Hello all!
I thought I would write a quick note. I am very excited about flying back to the states for a very short time this afternoon. I will be in St. Louis for 24 hours to visit my brother Drew this Wednesday Oct 1st and will be sure to report any news to you!
I encourage everyone who knows Drew to pay him a visit! So far, my mom and younger sister Amanda said that Drew is "starting to come around." He attempts to move his hands but can't... also he moves his head a lot now. Positive news! Since I will be traveling for the next few days... bear with me, I will try to put up a new post by next week.
God bless and hugs,
Alex
Monday, 29 September 2008
Friday, 19 September 2008
A couple great projects for anyone to contribute!
Hello once more!
I spoke with a good friend's mom who gave me a few great ideas. Her son, when he was 11, was hit by a car at 40mph while riding his bike, no helmet, hit headfirst on the windshield then several feet/yards AWAY on the pavement headfirst AGAIN. She was told her son will NOT survive... but after a long grueling year, tons of support and many prayers, he did and fully recovered his memory! He was in a coma like my brother was. While some of you might not understand, she shed some light on trying to understand my brother's condition a bit more.
She gave a great analogy – she said think of it this way – he is breathing on his own AND he has opened his eyes after ONE month – which are very good signs. Also his body is healing well. She said, it’s like a BIG DARK HOUSE, a light will come on in ONE room of the house, when it does, Drew will pick this up and put it into his brain (like a file box). Like breathing on his own – light one, opening his eyes – light two, moving his arms more – light 3?? And so forth! How long it will take him to fully recover… is different for everyone.
She said she was with her son EVERYDAY for three full months. Talking to him… (hearing) when he woke up – she start bringing in all his favorite things – video games, toys, etc… to stimulate his mind. Even if he couldn’t do ANYTHING, she or others would do it themselves and let him “watch.” I will share this information with mom – if you guys have ideas, give them to the coordinator of the project (to be named in the end of this posting). I hate being left in the dark, just like some of you! I am looking forward to my SHORT visit on Oct 1st to see him and will share more news with you then!
So the idea: for those who know Drew well, for those who are too far to visit in person, I have TWO ideas: ONE) Let’s create videos – use your camera – use the video on it – be creative! Talk about anything – start off saying “Hey Drew – this is (name) – how are you doing? I am really looking forward to you recovering so we can do this and that… like we talked about… “ Then talk what you have been doing in your life… then talk about memories you both have together in detail…. Take as long you want!
TWO) Make a slideshow of pictures of ANY pictures you have of activities you did with Drew: TI Camps, MDO Camps – use ALL pictures, before you start the slide show – Label the slide before the new set of pictures, i.e. “Christmas party 2002 at (name) house”… show pictures of everything during that party… then new slide “TI Camp 2003,” and so forth!
I know this might be a bit time consuming – but it will be worth it. It will STIMULATE Drew’s mind – I will gather up these DVDs when I am back in the states around Oct 1st for a short trip (24 hours!) and again around Oct 14th or so. I will put the DVDS in a DVD case and hand them to the nurse with Drew’s portable DVD player and ask that the DVDs be played when he is awake in order – to take turns with everyone’s DVDs! Heck, if any of you decide to visit – play them for him!
Craig Aslin, bless his heart, will coordinate this project for me. Please email him at craslin636@yahoo.com for mom’s address to send the DVDs to! Any questions, ask him!
Hugs,
Alex
I spoke with a good friend's mom who gave me a few great ideas. Her son, when he was 11, was hit by a car at 40mph while riding his bike, no helmet, hit headfirst on the windshield then several feet/yards AWAY on the pavement headfirst AGAIN. She was told her son will NOT survive... but after a long grueling year, tons of support and many prayers, he did and fully recovered his memory! He was in a coma like my brother was. While some of you might not understand, she shed some light on trying to understand my brother's condition a bit more.
