Monday Morning from Tammy
Monday morning Report from Tammy
We had a long weekend, not bad long, just long, without the library and the wonderful blessings of reading the blog, and most of everything closes down at the hospital on the weekends, it was like a ghost town here. Jack went to 4 or 5 therapies on Friday to none on Saturday, (except our therapy of getting him up and walking and coloring, stickering), and one therapy on Sunday. So we are glad to see Monday roll around and the hustle and bustle of the hospital again. We are planning on moving tomorrow to Baylor. They were waiting to discharge some patients today for a bed to open up for us. Looks like that happened and Jack and I will be transported by ambulance tomorrow. The facility is called Our Children's House at Baylor. I meant to bring address and phone number with me to the library but forgot, I will post it before Rob goes home today. (see post below -- s.s.)
Jack had another cat scan Sunday morning, it looked good. The ventricles were still enlarged but no build up of fluid, so looks like that is working well. The cat scan showed a pocket of air behind his heart and maybe some in his neck area. Nothing to worry about as long as it doesn't grow, it will eventually dissolve back in to the body, might take a couple of weeks to happen. They will monitor that by xray. He had been coughing pretty badly over the last 5 days so they xrayed his chest and found the beginnings of pneumonia. He started on antibiotics last night. The respitory therapist will be in twice a day to work that area with her patting tool. I got pretty upset yesterday with all that news, I guess I just want him to get better with no more complications. I have been assured by all the doctors that come in that it is nothing to worry about, we will still move on to Baylor, I think that they record everything, even mom's tears in Jack's chart, so they are all reassuring me when they visit Jack. Jack's chart is about 3 1/2 inches thick from the last 2 weeks.
Great things that Jack has done over the weekend:
His eyes are just about normally opened now. Focusing on stuff is not easy still, but he is working on it.
He cried last night with his mouth open, sounded like almost back to normal. He normally has held his mouth shut with lips pursed in all of his cries.
He is walking stronger every day.
He loves his shower, he is liking to hold the shower head in his hand and just let the warm water fall on him for a while. When it comes time to dry off, he likes to dry his belly and back and face, we help him with the rest. I am so glad that this child of mine who was born independant is struggling to gain that independance back. He is determined to not let people take care of him any more than he needs to. Therapy is another story, he doesn't like it, and wont really work with the therapist well. But we work with him and he is making strides with us.
We have taken a walk to the candy machine for him to buy DJ, Sophie and Cousin Lauren candy. He likes to give people things and that is a great way for him to practice his walking. We ofcourse break it up into individual purchase trips. So he has to go back each time and walk more.
I am assured by all the changes this weekend that I wont have to wait too long to see his smile again.
God bless you all. We love reading your encouraging posts.
Tammy
5/9/2005 11:10 AM
<
Good news for Jack and me...Rob will stay one more night and get us settled into the rehab. I am so glad of this, I will feel more comfortable with all the goings on knowing that Rob and I are in the goings ons together.
Tammy
5/9/2005 2:57 PM
We had a long weekend, not bad long, just long, without the library and the wonderful blessings of reading the blog, and most of everything closes down at the hospital on the weekends, it was like a ghost town here. Jack went to 4 or 5 therapies on Friday to none on Saturday, (except our therapy of getting him up and walking and coloring, stickering), and one therapy on Sunday. So we are glad to see Monday roll around and the hustle and bustle of the hospital again. We are planning on moving tomorrow to Baylor. They were waiting to discharge some patients today for a bed to open up for us. Looks like that happened and Jack and I will be transported by ambulance tomorrow. The facility is called Our Children's House at Baylor. I meant to bring address and phone number with me to the library but forgot, I will post it before Rob goes home today. (see post below -- s.s.)
Jack had another cat scan Sunday morning, it looked good. The ventricles were still enlarged but no build up of fluid, so looks like that is working well. The cat scan showed a pocket of air behind his heart and maybe some in his neck area. Nothing to worry about as long as it doesn't grow, it will eventually dissolve back in to the body, might take a couple of weeks to happen. They will monitor that by xray. He had been coughing pretty badly over the last 5 days so they xrayed his chest and found the beginnings of pneumonia. He started on antibiotics last night. The respitory therapist will be in twice a day to work that area with her patting tool. I got pretty upset yesterday with all that news, I guess I just want him to get better with no more complications. I have been assured by all the doctors that come in that it is nothing to worry about, we will still move on to Baylor, I think that they record everything, even mom's tears in Jack's chart, so they are all reassuring me when they visit Jack. Jack's chart is about 3 1/2 inches thick from the last 2 weeks.
Great things that Jack has done over the weekend:
His eyes are just about normally opened now. Focusing on stuff is not easy still, but he is working on it.
He cried last night with his mouth open, sounded like almost back to normal. He normally has held his mouth shut with lips pursed in all of his cries.
He is walking stronger every day.
He loves his shower, he is liking to hold the shower head in his hand and just let the warm water fall on him for a while. When it comes time to dry off, he likes to dry his belly and back and face, we help him with the rest. I am so glad that this child of mine who was born independant is struggling to gain that independance back. He is determined to not let people take care of him any more than he needs to. Therapy is another story, he doesn't like it, and wont really work with the therapist well. But we work with him and he is making strides with us.
We have taken a walk to the candy machine for him to buy DJ, Sophie and Cousin Lauren candy. He likes to give people things and that is a great way for him to practice his walking. We ofcourse break it up into individual purchase trips. So he has to go back each time and walk more.
I am assured by all the changes this weekend that I wont have to wait too long to see his smile again.
God bless you all. We love reading your encouraging posts.
