Courtney had an impressive day today. It started out with a bath that required help only from Mom because she was rolling from side to side herself and holding on to the railings.
Following that Courtney had ice cream for breakfast! She proved that her swallowing skills are strong and continued to make sounds with her vocal cords.
Courtney showed the strength of her abs and all those workouts in the gym paid off - as she was leaning back against Lisa, a PT with Alyssa, her regular PT was standing in front of her she leaned forward from a 45 degree angle to sitting practically straight up - on her own - with no assistance.
Courtney then moved her head and followed sounds as her Aunties, who were sitting in the room, said hello to her one at a time and she turned her head toward each of them. I called her several times from across the room and each time she picked her head up to look at me.
Later in the afternoon she was in her wheel chair and Craig was sitting in the corner behind her. I told her "Daddy sitting behind you" - Courtney leaned forward and turned her head to see her Dad!
I had just told the nurse 'we're going to take Courtney for a walk' - then Craig asked "is it okay if we take Courtney for a walk?" - If Courtney could have decked him she would have! She pulled her head forward and looked at him as if to say "what the heck are you doing? I'm out the door!"
The day continued with a wonderful visit from her bff Jillian. She looked at Jill as though she were an angel from heaven. Jillian has visited many times while Courtney was in the hospital but today was definitely Courtney's most alert visit with Jilly. The two shared tears and kisses and hugs and a wonderful visit. The best part of the visit was the 2 armed hug Courtney gave Jill. For many weeks therapists and we have been trying to get Courtney to move her right arm. The power of love was all that was needed for motivation for Courtney to raise that arm and wrap it around her friend!
A beautiful day for Courtney and we look forward to many more to come!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas Day happiness
Christmas morning started out very emotional for Craig and I. We were quite sad at Courtney having to be here on Christmas day and yet grateful that she is still with us when others have lost their children.
But God blessed us with several happy moments:
Courtney made her first venture outside in the wheel chair. With her favorite winter hat, sunglasses and blankets we walked around in the sun for about 5 minutes.
We cruised the hallways and sat in our favorite large room overlooking the parking lot.
Her Uncles and Aunts and friends came to visit Courtney and she did well through it all.
The end of the day was the highlight - since Courtney first opened her eyes after the accident I will often kiss her head and then ask 'do you want to give me a kiss?' - then I'll place my cheek against her lips. Although she's never actually kissed me she does always have a look of happiness on her face. Last night she did pick her head up off the bed and kiss ne several times. Then she kissed her Dad!
But God blessed us with several happy moments:
Courtney made her first venture outside in the wheel chair. With her favorite winter hat, sunglasses and blankets we walked around in the sun for about 5 minutes.
We cruised the hallways and sat in our favorite large room overlooking the parking lot.
Her Uncles and Aunts and friends came to visit Courtney and she did well through it all.
The end of the day was the highlight - since Courtney first opened her eyes after the accident I will often kiss her head and then ask 'do you want to give me a kiss?' - then I'll place my cheek against her lips. Although she's never actually kissed me she does always have a look of happiness on her face. Last night she did pick her head up off the bed and kiss ne several times. Then she kissed her Dad!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Mom's Update
Many people with TBI have problems with muscle spasticity. Courtney has had this problem for about 3 weeks. In these situations muscles in the body tighten and stiffen - the muscles develop 'tone' to the point where they are difficult to stretch out. The results can lead to serious problems that need to be corrected surgically and in some cases they lead to permanent disability.
Dr. Koelbel is a pysiatrist specializing in rehabilitation with a focus on managing and ultimately eliminating spasticity and its debilitating effects. Dr. Koelbel evaluated Courtney this morning and believes the best course of treatment is the most aggressive since her spasticity is wide spread and severe. Therefore on Friday Jan. 2nd Courtney will have a trial of baclofen injected into her spine. If this trial yields positive results then Courtney will have a pump implanted in her stomach with a wire feeding the drug into his spine. This will allow the baclofen to be disbursed to the muscles quickly without the sedating effect of an oral dose of baclofen.
The surgery will take place at Boston Medical Center and it should be about a 24 hour stay.
Success rates with administering baclofen via the pump are about 85%.
We can not overstate the importance of eliminating muscle spasticity and how profoundly this effects her ability to participate in rehab. Imagine for a moment that you've just had a serious muscle pull - your hamstring - you can't walk - you're in pain. Now imagine someone telling you to lift your leg, wiggle your toes, or push your foot down. The pain and stiffness would make those tasks virtually impossible. That has been one of Courtney's challenges for nearly 3 weeks.
