April 28, 2007

Christie is still holding her own in critical condition. She has had her cervical collar removed. Has a trach tube to which the ventilator is attached and a feeding tube. She had some swelling deep in the brain in the region of the brain stem, we are forever grateful to the nurse who caught it quickly and notified the doctor and they have started medication and the swelling has been reduced. She did react to painful stimuli yesterday. She did appear to open and close her mouth when people were talking to her yesterday or else she was trying to grit her teeth, not sure. If we have no more major setbacks she will be ready for Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital on Monday they have a long term vent unit.
Josh also remains in critical condition and has had his cervical collar removed and a trach tube and feeding tube. Josh has been having physical therapy and will stand with assistance to keep his leg muscles from deteriorating. He does have random movements but will not follow any commands yet. He has not had any setbacks and if the weekend goes well like Christie will go to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital on Monday..

Appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers and please keep them coming... Mary E Brasfield

****Just an added note:  Mary has fallen and she did break her left fibula. She has a splint on for the weekend and will hopefully get a walking cast on Monday if the swelling is gone. Her right ankle is sprained.  Please keep her covered in prayer.....she really needs to be mobile, and with four kiddos to care for, she did not need this......

April 29, 2007

I spoke with the neurosurgeon this morning here is what I learned form him..

Christie: She is stable and if her CAT Scan looks good tomorrow she will transfer to Madonna Rehab hospital to continue her journey. He feels she will survive with no major setbacks. What quality of life or how much disability we do not know yet but at least it is looking better...

Josh has developed Diabetes Insipidus, this is not uncommon in trauma patients. They have adjusted his medications and if he has good lab results tomorrow he will also go to Madonna Rehab hospital, otherwise he will remain at BRYAN LGH for another day or two until his medications are adjusted and his diabetes is under control. For those unfamiliar with this, the diabetes will not be forever. As the injuries from the trauma heal and medications are no longer needed, this kind of diabetes will go away.

Josh does open his eyes, however he does not focus and will not track- he just stares straight ahead so is not waking up yet. He also will have a lot of rehab when he awakes. Chances of survival is great now unless there is a major set-back.

I go to the Dr. tomorrow and please pray for a walking cast so that I can continue to take care of the grandchildren and visit my kids. I cannot thank everyone enough for the thoughts and prayers...MARY

April 30, 2007

Local TV Station 1011 KOLN, aired a report on the family tonight.  This can be seen HERE

May 1, 2007

Christie:

We are waiting on the insurance to finish her pre-certification and she should go to Madonna tomorrow. When we were in to visit today the nurse was having trouble cleaning Christie's mouth, she had her teeth clamped shut- I was talking to her and asked her if she would open her mouth wide so they could clean and lo and behold she did!! And then after they were done she shut it....I asked again if she could open it so they could suction and she did. Her eyes were open!! She would not or could not squeeze our hands yet; but yet I truly believe she knows mom's voice and is responding to me. We prayed with her and again I told her to rest as long as she needs to, that we would be here when she's ready to wake up.. She also opened her eyes when her dad touched her upper arm... Almost forgot to tell you that....

Josh:

His Diabetes Insipidus is under control he stayed at the hospital one more day to make sure lab values were under control and no more adjustments needed to be made to medications. He also responds very readily to our voices with movements. He opens his eyes but does not focus on items or follow objects. But we are excited with all the movements...

Both of our kids are doing very well and with every little movement brings encouragement and hope. And we are so very grateful for the prayers and thoughts sent our way... GOD BLESS everyone who reads this page and sends up a prayer for us and our family... MARY...

May 2, 2007:

Josh remains about the same today. Lab values still are trending towards normal and that is what we want; not a big jump but a gradual return to normal. He seems to be sitting up straighter in his chair. He was very tired when I saw him this morning; he had just finished therapy so he did not respond as well to me as he had been. He should go to Madonna tomorrow.

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST. THE NURSES THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER CALL......!!!!!

