Update 63 [flab·ber·gast]

flab·ber·gast
ˈflabərˌgast/
verb informal
past tense: flabbergasted; past participle: flabbergasted
  1. surprise (someone) greatly; astonish.
    “this news has left me totally flabbergasted”

He is alive and awake.

photo (7)
Through every defiance of all medical logic; Jim woke up out of a nine-hour spate of unconsciousness and asked “What happened?” His blood pressure rose, by itself, back from a mortuary-ready human low, to a near normal number. His vitals and blood oxygen levels stabilized on their own after having been assisted with machines for better part of the last five weeks.
The doctors, all of the doctors, are simply flabbergasted. Nothing from this point on has been observed before, and we are in totally unchartered territory; they really have no idea what to expect next. Apparently after regaining consciousness he was able to move his left foot on command – something he has not been able to do since the second surgery and his full paralysis – they quite simply have never seen any case like Jim before. Which I can only attribute to the fact that nobody has ever met a man quite like my dad before. He is one unusual bastard.
I plan to call the Guinness Book of Records today to register us all as a global group of people simultaneously experiencing every single emotion known to humanity in a 24hr time frame. I call dibs on the ‘emotions’ of tear production and drinking Port.
The words on the other end of this mornings 5am phone were genuinely not the ones I expected. Kareen is ecstatic and almost delirious as she feels that our miracle is finally en route. Her faith is an unending faucet of hope and I have put my cautious optimism and secular practicality deep into my back pocket and cling onto hers. (Kidding I don’t have a back pocket, I am wearing PJ’s and might never get out of bed ever again.) 
photo 3
Forget sending the army out to war, send this guy, he can fight like an entire battalion. Or perhaps it is because he has such large brigades of love and support forming behind him, but whatever it is this guy can fight.
Right now he is alive to have another day. I guess arguably, none of us really know what can or will ever happen next in life. So for right now and today, he is alive.
photo 5 photo photo 4
photo 2
photo 1 photo (7)

23 thoughts on “Update 63 [flab·ber·gast]

  1. We sometimes pray for a miracle and are surprised when they happen. Our faith is often weak. Continued prayers that God has a good plan for Jim and that Kareen and family and friends will be blessed.

  2. Tracy, I feel somehow he felt that I was at his side for a moment last night, & he thought… “the motor mouth is going to talk everybody to death”… so I better rescue them. Tracy when Glenda called me this morning I cried of happines, yup & I lighted my candle as well. Come on Dr. Jose Gregorio Hernandez (he is a venezuelan saint, Kareen translate the prayer I gave her, we read together last night) I know you could do it.
    I´ll go this evening again, Love you Tracy

  3. A MAZ ING!!!! Let’s pray for a FULL recovery, anything is possible!!! Soon he’ll be cooking in his kitchen again. :) Ummm looking forward to some more home cooking, pool screaching and wine flowing parties. :) Such FANTASTIC news xxx

  4. Reading this through tears and we are so grateful for this news. A new turn for the better, will continue our prayers every day. Thank you Lord.

  5. We have a God who hears our prayers and we continue to pray for a miracle. Jim is obviously a fighter and he has an army of prayers beside him

  6. And our prayers will continue! This man is truly the captain and will never cease to amaze everyone with the fight he has!! Show’em Jim, your team awaits your full recovery and return home!!

  7. Uncle Jim is amazing! This news made my heart swell and my mind implode. Thank you for sharing this ongoing journey of his, and yours.

  8. One thing I learnt from Jim is always expect the unexpected. Just look at every move he’s made throughout his life. Look at his home, look at the road leading to it, ask him about crossing the Atlantic in a tiny yatch. A man who suffers from seasickness brought his yatch from England to Trinidad.
    Ask Jim about all the other obstacles he’s had to overcome in his life, what he won’t tell you is how he overcame them with class, with no worries and with a plan. Jim is an amazing man and I put nothing beyond him.
    Bless you Jim for being the father figure to our family for so many years, we still need you around so please stay.

  9. The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.

    We pray Jim has turned a corner

  10. I cannot express my joy and emotion right now…. all praise and glory to God… I am in BGI until Monday and have not stopped thinking and praying for all of you…to God be the Glory…thank you Lord please continue your miracle…love to you all

  11. I love reading all if your updates – you are an incredible writer. This one is particularly great as it is so full of joy and hope. We continue to think of y’all and pray for more miracles.

  12. I was so happy today thought of all the wonderful times I had with my other family you all taught me so much but mostly how to live life to the fullest. That is what Jim always did I love you all I am so sorry. Granny May will be smiling though I am sure he is already cracking her up.

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