WHOW!!

Dear All,

A tremendous breakthrough for Bobby (and for us)!! Bobby first said "Mom" to my mom a few days ago (which was quite a feat as he didn't have a talking valve at the time). Yesterday his Speech Therapist (Kaylee) popped on the talking valve and he started making sounds. Kaylee asked him his name and ... he said "Booobby". And then she asked him to point to his sister and he quickly pointed at me and ... he said "Faaaith." The excitement and relief on his face was absolutely incredible. After not speaking for 9 months, the words are a bit sticky and he's just getting used to moving his mouth again, but we could all definitely tell what he was saying (and he filled in the gaps with hand signals). It was a momentous day for everyone and there are hardly words...

This has been and continues to be an extraordinary journey and our gratitude for your collective support is beyond the power of words...Please know that all of you have been instrumental in carrying Bobby and our family through. And look where we are..

With love and thanks always,

Faith

Dear Everyone,

…Bobby's making great progress--gentle, steady and fluid. He's spending a significant part of his day in a chair with therapies throughout and is also getting lots of important rest. It's clear he's building strength and endurance and is in need of a great deal of sleep ... When he's fully awake, he's really beginning to communicate what he wants through hand signals and he's working on his voice and putting words together … he's really making progress putting everything together!

**One thing that has become clear in the past week is that Bobby tires very quickly with visitors and often “checks out” when people stop by. … everyone is in agreement that the amount of visits needs to be toned down for the time being … but if you're in town and want to stop by briefly (usually about 10 minutes) then please call and we can … let you know if Bobby is feeling up for it. Again, our numbers are:

Anne: 307-899-1586
Bob: 307-899-0040
Faith: 303-883-6734

Again, thank you all so much for everything!

All the very best to all of you,

Faith

GREAT NEWS!! GO BOBBY!!

Hi Everybody:

....Short update but much love to all!! Bobby is being discharged this coming Friday from Craig! Of course, I am panicked but also excited as this means the beginning of the road home. After a rigorous search for handicapped living, we found a little house on S. Lincoln in Denver near Platte Park .... kind of trendy which Bobby will like .... the kind of place where you want to look and act younger to fit in.

....There's a great deck with a ramp for Bobby. We can wheelchair him right downtown to the village of S. Pearl. Just writing to you about this makes me feel better.

....Jim is coming down this week to help get all the hospital type furniture up and running and the Encore sale provided curtains and blankets. Faith and I will hit Target for the rest and empty our apartments a bit. We have an agency to provide nursing care and therapy!

OK. That's all except to say how much I miss you all and have appreciated all the support. I can feel the vibes and so can Bobby who is a trooper and his serious rehab attitude is bringing him around. Trach surgery last week to close up the hole should enable talking soon. Sounds! Otherwise, he has powerful ways of communicating.

....Faith and I went to Charlottesville, VA, last week with National Geographic to do a slide show of Bobby's Baltistan portfolio for the "LOOK 3" Film Festival. Very moving!!!

Love, Anne (Bobby's Mother)

This is excellent news!!

Great news, for sure. I don't know Bobby, but a friend of mine, Jeremy, went through something similar in Ohio a few years ago. He was a young and talented climber. One day when leaving the gym parking lot in his car, he was broadsided at high speed. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and spent a long time in the hospital in a coma. Eventually, they released him, though he was unable to walk -- so we built a big, bad ass wheelchair ramp to his house. The whole community turned out to help and we even held a fundraiser comp to raise money towards his long recovery. It was certainly one of those moments when the climbing community felt like a big family. I wish Bobby, and his friends and family, the best of luck.
Justin

I am pleased to report that having just seen Bobby at his new residence in South Denver, he is strong and clearly on the way back. Following an injury of such magnitude there are always concerns, but Bobby's will is prevailing. He is in pleasant surroundings and clearly wants to ‘get on with it’. He is healthy, full of spirit, energy and aspirations. He is truly an inspiration.

Visitors are encouraged – as well as email. Please make arrangements through either his sister Faith (faithmodel@yahoo.com) or his mother Anne (ayoung@180com.net). You can email Bobby directly using these email addresses as well. As I understand it, Bobby has a personal email address at bobby@M-11.com .

It is commonly said that ‘the journey begins with one step’, and Bobby has made several major strides along the path. Please join in, help our great friend in the healing process and wish him well, the more the better!!

Talk about good news. All considered, this is TERRIFIC! GO BOBBY!

Dear Everyone;

Below is a note from Bobby to all of you (**he wrote it longhand and I transcribed it here)!! I explained to him what an incredible support you have all been and that everyone would love to hear directly from him. He smiled, nodded and wrote this:

Hi everyone that seems to care for me,
Ok, everybody you can stop crying for me now, thanks though.
Not much new to report, except that my family and friends are great.

Love,

Bobby Model!

Bobby’s been laughing a lot, mouthing words (sound still to come) and working really hard to regain strength in his body. His endurance is continually improving and he’s awake a lot more (tho he still needs lots of sleep). We have a grrrreat van so there have been lots of outings. It looks like the move to Cody will happen later this fall (Bobby is verrrrrry happy about this—he doesn’t write fondly about being in Denver, but my parents are getting everything lined up for a smooth transition and my mom working triple time to make it all happen).

The emails, letters, calls, visits are all wonderful!

Many thanks to you all.

Sending lots of love,

Faith

Thank you for the updates. I'm sure there are a ton of people following Bobbys progress that just haven't written. I'm so glad to hear he's progressing well and I know I'm always sending positive thoughts his way.