June 30th

Cannot believe it is the end of June already.  The kids had visitors today, Michael and Danialle Bailey came to visit while home on leave from Korea.  They also brought a huge box of stuff for us. I have not had time to look at it but I want to again thank them so very much for the kindness and also for coming to see the kids.

CHRISTIE had a good day today thanks to the visit from her friends.  She also had a volunteer named Susan in her room when we arrived, visiting  with her.  So she is having some visitors and that helps a lot.  Now she is ready to try a trip to church next weekend if we can get that cleared with the doctor and all.  She just wants to move forward and feels like she is being held back.  I cannot begin to tell you how great she looks and sounds; so very much like the old Christie and yet a little different because she keeps telling everyone she is simple and normal when we tell her she is a miracle and wonderful. 

JOSH was not running a temp today and all the tests came back normal.  Faye, his nurse today, noticed his gums were red and his tongue white so maybe some gingivitis and thrush.  He was alert and interacted with both Danialle and Michael.  He did use the easy writer and thumbs up to communicate and also grabbed my arm to indicate he wanted my help to sit up in bed at one point.  Helping him sit up was easy until he started pushing backwards with his leg then it was a little difficult to keep him up.  But I did not mind at all. Anytime Josh interacts so well I want to think it may be the start of rapid improvement and that makes me very very happy.

THANKS FOR ALL THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.  THANKS FOR TAKING THIS JOURNEY WITH US.

Mary E Brasfield

June 29th

Today has been quite a day as has the entire week.  I have been re-tracing the many steps that I thought had already been taken care of.  Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork and most of it needing information I have no idea where to find it.

CHRISTIE is very very depressed.  Tricare is once again not giving the OK for her to go to Quality Living in Omaha.  After all the phone calls and time I spent getting it all taken care of, now at the last minute we have another glitch of some kind.  Thank goodness they have some friends coming in this week end to visit and that will help some.  She is awake 14 hours a day and only 2-3 hours of that time is for therapy. The rest of the time she sits in her room alone with nothing to do.  I visit for about two hours  a day but that time is spent telling her why the insurance company is taking so long giving the OK for her to go to Omaha. 

JOSH spiked a temperature of 102 this morning.  The lab (blood) work came back within normal values, CXR (chest X-ray) was okay and have not received the results of the urine specimen yet. His temp was down to 99.9 this afternoon but he felt warm and his face was flushed.  We are not sure yet what is going on but I am concerned.  Hopefully they will be staying on top of this, especially since there is no obvious answer for it.  Josh cannot fight off infections very easily by himself at this time.

Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers you send our way.  Thanks for taking this journey with us.  Mary E Brasfield

June 28th

Well here it is the end of June, another month almost gone and I cannot believe it.  I must admit this has been a very different summer for us.  Most of my flowers have not been planted and the only thing in the garden are the onions.  I have only sat on the front two times, I think.  Oh well, there's always next summer.  The most important thing is this really does have a fairly happy ending....both of my kids are alive and the grandchildren are all adjusting well to living together as one family.

CHRISTIE was very sad today. It seems as if the move to Quality Living, that they assured was taken care of, suddenly has a glitch and now they cannot get approval again.  So she is awake for fourteen hours a day and has therapy for only three hours and the rest of the time she sits alone in her room with nothing to do except for the two hours or so I can get up there.  SHE IS VERY VERY BORED.  I feel bad for her because I cannot get up there for longer periods of time with the four children and I want to be there with her.  Prayerfully they will work this out soon and she will be moved and getting more therapy and then on her way home.

JOSH was awake and restless today when I went in his room.  He was moving his mouth frequently and making noises, not like moaning, but noises.  I was just talking to him and visiting with him, leaving long pauses and at one point he said mom, mom, mom, louder than a whisper and not as loud as normal tone of voice.  Needless to say I was thrilled and excited.  I told him yes it was mom and then I said actually it is your mother-in-law Mary and he smiled and said mom mom mom.  I said my good-byes and kissed him and left the room crying, I have waited so long to hear those words from my other child I can hardly believe I finally did.  Another prayer answered and now to keep moving forward.

