He Doesn’t Stop
Each day Ian comes home with a list of things that he has said with his voice in therapy. Last night he was using his voice while we were out to dinner to tell me and the waiter what kind of beer he wanted. Ian has said several times that he’s really close to being back to full speech.
Ian is a picture of Christ to me in his obedient response to what the Father has given him. And he is obviously fighting to control temptations to untruth- if he weren’t, his response to therapy, Bible reading, going places, would be much different. Thank you, Ian, for your faithful example:)
Thank you, always, for praying.
Larissa
anonymous
November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am
Larissa and Ian, So wonderful to know that He gave us His Word to tell us about His glorious self!
“This is my comfort in my affliction, that Thy word has revived me.” Amen! (Ps. 119:50)
love in Him,
Aunt Terry
Stephanie
March 23, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Ian, we’re glad that you’re speaking so well and able to work on memorizing Scripture!
Larissa, you make a great encourager.
Praying,
The Freemans
anonymous
March 23, 2009 at 2:35 pm
You will!!!
I am so happy that Ian is finally speaking more readily. Nice to hear about him talking to his little sister – so sweet. My prayers continue that soon he will be “singing” God’s praises!!
Rene
Sharon
March 23, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Larissa, will continue to pray for the same…thank you for this encouraging update.
I have a litany of psalms that I recite on my drive to work each day (along with the “Blessed are…” from Matthew 5.
I know that the Lord works mightily in my heart as I go over each psalm — as I praise, question him, groan with struggles and hurt, confess, etc.
Will pray that the Lord continues to bless your Scripture memory and will touch your hearts with His Word. Blessings on your week,
couragetotremble
March 23, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Hi Larissa,
He writes, he speaks, he even memorizes. You’ve known him before the accident and so you can see how far he has yet to go. For us, we have known him first as someone who was in a coma. So the amazement is just ever growing. Everytime I feel this joy, I think of the post you wrote about your grief. I pray that one day, although you said otherwise in that post, your grief will be replaced with joy. Like you write, the forgiveness we have received is alone enough to thank Him. May God bless you for declaring it. But we pray with ever increasing faith-made-sight that Ian will be healed completely and you will wear these two or three years as a God-given and yet hard-won badge of honour and credibility as you spread the gospel to a much wider audience than would have been possible otherwise.
I think God selected the perfect couple for this experience.
Still praying with love
-n-
deb
March 25, 2009 at 1:25 am
Ian, Larissa, Steve, and everyone-
I have been reading for over a year- and I can’t remember if I’ve ever commented.
My son, Christopher, suffered a severe TBI on 6/12/02, four days after his 20th birthday. He was a college student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Chris was mugged getting off the EL train- he took a beating with a baseball bat across the back of his head. He had a massive bleed- I rec’d a call at work, and by the time I got to the hospital, i was advised that he was not expected to live. I even signed for him to be an organ donor-
Well, apparently God and Chris had other plans. Our story is very similar to yours, one that I’d be happy to share with you. Everything from swallowing, to speech, to accessible housing, to all of the therapy, to TAKING HIS FIRST STEP…
I understand.
Let me tell you about Christoper today, going on 7 years post injury.
He is back in school- not at the University of Illinois where he was going, but at a school called Flashpoint Academy, which is a digital media 2 year program. He is EXCELLING! This from a kid who was expected to die, or if he did live, to never be in anything more that a vegetative state.
The brain is an amazing organ. God is an amazing healer. Never, ever give up. God is amazing.
What prompted me to write this long comment was Ian’s “Thank You” note. Just you watch…amazing things are coming.
Ian is in our prayers daily- we so understand.
Blessings-
Deb
anonymous
March 25, 2009 at 12:12 pm
“We’ve been praying for his short-term memory and I’ve been trying to think of exercises to help him with that. Memorizing scripture was the sweetest thing that God could’ve brought to mind.”
Larissa, you are so right! Bless you for your obedience to the Lord’s prompting of memorizing Scripture. May it benefit Ian’s memory and his spiritual walk!
Still Praying.
Mary Ann K.
anonymous
March 25, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Wow! Can you imagine what the Lord thinks about you and Ian choosing to memorize HIS word? Not just on an average day..but doing it now at this point in your life when some others may have turned away? Again, you remind me and others of HIS grace in your life and mine. I thank HIM and you for that reminder. Praise HIS Holy name..and Larissa and Ian we continue to pray.
A brother and sister from Calvary Fellowship Wayne.
margesweigart
March 26, 2009 at 11:56 am
We’re so grateful to God for the encouraging reports. Go, Ian! We continue to pray for you daily.
~The Sweigarts
anonymous
March 26, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Way to go Ian! You order your beer and anything else you want! You all definitely have reason to rejoice with our Lord!
Wendy, NC
anonymous
March 26, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Yes! So many of us are still reading the blog daily and praying too. Ian, we are so inspired by you and your diligence. God is good. Lotinskys
anonymous
March 26, 2009 at 7:52 pm
It’s spring now…winter is over…but it sounds like Ian’s progress is “snowballing”!!!
🙂
Go Ian!
Still Praying!
Mary Ann K.
Joy Z
March 26, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Wow! This is amazing! In just a short while going from a word to almost being back at full speech?!?! So delighted to hear the great progress. And above all thankful to God for his goodness to you!
anonymous
March 27, 2009 at 2:42 am
I can’t wait to hear that voice! And so excited that it is here!
Aunt Terry
anonymous
March 27, 2009 at 6:39 am
Praise be to Christ, our friend and lover of our souls.
Grateful for the encouraging reports you share. I was thrilled to see his first post and read all that has been happening.
He is making both of you the precious jewels he wants you to be.
Praise God.
-Sharun(India)
anonymous
March 28, 2009 at 2:33 am
we love you Ian!!!
anonymous
March 28, 2009 at 11:09 am
This is so WONDERFUL ! I am happy for all of you ..Phyllis
anonymous
March 28, 2009 at 4:33 pm
“Into your hands I commend my spirit” should be our response to all things that happen to us in life.
Cheers to you and your beer Ian!
God will bless
Minori Family
Kristi
March 28, 2009 at 6:52 pm
How encouraging!!
anonymous
March 29, 2009 at 1:36 am
It’s been a while since I’ve checked the blog and thought, “I’ll go see what progress Ian is making.” Again, I am amazed and thank the Lord. Ian is speaking! Praise the Lord!
Sara B.
anonymous
March 29, 2009 at 7:42 am
Ian,
I thank God for you. He has given you amazing courage and determination. I can tell that you are fighting with all your strength to speak, and that inspires me! I want to fight the fight of faith in my own life like that.
anonymous
March 29, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus!!!!!
anonymous
March 30, 2009 at 2:43 am
Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!
Continuing to pray for Ian and for the whole family.
In Christ’s Love,
Chris P.
anonymous
March 30, 2009 at 2:52 am
I really want to thank the Lord! He gives us all in due season: sun and rain and wind and snow. He lets us see glimpses of His majesty in everyday things and in miracles. “Now, we see as in a mirror darkly, but then face to face.” I am reminded often that, difficult and long as our trials are, they are short in the face of eternity. Thank you all for the wonderful updates, the new answers to prayer, the ups and downs so that we can pray more effectively. Thank You, Lord, for these great strides.
J