Peters update Jan 2015

Peter has been a trooper through is brain injury.  One can only imagine how hard it must be to go from a functional person to relying on others to help.   Just when we were making great strides along came a new diagnosis that is heartbreaking. Cancer , even though it is not malignate,  it is still life endangering.  It complicates his already complicated diagnosis.  

We are super luck to have a great family and with out Frank and the kids I am sure to have lost my mind at this point.
For the past years I have treated and felt as if Peter is my child, I have since quit my job to stay home and take care of him,  not an easy decision for being a single parent you must provide for your children in anyway possible.  I have faith and hope that because I am at his side we will survive this struggle too.  
His insurance however is not doing its job,  multiple appts a week, to and from Denver , Casper , and around Cheyenne including therapy sessions makes for a busy life.. Whew who woulda thought it would turn out this way?
Not me for sure ,  I look to God for guidance every day to make sure that I am doing what I should be, it's scary, I don't want to loose anyone else.  With prayers , doctors and family hopefully we can overcome this hurdle to.

I am including a link if you choose to help with medical and transportation cost. http://www.gofundme.com/jb3a0k

Vestibular schwannoma (also known as acoustic neuroma, acoustic neurinoma, or acoustic neurilemoma) is a benign, usually slow-growing tumor that develops from the balance and hearing nerves supplying the inner ear. The tumor comes from an overproduction of Schwann cells--the cells that normally wrap around nerve fibers like onion skin to help support and insulate nerves. As the vestibular schwannoma grows, it presses against the hearing and balance nerves, usually causing unilateral (one-sided) or asymmetric hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), and dizziness/loss of balance. As the tumor grows, it can interfere with the face sensation nerve (the trigeminal nerve), causing facial numbness. Vestibular schwannomas can also press on the facial nerve (for the muscles of the face) causing facial weakness or paralysis on the side of the tumor. If the tumor becomes large, it will eventually press against nearby brain structures (such as the brainstem and the cerebellum), becoming life-threatening

Eickbush Family Update 03/10/2014

Hello all from the great state of Wyoming,

    It has been almost a year past since the last update on Peter and our family.  Lots of changes good and bad. Lots of struggles, but in that it has taught us only to be stronger and to go forward.
    Peter is doing really well,  he is back in therapy for PT, OT and a few other things that are private.  Overall he is doing really well.  It is now just Dora, Peter, and I (Joanna) however we are keeping our heads up and making the best of the situation.  Peter has really started to enjoy spending time writing letters and drawing.  His memory is continuing to come back.  However his short term memory we are still working on.  His left side is still weak hence the therapy.
    I coach soccer and basketball and try to involve him as much as it allows.  Again this year we all went to the mountains and went tubing.   I know, I know risky, however the smile on his face was priceless.  The people who worked the lifts were so helpful and I was so grateful they made the day a great success.   He  had a great time and is wanting to go back for more.  Not to sure if we will get back this year but we now know that he is capable of doing it so we will try again.

Dora is doing very well in school and is loving basketball and soccer.  Soccer is about to start up again which she is soooooo looking forward to.  Basketball just got over for the season and it went better then expected.  She seems to be the ever growing child.  These are the days where I miss my mom the most.   We are hoping that with the additional therapy that peter is getting that his left side will continue to improve.  That's the hope at least.  Well that is all for now.  Hoping all are well.

Joanna Eickbush

"Are YOU done yet?"

One thing Peter has never really expressed is his personality.  He's been content to just sit in the background of life and fit in wherever needed. 

Since his brain injury, we are seeing a totally new personality!!!!!  Some days, some moments, the new personality is awesome and other times, well .... it is an adjustment period for all of us!  :-D

Those who have a loved one, or friend, who have gone through TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) know that it is a stage when they have "outbursts".  Please understand if you are there and witness an outburst, he just needs reminded to calm down and be kind.  I witnessed the CNA remind him to be patient as he was really hungry and wanted his dinner ... NOW!  I think we've all been there, done that, when we were STARVING and just wanted something to satisfy our hunger !!!! :-D

Yesterday, I decided to stop by about dinner time 5pmish.  Peter enjoyed his dinner very much, chatted for a few minutes and then informed us he was ready for bed!  So, we asked if he would like to sit in his wheelchair, but he declined.  He went to bed.  I was yacking away with Peter, Joanna and the CNA (cannot remember her name) and all of a sudden he uses his right hand and displays a PAC-man figure at me with his fingers, while relating via his mouth a similar voice I used to hear from my sisters when they wanted someone to be quiet ..... Tssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhht !!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Ha ha ha !!!!!!  Then he said to me, "Are YOU done yet?"  Ha ha ha !!!!!  He is having no problem getting the point of being quiet, especially around bedtime!

Another funny thing that he did to show his latest personality.  Sharleen told him it was time after a meal to brush his teeth and he did not feel moved to do so.  So, he looked at Joanna and said to her while pointing at Sharleen, "Will YOU make HER leave?"  LOL.

