#pray4drew

[mariabrophy]

DAY 95: Tuesday @drewbrophy was transferred to a Rehab facility. The vibe there is of hope and healing. There are no sick people moaning or machines beeping all day (things that kept Drew awake). Yesterday Drew was the strongest yet. He’s happy 😆 and chatty. He’s eating real food. His voice is almost normal. His spirits are high. ✨ BIG WIN: He got his first shower in 3 months. He said it was amazing. AND it was frightening to see how skinny he is! I’m still making him protein smoothies loaded with vitamins to help him heal. I’m also making him mullein and hibiscus tea, good for lungs and liver. 💕 We did exercises last night - “fly boys” where we lift his leg up, swing it out, swing it in and back down. This was the 1st time he could do it with no help. He can also do a “bridge pose” and cross his legs. Little things = big things. CHARTING: There’s a big calendar on his wall where we chart his daily wins. We notice a pattern. Little win - little win - little win - then a BIG win. ☀️SUNSHINE: There’s a courtyard and he got to wheel out into the sun for the 1st time. I wish hospitals would make this a regular thing because it causes a huge positive shift in one’s spirit. ENERGY SHIFT: Moving from one hospital to another is risky when critically ill. When Drew was moved the first time we had a scary issue . But Drew is no longer sick; he's recovering. This time the move went smoothly and we saw his strength improve within 24 hours! The rehab he’s at is incredible. The amount of care and attention is astounding. We feel so very blessed. OXYGEN: He’s on 4 liters. We tried lowering it yesterday but he’s not ready yet. We do know this: he will be off oxygen very soon. We are rejecting any thoughts otherwise. Many on his medical team say he will heal 100%. We know this to be true! Drew is one day closer to coming home. THANKS everyone for caring. The ❤️love from the community continues to pour in and Drew and his family appreciate it so very much. Words cannot express our gratitude. Xoxo Maria PHOTO: Is of Drew supping LAVA RAPIDS #drewbrophy #pray4drew #paint4drew #recovery #hescominghome #onedaycloser https://www.instagram.com/p/CaLEpaFveOV/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mariabrophy]

Drew with 2 of his angels, Kim and Nikki, longtime friends who tag-teamed him last night with a massage! He's a lucky man... 😎 TRACH IS OUT! It came out 2 days ago. He is so happy to have the "dog collar off." There is a hole in his throat, which they do not stitch up because it closes naturally. Now he can talk. His voice is stronger each day. Yesterday he got his first real meal, pureed turkey, potatoes and carrots. It’s the Thanksgiving dinner he never got! 🦃 BODY & MIND: He's getting stronger at getting in and out of a wheelchair. Now working on taking steps. Drew's mind is sharp as a tack, 100% who he is. He didn't suffer memory loss like so many do after an induced coma. His spirits are high. ✨ WHY WE CHOSE THE SMALLEST LTAC FACILITY: While another Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) hospitals were highly recommended, we chose this small, old, 56 bed facility because: 1 - a generous visitor policy (so important) and 2 - the staff is ah-ma-zing. They feel like a family. They care about Drew and it shows. 💕 Everyday I write a "line up" schedule of who is going to see him and at what time. Dylan, myself and close family/friends break up the day so Drew is always uplifted and anchored to his life outside. The person with the morning shift gets the best time, because that's when exciting stuff happens with PT. 😎 Drew's room always has a "party" in it! Yesterday a bunch of the staff were in his room, excited for his progress and said he's one of their success stories. He's won the hearts of everyone there. They are doing an incredible job of pushing him toward full recovery. 😀 Drew's situation has sparked a huge community of healing. It's brought out so much love and generosity. I'm trying to figure out how to properly thank 🙏all the people who have given us so much support. We have much gratitude towards all of you and to Drew's doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, PT OT ST and the Dietitian! I will find a way to thank each and every one of you. xoxo @drewbrophy #drewbrophy #lifeisgood #pray4drew #paint4drew https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ1_nhVp83_/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mariabrophy]

