Mark Hansen - Jill Martin's Blog

Hello everyone ~

I was thinkin’ there may a few of you who may be interested in knowing how Mark Hansen is doing after his accident.  It feels like a lifetime since it happened, yet it was only January 5.  Ha – “only.”  Funny word that.

Anyway, I keep in close contact with Kathryn, his sister, who keeps me from going completely buggers.  Mark was moved from UCLA Medical Center on Monday to a rehab hospital that specializes in brain injuries.  He will be there for an extended period of time – probably a year or more.  It’s such a great place as he will eventually have his own apartment and will be taught how to function in the world before he is discharged.

I don’t remember how much I shared in my last blog about his injuries, so bear with me if I repeat myself.  Mark suffered extensive brain stem injury in addition to right brain damage.  His left arm is paralyzed.  He is left-handed, if you remember, and is having to learn to do everything with his right.  He is speaking, but not clearly yet.  His left eye seems to be damaged.  He recognizes his family, remembers long-time friends, yet not those he worked with every day.  And yeah, he remembers me.  That one I couldn’t wait to know and dreaded with every fiber I’m made of.  He couldn’t remember the password to his email, so Kathryn opened another account and asked that I email him.  He tried to answer, but he couldn’t focus or see the screen and ended up hitting all the keys ~ so he’s not ready yet.  But the desire is there, and that’s enough.

I’ve done extensive reading on brain injuries and do know that the sort of intensive rehab Mark is getting will insure that he will regain the fullest extent of pre-injury function possible.  And at this point, I am not discounting the return of some function of his left arm.  One just never knows with a brain injury.

That’s it in a nutshell.  I want to thank all of you for your prayers for Mark.  I know God is taking care of him and I am so grateful every blinkin day.

;-)   ~jill