The Blessed Recovery

Since Travis does not have health insurance, efforts were made to get Travis in a charity bed at a rehabilitation facility...but that did not work out. On November 10, 2013 Travis was released to our care, in our home. At this point, his injuries were as follows:

1) traumatic brain injury (TBI) which showed through lack of all short term memory, disorientation & confusion

2) broken right wrist

3) fractured left shoulder blade (do not raise over 90 degrees)

4) broken left ulna & radius (forearm bones)

5) "tender" left knee due to open joint wound

6) right eye that is "off-center"

I was fortunate enough to be able to stay home with Travis, as he needed 24 hour care at that point. He needed guidance any place he walked...he was easily confused, very uncoordinated and very weak. It was necessary for me to sleep with him for about a week since he would usually get up multiple times in the night.

While in the hospital, Travis repeatedly ask for a shower. I knew this would be an absolutely wonderful thing once we got home. His first day, I put on my bathing suit an prepared to shower him. That was Monday. On Tuesday, he did not remember he got to finally shower! 

Home health care was quickly established. Occupational therapy would come out 3 days a week to focus on his hands, elbow and shoulder and physical therapy would come 2 days a week for his left knee. Established exercises for both would be done by Travis EVERY day. For the first couple of weeks of exercises, it was necessary for me to help Travis with these tasks: read & explain each exercise, supervise correct technique and hold him up with a safety strap. Travis gained strength QUICKLY. By the week of Thanksgiving, both therapist said he was ready for more extensive rehabilitation so he would need to do out-patient at a facility. 

Travis celebrated his 23rd birthday the day after Thanksgiving.

It has now been 7 weeks since the accident. Travis is able to take care of himself, even with a cast still on one arm. He does his laundry & fixes his lunch. He just started walking 2.5 miles during these "nice-weather" days. AND, he remembers tasks. We are praising God for his glorious provisions and continued YES answers to our prayers!

I want to put in one of my Facebook posts because it expresses what I really want to say:

Day 17 for Travis Dowty! Let me preface with this... YOU ARE AMAZING! Yes you...you who took the time to click "continue reading" because something about this life intrigues you; something about the smile on his face makes you smile; maybe you know his mom, or grandparents or brother or sister or his step-brothers or step-sister; maybe you were just shocked to learn of the tragedy; maybe you went to school with him, maybe you only know someone who knows him, or maybe you are a prayer warrior! Whatever it may be that led you to want to read this, I want to THANK YOU!!! Because I suspect you have prayed for the life, the caregivers, the situation, the healing, the finances, the stamina, the patience, the family or for God's will at some point over the last 17 days...maybe only once, maybe daily...but you have prayed. Your prayer(s) have carried us!! Prayers have been answered with YES over & over & over again! Thank you!

Maybe you are one of the very fortunate ones who was able/called to give financially towards Travis' in-home rehabilitation, 5 days a week! You have enabled 50 therapy sessions to carry him well into 2014! Thank you!

Maybe you have brought us a meal, or two, a gift card, a phone call, a visit, or a card. What big time help...like you have no idea!!! Thank you!

Maybe your that special person who gave Jack or Kate a ride, an afternoon with a friend or a spend the night away from home that was so meaningful and appreciated! Thank you!

Maybe you are one of the people that covered for me at work and allowed "no worries" during a stressful time! Thank you!

...that really doesn't seem to do justice to how I want to be able to show my gratitude...to be able to give you a long hug with a big squeeze...to treat you to lunch or a coffee and just visit about it all, from your perspective...to just express my my insufficient THANKS to YOU!!!

As for Travis, he is still making progress...baby steps are still progress and we are thrilled with that! — feeling grateful.

Travis had his follow and his cast came off. He has been released to lift up to 10 pounds on each arm. Now some rehabilitation can be taken a notch up. As for his brain, he has tested on the "low" end of "normal" right before Thanksgiving. We are prayerfully hopeful of even more improvements in that area over time.