November 11th Update

On October 13, 2009 the CNA at Landmark failed to buckle Mike into the shower chair. As a result, when the aid turned his back to get a towel Mike fell out of the chair, hit his forehead and suffered a C2 fracture. I know that you are reading this thinking "Oh my!" "What are they going to do?" Well, at first, I was shocked. Mike was immediately taken to the ER and admitted to Willis-Knighton where our wonderful doctor agreed to keep him and do multiple tests. This is my take on the situation, this was a blessing in disguise (No I was not happy, but you have to take the good with the bad and see that God does have a reason and I think this was the reason)... had this not happened, Mike would not have had a reason to have a current CT, MRI, EEG, chest x-ray, or labs, etc... Upon doing all of these tests we found out that Mike is not having any active seizures, there are no new changes on his CT or MRI when compared to his previous tests on file from 2008 when he was at Willis Knighton LifeCare. The doctor did not make any changes to his medications. Now to the fracture, YES, Mike did get a cut on his forehead. Yes, Mike did have to have stitches. The doctor did not want to do surgery and he decided that all that was necessary was a neck brace. Mike was in the hospital from Tuesday until Friday. He went for his follow-up visit with new x-rays and his fracture is healing. The doctor wants to see him back in December for more neck x-rays.

Also today November 11, 2009, Mike received his NEW wheelchair. We are very excited about this as this was designed and made especially for Mike. Please remember Mike is still at Landmark on Baird Road in Shreveport. You may visit at anytime.

Recent updates from Ericka

Mike is stable and currently settled in at Landmark of Shreveport. Landmark is located at 9105 Baird Road. Mike is in room 515. Please feel free to visit him as much as possible. Remember, Mike is not aware of time or place and does not speak. If Mike is not in his room, he might be in the great room which is located toward the front of building. We are only able to shave Mike about once a week due to the fact that his skin is sensitive and dry. When you visit with Mike, if you would like to push him outside, or to another area to sit with him you may do so. You do not have to stay in his room with him. Please continue to pray for Mike during this time of recovery for him.

As of today (9/10/09): I just found out today that insurance finally approved the custom wheelchair for Mike. What this means is that Mike will be more comfortable when in his wheelchair as this one is made more to his size specifications.

Update - Mike will be coming back to Shreveport

I am sorry that I have been so long in getting an update on Mike for the blog. Mike continues to be healthy and is doing well. He is at Touchstone NeuroRecovery in Houston. Sonny and I are currently in the process of working with insurance and Touchstone to transition Mike's move back to Shreveport. Blue Cross has determined that Mike's level of improvement has slowed down and it is not necessary for him to be in a rehab facility. After several physician meetings, phone calls to insurance and discussions with our local physician here in Shreveport, Mike should be back in Shreveport by the end of June. Please continue to pray for Mike, his health, his mental recovery, and our family. As soon as we get Mike settled in, I will let everyone know where he will be so that everyone can visit him and spend as much time as possible with him.

Update

Mike is doing well in Houston. They continue to work on his strength as he lost so much in January, February and March. Therapy is continuing to use a soft cast to stretch his left arm in hopes of bringing it out of the 90 degree angle that it tends to stay in. Speech is working with recognition techniques. Insurance has approved a new wheelchair that will fit Mike better as the other one was just too big. Sonny and I continue to be very pleased. The kids and I will be there this Friday. I have a meeting scheduled with the physicians for an update on Mike's prognosis. Sonny and I still do not know what Mike's future holds but he is in very good hands at TIRR and we continue to pray for the best as God continues to be in control. I also want to thank Kevin and Robin for visiting Mike in between Sonny and my visits. We could not do this without you two. You mean the world to our families.

Mike has moved

I just wanted to let everyone know that Mike is now settled in at TIRR in Houston. His dad and I moved him down there on Thursday, March 12th. On their initial evaluation they have set a goal of four weeks. This will be evaluated each week. We ask for prayers that Mike improves and that this can be extended as four weeks is not very long. TIRR is an outstanding facility that specializes in rehabilitation and research. Right now they are focusing on his left side as he continues to have no use of that side of his body. He has also been evaluated by an eye specialist, had multiple tests and changing to medications in hopes improvements. Since January, Mike's "two steps back" took him to where he was last March-April after the accident last year.
Memorial Hermann

March 2nd - Update

Sorry for the delay for an update on Mike but January and February have been pretty rough. Mike is now off of his antibiotics. His pneumonia has cleared. He is still at Plano Speciality Hospital. He has been evaluated by Timber Ridge in Benton Arkansas which is a TBI Rehab Facility. Sonny and I are waiting to hear back from Touchstone Neuro in Houston. They are supposed to evaluate Mike this week. Once this is done we will then have to decide what our next step is. Mike took a really big step back but we are confident, prayerful and we know that God continues to be in control. Once I know what the next step is, I will have Sharron post about Mike's move. Thank you for your continued prayers for Mike.

Pneumonia for 2009 (1/22/09)

Mike's pneumonia has caused him to take two steps back but its okay. His attending physician would like for him to stay on IV antibiotics for awhile. So, what does this mean? Well, Mike was transferred to Plano Speciality Hospital yesterday afternoon (1/21/09) for long term IV antibiotics and also to have his sodium levels monitored. He will also be able to get a little therapy while he is there. Sonny saw him before he transferred and said he looked good and was pleased. The set up at this hospital is like LifeCare at Willis-Knighton. On the positive side... God is Good the kids and I will see him this weekend, he will be under the care of his pulmonary physician who has been seeing him as an outpatient for the past several months and has seen him prior to this hospitalization, and he will get some form of physical therapy, he is still moving his right side, he will still hold your hand and open his eyes to command. Where do we go from here? I do no know yet. Will Mike go back to Pate? I do not know yet, Everything will depend on how long he stays in the hospital for his pneumonia. Please continue to pray but I do know that everything will be fine. It just takes time.

January 5th - One Year Anniversary from Accident - Christmas Update

I would like to send a special thank you to AEP Haughton and Eastwood Baptist Church for their help in allowing the children to have such a special Christmas this year. We spent Christmas with my family and Mike's family and it was wonderful. Mike's son Kevin was able to fly in which was a special surprise for everyone. We left on December 26th headed to see Mike and spent the weekend with him. Kevin was so pleased to see his dad. He agreed with Sonny and I that Mike looks great. Mike was so focused on watching Kevin the entire three days. Mike still is total dependent and does not talk or show emotion. The kids played games, fought over who was going to push him in his wheelchair, who was going to sit in his lap, and Wesley brought Spike the dinosaur to show his dad. Of course the kids all had to tell him about Santa and how much they missed him. We brought lots of pictures to put on his digital picture frame and the kids unwrapped presents for Mike. We all just keep waiting and praying as Mike has not quit fighting his fight and God is good. Today is one year. Mike continues to be healthy and we continue to pray and I continue to tell the kids that their daddy loves them very much.