Although Courtney could have the trachea removed before the surgery we thought it best that they leave it in so that she would not have to be intubated during the surgery or in the event of an emergency.
We are hopeful that alot will happen after the surgery - trachea removed - by which time she'll be swallowing better and then she can get moving for real! We are very hopeful that this will facilitate progress for Courtney.
We'll let you all know about the test dose on the 2nd and the date of surgery. She will only be away from Braintree for one night - God willing!
Dr. Koelbel is a pysiatrist specializing in rehabilitation with a focus on managing and ultimately eliminating spasticity and its debilitating effects. Dr. Koelbel evaluated Courtney this morning and believes the best course of treatment is the most aggressive since her spasticity is wide spread and severe. Therefore on Friday Jan. 2nd Courtney will have a trial of baclofen injected into her spine. If this trial yields positive results then Courtney will have a pump implanted in her stomach with a wire feeding the drug into his spine. This will allow the baclofen to be disbursed to the muscles quickly without the sedating effect of an oral dose of baclofen.
The surgery will take place at Boston Medical Center and it should be about a 24 hour stay.
Success rates with administering baclofen via the pump are about 85%.
We can not overstate the importance of eliminating muscle spasticity and how profoundly this effects her ability to participate in rehab. Imagine for a moment that you've just had a serious muscle pull - your hamstring - you can't walk - you're in pain. Now imagine someone telling you to lift your leg, wiggle your toes, or push your foot down. The pain and stiffness would make those tasks virtually impossible. That has been one of Courtney's challenges for nearly 3 weeks.
Although Courtney could have the trachea removed before the surgery we thought it best that they leave it in so that she would not have to be intubated during the surgery or in the event of an emergency.
We are hopeful that alot will happen after the surgery - trachea removed - by which time she'll be swallowing better and then she can get moving for real! We are very hopeful that this will facilitate progress for Courtney.
We'll let you all know about the test dose on the 2nd and the date of surgery. She will only be away from Braintree for one night - God willing!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
from UB
Diane and Katy's posts from Tuesday are below.
Christmas is a special time for all of us, for different reasons. The confluence this year of Courtney's accident and Christmas causes us all mixed emotions. We're thankful we have Courtney, we're sad she has so far to go but we're also hopeful for her recovery. In these difficult times, we lean on each other for support and strength. In that spirit, I have "leaned" on another writer to help express my feelings.
This is an adaptation of Francis P. Church’s famous 1897 editorial, “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”.
Dearest Courtney,
It occurred to me that during this most difficult and trying time, you, or others around you, might be tempted to question your faith. Certainly, there are people in the world who would gladly tell you that there is no God and that you and your family are alone in your suffering. Courtney, those people are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Courtney, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Courtney, there is a God. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no God!? It would be as dreary as if there were no Courtneys – a more dreadful thought does not exist! There would be no faith then, no love, no hope, to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which love fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in God!? You might as well not believe in the love of your parents. What folly! You might get your Dad to hire men to search the world and the heavens over in the hopes that one may actually see God, but even if they did not see God, what would that prove? Nobody sees God as we see the stars, the sun and the moon, but that is no sign that there is no God. Be comforted in the truth that most real things in the world, precious Courtney, are those that neither children nor men can see. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in this world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith and love can push aside that heavy curtain to view and picture the heavenly beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Courtney, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No God? He lives and lives forever! A hundred thousand years from now, Courtney, nay, a 1000 times 100,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of Men who accept his love.
Even now, Court, only you and God fully know your pain and suffering. He alone hears your voice and knows your most intimate thoughts. So from time to time as you struggle and fight your way through all the challenges that await you on your difficult road to recovery, take time for yourself and try to relax. Try to be quiet and still in mind and body and in that silence - in that calm in the midst of the raging storm, know that God is with you.
With love,
Uncle Brian
Christmas is a special time for all of us, for different reasons. The confluence this year of Courtney's accident and Christmas causes us all mixed emotions. We're thankful we have Courtney, we're sad she has so far to go but we're also hopeful for her recovery. In these difficult times, we lean on each other for support and strength. In that spirit, I have "leaned" on another writer to help express my feelings.
