Friday, February 11, 2011

From Cub Scout Pack 465

Since we received news of Thomas' serious head injury last Friday the parents and Cub Scouts of Pack 465 - Woodstock, Georgia have prayed for his recovery. We were thrilled to hear of the great news and proof of the miracle of prayer!

Thomas, we will continue to keep you and your family in our prayers and look forward to your full recovery.

Be patient, keep getting stronger and get home soon!

Yours In Scouting,

Cub Scout Pack 465

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

On Being Brain Injured--and coming back all the way.

I have been holding a small treasure in my hands for five years---one I
never thought I'd use. Five years ago, on July 21, 2006, at the age of 70,
my father fell down a concrete stairwell---backwards, airborne-landing on
his head, cracking his skull and traumatizing his brain so severely that he
actually suffered hematomas in the back and front of his brain.subdural
bilateral hematomas, s subarachnoid hematoma and a contra coup injury.
Doctors gave us little to hope for his full recovery, pursing their lips in
that insanely irritating fashion and shrugging their shoulders, saying
things like, "Be prepared for anything, you father may need lifetime nursing
care, but, he could recover, it just depends."
Well, gee. Thanks. I'd listen to these vague pronouncements desperate for
a kernel of good news and think to myself, "You just don't know my dad. You
just don't have any idea who you are talking about!" DO you know.what he's
done in this life? Do you know his dad died at 14 and he carried on? DO
you know he left Ireland for American at 24 not knowing and soul and has
risen to the top of his profession? DO you know he's made of grit and iron,
that he reads The Economist for FUN and that he can shoot a deer at 300
yards? DO you know any of this?
But, really, they don't know. Dad was just another 7 out of 10 on the brain
injury scale. I remember days just staring at him, willing him to say
something, to be dad, to just come back.when you spend time in a hospital
the smell gets into your skin, the beeps and machine noises become
background noise, the sterile walls, and endless parade of nurses, doctors
and interns become almost comical."who are you again?" It is work, visiting
the hospital, vainly trying to put on a game face for the one you love.
Dad's brain swelled, and swelled and swelled, the doctor's hummed and hawed
about surgery. We drifted in limbo for days, dad merely following us with
this eyes, unable to speak anymore, feed himself, to really do anything.
Mostly he was sedated, in pain, and bewildered. His cracked skull saved his
butt, giving his brain just enough space to swell and relieving pressure on
his brainstem.so he was in a waking coma if you will.
Day 11---ICU---the doctors determine we can move dad to 'regular care' he is
in no danger of more swelling.but he is virtually paralyzed, entirely mute
and incapable of notifying a nurse or pressing a call button. He is like an
infant.we are devastated.no one seems to be able to tell us if he will
Improve. "Wait for the swelling to go down, wait for the hematomas to heal
and the blood to be absorbed" How long? Then what? I wanted answers so
desperately, and none were given.
Week 3 - 8 Dad enters the Rehab Institute
Amazing progress is made, he starts walking, talking (sometimes pure
nonsense), feeding himself, being independent. It is just astonishing.
Doctors are amazed (I want to say, yeah, I told you so---you had no idea who
you were talking about). He wants to get back to work, back in "the chair."
My dad is a psychoanalyst and when he fell he left so many mentally ill, sad
and needy patients in limbo, many who were lifetime patients my father saw
pro bono---many who just missed talking to him, it was as tragic for his
patients as it was for all of us. The letters, the pleading, so many of
them just praying and hoping he would come back soon. About midway through
his long, grueling recovery I wanted so badly to find a way to help him heal
more quickly..hours of research later and I found Dr. Wright at Grady. I
emailed him and asked about his amazing work with brain injured patients.
Regretfully, he told me that my father was too late for his treatments.that
the pioneering work he was doing only worked on immediately injured
patients---within days of the fall or accident. I'd only wish that I'd
known about Grady and Dr. Wright when dad fell---but why would I have ever
know that? I hated watching dad struggle so hard and wished I could do
something, but Dr. Wright told me the rest was up to dad now.
And so it was. He returned to his "chair" in February---just 6 months after
his fall. Doctors were astonished, amazed! Hello? Did I not tell them..?
The iron and grit persevered, today, after five years, dad is dad. His only
lingering issue? He curses like sailor.but he did that before, and he is
75, so I think he just doesn't care. He's earned it.
BUT, about that treasure. I carried that gift of Dr. Wright in my heart for
years, wondering at all the brain injured people out there (Iraq war vets)
who did not know and who were missing out, enduring long recovery times.and
all the while, right here in the ATL at Grady amazing things were happening,
cutting recovery time in patients, essentially taking the grueling sting out
of recovery..it stayed with me, and I followed Dr. Wright and his progress
with brain injury patients..thinking if I ever had the chance to help
someone else with my knowledge I'd jump on it.
Then Thomas fell---and we waited all day for news, when Virginia sent out
the diagnosis, diffuse axonal shearing, I knew it was serious. I remember
thinking, "Well, they probably know about Grady and Dr. Wright.surely those
Ashville docs know?" Then I'd worry, "what if they don't? What if the
regular neurosurgeon is on vacation and some nincompoop intern is handling
Thomas' case?" Not able to sleep, I did what I'd never do, I stuck my nose
into other people's business..I emailed Virginia, put a posting on her
Facebook page, but knew it wasn't enough.I emailed Robin Merrill, Robin
Giles, Donna Creech and called Gary Guerino. Gary thought I might have
something useful to share so he gave me Jim's number .I called, slightly
appalled at myself for intruding on what I knew was an awful time, and lo,
just across from Jim was the social worker trying to negotiate Thomas'
transfer to Grady.I spoke with her and told her what I knew, I had my file
of scholarly articles from Dr. wright proving the cost savings to the
insurance company (shorter recovery, shorter hospital stay).I sent all of it
to her. Hours later Thomas was on his way to Grady and Dr. Wright.who Gary
told me later was actually waiting on him in the hospital.
Who knows if my pestering made any difference, it may have been old news to
everyone, but I think God's hand was in all of this. If nothing, it was such
a tremendous gift to me to be able to finally see someone benefit from
treatment that I'd learned about too late for our family. Dad's struggled,
but he came back all the way. Thomas is at Grady, he has the best doctors
in the best facility in the world and a tidal wave of prayer and love
underneath him, the momentum is all his.and his return will be swift and
sure. I feel it deep in my bones. And, my heart sings. KKB