Anyway, no complaints from us whatsoever.  We are SO thankful to see SUCH progress over the past month.  Hard to believe that it was ONE MONTH ago TODAY that our lives changed.  We are so grateful for steady progress!  oops.... I said progress right?  PROGRESS !!!!!  Wahoo !!!!!!!!

Today he mentioned that his left arm was tingling and he had sensation, so Joanna rubbed it and he said it felt better.  He was able to use his feet while on the parallel bars with the OT/PT gurus the other day too!

Well, this is long.  I just wanted to share a few laughs on our road to recovery.  I am learning that sometimes our experiences might be difficult, but if we can focus on the funny things too, it sure helps the time fly and keeps our attitude in check!

Have a great week & thanks again for remembering Peter, and family, in your thoughts and prayers !!!!

Peter is Staying Put Till At Least the End of Dec Update 12/14/2012

As the time keeps on passing by it seems like the days are going together and I keep loosing track of what day it is.  It seems like just yesterday that the accident happened and I had gotten the phone call.   Everyday seems like a struggle just to get through and then I remember what Peter must be feeling like on the inside and unable to express but in those brief moments of "outburst's" as we are calling them.

We are glad to say the Craig Hospital in Denver has conditional accepted Peter for their Rehab program, they have a top notch brain injury rehab program and will be keeping him there for 3-6 weeks, however they do not have a bed until the 3rd of January.  This means that he will be staying at his current rehab until Craig has a bed.  Now I say conditional because they will be coming up on Tuesday to review and speak with us and make sure that he fit protocol!!!!!  I am so thankful that we finally have a YES from someone after all the long line of No's from all the other's.  It has been a long road thus far and Peter has come such a long way.
Today Peter was showing of for me on the parallel bars with his walking skills, yes I did say walking skills, now even though he still can not walk without the assistance of an aid beside him or the bars his LEFT leg has started to respond and now his left are is slowing responding as well.  We are so excited for him and I try to show how much I am each and every time I see him as it seems to help lift his spirits. 

As with all brain injury's you never know what to expect so,  this is no different with Peter, he has good times and bad times, and we just keep reminding him of what he can do, and how much he has already accomplished, as he has come so far in such a short amount of time.  He gets agitated very easily and so we are mindful of this in how we are approaching his therapy and care.  We still have to remind him every day of the accident, where he is, who his therapists are, who his nurses are, why he can't go home just yet, why he is not the same as he was before, why yelling is not nice, etc and this does seem to help him understand, but it is a process that does have to be repeated everyday as his short term memory is not working well at this time.

Peter does enjoy visiting for short periods of time and then he likes to rest and then likes to visit or do activities, he remembers things from years ago, and is starting to joke around a little which puts a smile on my face.  I have really learned from him over the last few weeks how the little things in life can be so enjoyable,  how could I have really forgotten them?  Well I sure did,  I am thankful for all the family and friends that have been a great help and continue to be a great help through these times as this is what really matters.

So for now Peter will stay in Room 314 Cheyenne Regional's East Building Acute Rehab Unit
2600 East 18th Street
3rd Floor

12/3/12 (Peter) Update from Hwy 314!

Howdy!

It has now went from a long road to a speedy highway!

We have seen a lot of p-r-o-g-r-e-s-s!!!!

Peter says, "Hello!" from room 314.  He just vocalized it to all of us! (John, Shar, Rachel, Becky, his CNA, and myself.)

Peter had a few workers stop in and visit him over the past few days.  A special thank you to Angie L, Justin R., and today, Loren C.  Also, a few friends have stopped in!  Tim and Myrna, Elmer, Nolene & Laramie, Art and Dolly, and his ornery cousin, yours truly!  :D

Becky, the bestest CNA ever, changed out Peter's bed and he has been able to sleep so much better! 

Peter has had a very busy schedule these past few days with Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, and Speech therapy up to three hours each day.

Peter has done a whole lot of talking today!  

Rachel, Peter's four year-old niece, was spying his pureed corn yesterday, and asked Peter if she could have a bite.  He agreed, and she went home trying to convince mommy to "Cook her corn just like Peter's!"  :-D

This evening, Rachel again asked Peter if she could have a bite of his food. He agreed, and so she tried his Potato soup and also, his pureed mixed veggies.  She says it was tasty, however, she likes the corn better!  So, maybe, just maybe, mommy will get a hint and make more pureed corn for Rachel? :-D 

UPDATE:  Rachel convinced Mommy to cook pureed corn and tried about two bites and she was done!  LOL  Isn't it funny how our taste buds trick us into thinking that something so delicious can be re-created? 

Peter is now relaxing in bed watching Disney with his niece Rachel laying in the bed next to him!



A special thank you to all who continue to remember us in your prayers.