Archive for July, 2005

July 27, 2005

July 27, 2005 | Updates

Thanks everyone for helping us out and supporting us so very much. I am feeling today that I really miss my little boy. He is so vibrant and talkative and it’s hard to see his little picture and not miss his cute little smile. But I am holding in there.He is doing about the same today as yesterday. But we are getting a better control over the medications they are giving him and it is keeping him more comfortable more of the time. We are trying hard to work his little joints when he is asleep and keep them from tightening up as they are often in the same position when he postures time and time again. We are also trying to rock him or hold him and at least keep him in different positions than flat on his back in bed.
The doctors continue to assure us that this will most likely be a phase and that it usually peaks within 1-3 months and subsides slowly from there. However, they hope to have it much more controled over the next week or two with several medications that help to control this muscle spasming.

As far as his recovery goes, he could recover to any point from being how he is now to being totally normal. There is just no way to know. But I know from the priesthood blessings that he has received that he will be very much better than he is now. I believe that cognitively, he is still very much intact. And I believe that these issues with his body may even be able to be overcome. But I believe that will only come through faith, prayers & fasting. That is why I am so thankful for all of you and ask you not to give up in your prayers for him as I think this is going to be a long recovery for him. But I know he will overcome it more than anyone would even believe right now. His Savior loves him and he has been blessed to be able to play again and to be whole and well. I think we will see that miracle come to pass.

We have neighbors and our business employees putting up a fence around our home and my sister holding a garage sale and raising donations to help with the medical bills. Our employees are also holding an auction at our business next week to help with this fund. We are so very grateful to you all. There are so many to thank that I wouldn’t even know where to begin.

Keep praying for him and have faith that he will get better. I KNOW HE WILL and we will look back on this as a growing experience in our lives!!!

We love you,
Teresa

July 26, 2005

July 26, 2005 | Updates

Today is one of what we would might call a harder day. Samuel’s posturing is getting worse (as expected) and it is hard to watch. Even though it is part of his recovery, the constant pain, muscle spasms & fright, on his face is more than a parent can bare. The good note to this is that the medication he is on is also an amnesiac & will cause that he not remember any of this. WOW! is that a relief. Teresa and I have realy had a hard time with it. The doctors have also mentioned that becasue the damage was to the basil ganglia portion of the brain, it is not likley that it will not have permanent effects. They say the effects could be close to that of a person with Parkinson’s disease. Apparently another word for Parkinson’s disease is Basil Ganglia disease. In other words, we may have the wonderful experiance of raising a handicapped son. It will be difficult to get used to, but we are MORE than willing to take it on, IF that is what God wants for us. However, we have not had even close to the final verdict yet, and are still hopeful of the best. After all he does have a chance of recovering most of the way as well. To us, we heard, “he has a 100% chance of being happy” (smile). The hardest part of acxcepting the worst, is the fact that the Samuel we knew may not be with us for a while - maybe for just a short time, or maybe until the after life. If that happens, WE WILL MISS HIM! But we will look forward to raising the new Samuel or getting the old one back. The Lord will be the decider of that. Not our will, but his be done!Again, word scannot express ALL the love and appreacition we have for all of you. The support has been overwhelming. We saw the picture of our house with the flags around it and cannot keep our composure when looking @ it. Please let us know who to thank for that. Our thanks will not be enough, our gratitude is not suffice, and may the merciful God of this world bless you like he ALWAYS has, and still blessess us. Tom

July 25, 2005

July 25, 2005 | Updates

Many of you have asked how you might be able to help us. We have appreciated your offers and will most certainly be taking you up on many of them over the next few months. My sister, Kaylee, has gotten together with her softball team and is trying to raise enough money to put up a fence around the canal and help with the medical bills that are accruing each day for Samuel’s care. She is hanging up fliers and putting donation cans in stores and she will be holding a large garage sale in Orem next Saturday. She is also setting up a bank account where anyone can donate to Samuel’s fund. She is going to get me the details of this account tomorrow and I will let you all know in case you are interested.Today, we were finally able to talk to the rehab doctor. She thinks that this posturing will end within a few weeks and we certainly hope so as it is VERY difficult to watch. They are medicating him trying to keep the posturing to a minimum while allowing him to still be as awake as possible. But the medications are dulling his senses, so we don’t get much of an opportunity to feel that his little spirit is in his spasming little body. They have also said they are a little concerned with his lungs and watching them as he seems to be laboring a little for breath and pneumonia is always a concern.

Please keep praying for his little body to heal and for his spirit to be comforted and that his parents will have enough faith to bring the best possibilities to pass. We know that with God, we can do anything.

We also want to thank all those who have done so much for us thus far. We couldn’t do this without each one of you. And every prayer is a blessing. Thank you! Tom, Teresa & Samuel

July 25, 2005

Updates

Yesterday and last night were harder days for little Samuel, he is posturing more and more. They are a very hard thing for a parent to see. It has been difficult for us. For a time we wondered if he would ever stop, due to the fact that they tell us that happens to alot of people with brain damage of this sort, that is they never come out of the postureing stage and they may always be this way mentaly. Although this is a possibility thus far, they tell us becasue he is so aleart now it is a very good sign he will more than likley pull out of it, for the most part. We are optimistic that he will! Sleep has been hard to come by as well as time out of his room (espically for Teresa). But were doing fine. We still don’t know how long we’ll be hear, I will moe than likley have to go back home for work soon, but either way we will be down hear offten. Thanks again for your prayers, comments, and ALL your help. We love you all! TomP.S. (Forgot) Wanted to mention to please continue to pray that Samuels posturing will subside, his rehab and healing will be quick, and our Faith will be strong

July 24, 2005

July 24, 2005 | Updates

Sorry that it has taken me so long to post this update today. It has been a busy day. Last night, the results of Samuel’s MRI came back. They are saying that it showed some injury to his brain in the basal ganlia portion of it. (That portion of the brain mostly deals with motor functions.) But they say that an MRI simply gives us some ideas and does not rule out other problems later or the possibility of healing in the areas where there are problems now. It is just a wait and see situation for now.Samuel started “posturing” quite a bit last night. That basically means that his entire body will stiffen up and every muscle in it tighten - arching his back and head and making him very uncomfortable for a few minutes each time. It is involuntary, and is brought on by his being upset which is apparent because it happens nearly every time he begins to cry. They are trying to give him medication to help reduce this posturing without putting him under because they do want his brain to continue to try and awaken fully. Also, they do believe at this point that this posturing will eventually subside.

When he is quite and awake - which is probably only about half an hour total every day, he is very aware considering what he has been through. He seems to recognize us and he has smiled and even laughed when we have quitely played with him. But his brain is still trying to transition from the coma he was in to a fully awakened state. And we won’t know exactly how much damage he has sustained until he is more awake.

I do want to add that Samuel has had several priesthood blessings and because of those blessing, we believe that through faith and prayers, he will be all right. It will be a long road of recovery, I’m sure. But we do believe that with enough faith, he can be well again.

We again ask you to continue to keep Samuel in your prayers and fasting. Our prayers are being answered as he improves slowly each day. He is truly a miracle to behold as he should not even be with us after what he has endured. But God is merciful.

I read a scripture today that I would like to share with you:
“For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.” 2 Nephi 27:23

We do not know why Samuel has to endure this trial in his life, but we know there is a reason. And we do not know why God has blessed us to be able to keep him here with us, but we are so very grateful. And we know that when miracles do happen, they happen because of faith. Thank you for your faith. We love you all!

Tom, Teresa & Samuel

P.S. If you would like to post a message, we would love to hear from you. We do read them. And they are wonderful!