Praying for Mason Teague “Meaning in the Mess”, Skiatook, OK (2025)

11/26/2025

We took Mason and Cayde to do a thing!🥰

I want to share something important about our trip to Destin and why it mattered so much. Some people who follow Mason’s story may not even realize that Justin adopted him. They may not know the history that led us here. The truth is that there is only one other woman on this earth who fully understands what it was like to survive a relationship with the same man and to raise children born from that trauma. That woman is Jessica.

We both came out of a situation that was designed to break us. We chose a different path. We chose healing. We chose to keep going. And through all of it, our boys remained the link that connected our stories long before we ever met in person.

A trip to Destin for our families to meet was planned for the end of the summer in 2022. Then our entire world changed in a single heartbeat. Mason’s rupture happened. Life stopped. One thousand two hundred forty two days later, we finally made the trip that was always meant to happen.

Jessica and I have spent hours on the phone and FaceTime since 2020. People asked why I would ever consider a relationship like this. The truth is that it was never something I simply considered. It was something I felt was meant. Our children deserved to know each other. And now they do.

Mason has two brothers other than Cayde, and now all four boys have each other. At one point Mason looked over at Jessica and said, “You’re my stepmom.” Then he looked at both of us and asked if it was okay for him to say that. My answer was absolutely yes. On another day, Braylin asked if Cayde could be his brother too. Watching these boys find their place with one another was one of the biggest gifts of the entire week.

There were so many moments to celebrate. When we got Mason into the ocean, he said, “This is the first time I’ve been fully submerged in water since my rupture.” Then he paused and added, “I have to start taking baths or something.” For the first time in a very long time, we saw him content. Truly content.

None of this would have been possible without Justin making sure we could pull this off and supporting us every step of the way. And, of course my dad was fully committed to helping with Mason and Cayde. Justin and I actually got a date night. 🥰And it reminded me how important it is to have moments like that in the middle of everything else we manage and navigate.

The week was not easy. There were challenges. There were moments I said never again. My body paid for it. My mind paid for it. But even with all of it, I would do it again. It was worth seeing Mason have pieces of his joy return. It was worth watching our boys choose each other. It was worth every single hard moment.

Thank you for continuing to love and pray for our family through every chapter. I know it has been a long time since I have updated. Life has been heavy and complicated. But last week gave us something we have needed for a long time. Hope. Connection. A reminder that even after everything, there are still beautiful things waiting for us.

Lord, have mercy!🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

10/02/2025

• An AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) is a rare tangle of abnormal blood vessels in the brain that can change everything in a single moment.
• Less than 1% of people are born with an AVM, and many never know until it ruptures. That is what happened to Mason.
• A rupture causes a brain bleed, often leading to stroke, seizures, or lifelong brain injury. Each rupture carries a 15 to 20 percent chance of death and up to a 50 percent chance of permanent disability.
• Doctors estimate the risk of bleeding for someone with an untreated AVM is 2 to 4 percent every single year, meaning every year is another roll of the dice.
• Symptoms can be silent or subtle such as headaches, vision changes, memory problems, or weakness, but for many the first symptom is the rupture itself.
• Treatments exist such as surgery, embolization, or radiosurgery, but they all carry risks, and not every AVM can be safely treated.
• Behind every statistic is a family living with the daily reality. Mason was only 16 when his AVM ruptured, and the journey since has been a fight for his life, his voice, and his future.
• Awareness matters because AVMs do not wait. The more people know, the more lives can be saved before tragedy strikes.

🦋🧠🦋🧠🦋🧠🦋🧠🦋🧠🦋🧠🦋🧠

10/01/2025

I owe you all an update and an apology for not posting sooner. 🙏🏽🤟🏽☦️ Life has been a lot to juggle with Mason inpatient, while still trying to keep up with “regular” life at home. Cayde was down with a migraine for two days, Justin didn’t felt well for a couple of days, and I ended up with a slight case cellulitis in my right eye from a stye and a sinus infection 🥴. Without my dad taking many, many shifts we could not have managed this. Thank you, Dad🙏🏽 I love you SO much!🤍🤍🤍
PAM has been everything we prayed for. They have addressed every concern and every issue we carried from the past. The problem is not PAM, it is the system. Mason was accepted into their outpatient therapy program, which would have given him daily therapy and a real chance to move forward. But Medicaid has refused to cover it.
When Mason was a child, Medicaid had to cover whatever therapy was deemed necessary. Now that he is 18, those protections are gone. Instead of approving outpatient therapy, Medicaid will only allow a few hours a week of home health therapy. The truth is, it is about cost. Outpatient therapy is expensive, and home health is cheaper. “Cost savings” feels like stealing Mason’s chance at recovery. He is ONLY 19😔💔
Mason will be discharged this coming Friday, October 3rd. We are exhausted from fighting huge organizations and the government, knowing there is little chance of winning against them. In the middle of that exhaustion, I keep being reminded to “be still.” It is a whisper I hear when my heart wants to fight for what will never be, a reminder that even when the systems of this world fail, God does not.
We give glory to God for all things, even now. Our prayer is that His mercy will cover Mason, cover Cayde, cover Justin and me, and carry us through what we cannot change.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Please continue to pray for Mason, for his healing, and for our family as we walk this road. Your love and encouragement are reminders of God’s grace in the middle of our struggles.
Lord, have mercy!☦️☦️☦️

