WOW!

Can you believe this?! Every time we go visit Josh, we can't believe the progress he has made from the previous visit. It really is amazing. However, one set back occurred...his spleen had a small lesion that continued to bleed. It continued to enlarge and was causing significant abdominal pain which necessitated a spleenectomy. Josh was OK with that, he is actually very proud of this soon-to-be abdominal scar. His feeding tube has since been removed. The IV in his right arm has also been removed. He is getting better mobility of his jaw, so understanding him speak is not an issue anymore. His doctor informed us that he will be discharged from the hospital on or around his birthday, November 9th (what a present that would be!) He will then be able to continue his rehab from home. We can't thank everyone enough for the love and concern you have showed Josh and our family. Your faith and prayers will continue to aid in his recovery. We will keep you posted.

Happy 1st Birthday Kai

My baby is one year old! I can't believe he is already so grown up. It seems like only yesterday that I was on my way to the hospital to have him. He is the sweetest most precious baby. He is always smiling and he just brightens up our life so much. His two big brothers just love him to pieces and they would do anything for him. Thanks for being such a big part of our family little buddy. We hope you have a wonderful day.

I Feel So Bad

In my worries about my dear brother I have forgotten to realize that someone else was involved in his accident. I had heard that the driver of the semi was fine, and although he may not have been in the same condition as Josh, I know that this tragedy has left him with much physical and emotional pain. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and that we hope someday this will all make sense. I hope that he is able to recover from this accident and heal as he needs to. In praying for Josh, I hope that everyone also remembers this dear man who was so tragically affected by this accident.

Have Miracles Ceased?

Three weeks ago yesterday I heard that my brother Joshua had been in a severe car accident hitting head on with a Semi, both of them traveling 65 miles an hour. I was told that he probably wouldn't make it. He had suffered so much bleeding to his brain that the only function he had left was pupil constriction in his eyes. We watched him lay there for hours and wondered if he was in there. We would hold his hand and it felt cold and swollen like his body had no life left in it. The doctor was reluctant in telling us about his condition. She said, "I never say a patient has zero percent chance"....but she let us know a recovery was not likely, however her gut feeling was to just wait. We thanked her for her honesty. Well we waited and waited and waited. Slowly we started noticing little things happening. First we noticed that he wiggled one of his fingers. We didn't know if it was a reflex or if it was him. The next day we heard that he wiggled fingers on both hands and toes on command. The news that day was fabulous. We started to have hope. We received so many phone calls and e-mails of people concerned and praying for Josh. The outpour of love was overwhelming. Each day we hear of something more he has done to improve. Now he can talk, write his name, wheel himself down the hall in a wheelchair, and he even stood up with help. He was planning on getting out of the hospital sometime this week and being transfered to the Nursing home in Montpelier until he was well enough to live in a treatment facility. We heard today that he is progressing so quickly that he doesn't need to go to the nursing home. He will stay in the rehab treatment center located in the hospital for a few more weeks and possibly go home after that if he is well enough. Our family has truely witnessed a miracle. I have no doubt in my mind that our Heavenly Father spared my brother's life for a reason. Medically speaking Josh had little to no chance of pulling thru this injury. Faith, prayers, fasting, and the will of a stubborn young man have aided in the Lords work of perfoming another miracle. He has two beautiful little boys who love and need him so much. Although this has been a very sad and difficult tragedy for our family to deal with, we can't help but recognize the tender mercies of the Lord each and every day. He has a long way to go, but it would be foolish to ignore the miracle that is taking place before our eyes. Please continue to pray for Josh as he progresses daily.

It's a Girl!!!!!!!

I just wanted to give a warm welcome to the newest member of the Royce family. My friend Mindy had a new baby girl today. She is the proud little sister of four big brothers. I am so glad that everything went well and that she is FINALLY here! I can't wait to meet her.

Update on Joshua

We went and visited Joshua yesterday(Sunday). He seems to be doing much better than the last time we saw him. He has started to talk a little. He actually talks quite a bit but we can only understand about ten percent of it. Callin told him that we have been taking care of his boys at our house the last few days and Josh looked at Callin and said, "Are they being good"? Other times when you ask him something he just repeats what you say. He also is much more mobile than he was a few days ago. He moves his legs all around. He also is very good at moving his hands when you tell him to. I told him to wave good-bye to me and he did it first with his left and than his right as though it were so easy for him. A couple of days ago you could hardly get him to wiggle his fingers. He got moved out of intensive care today. He will stay in the hospital for a short while and than will be transfered to a rehab facility where he can get the therapy he needs. He still sleeps most of the day which is normal for head injury patients, but when he is awake for a short period, we enjoy seeing his progression, even if it is only a tiny bit each day. He still has a long ways to go but I am confident that if anyone can fight through something like this, it's Josh. He is the hardest worker I know and he will work until he is back to his old self.