This is an adaptation of Francis P. Church’s famous 1897 editorial, “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”.
Dearest Courtney,
It occurred to me that during this most difficult and trying time, you, or others around you, might be tempted to question your faith. Certainly, there are people in the world who would gladly tell you that there is no God and that you and your family are alone in your suffering. Courtney, those people are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Courtney, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Courtney, there is a God. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no God!? It would be as dreary as if there were no Courtneys – a more dreadful thought does not exist! There would be no faith then, no love, no hope, to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which love fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in God!? You might as well not believe in the love of your parents. What folly! You might get your Dad to hire men to search the world and the heavens over in the hopes that one may actually see God, but even if they did not see God, what would that prove? Nobody sees God as we see the stars, the sun and the moon, but that is no sign that there is no God. Be comforted in the truth that most real things in the world, precious Courtney, are those that neither children nor men can see. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in this world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith and love can push aside that heavy curtain to view and picture the heavenly beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Courtney, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No God? He lives and lives forever! A hundred thousand years from now, Courtney, nay, a 1000 times 100,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of Men who accept his love.
Even now, Court, only you and God fully know your pain and suffering. He alone hears your voice and knows your most intimate thoughts. So from time to time as you struggle and fight your way through all the challenges that await you on your difficult road to recovery, take time for yourself and try to relax. Try to be quiet and still in mind and body and in that silence - in that calm in the midst of the raging storm, know that God is with you.
With love,
Uncle Brian
Information From Katy
Hi Everyone,
I thought this information might be helpful - and allow everyone to better understand what is going on with Courtney on a day-to-day basis. I'll post it on the blog too.
Courtney's Brain Injury:
Courtney has suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury. This kind of injury results from an outside force hitting the head. There are two categories of TBI that cause trauma to the brain - Courtney has Diffuse Injury. Also referred to as Difuse Anoxal Injury, this results from the shearing and tensile forces associated with significant acceleration/deceleration trauma (like a car accident). The connecting elements of neurons (called axons) are torn and interrupted, causing widespread loss of connectivity. Immediate unconsciousness is a hallmark clinical feature of Diffuse Axonal Injury. Courtney injured the temporal and parietal lobes of her brain. The temporal lobe is located just above the ears, under the frontal lobe. It is responsible for memory, perception, and ability to understand language. The parietal lobe is located just behind the frontal lobe which is at the front of the head. Its responsibilities include the ability to feel (touch sensation), and the ability to integrate sensation for pain, temperature, and movement.
Courtney's Stages of Recovery:
Recovery from a brain injury is a complex process that depends on numerous variables including site, type, severity of injury, and age, among others. The recovery process can plateau at any stage of the recovery process. if the recovery process is prolonged at one stage, each stage after that will also be prolonged. Courtney is in Braintree Rehab Hospital, which uses its own scale to measure the recovery process. I've marked Courtney's current state with "***"
Unconsciousness
Coma
Wakeful Consciousness (Vegetative State)
Confusional
Minimally Conscious State
Confusional State
Post-Confusional
Evolving Independence
Social Competence / Community Re-entry
Coma: When a person is in a coma, it resembles a deep sleep. Their eyes are closed and they have no recognition of or response to internal or external stimuli. They have no apparent sleep/wake cycles.
Wakeful Unconsciousness: This stage is also called a vegetative state. A patient has emerged into this stage when sleep/wake cycles resume and they begin to show reflexive behaviors such as limb posturing, non-purposeful restless movements, startle to loud sounds, or blinking to visual threat. Patients at this stage are still persistently unresponsive and all movements are reflexive.
***Minimally Conscious State***: When patients begin to show higher brain function they have emerged into MCS. This stage is marked by inconsistency. A person may begin to fixate and track people across the room, or turn their head if they name is called. They may begin to follow simple commands or start using objects in a functional way (like combing their hair). These activities are inconsistent - for example, a person may give a high-five if asked one time, but then be unable to replicate this command.
Confusional State: When patients are able to consistently follow commands and use objects consistently and functionally, they have emerged into a confusional state. The hallmark on the confusional state is memory dysfunction, or post traumatic amnesia. Patients are unable to form new memories and are significantly confused as to month, date, year, where they are, and what happened to them. They will be unable to recall recent events and will be unable to recall information from hour to hour or even minute to minute. These patients also demonstrate very poor attention and concentration, varying to very sedate top highly agitated. In this stage, frustration is common and patients will react accordingly. This is common when patients are confused and unable to make sense of their world. Given these behaviors, it is important to maintain a quiet environment, frequent rest breaks, and develop consistent routines.
