Merry Christmas!

During a visit from his family yesterday, Jerry received get well wishes from the Richlands Blue Tornados! The entire team signed a get well wish for Jerry. He also received the sweatshirt in the photo as well! He was overjoyed to receive such a special gift from his favorite football team! In addition to this amazing gift, we all got to experience our first "White Christmas" in quite some time. From our hearts to yours, thanks again for the prayers, cards, and love you have sent to all of us.

Team Jerry ALL THE WAY!!!!

Good things keep happening!

Hey folks!

Sorry that I didn't update the blog over the weekend, but I thought I would wait until some events that were scheduled for early this week happened so you could get a full report on the latest with Dad. First and foremost, he is doing well and continues to progress nicely with this rehab. The doctors like what they see and think Dad is on the verge of doing some big things.

Yesterday (Tuesday), the family and Dad had a meeting with the hospital staff to talk about some of the lingering issues that continue to plague the rehab process. A lot of things were discussed and the air seem to be cleared on some misconceptions that we had about them, they had about us, and the overall rehab plan and Dad's care. With something as complex as GBS, it's only normal for both sides of the equation to get frustrated at times and want to "give up" on certain tasks. But we believe yesterday laid the foundation for things to improve and start moving forward again.

The big news, as you can see by the picture, is that Dad sat up on the side of his bed on Monday. This task is now apart of his Physical Therapy plan and will be done 3 times a week (M-W-F), with him actually getting out of bed on the days in between (Tu-Th) and sitting in his hot-rod Harley Davidson wheelchair (thanks for the stickers, cousin Brian). Also, Respiratory Therapy, who is helping to wean him off the vent, is starting to put in a mechanism on this trach each day that will allow Dad to start talking again. Each of these new therapies is very painful and scary for Dad, but he is working through them like a champ with the help and encouragement of Mom, the Family and the hospital staff, and of course, you too via your emails and cards.

The next big thing for Dad, which will probably happen at the beginning of the year, is a move to a new facility. Depending on where Dad is with his therapies will decide which facility he will go to. I am working with his Case Mgr. to get an updated list of these facilities and will try to find one close to Danville, per Dad's request, so we can be near him to help with his rehab. Most likely, Mom will not be able to stay with him like she is now, so this will entail a lot of traveling for her going forward. If anyone has any ideas on facilities or if you've heard of one close to Danville, please email them to us, as we'll take all the help on finding a facility that we can get.

Well, that's it for now. Take care of yourselves and keep those cards and well-wishes coming in. I'll keep updating the blog as Dad's milestones continue. Thanks again for all your love and support. We truly appreciate it!

Team Jerry all the way!!!

Humor and Football helps him through it!

Hi everyone!

The past week was a challenge for Dad, as he continues his therapies for ventilation weaning and physical mobility. While the latter is still a "work-in-progress" as far as setting up a program schedule, the vent therapy is continuing to move forward. Each hour that he adds to being off the machine gets him that much closer to being off of it all together. Everyone is hopeful that Dad will be able to complete this feat by the end of the year, but there are no promises.

As with any GBS patients, there are peaks and valleys to the recovery process. While Dad did make some progress this past week, it was even more challenging due to his extenuating circumstances. Of course, just like when you or I work out (hehe... that's funny... the thought of me working out... anyway, I digress), Dad gets tired. His body is having to learn how to work on it's own again and just as one would think, the muscles that he has not used for the past 5 months are now getting a good workout each day. If you couple this issue with the fact that Dad's lungs seem to be in overdrive when it comes to being congested, well, you can just imagine at how tired he feels each day. But he keeps plugging along, because he wants to get out of that bed. I just keep telling him to do like those ol' guys from SNL, where he looks at his muscles and says, "I want to pump YOU UP"!

Lots of people have asked about Mom, and with all things considered, she is doing well. Of course, her stubbornness gets in the way sometimes when she doesn't listen to us about getting enough rest, but that's OK. As I've explained to her, when she's laying there in a bed next to Dad, I'll be able to say "I told you so" just like she use to do to me when I was a teenager. In all seriousness, Mom is really doing a great job with Dad and if it wasn't for her, there would be no recovery. She truly is the backbone of the operation there at the hospital. Along with the nurses and doctors, Mom is helping Dad back from the depths of this GBS hell that has trapped him since the end of June. Without her, I don't know what we'd do!!!

Also, people are starting to ask about Christmas gifts and what they can do to help. Well, as before, we are asking for donations to be mailed to the benefit account (PO Box 2364, Danville, VA 24541). Bills continue to mount and we are attempting to get things in line for some big moves in the near future. Chances are that Dad will be moved to a facility within the next couple of months that will handle his physical therapy once he is off the vent. This will mean that Mom will have to travel to see him, which means added travel expenses. Anything you can send, no matter how much, would be greatly appreciated.

Someone sent a lovely note the other day, talking about how they had read the news article on Dad and Mom; and while they didn't have much, they just wanted to send something. Others have sent cards saying they wish they could send something, but have nothing to give, so they are keeping Dad and Mom in their prayers instead. Please understand that no matter what you do, give money or send words of encouragement, it is your contact with Dad and Mom that matters most. It reminds them that while their predicament is difficult and the road ahead to recovery is long, the love that their friends and family share for them is greater than anything they'll ever know, and that is what will get them through this thing to the end.

On a personal note, Dad is back online with his Facebook account. To encourage his physical therapy recovery, we got him an early Christmas gift, which was a laptop from Walmart to use. It's just something simple that allows him to watch movies and get on the Internet, with the help of a special mouse that I found. So be sure to send him a message if you're on his friends list.

Last but not least, Dad is ecstatic about the fact that the Richlands Blue Tornadoes made it to the state championship game this Saturday after beating Brookville this past weekend. Unfortunately, he's not able to go to the championship game, but he will be able to hear it on his laptop. So everybody join Dad and root for the Blues this Saturday! Go Blues!!!

OK... that's it for now. Team Jerry all the way!!!

Being Thankful!

Hi everyone!

Well, last week was very eventful, in that we had a lot going on with family and friends visiting Dad during the holiday week. He and Mom received visits from Dad's immediate family, as well as other relatives and friends. Of course, the highlight of Dad's weekend was getting to see his granddaughter and showing her all of his new "tricks" since they had last seen each other.

Dad is starting to move more muscles in his arms, which is allowing him to move them from the elbow down in a side-to-side motion. Hopefully, the nerve regeneration will continue through the rest of his arms so he can start to lift them up and down. He is also moving more of his legs and feet, which we also hope will continue to improve.

As far as pain goes, Dad is feeling different kinds of it from time-to-time. One hour, he'll have some discomfort and itching in his feet, then it will move to his arms, and then to his hands. The other day, they got him out of bed and into his hot-rod wheelchair and unlike previous times, he was ready to get back into bed almost as soon as he got out. He was so uncomfortable and achy, but we talked him through it and he stayed in the chair for about 25 minutes.

His ventilator therapy is going well. Dad didn't meet his self-imposed goal of being off the machine by Thanksgiving, but he is not swayed from trying. We feel like the infection that he experienced last week set him back a bit on his therapy, so we're hopeful he'll get back on track soon now that he's over it.

Mom is doing well also. She could probably stand a little time to herself, but convincing her of that is another matter. Mom has stood by Dad's side through everything that has happened in the past 5 months, and I don't see her going anywhere anytime soon. I guess that's what true love is all about.

As far as being thankful, Dad and Mom wanted me to let everyone know that they are very thankful for your thoughts and prayers. Dad loves the cards that you continue to send him, and also the jokes via email. So keep those messages coming, as they are helping to keep his spirits up. Not to mention, he was elated to hear that 1.) the Richlands Blue Tornado football team made it to the state semi-finals and will be playing in nearby Brookville this Saturday (12/4), and 2) that Nick Saban lost to Auburn this past weekend.

OK... that's it for now. Take care and we hope that all of you had a very blessed Thanksgiving holiday.

Team Jerry all the way!!!

Maintaining

Hello everyone!

Well, our readership on the blog has probably grown a little by now, thanks to a newspaper article on Dad and Mom that ran in their hometown's newspaper. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a link to the article online yet. With all due respect to something called the "Possum Philosophy" writer, they're getting way too much online time with some of those articles. But I digress and welcome any and all who have started reading our blog about Jerry and Mary Sue Hawkins. Now, on with the update.

Dad has encountered a few complications this past week. He ran a fever for a few days and the doctors were worried about what it could be, as there was no obvious answers. After some "nudging", we finally talked Dad into being poked one more time by a needle in order to start receiving his medicine intravenously. They also gave him fluids to ensure he was hydrated enough. As of Sunday, Dad was feeling better and the fever had come down.

As for his therapy progress, Dad is still getting out of bed (when he's feeling good) and they are working to get him on what's called a "Trach Collar". Basically, it's something different that they connect to his trach and feeds him oxygen so he can breath on his own without the machine being there to breath for him. In other words, he's truly on his own. It's frightening to him, as Dad still has flashbacks of when he lost his ability to breath in Kansas. The ordeal really shook Dad's core, so he is understandably apprehensive about trying it. But we're trying to encourage him enough to be brave and strong so he can continue progressing towards his goal of being off the breathing machine all together.

