I sent Richard an email he replied with a certified letter. The letter has been copied, The black is my original email. The red is Richards reply and the blue is my comment back. Hope this updates everyone until I get another update. If you have any questions you want answered email me or comment on the site, maybe Richard will answer the questions. They read Christie's blog often.
Becky
Becky Williams
What did the Dr. do for Christie's feet when she went to see him on December 17? Did he do any test and If he did tests what were the results?
He did a standing test and that a botox treatment was need with series of therapies to follow. If there is no results then he recommends a surgery to cut the tendons a certain way that will stop the contracation issue.
That was on the 17Th and I am just now finding out about it , how did the standing test go? Will cuting the tendons help her to walk?
Is Christie still making an effort to speak? If so how many words can she say now. I know she was saying three or four words at FINR.
She is still limited at speech due to her vocal cords. She was evaluated by a doctor who believes she is a candidate for injections in her vocal cords. FCC will schedule an appointment to see the doctor that does the injections to see if he concurs. We heard her speak several words the day after Christmas as we were visiting with her. She just needs encouragement.
Again just now hearing about the injections.
Are the bladder control attempts still being made every two hours and if so how is that going? What about bowel movement control? Are they working with her on that?
They keep her on a schedule for those issues.
When we were there, they never tried the bed pan, nor was she on a schedule, they changed her once the whole time we were there for the whole day. Not every 2 hours as recommended.
Has she gotten her hearing aides yet and if she has do they seem to make a difference in her being able to communicate better?
She has not received her hearing aides yet. They have been ordered. When she does, I am sure communication will be easier.
When will she be getting her new braces for her feet? One of the aides said she hasn't been wearing the braces from FINR but is getting treatments and will be getting new braces for her feet? When we were there this month I noticed her feet have dropped again.
She does wear the braces I bought her, but her tendons are contracting again as previously mentioned so it makes it difficult. She was actually wearing her shoes when we saw her.
Christie was wearing shoes when we where there to, but didn’t wear the braces once the 4 days we where there.
How often does she go to therapy and what kind of therapy is she getting?
She goes everyday from what I have been shown. I met with her occupational therapist on the 26Th.
Christie only had occupational therapy once in the 4 days we were there, and no other therapy.
How often is she checked by a Dr?
Her next appointment is for the neurologist around April 17Th.The last Dr. that checked on her was the 23rd of Dec.
What was the results of that? What was checked? What kind of Doctor?
When is her next swallow test scheduled? Are you going to be able to go with her when she has this test done? Maybe you could ask them to schedule her Dr's appointments on your days off so you could go with her and keep her company and give her a more secure feeling.
Her next swallow study is 3 months from the last one.
Are you going to go with her?
Now that you have finished the paper work will you please give her Dr's, caregivers, nurses, and administrator at the nursing home permission to update me about Christie.
I will continue to update you. FCC has instruction that they can give you information on Christies progress, but I will take care of her medical care and needs.
All they tell me is if she is awake, a sleep or doing O.K. no details.
When do you expect to be able to get her a TTY phone so I can at least call her and talk to her? I don't mind using the regular phone if you will just authorize the nursing facility to install a hearing impaired phone for her to use. If that doesn't work then you can try getting the ones talked about in the blog. I don't want her to feel abandoned because she can't communicate with me and I with her.
I haven’t gotten a date on a TTY phone. Once the doctors fully assess her needs, they will customize her phone.
Christie only has 15 months of recovery time left. How much time do they need? The brain only has 2 years of recovery time after a traumatic brain Injury.
Has she expressed anything that she wants? I know she wanted bunny slippers when she was at FINR and we went and got her a pair of bedroom shoes. Has she asked for anything specific and is there anything that I can get for her?
No, she only expresses the desire to walk, which is understandable.
When we where there she continually asked to come home, as well as asks for me everyday.
Will you give the nursing home permission to let Katrina and her children go back to visit Christie? Also can Paula and her family go to visit?
Katrina is not able to visit and Paula and her son can visit if you are there.
What’s the deal with that. Christie needs friends and visitors. Why can’t Paula and Aaron visit when I’m not there that would be more visitors more often.
When Christie was at FINR I asked if there were some youth groups from some of the local churches that might be able to go in and visit her from time to time. Just to have someone to go see her on a regular basis with adult supervision of course. Would you consider checking into something like that for her?
Christie is not at FINR any more and has improved in health. The social Director at FCC does her job well. I will be speaking with her soon in reference to Christie’s abilities to go on field trips with the other kids if the doctors think that it would be safe for her to be away from the facility. The Social Director said that Christie is becoming more social and settled which helps Christie. Christie enjoys being near the nurses station to see whats going on and wave at those who pass by.
When we where there Christie continued to ask where she was and why she was there. Doesn’t seem like she is settled to me.
In regards to the complaint against FCC,
Wasn’t a complaint it was a question. I was the one being accused of taking the missing items.
FCC had to notify me as Christie’s guardian Why not as her Dad and asked if I knew of the whereabouts claimed to be missing. The only one I felt very unsure of was the two sided quilt. I was told by phone a couple of days later that the two sided quilt was not seen arriving from FINR and had been that it had been soiled so FINR was washing it. I hope Christie’s name was on it. Yes it was. The other items are believed to be located at this time. FINR sent it to FCC along with Christie’s Nuruto dolls. She has the dolls, but no quilt.
Richard Martel
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
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About Christie
- Becky Williams
- I am Becky, Christie's Mom and I want to tell you about Christie. Christie is a beautiful, outgoing, and caring person. She loves outside, turtles, frogs, birds all kinds of animals especially horses. Christie has talked about maybe becoming a vet. Christie was injured in a car wreck on April 19,2008. Christie has a severe globial brain injury where they had to remove the whole left tempral lobe. This blog is to share Christie's story. She is a fighter, and she is making a recovery that no one thought she would.
MOTHERS
This is a truly BEAUTIFUL piece. Please Read this at a slow pace, digesting every word and in Leisure...do not hurry... This is a treasure...
>For those lucky to still be blessed with your Mom,This is beautiful. For those of us who aren't, this is Even more beautiful. For those who are moms, you'll love this.
>The young mother set her foot on the path of life. 'Is This the long way?' she asked. And the guide said:'Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it... But The end will be better than the beginning.'
But the young mother was happy, and she would not Believe that anything could be better than these years. So she Played with her children, and gathered flowers for Them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and The sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried,'Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.'
>Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was Dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother Drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, 'Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come.'
>And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and The children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children,' A little patience and we are there.'So the children climbed, and when they reached the top They said, 'Mother, we would not have done it without you.'
>And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up At the stars and said, 'This is a better day than the last, for my Children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness.Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I've given them strength.'
>And the next day came strange clouds which darkened The earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped And stumbled, and the mother said: 'Look up. Lift your eyes to the light. ' And the children looked and saw above the clouds An everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the Darkness. And that night the Mother said, 'This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.'
>And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and The years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with Courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, For she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill,And beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And Mother said, 'I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end Is better than the beginning, for my children can Walk alone, and their children after them.'
>And the children said, 'You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.'And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates Closed after her. And they said: 'We cannot see her But she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She Is a living presence.......'
>Your Mother is always with you... She's the whisper Of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of bleach In your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool hand On your brow when you're not well. Your Mother lives Inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love And your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can Separate you.Not time, not space... Not even death!
>I LOVE YOU MY BABY GIRL
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