Hi

hi body. How are you?

Especially you, Aurie. Joelle stirred and scowled. . I began by having my agents on Earth learn exactly where every other Reina was at that time. We're completely at the mercy of yonder watchship, you realize. She had added to her nervous system the immense input, storage capacity, and retrieval speed of the electronic assembly, together with the immense mathematico-logical capacity for volume and speed of operations which belonged to its other half. I should hope not! As a matter of fact, sir, the Betans -the name we gave them, of course -the Betans are not just friendly, they are anxious to know us well. No optical system man has yet built has the resolution to tell Emissary apart from -seven, is it?�similar ships, at such a remove. She had been born in North America, in what was left of the old United States before it federated with Canada. I've signalled Faraday our intent to start blasting at one gee at fifteen thirty-five hours, and they concur. Calm down. Is he? I don't pretend to be very sensitive where people are concerned, but I have had some exposure to cliques and cabals on high political levels. I had a Foundation director beam Captain Archer a polite inquiry as to what had happened. I tried to. Don't be too cocksure about that, she warned. She mustered pride.
________
Best Regards,
Raphael Speers

Kevin, your password was successfully reset

You reset your password.

Hi Kevin, You've successfully changed your LinkedIn password. Thanks for using LinkedIn! The LinkedIn Team When and where this happened: Date: December 30, 2014 11:36 AM Browser: Chrome Operating System: OS X IP Address: 216.49.181.251 Approximate Location: Riverton, Utah, United States Didn't do this? Be sure to change your password right away. When and where this happened: Date: December 30, 2014 11:36 AM Browser: Chrome Operating System: OS X IP Address: 216.49.181.251 Approximate Location: Riverton, Utah, United States Didn't do this? Be sure to change your password right away. This email was intended for Kevin Watson (Solutions Manager at LDS Church). Learn why we included this. © 2014, LinkedIn Corporation. 2029 Stierlin Ct. Mountain View, CA 94043, USA

Kevin, your password was successfully reset

You reset your password.

Hi Kevin, You've successfully changed your LinkedIn password. Thanks for using LinkedIn! The LinkedIn Team When and where this happened: Date: December 25, 2014 12:15 AM Browser: Chrome Operating System: OS X IP Address: 71.219.4.27 Approximate Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Didn't do this? Be sure to change your password right away. When and where this happened: Date: December 25, 2014 12:15 AM Browser: Chrome Operating System: OS X IP Address: 71.219.4.27 Approximate Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Didn't do this? Be sure to change your password right away. This email was intended for Kevin Watson (Solutions Manager at LDS Church). Learn why we included this. © 2014, LinkedIn Corporation. 2029 Stierlin Ct. Mountain View, CA 94043, USA

Kevin, your password was successfully reset

You reset your password.

Hi Kevin, You've successfully changed your LinkedIn password. Thanks for using LinkedIn! The LinkedIn Team When and where this happened: Date: August 21, 2014 8:59 PM Browser: IE Operating System: Windows IP Address: 97.117.85.203 Approximate Location: Syracuse, Utah, United States Didn't do this? Be sure to change your password right away. When and where this happened: Date: August 21, 2014 8:59 PM Browser: IE Operating System: Windows IP Address: 97.117.85.203 Approximate Location: Syracuse, Utah, United States Didn't do this? Be sure to change your password right away. This email was intended for Kevin Watson (Solutions Manager at LDS Church). Learn why we included this. © 2014, LinkedIn Corporation. 2029 Stierlin Ct. Mountain View, CA 94043, USA

Kevin, here's the link to reset your password

Info about changing your password

Hi Kevin, You recently requested a password reset. To change your LinkedIn password, click here or paste the following link into your browser: https://www.linkedin.com/e/rpo/2723320/-5811873810448736756/?hs=true&tok=3eRdo9esOOfCo1 The link will expire in 24 hours, so be sure to use it right away. Thanks for using LinkedIn! The LinkedIn Team This email was intended for Kevin Watson (Solutions Manager at LDS Church). Learn why we included this. © 2014, LinkedIn Corporation. 2029 Stierlin Ct. Mountain View, CA 94043, USA

On November 29, 2007, I suffered a devastating stroke.  I was life-lighted from Davis hospital to the University of Utah where they said there was nothing they could do for me.  Miraculously, 3 Doctors  got together and came up with an experimental procedure that saved my life.  That day changed my life.  

