PRAY FOR CANDICE / UPDATES

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

JEREMIAH 29:11

Hello to everyone!!! Remember me!! Man I got to looking and I haven't put an update on here in 7 months!!! I’ve been Slacking!!! I apologize!!

It has been so long since I have updated this site I don’t know what to tell you …lol…

Let me back up Candice got a new wheel chair .. “ a very very light wheel chair she has to push and pull… it is red and we work everyday on “pushing herself” it is remarkable to look at old pictures and videos of Candice and See how much she has progressed!! God is so good!!

Ok now Candice broke her right tibia “again” the leg originally broke in the car wreck.. we were coming in the door in wheelchair and her foot got caught in the door jam …. Ouch!! It is completely healed and better than ever now!!!

We attend therapy 2 days a week , physical and occupational , Candice does very well .. she stands!!!! She uses her hands !!! she is getting better!!!

We go everywhere … especially out to eat!! And speaking of eating .. guess what the girl who they said wasn’t going to live that night .. or amount to any quality of life “if” she came out of her coma……..SHE S EATING!!! EVERDAY!!!! EVERDAY!!! EVERYDAY!!! She still has her feeding tube ….but we are going to get that thing out of her soon!!

I want to thank everyone who checks this website ,,, and has followed our story… and prays for us everyday!!! Continue to lift us up to Jesus !!!! We are going to make it!!!

To be honest … I’ve dealt with depression and non belief for along time after candice’s wreck .. but God always picks me up when I need it the most and shows me He is in control!! Let him do that for you !!!

4:30 am Sunday Morning …. I haven’t written in a while. Just trying to live. I watched a movie tonight called the “Notebook” Wow what a sad movie!!! I feel like the old man in the movie telling the story waiting and praying his wife will come back to him!!..

Nobody knows the pain I feel deep down in my chest when I think of all the memories of Candice and I … We were so happy, so unaware of the world around us!!! We both gave each other life! Candice brought into my life something I’ve never felt, experienced, or even dreamed about, she made my life make sense! I have had a hard time lately coping with the fact that Candice is crippled for life! Not only did it cripple her but it crippled me.. Imagine being so in love, so heartfelt, Soul felt, and God felt!! Finding out you were going to have a baby …. Seeing the indescribable joy in her eyes knowing she was a mommy!!... I remember buying our first house together , working on fixing it up together! So many Nothings that meant So Much!! I remember taking her snacks to her work because she said the “baby” was getting hungry!!! All the little memories,, all the big memories … are all I have now ……

I have adapted all my dreams, all my hopes to full time care for my wife!! Many people ask me each day how I am .. I lie and tell them I’m ok… I’m crushed, my whole life is gone …..i know I can move on and start a new life …. But what about Candice. She didn’t cause this ….. She is emotionally driven now she will “cry” until I come over to tuck her into bed, hold her hand, and lay down with her , so she can fall asleep. It really feels like I’m running a marathon with no oxygen or water….

I know what keeps me going is her though!... I can’t bear to see her in any kind of pain or any kind of hurt or discomfort… when I hold her hand and kiss her forehead and she smiles and reaches up to kiss me back … that is what keeps me going!!!

I know it may seem like I’m rambling but its hard to get my emotions out now …… I bottle everything up and have “learned to smile”. I have asked God to help me deal with my pain each day and help me to stay focused on the right path.. his path!!!

Sometimes it seems like it just doesn’t work.. or what is the point … but I know there is a point…. I believe in God , and we are to humble ourselves and serve him no matter what even if we don’t like it or understand it… So God I Believe in You I Pray your Will Be Done IN Mine and Candice’s Life , not ours … let it be written! Let it be Done!

A lot has gone on since the last update in may! First the Criminal Trial has been completed.. Aaron Matthew Dunagan was found guilty on reckless driving / serious injury by reckless driving / and running the red light / he was found not guilty on DUI / and serious injury by DUI. He was sentenced t 17 years to serve 10 parole 7 … It was a highly emotional time for our family and I’m glad it is over !!! I was disappointed that the feticide charge could not be added or even mentioned during the trial. It would have been grounds for appeal .. although His lawyer filed 34 motions for a new trial after his conviction .. all being denied by out judicial system. I want to Personally Thank all the Jurors who took time out of there life and had to witness a fraction of what our family has been through.. I appreciate each and ever juror for your decisions. Also to Judge Durham . I appreciate his diligent and hard working efforts in this case he was very thorough and precise! To the Dunagans .. I pray for your family, we are not he only family suffering!

To the future I do not know what it will hold but I know I will not give up!! I’ve come to far!!! Candice has come to far!!! I may be like the old man reading the story waiting for that five minutes or so of connection with his wife!!

Pray for us that we may continue see healing not only for Candice but for me ! I ‘m tired very tired …..

Hello!!!! Welcome to Candice's New Web Site!!! I want to thank God for allowing me to create this website and give me the encouragement to keep on going!!

Many months have went by and no Update!! I apologize it has been really hard just to survive!! I do not have an income that I can rely on ... so I have been doing whatever I can. Also the Criminal Trial that we have been waiting on and preparing for is just now coming into reality. The Jury Selection is set for May 12th. 2006 ... originally set for Thanksgiving last year !! that is how far this thing has been lingering on!! Another thing that we have been dealing with is My father had an awful motorcycle wreck, and to make it worse i saw the whole thing .. I was right behind him!! ( you think I've been traumatized enough!!) He flipped his bike 3 times , ending up face down with the bike on top of his head, being the first one to his side, I thought I had lost my father!! He started to show signs of life after a couple of minutes ... but was moaning and not making any sense ... Then fear got me again and said ok well he's got a brain injury!!!! ... Boy talk about frustrating!! Thank God that he only ended up with 7 broke ribs, a punctured lung, and a lot of road rash... I kid him now he has a hard head!!!

My Girl is doing very well!! We had the opportunity to take a vacation!!! My three Sisters and there families , Candice and I took a little trip to Gatlinburg for a couple of days!! Make a long story short ... it was just what we needed!!

