God is hearing every single one of your prayers.
Eli chose Plato’s Closet because he misses the ones back home. He picked out a few things, and for an hour we got to feel a little bit of normal life again.
Yesterday we also saw the neuro-optometrist. He noticed some jumping in Eli’s eyes but said it isn’t affecting his vision. It’s common after a brain injury of this level and should resolve as he continues to heal. We’ll follow up in November just to be safe. Here are a couple of videos of Eli doing some of the advanced games where you control the screen with only your eyes—the technology here is exactly what Eli has needed to make this trip to healing so much better.
While we were here, Eli also met a gentleman named Ty, a football coach from South Dakota who was recovering from a stroke. When the two of them met, they instantly connected, and I think it was everything Eli needed to hear—from a coach who, just like him, wanted nothing more than to get back on the field. Yesterday Eli received a package from Ty, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bring tears to my eyes. Eli proudly put the bracelet on alongside his Eli Strong ones, and he can’t wait to rock the shirt.
When Eli first arrived at Madonna on the 15th, he took a reaction test on the lightboard and only managed 10 lights in a minute, barely using his left hand. Yesterday he repeated the test and hit 72 in one minute—faster than average. That small test showed us just how far he’s come in such a short time, and I couldn’t hold back tears.
Please keep praying for Monday. This weight-bearing boot is everything we need.