Evolving Independence: Patients emerge from the confusional state when PTA resolves and new memories can be formed. Patients in this stage are no longer confused and are able to recall elements of their day. Despite this improvement, patients continue to demonstrate significant memory impairment. Deficits in higher level cognitive function become apparent at this stage with continued difficulties in reasoning, abstract thinking, problem solving, and attention. Patients are often discharged at this stage, but continue to need intensive outpatient therapy.
Social Competence / Community Re-entry: Once patients are able to resume community activities such as returning to work or school, they have entered this stage. Even though patients have returned to their normal lives substantial modifications in their homes, work, and school environment are necessary to help compensate for lingering deficits.
Types of Therapy Courtney Receives:
Physical Therapy: Focuses on strengthening, coordination, balance increasing leg flexibility, transferring in and our of bed/chair, and walking.
Occupational Therapy: Focuses on improving strength, coordination, and function of the hands and arms. They also help patients re-learn daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, self-feeding, meal preparation, household tasks, and community activities. They work on the cognitive and perceptual components needed to perform functional activities, including attention, memory, problem solving, insight into impairments, safety awareness, and compensatory strategies.
Speech-Language Pathologist: Focuses on problems with speaking, listening, comprehending, reading, and writing. They also work on improving cognitive skills.
I hope this helps!
Love,
Katy
PS - for everyone with Facebook, I'm updating the group "Get Well Soon Courtney" regularly again :)
I thought this information might be helpful - and allow everyone to better understand what is going on with Courtney on a day-to-day basis. I'll post it on the blog too.
Courtney's Brain Injury:
Courtney has suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury. This kind of injury results from an outside force hitting the head. There are two categories of TBI that cause trauma to the brain - Courtney has Diffuse Injury. Also referred to as Difuse Anoxal Injury, this results from the shearing and tensile forces associated with significant acceleration/deceleration trauma (like a car accident). The connecting elements of neurons (called axons) are torn and interrupted, causing widespread loss of connectivity. Immediate unconsciousness is a hallmark clinical feature of Diffuse Axonal Injury. Courtney injured the temporal and parietal lobes of her brain. The temporal lobe is located just above the ears, under the frontal lobe. It is responsible for memory, perception, and ability to understand language. The parietal lobe is located just behind the frontal lobe which is at the front of the head. Its responsibilities include the ability to feel (touch sensation), and the ability to integrate sensation for pain, temperature, and movement.
Courtney's Stages of Recovery:
Recovery from a brain injury is a complex process that depends on numerous variables including site, type, severity of injury, and age, among others. The recovery process can plateau at any stage of the recovery process. if the recovery process is prolonged at one stage, each stage after that will also be prolonged. Courtney is in Braintree Rehab Hospital, which uses its own scale to measure the recovery process. I've marked Courtney's current state with "***"
Unconsciousness
Coma
Wakeful Consciousness (Vegetative State)
Confusional
Minimally Conscious State
Confusional State
Post-Confusional
Evolving Independence
Social Competence / Community Re-entry
Coma: When a person is in a coma, it resembles a deep sleep. Their eyes are closed and they have no recognition of or response to internal or external stimuli. They have no apparent sleep/wake cycles.
Wakeful Unconsciousness: This stage is also called a vegetative state. A patient has emerged into this stage when sleep/wake cycles resume and they begin to show reflexive behaviors such as limb posturing, non-purposeful restless movements, startle to loud sounds, or blinking to visual threat. Patients at this stage are still persistently unresponsive and all movements are reflexive.
***Minimally Conscious State***: When patients begin to show higher brain function they have emerged into MCS. This stage is marked by inconsistency. A person may begin to fixate and track people across the room, or turn their head if they name is called. They may begin to follow simple commands or start using objects in a functional way (like combing their hair). These activities are inconsistent - for example, a person may give a high-five if asked one time, but then be unable to replicate this command.