09/16/2025

Mason was admitted to the rehab hospital a little over a week ago. We went in hopeful, believing it would be the place where we could check off a few much-needed boxes close to home, the very things that case management and the physician in St. John’s stroke unit assured us could be handled there, which are having his wheelchair evaluated, arm and hand braces addressed, ankle/foot orthotics, physiatry, Neuro-psychology, neurology, and ortho.

I want to be very clear that the staff at St. John’s Rehab were incredibly kind and caring. OT, PT, and ST were wonderful. The nurses and techs went above and beyond to make Mason comfortable, and we are so grateful for their hearts and their work. This was not about the people caring for Mason, it just was not the right place for him to get his full needs met.

When the promises we were given turned out not to be true, it was like the wind left my sails. It felt like the system that was supposed to advocate for Mason had simply washed their hands of his continuous care, which was PROMISED by St. John’s main. A moment “triggered” something deep in me. I had my first panic attack in years, and it took two days of intense anxiety before I realized why and felt like I could get a deep breath. The layout of Mason’s room was EXACTLY like the one he was in at Bethany Children’s Health Center for 358 days, right down to the sink and closet placement. The difference was that this one was smaller, with no color, and just sterile and empty.

I had brought all the things to make that room feel like Mason’s, to give him comfort and a sense of normalcy. But standing there, it felt like being dropped back into one of the hardest chapters of our lives, with the same fear and the same ache that Mason would be forgotten again. The memories of Bethany are still so vivid for me. The nursing care there was truly unmatched, and the love I have for those nurses will stay with me for the rest of my life. But leaving was harder than I ever expected. After nearly a year there, from July 14, 2022, to July 7, 2023, I could feel some people pulling away. Eyes that once looked at me with compassion now looked past me. That hurt deeply, and I cried in Justin’s arms many nights over it. But with time, I have learned to pray for them and to let go of what I cannot understand. I choose to remember the love and care that carried Mason through those 358 days, trusting that even in that pain, God was shaping my heart.

Mason is still not back to baseline. He failed his swallow study last Tuesday. By Wednesday, we were told two very different things: first, that Mason should be transferred out of state because Oklahoma does not have what he needs, and later that same day that he would be discharged home by this Wednesday. These opposite recommendations left us with more questions than answers.😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

We are not complaining, and we are not asking for anything beyond what Mason truly needs, just continuous and consistent care with the services we were told would be available. After much prayer and many phone calls, we made the decision to transfer Mason to PAM in Tulsa.

Last night, Mason was transferred. Once Justin and I got him settled and admission completed, we came home to spend the night with Cayde. Poppa Rick, my daddy, stayed overnight with Mason. I am hopeful but cautious as we start this next step, praying that PAM will be able to meet Mason’s needs and bring him closer to where he wants to be.

But before transport, God reminded us that He is here, even in the smallest details. As we pulled into the rehab center around 5:45 in Owasso to wait for the ambulance, there was a food truck parked out front called Philly’s & Co. It might sound small, but I know God’s hand was all over that moment. When the young man called Justin’s name to hand him our food, he told him they had refunded our card. Confused, Justin asked why, and that is when April stepped up to the window with tears in her eyes. She has been following Mason’s story since the beginning.🥹🙏🏽🤍

That moment reminded me that God speaks through people. He shows up in ways that seem so small but are not small at all. If we are willing to see Him, we will find Him, in a food truck parked at the exact moment we needed it, in the faces of those who love their neighbor, in moments of grace tucked inside the hardest days.

This is not the update we hoped to share, but it is where we are. Please continue praying for Mason’s peace, for our discernment as we make decisions, and for every person caring for him.

