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May 31st
Hello everyone another sunny day here and
the mud is drying up. The children went with grandpa to the park to play
today. Stephen had a tee-ball game last night. The girls love that because
there is always a park area close to the ball park where they can play.
Christie: She was up in her wheelchair today just finishing
physical therapy when I got there. She was tired and talked about going
all around the gym. Said her legs were tired and she felt as if she would
never get her strength all back. Encouraged her to be patient and that she
was doing a good job. She then went to speech and they were giving her
regular water to drink to see how she would handle it...she did fine. She
was also telling one of the LPN's about being an army wife, and of course
some of what she was saying was a bit turned around but that's ok, she was
pulling things out of the memory bank and that's wonderful and answers to
our prayers.
Josh: He was not as responsive today as he has been the last few
days. He did make good eye contact but would not give me a thumbs up or
follow any commands. He seemed to be very tired although he had not had
any therapy at the time I was there. Prayerfully it is just an off day
which is bound to happen now and again. We have been moving forward
steadily and getting a good response every day so today he was just a
little off; tomorrow he will be back to thumbs up and all I hope and pray.
Well that's all the news for today, Thanks for your prayers and support.
Again I cannot thank you enough for taking the Journey with us..... Mary E
Brasfield
May 30th
Good evening everyone. At last the lovely
purple cast is gone and I now have an air brace for the next three weeks.
I find walking is a bit strange without the support of the cast.
Prayerfully it will get easier over the next couple of days.
Christie: She had her CAT Scan today and we should have those
results back in the next couple of days. She was in a very good mood today
and very talkative. She met and visited with the people from Quality
living which is the facility in Omaha. This will be the next stop in her
rehabilitation. She just astonishes everyone with her manners she always
says thank-you and please and calls everyone ma'am or sir, but of course
her gender is not always correct.
Josh: They had his weekly review today and he has moved up on the
Rancho
Scale from the 2-3 to a 3-4, which is wonderful news and prayers
answered. They are talking with the doctor about removing the trach and we
are waiting for his answer. He is really doing a good job at this time of
tracking everyone with his eyes. He focuses better on those he knows but
follows anyone when familiar faces are not available, according to the
staff. Pray for his progress to continue so prayerfully he can move
downstairs and then soon join Christie in Omaha...
Once again I cannot begin to thank everyone for their support and prayers
during this difficult time in our lives. Hope you continue to take the
journey with us... Mary E Brasfield
May 29th
Well the long awaited for day is almost here.
Tomorrow I get this lovely purple cast removed. True, the doctor did say I
would still have to wear a brace for awhile but at least I can remove it
at night to sleep. The children did get to go outside and play for awhile
today although it involved scrubbing four pairs of shoes. It was still
pretty muddy out and despite being told to stay out of the mud, they
somehow found lots of it. But they had a good time and got some sunshine
which they did need.
Christie: She will have her CAT Scan done early tomorrow morning.
The insurance company did not call back their approval until today so they
had to change the date. She is doing very well. She was very talkative
today when we were there but really wanted to come home with me and it was
kind of difficult to convince her why she needed to stay. They do think
she will finish her treatment with them by July 3rd and be ready to go to
the place in Omaha. She will be there anywhere from two weeks to six
months, depending on how she progresses through the program. So she could
be home by the end of July.
Josh: He had just finished therapy when we got to his room today.
He was making good eye contact today, but we could tell he was tired. He
would not give me a thumbs up at all. I held his hand but did not get a
grip back from him today. But I realize it was probably due to the fact
that he was tired from his therapy. The therapist said he still could not
pick his head up and hold it up by himself. Upper body strength is still
an issue. He did however manage to get his foot into a sock when the
therapist held a sock open for him. So we will continue to pray and
encourage him with the use of his arms and using his neck muscles.