Confusional State: When patients are able to consistently follow commands and use objects consistently and functionally, they have emerged into a confusional state. The hallmark on the confusional state is memory dysfunction, or post traumatic amnesia. Patients are unable to form new memories and are significantly confused as to month, date, year, where they are, and what happened to them. They will be unable to recall recent events and will be unable to recall information from hour to hour or even minute to minute. These patients also demonstrate very poor attention and concentration, varying to very sedate top highly agitated. In this stage, frustration is common and patients will react accordingly. This is common when patients are confused and unable to make sense of their world. Given these behaviors, it is important to maintain a quiet environment, frequent rest breaks, and develop consistent routines.
Evolving Independence: Patients emerge from the confusional state when PTA resolves and new memories can be formed. Patients in this stage are no longer confused and are able to recall elements of their day. Despite this improvement, patients continue to demonstrate significant memory impairment. Deficits in higher level cognitive function become apparent at this stage with continued difficulties in reasoning, abstract thinking, problem solving, and attention. Patients are often discharged at this stage, but continue to need intensive outpatient therapy.
Social Competence / Community Re-entry: Once patients are able to resume community activities such as returning to work or school, they have entered this stage. Even though patients have returned to their normal lives substantial modifications in their homes, work, and school environment are necessary to help compensate for lingering deficits.
Types of Therapy Courtney Receives:
Physical Therapy: Focuses on strengthening, coordination, balance increasing leg flexibility, transferring in and our of bed/chair, and walking.
Occupational Therapy: Focuses on improving strength, coordination, and function of the hands and arms. They also help patients re-learn daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, self-feeding, meal preparation, household tasks, and community activities. They work on the cognitive and perceptual components needed to perform functional activities, including attention, memory, problem solving, insight into impairments, safety awareness, and compensatory strategies.
Speech-Language Pathologist: Focuses on problems with speaking, listening, comprehending, reading, and writing. They also work on improving cognitive skills.
I hope this helps!
Love,
Katy
PS - for everyone with Facebook, I'm updating the group "Get Well Soon Courtney" regularly again :)
Mom's Update
It's been written frequently that recovering from brain injury is a bit like starting out at birth.
Like an infant, Courtney can not tell us what hurts, what's bothering her, etc. We never know if something's sticking in her, is she scared, is she in pain. We guess, sometimes we're right, sometimes we're not but this is one of the most painful parts of our experience. It certainly is most painful for Courtney.
Courtney understands everything that is said to her. Today the PT, Dan showed her 2 new ornaments sent by friends at SK Town Rec Dept - one is a globe with her name on it, the other the Grinch. He repeatedly had her 'look at the Grinch', then 'look at the globe' - each time she looked at the correct ornament regardless of how many times he switched positions.
Courtney had OT twice and speech/swallow twice today. She had more ice cream vanilla this time and was in the wheel chair twice. Each time we roamed the hallways to change up the view.
Courtney spent a fair amount of time looking out the window at the cars - her eyes moving back and forth across the parking lot taking it all in.
Dr. Hill came in today to change Courtney's trachea - it is a smaller trachea and will allow her more air which makes it easier for her to speak when she is capped. He also looked at her vocal cords and said they are functioning fine. They are hopeful that Courtney will have the trachea removed within the next 2 weeks - that will be a wonderful day for which we can all pray!
I'd like to share a prayer with you that I pieced together from several prayers. As you gather with your families over these next 2 days I hope you will have a moment to think of Courtney and say a prayer for her.
To Jesus Christ, the light of the world, we pray:
To you o Lord, I lift up my soul.
I trust you, let me not be disappointed.
Those who hope in you shall not be disappointed.
In you I hope all day long
because of your goodness, O Lord.
Remember your mercy, Lord
and the love you have shown from of old.
Come and reward your people's hope!
You come as the dawn of the everlasting day;
sustain in courage those who keep vigil through the
long night of suffering.
You come as the sun of justice to drive away the darkness
of death;
sustain in hope and faith the seriously ill and those who watch beside them.
You come as the light of the world;
sustain in joy all those who are called to follow you.
Amen.
and in the words of Tiny Tim: "God Bless us, everyone!"
Like an infant, Courtney can not tell us what hurts, what's bothering her, etc. We never know if something's sticking in her, is she scared, is she in pain. We guess, sometimes we're right, sometimes we're not but this is one of the most painful parts of our experience. It certainly is most painful for Courtney.
Courtney understands everything that is said to her. Today the PT, Dan showed her 2 new ornaments sent by friends at SK Town Rec Dept - one is a globe with her name on it, the other the Grinch. He repeatedly had her 'look at the Grinch', then 'look at the globe' - each time she looked at the correct ornament regardless of how many times he switched positions.
