WHO DOES THAT?

I HAVE 1762 CONTACTS IN MY CELL PHONE, AND NEAR I CAN TELL SINCE NOV 1st  I'VE RECEIVED 2275+ INDIVIDUAL TEXT MESSAGES FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE. I HAVE 1000's of FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM FRIENDS & I'VE RECEIVED OVER 1100+ FB MESSENGER MESSAGES FROM FRIENDS & PEOPLE I'VE NEVER KNOWN. SO FOR THE LAST 35 DAYS I'VE TRIED TO RETURN & REPLY EVERY SINGLE TEXT or MESSAGE THAT HAS CAME ACROSS MY PHONE. BUT WHATS CRAZY TO ME IS WHEN I READ THESE MESSAGES AND THEY SAY "SORRY FOR BOTHERING YOU...BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOUR BOY & FOR YOUR FAMILY AND WE LOVE YOU!"
FIRST OF ALL BOTHERING US IS THE FARTHEST THING FROM OUR MIND THAT YOU ARE DOING! AND SECOND YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW COMFORTING ALL OF THOSE MESSAGES ARE TO US! I'VE SAID THIS 1000 TIMES IF I HAVE SAID IT ONCE.... THE LOVE & SUPPORT YOU ALL HAVE SHOWN ARE FAMILY IS WHAT HAS KEPT US STRONG IN THE ABSOLUTE HARDEST TIME IN OUR LIVES! THE VISITS, THE TEXT, THE MESSAGES, THE CARDS, THE LITTLE NOTES, THE QUOTES, THE SELFLESSNESS, THE HELP, THE DINNERS, THE COMPASSION, THE LOVE, THE HOPE, THE BELIEF, THE KINDNESS, THE GENEROSITY, THE TIME, THE HUGS, THE TALKS, THE SMILES, THE WILLINGNESS, THE SPIRIT, THE FRIENDSHIPS & THE FAITH. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT KEEP BRITTON FIGHTING,THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT KEEP US STRONG ENOUGH TO FIGHT WITH HIM EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY! SO PLESE KEEP BOTHERING US! IT HELPS SO MUCH, AND WE LOVE YOU ALL FOR IT....

THERE HAS BEEN A DINNER TAKEN TO OUR HOME EVERY NIGHT FOR 34 STRAIGHT NIGHTS.... WHO DOES THAT? THERE HAS BEEN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS PUT ON OUR HOME AND OUR TREES DECORATED INSIDE.... WHO DOES THAT? THERE HAS BEEN HOURS OF YARD WORK DONE AROUND OUR HOME.... WHO DOES THAT? THERE HAS BEEN 2 LITTLE BOYS LOVED, HUGGED, KISSED, RAN FROM HERE TO THERE AND TAKEN CARE OF LIKE THEY WERE YOUR OWN  FOR 35 DAYS... WHO DOES THAT? THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WILLING TO TAKE THE NIGHT SHIFT FOR ME, OR SIT WITH BRITTON IN THE DAY AND BE AWAY FROM THERE FAMILIES..... WHO DOES THAT? THERE HAS BEEN FUNDRAISING EVENT AFTER FUNDRAISER DONE FOR OUR FAMILY, SO MANY DIFFERENT ONES IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE.... WHO DOES THAT? THERE HAS BEEN ANONYMOUS CHECKS & CASH SHOW UP ON OUR DOOR STEP, AND IN OUR MAILBOX TO HELP IN ANY WAY THEY CAN, JUST SIGNED WE BELIEVE IN BRITTON & THANK YOU..... WHO DOES THAT? THERE ARE LITTLE GIRLS & BOYS SETTING UP LEMONADE, BAKE SALES & HOT CHOCOLATE STANDS ALL OVER OUR HOME TOWN & UTAH, WITH BRITTON IN THEIR HEARTS.... WHO DOES THAT? THERE ARE NURSES, LIFE FLIGHT CREW, FIRST RESPONDERS, DOCTORS AND TECHS COMING BACK TO THE HOSPITAL ON THEIR DAYS OFF JUST TO CHECK ON OUR BOY & US......WHO DOES THAT? THERE ARE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS LEADING MORNING PRAYERS WITH THEIR FRIENDS BEFORE SCHOOL FOR BRITTON, EVERY SCHOOL DAY.... WHO DOES THAT? THERE HAVE BEEN PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES, COLLEGE ATHLETES AND HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES & COACHES THAT HAVE TAKEN TIME FOR OUR BOY IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS....WHO DOES THAT? I HAD A COUPLE GREAT FRIENDS GET MY LITTLE 8 YR OLD "MOOSE" THROUGH HIS UTAH HUNTER SAFTEY COURSE THIS WEEK, AND PASS THE COURSE BECAUSE I COULDN'T....WHO DOES THAT? THE PEOPLE THAT BRING LUNCH OR TREATS TO US IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY WHILE ON THEIR LUNCH BREAKS.... WHO DOES THAT? PEOPLE HAVE MADE ORNAMENTS BELIEVE FOR BRITTON AND GIVEN THEM AS THEIR CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO OTHERS....WHO DOES THAT? THE STREETS OF OUR LITTLE TOWN ARE DECORATED WITH GREEN RIBBONS AND GREEN POARCH LIGHTS, LIGHT UP THE NIGHT FOR OUR BOY..... WHO DOES THAT? FOLKS IN CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, TEXAS, IDAHO, PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, CANADA, ALASKA, OREGON, WASHINGTON, COLORADO, ARIZONA, ITALY, GERMANY, FLORIDA, WYOMING, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA, GEORGIA THINK ABOUT HIM... WHO DOES THAT? FRIENDS OF BRITT'S NEVER MISS A NIGHT IN THE ICU WAITING ROOM TO WRITE IN HIS JOURNAL THAT IS KEPT OUT THERE FOR HIM & PRAY FOR HIM.... WHO DOES THAT? MY WIFE HAS HAD FRIENDS TAKE HER SHOPPING FOR SOME MORE COMFORTABLE HOSPITAL CLOTHES AND PICK UP LITTLE THINGS LIKE BREAD, MILK, EGGS ECT..... WHO DOES THAT? I KNOW I'VE FORGOTTEN SO MANY OTHER THINGS, BUT REALLY ....... I'LL TELL YOU "WHO DOES THAT?' IT'S ALL OF YOU! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!