Therapy continues for Candice at home, but as for a facility we put all that on hold .. Candice was getting burnt out and she needed a break!! So we gave her one!! She is enjoying her time off!! ... I told her that once everything legally is behind us we are going back to therapy .... Just between you and me ... she's not very keen on the idea!! lol

Other than that we are just trying to get back to living!!! Candice is still not talking , although she says no in the form of uhhh ahhh. We still feed her with a feeding tube although every time we go out to eat she will try at least one bite of something... Its Slow

Medically Candice is very healthy ... we have been going to a lot of different doctors getting check ups and things . One interesting discovery Candice has enlarged ventricles in her brain .... the doctor said this may be causing pressure in the brain causing limited recovery .. or it may just be from the brain injury !! he has sent us to to more testing... i will keep you guys up to date on the status..

Please take the time to browse through the web site and enjoy ... now that it is up I will be adding alot of new stuff including videos of Candice a new discussion forum ... and different things!!

also check out my web links also the link to my MYSPACE PAGE!!! i have the new song that i wrote for Candice and recorded at my studio ( " I MADE A PTROMISE" ) www.myspace.com/brybry52 .. also on the web links page!!

Candice has continued to improve at therapy, but she still has her days when she wants to do what she wants to do!!

Tomorrow is Candice's Birthday... She will be 23 ... how young!! Her new wheel chair came today which is a great birthday present!!! It is the "CADILLAC" of wheelchairs... it reclines, lays flat, lots of cushion and padding everywhere... it is very nice... I think she will enjoy this chair.

My Precious Grandfather passed away December 6th after a long illness...He was 81… I had the distinguished honor to sing at his funeral, I sang "The Lords Prayer” it was very beautiful, I believe it would have made my grandfather proud!!! We got to see a lot of our family which was very good for the both of us ... It was good to see everyone and everyone was thrilled to see Candice and how she is doing.

Candice has perfected the “Art of Hollering” If Candice needs something she will holler, if Candice is tired she will holler, if she needs to go to the bathroom, or she needs to be attended to she will holler, if she is uncomfortable she will holler!! I see this as a sign of communication because she has learned that if she wants something she can open her mouth and push air out and make a sound ( a very annoying sound!!!) I just pray that her new communication will one day turn into words and conversation!!!

Health wise I believe Candice is very healthy.. She has lost some weight and looks very normal again in the face as you probably have noticed in the last couple of updates!!

I have not updated you guys as often as I would like or probably as you would like .. I apologize for this but everyday is filled with just trying to survive mentally, emotionally, and physically… The mental part is probably the hardest.

I would like to ask a very special prayer request of the internet community, and whomever may read this update!!!

Pray for ME!! I struggle each day with many issues, many emotions, many different feelings, I have silent prayer requests that I deal with on a day to day basis!!

“behind the scenes” as a result of this tragedy and its really getting hard on all of us!!!

Also one more request … The trial has been moved to the first part of the year … I pray that the Lords WILL will take place ….. What ever that may be!!! I pray that we wouldn’t have any complications as this family been through enough!!!

I thank you all for your emails !!!!! I read each and every one!!!! It lifts me up!!! Continue to send your thoughts and prayers .. Please do not take it personal if I do not respond ….(busy busy.. remember)

Also lots of people have emailed me wanting to join the member list… The problem with this is we have so many members it will not allow any more….. I apologize for this…. But GOOD NEWS!!!!

We have had a pretty busy schedule with therapy. She goes three days a week… The team at Floyd rehab has done a wonderful job and they are very special to me. Candice responds very well to them.. She has a great team ….. Candice participates in physical, occupational, and speech therapies. She has her up days and her down days … some times she will do very well and others she will get very frustrated and start to holler and cry. It breaks my heart to see her struggle and try so hard just to raise her hand above her head and to eat .. we takes so many things for granted!! Her spirit is good. She always smiles and always laughs .. but I know she longs to be back to normal…. I long for that also…….

Candice has done very well with speech .. she is eating little puréed food everyday .. some days she fights it but is doing better.. The other night all her therapists Candice and I and my friend Zack went out to Sumo’s (Japanese restaurant) .. it meant a great deal to Me!!! We had such a good time and Candice practiced eating there … she didn’t do that good but we had a great time.. then we all carried her upstairs and sang karaoke .. it was a lot of fun.

I have turned over a new leaf …. I started school back and I really enjoy it …. I’m going back to finish up my degree program in Computer Web design / Networking / Info Systems …. I have this quarter and next quarter and I should be all finished. It has been a good outlet for me ..

It is so different now!!.. Our life has changed so much in the past year and a half … I have learned what it is to trust … what it is to let go …. What it is to love…… what it is to hold on to… I have met so many different people from A to Z ….. I have learned what is to struggle.. what it is to do with out…. What is to Just survive.

I wonder if it will ever be back to the way it was when we were so in love , so completely comfortable with each other .. like kids .. Totally surrounded in each other .. I pray and want to believe .. I want to be happy .. but I’m Not … I haven’t been for a long time … I guess I do a good job covering it up!! I’m so thankful how far we have come but I have had total happiness and just the life of one dreams of …. I want it back .. I want everything back!!! I want to have children , I want to go on vacation with my wife and relax .. I want to go out to eat with her and have those deep conversations I miss so much … I want it all ….. I have been struggling a lot lately with these issues and I really didn’t feel like updating anyone on anything …. I apologize .. I know everyone checks this site many times a week …. I love you for that ,, Candice loves you for that!!

The individual who caused this pain to our lives ….. His Criminal Trial is coming up this month .. I have been very involved in this also … Very stressful !! All I have to say about this is MAY God have mercy on his Soul!!! I have forgiven him because it is the Christian way and the right way … but I have no mercy for him because what he has put my family though .. my emotions and my precious wife… I pray strongly for complete justice and restitution……

I don’t want to leave this update with a negative vibe or a sour taste ….. so I will tell you some good news!!!

GOD LOVES YOU !! HE LOVES ME!! AND I CLAIM I WILL SEE THE FINAL VICTORY THE FINAL REWARD FOR GOING THROUGH THIS TRADEGY!!

First we had our 2nd Anniversary August 2nd.. (this was our first anniversary out of the hospital!), Also Candice is now doing Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapies at Floyd Medical Outpatient Program!! Candice Went back to WORK!!!! ( this is a joke I will explain in a minute!!), Candice got to ride in her dads truck in a real seat up front ( no wheel chair) , And Candice and I went to Tuscaloosa to help her sister Brittany Move in her house for college!! But…..