A little personal note: As a lot of you know we live in a two
bedroom/one bathroom, home which is a little crowded with the four
grandchildren; much less when it is time for Josh and Christie to come
home. My sister mentioned
Extreme-Home Makeover and lots of other people have written to them
also on our behalf. However a local guardian angel named Kyla Jurgena,
does not think we have time to wait for them so she is attempting to make
a Lincoln/Firth style home makeover happen. She has contacted a local
contractor to see if they can find a lot and design a simple functional
home for my growing family.. That way the home will accommodate the needs
of Josh and Christie and yet have room for the grandchildren as well. So
if anyone has wondered what we are going to use the donation accounts for
as of this time I am not spending any of that money I am leaving it all in
the accounts to help with the housing project should my angel be able to
get this put together. Please pray for this project for us also, I want my
children to be able to come home with us when the time comes....
Again thank you for taking this journey with us, thanks for your thoughts
and prayers and continued support. This journey would have been so very
much harder without all the prayer support which has lightened my load.
Mary E Brasfield
May 28th
Hi everyone, hope everyone has had a safe
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND>>>>
Christie: She has had a very good day today. She is doing very well
at transferring with assistance from her bed to the wheelchair They said
she is doing better all the time. She does of course need to be reminded
to feel for the bed or chair, depending on which way she is going. She was
telling them she was hungry about 20 minutes before time for her bolus
feeding which is a good thing. This means she is feeling hunger
pains and her system is starting to do what it is supposed to at this
time. She is just so polite and anxious to please everyone...it is
wonderful to hear her voice and I hate to leave when it is time to go.
When she starts to get tired she tells us good-night and closes her eyes.
That is our cue that she is getting tired and time for us to leave.
Josh: The nurses told us he was awake most of the day. He does very
well at making and keeping eye contact with me. Of course I now try to
stay very close to his mouth so if he does say something I do not miss it.
I tell him what the kids have been up to and all the new names I have seen
on the web site, etc. The same as I do for Christie even though he does
not verbally respond I feel he needs to hear all the news everyday just
like she does. Of course I have done this for both of them since the
beginning and am not about to stop now.
Thank you for your prayers and taking this journey with us.... MARY E
BRASFIELD
May 27th
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND TO ALL!!!!
First off I need to correct and apologize to my dear friend Bill CICHOKE.
I did not spell his name correctly yesterday even though I knew better....
I hope he can forgive me...
Today my parents came to visit from Plattsmouth, Helen and Larry Hetzler.
We went to see Josh and Christie.
Christie was in her net bed but very talkative. She just held onto
her grandma's hand and kept telling her how much she loved her. She also
was glad to have her grandpa visit with her. When he asked her if she knew
who he was her reply was immediate. Yes sir, you are my grandpa. After
visiting for awhile she told us good-night indicating she was tired and
ready to rest for awhile. so we went upstairs to see Josh.
Josh: He was awake when we went in the room and he immediately
looked towards me. I told him hello and began talking to him. We were all
visiting with him. He was again moving his right leg a lot; his foot
mostly against his left leg. I began massaging his right foot and it
seemed to soothe him a lot; then I found some lotion and rubbed it into
his foot because his skin was very dry. Bill Cichoke called and visited
with Josh on the speaker phone and he did follow our commands and interact
with Bill and I. It was so great. Of course I had the advantage because I
could see Josh but am so grateful to Bill and for all of his help in
talking and interacting with me and with Josh. Seems as if Josh enjoys the
banter we give him and all of us being family. He was beginning to get
tired so we all said good-bye and let him take a nap.
Once again I can never thank everyone nearly enough for all of the
thoughts and prayers that have helped our children get this far. Please
continue to pray and keep us in your thoughts. Thank you for taking this
journey with us and I hope you continue to the end because I think we are
going to have such a miraculous ending that no one is going to believe
it.....
hanks and GOD BLESS MARY E BRASFIELD
May 26th
Just got back from visiting the kids, Josh
and Christie. Aunt Juanita, Anita Sue, her husband Danny and her son James
came to visit from Plattsmouth today. We also took the children to visit
again.
Christie: She was just waking up so was slightly confused but yet
very glad to see everyone. She was in her net bed so the kids blew her
kisses and took turns talking to her. She was very talkative. After we had
all left she told her dad how hungry she was so it is working only giving
her boluses of her feeding tube to make her system start feeling hungry
and full again. She also was telling her dad that her eyes were very
blurry tonight so maybe something is going on there also. Prayerfully it
is only edema, swelling, and it is going down...
