Thanks to someone for reminding me that I never did tell you about the surprise party. That's probably because the surprise was on me. Here's what I mean. All day Thursday I kept telling Katie that I was going to go and get the kids and come down and have dinner with her. Around 4:00 she fell asleep. At 5:00 two of her friends came down to give her some presents and wish her a happy birthday. So, while she was checking out her great gifts I look over at her slyly and said, "so, what if we go home and see the girls". To which she said, "ok". This was a surprise to me as all week she had begged me, almost hourly, to take her home to see the kids. Now I was telling her that she could go home and all she could say was, "ok."
Despite her tepid response to my unbelievable thoughtfulness, we had a great party. Kyle, Karen, Ava, the girls, Sawyer, myself and Sue all had a wonderful dinner followed by more family and presents. Cake and ice cream rounded out the night and then a hurried good-bye to get back to the hospital before the doors were locked (9:00).
Katie did a great job and handled all of the commotion splendidly, and everyone was delighted with how eaisly she was able to engage with them.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Saturday evening
Well the first day at home was a success, especially if success is defined by hours spent asleep. Not sure why, but Katie took a three hour nap in the afternoon, and then went to bed around 7. However, the rest of the time was good. She got here around 10:00, had some lunch, watched a movie with the girls, feed Sawyer, and slept.
Man it was good to have her home.
She gets to be home until Sunday evening, as she needs to be back at the hospital by 9:00 pm. As long as this goes ok, she will be back home Tuesday for good. I'll try to keep you all updated as best as I can.
Man it was good to have her home.
She gets to be home until Sunday evening, as she needs to be back at the hospital by 9:00 pm. As long as this goes ok, she will be back home Tuesday for good. I'll try to keep you all updated as best as I can.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Thursday afternoon
Well, so far I have been able to keep Katie in the dark regarding her B-day party. It's 4:30 and sees sleeping, thinking that I'll be going to get the kids soon to come back and have dinner with her.
She continues to amaze everyone in her therapy sessions. In fact, the hospital has asked if they can use her story as one of their "success stories" to put in some sort of book. Also, the CEO of the hospital has gotten wind of Katie and sent down the hospital's PR rep for a visit.
Today she made brownies in one of her sessions and is excited about eating them tonight with the kids. In a number of the sessions they use games to stimulate Katie both mentally and physically. So, they use card games to stimulate her mind and today they use a bean-bag toss game to work on ballance and addition. So she has to throw the bean-bags while standing on one leg, for example. Then she has to add up the points and see if she beat my score. That's right, she had to play against me. Believe me, it does wonders for our marriage. So, to be fair, I closed one eye, stood farther away, and threw them with my right hand. I still managed to beat her a few times. Before you begin to feel too bad for the sickie, just know that she cheats. Just before I made one of my throws she grabbed my butt. When I turned around she said, "Kyra! (she was the therapist that was closest)". Can you believe that. She tries to distract my toss and then blames it on her therapist. This is what we are talking about when we speak of her higher brain functions, though some might argue that grabbing my rear and blaming it on another woman are "lower" brain functions.
It's been fun to see people who have not had a lot of interaction with Katie through this process come and see her or talk to her on the phone. The other day my Dad was asking me if I felt like Katie's personality had changed at all (which is common with brain injuries). I said, "see for yourself", and handed the phone to Katie. After a 10 minute conversation, Katie gave me back the phone and my Dad was just amazed. He could hardly tell the difference between the old Katie and the one that was talking to him now.
I know some of you may be thinking that it really can't be this good. That all the positive things that I have been posting are just the hopeful longings of a desperate husband. While that is possible, I really don't think that is what is happening. And, the willingness of the hospital to release her backs that up. Throughout this whole blogging thing, I've actually tried to under estimate the good stuff. The fact is, things are usually better than I am letting on. Not that I'm trying to sandbag to garner more support, I'm just making sure that I'm not getting carried away. However, for us here with her all the time, I would say that most would agree that Katie's is 85-90% of her old self. I say this in regards to mentally. Physically she is probably around 50%, but no one is worried about that as we know that will come back quickly now that she is up and about. Actually we are not worried about the mental either, but that, medically speaking, is more up in the air. For those of us who understand God, we know that none of this is up in the air.
