U.S. Army Spc. Evan Mettie was injured by a suicide bomber while serving in Iraq on New Year's Day, 2006.

Denise Mettie, Evan's mother, is constantly fighting to bridge the gulf that Evan's injury has put between him and the outside world. From a blink that means yes to the way Evan relaxes as she touches his hair, family connection is sometimes able to bridge what medical means cannot.

After his return to Yakima in November, 2007, Evan lived at Garden Village, a skilled nursing facility.

Although he received physical therapy at Garden Village, Denise was disappointed that it wasn't as much as he received in private rehabilitation. Since Evan returned to Yakima his ability to move and communicate has declined.

Denise is Evan's daily caregiver, making sure he is shaved, clean and comfortable.

Evan communicates mainly through blinking his eyes. Little steps, such as Evan's ability to communicate a "yes" with his eyes squeezed shut are celebrated as milestones that doctors initially said would never arrive.

Evan is awarded his spurs, a military honor, at a ceremony on Friday, July 25, 2008..

Denise talks on the phone with the mother of another brain-injured soldier. Just as she struggled to get Evan into private rehabilitation, other soldiers and their families are still struggling with Veterans Affairs to get private therapy. Denise keeps up on the policy decisions that are affecting other brain-injured soldiers and gives other families advice about how to get treatment for their loved ones.

Denise talks to pharmacist Steve Graff as Evan gets a medication pump refilled. Denise is Evan's advocate every step of the way and she has his medications and treatments memorized. She is the one constant as he is treated by several doctors, physical therapists and medical professionals. Only Denise sees the whole picture of her son's treatment and makes sure each aspect of his care is working for him.

Denise cries as she and Evan watch a video of the funeral of Evan's best friend who was killed the November before Evan's injury.

Evan's father Dave rests a hand on his son's head.

Because Evan is confined to bed and cannot communicate clearly, Denise is his constant advocate.

Denise explains what will happen to Evan on the day of surgery to correct his foot, which has become painfully curled in. As soon as she starts making medical decisions she starts explaining to him what will happen and why, making sure he understands before anything happens.

Denise waits with Evan in the emergency room of Memorial Hospital. Evan has been having stomach problems and he can't communicate what is hurting him. After a previous trip to the hospital that involved hours of waiting, they are back again, waiting, a practice Denise says has taken up much of her time during the last three years.

Visits to the doctor and hospital have become routine and Denise laughs with registered nurse Epiphany Devine.

Occupational therapist Holly Galow tests Evan's ability to track objects with his eyes. She uses something his mother has said will keep his attention focused - the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated.

Denise watches Evan for any reaction as he watches a video of the funeral of his best friend, who was killed the November before Evan's injury.

The Quadriciser is one of the most stimulating parts of Evan's day. It moves all his limbs and today he wears glasses with lenses adjusted to push his eyes in one direction to stretch his visual capacity as well as his motor capacity.

As her son's advocate Denise knows each part of his treatment and is present all the time to make sure every part of his care is working for him.

Evan watches occupational therapist Dana Zongas as she gently stretches his hand, pulling his fingers away from his palm where they are usually gripped tightly. As the therapists work with Evan they ask him questions, watching for a blink in response or ask him to focus his eyes on certain things around the room - mental exercises to accompany the physical ones.

Denise listens as occupational therapist Holly Galow talks about plans for Evan's space at home. Galow specializes in vision therapy and talked about lighting considerations such as using full-spectrum light bulbs and using shades rather than blinds. Blinds create strong patterns that could exhaust Evan's eyes.

Denise and Dave talk to their son during a visit home, during which they decorated their Christmas tree.

A photo of Evan when he was 7 years old hangs on the family Christmas tree.

The Metties say a prayer before their 2007 Christmas holiday meal, giving thanks that Evan is with them. This is Evan's first Christmas home since his injury and the family support has been an important part of Denise and Dave's efforts to care for Evan in the last two years.

Ron Babbit, far right, and his two daughters Emy, 7, center in white, and Vikki, 5, in pink, meet Evan at a fundraiser for children whose parents were killed in Iraq. The girls had lots of questions for Denise about why Evan couldn't talk and what happened to him and quickly realized their dad could have been hurt like Evan.

During a rare day off from caring for Evan Denise gets her hair cut by her daughter Kira, who works in a salon in Ellensburg.

In January, 2008, Denise talks to KIMA TV's Valerie Hurst at the beginning of a Rotary Club of Yakima meeting where the club hopes to raise money to pay for the Quadriciser, a machine that will help Evan's rehabilitation. Throughout Evan's treatment Denise has welcomed media coverage and is open about the challenges faced by her and the families of other injured soldiers.

Denise, furious, listens as Kim Games, director of nursing services at Garden Village, explains how she thinks Evan got two bed sores on his bottom. After being away from Evan's bedside for several days because she was sick, she returned to find him hurt, indications that he wasn't properly cared for in her absence.

Tears of fury and frustration roll down Denise's face as she talks to Veterans Affairs about the examination of wounds on Evan's skin. After being away from Evan's bedside for several days because she was sick, she returned to find two bed sores, indications that he wasn't properly cared for in her absence.

Denise says it wasn't until she started taking Evan out in public that she realized the extent of his disability and how the world's view of him had changed as he drew stares from passersby.

Evan sits in the exercise room with senior citizens as they begin their exercise session. Denise thinks living in a nursing home has been hard on Evan.

Getting Evan out of the nursing home and into environments where they know their son would want to spend time is a priority. After making arrangements earlier in the week Denise and Dave take Evan to the Sports Center to listen to live acoustic guitar music and spend time around young people. It's a balancing act. They know the change in scenery cheers Evan up but too much noise and visual stimulation can easily wear him out.

Denise works on the trim in Evan's area of the house. Moving Evan home has taken many more months than the Metties planned as work to paint, lay tile, hang cabinetry and lay flooring lagged behind schedule. As the addition neared completion Denise is determined to bring Evan home as soon as possible even if it means she and Dave must finish some of the work themselves.

Denise laughs and leans her head against her sister-in-law Carol Mettie as the two wrestle with a roll of masking tape and paper while working on the addition.

Denise takes down Evan's posters and photos as he leaves his room at the Garden Village nursing home. The posters went with Evan everywhere he lived throughout the country during his rehabilitation.

Objects of encouragement wait to be packed up and moved from the nursing home to Evan's new room.

Denise hugs registered nurse Charlotte Eilers as she says goodbye to the staff at Garden Village.

Denise pushes Evan out of Garden Village as he heads home after 16 months at the nursing home.

Dave tries to fix a lift so the family can help Evan lay down in his bed at home for the first time. The first day at home reveals many small challenges as equipment is used for the first time.

Denise shows Evan's new nurses, Brandy McCarthy, left, and Lynzi Klomp, right, how to position Evan's pillows as they put him into bed at home for the first time.

Denise cuts the identification bracelet Evan has worn at Garden Village since his arrival there. Evan left there and returned home on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Evan's lunch, contained in an IV bag, hangs on a coat rack in their living room. As Evan begins his life in their Selah home the Metties still have some supplies to order and routines to work out.

Denise sorts through a box of medication as she unpacks shipments of supplies that's been arriving for Evan's care at home.

Denise gets Evan's opinion of things in his new room at home.

Evan sits in his new room as Denise makes his bed.

Denise helps Evan get comfortable for the first night he will spend at their home since his injury in 2006. One of the best things about being at home, she says, is simply that she can tuck him in at night and wake up and have coffee with him in the morning.