I HAVE HAD SO MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS IN THS ROOM WITH BRITTON, SOME GOOD & SOME BAD! SOME NIGHTS SCARED THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE A MORNING, NOT KNOWING IF THE FEVERS, PRESSURES, HEART RATE, BLOOD PRESSURE WOULD COME BACK DOWN. SOME NIGHTS EXCITED AS COULD BE THINKING HE WAS GOING TO WAKE UP! HE'D BE WIGGLING, MOVING AND YAWNING UP A STORM. AND I'D BE HANGING ON EVERY MOVE! BUT THROUGH ALL THOSE NIGHTS I KNEW ALL OF YOU WERE THINKING OF HIM TOO, ALTHOUGH NOT AT HIS SIDE I TRULY FELT THIS IN MY HEART...... AGAIN, WHO DOES THAT?
I KNOW I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING!

TO KNOW THAT IN THIS "FAST FOOD" WORLD WE LIVE IN, THERE ARE STILL 1000's OF YOU THAT TAKE A SECOND EVERYDAY AND PRAY FOR "OUR BOY" MEANS EVERYTHING TO US. I'M NOT SURE THAT WHEN AUTTY STARTED THIS BLOG AND RIGHTFULLY NAMED IT "OUR BOY BRITT" SHE KNEW THAT IT WOULD TRULY BE A CHRONICLE OF "OUR BOY BRITT" YOURS, MINE EVERYBODY'S BOY BRITT.

THX AGAIN & WE LOVE YOU ALL
JESSE SHIPP & FAMILY

Day 35

It's just another day in the office for B-Unit. There hasn't been any significant changes over the past couple of days. He has just been sittin real stable, and doing well. Still breathing completely on his own, still doing well with physical therapy, and still making his funny faces. His hair has grown back like a weed. So fast. And I'm starting to get really envious of his long eyelashes. Like, why did he get the long pretty eye lashes and not me? I'm the girl. I'm the one who needs them. His incisions are all healing really nicely, they're looking so so good. And chicks dig scars, so lucky him. I am being for real about his mexi-stache this time, it's coming in hot. You might have to get up close and personal to get a good look, but it is there, i swear. I'll try to snag a pic. The nurse even asked if she wanted us to shave it. I said...NO WAY, KEEP IT THERE UNTIL HE WAKES UP AND CAN SEE THAT HE GREW THAT HIMSELF CAUSE HE WONT BELIEVE IT. They changed some things with his feedings, added more protein or substance or something I can't remember...but get this.

HE GAINED 1.6 POUNDS..........HOLLA!

he is on the fast track back to a buck forty.

K, maybe not the fast track, but hey, he is ON TRACK.

