Allie King
"Though my shell is broken and my body is weak, there still burns inside me the fire of spirit, hope, and love with determination and the grace of God we shall overcome this ordeal one day at a time."
Tommy Johnston 1988
"Tragedy can happen to any one of us at any time. What you do with the tragedy determines who you are."
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December 21, 2010
Allie has finished her first semester in college with a 3.25 gpa. We are so proud of all the hard work she put into her classes. She went through rush and joined Delta Gamma Sorority. She has a wonderful group of sisters that have made her transition into college a real pleasure.
At the Memphis TBI Christmas Party, Allie and some of her friends decided to start a young adult group. This is for anyone with a TBI in the Mid South Area including high school with our young adults. The group is on facebook ....Peace of Mind, TBI Young Adult Social Group. They want to plan events to go to movies, trips, coffee and so on... TBI young adults need to have peers with similiar experiences.
September 6th, 2010
It is Labor day...and this is where is all began three years ago today.
Allie's accident was three years ago!
We are so thankful for a healthy and happy girl!
August 30, 2010
Allie started college this week. She has driven to the university a different route everyday and returned home safely..... thanks to her gps. On her first day of class she actually had on two different shoes until I brought her a matching shoe! Probably first day nerves! But she found all of her classes on campus, and she has bought all of her books. She has even found the starbucks on campus! She is off to a good start!
July 22, 2010
July 9th weekend was the Blues City Dressage Show in memory of Jessica King, Allie's older sister who died of AML cancer at the age of 12. Jessica was a horse rider as well and loved dressage. We hosted a nice Ice Cream Social Saturday evening.
At this show Allie rode in her first competition since the accident almost three years age. Allie rode the para equestrian Grade IV individual test....went off course once and scored a 62.9. Allie was all smiles after the test and full of nervous energy prior to the test. It was a fantastic weekend and a monumental moment in time. She faced her fears and got back in the arena.
"Don't accumulate possessions; accumulate experieneces!" quoted by Mark Batterson.
This summer has been all about experiences for Allie. She traveled to California to spend the week with Donald and Ruby, and Allie walked the Golden Gate Bridge. She traveled to FITS in South Padre with the Woodland Presbyterian Youth group. Allie traveled to Pensacola, FL with our family for the 4th of July weekend, and she has the opportunity to attend a CDI at the Colorado Horse Park in August and visit with Chris and Mirela in Denver! Visiting with family all over the U.S. this summer has been Allie's adventure.
June 7th, 2010
We spent the last couple of days at freshman orientation on campus and Allie slept in the dorm. She is looking forward to college! Most TBI students drop out of college within the first year. We are working with the university office of student disability to help prepare Allie for college.
Allie is glad to have some time away from school and all that studying! Allie is spending time at the barn this summer. She loves visiting with her Germantown Charity Horse Show friends.
After graduation picture below is Allie and Papa!
 May 15th, 2010
Allie has graduated from high school!
 Prom picture - Allie and Robert
April 19th, 2010
May is quickly approaching, and we have so much to do! Prom is next weekend! Allie's first and last Prom, and she is blessed to be able to go with friends and dance! "I hope you Dance" is a true statement to life!
Allie is singing in the Spring Concert to the Fiddler on the Roof song Matcher Maker. To be able to sing in an ensemble or trio is a strong testament to her faith and the thankfulnes we have to her speech therapists, her choral teachers, and her determination to sing!
The end of senior year has not become any easier. Allie has some hard weeks ahead of graduation with exams, projects, and end of course tests.
Allie has attended several college meeting for students with disabilities, and she has learned so much. There is a smart pen that records notes and transfers them to a word doc. I am amazed at the technology that we have yet to explore to help with her reach academic goals for college. Suggestions of a 12 hour load, extended test time, orientation, Dragon, computer aids, tutoring, weekly advisor meetings, life or academic coaching and so much more.....
March 17th, 2010
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Frank and I have been so blessed to have great friends and family for support and prayers. Thank you all for reading about Allie and her journey of recovery from this life changing accident. We feel blessed that Allie has become her own advocate in school and in her riding. Frank and I have been scared to allow her to ride again and for her to drive, and much more. She is a senior in high school and we have to allow her to grow up. This is one of the hardest steps of parenthood with a child is to start letting go, and I think it is even harder with a child that is disabled. She has surprisingly proven me wrong with her own abilities to be independent. She has accomplished more than I would have dreamed.
January 26, 2010
Allie has an expected graduation date on May 15th! She is excited about college, and she is applying to ride on a dressage team at one of the colleges she has applied to attend. We are starting to find the processes to apply for education support when she attends college. Allie did get her para equestrian classification. She is a Class IV, so officially she can show this year without losing points for her disabilities. She is very excited.
Here is a video link of Allie riding in the Fall 2009 Clinic
December 21st, 2009
View our Christmas card
December 7, 2009
Allie has a story on the website www.themedfoundation.org. Please take the time to read her story and visit the website. The Med has a grant that allows them to receive money for 5000 new touches on the website. Every new visitor helps to raise money for the Med just by visiting the website. Please help this great trauma center!
This weekend we enjoyed making new friends at the TBI support group Christmas Party! Thank you Carolyn Chambers for a wonderful social event. Allie even received a couple boxes of Junior Mints! Junior Mints will always be her signature candy since they were the first thing she asked for when she woke up from her coma in the hospital!
This semester is a full schedule with many important classes for Allie. She has a lot of work to complete to be able to graduate. Frank and I have been so proud of her continuous hard working effort. She is balancing school and working a couple days a week looking after 5 year olds in afterschool care. She really enjoys working with children. Allie brings home pictures her students have drawn for her every week.
November 12, 2009
Allie is a Senior in high school this year. She is taking the ACT and filling out college applications. We have the big graduation date set for May 15, 2010.
Allie wants to get an undergraduate degree in therapeutic horsemanship and a masters in occupational therapy.
She had the opportunity to be a side walker in hippotherapy organization established to teach adaptive riding techniques that allow children with a variety of disabilities to learn horsemanship skills and experience the equine environment.
Allie met Jack Johnson, Tennesse State Senator, during the YLF tour of the Capitol.
July 30, 2009
Allie has had a wondeful summer full of activities that included being Princess at the Germantown Charity Horse Show, a representative at the Tennessee Youth Leadership Forum in Nashville, and the BEAT THE ODDS Banquet.
Allie's sponsor for Beat the Odds was local artist, Brenda Joysmith.
May 6, 2009
Allis was slected for the "Beat the Odds" program. There is a Banquet at Lindenwood Christain Church on Thursday May 14th. Tickets are available at the door. Please come and support these wonderful young people who have overcome obstacles in their lives. This oranization has its mission the recognition of youth who are achieving despite facing some incredible odds. Allie met Morgan, a little girl who suffered a stroke after receiving a transfusion because she has sickle cell anemia. The girls really have similiar experiences. This has been a great experience already!
April 15, 2009
Allie found out yesterday that she was chosen for the Youth Leadership Forum in Nashville this summer. Ned Soloman, Director YLF Council for Developmental Disablilites, called to invite her to attend.
Allie has also been nominated for Memphis Beat the Odds. She continues amaze me with her determination. She made all A's and B's on her report card this quarter! I am also pleased with her taking the initiative to go to yoga and zumba class with her friends Ashley and Nadine! We were laughing about dancing and rhythm! Coordination and balance have a big impact on dancing! New Goals!
March 24, 2009
Allie took the ACT in February. I was pleased with her cognitive results for a child who is relearning everything since the accident. I know we are on the right track. She is speeding up in processing, still taking concerta now for school, but she is learning faster and mastering information faster. Critical thinking skills and higher level learning is an area she will continue work on. I keep questioning whether she should stay an extra year in high school or go on to a small college. I can't believe she will be a senior next year. We are going to have to start looking for a college that will best serve her educational needs. Children with disabilities need guidance on how to achieve their goals. Allie approaches life like she can do anything she sets her mind to. What a wonderful approach!
2009 GCHS Queen and princesses March 6th, 2009 Germantown Charity Horse Show Ball
Allie represented Delta Dressage Association as a princess, she has received a commendation from the State of Tennesee for over 50 hours of Volunteer Service. She has worked with the Exchange Club, 30 hour famine, Invisible Children, Compassion International, Side Walking with Bit Of Balance Hippotherapy, and DDA. Allie's career plan, she is looking forward to working with children as a professional occupational therapist.
March 5th, 2009
Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed.
