Escape Attempt #1

Sunday, Noonish- So, Dad and I took Marc for a walk today. I thought that someone was coming with us but they left us "unsupervised". We got out to the hallway and Dad was showing Marc the mountains and trees outside. Marc forcefully pointed out the window. We asked him if he wanted to go outside and he nodded YES! So, we walked to the elevators and got on. Five floors later, we were wheeling out the door. It seemed to make Marc happy to be outside in the fresh air. We sat in the shade for a while. About 25 minutes passed and out came the LNA looking for us. Apparently we weren't suppose to leave the 5th floor, let alone, the entire building. Oh well, it was good for Marc to get out for a while. He seemed to get really tired, so we brought him back up to his room and got him into bed. We kept waiting for someone to put him back in bed, but everyone was too busy. So, I did it myself. The nurse saw and said that Marc and I make a good team. He looked right into my eyes and shook his head yes. After an hour of being up in the wheelchair, Marc was definitely ready for a nap.

~Amanda~

Sunday Morning

I just checked on Marc (10:30 am) and he is sleeping. He got another bath and some meds, so he is a little tuckered out. I wanted to give you more information about Marc's progress last night after Becky left. He is able to screw the cap on and off of his water bottle (the one her stole from Amanda). His right side continues to be the strongest and most coordinated, his left is weak but appears to have gross motor skills. The best example of him getting better was later he wanted to listen to his Ipod. We put it in his alarm clock/speaker system, but couldn't figure out how to make it play. Amanda put it in front of him, he turned it on, went through the menus and scrolled to the song he wanted too hear. If you don't don't know about Ipods, they are tiny music players that require good vision and manual dexterity to operate. To me this was a HUGE sign that he is getting better. Not only can he see and move his fingers in a meaningful way, but he remembered how to run the darn thing. He also knows his family members by sight and name, which is a great source of comfort to us!!!!

Janice, myself, and our family want to thank all who have prayed and kept Marc in their thoughts. We will try to keep you posted as this miracle continues to unfold.

--Frank

It was a good day...

Marc is making amazing strides already! Today he has been trying to talk more, has been much more alert, and this afternoon he started writing to us! His handwriting is terrible, but that is not much of a change... ;) This evening he showed that he has a lot more control of his hands (they are not as shaky as yesterday), and he was able to brush his teeth on his own and write some notes. He was using a device to help him cough to try and clear out the gunk from being intubated, which is difficult but he would not give up. Even when the nurse and I tried to get him to take a break he kept working at it. He is very determined to get his voice back - it is obviously very hard for him that he can't easily communicate with us.

Most of all he is thirsty, and he was being pretty crafty about getting his hands on the cup of ice chips...he is still under "no swallowing" orders for now, but the nurse is cool and let him sneak some sips from the ice chip cup and even let him steal Amanda's bottle of water, which he would not let go of again! He was able to stand for a few moments on his own (with spotters) and then got into a wheelchair for a trip around the 5th floor...quite scenic. We hung out in the hall for a few minutes (me, Marc, the nurse, Amanda, Dad and Sam) and just talked about how far he has come in the last few days and what we were going to do once he is well. Marc has ordered a roast chicken dinner with all the fixins for his first meal back home. Well Bud, consider it done. :)

~Becky

New Room!

Just a quick note to let folks know that we are no longer on the 4th floor. Marc was moved last night from ICU to the Neuro floor, 5 West in the North Towers. If you are planning on visiting please check in with our family first because Marc is still very tired and we need to spread out his visits. You can reach us best on our cells or by email - talula137@yahoo.com. Thanks! :)

~Becky

Friday morning update from Frank

Marc was awake when we arrived this morning. His eyes are open and he appears to look at us, but seems to be looking into space. He has responded to our voices and has tried to whisper things to us. He just had a PT workout and the therapist asked him his mother's name to which he replied "Janice". He also was asked if he likes PT and he whispered that he doesn't like PT. Amanda said "You don't like PT" and he shook his head "No". Good signs.... His right side seems to be strong and his left side is quite weak. Last night, even though his hands are restrained to the side of his bed, he figured out a way to pull his feeding tube out of his nose. (That's my resourceful boy!!) In other news, his cerebral/spinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds the brain) has gone from red to almost clear today. This is a sign that the tears in his brain are healing. The doctors are talking about sending him to the Neuro care floor in the next few days as soon a bed frees up. So keep watching the blog, he will be on 5 West in the North Towers.