Courtney had OT twice and speech/swallow twice today. She had more ice cream vanilla this time and was in the wheel chair twice. Each time we roamed the hallways to change up the view.
Courtney spent a fair amount of time looking out the window at the cars - her eyes moving back and forth across the parking lot taking it all in.
Dr. Hill came in today to change Courtney's trachea - it is a smaller trachea and will allow her more air which makes it easier for her to speak when she is capped. He also looked at her vocal cords and said they are functioning fine. They are hopeful that Courtney will have the trachea removed within the next 2 weeks - that will be a wonderful day for which we can all pray!
I'd like to share a prayer with you that I pieced together from several prayers. As you gather with your families over these next 2 days I hope you will have a moment to think of Courtney and say a prayer for her.
To Jesus Christ, the light of the world, we pray:
To you o Lord, I lift up my soul.
I trust you, let me not be disappointed.
Those who hope in you shall not be disappointed.
In you I hope all day long
because of your goodness, O Lord.
Remember your mercy, Lord
and the love you have shown from of old.
Come and reward your people's hope!
You come as the dawn of the everlasting day;
sustain in courage those who keep vigil through the
long night of suffering.
You come as the sun of justice to drive away the darkness
of death;
sustain in hope and faith the seriously ill and those who watch beside them.
You come as the light of the world;
sustain in joy all those who are called to follow you.
Amen.
and in the words of Tiny Tim: "God Bless us, everyone!"
Monday, December 22, 2008
Mom's Update
Courtney had a very busy day today and has hardly slept a wink! She is quite exhausted from all the activity.
The morning started with Anu the Occupational Therapist and a bath where Courtney began, with great assistance, doing things for herself.
Next Anu and Kathleen, Courtney's speech therapist worked on stretching - swallowing and following commands. Courtney has 'yes' and 'no' cards so that she can start to communicate what she needs.
Courtney's swallowing is very strong and her coughing is better and better each day.
Today Courtney had blue ice chips - like a snow cone. Kathleen can watch to make sure Courtney isn't ingesting any of the water into her lungs and then coughing up blue.
The highlight of the day was the chocolate ice cream called 'magic'. The ice cream can be used as a meal replacement and has all the nutrients of a healthy meal! Kathleen said patients love it so much they have to take it away so they'll eat regular food!
Courtney had her first 2 very small tastes of chocolate ice cream today. I told Kathleen that Courtney prefers vanilla - so tomorrow she will get vanilla.
Later in the day Courtney was stretched out by PT and then we took her for a ride in her wheel chair. We toured the floor and showed her the atrium with the Christmas tree.
Most important, as her Dad pointed out, we showed her the door that she would some day walk out. He told her to take a good look at the door because that would be the door she would walk out of some day on her way home!
Hopefully Courtney will sleep well tonight after all this activity. She is getting to know her team - those who are not on Christmas vacation - and all the nurses that take very good care of her.
For those of you who know us personally there was a time many years ago when we had a really difficult time. Craig was out of work for almost 2 years to the week, then both of our mothers passed away around Christmas time within a 3 week period. We used to discuss how we got through those difficult days and always believed that God carried us through. We believe that God again is showing his presence in our lives and we are grateful for his mercy.
Craig and I pray that NO family will ever have to go through the Hell that we are now going through. At least with a nightmare you wake up and the moment is gone. Words cannot adequately describe the horror that we live every minute. We are sustained by our Faith in God and our strong daughters and family. For all of you who are parents who read this. please take a moment and hug your children and let them know what you feel in your heart. Let there never be a day when you go to sleep at night angry over something trivial and not express your love to your children.
Life is fleeting, however love is enduring.
Thank you for praying for us.
The morning started with Anu the Occupational Therapist and a bath where Courtney began, with great assistance, doing things for herself.
Next Anu and Kathleen, Courtney's speech therapist worked on stretching - swallowing and following commands. Courtney has 'yes' and 'no' cards so that she can start to communicate what she needs.
Courtney's swallowing is very strong and her coughing is better and better each day.
Today Courtney had blue ice chips - like a snow cone. Kathleen can watch to make sure Courtney isn't ingesting any of the water into her lungs and then coughing up blue.
The highlight of the day was the chocolate ice cream called 'magic'. The ice cream can be used as a meal replacement and has all the nutrients of a healthy meal! Kathleen said patients love it so much they have to take it away so they'll eat regular food!