Allie is pinging today. Tonight is the Germantown Charity Horse Show Ball rehearsal. She is so excited about the Ball Friday night! Allie has grown up attending the horse show. Sometimes she was riding or showing her horse and other times she was a spectator.
Frank presented Allie and then Allie was escorted by David. No -she did not fall down the flight of stairs that she was so worried about!
February 23rd, 2009
Fahrenheit is here. Her barn name is Ren. She is full of personality, and very curious! Allie is teaching her to wear a halter, walk with a lead rope, allow us to brush her, and pick up her feet. Allie felt a baby tooth breaking through the bottom gums. Ren is precious!
This weekend Allie and David particpated in the 30 Hour Famine to raise money and awareness for World Hunger. It was hard for them! They can certainly empathize with children who have no food! They broke the fast at Church when they received communion. After church Sunday morning we prepared a huge brunch! Eggs benedict, biscuits and gravy, bacon, omelets, pancakes, and more! The kids were thrilled to eat! This was a great experience! We enjoyed cooking and time spent together.
February 13th, 2009
“Nothing is impossible with God” Luke 1:37
The baby is here! She arrived last night on February 12th...Ashton's birthday!
February 8, 2009
Vonna has still not had the foal. She was in labor on Sunday February 1st but as the cold weather came in that night her contractions ended. We have not seen signs of labor since then. The full moon is monday night so we were hoping she might deliver this weekend, but it just not happened yet! My 3 am runs to the barn are only making me tired. Every time I get in the car in the middle of the night I am expecting to find her in labor or find a foal at her side. He/she will come when they are ready!
Allie is going to represent Delta Dressage as a Germantown Charity Horse Show Princess this year. She is making plans for the ball and to work at the Horse show. She will receive over 50 community services hours for working the horse show and a commendation from the State of Tennessee. She is thrilled to be a part of GCHS!
January 14, 2009
Traumatic Brain injuries are very diverse. Allie's injury was on her left side of the brain - front and back. Speech and language, and mobility of the right side of her body were impacted the most. Allie has gained back so much and continues to improve in short term memory, attention, and emotions. She still does not have the ability to cry.... I was told that affect or emotions are the last thing that you gain back. I don't know if she will ever be able to cry. We tease her by saying at least she can laugh! She is young ( brains develop until age 22)! We still have time and patience. Thank God for the little things! Who needs to cry? Laughter is the best medicine!
December 28, 2008
Monday, Allie and I are traveling up towards Knoxville to the Crumley House. This is a Traumatic Brain Rehab Center that offers an Equine program as part of their recovery. Admiral aka Moose is going to live there. http://www.crumleyhouse.com/ Admiral is going to become a rehab horse. His kind disposition and lazy work ethic will be perfect. He so needs a job that suits his disposition...we think we have found it! Our time committment to our horses has been limited this year. I hate to leave them sitting around when I know there are people out there who will give them the love and attention that they need. Rusgar, our Arab, found a wonderful home at the Mid South Dressage Academy. He is the perfect lesson horse for their program. That leaves us with just Allie's horse, Vonna, and her foal which is expected around February 1st.
New Christmas card for our friends to view! We have had a year of recovery! I am looking into some progressive therapies for the new year. I have heard alot about biofeedback with a neuropsychologist in the area. I am also want push fine motor skills with an OT that will challenge Allie. Allie and I have continued to go to the YMCA all year. Last week she ran on the treadmill for 3 minutes. This is huge for her. She can do most of the weight machines better than I can. But I have more stamina on the elipical and the treadmill.
We are one month away from Vonna having her foal! Merry Christmas!
In a nutshell - Allie is relearning everything from walking and talking to values and emotions. We are reteaching every day. She is learning expectations, boundaries, friendship, morals, courage and love. She needs constant support, supervision, and guidance. She is finding herself and who she is after the injury. “We walk by faith not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
November 20, 2008
Allie has been discharged from speech therapy! It is the season of Thanksgiving and we have so much to be thankful for this year. Allie has made great strides in her recovery. She is back full time in school. She is very much a typical teenager. She is driving and babysitting. She is riding a couple times a week. Vonna, her horse, is expecting a foal in February. So, We are anticipating some cold nights of camping out at the barn. Something that we are looking forward to along with baby watch. Colt or Filly? Looking for names that start with an "F."
Ashton has had a good year without interruptions of trauma in our family! She made the 13 Metro Elite volleyball team. She loves school and volleyball. She at the stage of growing like a weed. I think she will catch Allie in the next year! and Allie is 5'9"!
Our family wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving! God Bless!
October 29, 2008
I am researching TBI to make sure that we are doing everything that we can to aid Allie in her recovery. There are some interesting research articles out there. As parents sometimes we do obsess. Allie has come such a long way and she has goals to attend college and become an occupational therapist. She enjoyed being a side walker at hippo -therapy working with the autistic children. She says she want to work at St. Jude. Allie wants to work with children. I know that she has a tender heart.
The question I have is "how do I make this possible?" I try not to be the "helicopter" mom, but I do want to encourage her to achieve goals in a positive way. I am happy to say that I am spending very little time with homework now. We started the school year working 2.5 hours a night completing homework. Allie is now completing homework on her own with very little help from mom!
Ashton's teacher told me today that it was the way that we raised Ashton that allowed her to handle the stress of the accident last year. By letting our children do their own projects, muck their own stalls, feed their own animals, and take responsibility for their actions... did it help them handle a very stressful situation? I raise my kids the way my parents raised us. You work for what you get. We learned that hard works pays off.
Another question I have is "Do prenatal vitamins provide enough B vitamins and folic acid to help aid in brain function or development?" I don't know but I give them to Allie every day just in case! She also gets Juice Plus vitamins. It can't hurt!
October 1, 2008
Last night we attended Allie's BCS Choir Concert and Frank wrote this email today.
I am always sending e-mails that are sarcastic, funny, stupid, etc... I thought I would answer a question Brenda had last night to everyone. Two weeks before Allie's accident she sang a solo for the end of the summer with the Collierville high school choir instructor. This was the first time Trish and I were allowed to listen to Allie sing by herself. She was so good she made Trish cry during her singing. After Allie woke up at Shepard's center, unbeknownst to Trish and I she was blind also she could not walk, she had problems moving her right side, etc... but one of the first thing she asked me was "do you think I'll be able to sing". During the next month the therapist would ask Allie to set goals for herself, and one was she wanted to sing with her school choir again. I never thought Allie would be able to participate in a concert in her high school years again. With the help of briarcrest (I thank god for them every day) allowing Allie to be part of the choir has allowed her to realize one of her goals and she looked great. To see Allie smiling and hugging each person that attended last night reaffirmed my beliefs. The support of our friends can make the smallest accomplishment feel as though, for the lack of a better phrase, We were on top of the world. Brenda asked me last night "Why I was so stoic, quiet and pissy". The answer, I was doing everything I could not to let the lump come completely out of my throat. Watching Allie sing, laugh and interact with the choir during their warm-up, all I could think about was all the above. Watching her walk up the stage and take her position for the concert, my eyes were watering (I told Brenda that I sneezed and coughed at the same time to cover this). Watching her sing almost made me lose it. I don't cry but, I was damn close last night. September 13th
The hardest thing for Frank and I is to let go! Allie wants independence and she is proving to us that she can handle it. Here she is proving her strengths all over again. We just have to learn to let her.
Allie had the opportunity to ride Delight, a schoolmaster that belongs to Hillary Martin, this weekend in a clinic with Stephan Kiesewetter. He has coached para-olympians and worked with para equestrians in Germany. He has offered a fair amount of insight in riding possibilities for Allie. Special equipment that might aid Allie, and the possibility of being competitive again. We have a lot to explore with para equestrian information. She has not ruled out regular shows either. Time will tell.
Allie went to her first dance Saturday night. Houston High had the Homecoming Dance. She also received her first mid term progress report, and she has risen to the full load of 7 classes. If all goes well it looks like she will be able to graduate with her class of 2010. We are so proud of her hard work. She went into this school year with many questions about how much she could handle. We are pushing the limits and she is holding on!
September 3,2008
It is our one year anniversary today. One year from today Allie had her accident and was helicoptered into the MED. I thought about Labor Day last year and I am thankful that nothing unusual happened this weekend. Allie has come a long way since then. Allie is in school, walking, talking, functioning as a teenager, and here on earth with us! We are thankful! I tend to think with the outlook that the cup is half full and not half empty. She is not exactly the child that she was before the accident - but we'll take her! She has made huge strides in her recovery.
