What a year for Colby! Last we left the blogger world he was just getting back into school and still working towards recovery. (For those of you new to his story, you can start back at the beginning HERE.) School was a challenge for a while and Colby was living in a state of constant exhaustion for a little while there. Being the resilient kid he is though, he stuck with it and overcame so many barriers in such a short time span. With lots of naps, guidance and support behind him, he was able to make a full recovery just a few months after his brain surgery. It took a few months longer to get his body back on track with iron levels and getting full energy back. For a while, a jam packed day and big family or friend parties caused him to shut down still, but he eventually overcame that as well. By Christmas he had progressed leaps and bounds, but we noticed a huge change when we were able to come down and see him in March. We knew then he was completely back when his quick wit and humor was once again a constant for him. It was refreshing to be able to tease him and be pestered by his teenage sense of humor again because it meant he had completely healed. He was himself again.
Once he was fully back, Colby has been able to live a normal 16 year old active life. He played on the volleyball team for his school in the spring, went to school dances and activities, ran for Student Council/ASB and won, spoke at the CHOC Glass Slipper Guild Gala benefitting the neurological department, and finished off the school year with straight A's. Truly amazing. He had a jam packed summer full of all kinds of camps, vacations, and fun at the beach. He took up surfing, strengthened his testimony at church camps, honed his soccer skills through summer sports programs and wakeboarded around Bass Lake outside of Yosemite at the Baron family reunion. This kid is amazing. He is one of those that can accomplish anything he puts his mind to. We are all so grateful for him and for those who have supported him through all of his recovery and beyond. Thank you thank you for all that you have done!
What a blessing to be able to see the hand of the Lord in our life so steadily. Miracles happen, and when our prayers are not answered in the form of a miracle, we know the savior is there to carry us through. We know that families are forever, meaning that when we can no longer be together in this life, we will be reunited once again in the next and live together in a state of "never ending happiness". We know the power of prayer, especially when combined with prayers from loved ones from all over the world and from many different religions is real. It is from those prayers that we feel uplifted and edified through those most difficult times. Thank you for taking this journey with our family.
While I know I could go on and on about this resilient kid that has worked and played hard to get to where he is at, I figured the best update from his past year would be through pictures. Here are just a few of those triumphant moments he has had post surgery:
Foothill Volleyball
School Dances
HERE is a link to a newspaper article Colby was featured in for a different dance he went to as well as a follow up interview that was on the local ABC news found HERE.
Surfing! He was so excited to be given the green light to get back in the water (though it made the rest of us a nervous wreck for a while there!)
ASB Circus Circus themed school assembly
No more mass and a HEALTHY brain 6 months out!!
CHOC Glass Slipper Guild Gala
The amazing Dr. Muhonen that saved his life!
Receiving a blessing from a patriarch in our church
Baron family all together at Christmas time
And we can't forget THIS fun video he made with other young men from church for the young women!
We sure love having this kid still ever present in our lives making us laugh and smile everyday!