CHRISTIE: When Dr. Kent was in this morning she followed his commands to wiggle her toes, grip with her right hand and when he asked her to blink her eyes she shook her head no. By the time I got to the hospital the nurses had her giving the thumbs up with her left hand. When I was talking to her she would turn her head towards me and smile and she did grip with both hands. We did the left 3 times so the nurses could see. Then I helped the nurses reposition her because she was acting like she was uncomfortable. I asked her if that was better to smile and we got a grin ear to ear....

Dad was in and told her about a butterfly Stephen had made for her and she just lit up and was smiling and moving her mouth like she was trying to talk to us.... I cried like a baby I thought I would never see that beautiful smile again....

OK one smile and one smile to go so please keep the prayers coming.... My leg is fine and of course I probably should be taking it easier. Tonight at 5p.m. channel 8 will be here for an interview KLKN out of Lincoln..

May 4th

Josh did make the journey to Madonna Rehab Hospital on Thursday,  but I did not get to visit him. I know how much paper work etc. goes into a transfer and I did not want to get in the way. I did call this last night around midnight to make sure he tolerated the transfer well and they told me he did.

Josh opens his eyes and does grip their hands; not on command, just when they put their hands in his. He was resting quietly when I called. He is in room 211.

Christie did not make the journey to Madonna yesterday, but she is fine. There seems to be an insurance hang-up and it is perhaps because her pupils are fixed and dilated (even though she is responsive to commands). That is usually not a good prognosis but as we all know Christie is doing very.

Today her doctor. is going to call the insurance company. to let them know how deceiving that phrase is in her assessment. She tried to sit up today on both sides of the bed which the nurses tell me is a good sign she is really waking up. She also positions herself for comfort. She has soft wrist restraints on because she keeps trying to remove the trach tube...

So we are coming along very nicely...

AGAIN KEEP THE PRAYERS COMING AND THANKS FOR ALL THE PRAYERS>>>> MARY E BRASFIELD

Saturday May 5th

Well Josh and Christie are both now at Madonna and getting settled in. This week-end they will both be under going a lot of tests to determine where they are at- strength wise, physically, mentally etc. So we will wait until Monday to visit. I remember all too well from my own rehab experience how very tiring it is, so I will not tire them further and risk a set back...

Christie: Yesterday when the nurse from the hospital called to tell me they were moving her to Madonna, she was so very excited. They had asked Christie how many children she had and she held up 3 fingers; how many boys, 2 fingers; how many girls 1 finger. She sat on the side of the bed for 15 minutes very stable held her head up. We are moving forward... Madonna this morning said she was doing fine. I told them we had been using smiles as an indication of yes in response to questions and they said that was good for them to know. So far everyone has been very kind and supportive.

Josh: He is doing okay; this is day 2 for him at Madonna. The nurse said he appears to occasionally follow commands but not every time. But still, that is good news as it is a step forward. He will open his eyes but still does not appear to be focusing on anything.

Keep praying and thanks for those we have already have received..... MARY

Sunday May 6th

JOSH: They took Josh off the vent yesterday but he is still getting assistance with his breathing. It is a humidified oxygen mask over the trach tube. They are trying it to see how he does. He has tolerated it very well so far. He has been able to sort of give a thumbs up sign and is still sometimes follow commands. He is moving forward but very slowly they said...

CHRISTIE has not been taken off the vent yet because she got there a day later but they said probably today they would try her on a mask also. She is very aware of what they tell her and smiles in response to their comments. When I called I asked them to tell her I loved her and that I did not come over the week end because of all the testing. They said she just gave them a great big smile and raised her eyebrows at them...

The children are going crazy as it has been raining for three days and they are stuck in this little two bedroom house which is not designed for four children... luckily tonight we have graduation for Jackey and Sarah from preschool so that will entertain them for awhile...

I am getting around okay on my walking cast. I go to the doctor tomorrow to see if I have been overdoing it.....GEE,  wonder what the answer will be???? Maybe I will get away with it.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS .....GOD BLESS EVERYONE ..... MARY

Monday May 7th

Well with start off with my doctor visit. It went great I get to keep the walking cast and go back may 30th for hopefully a brace....YEAHHH!!!  HE has no idea what I have been doing with the cast and it sure has not been sitting with my foot propped up. Although the grandkids would have loved it...