August 16, 2008
Saturday morning was very quiet at the house. The girls were sleeping in- both girls were tired from their school schedule vs. summer. We are all adjusting as we return to school. Frank had lithotripsy on Thursday. He has had kidney stones that act up from time to time. Some more painful than others. This weekend we are hoping everything passes through and he no longer has a gravel pit inside his kidney! Allie will have therapy after school. She is learning the ropes at BCS, and we hope to see her grades improve all year. We have ordered a laptop to help with notes. I'm looking into a program that will write out the words as she speaks into a microphone. Her handwriting and typing skills will improve this year as she uses her hands more and more. Her OT had me buy nuts and bolts for Allie use as therapy. She has to put them together and take them apart. Allie's horse, Vonna, is getting fat and happy. Allie is riding her a couple times a week lightly. She is excited about expecting a foal in the Spring. This will be a learning experience for all of us.
Our one year anniversary from the accident is approaching fast. September 3rd last year started our journey with the helicoper ride to the med, ICU for a month, a jet ambulance to Shepherd Center in Atlanta, ICU and then moving to the ABI unit, a total of 9 weeks in a coma, and emerging on October 25th, right side paralysis, not being able to see, then eyes seeing double and not focusing, learning how to shallow, learning how to communicate, wheel chair bound, learning how to walk with a walker, then crutches, and then a cane, hippotherapy on a horse, relearning balance.....
And here she is walking independently, running with her therapist in the gym, talking, singing to the radio, taking choir again at school, riding a horse independently.....some things still very hard to do, but a spirit of determination and love of life. Wow...we've come a long way baby. The lord has a plan for you.
August 4, 2008
God opens doors ....We are one week away from the end of summer and Allie has been accepted into Briarcrest Christian School. She is very excited about starting a new school and having the opportunity to be there full time. BCS has an ESS program that can help her to be successful in school. This is an answered prayer for me. I didn't know how I was going to balance working full time with Allie going a half day to school plus homebound classes.
So, we are last minute shopping for uniforms, and we will have to buy books later this week. Allie is excited to go to school with Chelsey- one of her best friends since Shady Creek days. Both are barn girls and horse lovers!
Allie completed her summer speech therapy. She will continue once a week during the Fall semester. Mrs. Wolfe expects to completely discharge her from speech therapy by Decmeber of this year!
As for Physical therapy, Allie is going to continue until she meets her goals. Her therapist calls her an overachiever! She is a very hard worker and has high goals.
June 19th, 2008
We have traveled to Atlanta twice this summer already. Allie had comprehensive testing on one trip. On the second trip we met with her doctors and went over the results. Dr. Kaelin said , "she was a walking miracle." He was very happy with her walking. We discussed school in the fall. They are still supporting 1/2 half day at school or 4 classes at school and 2 classes at home. We have looked into online high school courses as well as homebound school. Allie will have to makeup a couple credits to graduate with her class of 2010. It is possible.
Overall Allie's memory and processing speed has improved greatly. She has above average visual memory. Auditory short term memory still needs work. I just thought she didn't want to make her bed after I told her, but she might not have remembered. It could be selective teenage memory loss - haha. Overall it continues to improve more and more.
She does have bilaterally impaired fine motor speed and dexterity. Which translates into hard to write with her hands. Her right arm which was paralyzed has come a long way, and Allie can write with it but it takes time. This is our main drawback to school with lecture and note taking. A laptop may be helpful? She is on the computer at home all the time. She will need more OT in the long run. I keep thinking back to when the girls were little. You know that everything they played with helped to build fine motor skills - playdough, puzzles, etc. All of those preschool toys are made for developing fine motor skills. I just need teenage games that will do the same. If you have any ideas let me know!
Allie is taking Speech therapy all summer working on vocal exercises. She is working on her vocal range and strength. She can yell now and she is not so soft spoken. Frank will vouch for that! Allie also has Physical therapy once a week with homework. She has a PT that really makes her sore! It is a good thing to be challenged at this phase of recovery. Allie is riding although our mare is getting very round due to pregancy or grass belly? Vonna will have to slow down with the heat and the extra weight. Allie hoped to ride her through most of the pregnancy. We may have to borrow a horse to ride or go take lessons on something else?
I have to schedule an IEP Meeting with the school to get a plan of action in place for Allie. I also have homebound paperwork to fill out. Allie will return to her regular classes and maybe honors if we can get the teacher's notes and extra time for completing handwritten assignments. The doctors have recommendations that they want Allie to have to be successful, and they are cautious not to overwhelm Allie in school. This is where we take it one day and a time and reevaluate after a couple of weeks to see where we stand. I am putting off all ACT and SAT testing until her senior year. We want as much recovery time as possible. I do think she can take these on a computer which would be much easier for her than filling in circles!
I also wanted to update you on Hippotherapy. Bit of Balance is open for business. You can contact Faith Twombly at 901-270-5612. They are AWESOME! If you know a child or adult that needs OT and PT on horseback, please call Faith.
Have a wonderful summer! God BLess! XOXO
May 20th, 2008
Allie has finished the school year, and we will be returning to Shepherd Center in early June for check ups and testing. We are truly blessed for the progress that she has made over the last six months. I see her every day so changes are not as apparent to me, but I have been told by so many people that Allie looks great. Her therapist all tell me that she is a hard worker. It shows in her progress!
On a sadder note - we have found another family to add to our prayers. A 10 year old girl has a TBI from a go -cart accident. Please visit her website at www.ilovekatiedoll.com. Please pray for Katie to wake up from her coma. I believe in the power of prayer!
A happier note - we are also very excited for Faith and Andrea, Allie's hippotherapy therapists. These ladies have worked with Allie at Clifton Farms in Hernando, Mississippi. Their website is www.cliftonfarms.net. They have decided to put together their own hippotherapy program, and it will be hosted by the very gracious Rice family at Clifton Farms. I can not tell you enough about these ladies. Brag, brag, brag! As soon as Faith gives me the correct contact information, I will post it to the website. I highly recommend hippotherapy!
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April 21st, 2008
Allie had good results from the ENT on Friday. The scope down her nose was not the most comfortable experience. There is no paralysis of the vocal folds. She received the all clear to start vocal therapy. Her speech should improve with tongue exercises and articulation exercises. I understand that the tongue being a muscle that was not in use for the nine weeks that she was in the coma must relearn and strengthen motions for speech. School is going well. She looks forward to the half days that she is able to attend. Her teachers and friends have welcomed her back. Everyone has been very helpful. My mother, Pat, drives her during the day to various appointments, home from school, and stays with her while Frank and I are at work. We have been blessed to have great moms. She and Betty have pitched in to help with Allie’s indefinite schedule.
April 14th, 2008
Allie had a great week. She attended school three days last week for 1/2 the day. She loved being in Algebra II class - math is her favorite subject! She is back in history working on a project with two of her friends, and she is in mixed choir again. She is taking voice, hippotherapy, riding Vonna, and taking homebound classes. Allie rode Vonna for two hours yesterday. Even after the accident Allie still choses to ride! Dad is closing his eyes again. We can't take the horse away from the girl. She is still horsecrazy.
The good thing about horses is that no machine can better replicate your own natural hip movement. This is the best therapy for her right side...and she doen't even notice she is getting therapy! We are all praying for continued strength in this recovery process.
April 3, 2008
Allie's next milestone! Next week Allie will return to school for 1/2 day. We will start her out three days a week. This can be adjusted as we evaluate her progress. She will continue to have homebound classes in the afternoon at the house until May. She is very excited about school. She is also very determined about returning to school. We will be observing her progress to make adjustments as needed.
Allie has also started voice lessons with Dr. Jeanne at Woodland in the afternoon once a week. She will see the ENT later this month to have her vocal folds scoped. The doctor are looking for any damage or paralysis. Voice/Speech therapy will adjust exercises based on the results of this test. Allie wants progress in her voice!
Allie is not in the Day Program at Baptist Rehab anymore. Our insurance has maxed out on outpatient therapy. We are continuing with therapies that we pay for out of pocket. We also have her involved in programs at the YMCA and Hippotherapy. Who knows maybe Disability or TNCare will come through? Allie continues to make progress and we are thankful to God!
March 10, 2008
We decided to breed Vonna this year while Allie recovers. Allie will get to continue to ride Vonna for therapy. Since she would not be showing this year at all, we took the opportunity to have a baby. Allie is in charge of arranging ultrasounds and followup appointments for shots etc. This is just as much cognitive therapy for her as school work.