Before I go into any of these exciting things… I want to ask everyone reading this to pray for Marty Ellison and his wife Erin Ellison…. I went to school with Marty and he is a real great guy …. He and his wife were struck by a truck in the side just like Candice’s car Thursday night…. His wife was released with minor injuries .. but my friend Marty is in ICU at Floyd Medical Center with a Serious Brain Injury … he is in a Coma …… I’ve been through this road !!! and this has really upset me because this is a couple just like Candice and I and he is my friend and it is like I’m remembering all those days and months in that hospital!!! I ask everyone to pray for his wife and his family and especially Marty .. cause that was the hardest thing I had ever went through and am still going through!!! I ask everyone to pray for Miracle for this family.. A good side to this story is his wife while being checked out … found out she was pregnant!! Please pray for him!!!

Also I ask everyone to pray for another special person on my mind !! Andrea Pender a young lady that lives in Bessemer AL.. ( close to Tuscaloosa ) she was involved in a car accident in December and is still in a coma with a brain Injury!!! Her website is http://www.flinthill.net/update_on_andrea_pender.html I found out about Andrea when I went to Tuscaloosa the other weekend.

August 2nd 2005 Marked 2 years that Candice and I said our Vows! We got married at Zion Farms 2 years ago with an outside wedding and the happiest day of my life.. I was truly complete that day! This day I wanted to take Candice some where !!!! just me and her!! I told her on our honey moon that I would take her back to Cancun for our 1st anniversary but since she was at Emory on our First Anniversary and since I don’t think she is ready for flying yet .. we went to Atlanta!! I took Candice one day before we got married ( Just Because..no special occasion ) to the Sundial Restaurant and Marriot Hotel for the evening … we had a beautiful and memory filled night ….. well that is where we went for our 2nd Anniversary… Just me and her!! It was very hard and emotional for the both of us … Candice although improving cannot eat solid foods (chewing) only puree foods. I ate she watched .. we had a good time though watching the restaurant revolve around Atlanta … it brought back a lot of memories!!! We then went to our hotel room were it was the same as before .. top floor… great view….. It was okay for a while but Candice started to cry and she didn’t stop!!!! I think she had her breakdown !!! I think the memories and what we have to deal with now was just too much for her and me!! So long story short we ended up coming home in the middle of the night … but it made her happy to leave and that made me happy!!!! Candice knows everything about everything and she laughs, cries, gets mad,, pouts… gets happy,, gets silly … and just has a great attitude about her recovery.. its what keeps me going!! She cannot talk yet which is very very frustrating to her cause we have to go through 50 yes no questions to interpret what she is trying to tell us!!! I pray that she will soon start talking.. it would be a whole new world to me!!!

Candice is now doing wonderful at Speech Therapy!!! She is trying hard swallowing and waking up a lot of nerves in the face and mouth area ….. she starts physical and occupational therapies next week at Floyd!!!! She has had a couple month break from Emory so we are ready to step it up and get back into the therapy routine!!!

Okay not really , we took her to her old job ( Dr Jason Smith’s Office ) she was a office assistant … we put her at her old desk and I told her I needed to make an appointment to see the doctor!!! She laughed for 30 minutes!!!!! Everyone ther was very happy to see her !!! and how well she was doing!! Candice enjoyed it !!!!!

Candice Got to Ride in her daddy’s truck … I had some repairs done to the van and it was in the shop for a couple of days …. We transferred her into the truck and she helped a lot but it was not as easy as that van !!!! but we had fun!!!

Also Candice and I went down to Tuscaloosa Al to help Brittany move in and get situated at The University Of Alabama.. It was so hot that day !! This will be Brittany’s Second Year at College !!

I want to thank all of you who check this site every day !!!! and who have prayed for Candice and I everyday … Please Continue to pray and spread this miracle story of life with everyone you encounter !!! I’m so thankful for How GOD turned a tragedy into something for his glory… a story of hope and life!!! He has blessed me in so many ways and has been right by my side the whole time…. I have left his side many times through this struggle .. but he is always there beside me !!!! Pray for Me ,, For Candice .. For Marty.. and for Andrea !!!

She has had a good break since being dismissed from Emory.. and she has enjoyed her time off from therapy!!,,, we have been doing home therapy with a couple of therapists who have donated their time and come over to work with Candice… She has enjoyed not having to drive all the way to Emory and back… We were recommended to get another modified barium swallow study, ( a swallow test under an x-ray) so we did and she did pretty good . good enough to be recommended to start extensive speech therapy at Floyd Outpatient Rehab.. We went today for our first session which turned out very well .. they are using e-stem therapy (electrical impulse unit therapy), but we are excited about that…

Also Candice yesterday visited the dentist for the first time since her accident…. It was a 5 hour process… she had so much tarter on her teeth and it was hardened to her teeth they had to use a special tool to vibrate and break the tarter off… it was a painful process but Candice handled it good.. they gave her some medicine to calm down.. they really did a great job!! ..

Also God has blessed us with a New(er) van for Candice…. We had a old company cargo van that we converted into a handicapped van for Candice. But God has blessed us with the Cadillac of Handicapped Vans….. I bought it from Candice’s Cousin TINA GORDON (she is a race car (truck) driver for NASCAR) she sold it to us at a really good price and it has everything on it!!! It has a raised roof for one …. Remember I’m 6’7” it has t’vs’ dvd, vcr , sofa/bed captain chairs / leather … I feel like it’s a limo!!!!

But God has really blessed us lately … I sold my other van in one day!!! So I put that toward this other van!! That helped out!! But Candice is doing good . we are trying now to get out more and do more things!!

I ask you guys to continue praying for us … Its hard for me .. I miss her talking to me .. I miss that connection… but … I’m keeping the faith!!!

The “True Love” that couldn’t be denied by anyone who knew us or didn’t know us

Some people may say “I’m Crazy” … but me and you are not “SOME PEOPLE”

Our Love is what most people never experience … This love has kept you alive and your love is keeping me alive!!

He fainted the other day and went into the hospital to make sure everything was okay.... well it wasn't....

