Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

Dani, I wish as I'm sure we all do that we could jump through our computers and give you a huge hug. You have been in my thoughts and prayers always.

We actually talked about your brothers accident over the weekend and how stupid people are. I will NEVER understand why people can't pay for a $10 dollar cab ride or call someone to pick them up? It makes no sense to me and annoys me even thinking about it.

Sorry to go off on a tangent.....I can't imagine what you are going through.

In my thoughts and prayers

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

I am continuing to pray for Kenny! He will pull through, he sounds like a very strong person

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

Continuing prayers for you and your family. I am glad he is improving.

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

You and your family have been in my thoughts and prayers.... Continue being the strong girl that you are and know that we are all here for you!!!

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

I cant even imagine what you're going through right now, but I have to say, you are SO strong. You're managing to stay so positive and take things as they come at you. I read your updates daily and it makes me all teary to know that even though this is breaking your heart, you are so amazingly strong for your brother.

I just wanted to share this story with you in hopes that it'll show you there IS hope:

A friend of ours who was a Marine got shot in the head last summer in Iraq. He was airlifted to a hospital in Germany where they basically told his family that he was going to be a vegetable for the rest of his life. We were updated daily as to his progress and they said reppeatedly that they didnt think he'd ever recover from the brain damage. Well, 2 weeks later he woke up from his coma, was able to move his arms, fingers, head, shoulders....he was able to talk...he was even joking with his wife. The doctors told them his progress was great, but he probably would never be able to walk again (he didnt have movement in his legs yet). After 5 months of therapy, Sean was on his feet walking again (he limps slightly, but he's still walking!!). Our friend is a fighter....always has been. And I truly believe that he wasnt ready to go...
Your brother is a fighter too. Stay strong and stay positive, because your brother has so much to live for and I dont believe he's ready to go either

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

******May 28th 2008******

OK, we are hanging in there... Today Kenneth opened both of his eyes all the way and looked at my Mother. My Mom said (again - she has been saying this but just to make sure he knows and doesn't worry/wonder where he is or what happened) my Mom said "Kenneth, it is OK - you have been in an accident but you are doing SO well and are doing better and better each and everyday. You keep fighting and we are ALL here with you. You have been here just over a week and are showing such great signs each day" and just as she was saying this to him a tear came from his eye and rolled down his cheek. I was devastated and at the same time amazed... he understands! He understands what happened and has registered an emotion to the story. It sent a sense of pain throughout my body like I have never experienced before and at the same time part of me said "wow, THANK GOD, what a sign - he understands".

Then, at one point, he looked SO exhausted from trying to communicate with us all day, squeeze our hands, etc. so I was singing to him and I said "Kenneth, if you want to close your eyes and sleep then you can - it is OK - I'm with you no matter what - don't feel bad, close them and rest" and he did.

They allowed him to breathe on his own today -- still had the tube in but turned the machine off. He was doing great on his own but they put it back on so he doesn't over do it. It is unbelievable how we can get such AWFUL news from the CT scan and then have such wonderful outcome from Kenneth.

It is like the minute we get a bad result he says "$crew that stupid scan - look how good i'm doing!". that's just his way - and i'm not even surprised by it. he always went above and beyond - always had a way of being the one to "defy the odds".

i feel hopeful and i needed that hope after the news we got from the scan - i cannot tell you how amazing the stories i've read -- either through posts or FM's -- of people recovering and going against the odds -- thank GOD for them b/c just when i'm at rock bottom - it lifts me up.

thank you for the prayers and if i could just ask for them to be continued as he fights and fights to get back to us. the nurse keeps saying it is like he is inside fighting to come out to us.

it is so hard to see someone you love so much experience this and start to understand what is happening or what has happened to him -- he just looks into my eyes like "why can't i talk?" "help me - what happened to me?" and he has all these questions and just looks at you and i just keep telling him he is going to be OK. it is absolutely heart breaking - i wouldn't wish this on anyone.

before i left tonight i told him to just rest for the night - he had spent a good portion of the day up, squeezing our hands, trying to move here and there, looking at us, listening to us -- it is exhausting for him so i told him i was going to sing him to bed. i sang to him until he fell asleep and then i left him in the care of the docs and all of his police brothers for the night.

i realized tonight the kind of love i have for him and how much he means to me - there is nothing in this world i wouldn't do for him and i would trade places with him in an instant.