She picked a stallion whose name starts with the letter "F". So the baby must have a "F" name. The horse she always dreamed of owning belonged to Jane Crane, but we could not afford him. Allie loved to ride this horse and he was beautiful! We teased her by asking "do you want to go to college or have this horse?" She would pick horse if the decision was left up to her. His name was Fahrenheit. So - this is the name Allie has chosen if the baby is a boy! In 2009 she hopes to be able to run with him/her in a breed show! Running is a courageous goal!
As for riding - Allie wants to canter in therapy, she says it is easier. Her therapist are amazed at her balance and feel for the horse, but we do recognize that her right side of the body is much weaker, and she needs to engage her lower abdominal muscles. So selected exercises have preference. Allie does not care as long as she can be on the back of a horse!
February 26, 2008
Allie has started therapeutic riding in Hernando. She much prefers getting her Occupational Therapy and Physical therapy this way. She is continuing with her homebound teacher twice a week. Week nights she has homework and exercises at the gym. We have attended water aerobics and she wants to try Zumba class next. Our weekends are busy with activities for both Allie and Ashton. We are going regularly to the barn to care for Vonna. We are hoping to add some voice lessons after Spring Break to help with her vocal range and diaphragm exercises. She continues to have a very soft monotone voice range. Allie laughs because her Speech therapy is more about cognitive function than real speech. So I'm looking into the voice for her. She still wants to be able to sing...to run....to jump....to ride her horse without her parents freaking out! Lord help us! We certainly have the opportunity to learn patience. God bless you.
February 18, 2008
Allie is continuing to improve in her walking! She is still working in Pt, Ot, and Speech.
January 22, 2008
Allie and I traveled to Atlanta this weekend for her six week check-up. Dr. Kaelin was very pleased with her progress and recovery. They did run blood work and we will know later this week if all her hormone levels are operational. We wanted to make sure that the endocrine system is active. Dr. Kaelin had Allie walk for him, and we discussed her therapies. As we knew, this will be a year of recovery, healing both physically and mentally. We will be right here supporting her to the best of our abilities. Allie also visited all of her therapist at Shepherd Center, and we returned her wheel chair. She is ambulatory!
She has not started the hippotherapy program, but it is still in the works. Scheduling around therapy from 9am to 3pm has not been to our advantage. Vision therapy is on hold also. Her day program takes prioirity right now. Yes- it snowed while we were in Atlanta. Our flight home was canceled on Saturday and then delayed on Sunday. But we made it home! It just gave us an extra day to spend time with my brother, sister in law, and my cute 2 year old niece. Allie has begun to receive little angels in the mail from Secret Angel Stitches. These are beautiful angels made of thread. She loves to receive these little support messages! Thank you SAS! January 15, 2008
Allie has started the new Day program at the Baptist Rehab Center. She goes every day from 9:00am to 3:00pm. She is getting OT, PT, Speech and additional group activities that include outings. This week they are planning a menu, shopping for the groceries and then preparing a meal. Allie is also working with her teacher. The plan is to complete 10th grade English and pass the English gateway. She will receive her high school credit and maybe pick up a couple electives for this semester. Our long term goal is have Allie return to school in the fall of 2008. Allie has riden - walked on her horse several times with lots of supervision. She of course wants to do more and more. We are not having to push her, she wants us to stop doing things for her. She wants to do them herself. The balance is knowing how much to allow her to do. We tend to be over protective.
I have returned to work this semester. Ashton has mom taking her to school every morning again. We are falling into weekly routines. We are thankful to be home, to have the friends that supported us through the hardest parts of this experience, and we thank God that Allie is alive and recovering so well. We are very pleased with her progress. She has exceeded our expectations and we have only been out of the hospital a month and a half. She came home in a wheelchair and now she is walking with the use of a cane, yet walking independently at home. Fine motor skills will take time. Allie is learning to write all over again. Her voice is still very monotone. It is considered a fine motor skill as well. It took several years to learn to write the first time, she has plenty of time. Voice - who talks these days..everyone is texting! I have no doubt that these things will improve over time. We are just thankful to have the opportunity one day at a time.
Monday December 24
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!
Christmas for us is having Allie home. Allie is turning 16 years old on Thursday. She gets to have a couple of days off from therapy this week. She is continuing to gain strength physically and mentally. She is beginning to remember August of this year. This was missing from her memory. Her walking has improved. Although shopping this year is not her favorite thing .. she gets tired easily. I know she wanted her driver's license, but hopefully we can reevaluate this in July and have a 16 1/2 driver's license.
Fri. Dec 14
Allie has started homebound school three afternoons a week with her teacher, Ms. Eder. She is working hard in Speech, Occupational thrapy and Physical therapy three days also. Ashton is busy with basketball season. She keeps us busy with two teams and Frank coaches one of them. We are hoping to add some water aerobics to our schedule too.
The horses are busy. I have put Admiral for sale - our 17.2 grey warmblood. He needs someone to ride and love him other than Allie. He is too big for me to ride. Allie is thinking of breeding Vonna in the Spring. I have started walking Vonna as her rehab, although I think she is exercising me instead. Rusgar has become the barn favorite at Elizabeth Rice's barn. He has a schooling pony job and lots of attention! We did put the Christmas tree up. Frank found the decorations. We are searching for the Angel to go on top. Merry Christmas! Wed. Dec 5
We are so glad to be home. Allie has started therapy on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We are in the process of getting school started, and just completed paperwork for the hippo therapy program. This means we have to go buy a very good helmet before she starts! Ashton is adjusting to having her family home, Dad is in a lighter mood. The family is reunited.....even the dogs are happier. We hope to find a routine, maybe we will find the time to decorate for Christmas.
Allie and I will start on Thank you notes. We have so many to thank! We could not have done it without you. We continue to pray and shed tears of joy with friends and family. Thank you God. Mon. Dec 3
Allie is home and had a busy weekend. Saturday, Allie went to visit Vonna at the barn. Vonna was very glad to see her. The family celebrated Thanksgiving on Sunday with extended family in attendance.
Today Allie starts PT at Baptist Hospital on Exeter. She will go for 3 hours, 3 times a week. The therapy is aggresive and will be a lot of work.
"God designed the world and his people in such a way that no matter how big our problems, the smallest gesture in love from a friend can become the biggest miracle of all."
Patricia Lorenz
As I embarked on this roller coaster ride of life, my path crosses with so many people who have touched our lives. Maybe it is other patients that I add to my prayers at night or friends who cheer us up. I thank god every day for those of you reading our update, praying for our family, cheering us on, calming our nerves, and making our lives complete. We find friends in unexpected places and they seem to take on some unusual tasks. It is through faith and friendships that we find the strength to tackle life's toughest challenges. Giving thanks at this time of year is very appropriate and means much more to our family. I want to thank you. Fri. Nov 30
Trish and Allie are home!!!!!
Thu. Nov 29
Allie had her last day of therapy at the Shepherd Center today. She had one new cast made for her right leg. She will use this as a bivalve at home until she is walking all the time. She is so excited about leaving! She can't wait to get home. She has her new wheelchair to bring home. We hope to return this wheelchair in six weeks at her check up. She even helped pack her room up as part of her occupational therapy today. She is ready to get up, sign discharge papers, see the doctor, and get on the plane! Thank you Shepherd Center! Goodbye Atlanta, Georgia, and hello Collierville, Tennessee.
Wed. Nov 28
Just 2 more days! Allie had a MRI today. She worked hard in therapy. They played scrabble in adolescent group tonight. She texted all day with her friends who are supposed to be in school! Good thing I'm not teaching right now. I can't complain because they are texting my daughter during their school hours! We are all just excited to get Allie home. Yeah!
Tue. Nov 27
Allie is getting homework assignments in therapy. She received exercises to do at home, and practiced today with her therapist. She and I walked stairs and walked with and without the walker as the therapist looked on. She is earning her release from the hospital. She looks great! Just remember that physical healing is faster than the brain itself.
Her short term memory needs work. Old memories are there, new ones will develop over time. The brain heals on its own timetable. She does have delayed processing which will improve over time also. This means listening to you talk and then answering sometimes takes a little longer, so count to ten and wait. She may think that you sound like the adults on Charlie Brown..blah, blah, blah..when she gets overwhelmed. She will ask if she doesn't understand you. She will be starting homebound school and therapies in the next week that we get home. Using her voice involves fine motor skills which take time to learn. Her right side is still weak, and she will have to learn to write again...another fine motor skill that takes time. Overall her recovery is going very well! She will continue to heal over the next year. We continue to pray for healing and the strength to learn new skills. Mon. Nov 26
Allie has 4 days until she goes home. This week in therapy will focus on walking. Her transfers are doing great. She will also focus on stairs. She will have a week of strength building therapies before we head home.
