This Ones For You
Update #24 ~ Today Mark stood from his bed for just a moment. It was very hard and he was exhausted afterwards. That took him by surprise. Mark is used to lifting weights, taking vitamins and eating a healthy low-fat diet. His mind was reeling when this was all done. His morphine has been reduced again, so he is quite coherent now. Dad was there for the days exercise of standing and after lying back down and catching his breath, he had a lot of questions. The answers he received were minimal because in fact, no one really knows at what level Mark will heal and restore his body and life. It will be up to him.
Moma's message to Mark ~ My precious son, I look at you and I can't keep myself from smiling. You have always made me proud, but never have I been more proud than that night when you pulled your broken self out of that deep canal to openly display your respect and love of life. Everyone who knows you and now those who even don't, can feel the amazing strength you exude. A strength that is solely yours and is one of the reasons that you are such a special man. I know that what lies ahead will be like no other road you have traveled down, but you will not be traveling alone, not even for one minute of every hour. My love for you grows continuously and I am grateful for the friendship that we share, the love that runs so deep between us and for the fact that you fought so hard and chose not to give up. You are the bravest man I have ever known, my hero and the son of my heart. Bless you, my love, bless all you do and my mind can't even comprehend what the future holds for you, but I know it will be something that has been reserved for only those of the utmost integrity and honor and strength. May you gain in happiness as much as you have sown in hard work. I love you, dearly
Today Mark got to drink a 1/2 a cup of watered down juice and sip 1 cup of broth. He was delighted. This is a test. A test to see how his stomach and intestines handle the liquid. He still has a tube that travels down his nose, into his throat and stomach to drain most of what enters there, so he will actually be digesting approx 2 tablespoons. We are all sitting on pins and needles for the outcome. The doctors keep telling us to not have any expectations, but how can we not, from such a hero as he.
This smile is for you, your faithfulness is astounding, amazing and will be going down in history, literally *smile* I am keeping faith and hope because of you...all of you! XOXOXOXOXOXOX
posted by Darlene at
9:09 AM
67 Comments:
I am THRILLED to hear he got to "eat/drink" something. And he stood up and....well, I'm excited about the developments and loved seeing your smiling face ...
Keep up the good work Mark...You proved your strength, like your mom said, when you climbed up that canal.
So glad to read today's update..some progress going on...and those intestines better behave themselves...
love ya, (dd)
sandy
You look beautiful, Darlene! I'm so glad Mark's taken another baby step in the right direction. Your description yesterday of the state of his muscle tissue was just horrifying to read, and to think he did pull himself out of the car and the ditch with those injuries -- it's mind-blowing. He'll have the strength to do more amazing things, too!
Darlene~ this is wonderful wonderful news and your message was full of love and hope and awe...and everything good. Embrace the hope and the positive, for that is what you all need right now. Mark IS incredibily strong, and every stride he makes is forward movement towards complete healing. No matter how difficult it is, focus on these steps. They may seem small, but they are monumental in their own way.
Sending continued prayers and love.
Jen
xoxoxoxo
Gorgeous photo, lovely! And I'm so praying that Mark will digest that liquid - what a giant step forward that will be for him. And hopefully after that he will be "boofing" right along with the rest of us!
And I've been seriously wondering about how coherent they've been keeping him. Is he allowed a bit of television, or his favorite music playing softly? Sometimes it's comforting to hear those normal, everyday sounds.
Loving you...
xoxo
*tears*
i love Marky so much and cannot WAIT to hang out with him soon. just a few more weeks.
i love you sis. i love your perspective here. i can feel your strength across the miles. if i can feel it all the way over here just imagine how much Mark is feeling it!!!
i love my family.
xxooxxoo
ps. give marmie a smooch for me.
Wow - a couple of big milestones there! How could Mark not have strength, when he has your beautiful smile to reassure him!!
I noticed a tightening in my abdomen as I clicked to come here, I'm apprehensive, hopeful, scared of what I might find when I get here. Just the tiniest fraction of what you must be experiencing, I know, but in a way I really am feeling for you. Fingers crossed tightly that the steps that look like they might be good signs turn out to be indicators of recovery.