I am so very very thankful for all the thoughts and prayers everyone sends our way.  May I encourage everyone to sign the guest book. A friend is making a scrapbook for the kids and Christie cannot wait to hear all the notes that are in it.  Also, thanks for taking this journey with us there is strength in numbers and I have certainly needed your strength during this time in my life.  GOD has blessed me with so many dear friends both old and new I am simply amazed at the wonders that are working both here at home and all around the world and to think it all started with a little stop sign....... MARY E BRASFIELD

June 27th

Thunderstorms today so the children are inside and wanting to go out and play in the mud. We had a picnic scheduled for this evening but it has been cancelled since we got over an inch of rain.

CHRISTIE was fine this evening other than being bored and wanting to come home. Her only goal in life at this moment is finishing rehab and getting home and on with her life. She wants to be with family and go to church on Sundays. She is really doing great and is usually in great spirits except for the boredom she has from being lonely.

JOSH was sleeping today. He had just finished therapy about twenty minutes before I got there and had been put to bed. He would open his eyes but yawn and close them again. He is doing okay and has been working hard at writing answers as well as using the easy writer.

Thank you all for all the thoughts and prayers. Thanks for taking this journey with us. Mary E Brasfield

June 26th

Well things are moving along and today a little more of the paperwork was completed. So now we are down to signing Sarah up for school and getting physicals for Stephen and Sarah.  Seems like the more I get done the more there is to do... But then that's just life in general.

CHRISTIE was doing great again today.  She had been to CVS, a drugstore, to buy shampoo, conditioner, and other self care items she needed.  She did very well. The therapist said and she verbalized that she was comfortable with the trip.  She is still ready to go to Omaha and finish there and get home.  She gets very lonely and just wants to be at home with her family.

JOSH was awake and alert while I was there.  We did not have time to use the easy writer today as they came in to get him up in his chair and all.  Did visit with his doctor and he seemed pleased with his use of the easy writer and wants to continue using it every opportunity we get as well as the therapist. 

Once again thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.  Thanks for taking this journey with us and also for all who share the web page with others...  GOD BLESS YOU ALL.. Mary E Brasfield

June 24th

Well the busy week-end has come to an end.  Thanks to lots of help the children got to do everything on their agenda.  Quinn and Lydia,  the youth minister and his wife, took them to the dairy farm yesterday.  Kyla and her family took them to their church to visit today and Stephen and Jackey went to a baseball game with them.  Sarah and Joshua went with Bonnie to an Ice cream social.  So everyone was busy and happy.  Kyla's church brought goodies in the form of groceries and oh my what a wonderful blessing it was! I thought for a moment they had bought me a grocery store there was so much.  It was so wonderful that words cannot express my feelings of gratitude to these wonderful people.  My parents and sister were here today so they helped put everything away so once again I had angels to help me.

This evening after everyone was gone and it was quiet because the children  and Don were in bed so I mowed the yard.  So I am ready for another busy week.

We all went to see Josh and Christie and they are doing great. 

CHRISTIE had waited so patiently for everyone to get there.  She was very excited to have so much company.  She did very well at talking to everyone and keeping it all straight in her mind.  She was so thrilled and you could just hear it in her voice. 

JOSH was in bed when we first got there but my mom and I went down to see him anyway and he was awake.  I got his speakwriter and worked with him for awhile with it. He typed hello to my Mom and also I asked if he knew who I was and he typed MOM. So we were doing great with the new machine.  He started yawning and closing his eyes so I told him I would let him take a nap and see him when he got up.  After he got up we were still there so my dad, brother-in-law, sister and I went down and we again used the machine and I made sure he knew who everyone was and he then typed HI to them... After that they got him up in his wheelchair and brought him to Christie's room with us.  It was a great afternoon and we had such a great time with Josh and Christie.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.  Thanks for taking the journey with us.
Mary E Brasfield

June 23rd.

Hi everyone! Today's update will be kind of different.  We gathered as family and friends in Christie's room.  While there visiting, I received a phone call from a very good friend of theirs, Robert Clements, from Texas. Without him realizing I was at Madonna, I put Christie on the phone.  What a conversation they had! I am not sure which one was more excited.  Next was Josh's turn, of course he listened but was looking all around the room for Robert until I told him it was a phone call.  He gave a huge thumbs up when asked if he remembered ROBERT.  It just made everyone's day.  Never dreamed a smile, thumbs up or nod of a head would bring so much joy and pleasure to my life.  GOD IS SO GOOD!!!! They also talked to Josh's step-sister Julie from Texas and both of them knew who she was also.