JOSH: Well today he has the big news and we have been waiting for
some big news for him. He was in bed and his eyes did make contact with
all of the children and also his niece Jackey as they talked, but the
really exciting news comes when it was Joshua's turn. I was holding him at
first but he kept trying to pull my top off, so my cousin Anita took him
and leaned way over the bed. I was at Josh's head and it certainly sounded
like he said "Joshua", and from that moment on that is where his eyes were
glued. He brought both arms up as if trying to hug him and was lifting his
head up off the pillow a little bit. Both legs were moving slightly, I was
talking to him and calming him down, telling him Joshua was okay and had
not been hurt. They had done everything right and Joshua was not hurt in
the accident. It was so wonderful he just kept trying to talk to us but
could not understand anything else he was trying to say.
GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!!!! So please,
keep praying!!!
Well once again thanks for all the prayers, for taking this journey with
us... Mary E Brasfield
May 21st - 25th
The kids had plenty of company this week
which I believe has done both of them good. Josh's step-dad Bill Chicoke
was here all week and visited with them every day.....not as much time as
we would have liked but he also spent a lot of time with the
grand-children, which they all loved very much. Then Brother Ken Goode
from Teaselville Texas came in Tuesday morning and left on Thursday
morning. We are so very grateful to them both for the visit, the prayers
and their presence this week.
Christie moved to the TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) unit on Monday
afternoon. She is now in room 134. There she has a new bed that is called
a "net bed". It is designed so she will not be able to get out of bed and
hurt herself. She has seen the eye doctor, and he has ordered a CT
of the eye orbits and optical nerves. We are still waiting and praying for
good news regarding her eye-sight. She has had a very good week and is
also being trained to feel full or hungry. That means the tube feeding
does not run all the time. They give her boluses every so many hours just
as if she were eating a meal and then she also eats yogurt, applesauce,
drinks nectar etc.
Josh has had a very good week. He looks at us and really locks his
eyes with ours. One day with Brother Ken was in the room his foot was hung
between the foot pedals of the wheelchair. I noticed and removed it and
kind of rubbed it a little and of course talking to him about it while I
was fixing it. After I was done low and behold he pointed to the foot and
gave me a thumbs up! We could not believe it! Apparently it had been
bothering him and he just could not tell anyone and was glad that I had
noticed.
I am sure he will think I am completely crazy
by the time he is well, I just hug and kiss him and call him my soldier.
Did shave him again and clip his nails, which he tolerated better this
time than last. He is holding his head up much better although does still
need encouragement sometimes. Bill was a great help with Josh as was
Brother Ken. They both think so much of Josh and he of them...... I am
sure he was glad to hear another voice besides mine and Don's.
Well I am sure I forgot some things that normally I would have included if
done on a daily basis and I am sorry....I did intend to send a little one
every day but time got away from me this week...
Thanks for the prayers and traveling with us....Mary E Brasfield
May 20, 2007
Good day to all! Went to see Christie and Josh
this morning and both were doing fine.
Christie: When I went into her room I called out "Good-morning
Sissy Dawn" and she replied "Good morning mommy."
I asked her what she was doing.......she said "Just relaxing, why don't
you come and relax with me?" I said I would and pulled up a chair and sat
right beside her bed. She actually carried on a very clear conversation
this morning. Only ran off course a couple of times. She recognized who
the girls were when I told her that Jackey and Sarah had pulled the onions
out of my garden on Saturday and made mud soup with them. She then told
the aide in the room that I had 4 wonderful grandchildren and 3 of them
were her children....She was very helpful when they were getting her up
and positioned in the wheelchair.. Very good mood and talking a lot...
Josh: He was awake and following everyone with his eyes but did not
appear to recognize anyone. They said he is making noises over the trach
tube. SO LOTS AND LOTS of prayers for moving forward for JOSH.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers and taking the journey with us.
Mary E Brasfield
May 18th
HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE...today is a rather warm
day...