Courtney had her first 2 very small tastes of chocolate ice cream today. I told Kathleen that Courtney prefers vanilla - so tomorrow she will get vanilla.
Later in the day Courtney was stretched out by PT and then we took her for a ride in her wheel chair. We toured the floor and showed her the atrium with the Christmas tree.
Most important, as her Dad pointed out, we showed her the door that she would some day walk out. He told her to take a good look at the door because that would be the door she would walk out of some day on her way home!
Hopefully Courtney will sleep well tonight after all this activity. She is getting to know her team - those who are not on Christmas vacation - and all the nurses that take very good care of her.
For those of you who know us personally there was a time many years ago when we had a really difficult time. Craig was out of work for almost 2 years to the week, then both of our mothers passed away around Christmas time within a 3 week period. We used to discuss how we got through those difficult days and always believed that God carried us through. We believe that God again is showing his presence in our lives and we are grateful for his mercy.
Craig and I pray that NO family will ever have to go through the Hell that we are now going through. At least with a nightmare you wake up and the moment is gone. Words cannot adequately describe the horror that we live every minute. We are sustained by our Faith in God and our strong daughters and family. For all of you who are parents who read this. please take a moment and hug your children and let them know what you feel in your heart. Let there never be a day when you go to sleep at night angry over something trivial and not express your love to your children.
Life is fleeting, however love is enduring.
Thank you for praying for us.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
from UB
Yes, from now on Uncle Brian will be known as UB, aka Uber Brian, aka Ultra Brian but most importantly known as Uncle Brian to Courtney and my other hundred or so nephews and nieces whom I love very, very much.
I wrote a post this morning and somehow managed to delete it before it was published! DOH! (aka Uncoordinated Brian) Nothing frustrates me more than to put energy, emotion and effort (hey, the three "E"s!) into writing something only to lose it for one silly reason or another. The subject was the "Courtney Crane", a topic I will revisit asap.
One more thing Courtney and I have in common is that I have had pneumonia, too. Unfortunately, Courtney has had it three times now in a very short time period. I came down with pnuemonia around 1996. Other than being a smoker at the time, (no longer thankfully), I was healthy and strong. The best way to describe my condition is to say that pnuemonia dropped my energy level from 100% to about 25%. Walking 20 feet was a task. Other than a huge depletion of energy however, I felt and looked fine. It was deceiving.
So, we all know that I'm not a doctor having been forced to leave medical school in my ninth year to care for orphaned chimpanzees in the Congo. *sigh* (somebody had to do it). Accordingly, don't take anything I say about medicine seriously unless your plan is to sue me later for damages for passing on totally bogus and misleading information disguised as respected and accepted medical advice. Having said that,,,,, :), my thinking is these bouts of pneumonia are similarly draining Court of energy that her body could otherwise be spending on repairing the rest of her.
And while I joke about this, I believe in my heart that this is a real possibility otherwise I wouldn't write it. We pray that Courtney will continue to improve as she leaves pnuemonia in the rear view mirror of her recovery.
I wrote a post this morning and somehow managed to delete it before it was published! DOH! (aka Uncoordinated Brian) Nothing frustrates me more than to put energy, emotion and effort (hey, the three "E"s!) into writing something only to lose it for one silly reason or another. The subject was the "Courtney Crane", a topic I will revisit asap.
One more thing Courtney and I have in common is that I have had pneumonia, too. Unfortunately, Courtney has had it three times now in a very short time period. I came down with pnuemonia around 1996. Other than being a smoker at the time, (no longer thankfully), I was healthy and strong. The best way to describe my condition is to say that pnuemonia dropped my energy level from 100% to about 25%. Walking 20 feet was a task. Other than a huge depletion of energy however, I felt and looked fine. It was deceiving.
So, we all know that I'm not a doctor having been forced to leave medical school in my ninth year to care for orphaned chimpanzees in the Congo. *sigh* (somebody had to do it). Accordingly, don't take anything I say about medicine seriously unless your plan is to sue me later for damages for passing on totally bogus and misleading information disguised as respected and accepted medical advice. Having said that,,,,, :), my thinking is these bouts of pneumonia are similarly draining Court of energy that her body could otherwise be spending on repairing the rest of her.
And while I joke about this, I believe in my heart that this is a real possibility otherwise I wouldn't write it. We pray that Courtney will continue to improve as she leaves pnuemonia in the rear view mirror of her recovery.