Sorry so short today but most of the time was spent on phone calls.  Tomorrow my parents and my sister and her husband are going to visit.

Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers keep them coming.  Thanks for taking this journey with us and sharing all these miracles GOD is giving us.
Mary E Brasfield

June 22nd

Another HOT day in the Midwest and the children have a full weekend. One of the local dairys is having "Dairy Days" tomorrow and they should have a blast. GOD's KIDS CLUB is having a picnic on Sunday and of course church and Sunday School. My parents will be here Sunday as well as my sister and her husband from Wisconsin. So a busy, busy week-end ahead.

CHRISTIE is doing very well; still moving forward and now very anxious to get to Quality Living in Omaha. She had told the speech therapists that she could not communicate with Josh at all so today they had speech class together to work on that problem.

JOSH was looking very good today and doing well. As I started to explain above, during speech they had brought a speak writer. It is a box that when Josh types in something and then hits enter it talks what he has written. They did very well with it. The therapist is going to leave it in Josh's room over the weekend so I can talk to Josh with it. I am so excited I told Josh I am going to have him using it like a pro by Monday.....

I just thank GOD so very much for all the miracles he keeps giving my family. I am so blessed...

I thank everyone for all the thoughts and prayers. Thank you for taking this journey with us.... Mary E Brasfield

June 21st

Today was very hot and just full of wonderful and exciting news and happenings...

CHRISTIE is getting better and better every day. She is requesting that the nurses allow her to be more independent with her choices, getting around and all of her ADL's (activities of daily living). She is still very lonely when not in therapy and calls us when she is bored. She is now ready to go to  Quality Living  so she can finish there and come home. She is just amazing and I am so very very thankful GOD allowed us all to keep her.

JOSH was great today. They have taken him off the parlodel and put him back on the ritalin. He has been writing during his one therapy and has written Stephen that I know of. Today was the greatest that I have seen and I am so ready to share with everyone.
We were all sitting at the table in the commons area, Don, Terry, Christie, all four children, Josh and myself. Christie verbalized she was ready to go to her room and I asked her if we could stay there so we could visit with both her and Josh. At first she said yes and then about five minutes later she wanted to go to her room again. At that point Josh leaned forward in his wheelchair grabbed the arm of her chair with his right hand and started to pull her chair towards him. Don then pushed the chair to help. Josh sat back up and decided the chair wasn't close enough so leaned forward again and grabbed the arm and pulled and Don pushed. At this point Josh took his right hand and reached for and grabbed Christie's right hand and interlocked their fingers and held their hands up... I was just so excited and told Christie her husband just told her she could not leave...so she sat there for awhile longer holding Josh's hand. When she did get up to go to her room I asked her if she wanted to kiss Josh and she verbalized she had not done so since the accident and so we guided her over and she kissed Josh on the forehead and told him how much she loved him and she would see him tomorrow.

I cannot even begin to explain how excited I was. My daughter and son are both moving forward and GOD is so good to us.

THANK YOU for all the thoughts and prayers. Thank you for taking this journey with us. Mary E Brasfield

June 20th

Today was very hot and the last tee-ball game for this year. My doctor appointment went okay, no damage to the ankle, the swelling may last for another 4-6 weeks and I don't have to wear the brace all the time now.

CHRISTIE is going through the grieving process over the loss of her sight. She is having a rough time of it. She is also very scared and lonely so she is having a tough time right now. The only way I could really help her is be there 24 hours a day which is not possible and that would not let her deal with it anyway.
Otherwise she is doing fantastic and moving right along...PRAISE GOD.

JOSH may be moving around a bit more as the nurse told me he was hitting the call button all the time last night and today as he was just moving that right hand around feeling for and playing with things he found he could get a hold of. He is making good eye contact and maintaining it while you talk to him.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Thanks for taking this journey with us.
Mary E Brasfield

June 19th

Hi everyone! Tonight was the next to last tee-ball game for Stephen and tomorrow is the last. Then it is time to start getting three of them ready for school. They are all excited and know it will be a busy year for all of us.

