Mon- Coming Home!

 (Mon)  4/14/25

Britt and ALisa were able to fly home today!!! His sodium levels are still not where they need to be but so grateful he’s home! The travel was really hard on Britt. He was so exhausted just from getting into the wheelchair to the Uber and into a wheelchair to the gate.

Alisa said, "It's been a long and crazy day, but we are HOME!  Thank You for all of you support and prayers and everything else that has been done for us.  Every time I tell Britt about the love people have for him he gets so emotional.  We truly feel the prayers.  We still have a long journey ahead of us, but we are home!  The healing can begin!"

(Sun) Rough Day

(Sun)  4/13/25

It's been a really rough day for Britt.  He woke up to his sodium levels down again.  
They just can't get it stable.  He has been nauseous all day and hasn't eaten much. He walked today for the first time with a few unassisted steps.  He is just weak and needs the assistance of a walker.

Britt and Alisa didn't get much sleep last night as nurses in and out, and Britts bed alarm going off every time he moves around in bed.  And, just for memory sake, Theo yelling next door has kept them awake almost every night! haha  That will be a standing joke in our family for years to come!

As the day progressed Britt became more irritable and very agitated.  His day continued to get worse as his emotions were getting the best of him.  Britt has been on a new antidepressant for the past 8 months.  The doctors taking care of him in ICU said that that medication along with another medication together is not a good combination because
of seizures, so they immediatly took him off the antidepressant.  

Skip forward to today... To go cold turkey off and antidepressant has sent him into a deep dark hole.  Thoughts of suicide, self harm, aggression, have begun to taken over.  We had these issues the first year or two, but medication and counseling helped him immensely.  It breaks my heart to see him go through this again.  And, poor Alisa has never seen this side of him.  

The only reason I am mentioning this publically is because Britt writes about this challenge in his book and how the outside world Does Not realize what people with traumatic brain injuries can go through.  Today as Steven and I were talking to him he started sobbing, while holding his head and said, "No one gets it!"  "No one understands what my brain goes through."  

Britten is so vulnerable in his new book and so I feel he would be okay with me sharing this.  I told him, that after people read his book, at least they will have a little better understanding of a brain injury.  It's not like a physical injury as someone on crutches or in a wheelchair.  A TBI (traumatic brain injury) is a hidden injury.  If we were to shave Britts head so your could see his giant scar, maybe someone will at least think about what could have happened.  Even people with concussions or head trauma that aren't as serious can still have a lasting effect and they don't even have a scar to show for it.  My heart goes out to them and their families as a brain injury can affect your whole life.  Our prayers go out to any of you suffering with a TBI.

One thing that helped me while in the hospital 13 years ago with Britt was to have a big support system, which all of you played a roll in.  On weekends when I just needed a break, Britten's siblings were there to help cheer him up!  Alisa is already realizing how important a support system will be for her.  We just need to get Britt sodium levels up so we can get him home to address so many issues.

The next few months are going to be a real challenge for Alisa, with Britt's mental health until we can get it stable again.  We are thinking it may take 6 months or more for his physical health to be where
he needs to be.  We are so grateful for "Britt's support team",  and Alisa will need her "own" support team as well.

Prayers for a better day tomorrow and that Britt can come home.

With Love, Steven & Karla             

The big beautiful smile we love!                                                            The effects after talking to his siblings!

(Sat) Alisa Arrives

(Sat)  April 12, 2025

Alisa flew to Texas friday night and her dad picked her up at the airport while Steven stayed with Britt.  When she arrived at the hospital I'm sure it was such a great reunion for them. Britten still doesn't remember anything about the cruise they went on.  His only memories are a week before the cruise when they went and visited Alisa grandparents in Texas. 

The following comments are from Alisa when she arrived at the hospital...

"I am back with Britten.🤍❤️‍🩹 he is doing so much better and has progressed so much, since I've seen him last.  He is still slow at speaking and his motor function is slow, but he is such a champ."

"It’s almost 1:30am but we’re just going to bed cause we had so much to catch up on. I told him of all the miracles we’ve seen and how so many people love him and have been so thoughtful. We have both been bawling at how gracious god is. My heart has never loved Britten more and I am so thankful he is okay. This is exactly where I need to be!"

