Back to Day 1 for just a moment or so for just one more “God
thing”, if you will. The first person on
the scene after Tamara’s accident was a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon! Dr. G. just "happened" to be out running with
a friend that morning, and she just "happened" to be running by the Hospital, at
just the right time, and was able to perform triage and the initial evaluation
of Tam while waiting for emergency medical personnel to arrive. We are still amazed by this and ever so
thankful to the Lord for His provision of just the right person, at just the
right time! Oh, and another thing, and
really the only thing that upset Shar and I in that first week. You see, when Tamara was brought into CHOP,
she came in as a Jane Doe, because she arrived there well ahead of us. So, outside of her room in the PICU for the
first 3 days the name Tamara was not posted at the doorway, it was Omega 50
Omega. Understandable for the first half
hour or so, but it took 3 days for that blasted sign to come and it was only
after I asked and asked and asked again, and then finally threatened to take it
down myself that it was replaced with her name….Tamara! Wow! Glad
to get that off my chest. 😊
So, where were we? Oh
yes, we were now finished at CHOP after a week, and now Tamara was ready to
transition over to Seashore House for Rehab.
We were truly thinking it would be for maybe 2 – 3 weeks, then we
noticed an issue with Tamara’s motor function which was concerning to say the
least. One thing that happens in cases
like this (and I’m not placing blame) is that occasionally a patient will have
certain effects of an injury which are missed because diagnostic testing
doesn't pick them up, so you must wait for them to present themselves through
routine activities. We noticed when
Tamara would roll over in her bed that her left side lagged behind a bit, and
nobody really thought anything about it, we were all thinking it was post-concussion related, but when it came time for her to begin
therapy is when some additional tests were performed and it was discovered that
she was not only suffering from Post-Concussion Syndrome, but that she had in
fact incurred a Traumatic Brain Injury. This is what was impacting the motor function
on the entire left side of her body, almost like she had been the victim of a stroke, or other event. The
2 – 3 week time frame we had originally been given was now possibly going to
stretch into 2 – 3 months and that was almost too much to bear, as we just
wanted our family back home, together! I
remember Sharon calling me to tell me that Tam might be home as soon as 2 – 3
weeks, and then just a short time later she called to give me the revised
numbers. My heart was breaking for my
wife as she had already given so much of herself, staying with Tam 24-7 since
July 8th, that I really wasn't sure how much more she could handle physically
and have it be healthy.
Our Silent Evangelist!
That’s how I referred to Tamara when I heard how much her
life was impacting people of all walks, or religious backgrounds or
whatever. Even though she hadn't really
said all that much, her beautiful little spirit was speaking through the
silence, and the faith of our family (even though being tested beyond what we
could imagine) was being grown and strengthened to levels we never thought
possible. So also were the lives of many
family members, friends, co-workers, and even a few strangers.
Below are a few more updates from me, and a few more e-mails
that I dug up if you have a few moments to read them. I’m also attaching some pics from those first
couple of days at Seashore House. Enjoy,
and be blessed! <><
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Tam Update 7-16 // 12:08 pm
Spoke with Shar this morning and Tam’s MRI is scheduled for
4:00. If things look good she’ll be
cleared to move over to the Seashore House as early as tonight. She’s progressing slowly but surely, and
I’ll take that any day!
More info when I have something to report…..
P <><
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Tam Update 7-16 // 4:01 pm
Tam is headed to MRI right now……and in all likelihood after
her successful time with PT and OT today will be heading to the Seashore House
tomorrow. For those who are not familiar
with it, it is the Rehab Service connected to CHOP.
Tam spent some time in a chair a well as some in a special
wheel chair. She played Mr. Potato-head
with her OT person, and Shar said she did pretty well. I’m beaming right now!!!!
Each day she seems a little more coherent and together. I’m taking down some of her favorite outfits
for her to wear during Therapy over the next couple of weeks and I think more
connections with things from home will be a huge help!
She really seemed to enjoy Ally and Nathaniel visiting
yesterday and seeing my Parents was also a help.
Later from CHOP!
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Some of the info below may be a repeat, but I inadvertently
knocked some people off the list and wanted to make sure everyone was on the
same page going forward. That’s what I
get for trying to write these updates when I get home late at night.
Tam had a good
day…..MRI went off without a hitch now we just need results, and she only
pulled out her NG tube once today!
Adults pull them out all of them time so why do we expect a 9 yr old to
leave it in. Food for thought…
Anyway, she is moving
to Seashore House tomorrow afternoon and as I said earlier, she will be there
2-3 weeks. For those who are not
familiar with it, Seashore House is the Rehab Service connected to CHOP. We already know many of the Therapists and
are very encouraged by what they say they can do for her!
Each day she seems a
little more coherent and together whether she speaks to us or not. I’m taking down some of her favorite outfits
for her to wear during Therapy over the next couple of weeks and I think more
connections with things from home will be a huge help!
After her successful
time with PT and OT today Shar and I are in 100% agreement that inpatient rehab
is so the best way to go. Tam got out of
bed for the first time and spent some time in a chair this morning as well as
some in a special wheel chair. She
played Mr. Potato-head with her OT person, and Shar said she did pretty
well. I’m beaming right now!!!!
She really seemed to enjoy Ally and Nathaniel visiting
yesterday after Church and seeing my Parents was also a plus.
I apologize if my e-mails have been all over the spectrum
this week, but she has truly been up one minute and down the next and honestly
it’s tough keeping up. I’m trying to get
everyone the best info I have available but sometimes yahoo lags and e-mails
get delivered out of order…..just one of those things you deal with Free E-mail
accts.
