From Sierra Wynk…
Another week, more miracles.
Last week we walked into therapy and there sat a lavender and black wheelchair. The OT said, “There’s your loaner chair.” We laughed because we thought she was joking. She was not.
We are VERY grateful for such a truly nice chair…but let’s just say being paralyzed has humbled Parker enough, and the purple wheelchair gave him a little extra motivation to WALK himself out of Dodd. And judging by his latest progress—he is certainly working toward it!
He even met the Buckeye running backs Friday in his purple ride and joked right along with them. Another class-act group of young men who took time to encourage our boy.
Parker continues to amaze us in therapy playing Jenga and today walking 20 feet without assistance! We’re so grateful for the people caring for him. His therapists, nurses and care assistants have learned his witty sense of humor and are so awesome at bantering back and forth with him. When you’re 17 and living in inpatient rehab without your friends, those relationships matter more than people realize. We’re so thankful for them and so are the people in our lives, in fact, our wonderful friends from Celina Daylight Donuts sent some donuts from home to thank them! Aren’t they fun?! Thank you so much!
And because Parker is making so much progress, Dodd is requesting to get him another week of inpatient rehab! We are praying that’s approved and that he gets to come HOME on October 8—one day before Homecoming and Senior Night.
My heart was ready to have him home sooner, but we will gladly take every additional day of intensive therapy they will give him because he continues to improve SO MUCH.
Sunday we were able to bring him home for the day for the first time since August 21. Watching Gary roll him up the ramp and through the door to our home was emotional for all of us. The last time he was here, he was on top of the world. He took his little brother to Dunham’s, ate his pre-game meal, and with 9 college camps and a summer of 7-7 under his belt, he was ready to play his favorite game with his friends and teammates. I know all of that came rushing back to him. I could see that, but he was able to feel that and move forward with gratitude about where he is in his journey and enjoy the day which was amazing.
Follow Parker’s Journey….. https://statelinesportsnetwork.net/?s=parker+wynk
Crew, our dog, absolutely loved seeing Parker again. I think that both of them needed that reunion more than I can say. The therapy dogs at Dodd are so sweet but there is nothing like ur own furry friend knowing and loving you!
We ate meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn around our own table, all per Parker’s request. We rooted for our Bengals, of course, because that’s what we have ALWAYS done but I have to admit, it made it EVEN more fun considering the love the Bengals have shown Parker – we hung up the signed jersey from THE Joe Burrow that we received this week – thank you Joe Burrow!!! And THE Tee Higgins jersey as well- thank you again Tee Higgins! Parker received the most encouraging video from Tee Higgins last week which was unreal! We have played it a “few” times Thank you Tee! Connor Lews was the very first video from the Bengals we received and we thank him from the bottom of our hearts too!
Of course, we loved having Kirsten, Parker’s girlfriend, join us Sunday. She blessed us all with flowers, candy, and some energy drinks which we desperately need lol . Parker’s buddies came over, and they sat outside and watched football by a pool they were wrestling and playing basketball in not long ago…I pray next summer they will be back at it. We ate some chocolate chip cookies, we laughed, and for a few hours, life felt a little more normal.
And normal has never felt so special and good.
This past week we also packed up Parker’s old room to move him downstairs. Holding his football gear—the uniform and pads that had been cut off of him that night—brought August 21 rushing back to us. I look into Channing’s big blue eyes filled with tears and she says, but he’s not gone mom, He’s alive. And she’s right and she’s speaking my own words that I have said right back to me. We regroup. We refocus our hearts on eucharisteo- giving thanks, and we dry our tears.
Yes, he is.
He is here.
He is healing.
He is laughing.
He is working incredibly hard.
He is using his hands, and he is WALKING.
We believe we are watching God answer prayers right before our eyes. I hope you see it too friends!
So please keep praying. Pray for Parker’s nerves to communicate clearly with his brain, for balance, reduced spasticity, stronger hands and fingers, and increasingly fluid movement. Pray also for his heart as he grieves pieces of the 17-year-old life he had while learning to embrace the life in front of him.
And would you specifically pray with us for October 9?
We are praying that Parker can walk across that field for Homecoming and Senior Night. That he gets to go through Bulldog Alley with his brothers, pray with his teammates, and stand on that sideline again for a bit, even just for warm ups.
What a moment that would be.
It has been more than five weeks. We are tired, but we are peaceful. We are joyful, hopeful, and we are incredibly grateful.
God has carried us every single step—and we are thankful to watch Parker take those steps too.
Thank you for continuing to pray without ceasing. We love you all.