Saturday Britt's sodium levels dropped again so they are working on getting it back up.  
Alisa realizes now that Britt is going to need a lot of rest and things will need to be quiet for his brain to heal.  It's almost like Britt took a step backwards today.  I think he just over did yesterday and it just set him back a little.  Praying that his sodium levels can raise to where the need to be so we can get hime home!

It seems as if Britt has lost his "Filter" again. haha  Losing his filter might get him in lots of trouble! haha  His book that is about ready to come out explains more in detail about the "filter".  He surely kept our family laughing ALL the time!

We can't express enough how grateful we are for all the love and concern that has been shown towards both of our families. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Love, Steven, Karla & Alisa

Friday- Happy Day

Friday -4/11/25

It was a very rough night for Britt and he didn't didn’t get much sleep… maybe from 5-7am.

But, it turned out to be a good and happy day!

So many test were taken to find out what was causing the fever.  The fever did come down through the night and he tested negative for covid and the flu.  Kinda crazy where the fever came from.

Britt sat up in the chair this morning and was able to feed himself breakfast. That was such big progress.  Then the PT came in and had him walk down the hallway with the aid of a walker with the PT by his side.  and, yep, he did it!  This is the first time he has walked since Sunday when the seizure happened. When he sat down, he was totally exhausted.

His speech still seems pretty slow this morning, but he is making good progress. The physical therapist said he was her star patient for the day🙂. 

As the day progressed he became more active and with a little more energy.  He sat up and played some cards and he was able to respond to the ST when she asked questions!  He knew his name, bday and email! Later afternoon he walked around the hospital hallways that made a big circle  with the walker and PT!  Then, it happened....He got on his cell phone!  Yep, that meant he was doing good.

It took him awhile but he sent a text to our family, which is called the "Schenksters," and this was his text....Hey everyone! I’m doing pretty good👍 I’ll tell, my brothers and sisters, it is not fun to have a seizure! I was blessed to have that at the last day in the cruise, because if I would have had that on the sea… There would have been a good chance, I would not have survived. I had a 102.8 fever, but the last couple of times I had a 98 point something degrees, and I am filling a lot better. I have gone on a 50 yard walk or so with a walker.  I will be home either Sunday or Monday…Hooray!

Yes, he made our day!  His writing is still a little rough, but i'm sure it will come back!  

Alisa flew to Texas and arrived there tonight to be with Britt until he comes home.  With the incredible progress he made today, we hope it will be Sunday but, probably Monday when he can come home!

We are so thankful for each one of you and your prayers have blessed our family.

We love you,

Steven & Karla & Britt

Thurs -Improvement

 Post 6.   (Thurs) 4/10/25

Britten has had a good day today and we are seeing progress! He was responding and talking a little more today,(like answer with 3 words or so) along with smiling which is so good to see! 

They got him in a chair so the PT could work with him.  She was from Brazil and it seemed that Britt understood Portuguese better than English.   They never got him up for a walk because he was still too weak, but she exercised his legs.  And, he did eat some breakfast, so there was no need for the other swallow test.

When the ST (speech therapist) came in and working with him, Britt doesn't remember anything about their cruise:(  But he did remember who was in the Final Four Tourney! haha   That's our Britt! His brothers were super proud of him!

He gets tired very quickly and he is very slow in communicating and slow in processing information. But he has improved so much since yesterday!!

Britt has eaten well today and they are going to move him from ICU and to the med floor!

Steven let me know just know that there is a little set back, Britt now has a temp of 102.5. I guess they are running all kinds of test trying to figure out what is causing the fever.

I know Britt is so strong and determined. He's a fighter for sure and will never give up!

We are just waiting for him to get strong enough so he can fly home to start the next part of his recovery.  I know it's going to take quite a while for him, he's just going to need time.

Thanking the Lord for his continued blessings!

Wed- Swallow Test

Post 5 (Wed) April 9, 2025

Steven said that Britt's has been unresponsive since yesterday afternoon and all night because his sodium level went up. He nor the nurse could get Britten to respond to them though.