Thank you all for all the Birthday post, I know Katie will love to hear them. I'll do my best to read them to her tonight, but considering the amount, I might not get to them all. However, she will read them all, I promise.
She continues to amaze everyone in her therapy sessions. In fact, the hospital has asked if they can use her story as one of their "success stories" to put in some sort of book. Also, the CEO of the hospital has gotten wind of Katie and sent down the hospital's PR rep for a visit.
Today she made brownies in one of her sessions and is excited about eating them tonight with the kids. In a number of the sessions they use games to stimulate Katie both mentally and physically. So, they use card games to stimulate her mind and today they use a bean-bag toss game to work on ballance and addition. So she has to throw the bean-bags while standing on one leg, for example. Then she has to add up the points and see if she beat my score. That's right, she had to play against me. Believe me, it does wonders for our marriage. So, to be fair, I closed one eye, stood farther away, and threw them with my right hand. I still managed to beat her a few times. Before you begin to feel too bad for the sickie, just know that she cheats. Just before I made one of my throws she grabbed my butt. When I turned around she said, "Kyra! (she was the therapist that was closest)". Can you believe that. She tries to distract my toss and then blames it on her therapist. This is what we are talking about when we speak of her higher brain functions, though some might argue that grabbing my rear and blaming it on another woman are "lower" brain functions.
It's been fun to see people who have not had a lot of interaction with Katie through this process come and see her or talk to her on the phone. The other day my Dad was asking me if I felt like Katie's personality had changed at all (which is common with brain injuries). I said, "see for yourself", and handed the phone to Katie. After a 10 minute conversation, Katie gave me back the phone and my Dad was just amazed. He could hardly tell the difference between the old Katie and the one that was talking to him now.
I know some of you may be thinking that it really can't be this good. That all the positive things that I have been posting are just the hopeful longings of a desperate husband. While that is possible, I really don't think that is what is happening. And, the willingness of the hospital to release her backs that up. Throughout this whole blogging thing, I've actually tried to under estimate the good stuff. The fact is, things are usually better than I am letting on. Not that I'm trying to sandbag to garner more support, I'm just making sure that I'm not getting carried away. However, for us here with her all the time, I would say that most would agree that Katie's is 85-90% of her old self. I say this in regards to mentally. Physically she is probably around 50%, but no one is worried about that as we know that will come back quickly now that she is up and about. Actually we are not worried about the mental either, but that, medically speaking, is more up in the air. For those of us who understand God, we know that none of this is up in the air.
Thank you all for all the Birthday post, I know Katie will love to hear them. I'll do my best to read them to her tonight, but considering the amount, I might not get to them all. However, she will read them all, I promise.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Surprise party
This Thursday is Katie's birthday and I have permission to take her home for an hour or so. So, we're going to have a small family party to celebrate, but I thought that if any of you wanted to post a birthday wish I could read them to her. So post her a relatively short birthday wish and I will read them to her at the party. Make sure and include your name and how you know her, if in fact you do.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Monday Night
Ok, here is the news we all have been waiting for. Katie is going home!! First off, she is going to come home Saturday morning, stay Saturday night, and then go back to the hospital Sunday night. Based on how she does (and everyone thinks she will do fine) she will be discharged from the hospital on Tuesday. For good! Each week all of the therapist and Dr's/nurses get together and review each patients progress and set new goal for the coming week. Basically, after one week the therapist are so impressed with her progress that they are sending her home. She will still do therapy at another facility a few times a week, but she will be home.
My mom Ruth is going to come this weekend and stay for three weeks, and Kyle and Karen are planning on staying for a week or so until we are all sure that Katie is ok. Katie's mother lives directly behind out house and will be with Katie all day as she will still need some help for a while. One of the reasons the staff gave for letting Katie go is her strong family support. This is mostly Sue, as she has been the one who has spent the most time with Katie at the hospital, and for that I am truly grateful. However, without Kyle and Karen I would not have been able to spend hardly any time with Katie, so a huge "thank you" goes out to them as well.
