Praying for Mason Teague “Meaning in the Mess”

01/15/2026

https://youtube.com/shorts/r2V59ZV3dw4?si=bSe6e-12OIV27EG-
Get a peek at Mason in action at DEFY Neuro Rehabilitation 🥰🥰🥰🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

Our doors are open, and we are accepting new clients! Be one of the first neuro injury survivors to experience Activity-Based Therapy at DEFY! New Client Int...

01/14/2026

Welcome to all of you that have recently started following Mason’s page to join us on our journey that began 1,302 days ago.🥰🥰🥰

Justin posted this on his personal page yesterday & I am so thrilled for Mason to have his Make-A-Wish is become a reality. 🥰🙏🏽🫶🏽:

I received an exciting call on Friday. Make-a-Wish is looking to grant Mason’s wish for a prayer chapel in our backyard this spring!

Make-a-Wish doesn’t cover electrical work, drywall, or ground-prep/leveling of more than 6” so we are looking for some help. The drywall is covered but we could still use help with the groundwork (we need to build a retaining wall and bring in some dirt) and with getting electricity installed.

If you’re interested in helping us with making Mason’s wish come true, please message Justin directly! 🙏

***The image is an AI concept***al

01/02/2026

FULL STORY: https://www.newson6.com/tulsa-oklahoma-news/skiatook-teen-in-wheelchair-feels-seen-after-ou-fans-dance-with-him-at-playoff-game

For those out of state that have asked!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!🎆

OU fans make a Skiatook teen in a wheelchair feel seen during a playoff tailgate, sparking a viral video viewed more than 1.6 million times.

12/27/2025

Follow-up… we found them!

The internet did its thing and we were NOT ready (in a good way)! The messages, the shares, the comments, the love… it has been so much to take in, and we’ve felt every bit of it. Because of YOU, we were able to connect privately with one of the men in the video, and we got to tell him exactly what that moment meant to us as Mason’s parents. He was incredibly kind, very humble, and honestly a little overwhelmed too. Unsurprisingly, he isn’t looking for any special recognition and we will honor that by leaving he and his friend un-tagged and un-named.

What they did wasn’t planned or for attention. It was pure, genuine kindness. They didn’t see a wheelchair or a diagnosis. They saw our son and a fellow Sooner fan. They treated Mason like he was seen, valued, and included. As parents who worry about how the world will treat our child, that moment restored a piece of our hope for the journey Mason never asked for. Most likely don’t know this, but Mason’s AVM rupture rendered him bilaterally deaf. He was 100% responding to the vibe, which actually makes the moment MORE impactful.

We truly believe that God shows up in moments like that. Not directly, but through people who are able to see others in His image and who act accordingly to His likeness.

So instead of names, we want this to be about the example they set. If this video moved you, leave a message, a kind word, or a prayer. Let’s honor the moment without turning it into something it was never meant to be. The guys in the video are now following Mason’s story and will almost certainty see your comments.

To everyone who has loved on Mason and our family; thank you from the deepest place in our hearts. To our new FB followers, welcome and thank you. We’re so grateful you’re here with us and hope you’ll follow along with Mason’s story and help us continue raising awareness about AVMs, the challenges of caring for loved ones with complex needs, and what inclusion looks like.

12/24/2025

Internet…please do your thing and help us find these guys. My momma heart NEEDS them to know what this moment meant to me and properly meet them, if possible.
They did what most ppl are afraid to do, which is treat someone like Mason as if he is “seen” and valued. These guys restored my hope for Mason to meet decent incredible people along the journey he never wanted. Side note…they definitely match my energy. 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

12/19/2025

Boomer Sooner! We decided to take Mason down to SooneRVillage in Norman for the OU vs Alabama playoff game. We didn’t feel like we could make it through the game with him so we didn’t even try to find tickets, but we wanted to give him the game day experience.

SoonRVillage is about 1.5 miles from the Ga***rd Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, so we’re going to try to catch a ride to the stadium on the CART handicap accessible shuttle so Mason can experience everything that the pre-game environment has to offer.

With that said, this still isn’t easy AT ALL. There are so many things we wish we could do that we just can’t. Not to mention the WIND that is trying to destroy our canopy. I set it up this morning to cook breakfast and had to remove the side walls by 11:00am because they were going to be torn up. Aside from our mobility concerns, we also have to worry about where Mason can potty. Our plan is to empty his bladder before we take off (assuming we get to).

We were hoping that we might be able to hang out with friends or fellow Sooner fans, but that seems less likely as the day goes on. While the situation may not be optimal and we might not get to do the things that we had envisioned, we are still DOING things with Mason. We’re trying to live the life that we’ve been given instead of giving up and staying home. We owe it to Mason, Cayde, ourselves, and to God.

12/10/2025

We have been super busy with appointments since we returned from Florida and I want to share some neutral news, good news, better news, and FANTASTIC news🙏🏽

Neutral news: I had been referred for genetic testing due to my ongoing health issues(that have gotten weirder and weirder). Upon the intake with the nurse, she paused when she found put about Mason’s AVM rupture and told me we needed to get HIM a referral, as I would be tested secondarily with him. We had that appointment and the Nurse Practitioner found upon examination that Mason and I BOTH have met the criteria upon her physical exam of hEDS(the one subtype of Ehlers Danlos that the gene isn’t known). There are 12 other subtypes that CAN be tested for.
Our entire genome will be sequenced and we will both be getting the testing for secondary findings, as well(ie. the things we are susceptible to in our future). Should be getting the results within 4 weeks after the buckle swabs are taken.

Good news: Mason SHOULD be able to “return” to return to school after Christmas break on a homebound schedule to obtain the last 3 credits he needs to receive his diploma. Cayde is super happy to be returning back in-person, as well. He is ready to be back with his friends. 🥰🥰🥰

Great News: We took Mason for his appointment at Hearts for Hearing last Thursday. He is still profoundly deaf, BUT he was able to pick out the color of ball when asked 100% of the time out of his LEFT ear. With his right ear, he would raise that hand to let her know he felt it, but nothing else. With that new development, he has now qualified for a certain type of hearing aid to “trial”. The Audiologist is sending Mason’s results to the surgeon’s to see if they agree he is a candidate for an implant. I will say, that Justin and I will not put Mason through any kind of surgery in his brain for his hearing, unless we are given a GUARANTEE it will work. So, we will balance hope with reality and will pray answers will be revealed at the appropriate time 🙏🏽

FANTASTIC news: the ONE thing we have been praying for has finally been made a reality. Mason will be starting his weekly therapy schedule at DEFY Neuro Rehabilitation next week!🙏🏽🥹❤️🥰🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
Meeting Alison was a breath of fresh, cleansing, air🤍🤍🤍 We have been praying for that ONE person that believes in him, and I think we didn’t just find one(in Alison), but a village at DEFY and the Oklahoma Brain Injury Recovery Foundation!

We are finally making progress in so many areas that have felt like they would never be resolved. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

The words of Fr. Bill & Fr. Ambrose to me,”Be still” have proven to be exactly what God wanted me to hear. I am so grateful and feel TRULY blessed to have such incredible spiritual Fathers put before me to guide me through this life and its immense challenges and grief. Glory to God ☦️☦️☦️

I have had pictures that I’ve wanted to share from over the past several weeks, so here ya go! Sorry for the flood of them!😂

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! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