CHRISTIE is doing great. When I went to see her today she was in physical therapy and riding the bike. We visited for a few minutes and she had speech next so we left. We stopped to visit with a volunteer with an angel dog and here comes Christie with her therapists walking down the hall. She was doing great. Visiting with him and walking along, you would never have believed she had been in such a serious accident just two months ago and they did not expect her to live.

JOSH was is bed resting, he had just finished an hour and a half of therapy so my timing was off today. But...he did wake up a little and make good eye contact with us and kind of smiled but his eyes kept closing so we said good-bye and let him go back to sleep.

Not much other news from here at this time. I go to the doctor in the morning to see if I can stop wearing the brace, however I kind of doubt it because I have been having a lot of trouble with the left ankle swelling. We will see what he has to say...

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Thanks for taking this journey with us.
Mary E Brasfield

Monday, June 18th

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!!!!

CHRISTIE is now a 7-8 on the Rancho Scale. She is really doing great. Moving along rather rapidly on the rehab. Of course still room for improvement but we are OH SO GRATEFUL for where she is. And can you believe it....the phone rang this evening and it was Christie on the other end! After two months my lovely daughter called me on the phone to talk.... GOD IS SOOOOOOO GOOD TO US!!! She is worried about moving to Omaha and being so far away from us. I keep telling her it will be okay and if she gets there and does not like it she can come home and continue her rehab on an outpatient basis, we will see.

JOSH was doing well today. Per Christie he was squeezing her hand today and responding to her. He is wearing the split cast on his left arm at night. He smiles a lot now and does not have the snarl that he had a first. His tube feedings are not continuous; they are giving him boluses at specific times.

That is about all for today. Once again thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for taking this journey with us.......Mary E Brasfield

June 17th
HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!! I cannot believe it is fathers day already. Time is passing so quickly. It is time to start thinking about getting three of the children ready for school.

CHRISTIE was doing great this morning. Sitting in her recliner and relaxing. She was so much fun to visit with and we had a great time. She is so ready to come home and it is getting harder to convince her she needs more rehab. We called Josh's Step Dad Bill in Oregon so she could wish him a Happy Fathers Day and both enjoyed the phone call a lot.

JOSH was looking very good today. GOOD skin color, eye contact and moving that right arm purposefully. I showed him the Father's Day cards the kids had made him on Friday and then put them up in his room. Bill talked to him on the phone; Josh responded by smiling and moving his right arm around did give a thumbs up and made eye contact with me as Bill and I were visiting with him. He was very alert today which is an improvement over the last couple of visits.

Josh and Christie both now have the approval to go on to Quality Living in Omaha. Christie should go around July 3rd and Josh on July 5th, unless there is a change in plans. After they have finished therapy there they should come home.
Prayerfully by that time I have the kids in school and housing situation all under control. GOD has been so good to us and this mountain is getting smaller everyday.

THANK YOU everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for taking this journey with us.... GOD BLESS YOU Mary E Brasfield

Well a second note for today... I got a special treat today even though it is Fathers day Kyla took the grandchildren swimming at her house and Bonnie and I went to Madonna this afternoon to see Christie and Josh. So I actually got to go twice in one day.

Christie was awake and bored as she usually verbalizes and was very glad to see us. We put her gait belt on and I assisted her to the bathroom and then we went for a walk in the hallway. She placed her arms in mine and Bonnies' although she did not need to, more for moral support than strength. She walked almost the entire length of the hallway and back. Bonnies' daughter Chelsea had met us there and she followed with the wheelchair in case Christie got tired. Oh she was such a delight to visit with.

JOSH was sleeping he did awaken for a few minutes when the took him vital signs and I talked to him then but he kept yawning and closing his eyes so I took my cue and let him go back to sleep. I had such a good visit this morning I can not complain at all.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE Mary E Brasfield

June 14th
Hi everyone. Forgive me but I do not have much news to report tonight as I did not get to go see Josh and Christie today. My left ankle is hurting very bad and I spent the day on the phone.