Inspiration Thoughts - Similar Injury

From friends of the Christian R. family...

Our son, now 19, was seriously injured in a car accident two years ago – same brain injury as Thomas: diffuse axonal shearing. He hydroplaned in rain and fog and hit a tree at 40+ mph. He was unconscious and in critical condition at Gwinnett Medical for 4 days, then was moved to Shepherd. He spent 3 weeks as an inpatient and 3 more months in their full-day outpatient program. He has recovered extremely well and is now in college. It is indeed a long road with much unknown. We are praying for the family and would be happy for them to get in touch with us if they want to talk about what may be ahead. We have been through this recovery period and can offer information, help, and support.

Thank you.

Shelley A. Lee

Congregational Prayer for Thomas

During the 11:15 service at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, one of the
ministers
did something I don't remember every happening before. He asked if
anyone in the congregation had any special prayer requests. Alice
raised her hand and asked for prayers for Thomas. When the senior
paster led the prayer, he prayed for Thomas, his parents and the Grady
medical staff.

Alice, Steve & John Lyons

Monday, February 7, 2011

Thoughts from Mindi

Mindi’s husband David is a soldier who just deployed to Iraq.  David was a key person at the 2010 BSA National Jamboree in the Climbing area.

Mindi says:

 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Thomas and his family.  When Thomas wakes up, he and his family will need our support.  Soldiers with brain injuries are asked to play a special brain game on a Nintendo DS.  There are many tools.  Keep the information coming so we can all help marshal resources.

