November 2005 - Posts
I was doing some online window shopping, while at Sharper Image I came across a Shower Alarm Clock. I wonder how many people need to be woke up while they're in the shower. Click Here to see the ad. It even has a snooze and a recorder so you can record yourself sleeping in the shower. LOL
Okay, I have new information about supporting the Ronald McDonald House in Columbia. Some how I got that TV thing all mixed up, anyway the link below is to their Wish List page. If you would like to support Ronald McDonald House and want to provide anything on the list, I'll be happy to take it down there on my next trip.
Click here for the list. Thanks.
Michael is doing a little more each day with his right hand, at this moment Molly is working with him. They work with him on raising it as high as he can, touching his nose, picking things up and putting them down. He's still getting better [:D]
Thanks for your prayers and support and love!
Kirk
Don't forget to include Christ in your Christmas, Jesus Christ that is.
I forgot one thing. Connie asked me if I told everyone about Michael waving good-bye, so I am. As we were walking out of the room, I said "Good-bye Michael, I'll see you on Thursday", I looked back and he was waving to me. A very big wave!
I can remember needing that wave when he was little. I couldn't drive off without seeing him wave good-bye. Well he's not a little boy any more, although he's been treated like one at times, he's very much a grown up young man now. But yesterday's wave good-bye could be the best one ever. I miss him, a lot!
This was a great Thanksgiving weekend! As I've said, some times this is very hard, it's hard to imagine that Michael has to work so hard to accomplish simple things, that for now this is his life. We've worked with thumbs up and one finger for yes, two fingers for no, he's worked on trying to vocalize, he's worked on turning his head to the right, he's worked on following something visually. All these are good but they aren't as good as today.
A couple times I've asked him to reach out and take my hand and he does, he's been moving his hand more and more. His therapist asks him to practice opening and closing his hand when she's not around to get used to it again. I noticed that he had been doing that a lot this weekend. So, today I asked him to reach out and take my hand, and he did. Then I asked him to move his hand over and take hold of the arm of his chair, and he did. So, he has a little stuffed animal that's a bear, the nurses have been giving him that to hold. So I asked him to take the bear from me, he did. Then I sat the bear on his lap, asked him to pick it up and he did, I asked him to set it down on the arm of the chair, well that wasn't a very good thing to ask him and he seemed to know that. If he set it on the arm of the chair it would just fall off, so I asked him to set it down again and he did. This is a huge step, one to be very thankful for. Once we got started on this he didn't want to stop. I kept telling him it was okay to relax, to rest a while, but he kept reaching for things, grabbing my hand or whatever was in his reach.
His other progression is vocalizing, I can't say that I see him getting closer to making words but he just keeps trying and trying. He'll get it and I'll be sure to tell you when he does.
So, I have yet another thing to thank God for as well I thank you for your continued prayer for Michael!
I hope you enjoy today and I hope you take time to be thankful. I know I don't do that enough, but when I do I feel better. I think there is something to that process, something we get inside when we take that time to consider. But it's difficult to do, especially today, today most of us will be rushing around going to this house and that, I think that's great, we should spend time with our families, we should do that more, I know I need to be more thankful of the family that I have. Some time today, in the rush of the day we should stop and be quiet, stop and just consider all we have to be thankful for. We've all heard how we take so much for granted here in this country, we know that. So let's take some time today and not be that way. Let's be thankful for everything we have, as a child of God, a Christian, we are commanded to do this, to consider and remember all he has done for us and we're told to remind our kids of it too.
I'm thankful my son Michael is alive and getting better, I'm thankful I have a loving family, some great friends, a rewarding job. It seems un-thankful to simply mention these things and go on, maybe I'll try to be thankful to the people in my life and to God by loving them more. I hope I will do that beyond today.
I talked to Michael's nurse at Rusk last night and she told me he is making a lot of effort to talk. She said
"I don't think he's actually said a word yet but he's trying. Some times when people first begin to talk again, at first, they will make sounds that sound like words. He is trying"
So, I'm going to start a Videos section, you can get to it by clicking Videos or from the Home page. There's also a discussion area for that, click here to go there.
