Updates on DaniRella's family

**** July 10th ****

Today is not our day.

We are not sure the REAL reason that they feel Kenneth cannot move today. First, they said he needs to be off the vent 48 hours - which as of now, he is. Then, yesterday they came up with 'he still has a low grade fever so we want the fever to be more stable before we can take him'.



We are not sure if those are the real reasons or if it is because one of his main docs and the one who requested him AT the rehab place is away on business at a convention until MONDAY - he is away all this week. He basically assured us on the phone that he will definitely be taken Monday and didn't mention anything about a low fever... So, we are just thinking the other peeps at Kessler want HIM back before Kenneth can come.

That is the sense we got, at least.

Regardless of the reason - it is a HUGE let down and really upsetting for us. Kenneth is more aware than I have EVER seen him and he is getting VERY upset when we go in the room -- so, the docs have suggested that it is better we stay out of the room -- but then he is laying in there all alone so that is really hard also.

It is apparent by his behavior and ALL of the docs agree on this -- that he has outgrown NUMC and is ready for Kessler. It is just a matter of getting all of the I's dotted and the T's crossed and taking care of all the red tape.

So, we were ASSURED by his doc who comes back Monday that Monday is our day -- Kenneth is all set up to go by helicopter and they will also have ground units tracking his flight. Then, he'll have an ambulance from Nassau waiting there with a doc on hand for when he lands. My sister and I are going ahead of him so that we'll be there when he lands and my parents are going to stay with him at NUMC to see him off and then follow -- is it like Mission Impossible or what?!

...They are also having a pipeband do a send off lol which is such a nice touch but a lot of people are expected to come in uniform and see him off which is really sweet. Kenneth would just about have a heart attack if he knew all this stuff was going on for him. This is my brother who WORRIED every second about people knowing he is a cop, didn't want to put his picture up on Match.com when I hounded him to go on and try to date, always wants to stay 'below the radar' to quote him... Well, not so much anymore

Our main concern for waiting until Monday: he gets another infection or his condition gets worse. I mean, it is hard to see him move around in there all alone but we can ssuck up not going in there if it is best for him -- it's not so much that -- it is his condition. So, our prayers this weekend go that his fever remains low, he has no problems breathing on his own which he hasn't, he tolerates his food which he has been and PLEASE GOD just let him be OK to go on Monday.



...If he doesn't finally go I fear my Mom is going to jump off the 18th floor at NUMC lol lol

I can't imagine the heartache your family is experiencing, but it is better for Kenneth's sake that they are being overly cautious. There are great things waiting for Kenneth at Kessler... maybe this is a blessing in disguise. Plus, now you know it is *DEFINITE* that he will be going on Monday. Maybe the dr. requested it wait until he returned- which in that case, thats not fair.

Keep your chin up & stay with your brother. Talk to him, dont let those drs tell you to stay out of the room. From what you've told us so far, Id like to think that that would pisss Kenneth off more and get him more aggitated if he couldnt see you all each & every day. You guys have been his strength and his rock..

Here is a new dance for Kenneth for Monday..

---

Posted by MrsDaniRella

**** July 10th ****

Today is not our day.

We are not sure the REAL reason that they feel Kenneth cannot move today. First, they said he needs to be off the vent 48 hours - which as of now, he is. Then, yesterday they came up with 'he still has a low grade fever so we want the fever to be more stable before we can take him'.



We are not sure if those are the real reasons or if it is because one of his main docs and the one who requested him AT the rehab place is away on business at a convention until MONDAY - he is away all this week. He basically assured us on the phone that he will definitely be taken Monday and didn't mention anything about a low fever... So, we are just thinking the other peeps at Kessler want HIM back before Kenneth can come.

That is the sense we got, at least.

Regardless of the reason - it is a HUGE let down and really upsetting for us. Kenneth is more aware than I have EVER seen him and he is getting VERY upset when we go in the room -- so, the docs have suggested that it is better we stay out of the room -- but then he is laying in there all alone so that is really hard also.

It is apparent by his behavior and ALL of the docs agree on this -- that he has outgrown NUMC and is ready for Kessler. It is just a matter of getting all of the I's dotted and the T's crossed and taking care of all the red tape.

So, we were ASSURED by his doc who comes back Monday that Monday is our day -- Kenneth is all set up to go by helicopter and they will also have ground units tracking his flight. Then, he'll have an ambulance from Nassau waiting there with a doc on hand for when he lands. My sister and I are going ahead of him so that we'll be there when he lands and my parents are going to stay with him at NUMC to see him off and then follow -- is it like Mission Impossible or what?!