Keep being strong, Mima xxx
And I'm smiling with you, Darlene. I'm excited about what Mark has accomplished today.. standing up and drinking something is two babysteps forward. He really is one impressive fighter.. but I read that runs in the family. ;)
Thinking of you, as always. xo
your words made me cry happy tears. i hope the news over the next few days continues to be positive.
I know there are still lots of unanswered questions and there will be incredibly challenging days ahead but Mark obviously has exceptional individual strength and an amazing family on his side.
take care,
amy
How happy I am this morning! well done Mark! and you are so lovely Darlene, that smile is straight from the heart.xx
Ah, you BEAUTIFUL girl!! Thank you for that smile!
Prayers are following those tiny liquid morsels through the track. Fire in the hole and boofas away! (Well, you know what I mean.....)
Fantastic news. Still praying like mad here, and uplifted by your beautiful smiling face.
Great news. When I read the post before this one, I started to write a comment but really couldn't think of anything to say, that would be helpful, so I decided just to send you my thoughts and prayers instead. Today what comes to mind is that the darkest hour is before the dawn. Yesterday, was it yesterday? it's hard to know when you're in a different time zone! anyway yesterday it seemed like everything was so bleak,but today it feels like the sun is starting to appear.
Oh ! Keep smiling... this is the best contagious thing you can offer to Mark !
With love
rivetted, as always to every little (huge) step in mark's progress. he must be feeling all these prayers and all this love from all over the blognet. the strength and courage of you and mark and your whole family gives me strength in my own world. keep taking good care of yourselves and i will continue to send lots of love and prayers for you, your family and for mark. love, poet.
How wonderful to see your smiling face, Darlene! Your son indeed is a fighter and a hero. You have said what I have been thinking...that God has something special in store for Mark on this earth.
Keep on keeping on!
*HUGS*
Patty
What a smile. :)
Darlene, your love does shine through, we are the ones who have been blessed in knowing you.
How AWESOME to read that Mark is taking more and more baby steps to recovery.
And Darlene, I love this picture of you, so happy and content with everything.
Sending more positive and loving thoughts to you, mark and the rest of your Family,
Love from across the Ocean,
Toni
He wants us to trust...
That when He decides to alter our lives for His purpose...
That He knows how to do it best...
It is a GIFT... to be broken and restored, aligned with His will, for our lives.
Sometimes it takes a whisper from Him... Sometimes we ignore it.
We go our own way.
He corrects our path.
You are experineceing a gift.
His Own Hand, has touched your family, and is altering your future, for His glory.
Be faithful!
Be brave!
Know that you are not alone.
Beautiful smile, beautiful news, beautiful hope, trust and love.
You are all heroes. Mark courage is amazing. It will build on itself to make him a super hero to you all.
Continued wishes for momentum, love, health and peace for you all.
CApe Cod Kitty
Mark our precious HERO There are big things in store for you and I thank your momma for involving us in your fight and journey.
LOve and PRayers daily sweet boy.
Hugs and kisses and all the strength you need to maintain this progreesion. xx
"Poet" said it well with his comment "the strength and courage of you and mark and your whole family gives me strength in my own world".
Your inspiration is a gift too precious to waste. I am using this gift to challenge myself to achieve something "extra" each day. It is the part of my day I most look forward to.
Some days it is completing something I have been putting off and some days it is having a go at something new. I just have this constant feeling that if you, Mark and your family are willing to climb mountains with baby steps I have a responsibility to do something extra myself.
I continue to keep you all in my thoughts and prayers, and now I send you my thanks as well.
Poo on the expectations!! Mark is a fighter! He is a winner! My good ness look at the smile from the photos you've shown of this incredible young man! Nothing's gonna stop him! Go Mark,we are loving you and lifting you up!!
What a family you are!
All smiles,filled with love,
Kim
Darlene ~*~ thank you for the lovely smile. We are all so thrilled for Mark and all his baby steps. And oh so very proud of his momma for all her strength and love. TOGETHER....that is how he will make it. I'd also like to say that we are proud of his Mark's dad and his strength in all of this as well.
I will be keeping my candle burning and asking for prayers on my blog as well because the more prayers we can send up the more angels we will have in his chorus singing these prayers into the Universe.
We love you Mark!
We love you Darlene!
xoxoxo,
Sheila
Wonderful, positive baby steps for Mark, which I'm sure you're all delighted about!
He is indeed a brave, strong young man, and inspires all of us with his courage and spirit.