It was so great...."GREAT" visiting with Mike, he was a little sleepy when we first got there, but seemed very alert shortly thereafter, I can see him there do you know what I mean, I can see our Mike there in his eyes, I can't explain it, but I know he's there, I know he knew we were there, we got lots of one finger up's....he tried to do everything we ask him, we were sitting and standing around his bed, sort of talking to each other, (me Mark, Craig and Christine) I think he was thinking..."Hey!!!"
anyway..he "used his voice" to get our attention and it worked!!!! Can't tell you how much we loved hearing his voice again, so Mark and I got him in his wheelchair, bundled him up in some blankets and we all went out to the court yard for just about 15 minutes, it was a little nippy, so we
didn't want him getting too cold, He gave Craig a "thumb's up" he loved that., by the time we left he seemed like he was sleepy again, but that's ok..can't wait until our next visit, can't wait till he is back with us.
Love you,
Sally
I've been asked a question about Michael so I thought I'd answer it for everyone. Michael can support his own weight in a wheel chair, he's even supported his own weight standing up. The problem is not strength it's control. He is just beginning to work on control in holding his head up and sitting up. One of his therapy exercises is to sit up on a mat. They will sit him up, hold his head and ask him to hold it up. The problem with this is his tendency to turn his head to the left, if nothing is resisting he will turn his head to the left and it will lean over to the left. His head doesn't fall, it just keeps in the left direction. He is making progress in this area though. He holds his head more to the center and looks with his eyes in all directions now. Little bits of progress, slow but it is progress.
If you have a question feel free to ask it in the Comments section, I'll do my best to answer it.
Michael was resting a lot today. He needs that once on a while. He’s getting better at controlling his right hand and has started with his left hand. Today I left him about 10, it was really difficult to leave him. So many questions, so many things that I don’t know, it’s just hard!
Michael has really started concentrating on trying to speak, I’ll admit he hasn’t made a lot of progress, he hums, he pushes air out his lips but he keeps on trying. All day yesterday, and all morning today he was trying to talk. If he’s aware and his thinking is like ours, that has to be frustrating, to try and try and try all day long and not be able to do what you’re trying to do, but he just keeps on trying. I’m told that he’ll get it, he is showing great determination, he’s a real fighter now.
He seemed more aware of me leaving today, he didn’t seem happy about it. It’s easy to read into what “seems” to be, I tried to not do that but it was really hard to leave. I miss him! I look forward to the day when Michael and I can both give our stories. I would love to hear his story!
Thanks…
People have asked me, "How's Michael doing?" Well that's a hard question to answer, I want to hear him say Hi Dad or see him smile, I miss a lot of things about him. It's great that we can communicate, although it is very limited, it is nice to know that he is there, he's alert and aware. I talked to his doctor this morning and he's very pleased with how Michael is doing. That's the real answer I guess. He's getting better with muscular control, he's getting less with tenseness, he answering questions that take some thinking. He's getting stronger, he's responding to the medications that they're giving him very well. I want Michael to be well, restored to be healed, he's on the way toward that. Although I get impatient the doctors are very pleased with his progress.
Michael continues to progress slowly. I'm on my way down to see him this morning, but my mom called me on her way back to tell me that he was holding up 1 finger for Yes and 2 fingers for No. She said that the Speech Therapist asked him if his mom's name is Christine, he held up 1 finger, she asked him if his dad's name is Kirk, he held up 1 finger, then she asked him if his name was Paul, either he held up 1 finger or didn't hold up any to that question. As soon as I can I'll report back what I see when I get down there.
Of course this is great, awesome, amazing news!! Thank you again and again Lord for saving Michael, for bringing him this far, for continuing to heal him and restore him.