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

Danielle reading this update brought a tear to my eye and i realized how powerful that can be. Im still sending tons of prayers to your brother! I am sooo happy to hear that he is alert enough to understand-this is just the beginning and I have tons of hope and faith that he will pull thru

Sending you and your family hugs

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

Continuing to keep your brother in my thoughts and prayers

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

I got teary reading the latest update. Danielle, you are an amazing sister.

Continuing my thoughts and prayers

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

Danielle, that last update really touched me and brought tears to my eyes... i admire your strength and courage..

continue to stay strong and my prayers are still with you and the family

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

Danielle thank you for all the updates! Im trying to read all of them, but Im at work and I start getting teary so I'll have to really read them later! But you sound optimistic and it sounds like he is making a lot of progress! He is in my thoughts and prayers and my DH's too! We are thinking of you and your family!!! You are such a strong person and I really admire that!!!

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

I am just in tears reading your updates. My heart breaks for you and your family, especially when you speak of your nephew. That is an incredibly generous gesture being made for him! What wonderful people! I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I will light a candle this week at church for him. Please hold onto your faith...just take it day by day. God bless the fireman who saved him!!

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

Dani I pray to God that he helps your brother find strength. I will have my whole family praying for you guys! Stay strong and positive! I know there are little bumps i the road but he's going to be ok! I'm sure of it! The strength and love of your family is keeping him going! Stay there for him. You're an amazing family. We'll be praying for you all!

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

******may 29th 2008******

typing w/ the puppy on my lap so bear with me ... she is lonely b/c she is not used to me being out of the house this much and i feel so bad for her. luckily, she gets SO much attention from my in-laws and vin.

kenneth is amazing - he just blows me away. just when i am down and think 'omg this is awful' he just makes me and i'm like 'wow - he's going to pull through real well!!' ... it is unbelievable. we are at (roughly) day 10 and today he: blinked his eyes on command when i asked him to, squeezed my hand multiple times when i asked him to, looked right at me when i said "kenneth, it's danielle - can you open your eyes or are you sleeping?" he opened his eyes - turned his head and looked right at me -- i said "i love you" and he looked at me, tried to move his mouth (but the tube is in there) and nodded his head up and down almost to motion "i love you too". tomorrow, when he is on less pain meds (b/c all of these reactions are with him on HEAVY meds!!) i'm going to ask him to do more specific things -- but now he is a little loopy so it is hard to ask him to do more stuff.

it takes a lot out of him to do this stuff but b/c his blood pressure went up a little - they think b/c of the pain from the pelvic injury that we are still holding off on operating on -- they think that caused a raise in pressure so they increased his morphine and then it went down to just about normal.

they are planning on taking the tube out tomorrow (thank yaaaa jesus!!!) b/c he *HATES* that thing... and they are going to put a breathing thingy in his throat -- much more sanitary, much more comfortable - better all around!! he CAN breathe on his own but they don't want him a. doing that much work when he doesn't have to be and needs to focus all his energy on getting better with the head injury and b. they want him taking in the most oxygen possible -- helps heal better AND it is better for the brain function/flow.

then, on monday, they are planning on doing the pelvis surgery -- since it is not life threatening and they did put that brace on him for now they wanted to hold off so that his swelling in the brain can decrease.

we are no longer listening to doctors lol lol but after a while of being pretty "gloom and doom" i'm done with listening to them - well, the negative ones at least. we take the positive ones and are happy to hear them. as far as his cat scans go it really doesn't matter HOW they look now b/c the swelling in his brain is masking (like a cloud cover) any and all actual "damage" that was done -- so WHY are we even making ourselves crazy right now?? When that swelling goes away we will look at the CT's and then be able to tell WHAT is WHAT. for now, we take it one day at a time and are THRILLED to have him shocking the shiit out of the docs w/ how much he is responding and moving.

they feel as though all of the swelling has peaked -- his ICP (inter cranial pressure) has been at a perfect level for two days now!!!!!! and that means that now the swelling has PEAKED and will start to decrease little by little.

the hard part is that he is frustrated - he doesn't quite know what is going on -- he understands some but i can tell he has so many questions and is annoyed at the whole situation. my brother is a mover and a shaker - he will NOT tolerate this for long which will just give him increased drive to get the helll out of there and work, work, work at getting 100% again.

people ask me a lot "so he's going to be OK, right??" and i just say "we are taking it step by step" i think people think b/c he didn't die that he is going to be just fine -- and almost overnight. well, it doesn't quite work like that. brain/head injuries are a complicated thing... there is A LOT of space between a person being dead and a person being totally healthy and doing great.... and he is in between right now. i'm just glad he is not worse than he is or worst of all... so, i thank god for that and just say we'll keep getting better and take baby steps... i'm in NO rush.