Two of his arteries are blocked… his heart is not pumping correctly it is more like agitating around like a washing machine.. Instead of pumping … and they are doing a lot of tests to determine what surgery or procedure would be the best…. He had many test scheduled for today but after one test he was so tired that he couldn’t do the rest.. this has delayed an answer for procedure with the doctors… but that is how week he is…

I ask everyone to pray for him .. that he would be totally healed in the name of JESUS!!

Candice has been at her mom’s this week since mothers day she is coming up tonight as we have a follow up visit for Candice’s leg surgery… I’ll will up date everyone on how it is..

Just wanted to let everyone know that Candice.... did wonderful with her surgery....

As soon as we got to the hospital thursday morning ... we saw so many people that we knew and that had cared for her in her initial stay.... they were so excited to see her and how well she is doing.

When we got transfered to the surgery room ... Candice knew what was going on .. and soon as the nurse came in to give her an iv and do all the pre surgery things ...MISS TEMPER TANTRUM started crying and trying to kick the nurse...... but after a little while we got her calmed down .. and into surgery she went.... ...

The Doctor told us after surgery that the "growth" was a little bigger than what showed on the x-ray...... he also said it was groing in an around her muscle.... OWWW!! but he got it all and he said she should start feeling a whole lot better!!

They wheeled her our of the surgery room and into the recovery .. and this girl was wide awake!!!! SHE HAD THE MEANEST EAT .. YOU KNOW WHAT LOOK ON HER FACE!!! ... she wouldn't respond to my questions or her mom's.... just followed us with her eyes around the room .. still looking so mad!!!!... Finally after about ten minutes she took the mean and mad face off and started her i'm sick face ... take care of me !!! so WE DID ,... we got her some pain medicine and let her rest for about 30 minutes.... we went home around 1:00pm and when we got home Candice went right to sleep didn't wake up till 9:00 pm... she then started being "sweet" and i continued to pamper her... but she is doing good and i'm glad every tthing went good...

I haven’t found the words to pick up all the pieces yet …. I’ve not wanted to update this site for a while simply because I needed a break …. A lot of things were going on and I just wanted to chill out and not have to inform the whole internet world about it.. (please don’t take that offensive but just needed a month or two to just focus on other things… I appreciate deeply every one who visits anxiously everyday to see the latest things going on …. And everyone who continues to pray for Candice and I …… We love You!!!! And we thank you!!!

I also appreciate every email that I get expressing your thoughts and feelings… (IF I HAVEN”T RESPONDED TO YOUR EMAIL …. PLEASE FORGIVE ME ….. ITS SO HARD TO ANSWER EVERYBODY…. BUT KEEP SENDING THEM!!!! THEY ARE VERY ENCOURAGING!!

Well …. Let me update every body on Candice … I haven’t really done that in a while!!!

She can completely laugh now … out loud …..with sound…. just like me and you,

She also can cry now…… yes out loud … with emotion…. Just like me and you…

She knows who her friends are!!! And her enemies!!! (people that make her work when she doesn’t want to)

She has tremendous leg strength …….. her arm strength is getting better and more refined and now that she is showing real emotion her face muscles are getting stronger

Candice if lying in the bed … will let you know when she wants something … either by making noises with her mouth…or by kicking her pillows off the bed

She will lean forward to give you a kiss if you ask her and she will also turn her head to avoid a kiss ( if your not me of course…lol )

Well as of April 15th … Candice was discharged at Emory… This came as a shock to us all … but it is time to start a new chapter…

The therapist felt it would do Candice good if she took a break….. we’ve been in the hospital and rehab scene for a year and a couple of months and after the initial shock … I agree…. I’ve read and heard of a lot of patients emerging once a home for a while … then coming back to rehab to refine their improvements….

So that being said … we are moving on!!! We will continue to do therapy on her ourselves but we have done a lot of normal things now….. We go out a lot… Candice and I are movie-holics so we’ve been to a lot of movies lately…. We also like to go out to eat … so you might catch us at her favorite restaurant … Chick –fil-A or my favorite,,, Waffle house… or the compromise IHOP… and that’s just breakfast!!!! And yes of course Shopping!!!! Candice her dad and I …. Took Candice to Ross’s one Sunday….. She thumbed up the clothes she liked …. She thumbed down the clothes she didn’t … and she honestly laughed at me at a couple of clothes I picked out… The girl bought $140.00 worth of clothes !!!! in 20 minutes!!! … I don’t see how women do this to their POOR husbands … her laughing the whole time…. She even handed her new socks to the cashier without us telling her to or the cashier …. We were totally amazed….

We have met a dear friend that teaches a class at Floyd …. She asked us to come speak at her class … so Candice and I and her dad all went … we showed the video and the students got to see how alive and interactive Candice is….they asked Candice questions and she would tell them yes or no .. she even laughed for them

A couple of weeks ago MADD had a candlelight vigil of Remembrance and Hope in Atlanta, well we all attended and for the first time we experienced Candice Cry….. They showed a video ,,, and had speakers …. Then one family member of each victim would go up and light a candle in memory or in hpe of their loved one.. they would also say a litlle something…. Well when I went up there and said this is hope for my beautiful wife that was injured by a suspected drunk driver … Candice started really crying …. It was sad ,…. But also awesome that she finally could show that emotion …. (it’s progress!!!!) ….

Another dear friend or ours all the way from Sacramento California is VANESSA SULLIVAN… her sister works at Floyd hospital whom we became good friends with and she introduced us to Vanessa … Now we have never met her personally but we all stay in touch…. Anyway Vanessa sent us a care package on the one year anniversary of Candice’s accident with all kind of goodies… but especially 2 binder notebooks filled with everyone she works with …. Who was praying for Candice , and also a celebrity list from A-Z of signed pictures that she got these celebrities to take time out of their day and pray for Candice and send her an autographed picture or a personalized get well note to Candice…. I’m talking all the way from Dick Cheney all the way to P DIDDY…. Jennifer Lopez all the way to Judge Judy…. I’d say we probably have about 150 -200 signed celebrity pictures all praying and hoping for Candice to get better… well to make the deal sweeter Vanessa calls up her friend a couple of weeks ago and we get tickets and meet and great passes to THE NELLY CONCERT……. We had a great TIME!!! We got to meet Nelly and all his people and got to attend his concert…. I want to thank Vanessa , and also Nelly , Shelena for putting it all together and the director of the civic center in Atlanta for being so hospitable to us!!