So we have been trying this new thing where we pretend like, he is already awake. So everything we say to him, is in the context that he is already awake and walking around. It's fun. Very uplifting. Kind of weird. But fun. It is supposed to help him wake up in real life. SO WE DOIN IT.

Well friends, that's all for now. Keep the faith. Keep believing. We love you.

OH YEAH HOW COULD I FORGET. So, this happened yesterday. Instead of just sitting him up on the side of the bed like usual. They put him on this thing called the tilt table, and strapped him in, and stood him up. It was awesome, he did so well:)

Honey I Shrunk the Ki(britton)ds

HEY! Today was yet another good day in the life of a traumatic brain injured boy named Britt. He did so well. Just another quiet, low key day, but like I said...those are what we want. Nothing significant happened. He did good in physical therapy though, we tried to stand him up, but that ended about as quickly as it started. Not ready yet. But soon! So here is the deal...Listen up!

We are going to be in here for another 7 days. And then at the end of those 7 days, they will reevaluate and go from there. We are still trying to figure out what the best move will be for our boy, and what our insurance will allow us to do. We are hoping, best case scenario, that soon, very soon, britt will start waking up, and responding to commands. IF...that is the case, he would be able to go to the Acute Rehab here in St. George, which is a phenomenal facility. BUT, in order to be there, he has to be able to participate in at least 3 hours of therapy each day. So he has to be awake, and responsive.  That is the goal though. So cross your fingers and say those prayers!

Britt has lost like 40 pounds. It's no joke. My sweet brother, who was so concerned about gaining weight and bulking up. He was finally starting to put on weight and fill out. I really started to notice recently, how mature and grown up he was getting. It's hard to see my little brother so frail and weak. His little legs and arms. His back bone and ribs totally exposed. I told him he would be a great candidate for the next victoria's secret model. He didn't laugh at my joke. It breaks my heart though, to see him like that. I don't like it. At all. I just want to take him to mcdonalds and buy him 2 big mac's a large fry and a large coke, just like he used to make me do during the summer. I don't like seeing my brother so fragile...he is supposed to be big and strong and healthy. I might have to start sneaking twinkles and donuts into his tube feeds.

My grandma Sandy and aunt Shellie brought us the most amazing christmas tree for Britt, to put in his room here at the hospital. It brought us all to tears. It is perfect. Everything about it. It's so britt. We have the best family and friends in the world, that is for sure.

Thank you for the prayers, the thoughts, the smiles, and for believing in our B.

New Leather

Oh Britt. I pick your blackheads, the dead skin on your hands and arms off, peel those nasty dandruff flakes from your head where your scars are, and clean out your ear wax. Just for fun. Now...if that's not love, I don't know what is.

Anyway.

B has had a great day! He's done well, just chillin for the most part. He did really well sitting up today, twice. I love helping the therapists and nurses with that. I just feel like he hears me, and knows my voice. It's hard to do though, hard to watch. But heck....sometimes you just gotta suck it up, and help your brother out. Because he needs you. They held his eyes open a lot today, trying to see if he would follow movement. It's hard to look into his eyes. Just because, I want to see my brother, my britt. When it's just a blank stare, it's hard to know if he is in there. I'm quickly reminded each time, I see his eyes, that he is very hurt. I try to look away most of the time, and just not think about it. It scares me. It really really scares me. I want to be able to look in my little brothers eyes again and see him, the Britt I know and remember so well. Eyes say so much about a person. And i guess i never realized that until now. Eyes show emotions, feelings, life. So many things. I want to see his eyes again. Cause when I see his eyes, Ill be seeing him. That cute boy, we all know. JUST OPEN EM ALREADY!!

He is a champ. Seriously. You go Britt.

His new glove came today. He ordered it right before the accident. My dad brought it to the hospital and opened it up for him. He tried to put it on his hand as best as he good, and waved it around his nose hoping he would catch the scent of that brand new leather.

That was hard for my mom. Seeing his new glove. I think she is scared, because she doesn't know if he will ever get to use it the way he did before. And we all are, of course. He loves baseball more than anything really. And it scares her, all of us, that he may not get to do what he loves ever again. But you know what, I think he will. I really REALLY do. I'm not just saying that either. If my brother wakes up and still loves baseball, and wants to play...then he will play. And do whatever it takes to get there. It's as simple as that. He's gonna wear that new glove of his. He is going to make a million diving catches and game winning snags with that thing. You just wait.