Yesterday Drew got into a wheelchair and moved around the ICU. This is HUGE! It’s crazy how hard it is to move after being put on paralytic drugs for 4 weeks. His muscles were literally put to sleep and now he has to reactivate them and it’s harder then lifting 500 lbs! 🏋️‍♂️ Drew breathed on his own without the vent for 5 hours. The time will continue to increase until he no longer needs the vent. One component of breathing on your own is controlling the anxiety of thinking you NEED a machine for every breath. Many survivors of the vent say that, even a year later, they have fear of not being able to breathe. It's mental. Since Drew is used to controlling his mind during big wave surfing incidents, his mind is prepared for this challenge. NUTRITION: I'm now able to bring healthy homemade juice to be fed through his stomach tube. Today I added the juice of an orange 🍊 picked off of a tree in our backyard. I also got them to administer high dose Vitamin C through his IV. This is an anti-inflammatory and will aid in his quicker healing. Doctors never like when you demand these things, but it's worth fighting for because it shortens recovery time. BEATING AN 80% DEATH RATE: Drew had a 20% chance of survival and there are many reasons he beat the odds. Family is one. It's important for critical patients to have loved ones around all the time, not just sometimes. I notice that Drew's room is the only one in the ICU that always has family there, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m! Most of the other patients don't get visitors, or if they do, it's only for a few minutes. 🥲 When Drew was on his deathbed, a doctor told me that the survivors tend to be people who have family around. And I can see why: when in ICU for weeks and months, you lose sight of WHO YOU ARE. All you see are those 4 walls and machines and medicine and people wearing masks and blue gowns. You end up becoming what everyone else is around you; a sick person. The people who love ❤️you will remind you daily of who you really are. And that will keep you anchored to your life outside, and ultimately, your recovery. Thanks for reading xoxo 😘 #pray4drew #drewbrophy #paint4drew (at Giza Plateau, Egypt) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZPkk8KvdJP/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mariabrophy]

UPDATE - 68 days in ICU. He's now in a hospital that specializes in rehab and getting off the vent. SPEAKING: Yesterday I heard Drew’s voice for the first time in 2 months! He talked for 1 hour. The 1st thing he said: "I love you." Then he called his mom. His voice is quiet and not the same, but it will come back. He works with a therapist daily to learn to talk with a trach. WALKING: We are a long way from this. Today he can sit up with help. After 30 days of paralytic drugs your muscles have to be "woken up". Steps to walking: 1 - sit up by himself 2 - use a wheelchair 3 - learn to walk. MENTAL: Drew is strong mentally, but he's human. He's used to being the guy who does everything for everyone. He lives for surfing, hiking and nature. He's been cooped up for months and he gets discouraged. He's doing Dr. Dispenza meditations and they help him visualize recovery. WORK: Drew will not be at work for 6-8 months. Since I am at the hospital every day, I've not been working either. As soon as he is more stable, I need to get to work asap, so Drew has a business to come home to. ME: Though I've gotten very strong, I am overwhelmed. Everything is out of control. My business, house, car, health, is a mess. But there is no solution. There are mistakes made and if I'm not there every day, something can go wrong. Like an accidental administering of a med that Drew is allergic to (this happened and was averted because I was there). When Drew is healthier, I can focus on myself. Just a little bit longer.... GRATITUDE: Words cannot convey how much we appreciate the love, prayers and help. You find out who your true friends are during your darkest hours. And I'm happy to say, we have more true friends and family than we ever realized! Drew told me that he never felt so much LOVE as he does now. He sees MORE love in the world than he ever did. He said that during his near death experience, he actually heard the prayers and felt the love from everyone. He said it helped him come back to life. And yes, I got that on video! I'll share it one day when he gives me permission. @drewbrophy #pray4drew #paint4drew #drewbrophy https://www.instagram.com/p/CZCppwep-lr/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mariabrophy]

Thank you 🙏@chalmerslester and team @surfcity_mb for the fundraiser for Drew! Thanks to the amazing, loving, dedicated Myrtle Beach community for showing up! Drew teared up when I told him about the event and how much $ you all raised for him. We feel blessed beyond words. Seriously, the love ❤️ is so strong. I can’t help but feel that tragedies bring out the absolute best in people. Thank you from Drew and his entire family. The kindness and love makes this easier for all of us. 🙏🙏🙏 @drewbrophy #drewbrophy @surfcity_mb #surfcity #pray4drew #paint4drew #lifeisgood https://www.instagram.com/p/CYrat1xJwYg/?utm_medium=tumblr