You have a right to be so proud of him :)
Love, prayers, and good thoughts continue to go out to you...
While this blog has been a place for you to vent, to say the things that clutch your heart with fear it has also been a place of great encouragement to the rest of us as well honoring to your son. His respect for life and desire to live is indeed evident by his sheer act of will and God's grace & mercy.
I still believe that Mark will be used by God in a very unique way. His life has been preserved for a purpose. I pray that along with the physical healing his body desperately needs, that God will also reveal Himself to Mark, speak to his spirit. Feeling the intimate presence of the Living God can do more for us than can ever be explained vy science & medicine.
Hugs,
Connie
'Bless you, my love, bless all you do and my mind can't even comprehend what the future holds for you, but I know it will be something that has been reserved for only those of the utmost integrity and honor and strength.'
Your outlook is TRULY inspiring Darlene, these words made me weep. Mark is so lucky to have you.
continuing love and hope, bb x x x
Woo-hoo!! That is encouraging, to say the least. Man, that little bit of juice and broth must have been so refreshing to Mark. Even though standing was exhausting (as I can only imagine it would be!), he DID IT.
One step at a time...one step at a time....
every day he heals a little bit more... i am so thrilled to hear about his drinking - slowly slowly his body will be able to take more and more, and his insides will start working their magic. he is such a strong man, i can sense it from here. sending lots of love to you and your hero xoxox
When I saw your photo at the top of the post I felt a surge of happiness. I knew the words had to be good!
The juice and broth were a celebratory banquet..!
Big steps and little ones...
Well done Mark!
Hallelujah! and Thanks Be!
FABULOUS news to wake up to this morning. The photo lights up my heart just as that smile lights your face.
Can't wait to hear how the juice/broth go down.
love.
Both the photo and news are brilliant.
Progress is two steps forward and one back but it's still progress!
With love and in hope,
Angela
i can feel your hope today, your positive energy. this is good! this is the reason that he pulled himself to safety, why he's fighting for his life.
his strength, although great on its own, wouldn't be as powerful if it not for you, for your family, for all of your common love of life.
still praying for you here. keep positive and i'll help to hold you up!
I am hoping and praying that Mark is able to digest those 2 Tablespoons. I was shocked to read that he STOOD today. Wow. He is going to heal faster than his Dr's expect - i'm sure of it. It sounds like he has such great strength, and a wonderful family supporting him.
Have you thought about getting him a laptop so that he can journal his journey as well? Would it be too difficult for him so soon?
My prayers are still with Mark, you and your family. I also ask my readers and my family to pray for him too.
Your picture is beautiful. I can see happiness in your face today.
This is great news that he's doing better! One step at a time....keep him encouraged. Too bad he can't see all the people here that are rooting for him!
The standing or the drinking either one would have been a milestone, but to get to do both in one day...wow! Mark's strength really is so amazing. I bet he's the talk of the hospital (seriously!).
Sending much love and good thoughts your way that today will be another good day~~~~~~~
Woo Hoo!!! Yay Mark for being so brave and strong, Yay Darlene for loving so fiercely, and Yay God for miracles and hope in the face of bad news.
I will pray for good digestion for Mark today, and continued smiles for you!
Much love,
Trish
HUZZAH!! Mark. Keep on keepin' on.
We patiently await the next note of your progress and wish well.
PS: Great smile.
i'm just so grateful for this update. so grateful that mark got to drink and eat something (it must have made him feel [super] human again!!!) so grateful that he has you....and you him. (and the rest of your family).
darlene - i'm trying to express how happy reading this update makes me, and there are simply no words. i love you. i'm sending you more.....
I read this last night, thought of you, and wrote it down to give you today. It seems apropos! Go Mark!!
Ps. 18:34-36
He prepares me for battle;
he strengthens me to draw a bow of bronze.
You have given me the shield of your salvation.
Your right hand supports me;
you gentleness has made me great.
You have made a wide path for my feet
to keep them from slipping.
The Power that created the body can certianly heal the body.
Go Mark, Go!
Wow- that is so great! The water is the most important thing as it is so easy to get dehydrated in hospitals.
Courage must run in your family, Darlene- I have just been so impressed with your love and open-ness to all of us.
Many continued blessings for Mark and you...