I want to give a note of thanks to people I work for. Ken and Kathy O'Renick have been so helpful and supportive to me through this, I can only imagine what this situation would be like if I were working somewhere else. It's definitely an extra to work for people who demonstrate real Christ-like values! Thank you!
Hey Connie, if you're reading this, I miss you and Love you very much! Well, even if you're not reading this, I still do.
I want to put in a plug for Ronald McDonald house. I stayed there a couple nights last week and this organization does a great service. When a family has a child in the hospital it's a stressful thing, when the hospital is miles and miles away there is a lot more stress added. The expense of gas, food and lodging will quickly add up, when you add to that the fact that one ore more parents is probably losing a good portion of their income, there can easily be another financial problem in addition to the medical bills. Ronald McDonald house does a good service while taking part of this financial load away. A very nice and helpful volunteer told me the house is always in financial need.
The House in Columbia is a very well kept place, has all needed amenities. There's an area for kids to play in, an entertainment area for families and kids, a nicely equipped kitchen and nice rooms. The MU fraternities and sororities along with other groups provide dinner on a regular basis. This seems to me to be a real class organization, worthy of our financial support. As well if your part of a group that would like to prepare dinner or help in another way they can use the help.
If you're from Rusk or Research and would like to leave a comment for or about Michael I've created a section in Community for that. It's my plan for Michael to personally come and thank you for all you've done for him.
Today, Michael got Bowtox injections in his left arm and right ankel. He should be more relaxed with this and be able to improve faster in his physical therapy.
I appreciate your prayers for Michael and my family!!
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Michael has been communicating with us by closing his eyes for a yes. It isn't easy for him to do this but it's clear to me that he is. One of the big hurdles I've been looking for him to cross is visual tracking. Only recently has he begun to track visually, now he will follow me with his eyes, he'll look at me when I ask him to. When someone comes to his right side he will momentarily look at them. It seems like he's looking up at the TV when it's on. Last night I noticed him looking with his eyes to the right, this is also something new for him. This morning before I left I went by to see him, his head was actually turned to the right a little bit, this is a huge change. I've heard different reasons for why, but for the most part Michael has his head turned pretty tight to the left, when he's tense it's eve more.
Tomorrow he's going to get some Bowtox injections in his left arm, this should help him relax that arm and make his therapy easier and more successful. A lot of the time he's relaxed but there are still times when he is "Storming" and everything gets tense. Storming is what they call it when his brain is stimulated a little too much. He breaks into a sweat, some times he is soaked from head to toe, his heart races, he has a very tense, maybe scared expression. Dr. Rupright said that as he increases in consciousness the tenseness and storming will increase, at times.
Thanks for the kind words, but be sure, God is my strength! Every time I start to pull this away from him, which is fairly often, I immediately begin to fall, it's too much for me, but it's easy for him.
Philippians 4:19-20
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Today was a busy day! Michael had a CT scan this morning physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy plus I have been testing him all day long. Right now 3 Nurses are giving him a shower. I'm sure he is totally embarrassed.
Michael made some progress today as well, this morning I asked him to give me a thumbs up he did it very quickly so I asked him if he could open his hand, which he did as well. Throughout the day I asked him to open and close his hand many times, he responded each time. He's doing better in speech therapy as well, he's showing a lot improvement on controlling his mouth. It is obviously hard but he does a good job.
Today was a really good day. It seems all through this that God gives me days like this just when I need them. I give thanks and praise for it all.
I believe Michael will be a stronger young man through this. He has to fight and push much more than he ever could have had to before.
Thank you for checking on Michael!
Here is sit in Columbia, at a Panera, checking on the website, missing Connie and working, yeah working. it still amazes me that I can connect to work from anywhere in the world. But, you want to know about Michael... Well he's doing pretty good. I was commenting to Connie yesterday that I didn't get a lot of information from Nurses over the phone, she said, "What do you want them to say?" I said, "I want them to say, you're son was just asking about you, he wants to talk to you". Yeah, that's what I want, we aren't there yet, I miss talking to him, but we'll get there. Ok, I have to be careful, I can't start crying sitting here at a laptop in Panera.