Hope everyone had a wonder holiday. The hospital was quiet with several half days of therapy and her regular therapist out for Thanksgiving. This week they should be wrapping things up! Thanksgiving Day
Wed. Nov 21
Allie's concerns are that her voice doesn't sound the same, and that her right side doesn't work. She knows that she will have therapy at home to continue to get stronger. She asked her physical therapist about walking again. They are encouraging and tell her if it doesn't happen before she leaves that it will in her outpatient therapy. She does have motion on the right side and if you have that you can build on it. She does not remember the accident which is very normal.
Tue. Nov 20
Allie had strength training rehab again today. She is building muscles to walk again. It would be easier if she was short. Apparently, being so tall makes balancing a lot harder. She needs more muscle control.
She also spent the afternoon in neuro- psychology with testing. She had a very long afternoon. Count down for 10 days until she comes home! Mon. Nov 19
Allie walked the longest distance around the unit today with her therapist. She is growing stronger one day at a time. She graduated from Cognitive group and moved into Speech group. She has a 17 year old friend in this group, so it is fun. Both girls went hall bowling during adolescent group last week. I think rolling the ball is easier than setting up the pins. Allie has music therapy this afternoon. She really looks forward to it. Her therapist stresses breathing and many more important chorus skills. Allie wants to be able to return to chorus both at school and church. She wants to get her voice back. I had no idea that your voice involves so many muscles and brain functions. This is a big project! Bless her heart! This weekend Allie received some precious cards from the 6th grade at St. Francis, and from the Collierville High School Equestrian Club. Allie sends her love! Please keep up those prayers! I had my first weekend home. Ashton and I visited the rehab centers and prepared Allie's room for her arrival at the end of the month. We also went to see Vonna briefly. She is doing fine. She looks great. It was wonderful to be home. I enjoyed having a kitchen to use, a tub to bathe in, and a couch to relax on. There are so many things we take for granted. We are so ready to leave the hospital room and return to a home. Even Lili (our schnauzer) just laid upside down in my lap all evening occasionally leaning over to smell me. I don't think she really believed I was there. She must have thought she was dreaming. Fritz (the male schnauzer) held out. He must think I abandoned him. I'll work on him once we are home in December. He'll warm up eventually once Allie gets home. Allie is his person. I think she will recover more once she is home! It brings to my mind the song "I'll be home for Christmas." Thu. Nov 15
Frank will be leaving for Atlanta today and will trade places with Trish for the weekend. There will be no updates unless something major happens over the weekend. Allie will be resting and getting ready for another week of strength building PT.
Wed. Nov 14
Allie is having a week of strength building. She has swim therapy, PT, OT, Speech, Music therapy, Recreational Therapy, cognitive group, pet therapy and exercise group. Sounds exhausting! I know she is tired every night. It makes a difference. She could open her hand today! Thank you Jesus!
I am in the difficult position of deciding on outpatient therapy. No place in Memphis offers such a comprehensive program. I do not mind going different places but I need therapist that can do the same level of work with Allie. At Shepherd Pathways she would have Speech therapy that would prepare her to return to school. If you have any recommendations or know a mom (therapist) who might want to work a couple days a week while their child is in school.....I'm open for ideas. The Speech therapy is my concern. I think the Physical therapy is going to be well covered especially if we can do a hippotherapy program too. Vision is still being watched. They believe it will clear up over time. We will just continue to monitor the vision. Mon. Nov 12
Monday update
Allie had a wonderful weekend. She enjoyed her pass to go out to eat at Chili's and she enjoyed our great company! My kids at school sent me some precious notes and pictures. That was a treat! It was a pleasure to visit with my girlfriends. However, today was an adventure. I left Allie this morning around 8:30 am at breakfast. I had her showered, dressed, and ready for therapy. Everyone said she was great about asking where her therapy was and getting there. In between therapy Allie would go back to her room and call me on the phone. She called me seven times before 12:00, but that was fine. She just asked about when I was coming back, and where to go next. I explained how to use the TV remote and how to call the nurse if she needed them. Allie however did not call the nurse. She just reached behind her and unsnapped the seatbelt, and then got out of wheelchair and into bed by herself. I think she also went to the restroom by herself, but she already got in trouble about the bed...so she would not admit anything else. When I walked in at 12:45 the first thing she told me was that she got in trouble.
This is great initiative in my opinion, but nobody thought she would try to do this alone. The hospital staff are all shocked. A safety concern is .....they don't want her to fall. She does have a weak side, and she is supposed to always have assistant. Of course I'm not here during the morning per their request, so they want to put a locking seatbelt on her.
Secretly I am proud of her! It shows she is alert and proves that moms are useful. Allie had music therapy this afternoon. Her homework is to listen to classical music. She did some scales to work on the strength and pitch of her voice. She is continuing to heal! Thank you Jesus! Fri. Nov 9 Thursday late afternoon I was able to test run taking Allie out on a pass from the hospital. I can load and unload the wheel chair. I can even assemble the parts. Allie had a good time going on her first outing with mom. I followed the recreation therapist to the Lenox Mall. There we visited the Icing store to pickup some cute earrings and a jewel encrusted ipod cover. We just strolled through looking at all the stores. Many of them we have never heard of. This mall is huge. Allie and I didn't have enough time to see even half of it. Allie was able to eat at Taco Bell and have a Cookies-n-cream milkshake in the food court. No hospital food! No jello! She can't wait to go to Chili's this weekend on the real pass without hospital staff with us.
Today I had a meeting with her Team. Our goal is to have Allie walking when she leaves on the 30th. No wheel chair, walker or cane. She has three weeks of hard work. She also will start relating her speech therapy towards school subjects. I am also going to be kicked out until 1:00 in the afternoon. They want to start weaning Allie from having mom with her all the time. She has to become more independent. She has progressed so that she does not need to have me with her. Before I was an asset, but I may become a crutch, so tough love. For example, I can't help put on her shoes, she has to do it herself. She also has to read her schedule and know what time to go to which therapy. I can't manage that anymore. I think I'll get her a watch... something easy to read. They have big clocks on the walls, but she still has some vision problems. That gives me an excuse to go find the mall again! Thu. Nov 8
Allie's right arm continues to get stronger. She can actually move her wrist and move her fingers a little. Today she had pool therapy. She played pool hoops and floated on noodles. She really enjoyed the pool experience. She also has our outing this evening. She is going to be exhausted tonight. I'll let you know.
Wed. Nov 7
The gadget is a Bioness for electro-stimulation. It must be strange to see your hand close to a fist and then open without doing it yourself. Allie says it feels like something is pinching her. She is willing to do this if it means recovering faster.
I can successfully take a wheel chair apart and put it back together. Tomorrow we will go on a test run with the therapist. Allie and I chose to drive to the mall! It will be a short visit, but it will be the first outing together. She got into the car and played with the radio...typical teen behavior! Putting Allie into the car was faster and easier than the chair. Tue. Nov 6
Allie had this gadget on her arm today that sends electrodes into her muscles. This causes her hand to open and close. I'm sure the gadget has a name but I don't remember. The therapists were doing this to stimulate the muscles in her right arm and hand. She is going to wear this for 30 minutes everyday. She has started to move this arm and it is gradually awakening. She moved her right pinky finger this morning on her own.
Allie has family training tomorrow. I mean that I have training. I get to load and unload her into my car, the VW bug. She will be easy, the wheelchair is another matter. Apparently the wheels pop off and it folds. So I get to learn how to assemble a wheelchair. Where is Frank when I need him? Tell Greg they put elastic shoelaces in Allie's tennis shoes so she doesn't have to tie them. Those are handy especially when you have double vision. I am amazed at all the wheelchair activities they have here in the outpatient gym like competitive basketball, tennis, and many more. God's work is easy to see here. Mon. Nov 5
Allie had her feeding tube removed tonight at 5:30pm. She did not have surgery. It was removed in the room. They just pull it out. She is sore and says her stomach hurts. The doctor assured me that it feels like a punch in the stomach. She was given some tylenol. He offered her the stomach tube to keep maybe make a key chain out of it to remember this ....or throw it away. My daughter said to throw it away! ALLIE HAS NO TUBES ANY MORE!