Last week Candice started crying a lot and I got a little worried..... I asked her time and time again why she was crying …. She would not tell me….( now in that I mean I would ask her different things and she would tell me no with her thumb… ( We basically communicate with body language)… anyway.. Candice would cry like if someone was hurting her … not sad crying but pain crying… (Screaming)…. Finally after she calmed down … I figured out it was her leg…… the leg she had broken into ….. I immediately made an appointment to the doctor.... we did x-rays and determined her leg healed a little bit to good. Ok what I mean from this is … Candice had a fracture of the tibia ( the shin bone) .. they put a rod with two screws in her leg and it healed perfectly .. that was that ….. ( well it has healed so god that it has grown out a lillte jagged piece of bone where it broke…. ( see photo) I drew it to look like the x-ray of her leg … these photos are photos I got off the internet and modified .. but it kind of shows the process… anyway Candice is going to have Surgery AT Floyd Hospital at 9:00 am Thursday 5/5/05 to have this (bone spur.. as I call it .. the doctor called it another name) removed!!.. My poor little baby… she been through so much!!!

After surgery we will rest maybe a week or two . and then my family and I are going to come up with a plan for home rehab…… We have a finished basement that is going to be used for her rehab and we have already got a couple of therapists “near and far” … volunteering their time to rehab Candice back to Candice!!! We are inquiring about all the equipment we would need and the price …. So I think we will start the fund raising process up again!!! So if any ideas let me know!!

Thank you Personally ( yes I’m talking to you ) for waiting so long for this Update !!!

IF YOU ARE MEMBER ON THIS WEBSITE PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR EMAIL IS CORRECT PLEASE!!! THANK YOU

Candice is staying with her mom tonight in Alabama, I stayed up an watched a movie and then I tried to go to sleep ….. I can’t sleep … I started to think and then I started to cry!!! I Miss The HAPPINESS that I once had…. I miss the Peace I had ….. I miss coming home from work and kissing Candice then Eating Dinner that she was so happy about preparing because she got so many Cook Books for gifts when we got married and she would cook something new every night…. And I miss snuggling with her on the couch watching T. V. falling asleep within minutes because I was so comfortable around her … and I miss her getting mad because I would fall asleep so fast !!! I miss her calling me at work telling me the “baby was hungry” she needed me to leave my work and bring her an apple pie from McDonalds!! And I miss the Joy she puts in my heart when I would bring her that apple pie and she would hug me and say Thank you I love you baby ….You really didn’t have to leave work and come here!!!

I’m Just going to be real with every one tonight!!! I’m SAD … VERY SAD!!! I want this to end!! I want Candice Back all the way!!! I have been crying for along time inside and not shown it!!! I have went through different stages I guess … I saw my self doubting everything… getting mad at people for no reason … and not caring about stuff anymore…. I know I have been so positive and upbeat about this whole thing.. but ME behind the Curtain …. I’m a different person!! I asked god to help me … AND IN my heart I was serious tonight (like that night at he hospital) I really deep down asked god to help me ..

I picked up my Little Black Bible it was stuck on top of my dresser. I opened it and its pages were bent were thing were lying ontop …. Its pages were bent on Romans

But what I know is wrong by not believing … I let Satan tell me every day Nope it will never happen

Because through Christ Jesus the law of the spirit of life set me free from the lawof sin and death

Further reading … it says you are not controlled by your Sinful Nature but by your Sinful Spirit ( no Jesus Living in You)

But if Christ Lives in You (the spirit of life) your spirit is alive because of Righteousness.

I begin to think about all this… I haven’t been going to church.. I haven’t been reading my bible… and I haven’t been praying …. ,,,, I have been busy building us a room to live in… Moving…. Therapy… Worrying…. Wondering about the future …When Candice had her accident I diddn’t think about all this stuff I read my bible … I prayed ….. and I believed…. ( it was the closest I had ever felt to GOD) .. It was the emotionally worst time of my life … but spiritually the best time of my life !!! I trusted ..believed…. and Miracles happened that night the next day ...and the next day.. and the next day CANDICE would continue to get better…..

Well I’m going to be real with all of you!!! When Candice Left for Impatient therapy at Emory a little of my soul and my heart and my hope and my peace went away… it was completely gone tonight … nothing was left … I’ve cried out here so long tonight alone and wanting to just give up and move to some far away country were no one knew me and I wouldn’t have to see someone I knew and say oh yeah I’m Fine and Candice is Fine … and Lie because I couldn’t breakdown and tell whoever it was that I was completely crushed inside.. That’s when GOD showed me this verse

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the GLORY that will be revealed in us. 19 The Creation waits in EAGER expectation for the sons of GOD to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, IN HOPE that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of GOD

This accident happened so that I would come to know JESUS!! An I would be set free from my destructive and sinful path… Candice through Jesus Showed me the way to True Happiness and Joy and Peace …….Jesus

I love You Candice!!!! I will be waiting for you with a tuxedo on and I will take you wherever you want when you fully recover .. I will never leave thee or forsake thee

I rededicate my self to you Lord Tonight. I ask that you be my spirit of life!!!

I ask everyone to pray a little extra prayer for me when you get this update .. that I may stay close to God and let nothing of this world distract me from Jesus……

On March 5, 05 at 8:15 Pm Noah Grant Weaver was Born in to this world!! He weighs 8.6 pounds and is 21 inches long. He is my sister and her husband Jonathan’s First Little Baby!!! This update is for all of our relatives and friends that are so far away and want to see Little Noah!!!

MY BABY “Candice” is still doing great !!! she laughed the other day … it made us all cry!!! She was at her mom’s house and a bunch of school friends were over telling her schoolyard stories … I guess they were pretty funny!!! Anyway I’ll update everyone soon on more .. Just trying to settle in at the parent’s house and get a couple of loose ends tied up!! Love you all!!

Thank you, First of all My God!!! You have kept me sane through this!! I owe you more than I could ever repay you!!! I love you!! Thank you for being there for me!!

Thank you to My Family!!! Everyone in our Family, From the little children to the grandparents .. thank you for being there for Candice and I.

Thank you to all of our Friends ..” You all have truly shown to me your true colors!!!

