Updates on DaniRella's family

****** August 10th ******

We got our first official KISS yesterday. Well, Christopher got it - he is able to bring so much out of him!! It was like Kenneth was trying so hard to figure out how to PUCKER and finally, he did and then he didn't want to stop. I guess he feels as though he has almost three months of kisses to make up for. We all lined up to collect ours very quickly, lol. It was so nice and after a few he was even able to master the 'smooch' noise and everything! Now, he is kissing Christopher like crazy - they just lay together while kissing and hugging each other.

During his last therapy appointment before his weekend time off he was able to spell K E N with block letters they gave him. Then, he was able to take the numbers (in blocks also) 1 through 5 and put them in number order repeatedly. The therapists were thrilled to report that he was able to do that to us -- we couldn't believe it!

We had a nice and quiet weekend - Kenneth rested and we had lots of visitors come and see him. We got to spend some really nice time with him and he enjoys going outside in the courtyard. His therapists feel that he is SO close to speaking -- that it could happen ANY day now. I can't wait to report on that!!!

He has an unbelievable appetite and eats EVERY bit of food they give him no matter what it is. He LOVES pumpkin pie so I went to a bakery to try and get him one but they didn't have them since they really aren't in season now. So, I'm going to bake him one and bring it for him. We also bring him ice cream and treats like that --- mind you, he would NEVER eat such things prior to the crash but you know what? He needs to bulk up and since he missed food so much he never objects. His strength has improved as a result of eating real food drastically.

He also decided to grab the cup of juice the other day and drink from it on his own -- I guess I wasn't spoon feeding it fast enough lol. So, now he feeds himself and drinks on his own. We were told that is an amazing accomplishment for a brain injury patient at this stage of the game - we are so thankful that he continues to exceed expectations.

I swear, he looks so darn good that I glance at him sometimes and almost forget -- I would not be able to tell sometimes if I didn't know any better. I am so glad he looks this good and we can see how happy he is. He is moving his legs a lot more and his 'bad' arm continues to improve movement wise.

We have been told that they are expecting a large crowd at the fundraiser on Thursday and are planning to close down the street. The organizers told us that NO ONE will be turned away no matter what. So, feel free to come down and join us -- no matter what! We would love to have as many people as possible... Also, there are tons of giveaways and prizes. Some of his friends from Virginia (when he was a cop down there) are making the trip to come!! It is amazing.

OK - that's the update for now.

Thats great that hes starting to eat normally again and thats hes able to give kisses too

I hope the fundraiser turns out great!

I am so glad he is doing so well. That was so sweet that he was able to give Christopher a kiss. I will keep your family and Kenneth in my thoughts.

I've been reading the updates and I think of you and your family often. I'll continue sending prayers your way.

omg! your updates always bring me to tears! I am so happy that he is well on his way to recovery

Aww, that's such great news...so touching!!

its incredible to read these updates on kenneth and to hear how far he's coming so quickly!!! so many blessings!!!!

its interesting reading you talk about the swallowing test ... I had just watched videos of this test and what dysphagia looks like internally in my cognitive and affective bases class a few wks ago. we had a speech pathologist come in from magee rehab in PA. great to hear he's gaining strength now that he's able to eat more! hope he just continues to get stronger and stronger!

continued prayers!

**** August 13th ****

Kenneth was finally able to drink out of a straw. It was weird - he could take the cup with his left hand and drink from it, take the fork with his left hand and eat from it and even get the liquid half way up the straw but he was having a hard time doing it all the way. The docs told me that is actually a very tough thing that we do everyday and it seems so easy. Well, finally, he DID IT today - drank with it like normal and he acts, so casually, like he has been able to do it all along lol you would never know - by watching him drink from the straw - that just yesterday he could NOT do it. That is the most amazing thing about our brains - they can learn things again, learn new things, parts of the brain that are hurt can get 'helped out' by other parts of the brain -- and all of a sudden, something that you could not do previously will just CLICK and you can do it! And then, it is like your brain remembers and has it down pat -- and from then on you are good to go with that particular behavior. That is the most unbelievable thing about the human brain. It continues to amaze me, right before my very eyes, each and every day.

I came home from Kessler last night because we had a press conference I was asked to attend this afternoon. MADD and the PBA organized it because they wanted to announce the fundraiser again and people want an update on Kenneth. I'm so thankful that, three months later, people still care enough about Kenneth to ask how he is doing. All too often these stories vanish from the headlines and people move on with their lives but with Kenneth - it is ASTONISHING how much people are dedicated to him and his well being. It gives us so much support. Here is the video from Newsday but News12 was there, Channel 2, Channel 7, Channel 11 and a few others - I'm not sure how many.