we have the madd walk on sunday - hope to see as many people there as possible. it would be an honor to meet anyone who has posted, sent an FM, cares/concerns/prayers, etc. It really would be my honor to say thank you in person -- so, i'm looking forward to that. our shirts are supposed to come tomorrow - thanks again gerty!!!!! and then on june 5th we have the first court hearing for the case against the drunken driver who hit my brother... i will be attending to represent my family along with a *TON* of his fellow police brothers. it's going to be tough but i'm strong - i'll be fine... i'll do good for kenneth.... ooh! he would correct me right now "you'll do WELL" lol he always does that -- whenever i say "oh christopher did so good at little league today" he'll say "he did WELL"

the prayers and faith... that is what keeps us all going.

we still have tough days but we are so hopeful and seeing him look at me today - when i said i love you -- he looked right THROUGH me -- so deep in my eyes -- i saw HIM for the very first time - the real him and he is just going to continue to come out - like a ball of fire - that is just his nature.

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

We are still praying for you and Kenneth!

I know how devastating brain injuries can be, and I'm so glad that you have such a positive outlook.

I can imagine how confused and frustrated Kenneth is... but you are doing a great job at helping him to stay calm and to understand what has happened.

You'll be in our prayers!

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

---

Posted by hayleyandsteve

We are still praying for you and Kenneth!

I know how devastating brain injuries can be, and I'm so glad that you have such a positive outlook.

I can imagine how confused and frustrated Kenneth is... but you are doing a great job at helping him to stay calm and to understand what has happened.

You'll be in our prayers!

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Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

It is good to hear he is making great progress slowly but surely. You guys are still in our prayers and I love hearing about his updates it makes my day.

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

Hang in there! my DH is at the hospital now its his tour to be there. I'm still praying for you guys! I know he will pull through and be just fine!

I went through a lot of the same things when my mom was coming out of her coma and she still had the tubes in, hang in there, i know how tough it really is, but it does get better

Message edited 5/30/2008 11:27:09 AM.

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

That is great to hear! I will continue to think & pray for your brother

Keep us posted on the trial.

Message edited 5/30/2008 11:26:44 AM.

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

Danielle-Keeping Kenny in my prayers!

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

*****May 30, 2008*****

Today is a good day.

We hate to get TOO excited when we get good news but today we rec'd more good news than we have in all the past days combined... so, I have to be happy. Even if we have more set-backs down the road - today is a happy day...

The docs did another CT and said that it looks "very good" That is AMAZING considering we heard the word "horrible" just a few days ago. I truly believe in the power of prayer and in Padre Pio - our wonderful Saint who we have been praying to everyday, multiple times a day. Thank God for the man who offered to come up and pray over Kenneth to Padre Pio -- he can channel him and I believe he did because ever since that day it has been a STEADY climb UP.

Also, the docs said: he is 100% better since the last time they really examined him which was about four days ago. He is moving a lot, wide awake, clear eyes, off all of his meds that made him loopy AND they feel he is on "the right path". He has also been cleared for both of his surgeries -- moving the tube to the throat AND his pelvis surgery which he really needs to be able to be in LESS pain AND so they can take his leg out of this "track" they have it in to keep the pelvis straight for now.

I have to just thank GOD and every single person who has prayed for this good update... Everyone, IT IS WORKING - So, keep the prayers up and when you do - KNOW in your HEART like I do that it IS working.

And for Kenneth - my fighter...

Well I wont back down, no I wont back down.
You can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I wont back down.

Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around. And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down.
Gonna stand my ground and I wont back down.

Hey baby, there aint no easy way out.
Hey I will stand my ground,
And I wont back down.

Well I know whats right, I got just one life. In a world that keeps on pushin' me around, but I'll stand my ground... and I wont back down.



works.

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

Oh Dani, that is so great to hear! I literally just teared up at my desk!!!

I'm sure that as the swelling continues to subside, you'll see great improvements! The swelling displaces a lot of parts of the brain, which makes it difficult for him to function (depending on which part of the brain), and once that subsides I'm sure that he will regain a lot of functioning and you'll really be able to see what he can and cannot do.

I know the recovery may be long and heartbreaking, but there are so many people praying for him, and I truly believe in the power of prayer!

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

how did I miss the last 2 days of updates?!!?

I am very happy to hear of better news.. continuing to send more prayers

Re: Updates on DaniRella's family

Glad to see positive updates!!! Every night he & your family are in my prayers!!!