This was the last of the major milestones to get rid of. The central line, IV, trach, foley, and finally feeding tube. Allie is working hard in her therapies. Her walking and standing require the help of her therapist. She is not doing this on her own yet. She has a belt that they use to balance and support her. She is getting much stronger and I do think that when the time comes she will walk out of here. She uses a wheelchair when she is not in therapy. They have taken the foot rests away. She is supposed to use her feet to move her wheelchair and I'm not supposed to push her anymore. I put a bow on her door so she can find her room. I have shown her how to get from the room to the therapy gym. I have let her use her mind to navigate. I thank God everyday for healing. I know that outpatient therapy will continue after November 30th. I am praying for guidance in the decisions for our return home. Tennessee has a" Project Brain program" for students with TBI which provides teachers inservice training. I need to explore all the options for Allie in transitioning from rehab back to school. I think it will take time. Sun, Nov. 4
Weekend update
Allie had a good weekend. She has a computer in her room to watch DVDs and check email. We are still working on the double vision. She spent the weekend watching movies with Ashton and Becca. She also slept late with the time change. Frank brought the dogs this weekend. They stayed at my brother's house but he made sure Allie could see them. No they are not seeing eye dogs, but they made it into the hospital briefly. Fri, Nov. 2
Allie moved her right arm today in physical therapy! Her hand still feels numb, but the upper arm is starting to wake up. She walked with the walker around the unit and up and down the stairs. She did a great job. She is looking forward to sleeping late on the weekend. She is already asking to go home. Her voice is getting stronger, she is having emotions and facial expressions. Little by little she is gaining back the movements that fell asleep in the coma. The doctor increased her strattera, so we will watch her over the weekend for any changes.
Thur, Nov. 1
Allie is officially in inpatient Rehab. She has emerged! Her therapy has increased! She started group therapy in the cognitive group. She had an hour of PT, OT and she had Speech therapy today. She has graduated from being motor restless. She is going to lose her Posey bed and upgrade to a regular hospital bed tonight. Dr. Kaelin said he would take her feeding tube out sometime during the first of next week. Our tentative discharge date is November 30th. We will not be home for Thanksgiving but we'll be home for Christmas and Allie's birthday Dec 27th.
She really did great today. I was worried that this would be alot of work today but she handled it like a trooper! Wed, October 31
Happy Halloween!
Allie went on her first field trip to Pathways, the outpatient center this morning at 10 am. Our kids dressed up as Beauty and the Geeks. Allie dressed up as a beauty and had on a pretty tiara. She returned to the hospital about 2:30. She was exhausted. A change of scenery, lots of stimulation, only therapist with her - no mom. She crashed tonight about 7pm. She wanted to go to bed as soon as possible. She was a little overwhelmed. She also came home to several packages to open. Halloween candy was sent to her! Thank you. She ate alot of candy this afternoon. She also received a balloon bouquet and a beautiful quilt this week. She has felt very special from all of our family and friends, even though I tell her how much we love her every day. It is nice to see a smile light up her face after 8 weeks of coma. That is my personal enjoyment (just seeing a smile). Thank you for sending it to me. Please give those 1st graders a hug from me. Tomorrow I hope to meet with our case manager to learn our new course of action. I do know that she will have double the therapy that she has now. This starts Thursday. I'm reading text messages to Allie. She still has double vision, so I try to text back what she tells me. I'm not really good at texting. I apologize to her friends. I'm getting better! Tue, October 30
Allie worked on walking up and down stairs today in physical therapy. She also had to stand for 20 minutes. She is moving up to a level 3 diet, no more chopped meat! She can legally eat french fries! This is just one step away from a regular diet. The doctor is stopping her feeding tube diet. She will only eat and drink using her mouth. She is getting closer to having the feeding tube removed.
I expect her to be exhausted tonight! Starting Thursday she will start full inpatient rehab. This means we will stay here but she will have intensive therapies. I did ask about swimming and they may try to take her on a field trip to visit some horses. The neuropsychologist will be evaluating her as well for cognitive abilities. She is weak but getting stronger! . Mon, October 29
PM
Allie did great in her therapy today. Everyone is very pleased. Her speech therapist said she is a superstar! She is getting stronger everyday. Her cast was taken off her right arm but they re casted a pink one. She will get this off Wednesday. Her Team meets Wednesday so I hope to have alot of new information then. Her case manager is off on Mondays, so I didn't get any new discharge dates.
I would like to get rid of the feeding tube and I would like her to start having swim therapy. The pool is beautiful and she loves to swim. I can not thank you enough for your continued prayers and support for our family and Allie. I know that God has graced us with a wonderful recovery. Her mind is in tack. The weak right side of her body can rehab over time. Her double vision will also resolve or I'll buy her some really pretty glasses or contacts. She is tiny. Brenda said she had a lean athletic build but now she looks like a girly girl. She is skinny, but I'm working on that! It will not take long to build muscles and put a little weight back on. AM
She had the cast removed from her right arm today. In speech therapy they had her reading while the doctor evaluated her vision. She is seeing double in her right eye and they believe that as she strengthens this will correct itself. The medical team over Allies case will meet Wednesday and do an evaluation; Trish believes they will remove her from prep rehab to full rehab. She has her cell phone with her at all times and wants her friends to call. Her trainer (Michele) called today and Allie got to talk to Vonna, she was excited to do this. She said she misses Vonna very much.
Sun, October 28
This weekend was Allie's first out of the coma. She is asking questions and knows who we all are. This will not be like the new Samantha Who? series on television. She knows her horse's name and what year it is. Her voice is growing stronger and she is letting us know what she wants. She does seem to have some double vision. The doctor thinks this will resolve itself.
Fri, October 26
Praise the Lord! Allie checked in yesterday afternoon! She is awake and no longer on the coma recovery scale. She will graduate from the Prep program and start the rehab program. She is asking questions about her arm and the cast. She knows who we are. She wants her phone, so you guys can text her and call. She has not talked in two months so she is a little slow and slurred. She loves to listen and easy yes/no questions are okay from her friends.
She is fast becoming a picky eater. The hospital food doesn't seem appealing. Yesterday, her first words were asking for some Junior Mints. Needless to say, Dad went and bought a couple of bags for her. She stayed up to 1:00 am talking with us last night and finally went to sleep. She had a shower this morning at 7:30 and wanted to go back to bed. She walked in PT and wanted to go back to bed. She counted money in OT and wanted to go back to bed. She worked with her ST and wanted to go back to bed. So Allie is now back in the bed. Thur, October 25
 Today Allie spoke to Trish and said she wanted more "Junior Mints" candy. After lunch, Trish gave her some candy and it was not enough, so Allie spoke up! Since then she has had several conversations including a phone call to Frank who is about 1 hour outside of Atlanta. Trish said Allie is Allie and she is up. Slow but sure she is getting some words out. Stay tuned, when the excitement is over we will update the website and see what the doctors have to say about her progress.Wed, October 24
Tonight Allie painted a pumpkin in recreational therapy. She will get to go on her first field trip next week to the Pathway campus (outpatient therapy center) for a Fall Festival. She gets to dress as a beauty from the Beauty and the Geeks Show. They are going to provide tiaras for the girls.
They really pushed to get her talking today. The therapists have her lay on her stomach to help push on her diaphragm. She made some breathy sounds, no words yet. She was trying! Tue, October 23
Allie started another drug called ritalin. I 've given this to children I teach for attention and hyperactivity for years. Ritalin should help in the process of waking Allie up.
Allie also will get to move up to the level two food tray for three meals a day. She only had a food tray once a day which started last week. This is not pureed food! She does not get hamburgers yet, but it is at least identifiable food. She is improving in this area! I hope this means that we don't need the g-tube anymore. Her nurses are going to start giving her medicine to her in applesauce or pudding. If all goes well and she eats enough at each meal , Allie might get the g-tube out. I was told that she had to eat 75% of her meals for 5-7 days before they consider this. So I am praying for Allie to have an appetite. Allie's right leg is starting to wake up. She is definitely using it in PT now. Apparently it starts at the hip and travels down the extremity. The same will happen with her right arm. Arms are usually last, but they start waking at the shoulder muscles and then travel down to her fingers. I was able to read some of the email that you have sent to Allie. I read them aloud to her last night. Since she is now not sleeping during the day around therapies, we have a little time to read. It is so nice to hear from friends, view pictures, and say a little prayer with you. Thank you! Update according to Frank, Trish will update later.
I guess after my visit and work I did with Allie while there, I got Trish in trouble with the therapist. Unbeknownst to me you have to be certified by taking classes at the hospital to get Allie out of the bed, help her walk (without machines), walk her to the restroom, shower, etc..... However; they are happy with her new found progress. She is now moving her right leg along with the left during occupational therapy. They also increased her meals from one at lunch to three a day. If she continues to eat well, they will possibly take her feeding tube out next week. Her recovery team will meet tomorrow to evaluate her condition and see if they will continue with emerging therapy or recovery therapy.