My sister took my baby girl, who was only days old, and cared for and loved her for the next year. My in laws moved from their home 5 hours away, into my home to love my boys through it all.

 I lost my ability to swallow so I had a tube placed into my stomach to feed me.  I couldn’t breathe on my own so I had a trach.  My face was permanently paralyzed so speaking is next to impossible and I need a gold weight in my eyelid just to blink.  In the hospital, I was unable to talk or write so I had to use sign language.  I am unable to use my right hand and have limited use of my left.  I had a muscle contracture in my leg that made my toe point downward, like a Barbie.  I was unable to move, let alone walk. I remember the first time I rolled on my side, two nurses were there and cheered and were nearly in tears. For a long time, I was in a wheel chair, with a feeding tube, totally helpless and relied heavily on others for everything. Yes, everything. Due to where the stroke damaged my brain, medically that was as far as I was expected to progress. 

I had very intense therapy while in the hospital and my stay there lasted 3 ½ months and included numerous stays in ICU, IMCU, Neuro Accute, and Rehab. After leaving the hospital, I still needed 24 hour care and my wonderful mom (a nurse) stepped up and took me to live with her for the next 14 months.   She helped me bathe, gave me my numerous medications, put up grab bars, and mothered her sick little girl.

I have many permanent effects from the stroke, though I have made significant progress. I still walk very slowly and shakily, still have very limited use of my hands, swallow with great difficulty, and look, as my son puts it, like Harvey 2 Face from Batman. I have had continuous therapy and around 17 surgeries (I lost count).  Even now I have very specific exercises I need to do daily.

I am home now with my 3 children and my unreal husband. They are what make me happy. My husband cooks, cleans, carries glass for me, and does so many other big and little things that I would need forever to name them all. Every day he puts his arms around me and tells me that he loves me. My kids open doors, hold my hand, and generally take care of me. But my favorite thing ever is when we all hang out and do absolutely nothing but laugh, and chat.

I owe everything to the Lord. I could have the best help, and work with all my might but if it wasn’t His will, I would never progress.  From the first day, and even before, the Lord has been with me.  So many miracles have happened in my life.   

I know that my prayers, even unspoken, are heard.   Heavenly Father knows us.  Not just kind of knows us but really knows us, takes care of us, and loves us with all his heart. He is always with us and times of trial are no exception.  Rather than feeling forgotten or alone, I have felt peace, love, and hope.

This blog is a journal kept by my family that records my struggle through the first bit after my stroke. To see how my life is today, visit Strokes For Dummies

Back Online

Got word that this blog had dissapeared and some people still want to read it for various reasons.  It's back up and running.

MB

We got back from our Sun Valley trip on the 29^th.  Jodi was great!  We took her wheelchair instead of the walker because it is so much easier for her to get around that way and it did not exhaust her.  I guess the best thing that happened this year besides that she was able to interact with her family better, is that she could enjoy eating everything and I do mean everything!  She had such a good time and we all reminisced about how much she has gained since last year.  We are sure that by this time next year, she will be able to walk on her own.  She goes for more Botox tomorrow, but we think that the treatments are working.  Her in-laws go home for two weeks this weekend so she will be home and on her own with all three kids.  Of course her neighbors will be on alert and so will her family.  Pray that all goes well for her.  Aleq will be back in school so that will help too.  She was trying to walk all by herself the other day and she asked her husband to back off from her a little and give her less protection.  He did and she lost her balance and fell first on her knees but she slammed the side of her head on the cement driveway too.  Robert tried to grab her but missed and by the time he picked her up, he (not Jodi)was in tears.  I think it will be some time before he allows her that much autonomy again. Once more, I am sorry for taking so long to write, but there is less to report when I do not see her every day. Connie

