Update on Brian

Brian, Rachel, and Marcy were on the news last week! Copy and paste the WHOLE link below to view the report (both lines!). Or, you can go to www.myfoxdetroit.com and search the site for "brian beckett."

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=3814204

Well, Brian is improving in amazing ways. He is now able to walk on his own. Of course, he always has a little bee buzzing around him to make sure he doesn't trip (Marcy, Rachel, me), but he is strong and wheelchair-free! The next step for Brian (no pun intended) is his surgery on August 2. I don't have the details of the surgery but I know he will finally - God be praised - have his bone put back in his head. This should improve his balance, and it also means NO MORE HELMET! Brian has plans to go to his friend Chris's home for a helmet burning party. What a day that will be! Brian's eye sight is also improving. Marcy mentioned how he read small words on a water bottle, and I've seen him navigate a computer. His right arm is really strong now - Brian whipped a nerf football at his brother REALLY hard. I was impressed!

"For Brian's Benefit," a fundraiser at St. John Lutheran Church, took place last Friday, July 20. Brian came walking in to the amazement of many. If you can remember him at the bowling fundraiser, he was wheelchair-bound and needed to leave early. At this fundraiser, he was walking around a lot and stayed till the very end. That's at least 4 hours of socializing and being the center of attention. I do not know how much money was raised at this event, but I've heard rumblings and once again we must praise and thank God for the generosity and love of Brian's friends, family, and even complete strangers. I'll let Ben (my brother and one of the main event organizers) fill everyone in on the details of the fundraiser.

Prayer request: please pray for Brian's short-term memory to improve. This is something that bothers him, because he can't always remember what day it is today, or what he had for lunch. But there are signs of improvement because, for instance, he remembers going to see Harry Potter with Rachel (even if he can't remember the exact day it took place). Also pray for his left side to strengthen (arm, hand and eye).

-Kelly