(10-4-26) Good News….
From Sierra Wynk…
4 sleeps.
Four more sleeps until we bring our boy HOME.
Four more sleeps until all six of us—well, seven if you count our furry boy—get to sleep under the same roof again.
Now, don’t get me wrong. We are fully aware that the magic wand discharging Parker from Dodd isn’t simultaneously going to sprinkle magic fairy dust over our family and make life enchantingly perfect. Let’s face it… when you put six people in one house, things can get hairy real quick.
But after 43 days in the hospital, HOME sounds pretty darn magical.
I am ready to stop staring at the same rooftop and parking garage outside of Dodd from the same five-foot radius where I drink coffee, eat, sleep, pray, work, stretch, massage, give pedicures, watch football, watch movies, talk on the phone…and basically live my entire life.
And listen, I don’t want that to sound ungrateful. We are SO thankful for Dodd and the incredible care Parker has received from his therapists, nurses, doctors and staff.
But after this long, you crave home.
I crave my own bed. My kitchen. My family. And a bathroom door without a giant crack down the middle.
And I’m fairly certain Parker is ready to stop sharing a room with his mom and dad too.
And there are other things he’s ready to leave behind – like living away from home during…
Team meal Thursdays.
Game day Fridays.
Film Saturdays.
Those are the LONGEST days.
They are constant reminders of where he thinks he should be. Of the work he misses putting in with a football and his teammates. Of an undefeated team celebrating together while he wishes he could be there in real time with his brothers.
Thankfully, my mom and Jimmy come on Friday nights to distract us and have dinner and spend time together, and this weekend my sister and brother-in-law brought their three boys, and they pulled Parker and me out of a rough morning.
There is just something about little kids and especially nieces or nephews .
The laughing. The giggling. The wheelchair rides. And, “Aunt Sie, are you too big for the slide?”
Absolutely NOT.
Aunt Sie is never too big—or too old—for a slide.
Sometimes God gives you exactly what you need to shift your perspective and remind you of His goodness.
And speaking of His goodness… Parker continues to make progress.
This week he walked about A MILE with assistance.
He’s brushing his teeth without our help. Drinking water independently. Getting dressed with little assistance. Eating with less help, depending on the food. And today, he worked diligently to get his own socks on.
Things most of us never think twice about have become victories worth celebrating.
Today we also got another day visit HOME.
Nothing extraordinary happened…and honestly, that was what made it so wonderful.
We were just home.
Friends and family visited. We hung out. We enjoyed being together.
And we tried on Parker’s Homecoming outfit.
Then he asked the beautiful Kirsten to Homecoming:
“Lake days are better with you… HOCO will be too.”
A little nod to all of their fun lake days in August.
A month and a half ago, we didn’t know if Parker would ever walk again.
Now we’re talking about what he’s wearing to his senior Homecoming just 44 days later.
Let that sink in. Miracles on miracles, friends, that only God could do.
I am so thankful for Kirsten and how supportive she has been, and for Parker’s incredible friends. Knowing they will all be there with him lets this mama breathe a little easier.
And as if that isn’t sweet enough, Gianna gets to attend her very first freshman Homecoming while Parker attends his senior Homecoming.
Those two are so close, and I know they have both grieved missing what was supposed to be their one year together in high school—her freshman year and his senior year.
So the fact that they’ll be at the same dance feels like another little gift.
But first…
Thursday, October 8.
Parker will WALK out of Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital.
Praise. God.
After 48 nights between Dayton Children’s, OSU Wexner and Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital, Parker will walk toward our vehicle and begin, quite literally, The Road Back.
His comeback.
Not a comeback to football.
A comeback to LIFE.
We know there will be a new normal for a while. We know there is still a long road ahead. Parker knows it too.
But he is committed to making a full recovery, and we are praying that God continues to bless him with healing—one step at a time, just as He has been.
And then comes Friday.
Homecoming and Senior Night.
Parker will walk across that football field with Gary and me.