...They are also having a pipeband do a send off lol which is such a nice touch but a lot of people are expected to come in uniform and see him off which is really sweet. Kenneth would just about have a heart attack if he knew all this stuff was going on for him. This is my brother who WORRIED every second about people knowing he is a cop, didn't want to put his picture up on Match.com when I hounded him to go on and try to date, always wants to stay 'below the radar' to quote him... Well, not so much anymore

Our main concern for waiting until Monday: he gets another infection or his condition gets worse. I mean, it is hard to see him move around in there all alone but we can ssuck up not going in there if it is best for him -- it's not so much that -- it is his condition. So, our prayers this weekend go that his fever remains low, he has no problems breathing on his own which he hasn't, he tolerates his food which he has been and PLEASE GOD just let him be OK to go on Monday.



...If he doesn't finally go I fear my Mom is going to jump off the 18th floor at NUMC lol lol

---

oh boy....transfers can be messy sometimes. I'm a RN and work on a floor where most of our patients are transferred to Rehab (ortho surgery) and it can be a mess sometimes. A fever, A headache, you name it....anything can pretty much be a reason to keep a patient around longer. ICU is no day in the park and you have all been through so much....my are with you ALL for his release on monday

What a let down....just keep your chin up Dani! I have my fingers crossed for you guys that monday is your day!!! HANG IN THERE!

My prayers are with you & your family that you brother will be transfered on Monday

thanks so much for keping us updated. no matter how frustrated you and your family are about Kessler, just remember that they want to make sure that he is at his 100%, rather than him having to back to the hospital.

although his recovery may seem to be slow, i am amazed by how far he's come along.

prayers continue for you and your family!

sending many many many your way dani... maybe thursday just wasnt meant to be. im SURE he'll be outta there on Monday

stay strong

more and more prayers for your brother and your family; i'm a physical therapist and i've been reading all your updates...Kessler is amazing as you know.

thanks ladies.

so far, monday is all set up.

and he is doing the same - very well.

That is great news.
Sending continued prayers

****July 14th****

Welcome to KESSLER!!

We are here - well, I'm in the hotel right now. We had a very busy weekend (DH and I had a family wedding last night and had a lot going on with that). We only got to bed at around 3am and I was up at 7am to go to NUMC and see if Kenneth was set to go as originally scheduled (11am).

Of course, he wasn't lol so I got up early for nothing -- but that's OK. My sister and I needed to be there early because we were going to go ahead of Kenneth and be there when he landed while my parents stayed to watch him go. It worked out well that way -- Jenn and I left at around 12 noon and got there in great time. We were waiting for him, signed some papers, took a tour of the facility and saw his room -- which is great because he has it all to himself! Kessler is BEAUTIFUL...

Absolutely magnificent -- and I can't even tell you how CLEAN it is. The staff is UNBELIEVABLE and upon his arrival -- I cried when I saw the helicopter -- he was given a bath, completely changed from head to toe and he KNEW where he was -- he KNOWS he is in a better place and it is time to get better - you can see it on his face. He is very content -- and that makes us so happy.

Tomorrow is his evaluation -- and he has a full day of OT and PT as well as speech therapy. They are going to start taking him off the trach little by little and then they will remove it -- he is infection free, his temp is great and he looks wonderful.

You can check out News12.com for the video - I can't stay on long because I'm in the hotel 'office' on their computer. Thank you so much for everything -- I really appreciate all the support!!!

I will update very soon again... and thanks to the police for the amazing send off.

thank GOD!!!


many prayers for a continued recovery!!

Sooo happy for you and Kenneth and your family! I just saw the footage on the 10 o'clock news (WB11) and rushed on here to post! I teared up as I watched your parents holding each other and watching him get into the helicopter. What a sweet moment!! And all of the officers that showed up to wish him well... it is so heartwarming to see the good spirit in people. I wish your brother well and pray that he gets better and better with his new treatment!! He is very lucky to have such a loving and supportive family.

This is great news!!!!!!! Continued prayers for all of you

Im glad he made it there today! Thats great news, thank you for keeping us all updated!

I am so happy for you & your family that your brother is now at Kessler!!! I will continue to keep him in my prayers

That is so great that he was finally able to move to rehab. All the praying really helped. I will contnue to pray for him and your family.

