CaringBridge Journal

Happy Birthday Kate!

Last night went well. Eric decided that Anne was probably in pain. So after some pain meds and the idea to turn on her favorite music… Anne calmed right down and slept without a peep all night. God is good to answer our prayers :-)

Today was Anne’s little sister Kate’s 4th birthday!

The birthday girl :-)

We had a Dora-the-Explorer party at the hospital. Many of my friends pitched-in to help as we explored all the play areas in the hospital. It was great fun.

Dora's map

Kate's cake

My prayer two weeks ago when I started planning Kate’s party was for Anne to be able to participate with us. My vision was Anne riding along in her chair – following the action with her eyes, smiling and talking a little.

That was a lot to hope for two weeks ago… That Sunday (5/16) she was crying most of the day (b/c of too much medicine), her eyes were fixed to the right, and aside from an occasional smile, she was virtually unresponsive.

Today she participated just as I envisioned. She interacted with her friends and I think genuinely enjoyed Kate’s adventure of a party. It was wonderful!

Anne with her friends

Please pray:

  1. For Anne to get stronger both cognitively and physically. Anne has to work hard to answer questions about a picture book and she still can’t sit unassisted. She has a lot of hard work ahead of her.
  2. For us to continue to stay in the present – remaining dependent on God and trusting in His good plan for Anne.
  3. For Anne to have a profound awareness of God’s love and care for her.

Happy Birthday Kate!!!

5-30-2010

 

-kathryn



A day of extremes…

5-29-10

This morning, I’ve never seen Anne look so good! But, this afternoon, Anne started to regress.. We don’t know why. Her left leg started shaking alot and she is unconsolable – extremely fussy.

Poor Eric is staying with her tonight. Please pray that God gives Eric insight into what is troubling Anne – and for God to help them both cope tonight. Pray for rest and peace.

God is worthy to be praised when Anne is good. God is worthy to be praised when she is not so good. He is our Sovereign Lord.

-kathryn

Hope…

Anne has done amazingly well following her surgery on Tuesday. It’s hard to pinpoint specifics – she just seems more herself. She’s talking more, holding her body and head straighter – she seems to have more strength in her legs and her hand is not quite as crazy-acting…

For the first time, it feels safe to hope. I’ve always had hope – but only in God’s good character. Now, God is allowing us to see His healing hand in Anne, and that inspires me to hope for greater things to come.

Our days are not so heavy. The heaviness of her constant crying has been lifted. She’s now pleasant. She uses all of her manners (yes mam / no mam) and even has a sense of humor.

The heaviness of uncertainty has been lifted. God has fulfilled our deepest desires for Anne… allowing light to shine in Anne’s eyes and allowing her to speak. I tell her, “God is helping you to get better and better everyday.” She always responds, “Even today, mommy?” “Even today,” I say :-)

Finally, the heaviness of grief has been lifted. They encourage parents to post pictures of their children on the outside of their doors. After three weeks on the rehab floor, I’ve come to a place where I can look at a picture of Anne (pre-accident) and not grieve. So now her door has lots of pictures :-)

Her door with pictures

Jeremiah 29:11

We still have a long way to go on this journey, but I’m thankful for God’s grace to lighten our load a bit. Anne’s smiles and constant chatter produce in us a profound gratitude for God’s mercy. To God be the glory.

Please continue to pray:

  1. For Anne to pass through this phase of oral fixation. She puts EVERYTHING in her mouth. I know it’s a phase, but I need patience to wait through it :-)
  2. For Anne to continue to get stronger. She still can’t sit unassisted.
  3. For Anne not to be discouraged and to lean on God in a deep way.

So thankful!!! -kathryn

Anne is back in rehab!

5-26-10

She is tolerating the pain well and so far has only needed Tylenol (no morphine).

All of her doctors have said that she is doing GREAT! She’ll rest today and then go back to her full therapy schedule tomorrow.

Anne had a sign above her bed that read, “Bone flap missing on right side.” I can’t tell you how good it felt to TEAR THAT SIGN DOWN! Wee-Hoo!!!!

-kathryn

Anne’s out of surgery

The procedure was very successful. She will be in the ICU for a night or two, then hopefully back to rehab. She is experiencing pain now. She is saying OUCH alot and crying some. She is reaching for what is bothering her on her head – the many, many, many staples holding her scalp together.

