Kimberly is doing better by the day now!! They are now sitting her up every day for longer and longer periods of time. Today, for the first time, she held up her head on her own while they had her sitting on the edge of the bed. I asked my sister if Kimmie had tried to speak at all ( I know she can't because of the trach, but I wondered if she had tried to mouth anything)...and she said that Kimmie had mouthed the word "MOM"!!! We both agreed it had to have been even sweeter this time than the first time she learned to speak the word! :):):)  Kimmie's right side is still not doing well, but there IS some strength there...and hopefully that can be worked on in time. She is getting stronger all the time...and they have said that they may move her to a more intensive hospital rehab environment as soon as Monday!! There she would receive much more intensive physical stimulation and exercises to strengthen her body. Then when she is ready, they will move her to a long-term rehab facility. Mary says Kimmie LOVES to get phone calls...especially from her fiance...go figure!!! *smiles* Mary says that whenever Joel calls, Kimmie grabs the phone, holds it to her ear, and smiles as he talks to her. I have talked to her twice now and she will respond by smiling or grinning or rolling her eyes or whatever is appropriate...and when she is done or you ask her to hand the phone to her Mom, she will reluctantly give it over to Mary. :)  Mary has improved the simple "YES/NO board" to include the numbers 1-10, YES/NO, and the whole alphabet. Kimmie is able to spell her name, Joel's, her brothers' names...and apparently remembers who's who in the family by pointing us out of pictures Mary shows her.  She pointed me & her Grampa out today from a picture of us all taken at a restaurant last Christmas time when they visited here! (That ought to tickle my Dad...I know it tickled me to no end when Mary told me that!!!)  Another GREAT happening in the next couple of days is that they are going to remove her oxygen...letting her breathe on her own...which hopefully means the trach will go soon, too! Not sure if her swallowing has been affected...I didn't think to ask Mary that...we are all so giddy over the accomplishments, we forget the details at times! I'll find that out next time...they've been weaning her from the oxygen for a couple of days now and are going to remove it tomorrow or the next day. Guess we'll know more then on that topic.

WOW! What an update! I am leaving town for 1 week (Sat, 30th to Sun, 8th) and MAY or may not be able to update as often as I have been. I will try!! I know my parents are still finding out most of this information through this website like the rest of you, so I will figure out a way to get online and update if there is any breaking news that just HAS to be shared immediately :)

You can still write to me!  I will be able to check my e-mail again after the 4th of July.  The e-mails that I have been receiving have been more of a help than you know. I am keeping each and every one of them to show Kimmie one of these days.

Thank you to all who have sent e-mails and prayers for Kimberly!! It really does help and each one is appreciated!
Please continue praying for Kimmie's complete recovery...the Drs said it would take a miracle...our miracle is happening!!

Click here to return to the main page...

Click here to e-mail me.