Josh continues to do well with the 02 mask over the trach instead of the vent. He is still not consistent with his responses to verbal commands. He now has a wheelchair they sit him in instead of a recliner. He does open his eyes but does not focus on things yet. I talk to him every time I go in and tell him how the kids are doing and now I tell him Christie is in the room next door. I tell him everyone is praying for them and to take as long as he needs to heal; we are there for them as long as they need...Hopefully soon I will have more to tell but right now he is still basically resting most of the time....

Christie: On Sunday afternoon I slipped in for a few minutes and my timing was perfect. They put a valve in her vent line to allow her to talk and her first word was MOM and then she said ok. What a beautiful sound to my ears. The valve was gone this morning it will only be there when the speech therapists work with her.
This morning when I arrived she was sitting up holding her head very straight and they were helping her brush her teeth and then she stuck out her tongue. They asked if she wanted it brushed also and she shook her head yes. Then they gave her a wet washrag and asked of she could wash her mouth and ever so slowly she got it up there and cleaned her mouth very good.

Then came the disappointment of the day. The therapist held up her hand and asked Christie if she could see it and Christie just sat there. They told her to shake her head yes or no. Very slowly she shook her head no and her lips began to quiver as she realized she was supposed to be able to see. They covered each eye and repeated the process all with the same results. They told her not to worry, the eye doctor  would see her on Thursday and they would see what they could do to help her out. But after that she was very sad....

I just hugged her and tried to calm her but she was processing the new information and I am sure... SHE IS SCARED RIGHT NOW.....

Thanks for your prayers...Mary E Brasfield

May 8th

Hi another day and we have some good news and some not so good.

Josh: They report he is mouthing some words today. He is not as alert as yesterday but then that is to be expected....good and not so good days. The bad news for Josh, and it may be temporary, is despite the physical therapy his arms are starting to stiffen up; his muscles are contracting. Of course they are going to continue working with him and will also use braces to attempt to prevent any further loss of muscle mass.

His grip is not as strong but again they continue to work with him on this. Hopefully it is just a minor step backwards and we will soon be traveling forward with this again also..

Christie: She sat on the side of the bed again this morning to brush her teeth and wash her face. She can now lift her left arm above her head.

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS SHE CAN SEE SHADOWS!!!!!!! GOD IS SO GOOD TO US..

She has been smiling a lot today. They downsized her vent and tomorrow she should go to the 02 mask like Josh. We are moving along slowly but moving forward at this time...

Once again thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. Everyone's support has made this journey so much easier...

Mary E Brasfield

May 9th

Hi a little slow today with the update. I spent 2-3 hours with the kids this afternoon. By the time I got home it was time for supper baths and bed so am late getting this out, sorry about that.

Here is the Scoring System they use, so once a week I will update and let everyone know where they have placed Josh and Christie.

OK now that you are bored here is the report...

Josh is a 2-3 this week and today he did seem to recognize us... Don and I visited at different times. When I was talking to Josh and telling him all about the kids, the prayers etc. he kept giving me a thumbs up. Then this evening when Don went to visit he said Josh was moving his lips like he was  trying to talk to him. He looked good today and was up in his chair. Eyes were open and he was focusing on me today.

WOW that was so great after a week when he did not seem to know me... I told him how much we all loved him. Almost forgot,  NO 02.......he is on humidified room air now and so breathing on his own...

Christie: She is off the vent and on room air with a mask also... She was up in a chair today. Indicated she was still worried about her eye sight but I encouraged her to be patient and continue to pray and that lots of others were praying for her also. She smiles from ear to ear when you talk to her. When her dad and sister visited this evening she just gripped her dad's hand very hard and did not want to let go... She smiled a lot even though she was very tired. They placed her at a "4" during her weekly meeting this week.

SO both are off the vent awake and moving forward. According to the literature Madonna gave me, our real journey is about to begin and this may be the toughest part... SO THANKS FOR CONTINUED PRAYER AND SUPPORT.

Mary E Brasfield

May 10th

Well it is late again but we just got home from visiting the kids...

