Welcome Home Little Brother

HES HOME!!!!

britton and his friend "charlie"

this is steve, brittons therapist…he has had a huge impact on brittons life. I can't say enough about him and how much he means to our family. 

Words can't express how happy we are, how thankful and how humbled. So many people worked so hard to make his coming home oh so special, and we can't thank you enough for doing that for him! The last couple of days have been nothing but perfect. We are home, with our britt, and all together as a family again.

Friday was such an emotional day. Bittersweet in every aspect of the word. One second i was crying because i was sad we were leaving such an incredible place and people, the next i was crying because i was so proud of Britt and so happy to have finally made it to this day, and the next minute i was crying because…well i didn't even know why!!

Earlier that day Britton walked for the first time on his own. He took about 10 steps. Even though i wasn't there, my dad filmed it on his phone, and it was easily one of the most incredible things I've seen so far. My dad had a smile a mile wide. still does. How crazy is that? On the last day…he walks? Such a tender mercy. It gave us that little bit of hope that we needed so badly leaving the hospital!

I was standing outside the door to the gym, just watching Britt as he worked so hard in his last hours of therapy. I've never seen him do so well, and be so proficient. I couldn't believe it…it was like all of his hard work was all coming together on the final day! How awesome. He was nearing the end of his therapy, and you could tell he was so tired from working so hard. He was doing a crawling exercise and trying to get up a bench…he kept on losing his balance and falling over, he took a few really hard falls. But he kept on getting back up and trying. He would fall again, and you could slowly see the frustration kicking in…he hit his hand really hard and banged his leg on the bench, the frustration got the best of him and he couldn't hold back his tears. He layer there on the floor hands covering his face and cried. My heart really went out to my little brother in that moment. I couldn't and still can't understand how he does it. How he falls time and time again and keeps on getting back up. To see him struggling and failing like that broke my heart, even though he had good reason…he had been going for hours and his body was fatigued. I walked in and sat down next to him as soon as i had gotten ride of my own tears and gained composure…we talked for a second and he wiped his own tears and got right back up and finished the exercise.

His nurse troy wrote a song on the guitar for him, and played it for britt. Just the two of them in the room. When he walked out i could tell it was a special moment for both of them. People were crying all day, red, puffy eyes…all of us, our family, the staff. When we got britts room all cleaned out and all our crap out of there, it looked so bare and empty. It was the strangest feeling seeing it like that. Everyone kept on saying they won't be able to put anyone in that room for a long time, and they'll have to cover there eyes when they walk past…because its britts room.

The staff put on a little celebration going away party for him and it was so great. It was decorated all cute with baseballs hanging from the ceilings, banners, and food and treats! Everyone came, all of his nurses and therapists. It was so special. We are so lucky to have been in such an amazing place with even more amazing people. They helped us get our britt back. And we will forever love them like our family, because they are. They'll never know how much they've done for us, and for my brother. Like my dad says…its not necessarily about the facility, or the equipment, or the knowledge, the ratings…it's about the people. And the way everyone at the acute rehab unit has loved my brother like their own, pushed him to his limits, believed in him…and that's what has gotten him to this point…those people. Who are so special to our hearts. We will miss seeing their smiling faces, the long days, and the late nights, the inside jokes, the quirks, the notes, and the sweet spirits. We can't wait to go back and visit everyday….okay  maybe not everyday, but every other AT LEAST!!;)

It was crazy leaving the hospital, knowing that we wouldn't be coming back in the morning and doing it all over again like the last 5 and 1/2 months. I still haven't really processed that.

As we drove home, it seemed like every business had "welcome home Britton" up on their marquee. It was so cool. SO COOL. The streets were lined with banners and signs, balloons and ribbons all over the trees. People honked as we were driving by, and as we turned onto old farm road, the street was lined with friends and family, cheering for our Britt. I was overcome with emotion as my little brother waved to them all, tears in his eyes and a  tremble in his voice. How did we get so lucky to have such an incredible community? Thank you to everyone who put work into making this so memorable and special.

The next day, saturday, there was a shin dig at the park for Britt, and so many people came from all over the town! He rode on a fire truck there, which was so much fun for him! and when we pulled up the big crowd clapped and cheered for him as he got off the truck, the cheerleaders made a tunnel for him to walk through to the stage. He told everyone thank you for coming and thank you for all the love and support. I am at a loss for words at the gratitude i feel for this community, and their love and support. Really it is impossible to describe. I truly believe there is no place like this in the world, where a town, friends, family, and strangers from a far can come together and rally around a boy and his family the way it has been done for us. I feel so privilege to be apart of this place i call home, and all the people who are a part of it. I feel that service is hands down the most christ like attribute, and i have witnessed that in so many people these past months…it has changed me, as a person, sister, daughter, and friend. It has saved my family and my brother. And my testimony has been strengthened because of it, because of others who serve so willingly for those who need it. I know how big of an impact a simple act of selfless service can have on someone, because i have experienced that first hand, too many times to count now.

I can't say enough about Britt's friends, his buddies his pals, and his favorite blonde haired girls. They have been his angels, for sure. They have been our angels. They haven't given up on him, not for a single second. Their commitment has been nonstop, in and out of the hospital every single day since his accident. Even when he is sleeping, or in therapy, or eating, or busy with whatever, they come, and they sit there…just to be there for him. They've kept his spirits high when they were fading, they have treated him the exact same although things are much different. They don't make him feel different, they love him just the same. The thing britton was most excited about was coming home to see his friends, and hang out. He probably said it a thousand times. He loves you guys. You mean the world to him. thank you for being there for him through the thick and the thin. I know that he is going to need you now…more than ever as he heads into this next stage.

This morning we had CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!! It was perfect. Together as a family. Britt got a lot of presents. which he totally deserves. We listened to christmas music and had a big giant breakfast like we usually do. I couldn't help but reflect back on christmas day, 4 months ago….we were all sitting in the living room when we had finished opening our presents and we all started crying and just held each other. It was a really hard day as a family, to be missing our 6th man. At that point, britt had still been in his coma…and things were still very up in the air. Now, to be here today, same spot in our living room, opening presents, all together, with our 6th man…is an indescribable feeling. So thankful.

SHOUT OUT TO THE SANTA CLARA 1ST WARD FOR BEING THE REAL MVP'S. man. we are so lucky to be a part of such an incredible ward, full of members who are so giving and generous and loving. I don't know if you heard but they have been bringing us meals for the bast 160 some odd days now….CAN I GET AN AMEN? The relief society has a special spot in my heart for sure. They are such angels. that is a lot of days, and a lot of meals. It saved my mom a lot of stress and work. And helped us kids not to starve to death;) just kidding, but kind of not really kidding hahaha. My mom has now restocked the pantry and the fridge after it has been completely barren for 6 months….hallelujah. merry christmas to me. Seriously though. I don't know if I've ever been so happy. I open the fridge up and there is actual food in there….food that isn't expired. I had to open it up a few times to make sure i wasn't seeing things or dreaming.

I will definitely still be keeping up the blog now that he is home! It might not be every day, but ill keep everyone up to date on all the good stuff:) Thank you for being such great followers and caring enough about him to read each day. It means the world.

Here is a video of Britt's last day at the hospital and his home coming!