Engine Firing Order Sparks Response

1…8…4…3…6…5…7…2

For most those numbers don’t mean much, but to Aron that sequence is engrained into his mind. Those numbers constitute the engine firing order for a small block Chevy, and they sparked a response for Aron. Tom, Aron’s dad, asked Aron to keep his thumb down for an incorrect answer and raise his thumb for the correct answer. He gave Aron the number order and asked if that was a phone number, and I could see Aron firmly pressing his thumb down. Then Tom asked if that was the engine firing order, and Aron resolutely raised his thumb.

We were all very excited and were praising Aron and telling him that he’s doing a great job and making us happy. Then Aron decided to open both his eyes wider and try to stick his tongue out—it seemed as though he was excited that we were happy and wanted to do all the things that make us happy at once!

We continued to ask Aron similar questions—what year is your race car, what day is your birthday, what year is your wagon, etc. For the most part Aron continued to correctly answer the questions, but after a while he seemed to get tired and his responses got slower and slower.

Aron had his eyes open for quite a bit, and we put his glasses on to help him see better. It seems like he is able to follow our movement a bit more. We asked him to nod his head if he could see me, and he attempted to do so. We’ve been working with him to nod his head “yes” and shake his head “no.” When we ask him to, it’s clear that he’s trying, but it takes a lot of energy and is still difficult.

As far as the weaning off the ventilator, Aron has been doing well but still has a little ways to go. He was able to successfully tolerate a gradual lowering of the breath rate on the ventilator from 16 all the way to 4—and able to compensate by initiating his own breaths. The next step is to put him into CPAP—a mode where he is hooked up to the machine but is breathing on his own. The last few days they have put him into CPAP, but he was not able to tolerate it. They moved him back to 6 breaths per minute because his breaths were too shallow and not consistently high enough. So please keep praying that they can finish weaning Aron off the ventilator.

On a personal note, I am moving to Malibu to start Law School at Pepperdine tomorrow. This has been a prayerful decision, and I feel a peace that law school is still where God is calling me to be. I also believe that Aron would want me to continue to pursue my dreams and passions. In many ways this is a leap of faith for me. As badly as I want to be there for Aron everyday, I’ve realized that whether I am at the hospital or not, Aron continues to remain in God’s hands. I will come home on the weekends as often as possible to still support Aron. Thank you to everybody who has prayed for this decision and helped me process everything that is happening. Also thanks to everybody who has continued to visit Aron. He needs friends and family now more than ever, and I know that if he could thank you, he would.

Please keep praying and trusting the Lord. Thank you all for your comments and encouragement. I love hearing stories of how God is working in the midst of this tragedy. I feel like it gives us glimpses into God’s bigger picture and plan even in the midst of our pain.

Psalm 27:13-14—I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

-Amy