The next place Josh and Christie need to go to complete their rehab is Quality Living in Omaha, Ne it is a home style rehab center that specializes in TBI (traumatic brain injuries) so the age of their clients is generally younger people. With that in mind they have not become Medicare approved because they do not serve that age of people, TRICARE, the kid's insurance company, will not allow the kids to go anywhere that is not Medicare approved. Josh will be able to go because he is in active duty and his commanding officer can override the denial from the insurance company and say that the soldier needs this treatment. However, since Christie is not active duty, even though she stands beside the soldier, raises his children, cares for them when he is overseas, was a leader for the FRG, and many more things that are important issues for a military wife, they do not think it is important for her to have this rehab so they are denying her treatment. So I have spent the day on the phone to congressmen, insurance people and anyone else I can get our story out to because I think the treatment is needed for both of my children, not just one of them. Josh and Christie as a married couple are a whole and it is not fair to divide them now...

This accident was not their fault and to deny treatment, proper treatment for either one of them, is a crime in itself. They have come so very far and why should they deny the needed treatment now when at the end of the line the other company will reimburse them seems so strange to me...

Well so now you know what I have been doing all day...please pray for my children to get the right treatment and for these boards to understand how much they deserve the treatment and best care available to them at this point in their recovery.

Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for taking this journey with us.... Mary E Brasfield

June 13th
Another rainy day so no tee ball tonight. We have 2 games left after tonight. We took the children to see Josh and Christie this afternoon. Christie was excited to see the children but really no change in Josh's expression.

CHRISTIE was doing very well walking. We went down to the gym at the end of her therapy and got to see her walk a little bit and also transfer. Her gait is getting much smoother and looks like her confidence is building. They had her walk with a cane today which she did not like, felt like it did not give her enough support. Speech therapy also spoke to me about maybe starting to teach her to use the long white cane to feel for objects in her way to prevent falls and the like. So they will start working on that with her since she is progressing so rapidly.

JOSH was very sleepy today....kept closing his eyes. He was not making good eye contact with us without lots and lots of verbal encouragement from me. I stood by his head, kind of holding it up by allowing it to rest on my shoulder, and talking to him softly about the children and encouraging him to talk to them and them to him. The children lose interest quickly without verbal response from their dad so I have to kind of be the buffer system to keep them talking. I remind them of what else to tell their dad.

Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. Thanks to all who are taking this Journey with us... Mary E Brasfield

June 12th
It's another hot and humid day today. We're supposed to get storms tonight and and then slightly cooler weather tomorrow. Bonnie and her son Brian took the children to the church parking lot today to ride bikes for about 45 minutes....I wish I could say it wore them out. They still had plenty of energy left over for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

CHRISTIE had her PEG or feeding tube removed last evening and vocalized how glad she is to be rid of all the tubes. The nurse reported that tonight at supper one of the other patients told Christie to finish her tomato soup, to which Christie's reply was I did. Anyway they banter back and forth a couple of times and Christie finally picked up her soup bowl licked it completely clean and asked the other person did I miss any this time? The nurse told me it was all she could do to keep from laughing because Christie was not hateful about but being very sweet and honest in asking the other persons opinion. Christie was also able to tell this nurse that all of us visited them on Saturday and then only Stephen and I on Sunday. Also that I had met them at the doctor. office yesterday after dropping of the sunglasses to her for the trip. So her recall is really improving.

JOSH is working with the therapist and doing two assisted transfers. They are having some difficulty with them at this time so they do not allow the nursing staff to do the transfers. He does respond to commands and other verbal stimuli with the therapists about 50% of the time they said. He still seems to have good and bad days to me. But I am not a therapist and guess sometimes I see it with my heart involved instead of my nursing skills. I plan to take his razor tomorrow and give him a shave which always gets his attention.....no, he does not like it at all, but I tell him we cannot have our soldier looking like a hippie...

That's the news for today...really not a lot. But again want to thank everyone for all the thoughts and prayers. Also to those that continue this journey with us GOD BLESS YOU....Mary E Brasfield

June 11th
Here it is Monday again and can you believe it, Fathers day is here. This year is certainly passing quickly and yet I seem to be getting nothing accomplished around the house...imagine that... Before I know it my medical leave will be up and a new change will come for our family and new adjustments for all. Both Christie and Josh had doctor appointments today with the neurologist so I met them there.

