I just spent about an hour and a half reading this thread, and all I can say is that it is AMAZING....I really dont know what to say other than that. With all the updates that CC has been giving, I felt like I was right there with Justin. I don't know if his mom reads this or not, but I just want to say that you have a remarkable son...Best wishes to Justin and his family in the rest of his recovery! :banana: :ylsuper:

You are in my prayers. This decision is a hard one to make, as you have had to face many others. God and his angels were with you then and are with you now.

December 29, 2006 at 11:00 AM EST

I know it's been awhile since I updated Justin's care page. Justin is doing fine. He went to a friends house to watch the Bengals/Colts game. So he was happy to get out of the house and away from me for a little while.

 

He had a nice Christmas we went to 4 different parties and he really enjoyed getting to eat at all 4 places.

 

He has had no outpatient therapy this week. My insurance only covers 50 visits a year so we have to wait until the new year to start therapy again. Even then it won't last long. He uses 9 visits a week so it will go by quick. I'm still trying to get him Ky Medicade but it is really difficult. It was so easy getting him Ohio Medicade but each state is different.

 

I am waiting on a case manager to call me back who can help Justin with the various brain injury programs that are available.

 

I hope everyone has a blessed New Year.

 

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall substain thee" Psalm 55:22

Every time I update myself on this thread, I shake my head in amazement. Amazement for God's blessings; amazement for this young man's determination; and amazement at the never ending love of a mother. Simply fantastic!

January 02, 2007 at 06:48 PM EST

Justin started back to therapy today. He will be going 2 times a week and he is only going to speech and physical therapy. We decided to quit with the occupational therapy. This way he will still get 12 weeks of therapy until the 50 insurance paid visits are up. He did great at therapy. He struts around the halls, when he is at therapy they have him walk with no support. They put a safety belt and hold on to it but he does not use his walker or cane. When he is at the house we still use the walker. I feel safest with him when he uses the walker.

 

We have an appointment with a case worker on Wednesday at 11:00. More paper work to do. We also got the OK today to get the feeding tube removed. I am waiting on a call back from the GI office so we can schedule an appointment. Also next week he is supposed to go for another swallowing eval. To see how he will do with thin liquids.

 

Other amazing things are happening. He laughed for the first time on Saturday December 23rd. You can't imagine how I felt, I got so choked up. He is coughing, sneezing and snoring. He started whistling a couple of days ago. He is able to sweat again. Things we take for granted or never really think about. He is also getting his sense of humor back. He keeps me and grandma very entertained. We are so grateful each day that we are so blessed to be with him.

 

Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides, but rarely does it break. It sustains us when nothing else can. It gives us reason to continue with courage to move ahead.

 

That is wonderful news! I'm so glad to hear that he just keeps improving. Definitely living up to the motto 'With a Spirit that will not die'!

January 05, 2007 at 12:43 PM EST

The caseworker came on Wednesday, and she is so knowlegable about TBI patients and everything that is available for them. She told us about more residential rehab places that are closer to home. There are 3 in Kentucky the closest one being in Louisville. I am so relieved to have someone now that we can call with any questions or concerns.

 

Justin has a busy month this month on January 9th he has an appointment with a neurologist. On January 10th he has an appointment with an Neuro Optomoligist (he will be checking Justin out for possible neuro optical damage). Also on Wednesday he has another swallow evaulation at St Elizabeth Hospital. On Friday January 19th he has an appointment with a GI doctor who will hopefully be removing Justin's feeding tube. Then on January 24th he has an appointment with his Neuropsychologist.

 

Acceptance - is the road to peace...

letting go of the worst, holding onto the best,

and finding the hope inside that continues throughout life.

 

 

January 11, 2007 at 01:09 PM EST

On Tuesday Justin had an appointment with a neurologist. The nueroligist was very impressed and pleased with Justin's progress.

 

On Wednesday Justin had an appointment with an Neuro Optomologist he ran all kinds of test. He determined that there is no optical nerve damage. He also said that Justin's primary visual pathway and the signals going in are fine. He says that Justin has a Visual Processing problem. There is no treatment only time for Justin to re-learn and redevelop. Justin has to continue to stimulate his mind, by reading, getting on the computer and playing video games, etc.

 

On Wednesday Justin also had another swallow evaulation. He failed the thin liquid part again so we have to continue to thinken his drinks. He also can't have anything that will turn into a liquid like ice cream. He has what they call Cricopharyngeal dysfunction. They may do a procedure (EGD) where they go in and stretch his esophagus. We will find out more after the Speech Therapist goes over the results.

 

Angels exist - but sometimes with no wings, they are called friends

 

My Prayers go out. The Lod will bless

January 19, 2007 at 06:03 PM EST

Justin had his appointment with the GI (Gastronterolist) doctor today and she was not able to remove his tube today due to the fact that it is a Jejunotomy tube. It was put in by a surgeon therefore it needs to be removed by a surgeon. Justin has an appointment with a surgeon on Wednesday January 24th and hopefully on Thursday the surgeon will be removing the tube. The surgery will take place at St Elizabeth hospital.

Justin has gained over 20 pounds since he passed the swallowing evaul on December 5th. Everybody wants to feed him and he loves to eat. He would graze 24/7 if I would let him. His appetite is insatiable. Due to the brain injury his hypothalamus, which regulates your appetite may have been damaged. He has got a real bad sweet tooth too.

Justin is now getting around using a cane. The therapist says he is doing so well at walking that it won't be long before he needs no kind of support. Justin still wants to get a "pimp daddy" cane to walk with. He has been searching the web and found some for $60.00.

 

Justin - keep putting one foot in front of the other, and taking it day by day!

Tomorrow will be brighter, don't look back, you're not going that way!

^ Awesome updates...man, simply awesome....God works miracles, no doubt.

January 24, 2007 at 07:51 PM EST

Justin's surgery to have his Jejunostomy tube removed is scheduled for Thursday January 25th at 11:00 at St Elizabeth. The surgery could last about 2 hours and they are planning on keeping him overnight. I will send out another update sometime after the surgery.

 

Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage it.

Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it.

Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nutured,

And it can be found in each of us. Never lose hope.

January 26, 2007 at 11:16 AM EST

Justin's surgery went fine. The actual procedure only took about 45 minutes. We were at the hospital for about 5 hours by the time he was in preop, surgery, recovery and postop. He was so glad that he got to come home and didn't have to stay overnight. He really hates hopitals for now. The only problem was that he was sick to his stomach because of the anethesia. It didn't slow him down any. As soon as he got home he ate a Turkey Sandwhich and then got on the computer. I had to make him go to bed.

He's becoming more independent. He makes his own breakfast, lunch and is thickening his own drinks. Of course there are times when he wants me dad or grandma to wait on him still.

 

 

So glad the surgery went good. All of you are still in my prayers.

February 07, 2007 at 04:53 PM EST

Justin's check up with the GI doctor on Friday went good. His wound was all healed up.

 

Justin is looking forward to swimming at Health South this Friday. He wanted to wear Speedos but I didn't think the ladies could handle it.

 

He has an appointment with a Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist next Thursday. They are going to check his Esophagus and the scar tissue that was formed from his Trache. To see if they can do surgery on removing the scar tissue and stretching his esophagus to help with his swallowing.

 

Also next week on Valetine's Day, Justin has a patient interview at Health South. Channel 12 may do a segment on Justin using one of their rehab techniques. Its called Interactive Meronome, its used to get a person in rythm with walking. His therapist feel he has had good results using it.

 

Justin - Somehow you're going to make this all work out for you. Believe that and just focus on your strengths and successes.