Tammy
5/9/2005 11:10 AM
<
Good news for Jack and me...Rob will stay one more night and get us settled into the rehab. I am so glad of this, I will feel more comfortable with all the goings on knowing that Rob and I are in the goings ons together.
Tammy
5/9/2005 2:57 PM
Comments
This day I will be praying for strength and comfort for you Tammy as you prepare for the week ahead. I will also continue to pray for Jack's complete and total healing from everything he has been through.
Those of us here in Abilene are blessed by your updates and thank you for not only relaying medical information, but giving us those personal glimpses into your days. It touches my heart and I'm sure the hearts of all those reading this blog daily.
It is lunch time here in Abilene and after I get back from lunch I always look to see if there is an update. I love the updates...they keep me connected to you guys with my prayer request. The Rehab is awesome. I worked across from Baylor for 6 years and know how great the place it is. I pray it still is. Also if you need a change of eating go to Gaston and go east and about 2-3 miles down there is larger shopping area with grocery store and places to eat... The Lord Bless you each and every day. We love you,
The Aldriedge's
If you need me to do anything, or if I can help Rob in anyway please let me know.
Will and Shelby said tell Jack "hi" and to give him a hug.
Love,
Darla & Sam
Will & Shelby
I just wanted you to know how much I miss seeing your sweet face at church. I think sometimes we don't realize how much encouragement we get from seeing those constants in our lives that are always there smiling and giving words of encouragement. I am, however, encouraged by your faith and positive attitude in a very hard situation. Thanks for continuing to be a light to me and everyone else.
Love,
Lori Wallace
Tammy
Love, Uncle Joe, Aunt Debbie
and Joey
Carol I meant to add a special thanks today for the brain team t-shirts you made for us all. The doctors that have seen them have said great things. Carol made on her sewing machine,
Jack's Brain Team
Then a picture of a brain with lightning bolts, and dangly eyes
Then on the bottom line:
Father, Son, Spirit
We put them on right away and wore them on Saturday and Sunday.
Thanks for your creativity!
Tammy
I love you buddy and let's get well together.
Grandpa
dm Beaumont
The saying for Baylor University is "Sic 'em, bears!" . While you are at Baylor Rehab, we say "Sic 'em , JACK!". ( Right, Shoni?) We love you!
Love,
Dave, Karise, Keely & Kinlie
"See, I am making a new thing! ..I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19
What good news that Jack has made such remarkable progress in the last few days, even just now over the weekend. I'm so thankful that he's now able to move into rehab-- just a few days ago, there was still much progress for him to make before that would be possible.
I continue to pray for you all, and I think now about your present transition-- so good to be moving from crisis-management into more therapy, but difficult not to be together.
I'll be leaving this coming Saturday to be gone a little more than a week ( to Mayo) and don't know if I'll have internet access from there. But I will at the least keeping checking right up till I leave. What a blessing to have these peeks into your and Jack's evolving world.
Love, Gay
You will all still be in my heart, on my mind, and in my prayers.
Love you,
Carol
Love, The Wertheims
I have recently heard about your grandson Jack and operation made on him. I hope he is recovering now. We believe that everything will be OK because we all love him and pray for him and wish he were with his parents, grandparents, friends soon. We think your love, care and singing will help him to be healthy again.
Let God be merciful to all of you and especially to Jack.
Alexander Kangin
Moscow
We look forward to seeing you all back in "your pew" at worship at some point in the future and we will praise God together for His providential care.
Don and Rita Kehl
I hope by the time you read this you are settled in.
I know DJ and Sophie are excited there Dad is coming home. I pray for you that you have strength to take care of yourself and Jack. I pray for Rob, because I know it will be hard for him to leave you there.
You are such a precious family and God is there with you, as I know you know that.
Here is a scripture for Jack.
...because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised.
Joshua 23:10
We Love you,
Valerie Hilliard
Love Shoni Gililland Power
It is with very mixed emotions that I can say that I am back in Abilene as of 4:30 or so this afternoon. Leaving was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but I guess it is back to the real world sooner or later. It was very good to see Sophie since she was unable to make the trip this weekend because of her being sick.
We got moved over to Baylor this morning, so I can report on a few things. It seemed like a very nice place, very different than what we have been used to however. One of the ways God has been taking care of us is that the patient load at the hospital was very low the entire time we were there so we never felt like Jack was being neglected. This place is FULL. Not that I think Jack is going to be neglected, but a very different atmosphere and energy when there is SO much going on.
Also these are semi-private rooms so Tammy and Jack are sharing it with another patient and his grandmother. There again was another lesson in how blessed we have been in all this. The boy in there looked to be about 5 years old or so and was in a car accident. He is going to have a long road ahead of him. A little later we meet the father and he tells us that his wife was also involved in the accident and she is over at Parkland Hospital. He just spends his days driving back and forth between the two places between his wife and son. He had to quit his job because that is all he does. The boys name was Sarhan I think if you would like to pray for him and his family.
The doctors there seemed pleased with all that Jack was able to do. They asked him to point with left and right fingers, bend and straighten his legs, they were real impressed that he is already walking even if it supported.
When I called Tammy after getting home she said that none of Jack's therapy will start until Thursday so they have a fun day of absolutley nothing to look forward to tommorrow. But we are glad to be there and I think we will see some rapid improvements in Jack.
I wasn't home 20 minutes when Wayne and Leon pull up to mow my lawn again. Trust me, my lawn has never had it so good. Thank you guys for your act of love.
Thanks to everyone, you all have carried us through this, we wouldn't have made it without your love and strength.
Please continue(I know you will) to pray for them.
Looking forward to seeing many of you tommorrow night.
God bless all of you.
Rob