Christie was doing very well today. I had stopped by Madonna before lunch to drop off her sunglasses, and again told her to always wear them even if staff forgot to remind her especially if she was going outside. Bless her heart, when she was in the doctor's office and he asked her how things were, she said "fine, only a couple of little things were wrong but nothing to complain about..." She did finally mention about everything being black all the time and he talked to her about that. He told her she was a miracle and how proud he was of her for all her hard work. Her reply was "I just try to do what I am supposed to be doing." She told him "Thank you sir for being so kind to me." The doctor was speechless. He told me she was a remarkable young lady and he did not need to see her again unless I felt like something needed his attention.

Josh was up in his wheelchair and drooling a lot today as usual. Tracking with his eyes but not responsive with thumbs up or smiles. Tried repeatedly at Madonna's, the hospital, doctor's office etc. The doctor said the CT Scan looked good; there were no areas to worry about but he could not predict his future. We told him we had moved him to the acute care unit at Madonna and he felt that was a good move since there would be more emphasis on his cognitive skills. Madonna had also called this morning and at this time his planned date to move to Quality Living in Omaha is July 5th, so fairly close to the same time as Christie.

I have finished filling out the Medicaid and social security paper work for both of the kids. So much paper work and so many of the questions I did not have the answer to. We hope it will be a while before we have to use it but the insurance company did not have a real large policy so we may have to use it sooner than we want to, especially after they come home.. (for the things they will need here at home.) I cannot believe how much the expenses have already added up and we still have more to go and that's not even looking to the future or making our home handicap accessible or large enough for my growing family. Please pray for all of it to work out for us...

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for taking this journey with us... GOD BLESS YOU. MARY E BRASFIELD

Sunday, June 10th

Hello everyone! Church was great this morning...the grandchildren were awesome...they all sang great and knew all the motions to go with the songs. I heard many compliments about the Brasfield/Brazier children, as they are dubbed here.

Christie was doing great today and when we got there, Josh and Christie were sitting side by side in their wheelchairs. Christie was telling me that it finally dawned on her that I was not born in Texas but had moved there after I finished high school. She told me she felt silly after she realized she had been telling people wrong. I explained to her that her memory bank was all still there just a little jumbled up and she was doing great at putting everything back in place. She was in such good spirits and never left our topic of conversation one time, which was a wonderful thing for her. She knows that she is improving enough that she will be coming home soon and is very excited about that and talked about going to church with all of us on Sunday mornings.

Josh had his right hand on Christie's wheelchair. He made eye contact with us but did not seem to interact with us as he usually tries to. He would not smile for us even when Stephen hugged him there was no positive response. He did watch Stephen while he was sitting on a chair telling Josh and Christie what he had been doing, just no smile or attempt to interact with him...

Once again I have to just tell everyone thanks for the thoughts and prayers keep them going for both Josh and Christie.... GOD BLESS EVERYONE...Mary E Brasfield

June 9th

It is Saturday and we had Tee Ball early this morning. Laundry is done and I must admit I am starting to get used to doing laundry for four children and it's not so bad now that the routine is coming together. The lawn is mowed for another week...it sure does bother that left ankle though, maybe I should get a goat, just kidding.... The children are all doing well; they picked up rocks and sticks for grandma today so I would not run over them with the lawn mower. Bath time is much easier also as the routine is coming along. One of my guardian angels named Bonnie has been helping but I have also been doing it a lot and with four little ones it does take some time but it is time alone with each of them and they like that.

Prayer time when getting them in bed is also interesting. The two girls always pray for Josh and Christie as does Stephen but Sarah also prays for everyone in the whole town and Jackey prays for everyone we know and who prays for us, which I think is darling for both of them to think of that.

Christie has had a great day. She was transferring with minimal assist. She carried on a much clearer conversation with fewer lapses into the unknown. Her progress has been wonderful the last few days. Pray that it continues...

Josh: His left arm is still in the posturing position. They can straighten in some but not as much as a couple of weeks ago. He was giving thumbs up today but only sometimes and not in response every time. He is still tracking good with his eyes but does not seem to try and vocalize as much as he was. Please continue to pray for GOD"S WILL TO BE DONE...