July 14, 2009   Hi everyone, I am sorry that I have been lax in writing.  Not much has happened with Jodi since I last wrote, until today.  We headed to SLC for her to have her botox done on the left side of her mouth.  The botox will begin to paralyze that side of her mouth in about three days.  It will be such a pain at the beginning because she will experience the inability to talk and open her mouth to eat again.  Hopefully however, she will be forced to use dormant muscles on the right side of her mouth and that side will begin to get the exercise necessary so that her face will begin to function more appropriately, using muscles on both sides of her mouth and not just the left side.  This should improve not only her speech, but will decrease future dental problems.  As of now, due to the left side of her mouth over compensating for the right sides lack of cooperation, her front teeth have moved much too far to the left and she chews very little on the right side which causes TMJ and pain on the right side.  The Dr. decided to try to help her right forehead and brow as well. By depressing a muscle which made her brow on her left side come down too far.  Hopefully with botox, in time that muscle will begin to relax so that her brow on that side will be more normal.  I will try to keep you more informed now that this has taken place.  Her next visit to the DR. is in three weeks.  At that time, they will re-evaluate and decide if they need to do more.  The currant botox therapy should begin to wear off in about three months.

 

Jodi is out of insurance sponsored physical therapies at present and until we can appeal, she will be doing her own therapies.  Disappointing  but not expected.  Connie

Updates

July 14, 2009   Hi everyone, I am sorry that I have been lax in writing.  Not much has happened with Jodi since I last wrote, until today.  We headed to SLC for her to have her botox done on the left side of her mouth.  The botox will begin to paralyze that side of her mouth in about three days.  It will be such a pain at the beginning because she will experience the inability to talk and open her mouth to eat again.  Hopefully however, she will be forced to use dormant muscles on the right side of her mouth and that side will begin to get the exercise necessary so that her face will begin to function more appropriately, using muscles on both sides of her mouth and not just the left side.  This should improve not only her speech, but will decrease future dental problems.  As of now, due to the left side of her mouth over compensating for the right sides lack of cooperation, her front teeth have moved much too far to the left and she chews very little on the right side which causes TMJ and pain on the right side.  The Dr. decided to try to help her right forehead and brow as well. By depressing a muscle which made her brow on her left side come down too far.  Hopefully with botox, in time that muscle will begin to relax so that her brow on that side will be more normal.  I will try to keep you more informed now that this has taken place.  Her next visit to the DR. is in three weeks.  At that time, they will re-evaluate and decide if they need to do more.  The currant botox therapy should begin to wear off in about three months.

 
 

Jodi is out of insurance sponsored physical therapies at present and until we can appeal, she will be doing her own therapies.  Disappointing  but not unexpected.  Connie

June 22, 2009

I am so sorry, something was keeping my blogs from being posted.  I never did figure out what was the problem but it seems to be working again. 

 

Since I last blogged, a lot of changes have taken place.  First and foremost, Jodi has moved home!  What a wonderful big step for her.  We were able to set her up with an emergency necklace that she wears all the time.  If she has a fall or other problems, she just pushes the button on her necklace and she is able to talk to an emergency operator.  If she needs 911 called, they will do it and all the while stay on line with her until she receives their help.  If she just needs someone on a list which we gave them, they will call one of us and while they continue to talk to her, we can go to her home to help her.  She and her family are delighted!  They are together again.  Jodi loves being a full time mom and doing as much as she can on her own.  Of course, I keep Ana Jain most of the time and I go out a few days a week to help clean her home and do things that she still cannot do.  All of her family is pitching in as well.  They help with Ana Jain too and they are providing all the evening meals except for weekends.  Her Ward helps out with meals at that time.  She continues to feed the children their breakfast and lunch, give them their baths, do the wash each day and do some light cleaning.    It also helps that her in-laws are still coming up from St. George several days per week to help.

