I've finally made it back from vacation...and with more news on Kimmie's progress :)  I was able to make the last update from Florida...when she finally woke up!! That one was an inspiring update and in case you haven't read it before, click here to read it now...it's one that you won't soon forget...and one that will give you hope if you have a loved one in a coma!

Kimmie is now at her rehab center. Mary said that the scene when she left the hospital was amazing...all of her therapists and nurses were there to see her off to rehab...and all were in "smiling tears" as she left them...for a couple of reasons...most of them fell completely in love with our Kimmie...which is understandable (smiles)...and the other reason was that they never thought that she would leave their hospital sitting up, waving goodbye to them all!!  Remember that when she arrived there...and for a week after that...she was what they considered "totally unresponsive to anything but physical stimuli"! Here we are, 2 weeks later, waving goodbye! Mary took pictures and I have made her promise to rush them to me ASAP so I can get them online!

Yesterday was Kimmie's first day of rehab at the new center. I haven't heard the latest from my sister since Saturday, so I don't know yet how that went. I am hoping that once the respiratory therapist sees how well Kimmie is swallowing/breathing on her own...and now that she is sitting up, etc...they will remove her trach soon. All she has now are the trach and the feeding tube in her belly. As soon as they can get her eating, I assume that will come out, as well.   Now it's a waiting game...Kimmie has a great determination to get better as soon as she can...which will be of great help in her recovery time! She will need a long time of therapy...and will have to re-learn everything...eating, speaking, walking, feeding herself, going to the bathroom, etc...but her mind is good and the rest can be accomplished in time.  They asked her if she remembered what she did for a living and she does remember that she is a teacher!!! :):):)  Her right side is stronger now and she is able to use a walker to some degree already!  They now get her up at regular intervals and take her into the bathroom.  She sits up for hours each day now.  I haven't yet gotten to hear her speak using her trach speech thing, but I know that she does have it in place and was just waiting to be shown how to use it once they got her to this new rehab center. I hope that they are doing that now! The second day she was at the rehab, a therapist came in with a set of surgical scrubs (pants and shirt) and asked Kimmie if she could manage to get it on herself. Mary said it took quite some time, but that Kimberly did manage to dress herself...and Mary got a picture of her sitting in a chair wearing those scrubs and waving at the camera! :)  I can't wait to get that one and get it online for you all!

The night sweats have stopped now! :)  They do have a problem keeping her in bed at night, though! She tries to get up on her own and move around (which she obviously cannot do on her own), so they have placed a net "cage" around her bed at night, so she won't hurt herself. Mary says it isn't so bad... kinda like the play area at a McDonald's or something. :) Mary has taped all of our pics on the inside of her netting. 

ADDED LATER: There are some details of Kimmie's recovery that I've omitted. Although details are not truly necessary, I feel it's important for others going through this to understand that brain injury can cause people to exhibit some pretty strange and disturbing behavior. Please try to be understanding and realize that they don't understand what they are doing. They are often unpredictable. Although Kimmie didn't do it, I've heard that many brain injured patients will openly curse like a sailor...even if they would never have said such things prior to their injury. We must have great patience with our loved ones as they go through this type of thing during recovery.

That's about it for this update...I hope to have another one soon regarding the trach, voice thing, and feeding tube!

A question for those who have loved ones already past this stage, how long 'til they usually remove the trach and feeding tube????? What is it exactly that they are waiting for?? Send me e-mail here...mperry@mis.net

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!!
 
 

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