Christie: She has had a good day. Her trach is gone and she is now
in room 220.....still on the same floor but since she moves around in the
bed so much they moved her closer to the nurse's station to keep a closer
eye on her. This is to prevent any accidents. She should still move to the
new floor next week sometime. She is talking very plain, however
sometimes she still has trouble with her words. I hope when she is
recovered she finds some of the things I share cute, Like today; I asked
her what her husband's name is and she replied "you mean my spouse?" and I
said yes. She said "I do not have one, I live with a French nerd." I said
"really?". Her reply was "yes, you know that mom..". Then when they
brought Josh into her new room I told her Josh, her husband, was
there. She said "really?" I said yes and she said okay, but reached for
him.... Dad was F today she called me mom but my name was C. Most things
today related to a letter of the alphabet.
Josh: He was having physical therapy when I got to his room. The
left arm was not as stiff and likewise the muscle had less tone or
rigidity in it, which is good. They had it almost straight and Josh was
not fighting them to curl it back up. He did look at me when I kind of
squatted in front of him but did not show signs of recognition.
When we left Josh was sitting beside Christie's bed in his wheelchair.
I had put a Christian CD in the player we had taken up to her. She
verbalized she liked it and Josh relaxed his head back on the wheelchair
instead of down on his chest. So the music therapy seemed to calm both of
them and they were together.
Thank you for the thoughts and prayers and GOD BLESS EVERYONE ON THIS
JOURNEY WITH US.
Oh I almost forgot thank you to the CRIMS for the lovely cards, the kids
got them today and I read them to both of them...
May 17th
Christie: She was really in a talkative mood today. She is doing so
very good of course at times words get mixed up but that is okay, it will
get better as time goes on. She went to physical therapy while we were
there and walked twelve feet with assistance. She also ate some applesauce
and drank apricot nectar with little assist; mostly verbal cues as to
where things were located. She is going to get the trach out maybe
tomorrow...they would like to wait until Monday but since she is taking it
out herself 3-4 times a day the danger of injury from putting it back in
is greater than the risk of taking it out at this time. They are also
planning on removing the catheter for the same reason. She has not tried
taking it out yet but with the trach gone fear it may be next and it would
cause some damage... She should transfer to the TBI (traumatic brain
injury) unit next Tuesday or Wednesday, as she is ready they feel. She is
making very good progress and doing well.
Josh: Is about the same. His preferred position for his head is
with his chin on his chest. We have to hold his head up when we are
talking to him. When we were all in his room and Christie beside him they
told him several times it was Christie to squeeze her hand, he did not
respond. Christie was talking to him telling him Joshie I love you and
rubbing his hand but no response from him. She did start to cry but did
not want to leave his room. When we were leaving Terry Rae stood directly
in his line of vision and waved good-bye and he lifted his right hand and
wiggled his fingers at her. Wondering if Christie's haircut has him
confused? The girls do look a lot alike... Just a thought time will tell.
Maybe he will wave again tomorrow if so Terry Rae may have her work cut
out for her for awhile until Josh is more awake...
Got to meet the kind lady last night who held Joshua after he was rescued
from the wreck by an another man and she stood on Christies side of the
truck and talked to her to reassure her that the baby was ok and help was
on the way. Christie was not awake at that time but she said she kept
talking to her anyway... My heartfelt thanks go out to her for her
kindness to my daughter and grandson at their time of need. Maybe I will
find out who was on Josh's side also and be able to personally thank them.
She also told how very wonderful all the police and rescue crew were at
being efficient and caring for my children and while doing so also
protecting their dignity. My heartfelt thanks go out to them also.
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers during this journey... MARY E
BRASFIELD
May 16th
Hi everyone....
Well today was a rainy day here so the children were all disappointed. The
girls and Joshua had a picnic planned at the park with friends which had
to be postponed. Stephen had T-ball practice which also had to be
canceled. His first game is Saturday morning and he is so excited. I can
go as long as I do not yell for him, how funny.
Christie was tired when we were in today as she had just finished
therapy. However when I called just awhile ago to check on them they said
she had been a "chatty Cathy" all evening.....so she is talking more. They
were going to start keeping her trach capped at night and maybe remove it
next week if she is doing okay. They said she is removing it so much on
her own that it would really be safer if they could take it out.