Dad' nephew from Maryland came to visit this weekend. He's a big Harley fan and bought Dad a Harley sticker to put on the side of his wheelchair. Should make for an interesting conversation piece if nothing else.

Well, that's it for now. Dad and Mom wanted me to let all of you know that they are very thankful for your kind thoughts and prayers. They are thinking of you and wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Team Jerry all the Way!!!

Going for a Stroll!

Hey folks!

Well, it's only been a week since our last post, but a lot has happened. So let me get right to it.

Dad is really doing well with his recovery. To start with, he talked the medical staff into getting a little more aggressive with his ventilator therapy. This week, not only did they turn Dad's vent down to 6 (breaths per minute), but he also started going a few hours each day without the vent. That's right, he's breathing a little bit on his own each day without the aid of the machine. He started on Wednesday with 1 hour, and by Saturday, he was up to 4 hours. Dad set a goal for himself, and that is to be off the vent by Thanksgiving. It's an aggressive goal, but one we hope he can meet.

Lastly, the medical staff helped Dad get into a specialized wheelchair this past week and wheeled him down the hallway. It's the first time he's been out of the hospital room since they transferred him there back in August. The picture that you see is of him and Mom in the hallway. They took Dad to a big window where he was able to look outside with his own eyes for the first time in 4 months. Needless to say, Dad was overjoyed with the sight of the pretty fall leaves and blue sky. And of course, there wasn't a dry eye to be found on the floor for the rest of the day. Dad has gotten up everyday since Wednesday, and they will be doing the same next week to keep him in a routine. In fact, they might even take him outside for just a little while if the weather warms up enough.

Now, the prognosis is still the same for Dad from a medical standpoint. He's still going to need multiple years of therapy, and he will most likely need an aid for a little while to get around the house until he's back on his feet. But all of this is still a ways down the road, as we still have a long way to go. Dad's nerves are still regenerating, but I can see a little more movement in him each week when we visit. We just have to keep reminding ourselves that the day Dad will leave the hospital and go home is closer than what it use to be.

I know with the holidays coming up that Dad would love to hear from all of you that are keeping up with his progress. So don't forget to drop him a line via card or email when you get the chance. His address is P.O. Box 2364, Danville, VA, 24541, and clink on this link to get to the hospital's website for email. He's in room CRCR #5. Dad and Mom would also like everyone to know that you really mean a lot to them. Truly, they could not have made it this far without your love and support.

OK... that's it for now. Take care of yourselves and thanks for keeping Dad and Mom in your thoughts and prayers.

Team Jerry all the Way!!!

PS - Dad is also very excited by the prospects of RHS doing well in the playoffs. He's still rooting for the home team, even though he's far away. So for Dad, let's all say, "GO BIG BLUE!!!"

A Rather Chilly Day in Lynchburg

Welcome back to waking up in the sunlight and driving home in the dark. It's November- and I'm counting down the days until Spring! It's April updating today. Thought I would share some of the details from our visit with Jerry yesterday.

Jerry is currently maintaining a rate of 8 breaths per minute on the ventilator. He is averaging several breaths a minute on his own. However, as his nerves are regrowing, his muscles waking up, and his lungs realizing they have to help, there is some discomfort involved. He feels like he is smothering. Understandable and we were forewarned about this. I told him it was a mind game and he had to play. He laughed and told me he wasn't good at mind games. Jerry is a fighter, refusing to give up. At times he tends to be a little down in the dumps, but he is the strongest man I have ever seen in so many different ways. In my opinion I think Jerry looked great. Every time I visit I see more movement, more color, and more life back in Jerry. His lips are much easier to read and trust me, he has a lot to say! Since he has been turned down on the ventilator, there is some discussion of putting the valve on his trach so we can hear him talk. Watch for that update! Of course, he spoke one time and Anna Leigh was what he said. It's obvious that he adores our daughter more than anything. Anna Leigh is getting lots of practice in case she wants to be a physical, speech, occupational, or cognitive therapist! Anna Leigh makes him work and he loves it! Anna Leigh also wore her Halloween costume last week and did a "reverse trick-or-treat". She said trick or treat and passed out candy to the nurses. Our "Juliet" had a great time thanking Papa's nurses.

Mary Sue is holding up OK. My incredible Mom and daughter took her out last week to get her hair done. It looks wonderful. Little things like that help boost her spirits. During our visit, we tried a local Italian restaurant (better than hospital food!) and went to WalMart. It is hard for her to leave Jerry, but she did leave him long enough to relax for an hour or so.

Please continue to send cards for Jerry. Anna Leigh reads them to him and he just lights up! We have started decorating his room with them. Keep them coming please! We are so grateful for the prayers, phone calls, and donations you have sent. Jerry is an incredibly lucky person to have people who love him so very much.

TEAM JERRY ALL THE WAY!