In this together.
HOW LAURA AND JONNY MET
Laura and Jon met on Match.com
Jon was a Navy SEAL Combat Medic and he was staying in Fayetteville for a year so he wanted to connect with more people so he got on Match. The two met the day he arrived in town.
They quickly developed a bond together from their shared beliefs and outlook on life. They married in 2012.
Their Wedding Night: Laura and Jonny Grant
Mr. and Mrs. Grant
May 10, 2012
Married at historic Rose Hill Plantation
Photos courtesy of Megan Kime Photography
The Car Accident that Changed Everything
Right before their 5th wedding anniversary, Jon and one of his friends witnessed a massive fire in downtown Raleigh, NC. As a Combat Medic, Jon was equipped to provide critical assistance to those who were injured.
Tragically, Laura received a phone call informing her that Jon had been in a car accident and was unresponsive. When she arrived at the hospital, she found him bruised, covered in blood, and barely recognizable. Doctors were uncertain if he would survive. In fact, preparations were being made to donate his organs.
Miraculously, Jon was still alive, but he had slipped into a coma. All they could do was wait, hoping he would make a full recovery. Laura leaned in and whispered softly in his ear, “If it hurts too much, I understand if you have to go. Don’t hold on just for me.”
Still, deep down, Laura felt it wasn’t his time to go.
Tragically, Laura received a phone call informing her that Jon had been in a car accident and was unresponsive. When she arrived at the hospital, she found him bruised, covered in blood, and barely recognizable. Doctors were uncertain if he would survive. In fact, preparations were being made to donate his organs.
Miraculously, Jon was still alive, but he had slipped into a coma. All they could do was wait, hoping he would make a full recovery. Laura leaned in and whispered softly in his ear, “If it hurts too much, I understand if you have to go. Don’t hold on just for me.”
Still, deep down, Laura felt it wasn’t his time to go.
Uncertainty of it all
They monitored Jon's progress. The only response they were getting for a while from Jon were his eye movements. He had a Diffuse Axonal Injury, which is the shearing or tearing of the brain's long connecting nerve fibers. So everything in his brain shook so he had small bleeds throughout his whole brain. When Laura saw him laying there she said, "Guys we got to correct his posture."
Hope After Tragedy: A Story of Survival, Love, and Resilience
Laura carefully monitored Jon's posture, using her Pilates expertise to ensure he was consistently stimulated. Each day, she aligned his spine, stretched his limbs, and massaged his feet to help stimulate his brain activity.
To support his recovery, the doctors advised keeping his blood pressure low. However, whenever Laura entered the room, Jon's heart rate would spike, causing a brief panic among the medical staff as they urged her to leave. Despite this, Laura was deeply touched and remained determined to stay by the side of the love of her life.
To support his recovery, the doctors advised keeping his blood pressure low. However, whenever Laura entered the room, Jon's heart rate would spike, causing a brief panic among the medical staff as they urged her to leave. Despite this, Laura was deeply touched and remained determined to stay by the side of the love of her life.
Rehabilitation Through Love
The longer someone remains in a coma, the longer it takes for them to "emerge"—to reset and relearn basic daily functions. Recovering from such a brain injury is a lengthy process, but it is not impossible.
Laura observed how slow the healing process could be. "You might see a flicker of a toe, and that could be all the progress for an entire week," she explained. "At one point, Jon wouldn’t even look to the left for weeks." He became fixated on the string of Laura's sweatshirt, tugging at it for hours. The way his emerging consciousness worked felt surreal to her.
This phase lasted for about three to six months. Despite Laura’s unwavering dedication, doctors warned her that this might be the extent of Jon’s recovery. They advised her to stop pursuing what they deemed a hopeless situation.
After taking time to pray, Laura decided to trust her instincts and keep fighting for Jon.
Laura observed how slow the healing process could be. "You might see a flicker of a toe, and that could be all the progress for an entire week," she explained. "At one point, Jon wouldn’t even look to the left for weeks." He became fixated on the string of Laura's sweatshirt, tugging at it for hours. The way his emerging consciousness worked felt surreal to her.
This phase lasted for about three to six months. Despite Laura’s unwavering dedication, doctors warned her that this might be the extent of Jon’s recovery. They advised her to stop pursuing what they deemed a hopeless situation.
After taking time to pray, Laura decided to trust her instincts and keep fighting for Jon.
LOVE IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER: Update on Jon Grant
"I'm strong because you're strong"
- Jonathan Grant
This week has been a strong start to 2020. A huge shift has taken place since diving into Jon’s childhood trauma. I just knew, as Jon kept repeating the same names and places, there was something deeper that needed to be addressed. We aren’t out of the woods with this piece of the puzzle but, I am happy to say Jon’s cognitive abilities have increased tremendously since the focus shifted to trauma.
I will be sharing some of the approaches we have taken and things I have found that work/didn’t work. I feel this piece of brain health is important and something that definitely needs more attention and awareness.
Find Our Store
- List
- Map