard every day and his rehab has been a tremendous success. The doctors told us they had no idea what kind of life Ryan would have but at this point, there is little Ryan cannot do. He is walking better each day. He has trouble with inclines and declines but that is improving with each passing day. Ryan is walking smoother and really does not fall if he is on dry, level ground.

His speech and fine motor skills are also getting better. He gets up by himself, showers, puts on deodorant, brushes his teeth, gets dressed and walks down stairs for breakfast every day. Two of the more difficult tasks seem much easier now as Ryan can put in and take out his own contact lens and he ties his own shoes so much better each day.

He has a friend give him a ride to school and he walks the halls from class to class. He still has some issues with his right hand because of a severed ulna nerve in his elbow. Ryan has been forced to learn how to write with his left hand and for the most part of now a southpaw so some of his classes provide notes for him.

We all have noticed how much his motor skills and his eating is a great example of it. Two months ago it looked like a hurricane had come through the dinner table after Ryan finished eating. Now, he makes less of a mess than most of us.

Ryan’s attitude is still terrific and perhaps one of the biggest reasons for his miracle recovery. I tell him all of the time that he and God are working together as a great team with this rehab stuff. Ryan’s brain is healing with each day and his hard work is allowing his body to rehab as well. He works extremely hard with his physical therapy and results are showing.

I get asked all of the time about Ryan’s school progress. He was a little ahead of schedule at the time of his accident which was the end of his sophomore year in high school. He was not able to go to school last year but took two classes, English and Psychology (he made Bs in both classes), at home last school year. He has been back at school full time and is now a junior and seems to be doing well. There is even a chance that Ryan could graduate from high school next December which means he would have graduated one semester behind where he would have been prior to the accident.

This past weekend Ryan and I spent time working on his walking at Jervey Meadows because it was so flat and then headed to work on inclines on Bowman Field. After watching him work for a couple of hours and seeing how much more efficient he has become, I am more convinced than ever that Ryan will make a 100% recovery.

He still has a long road but it is much shorter today. Ryan has some issues with his right hip flexor muscles which cause him to swing his leg forward which causes him to land on his right toe rather than his right heel. Once he strengthens his right leg he will be able to walk perfectly normal. This means he will be able to run and hopefully enjoy his love, playing basketball.

In so many ways Ryan is just your average teenager. He is girl crazy and his good looks and charm seem to have them just as fond of him. He spends most of his day texting girls or talking to them on facebook. He watches Sportcenter every day. Any game and any sport gets Ryan’s attention especially Clemson or the New York Yankees. He loves LeBron James too.

Ryan still eats like a horse. Usually he consumes twice as much food as anyone I know. I have never met anyone that orders two entrees like he does.

Good days for Ryan usually involve the Tigers, Yankees or Carolina Panthers winning. Sometimes good days include more girls giving him his number. Bad days are when he gets mad at me because I won’t let him sit on the hill at Clemson games like he used to.

Good days for me are the ones where I get witness his optimism. He comes down every home game weekend and I am still amazed at his patience and attitude. I wonder how I would have handled such adversity?

When he gets to Clemson he is treated like a king. Everywhere he goes people come up to Ryan and speak. Sometimes just to say hello. Sometimes they tell him they have been praying for him. Often strangers tell him how much he has inspired them.

I guess that might be one of the most amazing things to come out of this lesson life has given me and Ryan. There was a time when I wondered why Ryan’s story was so special to so many but not anymore. This world is filled with people telling us bad news. We are reminded of what is wrong with so many people and so many aspects of our lives.

Ryan is special because his story is different. It is one of an 18-year old that is happy to be alive and who still has dreams that are realized every day. His story showed us how a community could come together and provide light for a family in its darkest hour. Ryan’s story shows us how prayer does work. It shows us how optimism is the preferred way to live. His story reminds us that hard work does pay off.

People want to be inspired and that is exactly what Ryan and this community have done. We all need hope and that is exactly what this story has given to so many.

I am proud to say that next Friday night Ryan and I have been asked to speak to the Clemson football team during the team chapel service. I have asked Ryan what his message will be and will share more after service. I am not sure a father could have a finer moment than watching his son speak in that setting next week. What a great opportunity we have been given.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler.