Hello all,
To those of you around the world who are new to the email list here… please read from the bottom up for a raw account of events/details as they occurred.
We will soon be setting up a website where all updates will be posted… stay tuned for that. Here is the latest update:
As Michelle discussed in her update below, a primary concern over the last days has been Steve’s breathing function and ability. As Steve’s brother Mark characterized it today, Steve continues to breathe through a tube but the good news is that his breathing ability has improved and he is now breathing on his own. This is a positive sign. I know Miche was able to visit again briefly with Steve this evening. My sense is that the truncated visits are very difficult… she just wants to be with him.
Steve currently has some feeling but no movement from his chest to his feet. He has partial use of arms/biceps; no fine motor movement in his fingers.
Steve will have a second surgery Monday, the 21st. This will be a follow-up procedure to the initial surgery he had on Thursday. It can last 4-6 hours and was characterized as more routine and less life-threatening than the original surgery.
Thank you–each and every single one of you–for your prayers, tears, kindness, and love.
One other thought: I have known from personal experience that when a life-altering tragedy occurs there is a major influx of attention, care, and love in the initial weeks. In some ways, the initial trauma is almost easier to journey through because of this… there are more people there to help carry you. However, as the slow, hard months wear on that is often when the real immensity of the experience begins to weigh. 3…6…9 months out… that is often when it is the most difficult, and unfortunately that is often when so many around you go back to “normal” life when you know life will never be “normal” again… at least not in the way that it was.
We all know Steve and Miche’s immense ability to endure and create goodness. I would never challenge that. Nor would I ever challenge how we will all respond and help care for them in the coming months and even years. I simply offer this as a word of encouragement to everyone. I know we all want to move heaven and earth to help them right now… and many of you have expressed feeling helpless in your grief. All to say–because there is a long road ahead, there will be many opportunities to tangibly show our love to them in the days ahead, and to give back to this family who has in so many profound ways blessed and given so much to us all.
With love, and endurance,
Sean