My mom Ruth is going to come this weekend and stay for three weeks, and Kyle and Karen are planning on staying for a week or so until we are all sure that Katie is ok. Katie's mother lives directly behind out house and will be with Katie all day as she will still need some help for a while. One of the reasons the staff gave for letting Katie go is her strong family support. This is mostly Sue, as she has been the one who has spent the most time with Katie at the hospital, and for that I am truly grateful. However, without Kyle and Karen I would not have been able to spend hardly any time with Katie, so a huge "thank you" goes out to them as well.
I also would be remiss to not add all of you. From providing dinners to constant prayer, and Target gift cards, the collective church family has been amazing. So from our family to all of you, thanks.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Saturday afternoon
Last two days continue to be good ones. Each day Katie gets a little bit better on her short term memory. She still is always interested in what "the plan" is in regards to a couple of things. Mostly the kids, but she is also interested in what my plan is. This is tough as we are constantly filling her in on what "the plan" is, but she seems to lose it quickly. I think it's mostly because she is very concerned about the kids and when the memory is not right there she asks. However, she is getting better at knowing the details and I have to tell her less and less each day.
Here is something that's pretty cool. Katie's main speech therapist told Sue the other day that she has never worked with anyone like Katie. Now she has worked with lots of people who have brain trauma, but none like Katie for this reason. Katie is demonstrating most, if not all, of her higher brain functions. Things like humor, self evaluation, empathy, etc.... These are things that usually take a long time to come back, if they every do, but Katie has demonstrated them right from the beginning.
Last night Dawn (one of Katie's best friends) spent the night with Katie and here is what she sent me this morning....
A great night. I appreciate the fact that Katie sleeps like the rest of us now. She needs it dark and quiet. All the other nights, I read until about midnight while she was sleeping and never worried about whispering to any of the nurses. This time, I went to bed when she went to bed b/c she wanted it dark and quiet...like any of us would! Perfect! What difference 3 days makes! I didn't see her Tues-Thrs. And when I got there on yesterday, I about fell over when I saw the improvement in her strength and balance. It's out of this world! Of course, I still followed her everywhere. I heard her telling Chad on the phone this morning, "Dawn jumps every time I move." :) I love to be annoying! She's totally looking forward to her day w/ the family. Have a great time! Also, I know it was probably tough when Katie thought you were the one keeping her in the hospital, but she told me this morning that she wants to go home so bad, but they have pretty strict rules at the hospital and she doesn't know all of the rules, but she knows that they can't keep letting her out a lot until she's finished with all her therapy. You might not be the bad guy anymore...at least you weren't this morning. At one point she even said, "Davey's great."
D
Today I took all the kids up to spend a couple of hours with Katie. We even went outside to a small park that's right outside Katie's window for a little while as today was an absolutely beautiful day. While we were outside a few nurses from the ICU stopped by to see the "miracle girl". Poor Katie is almost beside herself missing the kids and talks about them all the time. She still has a hard time understanding why I can't just take her home for a few hours every day. In the end though, Sawyer need to get to sleep and Katie's room just didn't seem to suit him.
Here is the last thing. Yesterday I took Katie down to the cafeteria and we had supper together. After that I took her on a little tour of some of the hospital. I took her by the waiting room where all the family and friends gathered on that very first morning. It started Katie asking questions and in the end I told her the whole story, and I didn't leave anything out. She took it well and it really helped her to understand why some people just like to sit in her room and just smile at her (like me).
Here is something that's pretty cool. Katie's main speech therapist told Sue the other day that she has never worked with anyone like Katie. Now she has worked with lots of people who have brain trauma, but none like Katie for this reason. Katie is demonstrating most, if not all, of her higher brain functions. Things like humor, self evaluation, empathy, etc.... These are things that usually take a long time to come back, if they every do, but Katie has demonstrated them right from the beginning.
Last night Dawn (one of Katie's best friends) spent the night with Katie and here is what she sent me this morning....
