Mike Rea's Recovery Info & Updates

Mike's family created this blog to acknowledge our heartfelt appreciation for all your thoughts, prayers, and well wishes since his accident. Please check back regularly for updates on his condition and recovery process. We know all of you will keep Mike and his family in your prayers!

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Location: Newark, Delaware

On June 16, 2006, Mike was doing what he loves most in the world~training a race horse! One minute, friends saw him go by at a full gallop. Thirty minutes later, he was found unconscious and barely breathing. Mike endured an emergency helicopter ride to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Unit where doctors determined he had suffered a severe brain injury and was placed in ICU in critical condition. After three weeks, Mike was transferred to Kernan Rehabilitation Center, then Sunbridge Care and Rehabilitation. He returned home in October ‘06 and continues to work on his recovery. We have experienced much hope and joy as we have witnessed Mike's miraculous journey towards recovery. Mike IS A MIRACLE (the exact words of his neurologist) and continues to surprise his health care providers. Mike faces each day with courage, faith and perseverance; his new job consisting of physical therapy and theraputic riding. Mike is currently undergoing Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and is experiencing great progress! FOR THOSE WHO HAVE OFFERED ASSISTANCE, A "MIKE REA RECOVERY RELIEF FUND" HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO HELP WITH MIKE'S MEDICAL AND DAILY NEEDS.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Our Gift to Mike

When we visited Mike for Barbaro's Celebration, I had purchased one of those digital photo frames and filled it with all the pictures we had posted during his hospital stays and our visits. One sleepless night many months ago, while Mom and Cathy were in Maryland with Mike, I made a "photo story" for Cathy to play for him on her laptop using Windows Movie Maker (my first and only experience with that program!). It was very therapeutic for me at the time. Cathy found the CD recently and sent it to Mike a few weeks prior to our visit and he played it often for his friends. Since this new frame could hold movies, I somehow figured out how to convert it so it would play on the frame too. Doubt I could do it again, but it worked! Mike loved the frame so much that I took it back to add pictures from that magical weekend. If anyone has pictures of him, his family, or themselves with him, please email me a copy to nrehm@century21properties.com so I can add them to the photo part of the frame too! Mike asked me if I could share the movie on his blog and since I never say no to by brother, I figured out how! So, here it is, set to the music of his favorite song, I Can Only Imagine. I love you baby brother. Nancy

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Continuing the Barbaro Effect!!!

What a weekend!! Will we ever forget it or get over it? No, we will remember it forever. Mikey was so overwhelmed with every aspect of this weekend. I know for a fact it has jump started his determination to become even more than he thought he could be before this weekend. He was already so strong willed and determined to beat his brain injury but now after hearing so many encouraging words and feeling the power of everyone he was around and how much they really cared about him has given him a new perspective and has even made him more determined.

Mother, Nancy and I want to thank everyone for all their support and beautiful comments. We always thought the Fans of Barbaro were something else but now we know that you are all great people. You all have helped to keep us going strong with Mikey's recovery. God bless each and every one of you.

I know when Mikey got up to speak he was so overcome with emotion that it was hard for you to understand. So Nancy asked him to tell her what he said so she could post it on TWR's site for everyone. She did post it on he discussion board but I am going to post it hear for ya'll also.

Mike's comments: "It is an honor and privilege to be here as a part of Barbaro's celebration. I would like to thank the FOBs for being my friend. And I would like to thank Tim and Alex for including me on their website so that everyone could come together. Thank you all for your prayers and support - most of all for your prayers."

Again I want to thank everyone for all their support and prayers. Hopefully we will all get back together again soon.

WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
WE BELIEVE IN THE MIRACLE THAT IS BARBARO
WE BELIEVE IN THE FANS OF BARBARO
WE BELIEVE IN MIKE REA

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