Thank you to the medical staff!! From the very beginning EMT’s , Fire Trucks, Police, to the Countless Doctors , Nurses’ and everyone else that has made my wife’s recovery a reality!!!

Many people asked me what I was going to do on this day .. was I going to have a benefit concert or a prayer service or something special …

Well this is what I’m gonna do!! I’m gonna spend this day with My wife and Family… and we are going to sit down and remember how busy our lives were that day a year ago and we are gonna talk about what we all were doing that day and had to accomplish and just how so much of a rush our lives were … then we are going to talk about when we got that phone call and we rushed to the hospital and how nothing in the entire world mattered to us except hoping, wishing, and praying that a girl that many people knew so well and many loved so dear, and a girl that is truly my soul mate was fighting for her life after dying 3 times on the way to the hospital!!! And We are going to remember how God showed up and said Back up, LET ME TAKE OVER…… I loved her way before any of you guys even knew her…. LET ME SHOW YOU HOW MUCH!!!

I’m a different person now than I was a year ago… I’m Grown up now, 26 to be exact , I’ve had to deal with many things, decisions, realities. Things a 26 year old shouldn’t be dealing with… but the thing is I’m Thankful …. I’m very thankful!!!

While at Emory yesterday for therapy, a therapist asked me this question after I said to Candice (I can’t wait until you start talking and walking and eating and your back 100%) “Bryan , may I ask you a personal question ? Are you in reality with the situation if Candice doesn’t get any better? Not saying she’s not but what if she never talks or walks have you thought about that … are you in realization that it is a possibility?”

I'll answer this question openly and honestly….to everyone just like I did yesterday

First of all I answered this question honestly and soulfully... but I went home and thought about it last night...and I’m glad She asked me this question.

I Feel That even though Candice’s Progress is slower than a snail walking from Georgia to California , my love for her and dedication to my wife and especially my faith and belief that yes she will walk on her own and yes she will talk one day is bigger than anything you that is reading this right now can think of!!! Candice and I used to tell each other I love you more than… the grains of sand on the beach … stars n the sky… leaves on the tree…. People in the world… cars in rush hour…. Women shopping after thanks giving… this was our little “GAME” So what ever you can think of My Love is bigger…

I am in touch with reality … but why dwell on it!! People who Believe the impossible and the unpossible with a purpose behind them will be paid off in the long run…. My purpose is now to show everyone that there is a GOD … who Cares …!!!

Me and My Family took the worst situation and with Everyone’s help and God's help and Candice’s Will to live and get better have adapted and turned this tragedy into triumph!!

Every day is different, but every day is another day.. A DAY that is not promised to you or me or my wife .. and if you don’t Know God and your world ends what will happen to you? Where will you go???

Everyone has there own crisis in life …. Wouldn’t it be better with help!! Try GOD!

Back to the therapists … We had a great discussion and in know way am I mad she asked me this .. she is probably the best therapist at Emory and adores Candice!! She has helped her come along way!!

Well enough rambling form me!!! Let me tell you all the progress Candice has Made!!

She is supporting her self sitting, and with me transferring ( my back says thank you)

Once again Thanks for making this year the best it could be in the situation we were in a year ago!!!

Ohhh.. we are now in my parents house now and I have my Recording Studio up and going please visit www.b2recordingstudios.com

Also If you have emailed me and I haven’t responded to you please email me again .. I lost many emails for a long period of time ..

Love you guys .. keep praying … I’m gonna let Candice type the next update (wishful thinking)

I know it has been a while since I have talked to you guys .. But a lot of things have been going on .. I apologize for not updating all you faithful readers and prayer warriors…

Candice gets a little more Candice in here every day… She is getting back that “sassiness” and “attitude” or I guess lets call it her personality that I fell in love with. Many things are different now for me and her, She has her good days, her great days, her astonishing days, and then she also has her not so active days” Along with me I have my good days, great days and then some bad and sad days… Don’t get me wrong .. its just hard to be so positive and upbeat about the whole situation everyday..

Candice keeps me going, I can get discouraged or sad then Candice will look at me like what’s up dude why are you looking sad look at me I’m alive and getting better.

For me its like watching a plant grow. But Candice, mentally is there all the way .. I can have any conversation about anything with her ..she wont talk but she responds and answers my questions. I just get sad some times I miss her talking to me and companionship we shared .

We are still going to therapy three time a week… Bless Her mom she has been helping me a lot lately with that. She takes her sometimes so I can kind of get a break.

Its almost been a year and OHHH how my life has changed. Many things have changed for this family ….. starting with Candice and I are moving in with My mother and father … I have been working very hard remodeling what was my dads office and turning it into our new suite.. we are building a handicap shower accessible bathroom in there along with our suite.. it has been a chore along with caring for Candice and taking her to therapy. A lot of friends have helped and donated there time and services to help this remodeling project take off .. I thank you each and every one of you .

I am also not working for Candice’s Father anymore… .. so I’m unemployed right now… since Candice is home now someone has to be with her at all times … so that person is me… kind of why we are moving to my parents house .. Britt (Candice’s sister) is now at the University of Alabama ( I’m so proud of her and I Know Candice is!!) And poor James (Candice’s Dad) is always working ( working too hard) his business has gone down so he has to work harder … so anyway Its just me and Candice at the house all the time so I made the decision to move in with my parents.

My sister and her husband live there also because he is in school and she is pregnant due in march .. it will be one big household but they are excited to help me and Candice.

Even though some times I feel overwhelmed with all this .. I want to tell you that I don’t know the reason this happened but I BELIVE IN MY GOD and it says he will never put more on me than I can bear.. So I believe it and claim it and I am waiting for my day of deliverance.. when Candice will look and me and tell me She loves me and Thank you for taking care of me all this time!!!…

Before I met Candice any one that knew me knew I loved singing I used to sing everyday go to recording studios , do talent shows , everything (remember that’s how I met Candice I was singing karaoke at chilis) Well anyway Singing brings me a lot of happiness so I’ve decided to start singing again… By best man at my wedding and life long best Friend Brian Lambert aka mini me through the grace of god and a lot of hard work ,,, we opened our own studio ….. we rented a small building and made a recording studio out of it …. I have recorded many new songs and look forward to more.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers .. please continue to pray for us !!!!

p.s. my birthday is Saturday the 29th .. so I think Candice and i might go some where special for the weekend ..