She is remarkable.  She continues to exercise each day, under the supervision of Robert. She continues to make miraculous progress when she stays healthy.  More to come, Connie

June 14, 2009

June 2^nd, 2009                Wow! Jodi spent her first day at home alone with her two boys!  Quite an achievement for her and her family.  We kept phones close and I had Ana Jain.  Jodi reported that she loved it.  She was able to get her boys into the shower, get breakfast, lunch, do the dishes, do the full weekend worth of wash, clean the bathrooms.  She managed this while doing  her exercises and getting her own meds and making sure that she ate, got enough water to drink and rested off and on.  She was both excited with her progress and exhausted by the end of the day.  Jodi said that Aleq was so much help.  Getting things for her, carrying what she could not, and just general gofer stuff.  He said "Mom if we do good today, can we do this again? I love having just you with us at home,  like it used to be." Jodi looks forward to doing it again.  Possibly once every other week.  That is the week that her in-laws go home on Friday and I usually go out with Jodi to take care of the kids.  We will see. 

 

There is a young mother in our ward who is going through some things that are so similar to Jodi.  She did not have a stroke but they found a tumor at the base of her brain.  She had surgery about twenty days ago during which they were able to remove most of the tumor.  The tumor is a low grade tumor and also benign.  Her future looks promising but she is now experiencing many small setbacks.  Boy can we relate to that.  Her name is Jodi Brown.  She and Jodi Burton had worked together at the Shaken Baby foundation.  They were friends before our Jodi had her stroke.  Jodi Brown has been such a support to our Jodi during this past year and half.  As Jodi Brown continues to struggle with complications, we ask that when you pray for our Jodi that you will include Jodi Brown's name as well. Jodi is younger than our Jodi and has four children 10 yrs and younger.  Thanks so much!   That's it for this week.  Connie

2009                    Hooray! Jodi is finally over her pneumonia.  She is back to doing her therapies and all the activities that she is expected to do each week.  She spent the weekend with her family and she will be doing horses tomorrow.  She took Ana Jain to the Dr. for her well baby check-up.  Ana fell off of the couch and hit her eye brow last week.  She got three stitches which came out today at her appt.  Jodi had another chest x-ray to make sure that her lungs were good and all is fine.  More later.  Connie

May 7th

Jodi has once more contracted the flu.  She has been down for the count.  She has been sick since Monday but she began to eat a little yesterday.  She still looks awful and is too weak to do much more than sit up in a chair for a few hours.  She passed out two nights ago.(probably from low blood pressure when she got up). She has had to cancel all appointments but we are hopeful that she will be back to normal by this coming week.   She got the flu Saturday last, while she was at  home.  Her whole family came down with it.  I ended up spending Monday and Tuesday at her home taking care of both Jodi and her children while she was sick.  We are all glad that things are finally beginning to look up.  Connie

Update

Jodi went to therapy this week and came home exhausted.  Once again, she was made to walk what seemed like miles.  At first with two canes, then with crutches.  She was pushed to her limit on machines that exercised every possible muscle and then she walked some more with a brace that keeps her from falling yet allows her to walk on her own for the most part.  Needless to say, she slept well last night.  This Thursday, she will do her horseback riding which improves her equilibrium.  She was able to attend church with her family this week for the full three hour block.  Her first time since the stroke.  Up till then, she has only gone for one hour.  She keeps doing little "firsts". She has spent a lot more time in her own home where she is able to take on little bits of added responsibility for her kids and the house.  It is a quiet week this week other than these things.  She continues to do all kinds of exercises at home and has lots of "homework" from her therapists.   One disappointment, her eye doctor told her that she was not a candidate for eye surgery.  Her double vision is much improved with her new glasses but she still see peripheral double vision, which drives her nuts (much more nuts than she inherently is.) It looks like there is nothing more that can be done to correct the problem. The double vision contributes to her lack of balance and dizziness.  More later. Connie

