Updates on DaniRella's family

All the best wishes and continued prayers for your brother's amazing recovery.

I do have to tell you that Christopher is one handsome devil. I couldn't stop looking at that gap-toothed smile in the paper this weekend.

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Posted by SusiBtoM

All the best wishes and continued prayers for your brother's amazing recovery.

I do have to tell you that Christopher is one handsome devil. I couldn't stop looking at that gap-toothed smile in the paper this weekend.

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he takes after his daddy

****Friday June 20th****

I call days like these 'hiccup' days.

I hate to do this to you guys after having such a great update -- and the Doctor hated doing this to us after having such a great few days but Kenneth had a *SMALL* seizure last night. It was just as we were about to leave so we ended up staying a good portion of the night waiting on an emergency CT scan they sent him to. It seemed like I waited fourteen years to hear the Doctor come back and give us the results.

Basically, he experienced a small seizure which only lasted a few seconds - less than five - and the Doctor didn't even have to give him meds to get it to stop - it stopped on it's own. Then, he explained to us that one of the most common things with this type of injury are seizures --- it was just really upsetting because we were doing so well and to have this 'rollercoaster' situation is tough -- especially on my mom who was just hanging on by a THREAD until he gets to rehab -- it's just that it has been four weeks + and she wants OUT of there and she wants him into a facility already and I can't blame her - I want the same.

So, the docs increased his anti-seizure meds which was already on -- all TBI patients need to be on some -- so, they figured it wasn't enough and gave him a little more and gave him a calming med to help with these movements he was having (like hiccups or tremors). So, believe me, it was REALLY hard to see and to see someone you love so much suffer even a little bit is absolutely awful -- I feel so bad for him.

Now, they say that seizures are most common about 5 days after the initial injury -- If it doesn't happen then which it didn't for Kenneth (we were so lucky before this - no blips!) But then they are most common about one month after the accident and we were at our one month mark on Wednesday so it makes sense. They think what 'aggrivated' it was that they needed to go BACK in and re-adjust his internal permanent drain (the shunt) and when they did that they put in a temp outer drain in a new spot -- they think doing that annoyed his brain, basically, and sparked this.

A seizure is like a power surge - it is NOT life threatening - they assured us that and it is something to be almost 'expected' with this injury -- is it still REALLY upsetting and devastating? Absolutely. BUT, I am hanging onto hope here because I have to -- and I am just hanging tough until he gets into rehab which is only a few days away.

When the doc came back in to tell us the results of last night's CT that was ordered right away after the seizure he looked different then when he came in to tell us that he had the seizure so I knew it was good news. He said the scan looked fine - no damage as a result, nothing moved or changed - the shunt was still in OK so that was, in that situation, the BEST news we could have gotten and I thank God for that -- for those LITTLE miracles.

He may continue to have a few here or there or he may not -- the doc told us it is common for patients IN rehab to have them but that they almost always subside -- this is something that is part of the injury. Phew. I hate having to give anything but good news but there are going to be good days and bad on the road to recovery...

The road to recovery
is sometimes slow.
But may your path
be made easier
just by knowing
that God is watching over you
while friends and family
stand beside you,
caring and concerned.
Together,
they all join forces for you,
praying that your recovery
will be complete and full
and soon.

Thank God he was okay after that seizure. I hope that is just a small bump on his road to recovery. We will continue to keep you and your family in our prayers.

I read the part about the trial and think its nuts how they are trying to compare him to your brother- slimey!!!

And I started reading about his progress and it sounds like he has come a long way and is very lucky to have such a loving, supporting family. You all are being so strong and I think its amazing!! However I had to stop reading cus I am sitting at work and I almost started to cry.

thank you for all the updates and stay strong!!

***June 21st***

Update on the seizure incident... So far, since then, he has not had any more seizures :::knock wood::: and the docs are VERY pleased with his numbers and his CT scans - ever since then - look totally fine and normal. They think it was ONE external drain that they put in which caused an irritation and the brain reacted with the seizure -- it was VERY quick.