We've been told again and again that Michael's progression will be noticed in months, not days. He's doing better than that, so far it can be noticed in weeks. 2 Weeks ago he was breathing with a oxygen tube connected to his throat, his eyes were open at times but he didn't "look" at anything, the only thing he did with his mouth was grind his teeth. Today he's breathing just like you and I do, although some times he's' noisy, he looks at everyone that gets close to him, he tracks pretty good on the left side and if he will regularly open his mouth and stick out his tongue. There are other things he's doing, simply put he is aware of what's going on around him and he will, most of the time, at least try to follow commands. How many teenagers follow commands all the time.
I am thankful for how good he's doing, I wish he were able to talk to me, to go for a walk or play a game of Halo, but I'm thankful he's here, he's responding to us, God is continuing to work in his plan in Michael's life.
I just got word from Christine that Michael's trache was removed this morning!!! He's moving along very well! No more tube stuck in his throat, no more suctioning! Ya Hooo!!!
Thank you God
If you're confused about the changes that seem so fast in Michael, well I am too. It seems that there is a complete different outlook on him now. Again I don't want to even imply anything wrong with his care up to now, it's just different. Before, we were like standing there waiting for him to come to us to see what he is capable of doing, wondering if he is even aware of our presence. Now, none of that is even considered, now we're going to him, trying to help him. In the process we've found that he's probably been aware a lot of the time, it is just difficult for him to control anything. That's where the whole approach is now, to help him control his body, to rehabilitate his muscle control and we're starting at ground zero.
We are seeing progress, everything is difficult for him but he is following voice commands. He doesn't always do just what he's asked to do, but he didn't always do just what he was asked to do before either... Michelle Ridnour described Michael very well, see her post in the Community area.
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Michael got to go outside, in fresh air, he's wearing normal clothes - no hospital gown!! Great day!!!!!!!!!
It was really nice to see him dressed and sitting in a chair, he was in a gym with 20 or 30 other rehab patients, all struggling with things that most of us will never understand. I see lots of courage, lots of determination. There are so many things that we take for granted. Most of us don't have to give a first thought let a lone a second one, when we begin to talk. We don't have to think about it, it just happens. When we reach out to shake someone's hand or take our next step or swallow a little bit of water, we just do it. Imagine if you had to conciously think about every single thing you do, then add to it, that when you think you want to do any one of those things, it takes tremendous focus and determination. I'm sure the stress is more than most of us can imagine and they have to deal with it from the moment they wake up to the moment they go to sleep every single day.
So, Michael has a long hard road ahead of him. I believe he's up for the task.
Can you see the little red dot under his chin? That is a cap for the trache! The first day he went 4 hours with it capped, doctors and nurses were pretty impressed. The second day he went 12 hours, he's already jumped the trache hurdle, it will be just a matter of scheduling before it's removed. The next step like this one will be the feeding tube, I am confident he'll take that one the same way.
Meanwhile he is progressing with control and function. For Michael, just as it is with those around him, nothing is easy. He is progressing! He has to think and try hard to look in one direction, to open his mouth or lift up a finger, but he is doing these things. He is just getting started but he is doing well. Next week should be an exciting one!
In the Community section I've set up a couple Forums where you can leave a comment to Michael. There are sections for Friends and Family, Church and Medical/Rehab so far. If someone has an idea for a different section let me know.
Feel free to leave a comment saying something to Michael, how you know him or something you know about him. Remember ... and this is something Michael said often... WWW stands for the World Wide Web :)
Kirk
I will be working on this site every chance I get, so if it isn't available or something doesn't look right, try again in a few minutes. Sorry for the inconvenience but I don't have a lot of time to mess with it. It's been a while since I've done this, the technology changes every 10 minutes so I have to figure some of this out as I go. Please be patient with me.
