Greetings from Austin Street

Happy Thursday! It has been a very long day filled with a roller coaster of emotions and activity. Bruce is settled in to the Center for Neuro Skills in Irving, Texas. The staff at the rehab center and the residence are so gracious and very patient and family centered. After some initial paperwork the facility administrator brought us a delicious lunch of Boston Market. Promptly at 1:00 the OT therapist claimed Bruce and began his therapy shortly followed by PT. It has been determined that he will receive two sessions of speech therapy per day. AETNA has approved 14 days of treatment. Our prayer is that Bruce will “Rock Star” through this and be able to step down to an outpatient status. The facility will pick him up at our house and return him home in the afternoon. His scheduled day is 9:00 to 4:00 each day. His apartment is lovely with a queen sized bed, kitchen, dining area, living room and large bathroom. The staff placed welcome gifts of full sized shampoo and conditioner, a mesh scrubby wand, toothpaste and other items along with his own lunchbox for lunch each day and a beautiful basket of fresh fruit. He will prepare his own lunch each day he has therapy (5 days per week). The staff will take him to the grocery store where he will purchase the food he wants to eat for the week. He will prepare his own meals each day.  All of the linens are provided with the apartment as well as a washer/dryer. And once again the staff provided dinner for us tonight and we were treated to Olive Garden. There was still a great deal of paperwork to be filled out. But my favorite part of the evening was being with Bruce on the couch, watching NCIS and falling asleep in his arms for just a few minutes. For just a moment it was like home. Also today, when one of the staff introduced themselves to Bruce, Bruce responded with, “Hello, my name is Bruce.” Later in the day, he told the speech therapist his name was “Bruce Chrystie.” God is good and love wins!

“Cast all your care upon Him, for he cares for you.
1 Peter 5: 7

No matter how much or what we throw at God, God is there to catch it and our burdensome loads become lighter. God does not miss what we throw at Him and is always ready to help us with whatever we are facing. I have shed tears today and found peace today. And I thank God and His tender mercies for allowing me to cry, lean on the everlasting arms and sleep for just a few minutes in Bruce’s arms too.

Take joy in the journey remembering that hope does not disappoint. Wear comfortable shoes, pray with a heart filled with gratitude, let us cast our cares upon the LORD and get some sleep. God is up all night anyway so there is no need for all of us to be awake. Love you all, Bruce and Gaylene