We thank you for taking this journey with us and for all the thoughts and prayer for our family... There is no way I can ever thank everyone who has done a kindness for us and our children and grandchildren but I can tell them if they read this web page they hold a special place in my heart... This road would certainly have been much more difficult without you traveling it with us... THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.... Mary E Brasfield

June 8th

Well here it is Friday again. I cannot believe how fast time is passing and yet it seems to being going oh so slow also. The children all had a great week and are sad to see the end of Vacation Bible School. On Sunday during church they will have a little program and sing all the songs they have learned this week and they are so excited. We took them to see their parents again today and then to the park to play so we had a full day.

Christie: She was doing great today and was so excited to visit with the children. It was hard to get Sarah to visit with her mom...she did not want to talk today. Stephen was great at visiting and also telling his mom he loved her and how good things were going at home. He told her about the ball games and Bible School. Then all the children sang their songs for her and she just loved that. Joshua still is not sure about his mom or dad but hangs on tight to grandma. I keep thinking the more he goes to visit the more he will remember them but he is still afraid of them.

Josh: He was sitting in his wheelchair when we got there today and the kids all ran up to him and hugged him. He made excellent eye contact with them. They did very well at talking to him. Joshua did not get the same response this time as he did last time from Josh. Joshua wouldn't have a thing to do with Josh so I pulled a chair real close and talked to Josh while holding Joshua and that made it where Josh could see him at least. Josh did give me a thumbs up and a smile today as I was telling about all the things the kids had been doing.

Seems like I can never tell everyone enough thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Thanks for taking this journey with us. I have made some incredible new friends during this journey and there is no way I can ever thank them enough for all they have done for us. Also renewed old friendships that I cherish very much... GOD IS SO GOOD!!!! Mary E Brasfield

June 7th

Another hot and windy day today. I cannot believe the week is almost over and Vacation Bible school along with it.

Christie: Her CAT Scan showed the optical nerves are fine so the fixed and dilated pupils are a direct result of brain injuries. Time alone will tell now if her eye sight returns. She is very anxious about her vision. She is improving every day with her ability to recall things and put things together. Her walking is getting better also. We do still have along ways to go but the most important thing is we are improving every day. Her attitude is good and she tries very hard.

Josh: He was doing very well today. He gave me a thumbs up and also squeezed my hand. He will be moving down to the acute rehab floor this afternoon to room 144. They think trying some new types of therapy will help him make progress quicker. Yesterday when Christie was up to visit him he was rubbing her hand in response to her talking to him. So they do communicate with each other in their own ways..

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Thank you for taking this journey with us. Mary E Brasfield

June 5th

Hello everyone another sunny day here and so I am very late at getting this written.

Christie was in good spirits today. Her memory seems to be improving a little bit each day. Her speech therapist was working with her today while we were there reading short stories describing things and then having Christie tell what it was and then asking questions about the details; her recall was very very good.
Her nurse today went upstairs and brought Josh down for a visit, which both enjoyed very much. Christie was rubbing his arm and neck telling him she loved him and he was leaning toward her as best he could and moving his lips as if trying to speak to her.

Josh: He seemed to be much more responsive today when I came in the room and was surprised he was there. I had been talking to the case manager and the doctor. I asked him to give me a thumbs up and he managed to get his hand twisted around in his glove and he reached up and grabbed my hand and just squeezed it as if he would never let go. He had met my eyes as I came in the door and watched me walking towards him. A big improvement over yesterday so yes, maybe it just took a few days on the new medication to start seeing the same kind of behavior as we had before without the risks of the side effects of the other medication.

The doctor I spoke with this morning was going to try and get Josh moved down to the same floor as Christie and try working with him on that floor with new therapy and try a new direction to see if we can get better results. Then Josh's next step would also be to Quality Living in Omaha with Christie and they would once again both be at the same facility, which the staff feels does help their progress keeping them close together.

Well that's all for today, cannot thank everyone enough for all you do to help me out and the thoughts and prayers. Also for those on this journey with us THANK YOU you make it so much easier to take... Mary E Brasfield..

June 4th

Good evening all....sorry I am a little late getting this typed. Today was the first day of Vacation Bible School. Boy that was a new adventure, getting four children ready to go to school. Then went to see Christie and Josh, pick the four children up from school, lunch, mowed the lawn, gave two bathes before supper and two after supper. Now all is peaceful and calm awaiting the new day and four sets of feet ready to go again..