Glory to God for all things, even this. May He continue to open our eyes to His mercy, no matter how chaotic the storm.🙏🏽🤍☦️

09/15/2025

Lord, have mercy! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

09/11/2025

This summer has been one of reflection and preparation, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, as I’ve braced myself for the weight of the cross I’ve been given to carry. Between hospital stays, Mason’s setbacks, and the daily roles of wife, mom, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend, the load has felt overwhelming at times.

But even in the heaviness, there have been moments that reminded me I’m still me. I crave those small pieces of normalcy, and this summer gave me a few. Lauren and I hiked to the Healing Rock in Skiatook and prayed for Brylee. We smashed things until we were sore at a Rage Room, and then laughed until our sides hurt at the Teddy Swims concert with my sister, one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. Justin and I attended the Shining the Light event for the Oklahoma Brain Injury Recovery Foundation, where we were blessed to sit with Christian Mayberry and his incredible mom, Kim. Christian is funny, kind, and full of life, everything I hope for Mason one day. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🤍🤍🤍

And while I found pieces of joy for myself, Cayde got to be a kid, even though it doesn’t look the way we thought it would. Justin and I took him to the lake here in Skiatook one evening, and separately I was able to take him out to Ramona to see his Aunt Jess and her parents, Nanny Sharon and Papa Jerry. That’s where his go-cart is kept, and with Mason’s healthcare needs, there’s very little opportunity for him to get out there, so it was an extra special afternoon. 🩵💙🩵💙🩵💙 He also got to spend time with Grayson and Cole at their apartment pool, which gave him another chance to just enjoy being a kid alongside people who love him.

You’ll also see pictures of Mason and me putting up a sign in our yard that says, “Slow down. This is a neighborhood, not a racetrack.” It’s not about trying to police anyone, but about safety. Cars often fly down our street at 55–60 mph, and with no sidewalks or speed bumps, it’s simply too dangerous to take Mason on walks. In the picture where Mason’s left arm is raised giving me a high five, I look so excited because that movement was all him. That little victory made my whole day.

So here it is, just a photo dump from a summer that was far from easy, but still held memories worth sharing.

I’ll share an update on Mason this evening or in the morning. I try not to post about all the “regular” issues that arise during the chaos because who doesn’t have them? I haven’t been to the rehab hospital since Tuesday. Justin and my dad decided it was best for me not to spend the night, so I didn’t.

I have a problem with mom guilt for not being there 24/7. The truth is my ego is worried about what people will say if I am not there 24/7. I know Justin and my dad are fully capable of managing things in my absence. Plus, I do have an issue accepting when my body decides for me that I don’t have a say and must take a break (even if it is for three nights). I am so thankful for a husband and a dad who step in, love Mason and Cayde fiercely, and give me the space to rest when I need it most.

Glory to God for all things, even this. May His mercy cover Mason, cover Cayde, cover my dad, and cover us as we keep walking this road. 🙏🏽☦️🙏🏽☦️🙏🏽☦️

09/08/2025

Mason has officially been moved to inpatient rehab, and for the first time in a long time, we are seeing glimpses of our boy returning to his baseline. Just last night, we were finally able to understand almost everything he was saying. 🙏🏽

As always, Grayson showed up in support of Mason and of us. His presence is a reminder that even in the hardest seasons, loyalty and love shine the brightest.🥰

After speaking with the physician today, we are hopeful this stay will not be long. There are a lot of things to get lined out before Mason can come home, and we are praying this is the “Hail Mary” we have been waiting for here locally, until he can begin at Defy Neuro Rehab, the place my heart longs to invest my energy not just for Mason, but for so many other brain injury survivors.

The truth is, Mason has not had consistent access to neurology, physiatry, ortho, psychology, neuro-psych, or regular PT, OT, and ST since discharging from Bethany Children’s on 7/14/23. For more than two years we have been fighting, calling, and begging for help. Oklahoma Healthcare Authority failed him this past spring, not only denying the increase in nursing hours that they requested we apply for, but lowering him to 36 hours a week. That four-hour cut made things even harder.

It is heartbreaking that Mason has gone without the correct supportive wheelchair, the correct braces for his feet, ankles, hands, and arms, or the therapies and specialists that should be a basic standard of continuous care. Mason deserves the same opportunities as his peers, including the chance to graduate. He only has two credits left for a regular diploma, but right now that has not been prioritized for him, bc we were made to withdraw him from high school, bc they would not allow for a medical “leave” bc his admit date got pushed back in January to February 14th. My hope is that with the right support and advocacy, we can change that.

Maybe this seizure was a blessing in disguise, an opening for someone to finally step up and quarterback his care, to fill in the gaps that have been ignored for too long. This is my chance to fight again, not for anything extra or special, but simply for what is right.