We’re now heading into week 2 and I feel better each day
about her outlook! Keep those prayers
coming, as she still has a tough road ahead but she is alive and with us and
that is what matters most. Everything
else can come in its own time. We have
true peace about this.
P <><
Numbers 6
24 “The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 the LORD make his
face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his
face toward you and give you peace.”
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Tam Update 7-18 // 12:30 am
Tam’s MRI from Monday afternoon is showing some swelling on
the lower backside of her brain and after speaking with just about every group
of Doc’s involved in Tam’s care we are convinced that it is not negatively
impacting her. The reason she is lagging
in her recovery is very common in people who had a concussion. Post-Concussion Syndrome is the label the
Doc’s are throwing out at us and it includes many of the symptoms that Tam is
exhibiting. Disorientation, Moodiness,
sleepiness…….there are really too many things to list here.
She didn't say anything Monday or today, but you know what,
she still had a great day! Tam was calm
and peaceful she really didn't fuss too much over anything. She was very interactive and alert for most
of the day. She will point to a specific
book to be read to her if you give her a choice of 3-4, and she chose one of
her Thomas the Train videos and watched a good portion of it without and
tossing or turning tonight while I was there. We know it will take time for the brain to heal and we can wait knowing
that GOD has his hand on her little life. Isn't it amazing how one little girl can so radically change the lives
of so many people? And lives are being
radically changed for the better; just to set the record straight!
Tamara was evaluated by Neurology again today and one thing
they are focusing on is the weakness in her left arm. Rehab on it will most likely be tough as she
is left handed, so weakness in her dominant arm will lead to frustration. We need to pray for her to remain calm and
know that she needs to push herself as never before to get back to her
baseline.
We are still waiting for her to take something to eat or
drink by mouth and hope it’s soon as she hates to NG tube but needs it for
nourishment. I took some Capri Sun
drinks down to her today hoping that something familiar will get her to start
to drink anyway. If she’ll start to at
least drink then we can lose the IV and NG tube, and she won’t be connected to
anything. Tam has come a long way from
everything she was hooked up to just a few days ago but pray that she’ll be
able to eat and drink folks. Oh yeah and
she’ll be able to lose that annoying TED thing that squeezes your leg at the
most inopportune times. Like 3 O’clock
in the morning when you’re at your most comfortable. Whoever invented those things was a genius
because they help prevent Blood Clots, but heartless at the same time because
they’re so intrusive. Oh well…..
During my Men’s Monday Night Football Fellowship gathering
this past Fall I shared a thought around the fire pit with some of the guys in
my group, and now I wanted to expand it to a larger audience, and very simply
put, here it is: Faith = our
unconditional Trust in HIS unconditional Love.
We continue to trust God for HIS ever present help in Tam’s life and ours
and we know that HE is already doing and will continue to do Great Things for
the advancement of HIS cause through this tough time in our lives!
Tam did NOT move to the Seashore House today, and will most
likely be going over tomorrow before 2:00.
Pray for us all, as they facility is VERY different from the
Hospital. No Private rooms, and the
amenities are lacking to say the least.
However, one truth remains, and that is that we are thrilled to have Tam
taking another small step toward her recovery.
All for
now……Goodnight, “P” <><
PSALM 100:1 – 5
A psalm. For giving thanks.
1 Shout for joy to
the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD
with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD
is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of
his pasture.
4 Enter his gates
with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his
name.
5 For the LORD is
good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all
generations.
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Great new Peter!! I’m glad things are progressing for
Tam! Where is the Seashore House? Please give Tam a big hug and kiss from us
and remember you are in our thoughts and prayers from across the pond. And I do expect a phone call for me to come
over and do something to help you out.
If you don’t I’ll be really mad at you!!! Love you all,
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I’m so glad to hear she’s doing better. I can’t even imagine what you all are going
thru.
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Thanks for the update….sounds like each day she is making
significant progress. That is great news
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Dear Peter and Sharon,
It is 7/17……I have
been away and I did not know about Tam’s accident! I just got my email working and read all your
messages. I am in tears. Thank God Tamara’s prognosis seems
favorable……please know that she is in my prayers and I will ask various prayer
groups I know to pray for her and your family.
We ask ourselves how could this happen…..especially when coming out of
church, of all places? But I have been
so moved by your faith……I see the face of Jesus in you and how you are handling
Tamara’s accident and recovery progress.
Thank you for keeping us informed. Let me know when she is moved to Seashore
House…..and if you would like me to talk to the therapist there…if i could be
of any help. Usually……if Tamara is
speaking more and more every day, that is a good sign. That is the period of spontaneous recovery
when the brain is healing. (I use to
work in a hospital). :)
Feel free to call me if I can be of any help. Give Tamara a big hug from me.
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Peter,
Great update. Most
encouraging yet. Where is the Seashore
House located? Is it the one in Chalfont
or do you have to go down town to be with her the next two weeks?
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Peter,
Our thoughts and prayers will be with everyone! Let us know how things are going when you get
a chance, but please don’t worry about going out of your way.
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Hey Pete & Sharon –
I just wanted to check on the two of you. Is there anything
I can do to be helpful? I’d love to help out in some way… laundry, or pick up
anything at the store that you guys might need? Just let me know – we are
praying for God to keep both of you in His strength while you see Tam through
this ordeal and cope with the temporary separation of your family.
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