HUGE UPDATE FROM BETH ABOUT ZACH!

I have to update everyone on our HUGE news. Zachary went to the bathroom, not once but twice! Yep, that's right.

I really should start at the beginning. Zach is officially not in any kind of coma. Just overnight it seems he has moved out of the state of non responsiveness, into the next stage of the recovery process. He began to get really fussy this morning around 8:30, and sat up on his own several times, only to lay back down again. He would fuss, and open his eyes for a short time and look at me. I got to hug and hold him a few times while he was sitting up, then I would try to get him to lay back down. He would just cry and cry, then he finally decided to turn his whole body around and try to get out of the bed. He is a very strong little guy so the nurses came in and helped me get him back in bed, however he just kept trying to get out of bed. Finally it dawned on someone that he may have to go to the bathroom, so they brought a portible toilet in here and we helped him get to it, and at that moment all the fussing ceased, and boy did he have to go! When he was done, we got him back in bed and he conked out for a long time. We were all jumping for joy around here, and are still very thrilled.

We also saw the neuropsycologist. She explained many things to us and I will do my best to explain what I can here. Our brain has a lining around it that has three layers. The layer touching the brain was where the bleeding occurred and the bleeding touches the brain and so the brain kind of has to work around that. Now the blood will be absorbed by the body and disappear but there was also another type of injury called diffuse axonal injury or DAI. The cells in the brain are called neurons. They kind of look like a flower with a head and a stem. The stem is the axon and it's what carries the impulses from place to place kind of like a cord that carries electricity. Well thes axons in Zach's brain were stretched and bent, and could become broken or frayed.

It's amazing how the brain works! What happens is, the brain tries to find a detour around the damage! And it also seeks other cells that can take over the job that the damaged cells used to do. While his brain is working hard to do this, it shuts everything else down. This makes Zach very sleepy and in need of lots of sleep and quiet.

Right now, zachary has made great strides just overnight and this stage that he is now in is the hardest stage because he can be very aggressive and restless, or combative. It's hard for us but wonderful for him because he is progressing in the right direction. The doctor said that this stage means there is no going back!! Every one who makes it this far, never stays here. They always move forward, it's just a matter of time and patience. Out of the 8 stages of recovery, this is stage four, so he has come so far in 5 days. Praise God.

Thank you all so much for keeping in touch with us and praying for us. Just remeber also Julie, Jeremy, Maddie and Nathan in your prayers as well. They have their own trials to overcome and they need our prayers too! Blessings to you all and we'll be in touch!

Beth