Late Week Update

Hi everybody! I got some good updates from Mom and Becky yesterday. Since no beds have opened up anywhere Mom will stay at Sparrow until Friday. On Friday a bed is opening up at the Medical Care Facility and she will get moved there. This is an answer to prayer - only one move and to the place she wants and needs to be.

Kim has had a busy week with therapy sessions and Dr's appointments. Becky said her physical therapist is pleased with her progress and she only needs to see her once a week for now. The occupational and speech therapists are doing some testing right now to determine the areas they need to focus on with Kim to get her back in top form - after that they will also be once a week appointments.

I am in an airport right now on my way to Orlando for work and Deb is off today to visit with her family for a few days. We'd appreciate you all checking in with Mom & Dad and Becky & Kirk to see how they're doing. I'll be touching base by phone and I'll do my best to get any new info up here for everyone.

Thanks for your continued prayers and help. One thing this experience has taught me is how important we are to each other and how much the little acts of kindness matter.

Keep Praying

Dan

Tuesday Blues

Hi everyone. Mixed day for Mom today. She is in good spirits but still frustrated to still be at the hospital. There are simply no beds open in rehab centers for her. Apparently there is a male bed available in one facility but for some reason Mom wasn't comfortable with that - go figure. Mom does have a much better roommate now. Some of you know the lady in there previously was challenging to say the least. The light at the end of the tunnel is that there is a bed opening up in Charlotte on Friday and she is slated for that spot.

Kimmy has some therapy sessions scheduled in Lansing today. I'm anxious to talk to Becky and Kirk and see how she's doing tonight. I'll let you know then.

Mom would love calls or visits. She has her cell phone with her so feel free to call that number. If you don't have it give Deb or me a call and we can get it for you.

Thanks for all your prayers.

Dan

Monday Updates

I took the weekend off from updates - Thanks for understanding. Deb and the Kids and I spent a lot of time re-charging from the events of the last week. Dad and I had a safe trip up north to the funeral on Friday. It was a good but sad day. Some of my cousins were there and my Dad's sisters. It was great to do some reconnecting.

Kim is doing well at home. She continues to gain strength and energy. She really wanted to go to church on Sunday so they snuck in a little late and snuck out early but she was there! She is working on her therapy exercises every day at home and has appointments on Tuesday and Wednesday this next week in Lansing with her speech/occupational/physical therapists. They are still trying to get a good handle on what short and long term effects she injuries may or may not have. She has some work ahead of her to get ready for school in the fall but that tough little girl is up to it!

Mom is very frustrated. She really does not need to be at the hospital anymore - she should be in a rehab setting - but there are not beds available right now. They are working on getting her into someplace closer to Charlotte but it is not happening quickly. Dad was able to talk to his insurance folks today to calm some of his fears about costs that some of the hospital personnel had raised. There are a lot of details that need to be taken care of and it is very hard sometimes to navigate the waters to the right people to handle those details. Please pray for clarity of mind for him as he tries to keep everything straight.

Deb is arranging meals for Becky and Kirk and a few for Dad and Mom starting this week. If you would like to help please give her a call and she can work that out with you. Thanks again to all of you for your prayers and continued support. We love you very much.

Keep Praying

Dan

Early Friday

Good morning everyone! Kimmy did come home yesterday. About 6:00pm she walked into Mom's room and said, "Granny! I get to go home!" I'll give their place a call later today and get a status report for you all up here when I can.

Dad and I are heading up north today for aunt Doris' funeral. Deb will be with Mom after VBS. Please continue to pray hard that a bed open up for Mom in the Medical Care Facility here in Charlotte. She is very ready to be moved.

Thanks for all your prayers.

Dan

Kimmy's Out of There!!!!!!

Got word at lunch today that Kim is going to be released from the hospital today! Amen!!!! They want her to go through her full schedule of therapy today but then she will be released to sleep in her own house tonight. The MRA showed the arteries were just fine. The MRI showed a legion on the inside of the skull from the injury but it didn't sound like that will cause any lasting issues. The EEG did have some irregularities on it that they will address over the next days and weeks but things look good overall.

The next days and weeks will include lots of doctor's visits and therapy to get her back to 100% as soon as possible. Visitors will be welcome but PLEASE CALL FIRST! Between appointments and much needed rest that will be important.

Mom is doing well and very ready to get moved into her rehab phase. She asked me to have you all be praying that a bed open up at the medical care facility as soon as possible. She wants to be there close to home and her family and church friends.

If they keep getting better like this I may be out of job here with this blog - won't that be great!

Keep Praying!

Dan

Today's News

New updates/changes for this evening.

Kim was able to have her MRI/MRA tonight. She slept through it with out sedation and it went real smooth. Results should be in sometime tomorrow. I want to remind everyone - please no visitors for the next few days unless Becky or Kirk OK it.

Mom continues to gain strength but by the end of the day she is very tired and feeling some pain. This afternoon Mom and Dad discussed rehab options and have actually decided to try to go with their original hopes of the Medical Care Facility in Charlotte rather than the rehab floor at Sparrow that I mentioned earlier. It looks like she may be making that move as early as Friday. As they discussed it they really feel that it would be better for her to be close to everyone. She is not going to be very mobile anyway after she gets home - what's a few extra days in a rehab center.