[drewbrophy]

Repost @mariabrophy • Yesterday Drew was writing a lot. Expressing frustration with not being able to talk, walk or be outside. AND THEN he wrote “We will take it as it comes. Life is still good.” 💥 He laughed a lot yesterday. It was the first time in 2 months that I saw a real smile on his face. We were goofing off in the hospital room all day. I was cracking jokes and he was making goofy faces. I brought him a pair of sweat pants and when the nurse went to lunch I closed the curtains and sneakily put his pants on him! He felt normal for awhile. He wore those pants all day until right before I left. It’s the little things.... This morning he texted that he felt like he was going crazy, cooped up inside. He misses surfing and being in our backyard gardening. He’s finally able to text so now he can express himself better. We are getting through this one day at at time. I’ll be with him all day at the hospital and will try to make him laugh again today! Life is still good. Feeling blessed that he is with us. ❤️ #drewbrophy #pray4drew #paint4drew https://www.instagram.com/p/CYkT8FkvBvW/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mariabrophy]

Deep Gratitude 🙏 for Steve and Susie Taylor and their team at @nativesons for this awesome PRAY FOR DREW tee shirt/sticker fundraiser. The Myrtle Beach connection is strong- so much love there! ♥️ Native Sons was Drew’s first job in Myrtle Beach as a young surfer. Thanks to everyone who is wearing this PRAY FOR DREW tee! (Link in BIO or Nativesons.com ). 🏄🏼‍♂️🏄🏼‍♂️🏄🏼‍♂️ Repost @nativesons • “Our good friend and renowned surf artist Drew Brophy has been in the hospital since early November fighting the COVID virus. There are several critical weeks or possibly months ahead for Drew and he needs continued prayers and positive vibes!! To help Drew’s Recovery we have created a special tee shirt and decal using one of Drew’s most popular designs “Pray for Surf” but it it now says “Pray for Drew”. All proceeds will help @drewbrophy and his family pay for the medical treatment needed. Please visit nativesons.com or click the link in our bio to purchase! #drewbrophy #pray4drew #paint4drew https://www.instagram.com/p/CYb_HPrp-4n/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mariabrophy]

Drew Healing Update: @drewbrophy has turned a corner in a great direction. 😀 He has been weaning off his heavy sedation. 💃🏼 Yesterday when I arrived at his doorway, I saw his eyes were open. I said "I'll be in a minute to see you." I had to put on a blue gown and gloves before walking in. He looked at me and lifted his hand and waved! That was huge, because he had been too sedated for weeks to make such a movement. I was so happy, and then, he motioned for me to come in. I knew then that he was going to be okay. It's the little things that show big progress! ♥️ Thursday will be 4 weeks ago that he was put on a ventilator. Tomorrow he will have a surgery to take him off the vent (yah!) and he will have a trach. This is a big step up. He will be able to talk in a few days and he will also be able to write. He wants to communicate with us so badly.... 🌊 And 2 days ago we had a great day; an incredible nurse named Frank decided it was time for Drew to move his body. Along with help from Drew's personal physical therapist and dear friend @bodybalancebykim and 3 other nurses, they moved him out of bed and into a chair. Drew was determined to get his muscles back in shape and as Kim coached him, he powered out some exercises. I Facetimed his sister Andrea and as I held the screen for Drew to see her, and her to see him, he started flexing his quads and moving his feet, showing what he can do! This was huge because he hadn't moved in weeks. And this is evidence of his strong will to recover AND his ability to do so. 🥊 To all my prayer warriors AND those who have been sending Drew healing energy, please send healing vibes for Drew's surgery to go great tomorrow (Wednesday) at 7 a.m. PST. We are intending for it to go smoothly, easily and perfectly. Send him your healing vibes and love to help make that intention a reality. ✨✨✨ And thanks to all, once again, for the love 💕 you have been sending. It makes a difference. Because of YOU, Drew is healing. He will recover. And you helped make it happen! 🙏 Love, Maria for Drew Brophy and his entire family. xoxo #drewbrophy photo by Jake Roth #pray4drew https://www.instagram.com/mariabrophy/p/CXxGhp9rtQ5/?utm_medium=tumblr