Mindi

Paul was the Area Director for Climbing and Rappelling at the 2010 BSA National Jamboree.  He sends the following:

 

Thanks for the updates.  Thomas and his family and concerned caregivers are in my prayers.

Paul

 

 

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Sabbath Prayers from Troop 1818 for Thomas

Sandi Rudolph from Pack 1818 and Troop 1818 sends the following:

Pack 1818 and Troop 1818 had our Scout Sabbath this evening (yesterday). We said a special healing prayer for Thomas as part of our service. I will keep him in my prayers, and I am sure the rest of the families will too.

Stay strong.

YiS,
Sandi

The Firefighter

My mom was an emergency room nurse for many, many years.  About 25 years ago, while in Michigan, she helped care for a fireman who, while fighting a fire, fell 3 or 4 stories and landed on his head.  He was married and had several young children, and he was in a coma.  The nurses all nicknamed him "the firefighter" and carefully watched over him.  Little chance was given that he would awaken from the coma, but no gave up and many prayers were said.  He was in a coma for three months, and he later walked out of the hospital!  To this day, she never forgets "the firefighter" and the power of prayer.  With blessings and prayers for peace, strength and never giving up!    Angie Burnette 

From Thomas' Paramedic

I have been in EMS for a long time (since 1989). During this time I've been the unfortunate witness to many terrible and tragic things, some beyond description. Out of these tragedies I have also occasionally witnessed the best people have to offer. I must say this situation has established an entirely new standard for grace, love, kindness and resolve of purpose; and one that defies the ugliness of an illness or injury.

The outpouring of support for Thomas and your family from an entire community restores my hope, not only in healing but in people. I believe the overwhelming support you are receiving is a testament to the character of an obviously awesome young man and a wonderful family!

It is my prayer that God bless Thomas with healing and your family with comfort and peace during this difficult time.

Randy Fugate
Critical Care Paramedic

The Kevin Pearce Story

The story of the professional snowboarder, Kevin Pearce, and his remarkable recovery is an amazing one.

A Story of David

My very dear friend’s son, David, had been in a horrific car crash. He was in critical condition and the doctors help little hope for his recovery. He was kept in a coma to try to keep the swelling of the brain down. He had no other injuries except for his brain. Our prayer group kept vigil with this family and prayed. Eventually, David awakened, became responsive, and spent time at the Shepherd Spinal Center. Last year he was married and is doing great. He and his wife are now expecting a baby. All is well, thanks be to God! Prayer does change things. Stay hopeful!

We are praying so hard for their Thomas. I used to tutor Daniel at St. Timothy and Virginia and I still keep in touch.

Blessings,
Elyse O'Kane

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Story: Former Patient Thrives Thanks to Children's Medical Staff

The article is a scan of a document in PDF format.

How to Contribute

If you have inspirational thoughts, wishes of wellness, offers of prayer, stories of hope, or positive outcomes in the face of similar injuries, and would like to contribute to this blog, please let me know, and I will tell you how. Please send a note to webmaster [at] troop77bsa.com.

Do not add a comment - send me a note to the email address written above, please.

to add a story here, send me a note - not add a comment to the original post. The idea is to get them on the top level here. Please do not send me the story to copy and paste. If you send me a note, I will provide you with an email address for you to add your own post(s). Send the note to webmaster [at] troop77bsa.com.

Do not use Thomas and family's last names, please!!

The email address above is written as such, and not a link, to avoid spam harvesters which crawl the web to gather email address posted in the open.

Instructions:
  1. Send request note to "webmaster [at] troop77bsa.com" (Subject: Story for Thomas) - state who you are in the note - I will simply reply giving you an email address to use
  2. Send your story to the email address I provide you. The subject line will be the posting title, the body copy of the note will be the content of the posting
  3. That's it! The email, once sent, will post instantly, so be sure to read your note carefully.

Thanks! Gary