Dear God , I love you and thank you for all you have done!! Thank you for your love and your people’s love!!! Thank you again for bringing Candice back to me!! I thank you for not only healing her but healing her fast!!! I pray for my love ones, family and Friends, that they would come to know your love this Christmas!!! I rededicate my self to you right now and thank you for saving me… Lord prepare my ways for the future.. Give me Understanding and direction for your master plan for my life and Candices’ and dear lord forgive me for where I fall way short of your Glory!! I am a sinner everyday!! And I ask for forgiveness!!! Lord I ask for Candice to speak .. to talk and communicate with us this Christmas!!! And I also pray for Molly and her family /// be with them lord and heal them /// Lord I pray for our Family .. that you would Heal each and everyone of our hearts and bring us all to the complete surrender to you !! Lord be with Katie from Armuchee and bring her healing quickly … You said by your stripes we WERE healed!!! I believe it and in Jesus name it is DONE!!…. Thank you lord!!!

I apologize for such a long update!!! But this isn’t going to make it any better!!! Candice is in the Intensive Care Unit at Floyd Hospital Right Now!!!!

I apologize for not updating everyone since thanksgiving…… A lot has happened Good and Improved!! And A lot has happened Not so good!

I will update everybody later on on the progress she has made but right now I ask everyone that loves Candice and Our Family to pray and spread the word!!!!

Candice was not acting right or sounding right last night… Wednesday night .. James and I decided to take her to the hospital …. She was instantly treated like royalty .. because everybody and there mother new Candice at Floyd Hospital… but anyway … she was having a very hard time breathing and very anxieties … she is so aware now that she knew something was wrong and was having a panic attack…. Well anyway turns out they admit her to a regular room and find out she was severely dehydrated, has phenomena in her left lung and has a urinary tract infection. Well she did better once they got her calmed down… but today she got a little worse .. So They moved her to the intensive care unit ….OMY GOSH!!! To make it worse the room they brought her into in the ER was the same room in my testimony that they brought her into Februrary 17th.. This is just all shaking my nerves up very badly… Please pray for my Baby and me and our Family… God has a purpose for all of this .. and I trust him!!!

I will up date you as soon as I can!! And also let you know all the good updates since Thanksgiving!!!…

Thank you My Jesus ... for your faithfulness and your goodness..... for picking me up all the time!!! I love you and I praise you!!!

IT is True!!! My girl is coming home tomorrow!!! Wednesday November 24th 2004 Candice Wilson Bendek will be coming home!!!!!!

Candice has incredible strength in her legs now ... she is now assisting in her transfers with her legs and it is much easier to transfer her to the wheel chair / to the bed and back and forth... I really have to give it up for the therapists they have done outstanding with her therapy!!!

The plan is to bring her home tomorrow, (ROME, GA) spend Wednesday in Rome, one whole week end with her and enjoy the best Thanksgiving ever!!!! Then she will continue Therapy at Emory next Wednesday but she will be in the day program....

We Rented the apartment today..(the one 2 minutes from Emory. same apt. complex my cousin lives at!!!) So our schedule will now be home on the weekends ... up at the apt during the week !!! also we had my Dad's Cargo Van dropped off at the vehicle modification place in Marietta ...They are putting all the stuff Candice needs on there so that we can make her recovery happen!!! $6000.00 worth of stuff .... wheelchair lift / tie downs/ wheelchair lock / seat belt...

Once Candice come home (dismissed from Hospital Care) she will be with her family 24 hours a Day!!

This I know will help Candice even blossom even more ... also I will be able to update the website more !!!!

She has been doing so much new stuff it would take me forever to tell you guys but here is a few of the things she has been doing and doing well (Simon says/black jack/tic tac toe/reading a list of commands and doing them ( lets say is say Candice read and do number 4 she will go down the list read number 4 and do it!!!! gets it right every time!!! and much more stuff!!!! CANDICE IS SO CLOSE TO TALKING !!!! I CANT WAIT TO UPDATE EVERY ONE AND TELL YOU WHEN SHE STARTS!!!! ...

I would like for everyone to pray for MOLLY ( that she might start making tremendous progress!!)

Well I’m asking all of MY FAMILY (you guys) to say a special and specific prayer tonight!!!

Candice has been making many sounds but no more words!!! So I pray for her to start talking !!!

Molly Stubblefield … is getting better but I ask for more!!!!! GOD IS GOOD !!! He wants to do it I believe !!!

Please help me with this Prayer request!!! Send this to as many people as you can!!!!

I am excited to tell everyone Candice has built up a lot of strength!!!…They work her really hard at Emory!! She has wonderful strength in her legs now, An example of how strong she is (is lying down) she can pull both knees up to almost her chest!!… This may not seem like much to anybody but if you have been following Candice.. You know how wonderful this is!!… She’s gotten so strong on her legs the therapists are focusing a lot more on her arm strength .. they use the arm bike which has really helped Candice!! I was up Today and last week and one thing that I did with her the therapist did last week was play “simon says” with her… it was amazing to see how well she understands everything and comprehends so many different things… It makes my heart smile!! God has really blessed me with a beautiful and strong willed Wife!! I feel great when I’m by her side and visiting her…. One day soon she will be strong enough to come back home!!

She hasn’t said anything else yet (she said the word water last week) but she does let you know if she needs something she will do a little “uhhhhhh” or “mmmmm”

I would like for everyone to know that Candice and I deeply appreciate everyone that has carried “ME” and HER.. through this … I looked at Candice today and told her THAT I LOVED HER AND WE WERE GONNA MAKE IT THROUGH THIS ALL THE WAY… she gave me a thumbs up . she raised her eyebrow… and stuck her lips out !! I gave her a big kiss ….It’s hard being in Rome away from her and not being able to be with her everyday .. so please pray for me to be strong!!! And please pray for the last update for Molly Stubblefield…. SHE NEEDS A LOT OF PRAYER!!… Pray for Candice to start talking!!!!

and she a couple of months ago was one of the thousands of little children that sent My Wife a Get well Card and has been praying for her!!

Today is Friday the 15th of October . A LOT has Improved and I have been So Busy !!! With it all I haven’t had a chance to let everyone know!!! ….

