Monday

I talked to Jose (the case Manager)and the therapist. They said Christie was doing really well. She is still at a level 3, she can move her right foot slightly. Just the top of her foot and her toes. She kicked a beach ball in therapy.There's not much if any movement on her left side at this time. She is beginning to mouth words, but no sound is coming out.
I miss her soooooooooo much. This is the longest that I haven't gotten to see her.
Don't forget about the yard sale, hot dogs and bake sale this Saturday the 12 th. 8:00 AM -2:00 PM at Trinity Community Church. 4018 old Buncombe Rd.
Thanks,
Becky

Thank You

Not much to tell, Christie had a good weekend. She rested from her therapies. The CNA took her outside on the porch for awhile. I called yesterday to ask them to turn Christie's TV on to a Harry Potter Marathon. They did and they said she watched all of them. The nurse thought she would go to sleep watching them, but she didn't it kept her mesmerized.
Also thanks to my friend Ann for all the beautiful frames she has made around the pictures. It makes Christie look even more beautiful.
Thanks my friend, and thanks to everyone who reads and prayes,
Becky

CT Scan

I talked to Jose today, he said they got the results back from the CT scan, and that Christie has Brain Atrophy. That means the brain is smaller, because it hasn't been used. I added the definition so so you can get the clinical meaning of it.
Cerebral atrophy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cerebral atrophy is a common feature of many of the diseases that affect the brain. Atrophy of any tissue means loss of cells. In brain tissue, atrophy describes a loss of neurons and the connections between them. Atrophy can be generalized, which means that all of the brain has shrunk; or it can be focal, affecting only a limited area of the brain and resulting in a decrease of the functions that area of the brain controls. If the cerebral hemispheres (the two lobes of the brain that form the cerebrum) are affected, conscious thought and voluntary processes may be impaired.
Hope this helps you to understand better.
Becky

Answer to Question

Christie's feet are turned under so bad, called " drop", look at the pictures and you can see it. The botox along with therapy will make her feet more pliable so they can make them straight again. then they will put soft cast on them until they are where they are supposed to be. At this point if she tried to stand, it would break her ankles.
Hope this helped. Thanks for asking. Let me know if you want more info.
Becky

Monday

Hi All,
I talked to Christie's nurse, and she is doing OK. Her right leg is swollen very bad, but they did X-rays Friday and a ultrasound today, and all is normal. No fractures or blood clots. It seems it is swollen because of her lack of use. They did a botox treatment in her feet on the 27th. It is a slow process, but hopefully there will be progress soon. Richard and I are still working on her Birthday Party and will let you know when the arrangements are final.
Becky

YARD SALE

Hello everyone,
Spring has come and summer is here full force, so if you have old things or new things you want to get rid of from your spring cleaning, I will be happy to help you with that. We are having a yard sale, hot dog sale, bake sale, pretty much anything that isn't nailed down. If you have anything you would like to donate or if you can volunteer your time helping us sale the items or make hot dogs, or you could come and buy all the stuff we are having donated.
It will be held at Trinity Community Church , Saturday July 12,2008 from 8:00 A.M until 2:00 P.M.
4018 Old Buncombe Rd
Greenville, S.C 29617
There will be hot dog plates and drinks as well. All money goes for the Bring Christie Home Fund
If you can help please call or email or post a comment.

Thanks Becky & Christie

Paula and Aaron's Visit

Saturday Paula and Aaron went to visit Christie, She was sitting up in her chair when they got there. She was "watching" Cartoons on TV. Christie moved her head and her right arm. She would shake her head yes or no for questions that they asked her. She would even push the button if some of the answers were yes. Paula asked her if she wanted her to pinch Aaron for her, but Christie shook her head "no". Paula then asked if Christie wanted to pinch Aaron, and then Christie smiled and shook her head "yes". Aaron put his finger between her thumb and index finger, and she pinched him. There is a picture below. Paula went to the bathroom, and when she came out she saw Christie smiling as if she was up to something. Aaron was nowhere to be seen. Aaron jumped out from behind the door and scared Paula, so I guess that was what Christie was up to. She was an accomplice! They enjoyed the rest of their visit. I would like to thank Paula and Aaron for going to visit Christie, as she doesn't have many visitors, except for her daddy. He visits her daily.
Shortly after Paula and Aaron left, they removed Christie's catheter out, and she did very well with it. It didn't seem to be too uncomfortable for her, and I bet she's very glad that it's out. One more small step.
Becky

She's a fighter

I talked to Christie's nurse, and she said Christie's therapist said she did well in her therapies today. She finished her antibiotic and the X-ray shows the pneumonia is gone, so they took out her IV. Also tomorrow, they are going to take out her catheter. I can't wait to see her. She is trying really hard. No one has seen her move her left arm or hand yet, but maybe she will soon.
I want to have another hot dog, bake sale and yard sale, if anyone can help coordinate this I would appreciate it. If you have any donations for the yard sale, or if you can help with the hot dogs etc, please let me or my mom know. Thank you for all your continued thoughts and prayers.
It is really hard not getting to see her. I miss her so much. I miss talking to her on the phone. Friends and neighbors, please tell everyone you love them at least once a day, and hug them and tell them how much you love them. You never know when in a split second, a life changing thing can occur.
Becky

Thursday

Hi all,
I just talked to Jose, Christie's case manager, Christie did well in speech therapy, she got 60 % of her questions right today. They are simple questions, so she doesn't get frustrated. She had to sit up on the work out table, like you see in the picture. They increase her time a little more each day. They are trying to get her endurance up. They stretched her arms and legs and feet more. She is really doing well. She has a long way to go. Her ideal situation would be to stay at FINR for the whole 2 years, but after the insurance runs out, she will have to leave. You can stay there and private pay, but it is 1,800.00 dollars a day. Lets hope she continues to do well until that time.
I also asked about her being paralyzed on the left side of her face, she can pucker to give a kiss, so I thought she might not be paralyzed like they said.There are different levels, but she is in fact paralyzed on that side, that is one reason she can't open the left eye completely.
Thanks for reading,
Becky

Not much to tell

I don't have much to update on Christie. I know she went to therapies today, but didn't get un update on how she did. I did however get a job today. I don't know my hours yet, but it is a start. I start Friday.
Becky