Rough Stuff.

I mentioned in THIS post, how much my little brother means to me.

When I was a little girl, I prayed every day for a baby brother FOR THREE YEARS. When he was born, he became my own personal baby doll. I ran through the neighborhood with him in a snugli. I took him on dates with my beau. He was my little shadow.

Last week, my brother had a serious fall and was life-flighted to the hospital unresponsive and unable to breathe on his own. He has been on a ventilator and in a coma for 7 long days. I was blessed to have been able to fly to be there with him and his family the day it happened.

Let me just say, my sister in law is AMAZING! She has held up with such grace through the darkest days of her life. My little sister and her hubby have housed all of us, fed all of us, and shouldered the lion-share of the load. My son came to the hospital and sat HOURS in the waiting room, so when I came out, he was ready to take me to dinner, or get coffee or be my shoulder to cry on.

Today seemed like the last 7, no new plan, just try the same things over again that had not worked:

They planned to lower the sedation, and see if he could wake up. I have to admit, I didn't have high hopes. We have tried countless times in the last 7 days and he has not been able to respond.

But today..... HE WOKE UP!!!!!

He was able to open one eye(it was a slit but it was open!) on command, and raised 2 fingers on request.

I cried the ugly cry.

The doctors wanted to get him breathing on his own so they shut off the ventilator and for two LONG hours, my sister and his wife reminded him to breathe when he forgot. He passed the test, and....
 just like that, the ventilator was replaced with oxygen.

Whoop!

And I saved the best for last. Here is the DESSERT of the day. I warn you, it's a yummy gooey good dessert;

His son came in the room, and shyly said, "Hi Dada."

MY BROTHER SMILED AT HIS SON.


Does it even get better than that?!?

I think not.

For those of you who know, THANK YOU for your prayers. From the depths of my soul, THANK YOU.

This is a very long road back from a traumatic brain injury. But we took the first visible step today.

It feels good.

Now excuse me while I go cry more happy tears.