Josh is about the same; he will follow people with his eyes, but
not really with any sign of recognition. They are talking about casting
his arms to prevent any further contractions in them and reverse what has
started. They will straighten them back out slowly changing the cast every
2-3 days. In the end he will have a cast that is called a bi-valve. It is
split and held together with Velcro. so it will be like a brace to help
keep his arms from curling up...
About all the news from here, again thanks for all the prayers. MARY E
BRASFIELD
May 15th
Good evening to all. I know everyone is ready
for this update but also today was the team's meeting so I will give you
their update first...
Christie: They still listed her as 4 on the Rancho Scale but felt
maybe not as strong as last week. Now that she is speaking a little more
we are discovering maybe some of her nods of the head may have been lucky
guesses. She has lost sixteen pounds in the last week so they are also
concerned about that and they are consulting the dietitian.
Josh: This week he was more of a 2 than 3 on the Rancho Scale. He
also was losing weight and of course he has none to spare so they were
increasing his tube feedings.
Tomorrow (May 16th) is the family meeting with all the therapists and
family, so we will see what all is in store, and what plans they have for
the next few weeks for both of the kids.
Now for what I am sure everyone wants to hear about the children's first
visit.
They were all cautioned to not cry or climb on either of their parents due
to the feeding tubes etc.
Stephen went back first and Christie thought his name was Shanee? and that
he was 13. At that time she thought I was a friend and was glad I had
brought him to see her. Stephen handled it very well. He told her he was
going to have T-ball practice and a game Saturday and to take her time and
get well and he would be waiting for her at grandma's house. He laid his
hand on her arm and then told her he would see her later. Then on to see
Josh. He did make eye contact with Stephen and again Stephen talked about
his T-ball and for his dad to take his time and get well that everything
was going well at Grandma's. He then hugged his dad and we left.
Jackey was next and she saw Uncle Josh first and she told him to take his
time and get well everything was okay at home and we were there for
them... Then on to her aunt Christie's room. She was excited to see her
Aunt Christie and here her voice. Christie did not know who she was but
when Jackey told her she missed talking to her on the phone and for her to
take her time and get well. Christie told her she would and smiled at her.
This time Christie said she did not know who I was.
Sarah was next and she was so good. She talked to her dad and told him to
take his time; again, as with all of the children, he made eye contact
with her. She laid her hand on his arm and visited with him about how she
was staying with Grandma and would be there until he got all better and
for him to take his time. Then on to mom's room.... Christie thought Sarah
was Joshua which made Sarah smile and this time Christie did know I was
Mom. Sarah again told Christie to take her time and get better that
everything was okay at grandma's house. She told her she had gone to Chuck
E Cheese and got a doll with her coupons. Then I picked Sarah up and she
kissed Christies cheek and they hugged each other.
I asked Christie if she was okay and she smiled and said yes. I told her
okay, there was one more if she was up to it and she said yes. So I went
to get Joshua- well the little guy did not want anything to do with his
dad he was very frightened. Josh did make eye contact with him. I told him
I was holding Joshua and got down as close as I could without Joshua
climbing over my shoulder.
Then on to Christie's room I tried to get him
to say "mama" and of course he would not. Christie shook her head no and
said he couldn't say mama. I told her he ran around our house saying it
all the time. This time she said I was Mrs. Smith, her Aunt Dorothy's
neighbor. How strange because Aunt Dorothy died in '94 or '95 and I did
not know any of her neighbor's names.
Then I reassured Christie it was okay, that names were confused right now
because I remember from my spinal cord stroke how difficult it was to pull
from the memory bank and that was not nearly as traumatic as what she and
Josh have gone through. Perhaps they are waking up at different times so I
can help each of them as they travel these paths instead of trying to help
both at once....
I just love them both so much and pray for them and their futures as does
everyone that checks this site. I truly appreciate the prayers for the
kids, grandchildren and for Don and I.... GOD BLESS EVERYONE!!!
ALMOST FORGOT we did get the plane ticket for Bill he should arrive next
Monday....
Thanks for the prayers...MARY E BRASFIELD
Monday, May 14, 2007
HAPPY MONDAY TO ALL!!!
