Faith10: About Me

About Me
Blake Taylor Browning was born on September 29, 1991 in the city of Anaheim, California. Blake was born an athlete. At the age of two years old he loved climbing on things, playing baseball, and riding his bike without his training wheels. At the age of 4 ½ Blake started playing baseball and at age 6 he played football. Blake always stood out amongst the other kids. He played pitcher and shortstop in baseball and in football he was the quarterback. Every year Blake was picked to play on All-star teams for baseball. When Blake turned 9 he decided he wanted to play for a travel ball team called the La Mirada Barracuda’s. The Barracuda’s went to the Triple Crown World Series in 2005 and took first place, they were the Champions. Not only did Blake do extremely well in sports but he was also an honor roll student. He attended elementary and junior high at Beatitudes of Our Lord in La Mirada, Ca, Because of Blakes ability to excel in academics as well as baseball he decided to apply to St. John Bosco.
Bosco is a very prestigious Catholic Private High School in Bellflower, California. Blake knew there were many opportunities to be scouted by a college at St. John Bosco due to their division ranking. Blake applied and was accepted as a freshman in 2005. He enjoyed the school and he also enjoyed playing the game he loved most, Baseball. As an athlete Blake always played hard and gave a 110% every practice and game. As a freshman he was pulled up to Varsity, he was the only freshman on the Varsity team. Blake fit in perfect and not only had the skills but the maturity level to blend with older boys. Blake was already on his way to a successful baseball career and was already being looked at by several colleges in and out of State. Blake loved everything about baseball. He played on several travel ball teams like the Redwings, Barracudas, Arsenal and the Hitting Zone. Baseball was his life.

Blake is a very special young man; he has a special charisma about him. People are drawn to him, he’s a natural leader and his peers always look up to him. Even though he was mature he was very good with kids that were younger than him, he loves babies. He is smart, witty, caring, ambitious and driven, not to mention extremely handsome. As a son, grandson, a brother, nephew and cousin he brings so much joy to all of our families lives. From the time he was a little boy he was always very affectionate, loving and all boy. He has such an outgoing personality, amazing energy, and an endless passion for life. Wrestling with his cousins was also one of his favorite past times. He was very adventurous, daring, and he loved to ride dirt bikes. He started riding at the age of 5. He loved riding side by side by his father Russ and big brother Anthony. Blake has always been our shining star and he will always be.

August 18th 2007 was the day that changed everything for Blake. I, Michelle, dropped him off at practice and was going to come back and meet his dad to watch his first scrimmage in pads for football. I was on my way to a friends house, picking up our god daughter when I was told Russell was trying to reach me. I called him on his cell; no answer. Before I even had too much time to think about it Russell had called again. I picked up the phone and it was the most devastating news a mother never should have to hear. My husband said, "Honey you need to come to long beach memorial, Blake is hurt and cannot feel his legs." I dropped the phone and felt like I was going to pass out, I could barely breathe. All I could think about was my baby, and that I wasn't there when he got hurt. I knew I had to get there fast. Edna drove me to the hospital, that drive felt like eternity. I remember going into the ER bending over because I couldn't breathe.

	The staff took us back right away and I saw my husband and my oldest son sobbing hysterically. I wanted to see Blake but Russ said we had to wait. The nurse called us in and the doctor came over and explained that, Blake had a broken neck and a spinal cord injury. He also said that, Blake would never walk again. This was the most horrible day of our lives. I remember my son Anthony saying "he's supposed to play baseball mom, but he's supposed to play baseball." Our hearts were broken! He was taken up to ICU where they told us that his spinal cord was probably 3 quarters severed and that he would only be able to maneuver a wheelchair with his mouth like Christopher Reeves. We were living a nightmare. At this point Blake was scared and in complete shock. We all were. We didn’t know what was to come next. The doctors did surgery on the 3rd day after his injury to fuse the C4-C6 vertebrae. All of our family and friends filled the waiting room praying for Blake and waited anxiously for any news on his surgery. The doctor told us the first good news we had heard in 3 days. Blake’s surgery was a success and his spinal cord was not severed like they thought but it was still severely bruised.

We spent the next two months in Pediatric intensive care by Blake's bedside; he was never left alone, not one day. He suffered from pneumonia and his left lung collapsed twice. Because of this they had to insert a life support tube down his throat and keep him completely sedated. After realizing that it was too hard for him to non-verbally communicate the doctors suggested a tracheotomy. Blake would have to undergo one more surgery. Each and every day it was a new struggle and heartache. Blake lost 36 pounds because he was only being fed by a feeding tube. Once Blake was able to gain some strength we started to sit him up. Little by little Blake started to gain back more movement and he amazed us every single day..doing things no one thought he would be able to do. Blake's goal was to push his own wheel chair, which the doctors said he would never do. He amazed the staff the day he pushed himself down the ICU corridor. He amazed us all! The nurses were in tears. I think this was when we all first realized Blake was going to overcome this tragedy and prove the medical world wrong.

In mid October 2007 he was moved to a live in rehabilitation center called Casa Colina in Pomona. Blake did physical therapy and occupational therapy twice a day. His respiratory nurses pushed him hard to gain the strength needed in his lungs to breathe on his own again. Within two weeks Blake was off the breathing machine and breathing great on his own. Once again the doctors said he would be on the breathing machine for a year. He also began his bowel movement program here every morning. Blake was a fighter and he still continues to be.

In December 2007 Blake came home for the first time in 4 months. 4 months prior Blake was a very independent young man. He soon realized how dependent on his family he would have to be to do everything for him. I get him up at 5:30 am every morning to do his bowel program, shower, and dress him for school. Blake is able to brush his teeth, feed himself and put his shirt on. He is on a strict schedule of medications. Blake is so strong and maintains an independent personality so he wants to do everything on his own that he can. He texts on his phone all day long and types with his knuckles when doing homework. He also pushes himself around in his manual wheel chair. Blake has to be transferred into his wheel chair, bowel chair and bed every day. Before bed we stretch him and position his body in a way so he will not get pressure sores and also put his night time catheter on. We have to monitor Blake's health daily.

Blake's life is dedicated to his recovery. He attends rehab at Project Walk in Carlsbad as a senior this is one of the hardest times for Blake. This is supposed to be the time where he gets picked up by a college to be the best baseball player they have ever seen. Now he has to sit back and watch his friends get scholarships for baseball and wonder if he didn't get hurt where he would be???

In May 2009, Blake graduated from St. John Bosco. During the ceremony, Blake was given a standing ovation and there wasn't a dry eye in the stadium. Blake currently attends Cerritos College with the hope to one day transfer to a University. Our friends and family continues to help raise funds for his medical expenses in the hope of one day seeing Blake walk. "If you BELIEVE, It will happen!"

"If you BELIEVE, It will happen!"

About Me

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