Well Lets Start with MY BABY GIRL COMING HOME!!!!!! Yeah I know!!! ITS Awesome…. We good approved for a weekend pass on August the 2nd from the Insurance Company and Emory!!! I tell you the truth my feet never touched the ground the whole weekend!!! And I never quit smiling!!!

James and I got her early 7:00am Saturday morning and brought our baby to ROME GA!!!

The first thing we did was take her to the beauty salon /spa !!! (she used to go there a lot and she was there the day of her accident) This Spoiled Wife of mine got her hair cut / washed / dyed / nails done/ eyebrows waxed / makeup //// the works!!! She LOVED IT!!!

Next we brought her to the house … all the family waiting we brought her in and it felt like time had stopped !!! We hung out at the house the rest of the day relaxing and letting everyone see her.. We watched the Georgia Game .. then the Auburn Game (she’s a tiger fan!!) Booo!!! We had the best time!!!! … Sunday Morning CANDICE WENT TO CHURCH!!!!!! Both services // not a dry eye in the church…. It was a day I longed looked for to come true and GOD (the same today as yesterday GOD) made it all possible!!!… We went to the house and I put Candice in our bed!!!! (I snuggled up next to her and talked to her for about four hours!!!) The weekend was a blessing!!

The next week Therapy took off!!! My baby Girl WALKED!!!!! She took 16 steps with the help of a machine that takes the weight off of yourself ,,,, but she moved her legs up and down and forward …… and to make it all better she was able to Eat Applesauce this last Wednesday!! First time in eight months she has had any food or liquid by mouth!!!..

My Girl is coming Back … and I have God to thank and all of you guys for your prayers ….Please continue to pray .. everyday!!!

Our bike Ride was a rainy but successful Ride … The coolest part was the 18 minute movie I put together showing her progress and her miracles.. If you would like a copy of this VIDEO CD please mail me $5.00 for the cd and shipping and handling and also make sure i have your address so i can send it to you... or stop by my office and i will get you one... MAil or come by

also if you would like me to email you on updates please email me your email address!!!! bryanbendek@bellsouth.net

Its been a couple of weeks since I have updated you guys on everything… I apologize to all you …

Also the website was down for a couple of weeks due to a server crashing … I apologize for this also…

I’m working on a new website that will be a little better.. so hopefully it will be up soon…

My Baby Girl is really doing great …. And I have a Surprise for everyone today!!!

Can you believe it… It was the first time in almost seven months that she got out of the hospital walls!!!!…. We took her today to the North Dekalb Mall near Emory for an “Outing” I took my baby into all the stores … all the little shops.. She had a ball!!! (me too ..lol) Candice smelled all the mall smells ,, fresh hot pretzels, all the scents at Bath and Body works ,, The Movie popcorn, ..She got to go to her FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE "CHICK-FIL-A" She had a great time... Then She .. not me……Picked out a shirt that she wanted and I got it for her…. I asked her which one do you like ,we went through a couple different ones , but she was very picky .. she finally gave me a yes sign .. So I got her that shirt… she would give me the no sign for all the other shirts… It was very neet to see that interaction.

Candice is doing a lot better with her responses and mobility… the doctors and therapists feel she’s a little more aware …. I believe she will start talking soon … I pray for this .. It will help everyone to help her better…

I ask everyone to pray for more… I don’t feel greedy asking God … He said Ask and you shall receive… I would like for everyone to pray for her to become more aware .. to start talking .. Walking … .. And I know you guys pray….

But one thing I Know “ Prayer Changes Things” …. God Makes Things Happen!!!

Sorry this update has been so long coming…. I have been so busy with personal business / My Family, friends and I have been busy packing everything up in Candice and my House.. Then we have been busy moving everything to storage and to Candice’s father’s house… Since February 17th finances haven’t been that easy for me.. So I made the decision to sell our house and move in with James… It has been very tiresome and emotional…. But God is with me and comforts me … I say in front of everyone that one joyous day I will reopen all the boxes and crates WITH CANDICE in a new HOUSE that she can pick out!!! Also Business has picked up so I’ve just been really busy… So basically that is why I haven’t updated everyone!!..

Candice Wilson Bendek is better everyday!! She is back in rehab, but still on antibiotics for the pneumonia / but this little fighter has gotten better everyday!!! I fall more in love with her every time I see her now… She just tries so hard !!! she is making many noises and sounds … hopefully soon she can talk … they have been taking it slow with her not to cause a complication but she seems to me as if she’s a little more aware and know’s what’s going on…

Now only God knows the final outcome of this! But he is definitely going to get the glory for all of it. The Doctors and professionals are telling us with TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) patients … there is no ruler of time or answer … It is up to the person and GOD ….They say it make take up to 2 – 5 years for recovery…I know Candice will be back to Candice before long… Think about all the miracles God has given us through all of this … (they lost her twice on the way to the hospital) –GOD brought her back ….. The doctors said she would not make it that night…God Said let me make that call…. She didn’t have any insurance coverage ( she was caught in a loop whole) God provided us insurance …. Praise the Lord for Blue-Cross Blue Shield they have been an amazing blessing…. We prayed for her to come out of the Coma… 62 days later We saw her beautiful eyes again!!!!!……. They said she wouldn’t be able to be in Rehab .. She wasn’t command responsive.. Ask her any question now … she will not only respond via Her thumb up / down .. but she will get the question right … She knows her left side from her right…. She will start (sounding) when she wants something or someone to ask her questions!!…. She got accepted to the best Rehab Brain Injury Unit in GA (probably in America) The University of Emory (the longest medical area I can think of) God not only answers my prayers .. But he gives me more than what I ask….I didn’t have any where to stay while in Atlanta … GOD provided me with free lodging the entire time … My Cousins friend went out of town the day Before Candice transferred to Emory .. She has an apartment 2 minutes away form Candice… Not a regular apartment (A NICE APARTMENT) GOD IS GOOD!!… And listen to this … Candice came down with pneumonia very bad a week ago .. so bad she had to be put into intensive care she had a fever 0f 105 heart rate of 165 and respirations of 55 her oxygen level was in the 70’s …. By the time I got there it was 8:00 am … (prayer happens / God moves) 10:35 she has normal vit