April 13, 2009

Jodi and I laughed so hard when they had her run down the corridor at therapy today.  She claims that she never did have a lot of coordination but she says that her running is pathetic.  I had to agree.  She is a funny sight to behold as she comes down the hall towards everyone.  They all run for the sides for fear of being trampled.  Once she gets going, there is no way that she can stop quickly to prevent a collision.  In spite of the lack of coordination, she is really making head-way. The laughing is good for her and her sense of humor and ability to laugh at herself has attributed to her emotional stability.  She hopped like the Easter bunny, played basket ball, did her balancing exercises, jumped towards the ceiling, road a scooter, walked back and forth as fast as she could go. Of course, she did all of this with a lot of assistance and supervision.  She never uses her wheelchair except when in public places where she could be easily bumped.  Her facial muscles are getting stronger as well.  Today, we went to lunch and celebrated three months of being able to swallow.  She ordered eye glasses today as well.  They will help her double vision.  The doctor thinks glasses might do the trick instead of doing surgery.  Hope it helps her sight as well as her balance.

Jodi was able to give her speech concerning sexual abuse to the "law" folks at HAFB.  She got a lot of great feedback about what an amazing person she is.  She doesn't see that, but we have to agree.

Jodi and her family were able to join in the family annual Easter Egg Extravaganza and then have dinner with us.  Jodi ate like a horse.  She remembers only too well what it was like last year during the Easter family dinner when she could only watch everyone enjoy the food.

That's it for this week. Things continue to look up.

This  past week we spent every day at Jodi's home with her children.  She was not able to do all her exercises because some of the equipment had to be left at my house.  She did what she could but took advantage of doing such things as fixing breakfast and lunch for her children and small house hold chores.  It was great for her to be around her children both day and night.  I was mostly able to help out with the children and do some deep cleaning.  The week went quite well and she is looking forward to gradually moving back home. The more that she is able to accomplish, the closer that time gets. 

She walks a lot by going along walls and holding onto the table and other furniture as she goes.  She goes up and down stairs on her own and is able to do all her showering, hair care, etc, etc. without help.  She is getting pretty independent.  She will again begin riding therapy this coming Thursday. She looks forward to that. 

Lots of appointments for her this week.  She will give a speech at Hill Air Force Base on Tuesday about sexual abuse.  Her first speech since her stroke.  Her speech has improved so much but it may be difficult for some of the participants to understand a few of her words.  I will be there to help if that happens.  It is good for her to get back into normal life and do some of the things she used to do.  She however really misses singing.  Last week we were in the car and I was humming along with a song.  She said that that was one of the things she most missed, being able to hum along with music.  I project that she will be living at home by June and that she will be on her own hopefully by Christmas or soon after.  More later

2009                   Jodi did some interesting things at therapy this week.  They put a gait belt around her and while they hold onto it at  her back, she is able to run down a long hall with their support.  She was totally uncoordinated but at least she ran.  They told her to remember how hard it was for her.  In a month, they wanted her to reflect on her progress from this first time.  She walked a considerable distance and did a lot of standing in one spot while without help, she was able to bend over and lift a ball off of the floor.  These are things that she did not think she would ever do again.  Even though it requires a lot of concentration to do these things without falling, she is thrilled with her progress.  She is also seeing some real progress with her weight lifting exercises.  Jodi is able to get Ana Jain out of her crib while she is sitting in her wheel chair or sitting on the seat of her walker.  She can also get the children out of the tub while in her chair.  Little things that we all take for granted are such great big things to her.  She is especially loving being told that she needs to eat more.  She is so skinny and we do not want her to lose any weight.  Her eating gets better every day.  During the times that she spends in her own home, she cleans the kitchen, puts dishes in the dishwasher, does laundry  and other things that point to her being able to move back into her own home soon.  We will spend the full week of the 30^th at Jodi's home while her in-laws return to their home in St George for Dr. appointments etc.  More later, Connie

     It has been a full year since Jodi came home from the hospital.  It seems like ages ago.  We were terrified to come home and face all possibilities on our own.  We will never forget the first two months.  Jodi slept in bed with me in case she choked and I would not know it.  I had her propped up in bed so that she could control her breathing and saliva.  Neither of us slept during that time.  Eventually we moved her to the recliner at night.  She slept with pillows all around her head and still she was precarious.  I am so glad that time is behind us!  We have had a tremendous support team of family, friends, neighbors, not to mention Doctors, nurses, and therapists.  We are so grateful for all of you who have helped get her to where she is now.  Every time that we get discouraged and think that she is not moving ahead, we look back over the past 16 months and cannot believe that  is she doing as well as she is. 

     Jodi  went to SLC this past week to see the facial muscle therapist.  She was thinking that she would discontinue going to her because we could not see much change.  The therapist brought out the pictures that she took at the beginning and compared them with what Jodi can do now.  WOW!!!!  What a big difference!  We were both so surprised to see what progress had been made.  Jodi also signed off with her Orthopedic surgeon this past week.  Her foot is doing so well.  She will have a minor surgery this Friday to replace her feeding tube and then she has three more surgeries down the road.  Two on her eye (one to take out the gold weight in her eyelid and one to correct her double vision) and one to transfer a nerve from one side of her face to the  other so that she can speak more clearly. 

     Jodi continues to work intensely at her therapies.  She will again be riding the horses to build her strength and help her balance.  That will happen at the end of March. Her attitude is always up-beat and she is determined to get home with her family ASAP.  Robert is  good with her and gives her many challenging exercises to do when she goes home for the weekends.  He wants her home too.  He has been remarkable through all of this.  We could never have found another man who would be so loving and caring  as well as being such a remarkable father.  

     Jodi  is getting more independent every day.  She uses the walker most of the time without any one to assist her.  At therapy, she is walking with her "ski poles" and showing marked progress.  She also walks (very shakily) all by herself with the therapist at her side to spot her.  She only takes a few steps but it is progressive.   She eats up a storm each day.  It takes her quite a while but she does not seem to care.  We are all so grateful for this special blessing.  More later, Connie

Jodi has pneumonia and was scheduled to go to her Dr. this AM when she had what appeared to be another seizure. The paramedics were called and after they were able to stabilize her, I took her to her Dr. After tests, x-rays, it was determined that she was dehydrated due to her high temperatures with the pneumonia. That is probably why she passed out. Her heart rate was so high and her respirations as well. She was cold and clammy and it was difficult to get a blood pressure. When they finally got it, it was 50/80 and then slowly went up to 80/40. She keeps doing things that make me realize just how fragile she is. I told her that from now on, I was going to give her so much water via her feeding tube that she would be floating. The good news is that last week during therapy, she walked with "ski poles" about 400 feet. She walked about 6 feet without any help. Great! Huh? That's it for today. Connie

Jodi had a great physical therapy session on Monday. She walked with something like ski poles. She was able to walk about 190 feet with them. She also took 6 steps without any support or help of any kind. I think that it was a real eye opener for her. Up to now, she was thinking that she may never walk on her own again. When she took those steps she was thrilled with herself. She had two hours of non-stop therapy and although she was exhausted after, she felt so good about herself. Yesterday and today, she has walked without her walker everywhere in the home that she needs to go. I put the gait belt on her and hold onto her from behind so that she will not fall. Every time that she does this, she makes progress. She is doing exercises on the New Step machine as we speak. We are going to Macy's today to use a gift certificate that she was given. She will use her walker while she shops. Things are moving ahead! She will see the therapist who works with her facial muscles tomorrow in SLC. Connie

Jodi is out of the hospital. She is a little weak but is looking forward to going back to therapy on Monday. She has therapy three times this week with one of them in SLC. A busy week but should be a good one.

Connie

January 26, 2009 Jodi was admitted to the hospital today. Not to worry though. The antibiotic she was on for her pneumonia did not do the job so she is receiving IV antibiotics. She should be home in about two days. The only thing that is discouraging is that just when she seems to be making progress in therapy, she has a setback. This will be a short one we hope. Thanks again for all your prayers they make such a difference. Connie

Just a quick update: Jodi has been under the weather this whole week. After a night of temperatures of 103-104.6, I took her to the Dr. and she had pneumonia. It all began with a cold that she contracted from her children. As a result, there has been nothing to report as far as progress or therapy. She is on a good antibiotic and hopefully within a few days, she will return to good health. Heidi, Jodi said to wish you a belated happy birthday. Connie

January 14, 2009

  Jodi walked with the four wheel walker 500 ft.  today.  She did it without a gait belt or anyone holding on to her for fall risk.  I however followed one step behind her with my arms ready to catch her.  We are trying to train her mind to think that she can walk without any assistance.  She continues to eat most of her calories instead of receiving them via feeding tube.  Things keep improving for her.  Connie

January 8, 2

Jodi and I went to I Hop yesterday after her therapy. It took her about 45 minutes or more but she ate one pancake, one sausage link and a cup of hot chocolate. Hoorah!!!! She apologized for taking so long. I could have waited hours for her. It was so fun to see her enjoy so much of the foods that she likes. She worked hard at therapy and was exhausted but happy. Robert brought her kids to see her last night and little Ana Jain wants Jodi and Robert to hold her more that she wants Wendy or grandma. Things are moving in the right direction. Connie

January 5th, 2009

January 5^th 2009.  Can you believe that we have been doing this with Jodi for so long?  She so enjoyed the holiday's with her family.  Little Ana Jain is faring well.  Tommy, Jodi's three year old is a little jealous of her.  He says "I like to hear her cry, It makes me feel happy" and then he pushes her or takes a toy from her.  Some things never change.  Jodi went to Stewart Rehab for the first time today and they were so positive.  They were amazed that she was swallowing after so long.  They said that that just never happens after a year.  What a miracle!  They were impressed with how well she was doing in every area and with her attitude.  They want to get her walking on her own asap.  She is excited to get started and I am happy about not driving to good old SLC.  It snowed like crazy today and I know I could not have made it to the U of U. Connie

December 22, 2008

Almost Christmas and Jodi and Robert are looking to take little Ana Jain home for good.  Everyone is a little leery about it but it has to happen sometime.  Robert is going to be off work for the next two weeks beginning this weekend.  It is a perfect time to take her home and get her used to being with him and Jodi as well as spending a little time with Roberts's parents.  We are all praying that the transition will not be difficult for her.  If she shows signs of separation anxiety, she can always go back to Jodi's sister Wendy's home for a few days here and there until she transitions a little better.  She already has a good relationship with Robert and Jodi and her brothers but she does not know Roberts parents very well and they will be tending her after Robert goes back to work.  Please pray for her during this critical time. 

 

Jodi will be going home during the next two weeks as well.  I will continue to take her to her therapies because it will be impossible for Robert to take her with all the kids.  She is very much looking forward to going home but a little nervous as well as this is the first time that the whole family will be reunited for any length of time.  Roberts's parents will be in Provo for most of the two weeks, leaving Robert totally in charge of his little family.  Quite an undertaking but we are here to help if he calls for us. He is determined to try it alone and wants to experiment with their lives being back to a little bit of normal even if it is for only a couple of weeks.

 

Jodi continues to be involved with therapy and she is making good progress.  She is only scheduled for two more appointments at the U of U and she is not looking forward to changing therapists.  She is so attached to the ones that work with her.  She will be going to the Stewart Rehab in Ogden beginning in January.  As far as not having to travel so far, that will be great.  We are hoping that she can continue to get the same type and degree of therapy when she makes the move.  Her swallow continues to improve every week.  She works at it each day all day long.  Her emotional outlook continues to be so good and optimistic that she wows all those who work with her.  She is a great inspiration to so many.  Connie

 

December 10, 2008

Today was a good day in rehab.  Jodi was able to walk for the first time in going on four months.  She used her walker and her walk was very impressive.  She still has balance issues but she has not lost any of what she had gained before her foot surgery.  Her foot was too sore to use a whole lot because of stiffness so she only walked short distances.  She is doing so well with her swallow that we are going to try taking her off of more of her tube feeds.  Hopefully she can work (and it is very hard work) at eating enough to replace the # of calories that she will need to replace the eliminated nutrition.  Her swallow literally gets stronger everyday!   She continues to amaze her therapists with her desire to work through pain and tough times.   

More later, Connie

December 9, 2008

 

Jodi got her cast off and is sporting an ugly boot but she is happy.  Each new device gives her a little more mobility.  She is still unable to walk or try to walk because she needs range of motion therapy (the foot is extremely stiff) and as usual, the insurance is taking it's time deciding what therapist they will cover. 

Jodi's swallowing continues to get better.  She manages to swallow a cracker, a six oz. pudding, and a four oz. thickened drink each day.  It is a struggle at times but if she keeps it up, it won't be long until she can give up one can of her tube feedings. Her goal of course is to give up all four cans and be on a general diet.

She continues to go to therapy twice a week which gives her something to work towards every couple of days and keeps her going.  She is making slow but continued progress.  Connie

December 1, 2008

We have passed the one year mark since Jodi's stroke.  We had a family party to celebrate her life and progress.  It was so good for her to see the photos that we had taken of her during the year.  She could see how far she had come.  We went looking for Christmas decorations for her tree today. Somehow they got lost in the shuffle of everything last year.  I am sure that she will find them in time for next year but it is fun to shop for new ones this year.  She and her family will spend family night decorating her home and tree.  She directs from her wheelchair and Robert obeys.

She spent most of the thanksgiving holidays with her family in her own home.  Her family joined ours for Thanksgiving dinner and she was able to eat a very small amount of a roll and some turkey.  She takes what she can get at this point and continues to work hard to regain all of her swallow.  There will be many changes in the new year as Robert's company is changing to a new insurance plan.  That is good in some ways but it also means that she can no longer go to many of the Dr's that she has been seeing.  She will also begin her physical therapy and speech therapy here at the Stewart Rehab at the McKay-Dee hospital.  She is a little nervous about it but we are assured that they are very good. Jodi hopefully gets her cast off  this coming Friday.  It will be replaced with a plastic brace.  She will wear it for many months as she re-learns to walk.  She tells me to express thanks again for all of your prayers and messages.  She loves to read them and she is constantly overwhelmed with gratitude for all the prayers going on in her behalf. She knows that it is your faith coupled with hers that make the miracles happen.  Connie

Jodi had the halo removed from her foot today. They placed a cast on her foot/leg for the next two weeks and then she will graduate to a walking-boot. Everything went well and she can soon start to see what balance she has and begin walking. She is feeling well.

MB

November 16, 2008

Jodi is progressing well; and will be getting the halo off of her leg this next week. After that she will be able to begin aggressive therapy again and start to build the muscles back that she will need to use to learn to walk. She is excited to have the halo off and start to progress.

Coming up on the one year mark - November 29th. In many ways she has surpassed anything anybody thought possible. In others, she had hoped to be much further along. Everyone around her is just so happy is she is with us. We love her so much.

Keep fighting J, we're all with you.

Matt

November 5, 2008

Jodi had her first good day today.  She only had one short stint of nausea and was quite cheerful.  She still slept a lot because she remains pretty weak.  It has been a full month since she got so ill.  She will have therapy at the U of U tomorrow but I will ask them to go easy with her.  It is so important that she get back into the routine and begin to use the extra therapies that her insurance has allotted.  Her speech therapist told us that she may have to start at square one with developing her swallow.  Every day that she goes without doing her swallow exercises (including actually swallowing) she loses 20 percent of what she has gained.  If that is indeed so, than she will have her work cut out for her to get back to where she was before she got sick.  Please continue to pray for her, We depend on all your prayers.  They truly make such a difference.  Connie