Christie was up walking with her therapist when I got there this morning. She is doing very well but still having some difficulty with her orientation to where she is in space. But she is getting better all the time and they said she walked 50 feet Friday using the railing on the wall and stand-by assist. She wants to come home so very badly; that is about all she wants to talk about when I am there and sometimes it is hard to keep her sidetracked. She is always pleasant when I explain why it is not time for her to come home yet and she says she is working hard and will be ready soon.

Josh still did not show much response today. We did talk to his case manager and the doctor had made a medication change that I was not aware of, that was supposed to make improvements in his responses but obviously we were seeing a decline. So she called the doctor and she was going to exam Josh this afternoon and call me or visit with me tomorrow morning when I am there. Hopefully this will solve our problems with his setback and we can start moving forward again...

Thank you all once again for all the thoughts and prayers. I can never thank you enough for taking this journey with us.... Mary E Brasfield

Sunday, June 3rd

Good day to all! Well first thing I need to do is ask for lots and lots of PRAYERS... After I give you the updates you will understand why.

Christie: When we arrived today Christie was up in her wheelchair in the common area,. The first thing, when we started talking, she began to cry and asked me if I knew she was blind? I explained yes and that we would be okay because she was alive and did not die in the accident and further explained all the many blessing we had been given. She then agreed but was still very upset and I again further explained that was okay,  we would all pray for her understanding and also for all the things she could still do. We took her upstairs to visit Josh and he was not responding very well today and she said she was strong enough for both of them and she loved him so much. But she was still very upset that he could not hold her hand or respond to her in anyway today.
After just a few minutes she asked to be taken back downstairs and told Josh she would see him later and she loved him very much. After we got back downstairs she asked me to bring her her sunglasses out of her truck to see if they would help her vision any.. Just broke my heart, I told her not to give up the doctors were still looking to see if there was anything they could do to help her with her vision. By the time we left she was in a little better mood and told me she was working very hard so she could come home and stay with me as she was tired of the hospital.

Josh: As you have gathered from above today is day #4 that he is not responding again. No smiles, thumbs up or any kind of interaction with me. Even when Christie was in the room with us and rubbing his arm and I told him it was Christie and she was talking to him....no change at all in facial expression and he did not attempt to make eye contact with her at all. Last time it took a long time to get back on track and I hope it does not take us as long this time.

I will be there tomorrow morning to order Christie's watch and also to see if they have any idea what's up with Josh or have changed anything in his routine that has caused the sudden changes in the responses we are seeing in him...

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers and I ask for extra for a few days to get us back on tract. Thanks for taking this journey with us and GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU>>>>>Mary E Brasfield.

June 1st

Good evening everyone: Well things are moving along here. Cannot believe it is June already. Time sure does fly. It is rainy here and the temp. seems to be cooler than usual or maybe it is just all the changes in our lives we are not doing the same things we did last summer.

Christie: She has had a good day today and is now transferring from her bed to wheelchair and so on with only one assist, but with lots of verbal cues and taking it very slow. She does seem to get anxious if someone attempts to hurry her but does fantastic as long as she can take her time. We are looking at a talking watch for her. I think the one we are going to get her has a button on it so that when she pushes the button it will tell her the day of the week, date month and year as well as the time. That will help to keep her oriented to the day, time etc. She does still get lonely. We visit and of course she has lots of interaction with the staff but since she cannot see, needs someone all the time when she is awake.

Josh: He was a little more alert today but still not as quick with the thumbs up as he has been. They have removed his trach and today they removed his foley. Not so much as he was really ready but he was wiggling so much he kept getting it caught on things and they were afraid he would pull it out. He was up in his chair three hours today, which is a good thing and he tolerated it very well. Inching forward bit by bit and thankful for every step we make.


GOD BLESS everyone who is making this journey with us and we cannot ever thank everyone enough for all the prayers that are being said for our family. There are many friendships being made on this journey and I cherish all of the and some old friendships being rekindled. It is a shame it is during a tragedy but I treasure friendships that are sent from GOD above no matter what time they enter my life.... Mary E Brasfield