BRI Day 1

Another milestone for Liz... today she was moved to Baptist Rehab Institute! This is a HUGE step and now that her vitals are stable and she is breathing and eating on her own- the rehabilitation professionals can begin her on the rigorous road to recovery. We should all be SO proud of Elizabeth and thanking our Lord! He is so worthy of our praise!

Elizabeth walked again today... about 20 feet total. She is walking with a gait belt with the help of her PT and sister.  She also wanted to get dressed today... she ditched the hospital gown to wear a hot pink top and yoga pants for her workout.  I would also like to mention that her nails matched the color of her shirt. :)Around 2:30 she began the trek to Baptist Rehab. While a nurse pushed her in a wheelchair her mom and sister loaded a cart with all of her belongings. You would have thought that they had been their for months with all of the stuff that she had!  She had a much better appetite today. She is not eating much solid food, but had a smoothie, yogurt and apple juice this afternoon. She is going to need her energy so this is definitely an answered prayer!

BRI is a great place. There E will be working around the clock to rehabilitate. She will receive about 1.5 hours each of physical, speech, and occupational therapy per day. She is going to be one busy- and tired girl.  In the next few days her new physicians and therapists will fully evaluate her and will have a better idea of what structures/nerves may have damage. They are already very impressed with the progress she has made so far in such little time.

Elizabeth knows all of her family, and is making very good relations between people and events. She is speaking very well and already has many of the same mannerisms that she did before the accident. For example, her voice inflection and tone is very much the same when she says certain words or phrases.  She is also smiling.... a LOT. (Just like our old E!) She is so friendly to everyone she meets and knows all of the names of her caregivers- from doctor to nurse's aide. She makes all of them feel welcome and invited each of the folks in the "step down ICU" to her new home in rehab- so Elizabeth to be so sweet and hospitable!

E is experiencing some confusion and disorientation. We need to be in constant prayer for this area of her brain to heal and that we can have our Elizabeth back 100%.

Elizabeth will be at BRI for approximately 3-4 weeks. Her family will be with her 24 hours a day. While her room is much bigger than before, it is still a small hospital room and there are a lot of people in and out pretty much all of the time. E will be very busy during the day and will need all of the energy she can muster to get her through the next few weeks.

I am so encouraged by Elizabeth. We all should be. Even in the situation she is in, with a long road ahead of her she wears a continuous smile on her face. Today, while the nurses were transferring her from her wheelchair to her new bed, she was reciting her favorite verse in 2 Timothy- reminding herself and everyone around that we have not been created to be fearful, but to have a spirit of LOVE and a SOUND MIND. Elizabeth and her family have been/are going through the biggest storm of their life. I am so blessed to know people that are so faithful and are praying their way through this storm and always stopping to give God the glory.

PRAISE. "Thank you gracious Father for healing Elizabeth! Thank you for hearing our prayers and doing immeasurably more than we could do on our own."

PRAISE. "Thank you for the continuous progress E is making. We praise you for her being moved to rehab and thank you for what you are going to continue to do in her life."

PRAISE. "We praise you for Elizabeth and her family that are weathering this storm like Job. Even in their suffering, they are giving you praise."

PRAY. "Lord we lift up Elizabeth to you. We pray that you heal her completely in Jesus' name!"

PRAY. "We pray encouragement in Elizabeth's heart and determination in her mind." We pray for physical strength that will allow her to endure many hours of therapy a day."

PRAY. "We pray for the Parsley's that have committed to staying with their loved one around the clock. We pray encouragement for them, as well as emotional, physical, mental and spiritual strength. May they always keep their eyes on you."
Amen
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Michelle, Bill, Billy, Rachel, and Jacob are so very grateful for the outpouring of support for Elizabeth and their family. The cards, flowers, snacks, gift cards, donations, and support that is being shown through t-shirts and bracelets is a small example of the love that God has for His people. Thank you for showering them with your love and please please do not stop praying.

Bracelets- There are now more bracelets available at Re/Max in Conway off of Skyline. There are only about 100 left!  We may be placing another order soon depending on demand.

 "I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love.  Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither fears for today or our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love."

Romans 8:38