Wow! I feel so emotional right now. I was apprehensive clicking on this blog yesterday and today but now the news is so wonderful I am overwhelmed.
Thankyou for sharing your story with us Darlene.
So good to see you smile! Keeping you all in my thoughts daily.
Keep on with your faith and hope, Darlene. Your whole family, and your amazing son, are such an inspriation to us all! We are only a conduit for the love Spirit is shining on you. And it is an honor to be so...
It is so good to see your smiling face, lovely.
oxoxoxox :)
Your smile speaks volumes. It really does.
I am so glad to hear that Mark is being put to the test in this way. The doctors must be hopeful that he will tolerate the liquids.
I'm thinking of you guys all the time.
Vanessa
Seeing your smile beaming out from the monitor really brightens my day, Darlene. You are awesome!
I'm sure the fluids taste so good to Mark and it is a sign that progress is being made. His muscles must be so weak from all the bed rest, but they will not strengthen without use. I admire Mark so much; his strength and bravery in accomplishing each task they set before him says so much about his character.
Sending continued prayers and good thoughts as we watch the miracles unfold each day.
YYEEEEEEE HAAAAAW! Go Mark! i'm so excited that he got to drink! I hope hope hope that it works.
I hope Mark doesn't mind that I am a stanger and I love him like he's my brother now.:)
xox
B
Am so happy to read this bit of progress. I'm praying for more healing!
p.s. Darlene, you have a beautiful smile, seeing it made me smile as well.
xoxo Sophie
So glad to hear that he got to eat and drink a little today. That is an amazing man you have there, Darlene, and he has an amazing mom.
My prayers continue to be with you and your family.
I have everything crossed which is possible to cross!!!
GO MARK! GO MARK!!!
It's YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!
WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!
Cheering for you from up above in rainy Oregon!
Remember!!! Visualize! Visualize that you are well, as if it's already true! You can DO this! I believe in you! I have faith! I visualize and see you as whole and well! And I am so proud of you for your accomplishments!
2007 is the year of abundance, and this is for you as well. Abundance of love from all over the world, strength and accomplishments as well!
YOU ROCK!!!
Another inspirational story:
http://www.themiracleman.org/index2.htm
Your smile has brought a smile to my face :D Oh, it's so good to read that Mark was able to drink some juice and broth...I REALLY, REALLY PRAY that his tummy handles it well. All about baby steps... God bless xo glo
You both remain in my prayers! Is Mark a believer?
- Lea
YAY for baby steps!!
Hurray for baby steps, water and broth! Your smile is *beautiful*, Darlene! So is your heart. You and Mark are still in my prayers, every day. Remember you're both held by God, every moment of every day.
Still here for you. Still praying--bombarding heaven!
Your smile has brought a smile to my face :D Oh, it's so good to read that Mark was able to drink some juice and broth...I REALLY, REALLY PRAY that his tummy handles it well. All about baby steps... God bless xo glo
Your smile is just beautiful! And Wow! Mark gets to have something to drink, that is a step forward. Wonderful!! I hope it all worked out well for him.
I love your message to Mark, he has become one of the bravest men I know also. Press forward young man, you have lots to do yet!!
Love you guys!
Teresa
Yayyyy! Sweet boy/man Mark!!! So GLAD and thankful! to get this news! and your smile has made my day Darlene! HOPE and PRAYers for more progress! strength, HEALING and more smiles! LOVE, xo, Cinda
Thrilled for you and for Mark and for all your family. It sounds as if he took his first real step on the road to recovery.
Yippee! A smile from you!
Your spirits are up! Our hopes are high!
BRAVO!!!
Continued Love & Peace...
- Lee
Broth must not have ever tasted so good. Beautiful smile.
Even the smallest signs of progress are wonderful.
Nice picture.
Such a lovely photo of you! And an uplifting post, to hear of Mark's progress and that he was able to have a tiny bit of liquids. Your strength - and Mark's - is inspiring.
Excellent - AMEN!! Any good news and progress is just that... good news and progress!!
Darlene: I hope you enjoyed the Starbucks run. Thank you for showing me how to comment on your page. I am so thrilled at Mark's progress.... walking around the nurses station! That is hugh! Every morning, I pour my cup of coffee and read your update and get so blessed. You are my hero!
"Lovely"
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