It is hard to describe, in five minutes, all we have been through in the past four weeks (at rehab) and three months in total. You try to give them an idea without making it like he is all back to normal and doing fine - because, in reality, he still has a LONG road ahead of him and people should know that. I'm excited for tomorrow because I think it'll be nice for my parents to see how much people care for Kenneth. I'll be sure to give updates on it!! I made a collage tonight with pics of him -- I urge everyone who wants to come on down to do so!!!!!! I would love to see you, meet you and thank you all. I also made a sign-in book so he can see how many people care for him when he is all better and can communicate.

Here's the video:CLICK HERE FOR STORY AND VIDEO

It's so amazing the little things we take for granted, like just being able to sip through a straw! Continued prayers for you & your family Danielle. I love reading your posts to see how Ken has progressed and also b/c we forget everyday how precious life is. Reading everything that you all have been through should serve as a reminder to everyone to cherish EVERY moment with your loved ones.

He has a long road ahead of him, but it's amazing how far he's already come!! He was blessed with an amazing family!!

******* August 17th *******

Kenneth had a great weekend - he got lots of rest and was able to spend really quality time with all of us and Christopher. He is making A LOT of noises now -- trying to bridge the gap between moving his mouth to form words and making noise with his vocal chords to get those words out. It is like the two need to 'marry' and when they do, when he finally manages to figure it out again -- he'll get it for good. We are VERY excited about that day and it is all we pray for lately. I can't even imagine what it will be like to communicate with him again. Even though he can't speak yet he is still able to, somehow, communicate well with us -- still does funny things, still reacts to things so that gets us by until the other comes.

He will yawn and make a typical yawn noise and we'll hear his voice. Or he'll hiccup and we'll hear his voice or a slight groan. It is amazing how he sounds EXACTLY the same - just like him. Dr. Fellus asked him to say the word MOM for him and he MOUTHED it -- nothing came out. He has done that a few times now. He is trying so hard to figure out how to get a noise to come out when he does it -- and I feel, deep down inside, that we are very close. I still pray constantly for it. I worry when I have to leave from time to time and go home for things like court dates, the fundraiser, etc. that he will talk for the first time and I'll miss it.

The fundraiser was absolutely amazing. It reminded me of my wedding -- trying to talk to and say thank you to everyone and not being able to. I was barely even able to converse a lot with my friends who came! We were JAMMED in there -- over 1,800 people showed up during the course of the five hour event and it was just out of my realm of comprehension -- I still can't believe it. Kenneth will be floored -- just floored. Even his police brothers from Virginia (the first force he was ever on) came up to see him and then attend the fundraiser... It was wonderful. We were interviewed and if you go to NassauPBA.org you can see the interview w/ my parents (they have a link to the TV-55 news clip). We are not sure how much was raised exactly but something like an excess of $100,000 dollars as well as a complete high school education for Christopher to attend Chaminade - free of charge! The people there donated that to us -- just amazing. My brother will NOT believe this when he is able to communicate and we start to tell him all of these things.

Today we spent all day just talking -- he spent most of the day in his bed, sitting up, listening to us, watching the Olympics, etc. Christopher gets in bed with him and sits next to him and they just kiss each other. We have kisses to hold us over until words come. Then, my husband, sister and Christopher had to head home for the week. Christopher is done with his camps for the summer so Jenn will bring him back mid-week for a few days! Once they left, I started to read a book about FDR to Kenneth. My brother is not only a history major but he is an American History fanatic... loves it. So, tonight, he looked bored with all of our usual 'tricks' (hand games, looking in the mirror, thumb/arm wrestling, looking at pics, talking, etc) that I figured maybe he'd like me to read it to him. He was sitting up in bed and I sat right next to him with the book in front of both of us and began to read -- he follows what words I'm reading and even goes to turn the pages for me when we are ready to do so. HE LOVED IT. So, that's something I'll be doing everyday from now on. He was hanging on every word -- he really enjoyed it and when I would pause for a moment (at the end of the first chapter) he looked at me like 'don't stop!' hahah -- and I said 'you like this, huh?' and he smiled. It made me feel like 'd'oh, I should have been doing this all along!' I would sing to him, read to him at NUMC when he was sedated and especially in the beginning -- and read prayers but never this.

It is amazing to see that he totally understands what I'm reading -- and still loves the same stuff (all things History related) as he did before. I told him, when we had to leave, that I'll mark the page and continue tomorrow -- he put his arm around me and pulled me inward -- it is apparent that he REALLY appreciates the reading. Which is great - I'm so happy he's happy.

Hopefully this week is our week for words.

I love reading your updates! I pray for him everyday. Here's to hoping your amazing brother finds his words this week!

I am so happy to hear of all of the progress he has made!

My BIL attended the event the other night (he is a Nassau police officer too) and said it was great event and CROWDED!!!!!!

Continued for you all

Danielle it is AMAZING to hear all of Kenneth's progress & how far he's come! and on top of that it is so great to hear all the outreach & blessings that are being poured out from the people around you..God is so good! please keep updating us...lots of prayers for continued healing & progress!

It is wonderful to hear what an amazing wknd it was and the fundraiser!
It was so nice to hear about you reading to him....you and your entire family are in my thoughts and prayers