Well we need extra prayers today if all will help..... We are trying, and
so are some in the military, to get Josh's ex-stepfather Bill Chicoke,
here from Oregon to visit. We all feel that maybe a visit from him will
help a lot. They were very close when the kids lived in Washington and
Josh did look too him as a father figure after his real father passed
away. The main army help system cannot bring him because he is no longer
married to Josh' mom, however Major Sundem is looking into a couple of
other options for us. Please pray he is successful.
Went to Madonna this morning and Josh and Christie were both at the nurses
station in their wheelchairs. Josh did not track with his eyes today. In
fact did not focus on anyone or anything today. I did take his razor and
shaved him arranged for him to get a haircut also.
Christie shook her head yes she knew she was sitting next to Josh. She
recognized her dad but once again shook her head yes that I was her sister
and not her mother. Maybe she was serious the other evening and is
confused as to who I am... Time will tell and straighten out the memory
bank if it is confused...
The case manager was right there as were some of the regular therapists
and they confirmed they take the kids back and forth to each others rooms,
so even though the one told me NO, apparently that is in the evening when
staff is not as plentiful. During the day they attempt to keep them
together as much as possible.
The children will go to visit tomorrow. Got the OK for that and so for a
few minutes each day now we will be taking the children in....they usually
can only take a 15 or 20 minute visit before they are tired and needing to
rest.
Also if any close friends or family want to call, they will get a speaker
phone. The calls must be arranged with me to ensure I am there to answer
the phone and we will also attempt to have Christie and Josh in the same
room as speaker phones are in short supply... several had expressed a
desire to speak to them on the phone since they cannot make the
trip....The reason to arrange with me is so we do not take advantage or
tie up the nursing staff with phone calls....They are going to help us out
so we are going to be considerate of their time also...
Once again, I cannot thank everyone enough for their thoughts and prayers
as we make this journey. If you would like to arrange a time
for you to talk to Josh and Christie, you can email me at:
mbrasfield@netscape.com...
Thanks MARY E BRASFIELD AKA Mama Brasfield
somehow that seems to be a nickname I have acquired during this journey in
my life...
May 13th -
May 13, 2007 "Mother's Day"
Hi......First of all Happy Mother's Day
to all the mom's that read this site...
Second......there are a few "thank you's" I would like to send because I
have no idea how to send these people a note and I really need to thank
them. Tony and Wendy, Willy Wong AKA WAYFANG 1 and Rebekkah Evans
for the lovely flowers and balloons that have been sent to Christie and
Josh. Sorry to just thank you on here but I have no other way to contact
you.
Third, and since I do know there is a log being kept here, I HAVE BEEN
REMISS AT MENTIONING OUT OF TOWN VISITORS:
April 27th Larry and Helen Hetzler Christie's maternal grandparents and
her Great Aunt Juanita came to visit from Plattsmouth Nebraska.
On May 1 and May 2, Wilton and Lavina Brasfield, Brownfield, Texas. Ann
Hartman, Plains, Texas and Barbara Young from Bledsoe ,Texas aunts and
uncle from Christie's Dad's side came to visit.
May 7, Daniel and Raellen Bryant, Maternal Aunt and Uncle from Beaver
Lake, Nebraska came to visit Josh and Christie.
May 13th, Helen and Larry Hetzler, grandparents came to visit Josh and
Christie at Madonna.
Okay, now for today's report:
Christie: The night nurse reported that Christie managed to get out
of the wrist restraint three times and she told her she was better than
Houdini and Christie smiled and shook her head yes; so she now also has on
the big white boxing gloves... When I asked Christie about being
Houdini today she smiled real big and shook her head. Christie responded
in a positive manner to her grandparents and nodded her head yes she could
see them.. I had taken in a wind sock Sarah had made at preschool and
Christie nodded she could see it and also a little plaque Sarah made in
Sunday School. I read her the card Stephen made at school. She does very
well but after 10-15 minutes she is tired and needs to sleep.
Josh was wonderful today, eyes open and he did follow us around the
room especially my dad. He would open and close his mouth when I was
talking to him like he was trying to answer me. He did have another
episode of rapid heart rate in the 120's or so and they again gave him the
pain medication and rearranged him in bed and finally got him calmed down
and comfortable...
Once again want to thank everyone for their prayers and support during
this time.. MARY E BRASFIELD
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