She gave a great analogy – she said think of it this way – he is breathing on his own AND he has opened his eyes after ONE month – which are very good signs. Also his body is healing well. She said, it’s like a BIG DARK HOUSE, a light will come on in ONE room of the house, when it does, Drew will pick this up and put it into his brain (like a file box). Like breathing on his own – light one, opening his eyes – light two, moving his arms more – light 3?? And so forth! How long it will take him to fully recover… is different for everyone.
She said she was with her son EVERYDAY for three full months. Talking to him… (hearing) when he woke up – she start bringing in all his favorite things – video games, toys, etc… to stimulate his mind. Even if he couldn’t do ANYTHING, she or others would do it themselves and let him “watch.” I will share this information with mom – if you guys have ideas, give them to the coordinator of the project (to be named in the end of this posting). I hate being left in the dark, just like some of you! I am looking forward to my SHORT visit on Oct 1st to see him and will share more news with you then!
So the idea: for those who know Drew well, for those who are too far to visit in person, I have TWO ideas: ONE) Let’s create videos – use your camera – use the video on it – be creative! Talk about anything – start off saying “Hey Drew – this is (name) – how are you doing? I am really looking forward to you recovering so we can do this and that… like we talked about… “ Then talk what you have been doing in your life… then talk about memories you both have together in detail…. Take as long you want!
TWO) Make a slideshow of pictures of ANY pictures you have of activities you did with Drew: TI Camps, MDO Camps – use ALL pictures, before you start the slide show – Label the slide before the new set of pictures, i.e. “Christmas party 2002 at (name) house”… show pictures of everything during that party… then new slide “TI Camp 2003,” and so forth!
I know this might be a bit time consuming – but it will be worth it. It will STIMULATE Drew’s mind – I will gather up these DVDs when I am back in the states around Oct 1st for a short trip (24 hours!) and again around Oct 14th or so. I will put the DVDS in a DVD case and hand them to the nurse with Drew’s portable DVD player and ask that the DVDs be played when he is awake in order – to take turns with everyone’s DVDs! Heck, if any of you decide to visit – play them for him!
Craig Aslin, bless his heart, will coordinate this project for me. Please email him at craslin636@yahoo.com for mom’s address to send the DVDs to! Any questions, ask him!
Hugs,
Alex
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Visitation is now open to anyone!
Hello all!
Just spoke to mom. She said it would be ok to stop the visiting list and allow anyone to go. She thinks it would be good for him to have friends who can sign to him. He is now more aware and always keeps his eyes on the person talking to him. There have been signs of him moving his hands... trying to talk by moving his head or such... but it's still very early. His brain damage is unpredictable and can even take even two months before the doctors will know how much he will be able to "recongize or remember".
Visiting hours are somewhere like 9 am and 8:30 pm. Just check yourself in and tell them who you are visiting. A special note if I may from mom: when he looks like he is becoming sleepy, then that's the hint for time to go! :)
It is a joy to continue hearing from his visitors how Drew is doing... it is a painfully SLOW recovery but we couldn't do it without all of your support... I pass on comments from visitors to mom often, so thank you...
Another side note: a couple of Drew friends want to host a BBQ party to fundraise money for Drew on a Saturday in October... more details of this will come soon.
Hugs,
Alex
Just spoke to mom. She said it would be ok to stop the visiting list and allow anyone to go. She thinks it would be good for him to have friends who can sign to him. He is now more aware and always keeps his eyes on the person talking to him. There have been signs of him moving his hands... trying to talk by moving his head or such... but it's still very early. His brain damage is unpredictable and can even take even two months before the doctors will know how much he will be able to "recongize or remember".
Visiting hours are somewhere like 9 am and 8:30 pm. Just check yourself in and tell them who you are visiting. A special note if I may from mom: when he looks like he is becoming sleepy, then that's the hint for time to go! :)
It is a joy to continue hearing from his visitors how Drew is doing... it is a painfully SLOW recovery but we couldn't do it without all of your support... I pass on comments from visitors to mom often, so thank you...
Another side note: a couple of Drew friends want to host a BBQ party to fundraise money for Drew on a Saturday in October... more details of this will come soon.
Hugs,
Alex
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