12/28/2012 Update on Peter - A special visitor!

Good Evening,

I have been so thankful, and amazed, to see the progress that Peter has made even since a week ago, Sunday.  I walked into the room and informed Peter that he had special visitors today!

Darin K., a brother worker stopped by to say hi.  He used to live and sometimes go to the same meeting as Peter and his family, when they lived south of where they live now, so he stopped in to say hi!  :-D

Peter seemed quite tired, but I politely reminded him that we needed him to open his eyes and wake up, so we could chat with him as we had traveled to see HIM!

Guess what he did!  He said, "Okay." and pushed the button to set up and began chatting with us. 

Mom was with me and she was able to ask questions and get Peter to respond to all of us.




Darin, Peter, and Mom smiling away at the camera.

 I suppose it is only fair if the blogger/photographer join in for a smile or two with Peter & Darin.

I had the vibrant color mode on and it made the pictures blurry.  LOL.  So, black and white is the best viewing option.  I just realized those blinds sure make ones head/hair look somewhat funny!





Peter showed me that he is able to move his left leg some, and his left arm.  It does take alot of work to do so, but that is such a HUGE improvement over the prior visits.  He said his left arm was really hurting, and gave in to my offer of a gentle, massage.  He finally looked at me and politely let me know he was done with the massage after about five minutes!  LOL.  I am so excited to envision the progress that Peter will make as he improves even moreso at Craig Rehab Hospital in Denver.

I asked Peter if he would mind greeting everyone via video and this is his message to everyone!



Even though we have seen progress, Peter has a long ways to go.  His left arm, and leg, will need continuous extensive rehab to see if he can regain the mobility back in his left side as he once had.  We are hoping and praying for a miracle, but have settled it that we will be happy with the best Peter can do!  After all, we realize Peter's life is a miracle to all of us!


Maybe I will just close with a thought or two I have enjoyed lately ...
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~ We would never know the worth of an anchor with out the stress of the storm.

~ Wheat needs to be crushed, leaven would have no power over the whole kernels of wheat.

~ Flowers give the same fragrance no matter where they are planted.

~ Our words are heard, our actions are seen, our spirits are felt.

~ We may be able to hide our thoughts, but we cannot hide results of them.

~ Satan would like us to love the things we will later on hate.  God wants us to love those things we will always love.

~ Jacob's love for Rachel did not measure time.

~ Ruth's love for Naomi did not measure distance.

~ Mary's love for Jesus did not measure cost.

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Thanks again to all who continue to remember Peter, and family, in your thoughts and prayers.

Have a wonderful weekend !!!!

Sugar Cookies, Almond Roca, and ..."Oh yes I can!"

Good Afternoon from windyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Wyoming!  My drive up to Wyoming was a two hands at the wheel kinda drive.  I think I read winds were about 65 + mph!  Yikes!  That's windy enough to almost blow ones nose, and also, blow a few truckers off of the road too!  Ha ha!

This is the good ole ornery cousin again.  I hope Shar, Joanna, and Naomi won't mind if I share a smile or two today from my visit with Peter.

I haven't been up to see Peter this week at all, and decided to make my debut today with homemade goodies .  I brought with me homemade sugar cookies that I decorated, and some homemade Almond Roca.  Now, I realize I am no Martha Stewart, Paula Deen, or Rachel Ray, mind you, but I do enjoy time spent in the kitchen in hopes of creating smiles on others faces.

The sitter, Tasha, said she really didn't know how Peter's week went.  So, I asked Peter if his diet had been up graded to include cookies this week.  I said, "Peter do you know if it would be okay on your current diet to enjoy a sugar cookie?"  His reply, "Oh yes.  I can enjoy a cookie!"  Hmmm.... it sounds like his diet today didn't really include anything like a cookie, so the staff knows they are sitting in his room and maybe, just maybe, they will let him enjoy one?  I think there is about a dozen, so if you stop in, feel free to enjoy a cookie or the Almond Roca.

I asked Peter how his therapy went this week and he told me it went really well.  I understand he actually sets up so that the aide can help lift him into the wheelchair for potty breaks or a meal.  That was AWESOME progress !!!!!  It sounds like there is still a struggle to use his left arm, but we are hopeful and confident that the folks at Craig Rehab will help get him to the best possible place for one with the injuries he has had to face.

We are grateful for all who remember in your thoughts and prayers.  I wanted to share a thought from special meeting last week that has been good for my heart to remember. 

~ We need to be careful what we love, and what we fill our heart with; because what we love, will stay with us throughout all eternity.  Will we be grateful or full of regret?

 Have a wonderful week!

The Final YES from Craig Hospital

It has been a few days since we have done an update on Peter, so while sitting here telling him how much it has snowed outside and that it sure would have been nice to have another set of hands on a snow shovel I thought I would get in a quick update for you all.

Yesterday, I met with Craig Hospital to give them my after rehab plan for Peter, what my expectations were, and then to listen to what their expectations would be of us as a family.  She was able to watch him during one of his PT therapy sessions and was extremely impressed by his progress. I was more nervous than I had ever been for a job interview,  as for me this was so very important as I have felt very strongly that Craig would be a good fit in getting Peter back to the most active person he can be since the accident.

So today was D day and we got the answer we have been waiting for ALL the doctors and the ENTIRE TEAM has said YES.  He will be going to Craig after the 1st of the year.  They meet on Wednesdays for bed planning so by next Wednesday we should have an exact date that he will be leaving the ARU unit here in Cheyenne and going to Englewood, CO @ Craig Hospital.  He will be staying at Craig for at least 4 weeks and it could be up to 8 weeks.  Craig's rehab process requires that the family participate in the therapy sessions during day which will be a challenge but manageable.

I am excited for Peter to get top notch therapy from a great facility.   When I get the exacts dates of the moves I will post them.

Peter continues to improve everyday, and today he walked 10 times back and forth on the bars,  his left arm is slowing making improvement as the nerves are starting to come to life.  This makes it painful for him and uncomfortable but it is a good sign of activity in his body.

Well that is all I have time for now as I am off to pick up Dora from school.  Thanks again for all the prayers and support.

"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

One Day at a Time!

Happy Thursday Evening,

It seems safe enough to say that we are in a holding pattern right now as to what the next stages of Peter's journey will be.  So, we will wait patiently, one day at a time until the answer is revealed what is next for Peter. If I understand correctly staff from one of the facility's thought to possibly take Peter as a patient will be visiting with the family next week.

I wanted to share that when we sat with him on Wednesday, he had a short time of agitation and we calmly reminded him to be gentle.  I loved the fact he kept repeating to himself, "I need to be gentle, gentle, gentle, gentle."

Thank you to all who continue to remember Peter, and the family, in your thoughts and prayers!

Update on Peter 12/12/12

I am so happy to see that Peter is completing whole sentences!   He is getting stronger everyday.      PROGRESS!!!  

Today, he asked for a snack and so we offered applesauce ...His response was ... "Can't you get me something better than applesauce, like pizza?"  :-D

Peter is able to help choose his meals  so he let us know that He only wants cheeseburger or pizza from now on!  :-D

Hopefully we should no more answers as to where Peter will go in the next day or so.  He could end up staying at this same facility he is at for a little longer, after all.