Mon, October 22
Update from Frank about his visit:
Thursday evening Ashton and I arrived in Atlanta and Allie got to visit with Fritz and Lilly, both Fritz and Allie seemed to be excited to see each other (Fritz may have been more excited). I spent Thursday night through Sunday with Allie, giving Trish the opportunity to stay away for rest and relaxation. Allie is on the verge of waking and she will respond to certain commands. It was really good to see Allie's improvements.
Today Trish called and said that they are changing Allies meds to assist in the wake up process. Sun, October 21
Frank was very excited to see that Allie is giving responses with a thumbs up for yes. She is starting to interact with us but not talk yet. These are all good signs! I think we will score high this week on the coma recovery scale. I'll let you know how she does.
Fri, October 19
Allie's trach has healed over and all casts are off. So...today Allie had her first shower since September 3rd, the day off her accident. The occupational therapist let us use all the bath and body works gels and lotions that we wanted too. I know her skin must feel so good. Even her hair has to feel great. Bed baths and hair boards can only do so much. Nothing compares to a real shower.
Allie walked in PT and Frank was able to see it for the first time. She has started eating the level 2 tray of food only at lunch. Today's lunch actually had macaroni and cheese and jello. She has moved up to real food. The meat was minced but at least it was not pureed. She still gets tube feeds in the morning and at night. Hopefully those will be a thing of the past and she can have the G-tube removed in the near future.
Keep up those prayers..she is healing! We are so blessed
Wed, October 17
Allie started strattera, a drug to help concentration. Her motor restless behavior seems to be slowing down. She is more calm and able to focus on some tasks like putting her hair behind her ear, tucking the blanket around her as she sleeps, and many more everyday behaviors. I see Allie and her normal everyday habits.
She does not like pureed food. Eggs, saugage, banana...ugh! She did like the mashed potatoes but not spinach? I guess that was what that green stuff was? Pureed chicken is gross too. I think baby food might even be better. Yogurt, applesauce, and a Frosty pass the test. Today she is supposed to get a level two food tray. Hopefully it will be a little more appetizing. Allie had pet therapy yesterday. She was able to pet a dog named Fitz, a Doberman. She also loved on a golden. She walked again in PT and now she has a new wheel chair.
Frank and Ashton are planning to be here Friday to spend the day with Allie in her therapies. I think they will be surprised to see how great she is doing. We just need her to talk. She is so close to waking up, just on the border. Dr. Kaelin said he thinks she will just take off one day. Thank you all for your prayers and support! We love you all! Tue, October 16
Allie had a busy day. In PT she had her casts removed. Then she was walking using all that special equipment and the help of her therapist. This is her second time to do this.
She ate yogurt and a frosty today! Both of which she thoroughly enjoyed. She was like a Rock Star today in therapy...I guess we just had to find the appropriate teen food....forget applesauce and peaches. She also started flipping her phone open and holding it to her ear. She is still not talking, but seems to like listening. OT is happy with this. She will start a new medicine tomorrow. It is not Ritalin but another one like it. I'll get the name and let you know. It is a stimulant for her brain and to help with concentration. Dr. Kaelin thinks we are right on the edge. She is giving us a lot more to work with, but she needs to push through the cloudy stuff. Mon, October 15
Allie did very well in Speech and Occupational therapy today. She will probably have the barium swallow test done this week. Once we pass she can start having food trays and eventually get rid of the feeding tube. This is a major step in the right direction. Right now she is only allowed food like pudding or yogurt. I think she would like a Wendy's Frosty or a smoothie! Maybe when Frank is here this weekend I can go buy her one.
She is having the yellow casts on her ankles removed this afternoon and baby blue casts put back on today in Physical therapy. Hopefully this is the last set. She should have these off on Thursday. She has had pink, purple, yellow and now blue. Her ankles should be stretched out and ready to walk! Sat, October 13
We are having a quiet weekend. Saturday morning therapy used pictures to help Allie focus. I appreciate the pictures that you all have sent. Allie's cards are being lined up around her room, and her bulletin board is full of posters and pictures that the kids have made.
She really had a great week. Becca and Ashton came to visit over Fall break. Allie had some girl TLC with nail polish, good smelling lotions and hair styling. The week seemed to fly by and Allie made great strides in therapy. The therapists commented on Allie having a Good Week. Mom even had real coffee thanks to Brenda Conder. You know that makes me a much happier person in the morning! Edie and Cathy Ringer are coming tomorrow to visit Sunday. She plans on bringing some horse smells from Teddy. I have to brag about Teddy. Some of you might remember him..grey large pony, fancy mover and fast! He did a little dressage too. Allie's previous pony Teddy aka. Double Delight won the Gold at pony finals for the second time for the Region 4 Team Pony Jumpers! He won this year with our good friend Edie Ringer. We are so proud of them both! This is also the weekend of Regionals in St. Louis where Allie would have been competing if the accident had never happened. I hope our Memphis riders knock the socks off everyone and win! Good Luck! Friday, October 12
For Allie, today will be spent in her regular therapies, working and resting, working and resting. Her therapist's are pleased with her progress and feel she is right on track. Weekends are for resting and spending time with loved ones, and that is what Allie will be doing. Continue to pray for strength, peace, healing, and continued progress. Thur, October 11 Trish met with Allie's case manager. She said that Allie's team met this a.m. and said that she is a textbook case of recovering.
Yesterday Allie was put in a suspension harness that hung from a frame that allowed her to walk. She walked down the hall and back with assistance of course. They say her muscles would just remember and they did. She needed some help placing her right foot, but she did it. She also scored higher on the JFK Coma recovery scale from last week. She is making progress!
Last night Allie slept the entire night! The walk yesterday and the sleep medicine worked. She was much more relaxed this morning and less motor restless. This morning she kicked the ball again. She also had to turn a bicycle wheel using pedals with her hands. They actually wrap her right hand to the pedal because she can not grip it. She did a great job. She will be recasted on her ankles this afternoon. Slowing stretching those ankles out! Speech therapy is also this afternoon but I do not know what is on the agenda.
Ashton has spent the week with me and she will be home tonight for the weekend. Frank and Ashton are going to stay home and relax this weekend without 12+ hours of driving. Allie and I are in good hands! The prayers of strength and support are leading us. Every day I thank God for the gains she has made!
Wed, October 10 Allie has moved up the recovery scale this week, she continues to improve what seems slow for us but on track for her. She was in a device to aid her in walking. She is moving her left side very good but struggles with the right side. She is showing improvement on the right side. Please continue to pray specifically for improvement in her right side.
Tue, October 9 They had allie on the mat in physical therapy to
kick a ball. She kicked the ball about 20 times on command with her left and KICKED THE BALL TWICE WITH HER RIGHT. (right side movement). I was asked to give specifics for prayers. Please pray to heal the left side of her brain and the right side of her body. The one controls the other.
Mon, October 8 Allie had the cast removed from her right arm today and they said that they will not have to replace it as long as she does not keep her arm flexed, so far she has not. They removed the cast from her feet and will replace with another cast to flex her ankles more today. As per earlier e-mail she continues to improve in eating ice, apple sauce and now pudding. She spent most of the afternoon in evaluations after cast removal so no physical therapy today.
Today Allie is getting all three of the casts off, but might have the ankles recasted for a larger stretch. She is more alert today.
I've gone from worrying about her breathing and ICP numbers at the Med to wondering when she will talk to me again. That is a definate improvement. I found myself having withdrawals not having a monitor with every BP, Pulse, Respiration, etc. to look at. She is totally independent of these numbers with the exception of a daily temperature and blood pressure check.
I just want to find the familiar item, sound, or smell that brings it all back together to re-charge her brain.
Sun, October 7 Allie is having a good weekend! Frank is on his way home now. Ashton is here for the week.
I actually slept like a rock last night in a bed at Chris's house. Frank pulled an all nighter. Apparently Allie did not sleep last night. Never a dull moment.
Sat, October 6 Day of rest today and tomorrow. Allie is taking it easy and resting. They have doubled the dosage of medication and Allie has an upset stomach.
Friday, October 5 Email from Trish:
The ankle casts are to prevent foot drop. She had splints at the Med that were okay but Shephard's therapist like custom fit. The casts will only be on until Monday and then cut off. They will use these to stretch her ankles so when she walks it will be on her foot and not her toes. They are standing her up in therapy sessions and putting her on the mats using wedges for different exercises. She is getting the Jane Fonda workout regardless of the coma.