A great night. I appreciate the fact that Katie sleeps like the rest of us now. She needs it dark and quiet. All the other nights, I read until about midnight while she was sleeping and never worried about whispering to any of the nurses. This time, I went to bed when she went to bed b/c she wanted it dark and quiet...like any of us would! Perfect! What difference 3 days makes! I didn't see her Tues-Thrs. And when I got there on yesterday, I about fell over when I saw the improvement in her strength and balance. It's out of this world! Of course, I still followed her everywhere. I heard her telling Chad on the phone this morning, "Dawn jumps every time I move." :) I love to be annoying! She's totally looking forward to her day w/ the family. Have a great time! Also, I know it was probably tough when Katie thought you were the one keeping her in the hospital, but she told me this morning that she wants to go home so bad, but they have pretty strict rules at the hospital and she doesn't know all of the rules, but she knows that they can't keep letting her out a lot until she's finished with all her therapy. You might not be the bad guy anymore...at least you weren't this morning. At one point she even said, "Davey's great."
D
Today I took all the kids up to spend a couple of hours with Katie. We even went outside to a small park that's right outside Katie's window for a little while as today was an absolutely beautiful day. While we were outside a few nurses from the ICU stopped by to see the "miracle girl". Poor Katie is almost beside herself missing the kids and talks about them all the time. She still has a hard time understanding why I can't just take her home for a few hours every day. In the end though, Sawyer need to get to sleep and Katie's room just didn't seem to suit him.
Here is the last thing. Yesterday I took Katie down to the cafeteria and we had supper together. After that I took her on a little tour of some of the hospital. I took her by the waiting room where all the family and friends gathered on that very first morning. It started Katie asking questions and in the end I told her the whole story, and I didn't leave anything out. She took it well and it really helped her to understand why some people just like to sit in her room and just smile at her (like me).
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Thursday night
Therapy continues to go well. Every day Katie gets a little bit more back and each day she remembers more and more. No longer am I accused of loosing one of our babies! Thank you Jesus. The therapist at Younkers are doing a wonderful job and they continue to creatively challenge Katie at every turn. Sue has also done a great job of taking pictures of important people and things in Katie's life, then they are put into a memory book that Katie reviews at almost every session, especially Speech therapy.
So, Katie and I pulled off a big surprise today. Knowing how much Katie wants to go home, I got special permission for her to take a leave of absence from the hospital and go home for an hour. We had to double check with everyone, including the insurance company, but all the Dr's and therapist were comfortable with Katie being gone. However, I did make sure that Katie signed a piece of paper saying that she would return to the hospital by a certain time, knowing that she would just want to stay at home. So, imagine the look on the kids face (mostly the girls, Sawyer pretty much had the same look) as Katie walks up and rings the doorbell! I will say though, the one who was most excited to see Katie was definitely our dog Scooter. Man did he miss his momma! I can't believe he didn't wet himself he was going so crazy. She did so well, even going up and down our two flights of stairs. Her strength is still low, but her coordination is defiantly there. We all had a great time, and in the end, Katie reluctantly went back to the hospital.
So think about this, from death's door to the front door in 35 days! Only God is capable of this kind of turnaround. Again, I want to say thank you to all of you who are faithfully praying for us daily! What happened today is a direct result of your intercession for us before our Lord. I also want to say a special thank you to the other two leaders at Two Rivers (and their faith filled wives), Rob and Mark, for their commitment to come and pray powerful prayers over Katie.
So, Katie and I pulled off a big surprise today. Knowing how much Katie wants to go home, I got special permission for her to take a leave of absence from the hospital and go home for an hour. We had to double check with everyone, including the insurance company, but all the Dr's and therapist were comfortable with Katie being gone. However, I did make sure that Katie signed a piece of paper saying that she would return to the hospital by a certain time, knowing that she would just want to stay at home. So, imagine the look on the kids face (mostly the girls, Sawyer pretty much had the same look) as Katie walks up and rings the doorbell! I will say though, the one who was most excited to see Katie was definitely our dog Scooter. Man did he miss his momma! I can't believe he didn't wet himself he was going so crazy. She did so well, even going up and down our two flights of stairs. Her strength is still low, but her coordination is defiantly there. We all had a great time, and in the end, Katie reluctantly went back to the hospital.
So think about this, from death's door to the front door in 35 days! Only God is capable of this kind of turnaround. Again, I want to say thank you to all of you who are faithfully praying for us daily! What happened today is a direct result of your intercession for us before our Lord. I also want to say a special thank you to the other two leaders at Two Rivers (and their faith filled wives), Rob and Mark, for their commitment to come and pray powerful prayers over Katie.
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