****July 17th****

Fantastic update!! Yesterday was only Kenneth's second full day at Kessler. Now, on the first full day they took him to OT, PT and in between breaks to let him rest they gave him speech therapy -- Now, the speech person also helps him with swallowing, chewing and learning how to eat by mouth again. On day one she was very happy to see him manipulating the movements for chewing but he wasn't swallowing yet - we were bummed about this. She said it could take weeks. So, fine, onward to day two... He was taken for a routine x-ray (they always dress him in his regular clothes in the morning which I love because he looks SO good!!), then they brought him back and (in his special wheelchair) he and I along with my parents sat by the window for a little while (hasn't seen daylight in SOME time). Then, a few minutes later, his PT came by. We went down with Kenneth to the gym and as they were about to start a psychologist came in wanting to just get 30 minutes with him. The PT said fine - and off they went along with me. It was two psychologists, Kenneth and me.

It was hard to watch at times because they are trying to get him to do certain things - some he can, some he can't. BUT you have to keep in mind that this is DAY TWO at that point so I mean, in my mind I don't want to expect too much. They asked him to take an apple out of the guy's hand -- it took him a sec but he did it. Then, they asked him to put it back into his hand. Again, took a sec but he did it. Then, they asked him to take the toothbrush and show what you do with it --- he took it but couldn't show what you do with it. They then wanted him to choose the CUP between an apple and a cup -- he just grabbed the apple again like earlier but that's OK. I mean, the Bob Woodruff DVD -- Bob was talking almost pretty normal and could NOT, for the life of him, pick out the scissor in a group of five pics! So, I say to myself - that is going to take time.

Then, and this made me cry, because here he is trying SO hard to do all these things that he fell asleep mid session haha. They said it is VERY common for patients to be EXHAUSTED the first few days -- and for Kenneth, who has had such little nourishment his strength is what has suffered the most in this. He used to be able to squeeze my hand so hard - now, he can't because he just doesn't have the strength but they have really been working with him on getting that back and I can already see an improvement in his squeezing.

But the part that made me cry -- He took YES and NO cards which thanks to a very smart cop at the hospital we started doing with him before he went to Kessler... But he held them up and said 'Ken, show me the YES card - which one says YES on it?' Now, this was toward the end of the session so my hopes were low.... and Kenneth dosed off (LOL) he was literally exhausted -- So, the guy wakes him up by tapping him on the leg 'c'mon Ken, which one says YES - just tap it or hit it' So, it took a minute, but all of a sudden (and you can see his hand just struggling to get the strength up by moving a little, stop, moving a little, stop).... All of a sudden he raised his hand, and TOOK the yes sign out of his hand and held it up!!!!!

I was like PHEWWWWW and just CRIED hahaha! It was one of those amazing moments that takes so much out of you. Then, the guy said how amazing it was that he TOOK it and held it up instead of just tapping it or motioning towards it. After that he asked for the NO card and same thing - took a minute but he did it and did it really well!! I was delighted.

Then, he went to PT and later OT along with speech in between and my parents went back to the hotel to rest b/c we didn't realize how much this takes out of you--- Then, I drove home because I had to meet with a professor and hand some stuff in -- So, I stayed the night, spent some time with my husband and I'm going to go back tomorrow with my sister and Christopher -- Vinny will come on Saturday AM.

The docs want Kenneth to see Christopher -- they feel it will be a HUGE motivator for him. Just me being there - I mean, the psychologist asking for the YES card - Kenneth gave him a look like I could care less -- until I said, in the background 'c'mon KENNETH - do what he says' and then he would do it and I would grab him and hug and kiss him -- so, then you could see he was happy that he did it right.

The people at Kessler have COMPLETELY closed off his trach -- he is breathing out of his nose and mouth, on his own completely and with no extra oxygen going into his blood! WOO HOO!!! They are going to begin to make it smaller and smaller and then they are going to REMOVE it all-together!

And this is the big progress he made too: the speech lady who couldn't get him to swallow - well, in yesterday's session (their SECOND session) he SWALLOWED!!!! She said she felt like the fact that they closed up the trach really helped -- b/c it is not in his way as much. I mean, she said it could take weeks - it took Kenneth a DAY and I'm not surprised - he does everything like that. So, between all of that he had an EXCELLENT day and is coming SO far -- I can't even BELIEVE it.



Next step: eating on his own (real food) and TALKING.

That is wonderful news I am soo happy to hear that...