Pray with us that someone in this rehab hospital will rise to that call. If so, glory to God. If not, still glory to God.🙏🏽🕊️☦️🙏🏽🕊️☦️🙏🏽🕊️☦️

09/06/2025

Update on Mason: He has been referred to inpatient rehab. After this seizure, he didn’t “bounce back” like we had hoped. Our prayer is that this stay will help bring him back to his baseline and provide the therapies and resources he so desperately needs, this time close to home. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽The weight of these decisions never feels light. Each one feels like it could be the wrong one, and yet we keep moving forward, holding onto the hope that every step is being guided by God’s hand.

My body, mind, and soul are weary, but I have been reminded in the most unexpected ways that the Lord is with us in every valley. Within days of each other, two different priests, Fr. Ambrose and then Fr. Bill who married Justin and me, spoke the same words to me: Be still. So simple, yet so profound. I can hear them both saying it together… Be still. Stop striving, stop fighting against what I cannot control, and rest in Christ alone.☦️☦️☦️

I am learning what it means to sit in that stillness. To let myself feel the flood of emotions without being consumed by them. To accept that anger, grief, anxiety, and even exhaustion will come, but that they do not define me. To let prayer take root deeper than my fears. This is not easy work for me. Self-compassion is something I’ve resisted for so long. But in these days, I am trying.

Please keep Mason in your prayers that this stay will not be longer than necessary, that his body will respond to therapy, and that it will be a true beginning toward greater healing. We know our hope is not in this life but in the resurrection, and so we continue forward, giving glory to God for all things.🙏🏽🕊️☦️

And because God is so merciful, He continues to remind us that He sees every member of our family, not just Mason. This picture is of Grayson, one of Mason’s two best friends from our time in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. After graduating high school, Grayson and Cole, Mason’s other best friend from there, started planning to move to Oklahoma. At 18, it felt like just a dream, something that might never happen. But this year, just a week before July 4th, they followed through. At only 19 years old, they packed up and moved here to support Mason and begin their own launch into adulthood. Today Grayson took Cayde to Airtopia in Owasso to give him a break from the house. By accident, they showed up in “matching” shirts, and the lil smirk on Cayde’s face says it all. 🥹It may seem like a small thing, but for us it is huge. It is one of those gaps being filled for our little guy, who also needs care, laughter, and friendship in the middle of all this.

God sees us. He sees Mason. He sees Cayde. He sees Justin and me in our weariness. And He provides, sometimes in big ways, sometimes in small ways.

I will post another update tomorrow, as time allows! Thank you for the continued prayers, texts, and messages. The comments on each post do not go unnoticed, I promise. 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽

09/05/2025

We wanted to provide a quick update on Mason before we bed down for the night. Things are looking up but he still isn’t at his baseline and we’re not sure what our next steps are going to be. We were pretty worried about him yesterday but seeing a little movement in the right direction has made us feel a bit better.

Overall, the experience at St. John’s in Tulsa has been good; in many ways better than our experience at OU. We’ve met some wonderful people here, including a doctor that asked if she could pray for Mason with us. 🙏

We’ve given up on trying to predict where this difficult journey will take us. Neither is it something that we worry about anymore. Is there anywhere that we might go that doesn’t lead us to the Lord? Absolutely not! If we are blessed with Miracles, we will give Glory to God! Should we continue to suffer, we will thank Him for allowing us to be broken for the good of our souls. Glory to God for ALL things! ☦️

09/03/2025

In the midst of all the tragedy and uncertainty, God has given us a glimpse of His mercy and grace. Mason’s wish was finally granted through Make-A-Wish, and instead of trips or gifts, his heart’s desire was something eternal, a prayer chapel right here in our backyard.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Because Mason can’t make it to church services as often as he longs to, this little chapel will become his amd our sanctuary. A place where prayers can rise, candles can be lit, and hope can be renewed.☦️☦️☦️ A place that reminds us that even when life feels broken, God is still building holy spaces in the middle of our suffering.

The pictures provided are “renderings” of what will look like, and my heart is overwhelmed knowing this will soon be a reality. 🥹🥹🥹
For every one of you who has prayed, cried, and carried us through the darkest days, this chapel is also for you. It is a testimony that faith is never wasted, prayers are never unheard, and light will always break through the shadows.🤍🤍🤍

Even in the valley, there is hope. And today, we are clinging to it.

I will post an update on Mason as soon as the docs finish their rounds here and we know more!

Lord, have mercy!☦️☦️☦️

🙏🏼🕊️

Praying for Mason Teague “Meaning in the Mess”

11/26/2025

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