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!"