Connie and I have mixed feelings right now. I'm sure Christine does too. Michael is a long ways away, but I know at this moment he's sitting up, in a wheelchair. Tomorrow he might actually go outside. That gives me chills!!! Today for the most part will be spent with Therapist planning his rehab, his goals, schedules, things like that. At the same time they have a plan to remove his trachea, his urinary catheter is gone.. (I'm sure he'll love me telling that to the WWW hehehe) For the time being he will still get food through a tube, but he will get it a normal human type intervals not all day and all night long. All of this is very good news to me!! I thank God, again and again and again.
Some interesting things.. Michael's Brain Injury Specialist Doctor said that he is NOT in a coma. Hang on this can be very confusing, some say he is, some say he isn't. Medicine is a lot like theology.... His Doctor said that no one is in a coma more than about 3 weeks, after that time they either die, move toward a vegetative state or move toward increasing consciousness. Michael is moving toward an increase in consciousness. During the doctors examination Michael followed verbal commands, he squeezed both of his hands - 3 times and followed him with his eyes. This is also good news!! Now, he's not ready to come home yet :-) he has a long hard road ahead. We were told that Michael would be recovering for years. That could sound good or bad. It sounds like a long time but then again as we go along we have to remember that he will continue to get better and better for years, not stop after a few months.
God is good! Thanks for you continued prayer, love and support!!
I just got back from Columbia, Michael is a long way out of my reach. I expected to be down tonight, I expected it to be the worst night of my life. Well it isn't, I have to say I feel better than I have in 70 days. The thing which I expected to be the worst possible is what God has used to give me the most encouragement. The Rehab hospital is encouraging, the doctors are encouraging, the program is encouraging. I am glad we took him to Columbia! Their plan is to get Michael up and going and they build their care around that plan.
I will use the words my brother in law gave me.... Cautiously Optimistic.
During this whole situation I have tried to get a greater understanding of prayer. Partially that means just what I say it does and partially it means that I've wanted find out how to get God to give me what I want. It's real easy to let go of trying to get a greater understanding and move to only to talking God into I want. I must daily remind myself that God's will comes before mine, that his plan with Michael didn't start August 24th, that he is in control. He loves Michael more than I can. I must daily give Michael to him and daily submit myself to him. If I don't do this daily, before the week is up I'll be back to trying to convince God that my way of thinking is right. It is hard to understand how God wants to hear our requests but more than that he wants us to submit to him, to love him and trust him.
Eph 3:20-21
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Today is a big day! I don't want to be over dramatic, as it is easy to do when writing something, but today is a huge day for me. I'm not scared or worried about it but I have considered it and I know it will be very difficult.
I'm not the first parent to leave their son in a city that's miles away, many parents see their kids go off to college, move out of town or leave the country. I didn't expect to be doing this with Michael just yet, he's just 16, I thought he would be with me a little bit longer, but I'm not the first parent to have this happen so suddenly either. At this point I have a greater respect for parents that see their kids off, it is a difficult thing to do. I know some of the situations would be much happier but in the end, when we start the drive home, leaving our son or daughter in someone else's hands... completely, well, it could be the most difficult thing we have to do. I've been saying all through this that I submit to God, that Michael is in his hands, that I trust God, now that is much more real.
God was in Michael's life... and in this situation... long before 69 days ago, he has been with him when I haven't been there, and he'll be with him tonight and tomorrow when I can't be there. I have been given the wonderful responsibility to train and take care of Michael for a short time, I don't think that job is done, but at this point God has taken it to himself personally. Well, I guess it has always been that way...
This is another step in the path that God has for Michael, God is in control, in this case he took control. In the book of Philippians there is a statement made showing us that God completes what he starts in our life.As a Christian, a believer, a child of God, we begin a path the day we accept what Jesus Christ did for us. That path actually starts before that point as God is drawing us to him, but at that moment, when we accept Jesus Christ a new life begins and God promises to complete what he starts.
Philippians 1:3-6
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: