Hello everyone,
Kerry was allowed to leave the hospital on Monday around 11AM. We packed up all her things and we were home by noon. She felt so glad to be done with the surgery and very happy to be back home. We will be seeing Dr. Schofield next Monday and we hope that will be the day he takes her staples out of her arm. He was happy with the surgery and told everything was taken care of that was needed to be done. She will be four weeks in a sling and then she will start her last therapy on her right arm. She has had a really tough fight for everything but she now knows that it is getting closer for her to start doing more things on her own. I am so very proud of her.

Sincerly, John

Hello everyone.

Today Dr. Scholfield office informed us that Kerry's surgery will be tomorrow morning at 11:45 A.M. We have to report to Sarasota Memorial Hospital by 9:45 A.M. She should only be in the hospital for 3-4 days. She is starting to get nervous about the surgery but she knows that it will relieve alot of her pain. Once her shoulder pain is relieved she will be able to do her therapy so much better. Thank you all for your morale and physical support.

Sincerly,Kerry and John

Kerry update from Lynn

All-

It has been 51/2 mos since the Ford Taurus ran over Kerry and left her with devatasting and life changing injuries.  That brave woman has been tortured with pain for all of those 5 1/2  mos and this coming Tuesday, June 9 she facing hopefully the last surgery for this incident.  (The surgery was just moved to Friday, June 12th now!)

 

Her right arm and shoulder are nearly non-functioning and floppy as the humerus is not held in place by a proper rotator cuff.  Her imminant shoulder surgery has only been done in this country for 5 years and it was first conceived in France in the eighties.  It is called a Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement and quite unlike the standard shoulder repeplacement op.  She will require blood transfusion more than likely as there is much foreign material, called herterotopic ossification,  built up in that "once was" joint.  This material prevents the joint from being  flexible and must be scraped out and this is likely to cause considerable bleeding. 

 

It is a daunting operation, the recovery will not be simple so she has much more pain and therapy to look forward to but Kerry as always  says "Let's just get it the hell over with" and she wants to do it sooner rather than later.  Her good friend from Cleveland, Barbara will be down there for a few days the following week, then soon after that Kyla and her girls will come for a visit, then a few days later I will come back.  I am in Phoenix visiting my niece Linda and her husband but  my mind is in Florida and it will be all day on Friday.  Another group "cross fingers"  "hug"  "wish" "pray" or whatever works for you--Kerry once again needs a community of energy to recover, to give her doc the wisdom and skill to give her back a functioning right arm.  As ever,    LYNN

--

Regards,

Kyla Elderton

Greetings from Venice

Hi All,

Here is my report: Kerry has her ups and downs! She is using both her arms & hands in a limited way, can eat by herself, drink from her cups, play Pogo games on the computer, and knit which she enjoys a lot. She's walking without the aid of her cane. She tires easily. Unfortunately something threw off various levels in her blood tests and something, maybe ibuprofen, upset her kidneys, so that she had to go back into the hospital on Wed. am. to try to figure out what is going on there. IV rehydration is the only treatment at this point & her blood levels have come down to more acceptable levels. John hopes she will be discharged on Sat. She still goes to several doctors to treat various aspects of her case. It is unbelieveable to me, the resilience of the human body, how it can heal, after what happened in Kerry's case. She has come so far & worked so hard. Her bad shoulder gives her constant pain & she & John hope that the repair surgery in a couple weeks will get that taken care of. Once the constant pain is out of the picture, more recovery can occur faster. Constant pain is so draining & exhausting. I can't even describe the care my brother John gives to Kerry. It's corny, but I have to say it is inspiring. I guess we do what we have to do & generally hope we don't get called to do what he has had to do. All for now from me.
mary

Baby steps and Giant ones

Dear Kerry and John.

What a long journey to this point. Kyla and I had a long talk regarding you and your progress, your ears must have been on fire. I told her how much the Blog site had ment to me and how faithfully I had become a follower of you and your family. I know from my own injuries how elated and or depressed we can become by the tinyist steps of achievment, but as your journey takes you forward, take comfort in every well wishers comments, and every successful day you have survived. Sisters, parents, relatives and many friends are there for you though they may not blog on a regular basis. You seem to be ( since we have never met) strong in your will to overcome which is so important. You will achieve because you are a survivor by nature. As you look at the many blogs from beginning to end you might want to focus on "your story". How you can take your experience and make it available to hundreds of others (via audio book, hard back book, or whatever form you would be comfortable) using your positive attitude as a guide for those who would rather give up than move forward. Kerry, I see an awesome future available to you, and you have my deepest wishes for that rainbow shinning over you. Sincere wishes as you go forward with more evasive, corrective surgery. Fondly yours, Carla Morace

Hello dear friends!

I have been home almost a month now. Time is a curious thing, when you don't have anything but great company visiting, rehab and dr's appts. time rushes by!! For instance I scheduled an appt for Memorial day, finding out doctors work holiday's and I casually quiped back wait with my busy schedule I need the day off, i wish.

We had a grand time with Becca visiting us. Besides what Mary posted we had lots of fun buying new clothes with a 70 dollar coupon mom had obtained. What was great about that was all three of us was in the dressing room. Needless John got a few glances from other shoppers as he went in and out finding my right size, and helping Becca. Becca also made wonderful homemade lemonade! yum. We were sorry to see her go, but we look forward to her mother coming on Sunday.

Therapy continues. Iwent in the pool while Becca was here. I find joy in doing small things like brushing my teeth while standing,pouring milk using my left ham, brushing my hair with my left arm and on and on.

Will try to send photos when I figure this thing out!

I have my good days and bad days....

Thank you all for standing by me during this difficult time for me.

With love and affection,

Kerry

Hi from Columbus

I hear that John's niece (my daughter!), Becca, had a nice time visiting Kerry & John over the weekend. Becca did some sewing for Kerry so she can have some clothes easier to get into. Did a little shopping. Looks like there was plenty of sunshine--nice for Becca since it's been so rainy in Columbus. I'm looking forward to my visit, heading down May 24. Will update everyone, giving you the "sister-in-law" perspective!!

Kerry at home...finally!!

 

Lynn here, back in Fla for just this week past after 3 at home.  Last Fri was the traffic court hearing for those who have so violated Kerry's "rights" to a normal life, without the long term injuries I am now witnessing.  Kerry and John had been subpoenaed as their own witnesses which I read as a good thing, in that if the judge saw how very disabled she still is at the 4 and a half month mark it might help in the longer run with all of this.     One hour before court time the court called with a postponement until June 12 because the officers who covered the incident were involved in an accident (covering it, not in it themselves) and could not make it.  Damn, double damn--I so wanted to give faces to the offending parties, just for my sake, to know who did this to her and walked away with nary a broken fingernail.  Not to be, another huge disappointment in my long list.  I go home tomorrow with no immediate plans to come back as summer is upon us and that has a quite different agenda.    Kerry has been  home for 2 1/2 weeks now and doing well, considering what she has been thru.  She has occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) every week.  The PT is pretty much all about her legs and relearning to walk without fear and to help with maneuvers that help rebuild strength in her very weakened legs.  Her gait has improved greatly as has her strength.  She walks quite well, albeit with a cane as yet, and tires quickly  - but that is all about her new back WITHOUT the turtle shell body armor.  YIPPEE!!!! That will improve we are all quite confident.    The big job on her hands is arm therapy as she has no use in her right shoulder and sadly to say she must have a rather major operation to repair that shoulder to as much as she will ever have from it -  that too will take weeks of therapy.  That will occur most likely in mid July.  She is working hard and thru much pain to restore her left shoulder to function before that occasion.  That left shoulder is not frozen but started out totally functionless due to months of inactivity.  The therapy carries with it significant pain and following the treatments, exhaustion from one hour of tortuous work.  Her therapist is very gently doing it all, is kind but demanding and has very good chats with Kerry about about her progress, her determination when it lags etc.  I like her very much.    She found out last Monday at the docs visit that vis a vis her blood work she in full blown menopause due to the trauma of the accident.  Hence she is having a great deal of discomfort with night sweats that wake her, not that the shoulder pain is not enough to wake her!   Lots of very frightening nightmares all about suffocating, prob residual from the beginning of having crushed lungs and the unconscious brain registering the suffocation feelings and now coming out in her dreams.  Addition of progesterone to her regimen for so far three nights has significantly controlled those, hopefully and will continue to do so.  Estrogen cream starting next week to help her with the bouts of depression and sweating and should be good to go.  All these multiple problems compounding the injuries themselves.    On the bright side.  Kerry continues to improve on the computer keyboard.  She is able to knit which she loves.  She is able to play some tabletop games, good for her arms and her dexterity.  When she is not in pain she is again cheery and is finding her sense of humor.    Yesterday she went down two steps in the pool with her left arm on the handrail, could turn and come back.  She was scared to death because of the height of the step but she overcame the fear and with coaching from "tough love" mom and encouragement from ever loving, caring and nurturing John she surprised herself.    Kerry is learning that she is her own worst enemy and must "get out of her own way" and she is learning it well.  I give her endless credit for her accomplishments to date.  Perhaps no one amongst us has ever had 16 broken bones all at once and so all we can do is imagine .  Even I cannot criticize any of her "work" in therapy because I have not walked in those shoes.  A group hug from all of us is due.  She is a trooper!!!!   I forgot to add that she has much time on her hands.  The computer is good for her to use for her strength and her dexterity so e-mails would be good.  Gives her a reason to look at the computer.  Her address:  venicekerry@ verizon.net     Thank you everyone for your future letters, keep them coming!!!!    LYNN

Hello Everyone'

Thank you all for your prayers,gifts and well wishes. I am home with my loving husband John.
Many more difficult days lay ahead but knowing I have support from all of you makes me press on.
Sincerely Kerry.

Fwd: YIPPEE!!!! Kerry is home!!!

Today 16 weeks after her terrible accident and injuries, Kerry has come home to her very comfy home in venice.  This mornng the very good news came from the neurosurgeons office that her turtle shell armor could be laid to rest and she could walk without it.  Cannot describe the joy I felt at that news, no words are adequate.  John said when she stood for the first time, she scooched to the edge of the bed and on the one, two, three--the usual routine for her to lift up--she nearly catapaulted off the bed because the whole dynamic was different without the cumbersome bodycast.  I think her ambulation will improve greatly now without that bulky piece on her.    She said the ride home was wonderful with the car windows open and the wind on her face.  She has been outside a handful of times in the wheelchair only.  She said her homecoming felt very very strange but having a nap in her own bed next to John was terrific.  She yearned for pizza for dinner after several months of rather dull hospital fare.  Three cheers for Kerry and her stoic and heroic  and brave fight to come back from lying very near to death on Dec 26.  We are all so so so happy to have her back in our world.  LYNN

--

Regards,

Kyla Elderton

Fwd: HOMECOMING!!!!!! at last!

Yes you read that right!  Last Thursday Blue Cross called the hospital and said Kerry must go home the next day as she had reached their requirement of being able to walk 200 feet, albeit with a physical therapist next to her and John behind her with the wheelchair so she could sit at various intervals.  They paid no heed to the fact that she still was encumbered with a body cast and two rather troubled arms.  One unable completely as it is bound against her side and across her chest due to the shoulder problem (right one) and the other about 50% functional and working on it.  The next day was Good Friday and there was no way J was going to be able to get a special bed, a wheelchair and various other pieces she would need at home.  that gave him 12 hours on a holiday weekend with no help down there as all family is up north.  It came as a shock to all of us including the staff of the hosp as she was allowed UP TO  60 days there and she could use more rehab time, even Marty thought so.  But regardless of an appeal or two the answer remained a hard NO!  go home!   Well you can all guess my reaction to that *#+ck you Blue Cross.  Come and have alook at her and perhaps reevaluate that call.  Marty and I agreed to "pick up the tab" on 5 more days in the hosp to give her time to get it all together, mentally as well.  The price, well that of a luxury hotel in NYC but well worth it to me.  As marty said, this is just a taste of what is ahead when "big brother" makes all the decisons on health matters, and no longer in the opinion of the professionals involved in ones treatment.    Well now we are there and she is ready to go home tomorrow!!!! She is very anxious and willing to take this next VERY big step in her recovery.  She will have a PT visit her twice a week for awhile, and OT (occupational) as well.  Her neighbors have contacted John and volunteered many dinners to help them out.  The many gift cards and $gifts willl now come in so handy to help the two of them.  THANK YOU everyone for your generous support in her long and arduous journey to get to this point.  The letters, cards, notes, e mails have all been so uplifting to me at the darkest moments in these months past.   Kerry's accident has been such a HUGE lesson to me on how precious my family is to me and how valuable are the friendships we have had over time.  Kerry's siblings, too,  through this terrible time have been awakened to the powerful ties a family represents.  We all know such is the case but until those bindings are threatened as was the case here do we really take note of it.  My kids have been terrific thru all of this, to kerry and John and most especially to me.  John, well what can I say, but thank you to the recession and his temporary layoff that he has been able to be endlessly nurturing, loving, caring and attentive to Kerry.  Many staff members at the various hospitals have commented to me that they have never witnessed such deep and genuine affection from a man to a woman under such dire circumstances, never wearing out from the stress and the just plain fatigue of all the bedside and wheelchair care. He has always been there.  When I have had my many coming unglued moments he helped me thru the fog as well.  The many tears I so shamefully shed and always John held up for all of us.   Thank you John.  All a mom can every really want is for her children to be unconditionally loved by their mate.  I am truly grateful because Kerry truly has such a mate!  For this I am grateful. And thank you to my wonderful Marty who has buoyed me up during my lowest points, letting me think my saddest thoughts and in his typical way of seeing the glass as always "half full" guided me back to sanity.      Let me quote a bit from Kahlil Gibran, the great Lebanese poet:   ........the deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.          Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned inthe potter's oven?         When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.                   When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.           Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."           But I say unto you, they are inseparable.            Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your side, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed......        And it goes on , but I have always loved that passage and have turned to it more than once in my life.  I have always found "The Prophet" to be universal and potent when I have needed some way to express my own thoughts.      For now, I will close and hopefully post a few more notes as Kerry returns to us, 100%.   Thank you all,      LYNN

--

Regards,

Kyla Elderton

Happy Easter weekend everyone.
Friday we have not heard any word on Kerry's back brace yet so hopefully monday or tues we will hear what is going on. On thurs, we were told that blue cross feels that she has reached a platow on her therapy and the wanted her to leave friday. I made alot of phone calls since then. They have specific guidlines they follow and do not care about anything else. Another reminder to check your own policies.We will be paying for extra days and we decided to finally to go HOME April 15. Kerry has a doctors apt. on the 16th. for her right shoulder. Kerry is scarred but she is at the point she is mentally ready to go home. Since Dec.26 Kerry has been traveling in a very difficult obstacle course from her accident,which I hope nobody will have to go through. Every step along the way she has endured much pain and mental suffering. Evey step along the way there has been someone along the way to help her.From the person who licks a stamp to send a card to the tremendous doctors and nurses who have helped her so much We give thanks.
On the 15th. Kery will start a new part of her course. This part will not be as tough as the first,but it will still be very difficult and have many things to overcome. This journey will be long and strenuos. Kerry's strength,heart and will power will help her to overcome this tough time.Kery will stumble a few times yet, but there will be many friends along the way to help her.
Today Kerry was outside for a few hours in the shade and a nice breeze and she said she would be so happy to be home and sit on her porch swing in the evenings. Monday she will start to practice getting in and out of her car and this will be a difficult task and very necessary for she will have many doctors appointments that she will be going to. We wish to thank everyone for all of their support and love.

Love Kerry and John

Kerry fights back!!! April 8

I am leaving Florida today, once again, to go back to the chilly north.  Kerry has been very sleepy and groggy and somewhat  "stoned" looking since she has been here.  It had really concerned Marty and I when we left here last Wed for a four day trip home.  She realized it too and last Sat asked to see the list of drugs and vitamins and etc that she was being given.  She said she was damned tired of being so tired.  She noticed that she was getting benadryl 2x a day.  When she was a kid, even a little one, she often had benadryl for the many many ear and sinus etc probs that she had.  It always rendered her helpless and rather stoned.  Why she asked am I getting this.  Well 2 hospitals ago when she was having lots of trouble sleeping at night they wanted to give her ambien.  I said no as that has a serious side effect of inducing sleep walking.  She is somewhat of a sleepwalker to begin with.  I had told them then , this would have been in late Jan,  that benadryl always had a calming effect on her.  So they added it to her evening "cocktail".  Somehow it was added to a daytime dose as well here at Heartland.  Hence, the groggy, sleepy struggle she was having all day long.  No one (like a nurse maybe who would notice the daytime dose and her grogginess and the why a dose anyway??). But no one did until she looked at her drug list.   The moral of this long story, BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE if it is possible.  If not, and you are watching over someone, keep an eye on that drug list.  They have now eliminated many more things from her list that she no longer needed. The results so far have been very positive.   Today is a BIG day for her.  Today she has an xray of her back.  Tomorrow is the 3 month anniversary of her back surgery.  Rememer she had 5 lumbar vertebrae factures, but more important  3 thoracic vertebrae fractures that were subluxed (i think that is the word meaning the 2 pieces having slipped apart).  Doc had pointed out it was incredibly fortunate that they had not slipped a tad further or they would have severed her spinal cord!!!!    They were surgically put back together, a rod put in place to hold them in place and I believe some screws to hold the rod.  Hence the "turtle shell" body armor she has had to endure everytime she was up further thatn 45 degrees.  And it has always been a great tussle and endurance contest on her part to get it on.  If the xray says all has healed as it should, the BODY CAST CAN COME OFF FOR GOOD!!!!!  and she will experience far greater mobility.  Group finger crossing please and all those prayers put into the stratosphere when I count to three to hope all this has mended.   ONE TWO THREE!!!!!    Thank you everybody.  Will let you know the outcome!     Til later,    LYNN, again on a plane back to Cleveland.

--
Regards, Kyla Elderton

the latest on KERRY

Lynn checking in here.  Marty and I came home last Wednesday, April 1 (probably a bad day to fly but all went well).  The day before we left, this time for a few weeks as Kerry is not entrenched in the Heartland Nursing and Rehab center for a month or up to two depending on her progress, the law firm called us.  We had been to 3 other lawyers all telling us "no go" , nothing there.  It seems that Personal Injury attorneys will only represent you IF the other party had auto liability ins.  Since the "bad guys" did not and that is legal in sunny fla., we were turned down.    This firm, Morgan and Morgan, is the largest Pers Injury  frm in the country with offices in just about every state.  They are a little more interested and that is the reason for this further interview.  They want to meet with Kerry and John tomorrow but Marty and I felt it VERY important that we be there as well.  I am a little more proactive and perhaps "aggressive" in this matter than John (Kerry is sometimes a little too groggy as she is still on heavy pain meds prn (as needed) to not have another set of ears present), perhpa s I am just more "vengeful" and "go for the throat" kind of personality where this is concerned.  Marty is the mediator to bring us somewhere to the middle.  Anyhow, that is all to happen on Tuesday April 7.  Keep those collective fingers crossed for us.  As there bills will exceed the million dollar mark we do need some help from this very casual duo that simply walked away from this accident with not so much as a fingernail (polished I would guess) broken!   Now Kerry.  This nursing home has a rehab wing for ortho injuries and that is where she is.  It is a good place for her.  Daily therapy in a lovely gym.  Her therapy consists of walking, still with assistance and very hesitatingly, and exercising her one and only arm that is a this time in use, her left and of course she was totally right handed.  That left arm is about 50 percent  at this point which frightens me as we are now into the fourth month.  Her grip is improving on that hand, ever ever ever so slowly.  This week is the 3 month anniv of her back surgery and she will have the xrays to determine if that body cast on her upper body can come off.  If that does she will probably have exquisite pain in her back for awhile while her back muscles readjust.  BUT she will be much more able to move once again.  Remember, her paraspinus muscles were completely torn away from her spine in the accident.  Remember how much a simple "pulled muscle" in the back hurts.  Now multiply that times about 1000!  This taking off all depends on if the thoracic vertebrae have fused properly.    Her attitude remains very good.  She is coming thru one hell of an ordeal and she is doing it quite well in the head dept.  Thanks to Kerry's innately calm demeanor she is doing as well as she appears to be.  Her blood pressure which had gone up seems to be once again under control.  Her kidneys have improved to very close to normal function.  Her tummy still has its moments and I am beginning to think it is a problem with her right ear.  All her life that has been an issue.  She develops wax in that ear as fast as her hair grows and she must have it cleaned out by a doc about every 3 mths always.  It cannot be done in the hosp as she has a permanent hole in that eardrum and water may not be allowed to get in there.  Normally an ear is cleansed with a squirt of warm water after the wax is removed.  Hers must be done with a speacial something, like a laser and can only be done where one is available, like in the docs office.  So since she has been months without that procedure I am wondering if that is the cause of the frequent nausea. Only a guess but that balance and nausea thing could be.  I have noted that to her present doc.   There have been layers and layers of problems to fix.  Like onion skin, one thing improved, another something occurred.  Marty has assured me that that is the nature of the "beast", a traumatic multi injury event such as this.  We continue to watch, wait, encourage, help where we can and love Kerry.  Thank you again for all the e mail support, cards and notes to her and gifts.  Two of our kids and families spent this weekend at the island to look over the winters results on our summer cottages.  It was cold and windy there but all seemed well and we anticipate another summer of gatherings and family up there and we hope hope hope that Kerry will be able to journey up to see us by the end of July.  We need her back in the "family" circle to assure us all!!!  I will post another note if anything changes and will for sure when we hear she might come home.    Just an addendum, on May 1 the two "bad guys" will appear in traffic court in Venice Fl.  They will be fined $125 for careless driving.  Marty and I are very tempted to journey down there again for that event, just to see who they are.  I hope I will be able to let them know in  some way just how devastating there moment of not paying attention to the road ahead has been.  Maybe I hope they will (well I shouldn't say, that would be mean).    LYNN

--
Regards, Kyla Elderton

Good evening everyone,
Another week has passed by with a little improvement for Kerry. The doctor is now trying to get her slowly off of some of the drugs she that she is taking. Kerry is still working on her PT and OT. Now they are starting to work on her left arm motion and strenght. Today Kerry had some friends stop by who used to work with her. Miss Seymore and Marjorie,they did some girl talk so I left them alone. Later this week Kerry should find out about her back brace to see wether or not it can change to a dirrerent style. Hopefully this will happen because it will make a great difference on how she will be able tomove and do her therapy.

I keep telling Kerry another week has gone by and she is one week closer to coming home. Kerry will have to continue therapy at home and so much will be different when she is here. There is still along ways to go. I would like to thank Lyyn and Marty very much for all they have done for us. They both are great at the technical things that have to be done,plus there great loving and caring for Kerry. THANK YOU. Iwould like to thank Jeff for the billing program which will help later. To everyone else thank you for your cards and prayers for Kerry.

Love,
Kerry and John

Kerry: March 28, 2009

From Lynn to you all...

All -

We have passed the 3 month anniversary (March 26) of Kerrys accident.  We are in the fourth and final phase of hospitalization.  She is in Heartland, a rehab and nursing home facility in Sarasota.  She is once again about 30 mins from home but an easy drive, a good thing.    She has been there one week today and adapting quite well.  All the rooms are private, anotherr good thing.  The placeis very attractive with attractive surrounding grounds.  The staff seems very pleasant, helpful and responsive.  They all speak a  form of English that is understandable, another good thing given some of what I have seen in nursing homes.  lThe wing she is in is all orthopedic injury rehab.  Most look to be over 50, hips, knees etc and the nurses have taken to referring to Kerry as their pediatric patient.   She has rehab every day but not today as they were cleaning the rehab room.  Her rehab is relatively simple at this point, mostly walking with her cane for endurancewalking.  The getting up and downfrom the chair is still very strenuous for her asit is all about legs, no arm pushesoff the chair yet, and remembershe is still VERY confined in her "turtle shell" armor.  It has been much easier as of late for John and aid to get her into it, mainly because she isnot in as much pain  in her back, moderate but not severe any more for now anyhow.  Each day seems to get better, some days no pain meds at all.  Tonight she aked for one at about 6 but hadhad none since yesterday noon, a big and positive step for her.  Not the case every day but that is getting better.  She still gets a cocktail of meds twice each day of stuff for her bowels, her tummy, her calcium problems, and Xanax twice each day.  Who wouldnt need that after so many boring longhours in bed andso many painful memories still very fresh!!!!!   Her OT happens each day as welll, using her hands to put pegs in holes, etc.  This week coming she will start OT with personal care techniques.  She of course cannot yet dress herself, toilet herself oreven feed herself.  Her left and only arm at this time is still quite stiff and her hand shakes considereably but much less that just 2 weeksago.  Hopefully the shell will come off mid april as the neuro guy had felt 3 mos would do it and that will bel April 9.  Please keep our community fingers crossed for that to happen as she will then be much more flexible and hopefully more ambulatory.    Just finished 3 days of Hayden and his family being here.  A delightful interlude forall ofus, esp me.  I enjoyed seeing his 3 little girls  full time for a couple of days.  They are cute kids ( Emma is 7, Callan 5 and Anna 3) easy to be around, loved many hours ofl pool time each day (the 2 elderones are very competent in the deep water, easy forthe lifeguard)  and Anna is content to play on the seats in the hottub.  She thought it was the kiddie pool.  They are in bed with no fuss no muss by 8 pm, an even more attractive feature.  Kerry was thrilled to see Hayden when he arrived, she smiled from ear to ear with genuine joy on her face, so wonderful to see after these many weeks of ofttimes agony for her.  Does a moms heart good, believe me!  Forgot to say she has daily ultra sound treatments on her leftshoulder and elbow, deep heating the muscles making the exercises much less painful for her and extending her flexibility a great deal.  This Tuesday she will be once again transported to a docs office in Sarasota, an ortho guy to determine if she may be bable to do some light weight lifting with the left arm.  Xrays will also bedone of right and thus far useless right arm to hopefully try some frlexibility work on that shoulder.  That arm will not be any more than minimally functional until further surgery sometimein the furture, to restore  and not sure it is even opossible yet her rotator cuff.  It does not exist at this time so there is no way for her arm to bemoved from the shoulder joint by her, that arm flexes at the elbow but the shoulder is not operating .  Again, community finger crossing that repair to give her some use in that arm might be possible.    Her kidneys are working again, her tummy has quieted down,  still amystery.  The MRSA woundon her upper is "granulating" very nicely, medical talk for healing well,.   Thanks for listening, tune in again in about five days.   Maybe thereis light at the end of the tunnel.  LYNN

--
Regards, Kyla Elderton

Kerry's new address and a note from me!

A few people have emailed asking for the address of Kerry's new facility.  Rather than send it out each time I get an email, I thought I would send a group email. It is as follows:

 

Heartland Healthcare and Rehabilitation

attn: patient Kerry Henze

5401 Sawyer Road

Sarasota, Florida 34233

 

I have backed down on my regular emails about Kerry and let John (and mom) do the typing instead.  I talk to Kerry and John several times a week  - this helps keep all of our spirits up I think.  As a previous email indicated, Kerry was quite anxious about this new move to a nursing home/rehab setting.  Sadly it was necessary to move her on because insurance would no longer pay for the other rehab facility.  On a more positive note, I think the move was good in that it is a positive step in the direction of recovery.

 

She has had a few bumps on the road to recovery as of late but it feels like things are moving in the right direction once again.  Between her MRSA (Staph infection) infection in her left arm (that has resulted in a large open oozing wound that requires 2x daily dressing changes) and some kidney failure as a result of the MRSA drug Bactrim, she fell backwards in recovery a bit.  The kidney failure is not permanent, but it did cause  incessant nausea, vomiting and other GI (gastro intestinal) problems before it was caught.  This is rectifying itself now that she is off the med. 

 

John remains so positive and helpful every minute of every day.  They are, and always have been, so in love, so in touch with eachother, so tender to eachother, and this small set back in their lives has not altered any of that!  John has given 100% of his time to her since the accident and continues to have the energy each day to get up and keep on helping her.  He is fortunate that his company has given him this time off to be her 'advocate' and #1 cheerleader - what a difference this has made no doubt.

 

Mom, dad and Hayden (and his family) are all enroute to Florida today.  Hayden and his family will be stating at K and J's home for the balance of the week and mom and dad will be a local hotel.  All of this family and giggles from Hayden's little girls (he has 3!) will no doubt feel good for Kerry and John this week.  It will be a nice diversion whilst they get Kerry settled in with her new PT/OT regimine at Heartland.

 

The legal end of this whole mess remains way up in the air - very frustrating!

 

Happy Spring to everyone.  We folks in the mid-west have had a long cold winter...the sight of new buds peeking thru the cold soil, the twittering of birds and ever so slightly warmer temps (it is still in the 20's at night and only just getting into the 40's all damn day...but this is better than the sub-zero temps we had all winter) gives us hope that Mother Nature will shine upon us soon!

 

Thanks for keeping Kerry and John in your thoughts - have your kids send her pictures of Spring for her new room - it will brighten the place up for her!  Thanks!

 

Love to you all - Kyla

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Regards, Kyla Elderton

Kerry update from Lynn

All,

Kerry, as of last Friday, was moved to her fourth and hopefully last hospital, this one a nursing home with an orthopedic wing for rehab patients such as herself.  Unfortunately it is not connected in any way with the last hosp where we really had a good relationship to the doc in charge and she with her nursing staff.  So we begin again in this one and that is hard  and in addition she is always frightened of yet new poeple in charge of her. 

 

She feels so terribly helpless as she cannot eat by herself, or potty as she is still on full bedpan care as getting out of bed involves getting into her body armor "turtle shell" and that takes two people about 15 minutes to accompliosh.  This hosp is less hospital and more nursing home, but does have daily therapy to get her back into functioning as an adult.  The neuro surgeon will see xrays on April 9 of her back and at that time determine if and when the shell can come off.  She had many thoracic and 4 lumbar vertebrae broken, a rod and bovine bone placed between her subluxed vertebare on the T breaks and if that is all set up properly off comes the 'turtle shell' that she must wear daily presently.  That will be a BIG step towards some sort of recovery as she will then be more ambulatory, be able to move about in bed on her own  and hopefully move her along much more rapidly. 

 

John continues to be with her all day every day as she is very lonely and indeed bored as her only diversion all day long is TV (YUCK) and PT .  She is unable to read as holding a book is next to impossible.  I think her ability to concentrate has been compromised as well at this point but should improve when she can go home.  I hope with double crossed fingers that this nursing home experience will be as possitive as the rehab hosp was as mentally she really needs positive at this time.  She is very frustrated, depressed etc etc.  Thank you for your concern, we return to Fla for one week this Tuesday.  Hayden and his 3 little girls and wife will be in Venice, at Kerrys home for a few days.  She is so looking forward to their visit.       Till Later       LYNN

 

Good evening everyone.
Friday Kerry moved to a new place called Heartland. She will be going home from there. She was very nervous about moving. It is a nice facility that has a good rehab program,which she needs. She has her own seperate room. Here she has to learn all new routines from meals to nurses and how they do things there. It will be very hard for her the first few days . So far all the nurses and aids have been very nice. She saw a friend who used to work doing tone and chimes for her when she was Activities Director at a couple of places. The Activities Director at Heartland went to the same classes as Kerry did. Kerry will have a lot of rehab to do when she gets home. Kerry still has a long ways to go.

Thank you all for your support no matter how it is.
Kerry & John

Hi John & Kerry,
Hope the rest of your week went a lot better & you will have a good weekend. Dad should be in TX by now; he is going to call you, John, to see how things are going. I hope you are taking care of yourself also, John.
Mary & John

Kerry 3/17/2009

Hello Everyone,
I apologize for not writing the past few days. Saturday evening and Sunday Kerry was sick so I spent a couple of nights with her and during the day. I took Romeo to his dog sitter for a couple of days for that. Kerry did not make it to any of her PT or OT Monday. Monday afternoon she started to feel better and she ate quite a bit of her supper then slept. Today she felt much better and had parts of all her meals. Today she made it to all of her PT and OT classes. She walked today and did her arm exercises for motion. I am so proud of her for what she has accomplished so far.

She has a very long long ways to go yet and she will have many more bad days and more good days. Kerry is very tough and no matter what she can do I love her dearly.
Thank you all.
John

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Posted By john henze to Well Wishes for Kerry at 3/17/2009 10:50:00 PM

Hello Everyone,
I apoligize for not writing the past few days. Saturday evening and Sunday Kerry was sick so I spent a couple of nights with her and during the day. I took Romeo to his dog sitter for a couple of days for that. Kerry did not make it to any of her PT or OT monday. Monday afternoon she started to feel better and she ate quit a bit of her supper then slept. Today she felt much better and had parts of all her meals. Today she made it to all of her PT andOT classes. She walked today and did her arm exercises for motion. I am so proud of her for what she has accomplished so far.
She has a very long long ways to go yet and she will have many more bad days and more good days. Kerry is very tough and no matter what she can do I love her dearly.
Thank you all.
John

Progress in small steps is worth every effort made!

I am still checking out the progress reports and want to let Kerry and John, Lynn, Marty, Kyla and Jeff and ALLthe extended friends and family know that there are those of us out there that are still tuning in on a daily basis to see that Kerry is doing the things necessary to improve..... My thoughts are still with each and every one of you for the ongoing growth in skills needed, support in all medical treatments, spiritual uplifting, and comfort for the down moments. May you each know that there are many out there that are supporting Kerry in our own ways. LOL to all of you. Carla Morace, Sacramento, CA

A visit from an MBI friend for Kerry

Dear Kyla:

 

You can forward this on, if you like.  I am using my mom's friend's computer, as mine is dying an ugly technological death.

 

I visited Kerry on Tuesday afternoon.  I was expecting the worst and steeled myself for a grim visit. 

 

But- there was Kerry sitting in bed, looking like herself, smiling.  She laughed at my bad jokes, ate her dinner, using the fork that John handed her.  I saw the gym and asked John if she used the walk areas with the parallel bars, and he told me (very proudly, I might add), that, no, Kerry walks around the room using only a cane.

 

She was tired, but cheerful and upbeat.  However, there are two nurses who were apparently not very nice to her at a previous site, and she has voed vengence!  I loved it!  She had fire in her eyes!

 

She is looking forward to the next site she will be staying at, as she knows several of the people there, and says it is very nice.

 

Now, to John.  What a great guy!  He dotes on Kerry, he coddles her when she needs it and pushes her when she needs it.  Actually, she needs little pushing, as she is so eager to "get this all behind" her.  So John sometimes has to hold her back.

 

Kerry picked a good one with John.  They are so attuned to one another.  The kind of love I felt between the two of them was the only reason I got teary eyed.  And the only stressful moment was crossing the stupid Skyway bridge.

 

In any case, if anybody has a chance to visit Kerry, do it.  She is the Kerry you know and love, only in a turtle shell.  I promised her sangria on the Ramp, when she comes north (we did that years ago, when she left for her junior year in Spain). 

 

Keep the good thoughts and ove pouring in.  It (and Kerry and John's adamant spirit) are working.

 

Hugs to all,

 

Kris Hovsepian

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From: Kyla Elderton [kylaelderton@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 12:12 PM
To: kylaelderton.5minutemoment@blogger.com; Adams, Libby; Albany, Deb; Anderson, Kay; Aquilla, Jared; Aquilla, Tracy; Arfaras, Joan; Aughenbaugh, Ben; Aughenbaugh, Kate; Aughenbaugh, Sarah; Aughenbaugh, Will; Aunghenbaugh, Mary; Barker, R; Barr, gordon; Betz, Brian; Bilski, Kate; Blumenthal, Robin; Buren, Mike; Cline, Betsy; Davis, Barb; Demer, Dianne; Devito, Barb; Dorr, Jamie; Dorr, Robin; Dr. Gregory Imbur; Draves, barbara; Driscoll, Greg; Elderton, Carole; Elderton, Debbie; Elderton, Jeff; Elderton, Kyla; Elderton, Ron; Elderton, Traci; Elston, Kim; Eyre, Sue; Fererri, Diana; Fine, Lisa; Fischer, Cookie; Foley, Heather; Garverick, Kristy; Gill, Lynne; Goist, Barb; Goist, G and J; Goist, Melissa; Goth, Alex; Goth, Alexander T.; Goth, Cameron; Goth, Lanie; Goth, Linda; Goth, Tina; Grega, Sally; Hannah, Jen; Hannah, Jim; Hart, Krissy; Henze, Bill; Henze, Family1; Henze, Family2; Henze, Family3; Henze, Family4; Henze, Family5; Henze, Family6; Henze, John; Kristen Hovsepian; Imbur Becca; Imbur, Don; Imbur, John; James, Bonnie; Jankura, Carol; Jim Lowder; Jordan, Keith; Karen & Bruce Grasser; Katie Hovsepian; Knitting, Louise; Kruse, Deb; Larter, Joan; Latham, Marianna; Lawson, Jim; Lawson, Jim and Elaine; Lowder, James; Macosco, Sarah; Macosko, Jordan; Macosko, Ted; Mannas, Eugene; McKie, Alan; Moore, Steve; Moore, Stevework; Morace, Carla; Morris, Marrilyn; Mura, Beth; Musson, Teddi J; Palmero, Chris; Palmero, Nick; Palmero, Traci; Papes, Rae; Papes, Scott; Powel, Tom; Powell, Sue; Rader, Marie; Renners, Christian; Renners, Mary; Rigby, Jack; Rothey, Marty; Sanderson, Ferenc; Sanderson, Jen; Sayler, Family; Shurell, Marlene; Shurell, Rob; Snyderlaw, Valerie; Stafford, Hayden; Stafford, Rachael; Taliak(home), Jimmy; Taliak, Jane; Taliak, Lynn; Taliak, Martin; taliak, Paige; Taliak, Suzy; Thut, Amy; Tolley, Connie; Warner, Cheryl; White, Ed; Wilson, Debbie; Winter, Sally; Wurz, Kurt; Wurz, Mark; Wurz, Ro; Zuckerman, Jonas
Subject: Kerry, for now!

It is Sunday night and Kerry has had 2 days of rest with abbreviated PT sessions over the weekend, walking and using her left hand.  At the end of even these shorter sessions she seems to be extremely exhausted and ready to get her "armor" off and back to her bed.  The unit is wonderful that she is in; the nurses, friendly, responsive, helpful and most of all kind.  As Barb Draves said to me once, you can teach nursing skills to almost anyone, but you cannot teach "nice".  And nice is so important to such ailing people as Kerry now is.  It makes all the difference in her mental health state.    Tomorrow hopefully she will be given a cane to further her walking skills and confidence level.  Doc has given the ok for that.  She has such a long long way to go to be the happy and cheerful and jovial and naughty Kerry that those of us who know her know.  She is quiet, serious, and continues to have a rather bland affect.  I can attribute that all to the pain meds she is still on and the general fatigue level at which she is functioning.  This will all change when those factors change, I tell myself.     We persist in our hope and patience.  Her husband John is temporarily out of work due to the working conditions here in Fla and that is a blessing as he spends so so much time with her in a loving and tender way.  He is really her rock thru all of this, I am simply a backup source of energy for him.  This is all a joint effort.  Tuesday I must return to Cleveland and my house for awhile.  I am beginning to feel the effects of serious burnout and I can see it, so I go for a while.  I will come back in 2 weeks when she most probably will be in a nursing home for the duration.  Her insurance wont give her any more time in rehab facility but will pick up on the nursing home.  Hopefully, cross your many fingers for her, that she will get into Harbor Chase here in Venice very close to her home and friends, and where she once worked and knows so many people still there.    She still has a terrible wound on her upper left arm. A hole deep into the fat of her arm, about 3 inchs down.  It is an ugly sight and must be cleansed and dressed anew each day.  She has MRSA in the wound and that is a serious prob.  Cross all fingers please for its healthy recovery.      Thank you for your prayers, crossed fingers, and good wishes.  I will update everyone later in this week coming as I have news from John.    thank you everyone!!!!     LYNN

Hello everyone,
Today Kerry did not have as good of a day as yesterday. She walked three times yesterday,160feet,210feet and about 80feet pluse other exercises. She did to much and she really pushed herself. Today she was tired,but she still walked four times averaging about 70feet each. She used a cane to help and it made a big difference in how she walked. She was alittle more balanced with it. Kerry realized that she had done too much yesterday. They are now cleaning and changing the bandages on her left arm three times a day now.She was very tired when I left tonight.Both the PT and OT theripists told her not to overdue her exercises and not to push herself so that she would not hurt herself. Kerry
tonight even though tired felt she did not have that good of a day,but I told her she had a good day because of what she had accomplished and she then said she had a good day.

Many thanks to all of you.
Love John.

Kerry, for now!

It is Sunday night and Kerry has had 2 days of rest with abbreviated PT sessions over the weekend, walking and using her left hand.  At the end of even these shorter sessions she seems to be extremely exhausted and ready to get her "armor" off and back to her bed.  The unit is wonderful that she is in; the nurses, friendly, responsive, helpful and most of all kind.  As Barb Draves said to me once, you can teach nursing skills to almost anyone, but you cannot teach "nice".  And nice is so important to such ailing people as Kerry now is.  It makes all the difference in her mental health state.    Tomorrow hopefully she will be given a cane to further her walking skills and confidence level.  Doc has given the ok for that.  She has such a long long way to go to be the happy and cheerful and jovial and naughty Kerry that those of us who know her know.  She is quiet, serious, and continues to have a rather bland affect.  I can attribute that all to the pain meds she is still on and the general fatigue level at which she is functioning.  This will all change when those factors change, I tell myself.     We persist in our hope and patience.  Her husband John is temporarily out of work due to the working conditions here in Fla and that is a blessing as he spends so so much time with her in a loving and tender way.  He is really her rock thru all of this, I am simply a backup source of energy for him.  This is all a joint effort.  Tuesday I must return to Cleveland and my house for awhile.  I am beginning to feel the effects of serious burnout and I can see it, so I go for a while.  I will come back in 2 weeks when she most probably will be in a nursing home for the duration.  Her insurance wont give her any more time in rehab facility but will pick up on the nursing home.  Hopefully, cross your many fingers for her, that she will get into Harbor Chase here in Venice very close to her home and friends, and where she once worked and knows so many people still there.    She still has a terrible wound on her upper left arm. A hole deep into the fat of her arm, about 3 inchs down.  It is an ugly sight and must be cleansed and dressed anew each day.  She has MRSA in the wound and that is a serious prob.  Cross all fingers please for its healthy recovery.      Thank you for your prayers, crossed fingers, and good wishes.  I will update everyone later in this week coming as I have news from John.    thank you everyone!!!!     LYNN

Kerry: March 6, 2009

Where have we gone you wonder.  We are here, still ensconced in sunny and warm florida.  Kerry has now been in the "rehab" hospital next door to her last hospital which was Ridgelake, both part of HEALTHSOUTH.  This facility has been a marvelous experience under these circumstances and relative to the rest of this life episode.    It looks like a hospital, but everyone is bedbound for one reason or another.  If feels like a college building in some ways as during the day all patients are on their way to or from their rehab classes.  Kerrys schedule is as follows:  Breakfast, start getting ready for PT at about 9:30 as it takes about a half hour to get her into her "body armor" upper body brace which is in two parts.  The front and back plates much like the upper body armor of a medieval knight.  She must be "log rolled" from side to side in her bed to put the back pieceon, then laid on her back to fix the front piece, and it is all secured with straps from back to front and velcro closures.  She cannot roll herself from side to side as she MUST NOT twist her back in any way as that would be the dangerous motion that might injure her very fragile thoracic vertebrae where the repair rod  is fusing that part ofher back together.  It then takes 2 people and not less (helps if another is behind the wheelchair to be sure it does not move at all but it can be done with 2). to help her up (remember she has no arm help from herself) she must pivot herself, and sit down in thechair.  Then off to her 10-11 classwhich is in a very large gym.  This is where she practices walking, turning, leg strenthing on the fixed bike.  She can walk about 40 feet, then sit down in her chair for a rest.  Then some more etc.  Today she walked a total of about 400 feet in many consecutive sessions.  She shuffles very carefully, but shows improvement each day.    Then some OT (occupational therapy) for one half hour which is all about her semi useful left arm.  She has no use at all of her right arm as rthat shoulder is fixed to her sides with a strap sortof affair.  That arm will probably never be useful again until and if surgery can repair her VERY badly damaged rotator cuff which as of now is not in place around the humeral head, which is in itself  articial, as there is a titanium rod where her humerous should be.  Someday perhaps the completion of this artificial shoulder will occur but that is still very much an "if".  She may not have full use of that arm again but that will depend on what MRI and surgeon see down the line.  I cannot think of that as yet.  She is as of now working on range of motion in her upper and lower leftarm. Her lower right arm is ableto be used in a very limited way.  Her hands are a yet not functioning.  She has what iscalled "heterotopic calcification" around her leftelbow, meaning a bony material has developed in her elbow from the trauma causing is not to be able to bend to  90 degrees or further.  That may reabsorb, it may not.  Yet to be seen with range of motion exercise.  That shoulder is still stiff and quite painful.  The afternoon repeats this schedule pretty much, and of course we have wrestled her out of her "armor" for lunch and back into itin PM.    All this wears her out quite a lot.  Remember, she did not move from her back for over 2 mos so her muscles are very debilitated and weak.  Her PT person seems to be pleased with her dogged determination and ability but sheis a long long way from anything that resembles "normal" whatever that will be in her life.    Sheis eating well tho John or I must still feed her, very small bites as her swallow is not yet perfect.  She must use only a bedpan for all functions unless she is in her "armo" and then a trip to the john is very slow and arduous, the wheelchair, help getting up, turning, and sitting on the toilet.  By days end at 4 oclock she is very  very worn out.  Asleep by 8.   Todays good news, she may start to weight bear  with her left arm using a four pronged cane for balance.  This is a  big step in her walking skills.  John is with her from about 8 AM through getting her afternoon armor back on.  Then I or we come at about 1 for the afternoon classes sohe can take a break and tend to home business, bills, the grass, the dog etc.  He returns after dinner to spend the quiet bedtime hours with her.  She has bed baths every other day and tomorrow she will have her hair washed with WATER for the first time since Dec 24.    Slowly, ever so slowly together, John, myself and Marty, move Kerry towards some semblance of recovery.  No one said life would be easy!     LYNN

Next Day: KERRY, March 2

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lynn Taliak <ltaliak@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 2, 2009 at 8:56 PM
Subject: Next Day: KERRY, March 2
To: kyla elderton <kylaelderton@gmail.com>

Today was Kerrys first full day of therapy, that means about 4 hours of therapy.  She experienced some nausea this a..m. but overcame it, was wrestled into her body armor, this takes about 15-20 minutes, then into her wheelchair, and off to therapy.  She walked many times on the parallel bar floor, a total of 60 feet!!!! She then crossed it once walking backward!!!!!    Hurrah for Kerry.  That was really a great accomplishment.    a small bit of lunch followed, the food is not very good so a small bit is good enought.   Then 4 half hour sessions of other therapies.  Some leg exercises, some occupational work with her arm.  Remember, her right arm is entirely unused becaue of the crushed and only partially repaired shoulder.  So only her left arm gets therpy.  She dida good job with all of it and best of all-----she was not in misery when she returned to her bed at 4 o'clock.  We have now met her primary doc there , a woman who seemed very reasonable, Dr. Emese Simon.  She was comfortable to speak with and seemed open to questions.    She then visited with Kerry and I and convinced her that it was time to take out her catheter and that is her last tube to come out of her body.  So now she must learn to deal with that function once again, she is worried about it butit is very doable.    We also had a consult with a GI  man trying to understand her recurrent bouts of upsetin her digestive system.  He may order an endoscopy to rule out a few things.  She will bel sent toanother hospital for that procedure.  Her tummy worked for her today but only because of a large dose of antinausea drug.  It was a good day for her and us.  We are grateful for these good days!       LYNN

Kerry, March 1

email from mom to all via me - Kyla

Lynn here again.  I think I left off after my friend Cheryl left. She went home after spending  a week here with me, visiting Kerry, cheerying her up, staying up having late night chats and just having a sort of girl week, which  I needed.  Then on Sat Marty's sister Ally and husband Don came for a few days on a road trip to the Keys.  Mary Alice arrived from Germany for 5 days, and Marty returned.  Hence, it was a busy time for me.    Kerry had had a good week whilst Cheryl was here.  Then Sat Sun and Mon things disintegrated once again.  After several days of eating and standing longer each day. she became very nauseated, ofttimes trying to vomit and feeling horrid.  Then on Tueday when they were all here things changed dramatically again.  She felt well, was eager to "get on" with things and get out of that bed.  She walked the full length of the parallel bar thing, stayed in the chair for many hours, and went without meds for pain for up to 20 hours.  On Thursday she was able to be in a wheelchair with her feet on the ground moving herself about.    On Thursday night the nausea returned big time.  Marty thought perhaps a gall baldder attack based on a hands on exam from him.  Ultrasound on Friday said No to that.  Fri afternoon she was transferred to the rehab facility next door which resembles a hospital but everyone there  is there for rehab.  There is a huge gym or rehab room, 76 beds for in house patients etc.  Her nausea was terrible on Sat, and again no eating.  Overnight Fri night lots of vomiting.  Sat night a good night for sleep but awoke to vomiting up her morning meds.  Marty really got busy assessing her belly, the pain, when occurring, before or after food etc.  Lower belly pain related to intestinal sounds and activity.  Then after observing her eating, nausea episodes etc he spent a lot of time putting all the facts together and summarizing that perhaps itis esophogeal reflux she is experiencing.  Tomorrow based on this idea, the doc has ordered a CAT scan with contrast.  I believe this will show the details of her upper digestive system.  Hopefully she will not have to have a endoscope down her throat.    She will also be seeing a GI doc hopefully tomorrow.  If she can get this digetive stuff under control she is  definitely ready and enthusiastic about rehab.  She is very nervous about it thinking she will not be able to do it etc.  But hopefully the rehab will be moderated to her ability and she will realize success at each attempt and bolster her wavering confidence.  This evening as we left she felt well, was very conversational and John was going to spend the night in the porta-bed in her room.  That was great for her to look forward to so I am babysitting their dog overnight.    She is still experiencing a great deal of pain in her back more often than not so she is still getting pain meds for that altho they have been diminished so she is feeling more discomfort, hell, it is just plain pain.  Discomfort is a doctor word for PAIN!!!  Neither arm is functional and therapy will begin to tell us if she will have limited, none or all use of them.  These next days will be difficult and painful for her and of course she is still in need of her body armor, or turtle shell whenever she is up higher than 45 degrees.  So well as she sounds, she must still use a bedpan for that necessity, cannot shower and has bed baths, and cleaning her hair is done in bed with dry shampoo.   So we are a long long way from where we hope to get.      Hanging in there with Kerry and John for yet many many more weeks of work!!!!!       We thank all who have sent gifts, cards,thoughts,  prayers in many different forms.     As ever,  LYNN

Kerry walked for the first time!

Kerry has made an amazing step forward.  She walked for the first time since the accident!

After two physically and emotionally trying days,  she woke up yesterday morning and said she had to get up out of bed and just do it! Kerry stood with the physical therapist at the parallel bars, balanced herself, and walked 5 steps.  She sat down in the wheelchair, stood up again (with the help of the PT)  and walked another 5 steps.  It was exhausting, but she did it & she did it again today (THREE TIMES!).

I have three little girls, and I distinctly remember their first steps. But, watching Kerry's first steps today was so meaningful to me.  I was so proud of her & her determination. I had tears in my eyes, but tears of joy.

Even though she was in great pain, she stayed upright in her wheelchair for three hours.  We took her for a walk outside in the sunshine, and she listened to quiet music in her room to help the time pass. Her nails look lovely as well, after some hand massages & manicures.  Little things count!!

Kerry is on the road to recovery, but it will be long and arduous. She is making remarkable progress that might seem like small steps, but in the aggregate are monumental.  Over the last few days, her mobility and use of her arms has improved greatly.  She can take the pills out of her paper cup, and put them in her mouth.  She can hold a cup (with a straw) in her hand, and take a sip.  She can roll over from one side to the other, and use her hips to minimally shimmy herself around.  She can hold a fork in her hand, use it to poke a piece of food on a plate, and get it to her mouth.  She actually used a spoon, dipped it in yogurt & brought it to her mouth.  No spills!

The physical aspects of this accident are overwhelming, but the emotional are just as deep.  She wants to get her life back, and slowly but surely she will.

I continue to be in awe of the relationship that John and Kerry share.  The tenderness, the connection that they feel is to be revered.  The touching, quiet moments they share calm Kerry & give her strength.

Thanks for all your continued support, it means a great deal to Kerry and our family.

Love from Florida,
Mary Alice  (and Lynn, Dad & John)
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Kerry 2/23/09

This is the third time I have tried to write you and having no success with the Yahoo "SEND" button.  So I try once again.    Last week Kerry had 4 very good days, spending time each day in the wheelchair, eating very good meals that John or I bring in thanks to Stouffers frozen meals that we can then prepare in the hosp microwave.  She still is terribly frightened to stand between the parallel bars.  I think she is so afraid because she does not have much use of her arms to hold the bars or to just simply balance herself.  My friend Cheryl Warner was here all week to give me a hand, or atleast my morale a hand.  Long tiring days  encouraging Kerry whose spirits are definitely sagging.  I don't see any will in her and her attempts  at things physical are daunted by her  apparent depression.    Friday she had some surgery on her left upper arm to debreed the huge "road rash" wound which had become necrotic and nasty.  Surgeon also drained a large pocket of fluid beneath that wound.  Went well.  Since then she has had significant back pain.  Don't know why.   Over the weekend Marty's sister Alice and husband Don from Virginia (he is retired urological surgeon) came by as they were road tripping visiting several friends in FLA.  Mary Alice (our daughter) came in for a 5 day visit from Germany.  Marty arrived as well.  A most welcome and anticipated visit from them all for me.    But alas, Kerry had a "bad" weekend.  Much back pain and some nausea, not eating again.  A bit of a backslide.  Very hard for me to see this after a very good previous 4 days.  Don and Marty really assessed her from a clinical viewpoint during their visits with her.  Diagnosing depression for the most part and a tremendous fear of getting up due to perhaps falling and reinjuring herself.  Sheis terribly frightened.  Today (MON) a trip to another hosp for an x-ray of her back.  Again she is frightened of just being moved.  She had a marvelous nurse yesterday named Lynn (amazing huh?) who spoke at length with her regarding motivation and necessity to move telling her repeatedly how far she has come and how well she is doing.  She really seems to have Kerry's respect and attention and we thank her very much for her nursing "skills" at bedside.   Another week has begun and once again I hope for good tidings for Kerry!   LYNN

Kerry: Friday 2/20/09

Good morning -
I spoke with Kerry and John yesterday....yup, I said I spoke with Kerry!  John held the phone to her ear for about 10 minutes while we actually chatted!  She had her trach removed last weekend and the hole in her neck is closing up well.  She can now speak (voice is yet a bit scratchy, but very much strong and sounds like Kerry!) and is able to carry on a conversation.  She continues with physical therapy daily  - she took 7 steps yesterday!  She has to wear her total upper body 'shell' when up due to her broken back, so just getting up out of bed is a major effort .

She is just able to reach her nose and eyes to itch them with her right hand - this is the arm that is in a tight to her body sling d/t the broken and dislocated shoulder (LONG recovery ahead for this messed up shoulder!).  Just being able to reach her face with that hand is a great relief for her ( now she can try to pick her own nose John....thought I know you like doing it for her!).  She was even able to hold a hand of playing cards yesterday to play cards with John - she was thrilled about this!

Today she has a plastic surgeon doing surgery on her left upper arm and elbow.  She has been unable to use that arm d/t an infected and inflamed bursa (fluid filled sac in the elbow) secondary to a horribly necrotic wound on that arm.  This will hopefully give her mobility of that arm (as she has had close to none in it since the accident).  They will keep her awake for this surgery and just numb and sedate the hell out of her - sounds scary to me!

She says she is doing her best to keep on the positive side - she knows she is doing better each day despite frustrating moments, nausea, pain and boredom.  She thinks boredom is a good sign though..."it means that I am awake enough each day to be aware of time" says Kerry!  She told me that she can't wait until she can read all of the emails and blog entries on her own - she is amazed at the viral nature of the support she is receiving from around the globe! 

Mom is there now, my dad arrives tomorrow as does my sister Mary.  She is flying in from Germany for the week.  I will be back to see Kerry and John again the first week of April ( I will be bringing my girls down to see them too)  - perhaps earlier if I find a great deal on a flight. 

We continue to seek some justice for this crime agaist Kerry and John - Florida law is making this tough though.  Thanks to all of you for all of your continued well wishes, notes, cards, drawings etc.....  we appreciate it all!

With sincere appreciation and love, Kyla (and my entire family!)

Good snowy morning Kerry and John!!

Kerry -
It was SO wonderful being able to speak with you yesterday - it really made my day! Thank you John for holding the phone to her ear for such a long time - you are such a good egg! You have made great strides Kerry, keep plugging away at this task called recovery. When I wake up and feel like I just can't get going (usually because it is still snowing and below freezing here in Ohio!!!), I think of you and your tireless effort and focus on 'getting well'. You are an inspiration to me - and always have been in so many facets of your life. Keep it up sister...you are awesome!
Love to you - Kyla

"TRY"

Hi Lynn:  I don't know many more words of encouragement other than Annie's song, "The Sun Will Come Up Tomorrow."  Sure is a tough pill to swallow - not being able to do much of anything other than to keep on encouraging Kerry to "try." I can only imagine how long and frustrating the days are for you and all who sit at her bedside, but it does sound like there has been significant improvement since this nightmare all started.  Sure wish there was something magical that we could do, but we all know that the realism of such a recovery is indeed a long and arduous one.  We keep all of you in our thoughts and prayers and wish you the strength needed to see Kerry through all of this.  Take Care.  Love, Karen

Kerry: Feb 17

Lynn here.  Back in Fla after a week home in Cleveland and didn't I spend 4 of my 7 days at home pretty much in bed with the stomach flu and its residual effects.    My friend Cheryl has comedown with me for a few days and such a welcome visit from her.  Spending day after day in the hospital is not only boring but kind of lonely and she provides some well needed girlie company for me.  Kerry had a "bad" day today it seemed.  She said she was "swimming in pain" at one time.  She was quite nauseated for two days now, with occasional vomiting.  Made eating impossible for her.  She was in the wheelchair  for 2 hours plus today and spent about 3 minutes on her feet.  Then she threw up yet again.  She is having great potty problems with her bowels as well and that is causing a lot of discomfort.    She was quite peppy and cheerful on Sunday when we arrived and Cheryl was surprised with how "good" she looked.  Not so today.  She ate a little dinner tonight, applesauce, and a half can of ENSURE .   John and I had another meeting and interview with a law firm, this is the third one trying to find some financial justice in all this for Kerry.  Seems amazing to everyone that given what has happened to her, the "bad guys" will not be called to account for their action.    We are trying dear Kerry to get some justice done.  Perhaps instead she should have spilled some hot coffee on her lap at McDonalds and she would have a million or so dollars. I have tired days on my hands.  Cheryl finds too that just being at her bedside so much of the day is tiring, then add the legal work to it.  It is really important to be there for her too as the nurses aide would spend 5 minutes with meal time and that is that.  We prod her to eat for a long time.  She just does not have any appetite lately.  Lots of frustrations for us.  She is not at all motivated it seems and we really must push her, to eat, to get up, to stay awake, etc etc.  She seems to be very depressed much as we try to be the cheerleaders.  She is on an anti-depressant  drug and hope that will lift her spirits a bit.  Maybe I need one too, some days are just too tough.   The "sun will come out tomorrow",  right ? as Annie sang.    That's it for today.      LYNN

A note to share...from Aunt Mare

Upon reading my last blog as posted, I see that I somehow managed to loose  2 or 3 paragraphs, and as written it appears to be all about me when I intended it to be about all 128 of us.

 
One of Lynn's updates mentioned how we can help Kerry....the things that she will need once she gets home and it sounded somewhat like an invitation to a shower!!  She has everything except the good health that most of us enjoy.  We can help provide some of the things that will make her life more worry free and comfortable.  And therein lies my idea to have a big shower for Miss Kerry Suzanne and her Johnny-Boy.  A money shower, a gift card shower!!   
 
Let's send what we can, even if it means budgeting  and sending a check a month four times.  We'll travel to Venice, Florida in our minds.  We'll pack up, saddle up and giddy up on down there and surprise them...we'll watch Kerry cry because she is so happy to see us!  Vamonous, amigos!!!
 
I remember a blog from Glenn wishing we could all get together.  We can't, but we can all pull together.  Kerry needs our help now and it is a priviledge to be able to do something that will make a difference.  I am grateful to Lynn for mentioning the need.....
 
I hold you all in the Light............Marilyn
 

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HAPPY HAPPY

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KERRY AND JOHN!

Good evening everyone.

Thursday Kerry was again in a wheelchair for two hours. This time she did not use the hoyer lift. We were able to get her from the bed to the wheelchair with lifting and Kerry used her own
power to help move. We held on to her for balance and she was able to shuffle her feet around enough to get in. We went outside for about ten minutes and then went in to do her physical therapy. We helped her get out of the chair to stand up. Kerry was very scarred and had to sit back down. She took a short break and she stood back up and took four baby steps and sat back down. She thought she had failed because she thought she only took 2 steps,but she actually two more steps than she needed to. This was all very scarry for her,but as time and practice moves on it will get a little easier for her. Still a very long ways to go. Today Craig came in to have Kerry to do some leg exercises. These are leg lifts with a round cushion behind her knees. He wanted Kerry to do only 400 during the day. Kerry thought this would be a piece of cakebrcause she did them before. He came back with a bigger cushin then he said he wanted to add leg weights. Now this was a big Challenge. Kerry finally did finish them by supper. The nurses were happy with what amount she ate today. They base her food input for the whole day instead of each meal. Every day now when I leave I ask her what she did that day. She tells me everything she did. Then I ask her again. Then she tells me she had a good day. She ends up the day being positive and she knows she has a long way to go.

John Henze

To share with the blog...

These are emails I received for the blog a week ago---I just realized I never forwarded them on...sorry! - Kyla
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These are the e-mails we look forward to.  As I told Lynn on the phone Saturday, no one can understand just how severely Kerry was injured unless you have had seen her.  We had that opportunity so, when we read e-mails like Jennifer's we can visualize the giant leap that has taken place and share the joy with all of you.   We know it is just the beginning but at least it IS a beginning.
Janie and Jim
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congrats kerry! - Keith Jordan
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Kyla, dear,.........such good news!!!  I appreciate so much receiving the updates....I check the computer so many times a day waiting for one.  .........what are y ou doing  up so early?  I thought only old ladies did that! 
 
Will anyone else be joining y our mother now that Jen has left? 
The blog from Sally is so poigant and Glenn's idea of eveyone getting together is a fine one. 
Thank  you again, dear, for your thoughtful stay-in-touchness.
 
Love from Marilyn  Morris
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Kyla -

I'm crying here right now with joy!!!  How absolutely wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hugs and strength to all of you...

Marie, Todd & Lizzie
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What a way to start my day to hear such an uplifting note from FLA....I am so proud of the great strides we all take to help Kerry and her family move to a better place on the continuum of her healing....thinking of you.  Lee Elston
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Could these two e mails be better news?  It is so amazing and wonderful to hear these things.  I haven't heard from Lynn this week and am assuming that she is wiped out when she gets back to John's.  These have to be long days.  I know she is coming home Saturday, so maybe I can catch up with her then.

Again, so happy for all of you.  The letter on the blog from Sally expresses the thoughts of everybody.  What a family!!! What a mom!!!Love Ro

From Aunt Mary

Thank you John for your recent update.  Dave and I are here in Sedona, Arizona for the month and I have not had any access to a computer to check my emails.  Today we are at the Sedona Public Library and I  am now reading my emails!  It is good news to know Kerry was hoisted into a wheelchair and that she got some fresh air.  The tiny steps are magnificent moments for you and for her!

We continue to hold you both in our prayers.

Hugs,

Mary Aughenbaugh

John & Kerry,
Glad you two were able to go outside & enjoy some nice weather. As slow & painful as it was getting up & getting moving, it must feel great mentally to be up & out! We had a "big wind" here in Columbus & we lost some shingles. We didn't lose power this time, thank goodness. It got up to 60 for a couple days, but will get snow probably Sat. Good Ol' OH weather.

Wishing you a Happy Anniversary. Not the easiest to celebrate this year, but in other ways, the BEST!

Love,
(Sister) Mary

Hello,
Today Kerry had an adventure. This morning when I came in Kerry was already in her support
shell. They wanted her to sit in a high back wheelchair for 2 hours today. To get her into the wheel chair they use a hoyer lift. If anyone what an engine lift looks like it is similar to that.
They role a large sling under her then attach the sling to the hoyer lift. It is run by hydrolics and picks her up out of the bed. When she is above the bed they move the lift to the wheelchair and then set her down in the chair. It does take awhile to do this and then when you are done you put her back into the bed. She was very scarred when she was lifted but I held on to her. We hooked up a portable oxygen tank and we were on our way. Today was in the high 70's so we went outside. Kerry was so happy to feel the breeze and fresh air. Ipushed her around the whole building so that almost took about 30 minutes. She was in pretty good pain by the end of 2 hours so she really was ready to get back to bed. This does not sound like a hard thing to do but it is and it does really take alot out of you physically. The reason they want her to start standing up is so that it will be easier for her to get into a wheelchair. This is a good small step, but there is an awful lot more small steps to take. Also a plastic sergeon came in today to look at Kerry's left arm,where there is a bad wound. He checked to see how her feelings were up and down and in different areas of her arm. There is a buildup of fluid above this wound and he wants to try to drain it and then put in some stitches. Marty talked with Dr. Vanwinkle and Marty was sastified
with the way he wanted to procede with taking care of this problem. The rest of the afternoon was peaceful and we were able to do small exercises but even those are very important.

John Henze

From Aunt Marilyn

I'm struck by how simple it is that we can help.  I remember several weeks ago I wrote a letter offering to help in any way possible.  Cooking, cleaning, errands, babysitting, pet sitting, house sitting.  I'm rather "olderish", and can do a lot of things.  The unfortunate fact is I live in a foreign country, but, of course, am willilng to go any where any time to help. 
 
And now to have the opportunity to help in such an important way!!! 
 
My husband is a retired school teacher and fortunately we have enough....enough for ourselves and enough to share.  It is a privilege to be able to do something for Kerry.  She has touched the lives of all of us on the list, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to "give back" to her. 
 
Marilyn Morris

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From Lynn...Kerry: 2/9/09, Monday

Forwarded to you all from me, as I am the 'Web Master' - Kyla

Lynn here...I am back in Cleveland since last Saturday.  Jen (our daughter)  was in Fla all last week with me and a tremendous help in visiting and attending to Kerry's needs as she is still totally bed-bound and even unable to feed herself.  It was very hard for me to leave her as I have become so accustomed to the hospital/home/sleep/hospital routine that is my total day whilst there.  It saddened me to leave but I knew that I needed a break from the emotion and the fatigue of the routine.  Staying at someone else's home, in another kitchen, bed etc is in itself for me wearing.  They have a lovely home etc but I really needed to get home for a little while and see Marty if nothing else.   Kerry was sick all weekend with a stomach thing, vomiting and unable to eat.  Could have been the flu but more likely the percocet which she is receiving for pain and it is pretty hard on the stomach.  Having spoken with John today, she was able to eat some ENSURE for lunch and keep it down.  If she can eat that for a few days, food will be reintroduced later.  She still seems so fragile in that department as no food for about 45 days raises havoc with the tummy.    Today she was on the "tilt table" a rather primitive sounding device for torture but not so in this case.  Last week she was at 57 degree tilt for 15 minutes and was very hard as it made her quite dizzy and a bit nauseated.  Today she was at 45 degrees for an hour and it worked out better.  On this device she is also doing a little weight bearing as there is a sort of ledge at the foot end of it.  When John calls tonight I will see how the rest of her day went.  All progress is very very slow.  She of course is not able to see any of the blogs being sent her way but we will print them all when she gets to the home setting in a month or 6 weeks as it looks now.  Then hopefully she will be able to read them herself.  Many people continue to ask me how they can help her.  Our family has come up with an idea.   When she comes home she will need home health care for many weeks we think.  She will need a cleaning lady.  She will need meals prepared or brought in.  She will need a hospital bed in the house until at least end of April due to the broken bones in back and very rigid body armor she must wear until then.  Lots of things.  Not to sound like a beggar, but in lieu of flowers or gifts, an equal amount in the form of a check (or Visa gift card  - Kyla tells this sort of thing exists...who knew???) sent to John or a gift card from any of the several restaurants that are nearby to go to or get takeout would be a wonderful, useful, and thoughtful gift.  We don't think her insurance will cover any home health aid type of thing and of course, once again, the folks responsible for this horrific crisis have no liability insurance (not required in this no fault state) and have not come forward with any sort of "sorry I ran over this person" sort of note or help.   Their address is John or Kerry Henze, 307 Roseling Circle, Venice, Florida 34293.  Just a thought, please don't feel it is necessary but I do get the question over and over so there is an idea in a form that really will be of some help when we get to that stage.    Appleby"s is nearby and they like that restaurant.  I will check with John for the addresses of several other small places near them that I know they enjoy.   Till later, LYNN   I am returning to Fla on Feb 15.  - will be there through the Spring no doubt!

Hello everyone,
I wish to thank everyone for all of your support through cards and your Emails and blogs. I want to give a special thanks to Lynn,Marty,Kyla, and Jen for comming down and giving extra support. Thank you. Saturday morning we did do some physical therapy on Kerry's arms and legs.Saturday afternoon Kerry's stomach started to bother her quit a bit and it lasted till sunday afternoon. She said that this was not going to let this hinder her progress. Kerry has so much going for her because of her inner strenghts. She will not give up.


John Henze

Kyla send this to Kerry's blog please

To my Dearest Kerry, Lynn, Kyla and Ohio/Florida family,   I am so glad to hear your doing better Kerry. I cry when I hear you are doing so well.  I know you guys aren't prayer types but I know you have some higher power watching out for both of my sisters, Both Kerry and Kyla.  Kyla thank you for all you have done for Kerry Bless you. The sisterly bond you share will just deepen and grow Nothing but wonderful things are happening in your lives over this tragedy.  Your family will be forever stronger and you will love more and receive more love then you know what to do with it.   Lynn ,I have no words for what your going through but I know things are getting better and  Kerry shines no matter what comes her way. Your first born angel is strong, She gets that strength from her mom remember that.    How I would love to be as strong of a woman as Kerry is.  I send my love heart and prayers.Tell her that for me please!   I am forever blessed to have known you Stafford/Taliak/ Henze family.   John thank you for loving my sister and being her knight in shining armor.  Your a very wonderful man, I am so honored to have met you when Jamie Graduated from school.    Kyla, Jen, Lynn, Thank you for the Kerry updates, I watch for them every day.    Send every one my love, Your in my heart and prayers all of you!   I love you all deeply! NEVER FORGET THAT   Robin Leslie Stafford/Dorr PS...  This is the time most I am proud to be in this Stafford family, You are truly astonishing people! Thank you for sharing Kerry's achievements each day.     Love,    Robin