Kimmie finally got her trach removed on July 10th!!! They never did even teach her to speak using it...they just removed it instead :) The hole is healing nicely...just a band-aid on it...that seems so weird! Anyhow, she is able to make sounds in her sleep and after she coughs, etc...so her vocal cords are working OK...she just hasn't figured that out yet! She whispers now and is able to get her wants, needs, thoughts across that way for now :)  She has an advanced system of communicating...using whispering, her alphabet board to spell things and names out the long way, a "face board" showing a range of emotions so she can get her mood across that way, pointing to 'true/false' and 'yes/no' answers on the board, etc...

Mary says as soon as the trach wound heals, they will start trying to feed her and see how that goes...if all goes well, they will remove the feeding tube in her belly! That's the only thing left...so we can't wait for that to go!! She is doing so well!!! Her therapists are amazed at how far she has come in such a short time. She is now able to somewhat get around in a wheelchair by pulling it along with her heels and slightly pushing with her hands on the wheels...that weak right hand is still a problem, though...and to add insult to injury, the Drs. at the first and second hospitals left a huge piece of glass from the accident in her right arm, saying "it would be alright to leave it there" (????) It obviously ISN'T alright...and it's causing her pain every time she tries to use that arm. Mary is stressing to the Drs. that they need to remove it ASAP! Two days ago, Mary went to rehab with Kimmie...to physical therapy therapy...and she said that Kimmie was able to walk all the way across the therapy room and back using her walker and a little bit of help! She is now able to tell someone when she needs to use the restroom and they help her walk in and leave her to do her business (her modesty has finally returned). She still has her netting on her bed at night, so she won't attempt to get out of bed and accidentally hurt herself. She is getting a bit better at dressing herself now, too :)

She asked to see herself in a mirror a couple of days ago (for the first time). Mary said she asked to go to the sink which has a mirror behind it...and Mary asked her if she wanted to see herself. She nodded and so Mary took her to the sink in her wheelchair and stepped back for a moment. She said that Kimmie just stared at herself for a few minutes, turning her head both ways and looking at herself...then ran her hand through the short hair now growing back ontop...and then placed her ballcap back on her head and pushed herself away from the sink. Mary said she had almost a surprised look on her face when she saw herself...but not in a bad way...I think she was surprised that there wasn't any disfigurement. She has lost some weight (and of course some hair)...but otherwise looks pretty normal. That same morning she also asked the inevitable question, "What happened to me?". She doesn't remember the accident. She knew that something had to have happened...she realizes her disability and remembers being "normal". When they informed her that it was a car accident, she wanted to know who else was in the car and if they were OK. When they told her about her little brother driving and that he was alright, she asked if he felt responsible or was having a hard time coping with what happened. Just like her to think of him instead of herself. As I've said before, that's just the kind of person she is.

It's going to be a long haul from here on out...a long recovery...and who knows how far she will go with it??  At this point, we don't care :) We have our Kimmie back with us...and we are there for her 100% for as long as she needs us. She has her bouts of depression and times of silence...and we can only imagine how hard it is for someone who was so vibrant and energetic to come to terms with her condition as it is now. So far, she is handling things really well, but I am sure there will be hard times to come (from what other TBI survivors and caregivers have told me). She won't give up, though.  Kimberly is not a quitter :):):)  I really feel the need to say this now, since I just stated that Kimmie is no quitter...I have nothing but the utmost respect and love for Joel, the man who is to be Kimmie's husband. He is obviously no quitter, either! He has been by her side since the day of the accident...flying in to be with her here in Kentucky and then making the flight back 2 wks later to Kansas. His family has also been behind Kimmie 100%...his father and sister flew in the day after the accident and stayed here for almost the whole 2 wks before having to return to work. They all live in Wichita where Kimberly is now in rehab, so now they get to see her every day (I am so jealous!!!). They have been together for almost 10 years now (Kimmie and Joel)...and I knew that he loved her when he asked her to marry him after all that time together...but I had no idea just how much he loves her :):):)  He was willing to stick with her no matter what...even in those first dismal days...when there was apparently "no hope" that she would ever wake up. He has been her light at the end of this long, dark tunnel...making her face brighten every time he calls or walks into the room. He lays with her in her hospital bed and reads to her, works with her on her skills, constantly asks her questions and talks to her to get her mind working better. I know, as a matter of statistics, that most men would not be there now..."couldn't handle it"...or didn't want the "burden" of a fiance/wife with disabilities, etc...and yet, there he is...her rock and her heart. It hasn't been easy on him, for sure...but he has been strong for Kimmie. I commend him for that and for the obvious love he has for her. One of the wishes in my life now is to be there watching as she walks down the aisle and marries that man. I can think of nothing I'd rather see more at this moment. I am crying now as I type...not tears of sadness anymore...but tears of joy and of love.

We are watching a miracle unfold. Of that, I am certain. Like I said before...I don't know why this happened to someone like Kimmie...it certainly wasn't because she deserved it. She has already touched so many lives ...changed so many lives for the better, just by knowing her...this was a wake-up call for many...and a ray of hope for so many others...and a life lesson for all of us.

Dance like no one is watching...
Sing like no one can hear you...
Love like there is no tomorrow...

Never give up hope!

Believe in MIRACLES!
They happen every day...

Tell your family and friends "I love you" every chance you get.
You never know when it might be the last time they ever hear it.

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.