Today she had similar workouts and then I was able to bring her outside into the garden. It is a lovely little decorated garden that patients can enjoy. They call it the secret garden. Allie and I left the hospital for about 30 minutes!!!! First time out since Labor Day! She enjoyed a little sunshine, lovely plants, and a water garden with goldfish. It was a nice break!
I understand that Vonna is doing just fine. The tripping that may have caused this accident is being resolved. Michele is making sure that Allie will have an awesome horse to return to when she is ready. Let everyone know that the horse is okay even if we didn't get around to her right away. Allie is our number one priority. Now that Allie is stable.....I knew that Allie would kill us if we didn't take care of her horse too.
This place is amazing! God sent us to the right place.
Love to all! I was asked to give specifics for prayers. Please pray to heal the left side of her brain and the right side of her body. The one controls the other.
During PT this morning Allie was able to eat ice chips and some applesauce. Also while she was on her stomach, they asked her to say "hi" and she did.
Frank and Ashton will be leaving for Atlanta tomorrow after Ashton's volleyball game.
Thursday, October 4 They are putting both feet in casts. This is to keep her feet at a 90 degree angle, to keep the calf muscles and the ankles in shape for walking. She was wearing boots, but the casts are a more aggressive and exact method of achieving this.
Today - Allie no longer has a trach. Respiratory just came by and removed it. So officially I can take her off the floor and go down to the garden outside this weekend. She does not have to be within the nurse's sight. Yeah for breathing and swallowing! Somethings we take for granted!
Wednesday, October 3 Good day. Her trach was changed to a button on Monday. They are talking about removing it all together tomorrow. It was Friday but they are very pleased with her lungs and her swallowing. Hoping to have most of her extra tubes removed all together.
They stood her up on a table that inclines. She went to 60 degrees.
Chris and Mirela bought her a body pillow which she is already using. She does not like to sleep on her back, so now she can curl around a pillow. I see glimpses of Allie. They call this emerging from the coma. Sounds like body snatchers or something. I met with the doctor today. They have started a new medicine to start waking her up. They feel like it is time to start waking her up. He seems to have a lot of tricks up his sleeve to do this.
Allie did get a pink cast on her right arm today. This is for the tone in her right arm. She might get some botox in the bicep if this doesn't work. The drugs for relaxing tend to knock her out...so we are avoiding these. No muscle relaxers for Allie...that is the same as sedation.
Thank you for all of your help!
Tricia
Tuesday, October 2 Allie had the trach removed and a button is there. If all goes well this week they will take the button out Friday or Monday and it will begin to heal over. This is a major step. The next major step is to get rid of the tube feeding. This means she has to be able to swallow and eat enough food. We will see how this goes. I don't think it will be this week.
She has OT and ST this morning until 11:00. Then we put Allie back to bed until 1:00. In the afternoon she has PT and will go back to bed around 4:00. They particularly want her to rest in between therapies. She slept yesterday from 6 to 7:30 pm, last night 11:10pm to 3:30am and then 7:00 am to 8:00am. The rest of the time she is moving non- stop. They have a bed alarm for her, and because I sleep right next to her they are not putting on a belt to strap her in at night. She can be exhausting. She helps me roll her over and she will help put her arm through when I dress her. She knows what I'm doing. She moaned once this morning as she slept. The respiratory therapist said she could talk with the button much better than with the trach. I see glimpses of her in there. They keep talking about her emerging from the coma...I can't wait. She looks skinny. They are feeding her more 100 now instead of 65, but she only gets food from 4pm until 8am...all night. This way she doesn't have tubes to carry around during therapy. Pt was great yesterday. They had her sitting up on the mat. They want to use personal items. I need pictures too. They will use them in therapy. One email line from Trish sums up the day yesterday.
"She is so active that I can't leave her alone or she'll fall out of bed."
Monday, October 1 Trish called,
As we thought they will both be in meeting today and tomorrow. Allie's meetings are assessments by all physicians and Trisha's meetings are for the patients parent. She did say that they are going to remove the trach this week and that they will now only have the feeding tube in operation from 4p.m. to 8a.m. with the time off used for physical therapy and whatever else. All news will probably go unchanged until all assessments are complete. Saturday, September 29 Today Allie was moved from ICU to a room. The real work will start on Monday. She is very active and moving around. Frank and Ashton are there and will be returning to Memphis on Sunday.
Thursday, September 27 Trish emailed this update: 11:50 AM We had a smooth flight to Atlanta yesterday. Allie was admitted into ICU where she immediately went to sleep. All afternoon she was evaluated. She had sonograms of her legs looking for blood clots..she was clear. She had chest x-rays for the congestion that was listed in her chart from the Med. Her trach was cleaned and replaced. Physical therapy, occupational, and speech all came for initial evaluations. Doctor Zadoff, Pulmonary and Critical Care checked her from head to toe. Antibiotics were needed at the Med, so they are culturing everything to check for infections. Her trach will probably be down sized again before they completely remove it. They are deciding new medicines. One is a sleeping pill at night. Apparently we need to get on a regular sleep schedule so she can get with the program!
Today she is up in a chair and receiving physical therapy. She has opened her eyes, and responds to her therapist Katie. Responding by pulling away if she doesn't like what Katie is doing. This is a good sign! Everyone comments on how strong Allie is. I wonder what kind of fight she'd give them if she was awake. She is considered to be in Stage III on the coma scale. (Rancho ???)
Click here to download PDF information from rancho.org. 10:36 AM Trish called they are waiting on the Doctor that will be over her case to return Monday to start meds. The sleeping pill they gave her last night only worked for 4 hrs and she was active again so tonight they plan on doubling the dose. The muscle relaxer is called Dantreum (spelling) they will start today. Occupational therapy is in now and PT will be in three times today. Otherwise her condition has not changed.
The reason for the sleeping pill is to get Allie on a schedule where she sleeps at night and is active during the day. She is off a little and has been active during the night and sleeping during the day.
How is Trish doing?
She sounds as though she is in good spirits. They actually gave allie a full bath, washed and dried her hair and she put a ton of Bed, Bath and Beyond stuff on her. She said that the room smells great in the ICU. I don't think much will change until Monday when they start the wakeup meds and review the case with the Dr. over her case
Wednesday, September 26
Allie made it to the Shepherd center with no issues. She is in ICU for the evaluation process. More to come when we get an update from Trish.
Copies from facebook _ we are praying for allie
As many of you know, Allie was in an accident with her horse early Monday. [ 9/22/07 ]
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Allie suffers from a Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
"God designed the world and his people in such a way that no matter how big our problems, the smallest gesture in love from a friend can become the biggest miracle of all." Patricia Lorenz
February 2008 Finding balance
Friends
As I embarked on this roller coaster ride of life, my path crosses with so many people who have touched our lives. Maybe it is other patients that I add to my prayers at night or friends who cheer us up. I thank god every day for those of you reading our update, praying for our family, cheering us on, calming our nerves, and making our lives complete. We find friends in unexpected places and they seem to take on some unusual tasks. It is through faith and friendships that we find the strength to tackle life's toughest challenges. Giving thanks at this time of year is very appropriate and means much more to our family.
I want to thank you.
Please email Allie at weloveallie@gmail.com
We would like to thank Ken and Brenda Hammerton. On several occasions they have flown us back and forth from Memphis to Atlanta. On November 30th, they will be bringing Allie home. They have recently taken over operations and ownership of the flight school at the Olive Branch Airport.
(Click here for Shepherd Website) Admissions for Shepherd Center For the Mid-South area you may contact This is a quote found in the Shepherd Center. "Though my shell is broken and my body is weak, there still burns inside me the fire of spirit, hope, and love with determination and the grace of God we shall overcome this ordeal one day at a time." Tommy Johnston 1988
“Life’s not about waiting for the storms to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
Links for TBI
Homecoming Dance 9/13/2008
Lord, I need mountain -moving faith today because there are situations in my life that loom large like mountains and I can’t begin to move them. But I believe in You and Your power on my behalf. Surely, my faith is as big as a mustard seed. Take what faith I have and grow it into a giant tree of faith so that I can speak to the mountain-sized obstacles in my life and see them moved. Thank You, Lord , that with You, nothing is impossible. Matthew 17:20
David and Allie at the GCHS Ball 3/2009
Immediately Shepherd Center had her up and walking...even while she was in her coma state. She is in casts and the physical therapist are walking her which recalled muscle memory. Allie in Coma October 10, 2007. She did not wake up or know me until October 25.
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