The Guardian

     Not so long ago, (has it really been 21 years), my wife and I were faced with decisions that a presiding judge called, “A parents’ worst nightmare!”  It had only been a few months since we celebrated Bryan’s 18^th birthday, a day declaring his personal independence and manhood. But now I had just testified in a proceeding petitioning the court to give back to me the legal guardianship to make decisions on Bryan’s behalf.  The courtroom was filled to capacity and as our case was called, my heart broke again as I was placed in the difficult position of removing my son’s ability to make decisions for himself. Moving toward the witness stand, our attorney began the process of taking my testimony.  I spoke of my relationship with my son and delineated my personal background.  As we continued I was asked to describe Bryans’ injuries fully and explain the life saving care he was currently receiving.  A deafening silence filled the courtroom as I spoke.  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the bailiff raise his handkerchief to dry his eyes.  The court had previously appointed a local attorney to represent Bryan in the guardianship proceeding to insure that his best interests were served.  At the conclusion of my testimony, the Judge asked Bryan’s appointed attorney to speak.  She said that she had no objection to my becoming Bryan’s guardian and urged the court to grant the petition. Immediately the judge gaveled a sound that echoed throughout the court room.  The petition was granted and I became Bryan’s legal guardian.  As Janice and I rode back to the hospital from the courthouse, our eyes filled with tears.  We both prayed that God would give us the wisdom to make the right decisions facing us as parents in the coming days, months and years.

     Bryan was on full life support for a long period of time.  His intensive care room was filled as lines for monitors, ventilator, G tube; J tube, IV’s, and cranial pressure monitor were attached to his body and sustained his life.  The tracheotomy and brain stint surgeries were successfully completed.  For weeks Bryan was unconscious and non responsive.  Janice and I were allowed into his ICU room for only 15 minutes every four hours.  At times we would see his foot or hand move and we would leap for joy and begin to cry.  The doctors would carefully explain that all these movements were involuntary and Bryan was not exhibiting purposeful movement.

     After the first week, the two neuro doctors advised us that Bryan was “slipping away”, and informed us that we should prepare ourselves for Bryan’s pending death.  We went back to our sleeping rooms on the second floor of the hospital with our daughter, Jennifer, and prayed for our son and brother.  We held each other knowing that God was holding each of us in His hands.   As we lay down in exhaustion we planned Bryan’s funeral service, feeling that it would soon be impossible to think clearly should we lose our son that night.

      We did not find out until months later that at this time the two neurologists had agreed that it was time to take Bryan off of life support.  The medical evidence had led them to believe that the injury was far too severe for him to recover and have any chance of a normal life.   One of the nurses who had worked in the Neuro ICU for over twenty five years spoke up to the two doctors and said, “I have a feeling about this patient and I think that you need to give this boy a little more time.”   Janice and I are forever indebted to that nurse for her courage to speak up and share her feelings about our son.  Her statement and convincing manner changed the decision of the two doctors who agreed to give Bryan more time.  Jan is one the heroes in Bryan’s recovery, a ministering angel of God dressed as a nurse in the Neuro ICU. I am forever indebted to her for saving me the heart-wrenching decision of acting upon the neurologists’ recommendation.

     Gradually, almost imperceptibly at first, Bryan’s condition began to improve.  There were set backs and from time to time advances that filled us with hope and then sank back again to a previous or lower state.  People all over the world were praying and God was answering each of their prayers. The Valley View congregation in Texas was a faithful prayer partner with us in seeking Bryan’s healing and God’s guidance and strength for myself, my wife, and our daughter.

     The process of waking up from a coma is a slow process.  It is not like the movies make it appear where someone just wakes up from an unconscious state and everything falls back into order.  There were deep valleys to walk though and mountains that seemed too high but we remembered the climb as he slowly regained consciousness.  Bryan could not swallow, he could not talk, and he could not walk.  The inability to swallow kept the feeding tube from being removed.  Through months of therapy the doctors were able to retrain another portion of his brain to control his ability to swallow.  There were weeks of testing, watching a moving X-ray of his swallowing, of therapy and neck massage. The feeding tube remained until consistent swallowing was accomplished.  It was difficult and slow but God is always in control through every step.  The months and years that followed saw Bryan press ahead at each challenge before him.  One by one he faced each obstacle as a determined young man. Doctors and therapists often told us that where he stopped or gave up would be the final point of his recovery.  Bryan seemed to instinctively know that if he did not go beyond the pain he would plateau.  On one occasion three physical therapists broke Bryan’s arm while trying to bend his elbow.  Yet he was ready to return the next day to let them continue to work on his right arm.  A therapy technique called serial casting was implemented in an attempt to make the arm bend.   Each day they would remove the cast, bend the elbow further, and recast it in a new position. The pain was excruciating.  Ultimately, following two surgeries, Bryan was able to gain limited motion in his arm.  

     Four years later, Bryan and I returned to the courthouse where I had originally been given his guardianship.  This time the petition before the court was to remove the guardianship and restore to Bryan his independence.  As we waited in the hallway for our case to be called, I once again reflected upon the experiences that we had faced together.  As I bowed my head I thanked God that He had allowed Bryan the recovery needed to once again take up his life.  As I lifted my head from prayer a gentleman approached me, “Mr. Sisson?”  I said, “Yes”.  It was the judge that had originally granted the guardianship and he was now in private practice as an attorney.  He immediately asked about my son.  I introduced him to Bryan. 

     Our case was called and we entered the courtroom.  Both Bryan and I testified this time.   The judge talked to Bryan at length and Bryan answered his every question.  The judge informed us that the Taney County Court had never removed a guardianship for two reasons:  1. A guardian rarely wants to relinquish control, or 2. The patient never recovers to the point of having the guardianship removed. The judge dissolved the guardianship that day and Bryan became his own person once again. Soon thereafter, Bryan made his plans to transfer to the University of North Texas.  Bryan soon graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree and two years later with a Master’s Degree. Both were days of celebration for him and answered prayer for his mother and me. 

      It is true that a parent will do anything possible to save the life of a child they love no matter what the cost or sacrifice.  Now with the resent passing of his mother and my beloved wife Bryan is now undertaking a new journey in his life.  Today he will load his personal belongings and will be moving to a new apartment on the beach in Galveston, Texas.    I will miss him. After selling his home a year ago in Dallas he decided to move back home with us and assist in the care for his mother.  I can hardly believe that it has been nearly seven months since Janice went to her new home in Heaven so peacefully.  Now the former Guardian and Protector of my wife and son will be alone in the quietness of this house.  Not alone in this life but loved by a daughter and her family forever.  I am blessed beyond measure to be loved by Christ and to serve Him as the true Guardian and Protector of my soul.  Who is the guardian of your life? Who stands with you in the valleys?  Who holds your hand when you cannot find the way?  Who is your Protector?   Who is the one who watches over you as you journey in this life?     IT IS JESUS CHRIST!  Walk with him every step of the way.  Rejoice that our spiritual life support is always present with us. Take great comfort in the moments of today in knowing that Christ is your Living Water!

     John 4:13-14: “Jesus answered and said unto her, Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life.”  Daily we are fed as Christ is our Bread of Life.  John 6:35: “Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

Paul D. Sisson