Christie: Well she had an eventful day. I do not know why her hands were unrestrained but she managed to pull out her trach tube. They did have some difficulty putting it back in. Otherwise she was tired.

Did have some smiles and was glad to see us and kept shaking her head no she did not want us to leave.

Josh: He had huge white gloves....(they looked like soft boxing gloves) on to protect his trach tube. He fights the restraints; too bad as he is not as awake as Christie. He did not seem to recognize us tonight although he was wide awake or at least had his eyes wide open.

ACCORDING TO THE HANDOUTS FROM MADONNA OUR JOURNEY IS REALLY BEGINNING NOW... SO OFF WE GO AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING IT WITH US... MARY E BRASFIELD

May 11th

We went to see Josh and Christie again this evening while the grandchildren went to Chuck E Cheese for pizza and games.

Stephen had a triathlon at school today. It is a sports event; actually no winners but it is called a triathlon to encourage them to try everything. The themes for events were based upon books and there were 30 events and it lasted 1 1/2 hours. Stephen participated in 15 events. He did very well.
Sarah and Jackey are doing well and adapting to one another (which may not be the blessing I had hoped for because two who get along can get into a lot of mischief LOL!!!!) But they are both such little dolls and so very loving. Hopefully they will learn to stay out of trouble soon...
Little Joshua is doing great also, he eats like his dad....the first to sit down and the last to leave the table and he does not play either. He means business at meal time!!!

Christie: She was restless this evening and very uncomfortable when we got there so Terry Rae and I rearranged her in bed and fluffed pillows and got her a blanket. When asked if that was better she just gave us a big smile. We have discovered a slight way of communicating with her. Those who know her very well will remember she knew some sign language; well, when we get ready to leave she always signs "I Love you" and gives us a kiss. GLAD SHE CANNOT SEE MY TEARS.

I am so thankful for each step God gives her. Today the nurse said she held up two fingers and asked Christie how many fingers she was holding up. Christie in turn held up two fingers. YEAH!! A little vision coming but pupils are still fixed and dilated. We will continue to pray for improvement and a miracle...
Josh: He was sitting up in bed with head bent far to the side so also kind of rearranged him and fluffed his pillow. Like Christie he just wiggles all the time so the nurses cannot keep up with them unless they stay in the room all the time which of course is not possible.

He did look at us but did not seem to recognize us tonight. So we encouraged him, told him we loved him, and told him that everyone was praying for him and just take his time and heal we were here for him....

Again as always THANK YOU for praying for our family and GOD BLESS everyone.....MARY E BRASFIELD

May 12th

At this point Josh and Christie have not been wheeled into each others room. However every time I visit I tell both of them that the other and Joshua are OK. I do not go into any details just that they are alive. I do tell them Joshua is home with me and the other children. Christie does seem to understand and responds to this news in a positive manner- the big grin; but from Josh I get no response at all.

Christie had a good night last night and is up in her wheelchair today; she is having a good day according to the nurse. I have not been to the hospital yet and may not make it today. Therapy will be there this afternoon to work with her some so she will be tired again this evening. I may try to get there when we go pick up Stephen and Jackey from Terry's house.

Josh: He also had a very good night. The nurse reported however he had a spell of very rapid heart rate and was very restless. They gave him pain medicine and rearranged him several times and finally seemed to get him comfortable.

I visited with the nurse about possibility of it being something Josh was remembering and since he cannot communicate it increased his anxiety level a great deal; he (the nurse) agreed that was very likely so I asked him to reassure Josh that Christie and Joshua were OK... Just in case it was the wreck he was remembering... I do not know but seemed logical to me, and  felt it was worth a try at this point.

My parents are coming tomorrow so we can all go out for lunch and then spend time at Madonna with the kids. This will be the first time my parents have been able to come since Christie and Josh have been out of the coma. They have had doctor appointments  etc. of their own on my dads days off, so I know they are anxious to get here...

Cards would be welcome to both rooms if anyone feels the desire to send them to brighten their rooms.
Madonna Hospital (address below) room 211 for Josh and room 212 for Christie....

Again, cannot thank you enough for the thoughts and prayers on this journey...MARY E BRASFIELD