Kathryn and i were so worried that she would not be herself for some time after surgery. . . . but she is already talking a little, holding our hands, and opening her eyes wide to watch us!! PRAISE GOD.

The primary nurse during Anne’s iniital stay in ICU is her nurse today – she was amazed at how great Anne looks and was blown away when she heard Anne speak!

Please pray:

  1. that there will be no complications from the surgery – no infections, no issues with the bone replacement, etc.
  2. that she would be able to get back to her rehab schedule tomorrow or the next day 
  3. that she would not be in any pain

-eric

Anne’s in surgery

Little Anne was just taken back for her surgery. The surgery will take approx 2 to 3 hrs.

Please pray:

  1. that there will be no complications from the surgery – no infections, no issues with the bone replacement, no anesthesia complications,
  2. that she would be able to get back to her rehab schedule tomorrow, and
  3. that she would not be in any pain

Surgery tomorrow…

Anne is having a great day …singing along in her music therapy session and riding the bike in her physical therapy session. I think it’s been her best day yet!

Tomorrow is a huge milestone for Anne. She is having surgery to replace the bone flap that was removed the day of the accident. (The neurosurgeon removed a part of her skull to allow for brain swelling and sent the ‘bone flap” to a bone bank for preservation.)

Even though her doctor says this is a simple surgery, and kids usually do great afterwards…. IT’S STILL BRAIN SURGERY :-) But we are excited to get this behind us and get back to rehab.

Please pray that there will be no complications from the surgery (scheduled for Tuesday at 1pm). After one night in the PICU, Anne will be back at rehab on Wednesday. We are so thankful for this next step in Anne’s recovery!

Thank you all! -kathryn

More Conversations…

We’ve been having this conversation alot today…

Me: I love you Anne
Anne: No you don’t (with a smirk on her face)
Me: I most certainly do love you!
Anne (laughing): Well, I don’t love you.
Me: That’s okay. I still love you.
Anne: Actually, I do love you.

Please continue to pray for Anne’s control over her right arm and hand. Her poor hand has a mind of its own – repeating the same movement over and over again. It reminds me of her tremors – which are GONE! So, I’m encouraged to pray through this phase too…

Hoping for a good night with Anne -kathryn

Conversations!

Today was exhilarating and heart-wrenching all at the same time…

I had many conversations with Anne – yes, I said CONVERSATIONS!!!!

Me: “Anne, it’s time to get in your chair.”
Anne: “There is no reason for me to get in my chair.”
Me: “Yes there is. You need to go to your physical therapy session. You need to work really hard and do your best. Ok?”
Anne: “Ok, mama.”

Me: “I know it’s frustrating when you can’t stop your hand, Anne. It’s ok.”
Anne: “IT’S NOT OKAY!!!!!!”
Me: “God has a good plan for you, Anne, and He is helping you to get better.”
Anne: “I AM NOT BETTER!!!!”

Anne: “Mama?”
Me: “Yes, Anne?”
Anne: “Do you really love me?”
Me: “Oh yes Anne. Now more than ever.”

It was an amazing day. But my heart breaks for Anne to see her struggle with her mind and body. Please pray against discouragement and frustration. Pray that Jesus will be close to Anne.

Her largest struggles right now involve control. She can initiate an action with her hand, like scratching her nose, but then she can’t stop it. This is extremely frustrating for her. When’s she frustrated, it’s hard for her to control her words, so she still cries alot.

Sweet Anne has come so far – we are just praying she makes it through these next hurdles. Thank you for praying with us.

On the way home tonight, Canon said, “Mommy, this was the best day of my life!” Amen to that :-)

More grateful than words can express…. -kathryn

Anne SPEAKS!

WOW! This morning while feeding her breakfast, grandmom asked Anne: “why are you leaning to the left in your wheelchair?” Anne responded: “I have no idea”. We all gave her cheers and HOORAYS! She then said it several more times to other questions.

This morning she also said four new words: “Me-Ma”(our name for grandmom), “OK”, “Your name is Canon”, and “Daddy”. Wow, what an amazing answer to prayer!! So many have been praying for her speech!

Then Canon sang the song “5 green and speckled frogs” while laying next to her. Then Anne started saying other words that i couldn’t quite understand.

Her words are still quiet and a little garbled, but they are still WORDS!! Praise God for His healing for Anne!

Keep praying for more speech!!

-eric