Updates on DaniRella's family

**** July 4th - Happy Birthday America ****

My brother is probably the proudest American I know along with my Grandaddy and FIL (who immigrated to this country when he was young). So, I guess it is fitting that Kenneth would have probably the BEST day he has had so far in his recovery TODAY.

I'm almost afraid to even type it because you worry that tomorrow will be a 'bad day' but today was GREAT. Everyone that we came in contact with today said 'oh you are spending 4th of July here??' like we'd be someplace else! What kind of a sister would I be hanging out by the pool eating a hot dog at this time?! But I understood they were just looking out for us -- honestly, after today I was not bummed about being there all day AT ALL - NOT ONE BIT because he had such a great day!

First of all, the docs did a CT scan to discover that the procedure they did yesterday (they opened up his head to put a drain in the front of his head that connects to his already existing drain in the back of his head). Well, they discovered that the drain they put in not only was placed perfectly but ALREADY drained ALL of the excess fluid that was collecting in the front and making him rather 'woozy' and not as clear/aware as he's been! The neuro docs were SO psyched they wanted to call us at 2am when they did the scan and discovered this!!! LOL!

They held off and told us today. Also, the infection is pretty much gone, his temp has remained down, his blood pressure is great, he is tolerating his food and not throwing up, his liver enzymes which were high due to lots-o-meds are now DOWN and he is CLEAR and VERY AWARE. He put BOTH hands on his head - even moved the RIGHT hand which is harder for him! He was pretty tired all day as he is still recovering from the surgery but you can just see it in his eyes -- it is Kenneth! He's back! And there is nothing that makes me feel better in this world than to see HIM looking back at me. The downside is that he is aware of where he is and he looks VERY peeved... but we keep telling him to hang in there just a few more days -- hopefully!

They are hoping that if things stay well he will go to Kessler :::knock wood::: this coming week sometime. A doc from there is coming tomorrow to evaluate him - one of many evaluations!

The biggest thing that helps me at this time is watching the Bob Woodruff DVD 'To Iraq and Back'... Bob (ABC news anchor) had a very similar injury to Kenneth and recovered AMAZINGLY!!!! I love watching his road to recovery - I cry and cry when his family describes what it was like b/c it is everything that we are going through. It gives me such great hope!

OK - the prayers, they have been heard and they are working - I only ask that they are kept up until he is OUT of NUMC! Thank you, thank you, thank you X's 100!!!!! I know in my heart that we are waiting b/c it is what is BEST for Kenneth -- I know now that God would not have him go until he is READY and until the best possible time for him, medically.

Yay 4th of July!!

happy 4th to your whole fam. im so happy to read what a good day it was for kenneth and all of you. our prayers will continue for him throughout the whole recovery process!!!! the bob woodruff reports on TBI are very touching. there is always reason to hope and to pray. I have seen so many of these type of videos recently bc of a class I am taking on cognitive and affective processes and it always brings you guys and Kenneth to mind. thx for continually updating us so that we can be praying for him in his needs.

God bless!!

***** 7/7/08 ******

Last year, at this time, I was flying home from a vaca with Vinny -- we went to Washington DC. My brother had told me alllll about it because he had lived in Virginia for four years when he was younger (he was a police officer down there before coming back up here). He told us where to go, what to see, how to get around, etc. I often find myself thinking 'what was I doing this time, last year?' because WOW I had NO idea what things would be like and how much things would change just one year later.

Anywho, Kenneth's condition pretty much remains the same - his fever remains controlled, he is tolerating his food very well, he is moving a lot, very spunky lol, he is being 'taken off' his vent little by little and has been breathing on his own 90% of the time, etc. So, he is doing well -- the only little bump in the road before we are OK for Kessler is this: his neuro doc, after saying he was all set to go and we were making arrangements for this Wednesday said that he just wants his second shunt (the drain that was JUST put in) to be a little deeper.

That it is draining and doing a good job but not draining ENOUGH -- that they need to re-position it just a bit. So, that means another FREAKING procedure --- BUT they insist it is 'minor' (lol) and that it will NOT set him back more than one day -- SO, he will still go on THURSDAY... so they say... knock wood... God willing...

As you can see I've become a bit supersticious.

Thanks again for all of the prayers - I just need them kept up, if possible, throughout this final (knock wood) procedure and his route to Kessler. They will be taking him by police chopper so a little prayer for him regarding that won't hurt either as I *HATE* those helicopters - they make me very nervous.

Continuing to keep your brother and your family in my prayers

more prayers for a safe transition and speedy recovery.. If anyone can do it, Kenneth has proven he can.

many continued prayers for you & ur family!!!

Continued prayers for Kenneth and your family.

I hope gets there safely and comfortably on Thursday!

Dani, continued prayers for Kenny and for Christopher.

It is great that he will be transported by copter. It would be a long bumpy trip by ambulance all the way to Kessler. Copter should be relatively smooth and quick.

***** 7/8/08 *****

Well, turns out Kenneth does *NOT* need the above procedure we were told he needs. His neuro doc was not able to view the CT scan himself and other docs from his team viewed it instead and made the decision that he needed this procedure... They let us know but before they scheduled it for sure his main doc finally got to a computer (he was out in the field so couldn't view it at first) and once he looked at it he was 100% sure that he does NOT, in fact, need that procedure done -- that the fluid that's collecting is not that much -- and once he moves around a little and gets out of that bed it will drain better.

Do you guys feel like you're on a rollercoaster or what? LOL we all feel like we are on this ride that never ENDS. So, the ICU docs (after hearing he needed a procedure) put him back on the vent because they figured he'll be put back on it for a lil while after the procedure and during -- wellllll, once it came back that he DOESN'T need this procedure and that it was a false alarm -- they took him off the vent...

Just one problem: Kessler wants him to be off the vent for 48 hours at least before they will take him and they are strict about it. So, that little 'he needs a procedure, he doesn't need one' put us back at 0 on his 'off the vent clock'. So, he would have been able to go to Kessler TOMORROW but now we need to wait until Thursday anyway because of this little mix-up and false alarm.

Ohhhhh if Dr. Mehta would have just been at a computer to begin with!! LOL! I hope you guys are following all of this and this isn't too confusing.

As of today - Kenneth SHOULD be going to Kessler this THURSDAY... knock wood... God willing... hoping nothing else comes up.

He is in good shape in every other area -- just needs to be off that vent for 48 hours and the second that clock TICKS 48 - he's GONE... hopefully, God willing, knock wood... yadda yadda!

THURSDAY

I'm doing a Kessler- Thursday dance for kenneth..

It looks like this

Praying for Kessler on Thursday

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Posted by soon2bmrsVPT

I'm doing a Kessler- Thursday dance for kenneth..

It looks like this

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that's hot!

Bad weather for flying today anyway, so maybe this is a blessing.

Doing the 48 hour no-vent dance as well