Ryan Pg. 4
OSU...Under His Wings!
Due to the aphasia Ryan was experiencing, Mike and I had to use simple phrases and sentences for Ryan to understand us. Even then, we would have to patiently repeat ourselves over and over again. Comprehension of speech and the ability to express himself were severely impaired. Ryan's short term memory had been affected as well, so he repeated himself over and over again. As frustrating as it was for us, it had to have been much worse for Ryan.
During this time I remember praying with Ryan several times. One day Ryan kept telling me that he had "done something wrong." I asked Ryan if he wanted me to pray with him and he replied, "Yes." As I began to pray, Ryan bowed his head. When I raised my head, Ryan surprised me by beginning to pray himself. I wasn't surprised by the the fact that he was praying, but by the vocabulary he was using! I can't remember his exact words, but Ryan said something like, "My most gracious Heavenly Father..." That was only the beginning. As he continued, Ryan was using words that I didn't know were in his vocabulary on a "normal" day! And he spoke with such reverence! I thought of the scripture...Romans 8:26 & 27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Ryan awoke every morning in mid-late December, confused, disoriented, not knowing any of us. When Mike or I would approach his bed, Ryan would ask, “Who are you?! Don’t touch me. Get away!” He would draw away from us in fear. This went on for days. One morning, as I heard him stirring, I went to his bedside, dreading the inevitable. The cat meowed at my feet and I quickly scooped him up. I placed the cat next to Ryan so that he could feel his fur. Ryan immediately responded to the cat! He asked, “What is this? This is an animal!” (Ryan always loved animals.) He then began to stroke the cat as I explained that we had a cat. His response was, “Dad let us have a cat in the house?! Cool!” Our mornings became so much nicer after that. When Mike realized that Ryan had awakened without the heartrending fear that we
normally experienced, he said, “That cat may be worth something after all.” We laughed, but it was a laugh of total relief. Thank God for cats!
Although the cat was Laura’s, everyone enjoyed him. We would frequently see the cat on Ryan’s windowsill as Ryan did his homework.
During this time I remember praying with Ryan several times. One day Ryan kept telling me that he had "done something wrong." I asked Ryan if he wanted me to pray with him and he replied, "Yes." As I began to pray, Ryan bowed his head. When I raised my head, Ryan surprised me by beginning to pray himself. I wasn't surprised by the the fact that he was praying, but by the vocabulary he was using! I can't remember his exact words, but Ryan said something like, "My most gracious Heavenly Father..." That was only the beginning. As he continued, Ryan was using words that I didn't know were in his vocabulary on a "normal" day! And he spoke with such reverence! I thought of the scripture...Romans 8:26 & 27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Ryan awoke every morning in mid-late December, confused, disoriented, not knowing any of us. When Mike or I would approach his bed, Ryan would ask, “Who are you?! Don’t touch me. Get away!” He would draw away from us in fear. This went on for days. One morning, as I heard him stirring, I went to his bedside, dreading the inevitable. The cat meowed at my feet and I quickly scooped him up. I placed the cat next to Ryan so that he could feel his fur. Ryan immediately responded to the cat! He asked, “What is this? This is an animal!” (Ryan always loved animals.) He then began to stroke the cat as I explained that we had a cat. His response was, “Dad let us have a cat in the house?! Cool!” Our mornings became so much nicer after that. When Mike realized that Ryan had awakened without the heartrending fear that we
normally experienced, he said, “That cat may be worth something after all.” We laughed, but it was a laugh of total relief. Thank God for cats!
Although the cat was Laura’s, everyone enjoyed him. We would frequently see the cat on Ryan’s windowsill as Ryan did his homework.