The same field where, just 49 days earlier, he lay face-down and paralyzed.
The same field where I heard:
“Mom. Mom. I want to talk to my mom.”
“Mom, I can’t feel my toes.”
“Mom, I’m scared.”
“Am I going to be okay?”
The same field where our pastor prayed.
Where all of you prayed from the stands.
And where all of us began praying without ceasing.
And now our boy is going to walk back onto that field.
I don’t know how I’ll make it across without completely losing it but either way, we are grateful to have the opportunity!
What we have already witnessed is miraculous. We have watched prayers answered right in front of our eyes.
But we are still asking for MORE.
We are praying boldly that God restores Parker fully.
His hands.
His strength.
His balance.
His every body function.
Every nerve.
Every pathway.
Every part of him.
And we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for continuing to pray alongside us.
If you want to continue following Parker’s journey, please follow our new Facebook page, Parker Wynk — The Road Back. I haven’t been able to accept everyone’s friend requests on my personal page, so this gives everyone a place to follow along as we continue watching prayers get answered and miracles unfold.
And Friday night, we cannot WAIT to see Parker back with his teammates and coaches and to celebrate Senior Night with the players and parents of the Class of 2027.
And HOME…
You might be wondering what getting our house ready for Parker has looked like.
Well…
Ramp into the house: CHECK.
Shower grab bars: CHECK.
Parker’s bedroom moved to the first floor: CHECK.
Approximately one million nail holes from a preteen girl’s bedroom filled: CHECK.
Rooms painted: CHECK.
Light fixtures moved: CHECK.
A new dressing room added to my cabi studio so my clients don’t have to use Parker’s bedroom: CHECK.
Supplies: MOSTLY CHECK…although somehow I feel like that list may never end.
We have had incredible friends, family and contractors step in to help make all of this happen.
Some of our friends and family would probably prefer not to be tagged, but you know who you are. Thank you. We will never forget the way you have shown up for us.
And as a fellow business owner, you KNOW I’m going to shout out the businesses and contractors who have helped us: Tri Star, Joe and @Cody Garwood with Live Wire Electric and Garwood Welding, CG&H Builders, Inc., and more – God love all of you – we will be forever grateful for you helping us in our time of need on such short notice!
And you know what else I’m excited about?
Not wearing shoes 24/7 because I’m convinced hospital germs are attacking my feet.
Not sanitizing every surface before I set my clothes down.
Not wondering if I’m cross-contaminating everything I own.
Not walking down a mile-long hallway just to heat up food or refill water.
And Parker?
He’s ready for HOME-COOKED FOOD.
Don’t worry—I’ve brought him almost every dish that loving hands have made for us over the past month and a half. We are beyond grateful for our Meal Train and every single person who has loved our family through food.
Also, all of you are either fantastic cooks OR you know exactly where to find a good pizza and some wings and we are forever grateful for either ! Thank you.
Four more sleeps.
Then our boy comes home.
And one day later, we walk back onto that field.
Praise God.
The comeback continues.
Also, we have a new place to follow Parker’s journey!
So many of you have been following along, praying for Parker, encouraging our family, and celebrating every single step of progress with us. We truly cannot put into words what your support has meant.
Because so many people want to continue following Parker’s recovery, we created a separate Facebook page:
Parker Wynk: The Road Back
https://www.facebook.com/share/1EvJcuPv2v/?mibextid=wwXIfr
This will be the place where we share Parker’s updates, milestones, prayer requests, and all the moments along the way as he continues working toward his comeback.
If you’ve been following his story here, please head over and FOLLOW the new page so you don’t miss an update! And if you have sent me a friend request and I haven’t been able to accept, I’m sorry! I can’t keep up! This will allow everyone to follow along!
And please share the page with your following or anyone who has been praying for Parker or following his journey.
We are so grateful for this incredible army surrounding our boy. God has already done so much, and we cannot wait to see what He continues to do.
Parker Wynk: The Road Back
The comeback is already underway.
Follow Parker’s Journey…..
