I had to share this Comment.....

I can't thank Alex and Tim Woolley enough for posting a link to Mike's blog on Tim Woolley's Website. We have all drawn a great deal of comfort from those that have signed into Mike's guestbook and shared their prayers, experience, strength and hope. I have to share the following comment Alex forwarded to me from Tim's site:

"Thank you Tim for keeping me updated on Barbaro's condition. I am so worried about him today, it's hard not getting upset. I also wanted to ask you to give a message to Mike Rea's family (I'm not sure how to post on their site). My mom had a serious horse accident when she was 42. She had 7 head fractures, was in critical condition for 3 months and was bed ridden for over a year. Well,she celebrated her 80th birthday last week and is in perfect health. And she still loves horses. Please let them know that how hopeful they should be even though it make take time for Mike's full recovery.

Posted by: Julie J at July 6, 2006 12:58 PM"

Thank you Julie because you see....I'm a business person....not a nurse like my sister or a patient's advocate in another hospital like my Mom. I don't work with sick or injured people. I don't understand a traumatic brain injury. I work in corporate America. I understand administrative responsibilities and sales. I understand deal or no deal. I don't understand that my baby brother, who has never done anything bad in his entire life - who has done whatever it takes and worked harder than anyone I've ever known to be a part of the horse world - who has made the horse world his life and sole means of support for himself and his family - is now lying in a hospital bed, unable to do anything for himself and has no comprehension that he may never be able to get on a horse again....that he may lose everything he has worked his 47 years of life for. If I had not had the opportunity to meet a couple of patients at Kernan who told me that they had entered Kernan in much the same condition as Mikey, and were it not for the doctors and nurses who assured me that there was a strong possibility for a full or nearly full recovery for Mike, I would never have been able to leave and return to my responsibilities here in Charleston. Were it not for someone like you, who shared your experience about your mother, would I be able to stay. I want to be there, with my mother, and marvel at each baby step he takes towards recovery. A comprehensive smile, the excitement over the ability to eat baby food, responding to his barely understandable questions with a reassuring answer.

I have faith, I believe. But seeing the "black and white" of it and hearing "this is the way it was" strengthens my faith and gives me hope. Thank you Julie. Nancy