So, they want him to REST as much as possible - they gave him meds to calm him down because as he starts to move a lot (b/c he is improving and moving more and more each day which is great) but it over stimulates the brain which makes him more at risk to have another -- so, for a little while he needs to just sleep as much as he can and relax as much as possible. We are not allowed to even speak to him because he reacts SO much to our voices.

Other than that the docs are very pleased and they think that this order for as much rest as possible is just what he needs - and just what his brain needs to get back to normal and not be so irritated. We are very excited for him to get past this little rough patch -- and now that his procedures are definitely all done (hoping nothing new pops up in the future) they won't be going in there anymore and pisssing off his brain so we should have no more seizures -- thank GOD!

OK, that's all for now - it is going to be a quiet couple of days with him relaxing 24/7 and no noise or stimulating going on! Hopefully, they think, that this little hiccup will NOT affect him going to rehab next week (Monday or Tuesday).

On Tuesday they are having a special presentation that my sister, myself and Christopher will be attending in honor of Kenneth. They are going to promote him to 'Bureau of Special Operations' it is a tactical unit of elite police officers that Nassau County has -- it comes with a pretty nice pay increase and it is a very 'elite' type of job that people have to really go above and beyond to get. They said they felt since Kenneth always went above and beyond to get drunk drivers -- and to do a great job overall being a very active cop that they want him to be promoted to this and they are very excited for him to recovery 100% so that he can come and work in that unit.

They will also, at this event, announce his charity and they are going to be organizing a fundraiser -- which is so nice. So, there will be a lot of things going on and they are going to have some press there so maybe they'll cover it which will be cool.

I am hoping he moves to Kessler Monday so that the ceremony Tuesday doesn't interfere with us going to see him into Kessler.

Funny story: Yesterday, there was a bank robbery near the hospital and the two jerks who robbed the bank and gunpoint ran into NUMC to hide! So, they got one and were still looking for another -- they later found him hiding in the parking garage. But, at one point the whole place was on lockdown and when my Dad went to come in (in the morning) to spend the day there he saw police cars EVERYWHERE and some news vans -- his heart immediately dropped thinking something happened to Kenneth... this was the day after his seizure so my Dad was worried even more than normal. He thought the worst and got so scared... He drove up to the little security booth we have to pass to park and the guy (who knows him by now) said 'oh there's a gunman on the loose!!!' my Dad goes 'OH THANK GOD!!!' So he goes 'what?! the whole building is on lockdown!' so my dad was like 'but my son is OK??' and he goes 'well, yeah, of course - they are hear for the bank robber' so my Dad was like 'I'm thrilled!! I was worried something happened to Kenneth but I'm so glad to hear it is a gunman instead' HAHA! The guy was like 'yeah I guess'

Thanks for keeping us updated Dani! I think about Kenneth all the time and we are praying for him!

Thank you for the update and I am continuing to keep your brother in my prayers

****June 23rd****

Today was supposed to be our rehab day but that's OK -- the little incident last week gave way to a bunch of CT scans -- the docs are using them to TRY and figure out if the shunt is draining properly, draining too much or not draining enough.

They explained to us that this is a common problem for people with TBI's. So, they will do a little process of 'trial and error' to figure it out and once they have it all set-up he will be fine for rehab. The good news: he does NOT have any infection (which was a concern) but the fluid came back fine! That would have been a major set-back. The bad news: this trial and error period to finally figure out the pressure and what to do will take about a week in the least -- two weeks the most.

It really takes the wind out of our sails but I would rather him be 100% ready for rehab than to go too early. Infact, the docs said this is such an important part that if he were to go w/o them having the shunt perfected he would DEFINITELY have to be sent back to the hospital from rehab and that is a BIG let down so we would rather have it be this way.

Please continue the prayers, if you can, for Kenneth to be able to get past this little bump in the road and get into that rehab facility!

Thank you!!!

Thanks for the update!! Your family is always in my prayers!!