Mom and Dad's Update
Over 300 bears have been collected thanks to your generosity.
In a monumental effort, all the bears will find homes between now and Christmas thanks to Nora Mullen and many volunteers who will help to distribute them.
Some of the places where the bears will go include Hasbro, Wom&Infants NICU, Smith St Day Care Center (where Courtney volunteered), Ronald McDonald House and others.
Courtney had another busy day in rehab. OT came in and stretched Courtney out exercising her upper body and testing the strength of her torso and neck. Overall Courtney's posture is good and she has retained good strength in her torso. Her neck is very tight and will be treated with warm compresses and massage to loosen things up.
Later PT came in and stretched legs and feet testing the level of 'tone' or stiffness in her muscles and joints. This will be the focus for the first week here as the team wants to immediately reverse any effects these may have on Courtney to enhance her overall recovery.
Courtney met Dr. Katz today, her neurologist. Dr. Katz did a brief exam and spoke with Courtney and us for sometime. He has a tremendous reputation in this field and is a leading researcher in TBI.
Mary and Dottie once again did an excellent job of taking care of Courtney. Nana sat with Courtney throughout the night and said that she did very well.
Katy and Claudia brought more loose fitting comfy clothes for Courtney today and made a poster of pictures labeled that will help therapists work with Courtney on memorization.
Courtney will learn to use basic signals to let everyone know if she is in pain, sad, upset, etc as soon as possible.
Courtney's room is beautifully decorated with cards, Christmas stuff and of course her teddies.
Today I showed Courtney the advent wreath made by the Murphy's now with all 4 candles 'lit'.
It's hard to believe these 4 weeks of Advent have gone by. The difference between the first time I showed Courtney the wreath and today is significant. She understands so much more and watches everything closely.
Dr. Katz believes these small signs of improvement within the minimally conscious stage are a good indication that she will continue to improve but once again warned us that improvements will take time.
We continue to pray for a speedy recovery but know that God will bring Courtney back to full health in his time. We are so grateful this Christmas that she is with us and know every day that things could be so much different. That our shattered hearts might not ever have had a chance to be pieced together again - but thank God for his mercy. We believe that some day our hearts will be whole again and joyful.
In a monumental effort, all the bears will find homes between now and Christmas thanks to Nora Mullen and many volunteers who will help to distribute them.
Some of the places where the bears will go include Hasbro, Wom&Infants NICU, Smith St Day Care Center (where Courtney volunteered), Ronald McDonald House and others.
Courtney had another busy day in rehab. OT came in and stretched Courtney out exercising her upper body and testing the strength of her torso and neck. Overall Courtney's posture is good and she has retained good strength in her torso. Her neck is very tight and will be treated with warm compresses and massage to loosen things up.
Later PT came in and stretched legs and feet testing the level of 'tone' or stiffness in her muscles and joints. This will be the focus for the first week here as the team wants to immediately reverse any effects these may have on Courtney to enhance her overall recovery.
Courtney met Dr. Katz today, her neurologist. Dr. Katz did a brief exam and spoke with Courtney and us for sometime. He has a tremendous reputation in this field and is a leading researcher in TBI.
Mary and Dottie once again did an excellent job of taking care of Courtney. Nana sat with Courtney throughout the night and said that she did very well.
Katy and Claudia brought more loose fitting comfy clothes for Courtney today and made a poster of pictures labeled that will help therapists work with Courtney on memorization.
Courtney will learn to use basic signals to let everyone know if she is in pain, sad, upset, etc as soon as possible.
Courtney's room is beautifully decorated with cards, Christmas stuff and of course her teddies.
Today I showed Courtney the advent wreath made by the Murphy's now with all 4 candles 'lit'.
It's hard to believe these 4 weeks of Advent have gone by. The difference between the first time I showed Courtney the wreath and today is significant. She understands so much more and watches everything closely.
Dr. Katz believes these small signs of improvement within the minimally conscious stage are a good indication that she will continue to improve but once again warned us that improvements will take time.
We continue to pray for a speedy recovery but know that God will bring Courtney back to full health in his time. We are so grateful this Christmas that she is with us and know every day that things could be so much different. That our shattered hearts might not ever have had a chance to be pieced together again - but thank God for his mercy. We believe that some day our hearts will be whole again and joyful.
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