Mom and Kim would both enjoy cards or letters. I've put the address for the hospital below - include the appropriate name and room #.

Thanks for the offers of help for Friday - everything is taken care of. Many of you have asked about Ty - he is fine, no broken bones just a strain.

Thanks for everything folks. Keep praying and I'll keep you updated.

Dan


Sparrow Hospital
Margie Wilson - Patient rm 417
Kim Rickerd - patient rm 533
1215 E. Michigan Avenue
Lansing, Michigan 48912

Heads up for Tomorrow

Hi everybody. I'll get a full update up later tonight but I wanted to let everyone know something early as well. Kim's doctors and Kirk and Becky are asking that tomorrow there be a bare minimum of visitors. Kim has really enjoyed seeing the people who have come up but they tire her out and it is then hard for them to see just how strong she is and how she is progressing. We really need to give them some space for the next 24-48 hours. She is doing well and visitors will be welcome soon.

Thanks everyone for your understanding and your continued prayers. More to come soon.

Dan

Help for Friday

As I mentioned yesterday Dad and I are going up north for Aunt Doris' funeral on Friday. After VBS Deb is planning on going up to sit with Mom but needs someone to watch the kids for the afternoon and possibly into the evening. If you can help give her a call at our house or send an e-mail our way.

Thanks

Dan

Wednesday at Lunch

I went up to the hospital at lunch again today. As I was walking onto Kim's floor I see her with her physical therapist and Kirk and Becky walking down the hall. Becky said "Kim do you see who that is?" Kim smiled and said, "Hi uncle Danny!" (yes I'll always be Danny to a lot of folks) I got to go to the "gym" with her and watch her session. She played basketball and soccer and walked on a balance beam (it was a painted 2x4 on the ground). She is gaining every day but her left side is lagging behind a little bit and her reaction time is diminished right now. It was a lot of fun to be included in that time.

Mom looked real strong today. As I got to her room they were talking with one of her doctors about rehab options. It sound like they are leaning towards her transferring to the rehab floor right there in Sparrow Hospital. The intensive therapy they will be able to give there will help get her home sooner. She may be transferred to that floor later this week and they would expect her to be there 7-10 days and then home at that point.

This really isn't a Tyler update page but here is one anyway. The hospital called this morning and his arm wasn't broken but they did not get the x-rays they needed to check out his shoulder so Deb and I are going up to get that done this afternoon.

Thanks for everything folks. Keep up the prayers and encouragement! Talk to you soon.

Dan

Another Wild Day!

Well this afternoon Tyler decided Granny shouldn't be the only one with bandaged up limbs so when his older sister was watching him he decided to take a dive off the bed. He is OK. Deb took him in to get checked out and he may have a "green fracture" in his arm. They wrapped his arm just in case and Deb will get final word when the doctor sees the x-rays in the morning. It will have to stay bandaged for a bit but then everything will be fine. It just seemed the icing on the cake today.

Kim had another strong afternoon according to my Dad. They did the EEG tonight and the results will come tomorrow. They had to put off the MRI/MRA till tomorrow at 5:00 pm because one of the personnel they needed was not available today. Kim ate a great lunch and dinner and seemed in good spirits.

Mom had a tough afternoon it sounded like. I think the pain and stress is taking its toll. Dad said she was getting startled by loud noises and was getting pretty agitated. Pray for good rest and a calm day tomorrow.

We got word that My Aunt Doris' funeral will be Friday afternoon in Traverse City. Dad and I will be going up for the day.

More news tomorrow, thanks for your prayers.

Dan

Midday on Tuesday

Though I would give everyone a mid-day update. One thing I forgot to mention last night is that Kim has been moved out of the Pediatric ICU into a normal room. This is a great thing. She is not up for visitors yet other than family. Becky and Kirk will let us know when others can come to see her.

Her MRA/MRI is scheduled for 5:00pm today, they are going to do an EEG as well. We will probably not hear any results from that until tomorrow. This morning she opened her birthday presents. She is excited to have some new books and blankets and games. Her morning has been busy again with therapy and doctors. I sat with her a while today while she rested and Becky and Kirk went to get a bite to eat. When I left they were about to do a "mad-lib" out of one of her new books.

Please pray for the doctors as they work on getting good evaluations of her status and progress. In some ways they are just now discovering the full extent of her brain injury and its effects. The discovery process is frustrating. They do the tests and then they have to talk it over with six other doctors before they can do anything or even tell Beck and Kirk what the status is.

Mom looked good but was tired and in some pain when I saw her. More therapy this morning and afternoon for her. She has appreciated the visits, cards and flowers.

Many of you know there has been some other things going on with Dad's family as well this last week. The same day as the accident Dad's twin brother Don fell off a scaffolding and broke his ankle and will require surgery to fix it. His oldest sister Doris has been fighting cancer and early last week we got word that they called in hospice care for her. Late last night we got word that she had passed away so sometime later this week Dad and I will be going up to Traverse City for the funeral.

Pray for endurance and strength for Becky and Kirk and Dad. They are immersed in this 24/7 right now. It can get overwhelming.

That's all for now. I'll try to get another update up before I go to sleep tonight.

Keep praying!

Dan