Wed morning the neurologist came in and with his big loud voice he said, "Good morning Britt!" Britt's eyes popped wide open! Britt was slow processing this but nodded his head, yes. Then the doctor loudly said, "how are you?" and Britt slowly said in a deep raspy voice, "I'm fine." Steven and the nurse said that the doctor must have the magic voice!

Britt was able to squeeze the neurologist's hand and respond with a nod appropriately to his commands. Then the ST came in and gave him a few ice chips and he was able to swallow 2 sips of water! He is very weak and still very lethargic. If he can pass the swallow test then they would Not need to put a feeding tube in.
The ST came in again and said he was borderline because he is still so lethargic. The doctor will decide on the feeding tube on how urgent is is for him to eat immediately or if he can wait a little bit longer.

Britt has been doing well without the oxygen and it has been off all morning and his O2 has been steady at 96. Dr. Patel came in and said his chest xray looks ok. There is a little bit of fluid on the right side of his lungs, but he is on antibiotics, no concern.
He said he will not put the NG tube in today in hopes he will can eat later.

Britt just passed the swallow test! He ate 2 bites of pudding! But, when he took a bite of a cracker it made him cough a lot so they said only pudding for today. He will have the barium swallow test tomorrow. This is huge for Britt as we were so worried about brain damage from the seizure.
Miracles and tender mercies are already happening! Later in the afternoon Britt started responded a little better and wasn't as lethargic. He has made so much progress from the state he was in yesterday!

To those that don't understand Britt's brain injury, all the damage was done to the left side of his head which is your language center. He had speech therapy for 3.5 years learning the English vocabulary again along with grammar, reading and being able to write. So our biggest concern after this seizure is if it affected these areas mainly his speech and forming words along with being able to receive and interpret what you are saying.
His brain is responding to understanding what people are saying to him, but he is very slow in responding, and it's just 1 or 2 words. But, It is definitely progress and we are so grateful! We will just have to be patient and play the waiting game.

There has been such an outpour of love and support. It is your support along with the many prayers and our Savior's grace and mercy that carry us through our journey. Our trials are no greater what many of you and others are going through. I have had to make a list of ALL the people we are praying for that are going through such hard things because there are so many and I don't want to miss one of you. May you find peace and comfort as well and your hearts and body's be healed through our Savior's love.

With gratitude for all our friends near and far.
Karla & Steven

Alisa's Overwhelming Feelings

Post 4 Tues at Midnight

When we were with Britt in the Brazilian hospital 13 years ago, I was very private and was so scared to share any pics or be vulnerable with my feelings. If I had it to do over again I think I would have shared more. With Alisa's permission she told me I could share pics, video's and her feelings.

"It's midnight and I'm finally laying down but my mind won't stop. I'm worried about Britten. He's been sleeping most of today with very little energy and not a lot of activity.

Will he be okay when he wakes up? Will he be able to talk? Will he be able to walk? Did this affect his brain in ways we don't know yet? Should I be there in Texas? If I go back what do I do about y girls, work, all the things that need to be done here?

How long will Britt be down from his seizure? His last big seizure he was down for 5 months? How am I going to do this? How long is he going to be in the ICU or when is he going to be home?

If I don't work what do we do? Will we still be able to get a loan for our house? Are my girls okay? Has this been traumatic for them as they witnessed everything?

Does Britt know I want to be with him? Does he feel my love? How am I going to manage my business's? Do I even have sessions to edit and shoots coming up? Maybe this isn't all appropriate to share online but these are just a few of the things going through my mind.

I walked through our house tonight to see all the things that got done while on our trip and for the first time in my life I experienced a panic attack. It was the first time I've been completely by myself and the reality of this all hit. Britten should be here with me to be excited but instead all I feel is sick to my stomach because he's not here and I can't even get to him easily.

Maybe Britt will be totally fine and it will be like nothing happened...but we just know anything right now. Sorry for the vulnerability, but this is my real life right now.

All that matters to me in this moment is that my family is safe and healthy. Nothing else matters." -Alisa

My heart goes out to Alisa as these are Real concerns. Britten's health has not been good the last 8 months. Her plate is full and she carries so much burden on her shoulders. But, she was saved for Britten because she is Amazing and Can carry the load. And, most importantly, "With God, ALL things are possible"

-Karla & Steven