It sounds like they are being thorough, and that is good! Will keep him in my prayers!

Dani, your brother is still in my prayers. I'm happy to hear they're taking such good care of him!

bumping for updates.. keep us posted

****June 25th****

Kenneth rec'd a promotion yesterday at a very touching ceremony hosted by the Nassau County Police Department and the PBA...

Officer Nearly Killed by Suspected Drunk Driver Receives Promotion, 'Big' Check
Owners of Big Brown Donate to PBA member Kenneth Baribault.

CW11 Coverage.

See Article for Donation Information.

OLD WESTBURY, L.I. --

The police officer nearly killed by an alleged drunk driver on the Long Island Expressway was promoted today. Officer Kenneth Baribault is still in the hospital but his son accepted the promotion. His family also received a special gift from Big Brown.

Long Island reporter Rob Hoell attended Tuesday's ceremony in Old Westbury.

Still hospitalized, Kenneth Baribault, 30, continues to recover from a severe brain injury after being slammed into by a suspected drunk driver on the shoulder of LIE last month.

The horrific crash happened just moments after Baribault pulled over another driver suspecting of being drunk.

At a Nassau County Police promotion ceremony Baribault moved up to the Bureau of Special Operations.

'I'm very proud of him for moving up a level,' said Baribault's 6-year old son Christopher.

Also on hand at Tuesday's ceremony were the owners of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, who presented the family with a $50,000 check.

The owners also promised a portion of Big Brown's next purse towards little Christopher's education.

If you would like to make a donation to the family, you could do so by sending a check to:

Kenneth and Christopher Baribault Benevolent Fund
c/o Nassau PBA
89 E. Jericho Tpk.
Mineola, NY 11501

Back to PBA In The News
By ROB HOELL CW11 News at Ten
Posted Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Click Here to see the Video from CW11 News

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As for Kenneth's condition: He had his procedure in which they placed the valve on the shunt to monitor the draining and that went well. he remains stable and after examination and assessment by his doctors he appears more alert and responsive since they placed the valve or 'control' on his shunt so that's good and lets us know the procedure was necessary and is showing results. Of course, he will need to be monitored for some time to ensure that the valve settings are the proper ones. As such, his transfer to the Kessler rehabilitation center is being postponed in all probability to some time next week. As in all things, sometimes we have to step back to move forward.

My continued prayers to your family....Blessings

Continued prayers for you all Dani He's always in my thoughts

You and your family are in my prayers everyday.

Im happy to hear that Kenneth is doing alot better. Hes very lucky to have an amazing family that is continuously there for him day and night.
.

***June 28th***

Kenneth is having a hard time right now with battling a pretty bad cold. Whenever they put him on the vent (to help his breathing if it is too much work) he *ALWAYS* gets a fever, a bad cough, etc. Now, it seems to be getting pretty bad. My mom is very nervous and upset although the docs are assuring us they will up his antibiotics and he'll be OK. But they do have to warn us that if it gets worse or goes untreated it could become an infection of the blood which is BAD, BAD news. So, please just say a quick prayer that Kenneth is strong enough to fight off this nasty infection.

Kenneth has lost a considerable amount of weight (about 25-30 pounds) and this is off of a man who didn't have an ounce to lose... his percent body fat was around 3% at the time of the collision. So, we are worried about that but it is to be expected being that he is on a liquid diet of fluids and this gross orange stuff with vitamins in it. He is just over 6 feet tall and currently weighs 159 pounds So, naturally, we are worried. We don't want him to have come this far and have any type of set-backs but we are TRYING to stay positive.

Please keep Kenneth in your prayers at this time!

Also, do FM me if you'd like me to send you the email we have going around regarding Kenneth's Benevolent Fund. It is the address of where people can send any type of donation they'd like to offer. Even if you just want to pass it along, but cannot donate at this time, that's fine! We'd love to just have you get the word out for us.

Thanks guys - this is going to be a tough few days for him to get over this cold, get off the vent fully and GET TO KESSLER