Little Piggies

No more LTAC. Britt isn't ready for the LTAC yet. The doctors from here at the ICU discussed things with the MD's at Promise, the LTAC in Salt Lake, and they decided that he isn't qualified. There isn't anything more they can do for him at the LATC that isnt already being done here, in the ICU. Since he has a peg, a trach, and is still in a coma...they wouldn't be able to do anything for him. SO, with that being said...we are back to figuring out what we can do for him next. The only problem is, the ICU isn't a long term care facility, so they are trying to figure out where to go with our boy, and still get the best treatment and care. We just really need him to open those eyes and wake up! If that were to happen, there is a chance we could put him in the Acute Rehab center here in St. George, which is a top facility in rehabilitation of this sort. So that would be awesome. He did, however, get approved for a SNF, which is like a care home. The insurance wants him there. But our neuro doctors said, no way...they're not sending him there. They are worried he would be forgotten, and not properly taken care of if he were to go there. The Docs said they will keep him here until we get what we want, if that is what they have to do. SO....we are trying to do everything we can and using all the resources we have to get Britt into good hands and where he needs to be. That's why we love these place, these doctors, nurses, and people here in the ICU...they got our backs;) But we still have lots to discuss and figure out in the next couple of days. Britt has done so well today. He has been such a little wiggle worm. And he has been making this most hilarious face, where he shrugs the left side of his mouth and face (it kinda looks like elvis). We can't stop laughing. And he hasn't put his arms down all day long. He did really well sitting on the side of his bed today, twice. He was able to hold his head by himself for a couple of seconds. I also asked him to squeeze my hand, and he did! I don't know if it was just coincidence, or if he actually heard me and was responding, but either way it made me so happy! His feet are starting to be ticklish again too! I know my little brother is in there, and wants to open those eyes so bad! He just isn't quite able to yet. I can't wait for the day i can post the "HE'S AWAKE" blog....hopefully someday soon:)

BREAKING NEWS: THIS JUST IN! As I am sitting here writing this, the Doc came in and was giving him commands. Trying to see if he would squeeze his hand, open his eyes, etc.

"Britton...wiggle your toes!" He would say......I KID YOU NOT 7 OUT OF 7 TIMES HE WIGGLED HIS GOSH DARN TOES!!!! WE ARE SO EXCITED!! YAYAYYAYAYAY:):):):):):):) HE OBEYED!!!!!!!!! SORRY FOR ALL THE CAPS AND EXCLAMATION POINTS BUT THIS IS HUGE! GO BRITT. Doc couldn't believe it. And I think the nurse and I almost started crying.

Here's the video:) [view on computer]

We were visited by Jane and Kasey Jacobsen today. Kasey was in a bullet bike accident about 9 years ago, and he suffered serious spinal chord and head injuries. They came to share their story with my mom and I today, and it was so inspiring and helpful to hear. We are so thankful for such thoughtful and kind people who are so willing to share their own personal experiences like this with us. It gives us such a newfound sense of hope hearing the miracles that took place in other peoples lives. They were awesome. Thank you Jane and Kasey:)

Just So Ya Know

More than likely today we'll know when & where we'll be going with Britton! Promise (LTAC) Re-Hab in the old LDS Memorial Hospital in SLC is where we are shooting for.
It has been a few "Good" days in a row with Britt, and this morning on the Neuro Team's evaluation rounds he performed like a CHAMP. Lots of cognate, localized movement with a LEAVE ME ALONE attitude while they poked & pinched him! Also this morning we played him one of his favorite songs (10cc's- The things we do for love) right in his ear and told him to get out of bed because he was late for seminary class (School). But he just laid there like at home... lol! His right pupil actually dilated down last night for about 4 hrs and made us all so happy. But now it's huge again? Oh well, at least we got 4 hrs of small pupils, and that makes us think that something is firing in that cute little head. Everyday is a roller coaster ride like Autty has said before in her blog, but I feel it's the part of the ride that you can finally let go and hold your hands in the air and scream, smile & yell because you feel the safety bar holding you in! Whether it's a solid safety bar across your legs or a couple of them over your shoulders, we like the comfort our Heavenly Father is showing us! Thanks again for all the continued prayers! WE SO APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM...

Jesse Shipp

Day 30

Britt had done pretty well the last couple of days. They put him back on some meds to help with his increasing and abnormal heart rate episodes, and that has helped lots! He has been sitting up on the edge of the bed usually twice a day, sometimes his heart rate gets too high, so they just put the bed in the chair position and sit him up that way, and do some physical therapy and passive range of motion things. He is still breathing completely on his own!! And he has started to move around a little more too. Yesterday and today have just been pretty quite for the most part, which is what we like! We are still unsure of when we will make the move up north. Probably sometime this week, or beginning of next. Thank you for the prayers:)