The long term picture from the doctors is once Marc is well enough, he will have to go to a rehabilitation center for a few months and it may be a year or more before he is completely healed.

Janice & I want to thank you all for your prayers and support. It has meant so much for us and our family. You all mean the world to us.

- Frank

Good news!

The doctors were able to take out the breathing tube this afternoon, and Marc is breathing on his own with no extra oxygen, no sedatives, and some pain meds. HOORAY!!! He has been awake and responding to family, still very groggy and in pain from his injuries, but he is trying to communicate which is HUGE. :)

~Becky

A new challenge every day...

Marc has been doing rather well the last few days, sometimes responding when we ask him to open his eyes and squeeze our hands, when he is not too tired. Yesterday the doctors tried to take the breathing tube out and he got very anxious and his heart rate and BP went way up so they stopped, but today they are going to try again. He is off sedation and is able to have some pain meds now, and he has been able to signal to the nurse when he is in pain which is a good sign.

On another side of things, today my son Eli was diagnosed with Autism. It is a diagnosis that we have been both dreading and anticipating, but having them tell us for certain was quite a blow. We now know the reasons he has been delayed in his speech and social skills so at least we can begin to figure out a structured treatment plan for him. It is frustrating that we suspected over a year ago that this might be the case, but his development and speech educators that work with him once a week dismissed us and said it was too soon to tell and they couldn't say anything more or provide help for him. Turns out they were wrong. I should have pushed it more at the time, but whats done is done and all we can do is work harder to help him communicate and learn. So this will mean 15-40 hours a week of therapy and one-on-one work with a developmental educator (NOT the one we have been seeing already) for the next year until his reevaluation.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? Then I have the strongest family around.

~Becky

Service Projects

For those of you who have so graciously offered to help out with anything we might need during these next few weeks, we have finally started to realize that we are in fact quite behind on several projects and may need help after all! Our end of summer projects that just a few weeks ago were in planning phase are now finding themselves left behind for days being by Marc's bedside. So if there are still any takers, we have begun to find a few things here and there that may require some assistance.

• Firstly, anyone like cucumbers? It has been a good year for them and we are inundated! The garden is beginning to burst, and if there is anyone out there with canning/freezing expertise, particularly in the corn/tomato/pickle areas, we are planning a canning party one of these days. The corn is still a few days away from ready, but I will update those who are interested as it gets closer. We also ordered a new freezer several weeks ago and it is in, waiting to be picked up at Home Depot. We will need to get that before the corn can be done, as the current freezer is in desperate need of retirement after 32 years of faithful service.
  
• Anyone like splitting wood? Sam will be organizing this project for early Saturday mornings or weekdays in the late evening, times when the heat is not so oppressive. I know, it isn't glamorous to say the least, but it is our #1 fall project each year and we can use any help that comes our way! Contact Sam or Becky at talula137@yahoo.com with questions.
• Miscellaneous hauling. Another glamorous task...we need to clean out the cellar to make room for the winter's firewood, and haul logs and scrap wood out to the field for splitting. Again, contact Sam or Becky for details.

And of course, your continued prayers and friendship are the best service you can give, and we appreciate each and every one of you for all that you do to show us your support. :)

~Becky

Update Central

It has been a whirlwind of a week since Marc's accident, and the prayers and support have been flooding in! On behalf of our whole family I'd like to thank all of our friends and family who have called, stopped by, baked, sent notes of encouragement...you have lifted our spirits and reminded us how much we are loved. :)

Now for the update...today was a good day! Marc had 3 great neuro exams this morning. He squeezed hands, wiggled his toes, and even opened his eyes when asked (just for a moment, but enough for us)! After the 3rd neuro he had a session of PT (trying to ward off muscle atrophy) so he was tired this afternoon and they resedated him to give him time to rest. There has been talk of taking out the breathing tube to see how he does all on his own, but when doctors say they will do something there is usually a 1-3 day delay in actually DOING anything. So we are back to the waiting game, but with spirits higher than they have been in a few days. Everyone needs a good day now and then!

~Becky