September 28 Update

Jodie's surgery was cancelled this morning. They called Mama to say that some procedural issues with a bed not being available and then the doctor got sick - so they will let us know tomorrow when it will be rescheuduled.

Her therapists didn't even let her play "hookie" and take the day off. A little while after surgery was cancelled, they came and took her to therapy. I think it's doing her so much good to be so "worked out".

Please continue to pray.

September 27 Update

Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. Psalm 57:24

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

It is by no accident that I was looking through a "Book of Bible Promises" came upon these verses. I know and trust that God has been upholding Jodie in His hand, and will continue to do so. I also have hope in his healing. Hope is what we as Christians have because of our faith in God - I pray for hope for each of you this night.

Jodie is having surgery tomorrow morning (Tuesday) around 9am. The neurosurgeons will be putting Jodie's "bone flap" back in her skull (the piece that was removed shortly after her accident to relieve the swelling on her brain). As I mentioned in a previous email, it has been "frozen" in storage since it was removed back in April. We pray that this is the "bounce" (as Dr. Yablon says) that Jodie needs to move forward in her recovery.

Jodie has been doing remarkably well since her shunt surgery 2 weeks ago. She is still in Methodist Rehab and doing so good. They are really working her hard in her therapies! We have seen an increase in her response time and in some of her motor skills.

When she was weighed today, we discovered that she has gained almost 2 pounds over the past week! What a progress. She is slowly gaining weight back - the "brain food" (what one nurse referred to it) must be helping and Jodie continues to eat 3 meals every day. She had the biggest breakfast yet this morning, eating 95% of the food she was fed! She also looks great! Of course, after tomorrow's surgery, with half her head shaved, we'll probably shave the rest (so we don't revisit the "skullet" of Memphis) - but Jodie has always looked good - hair or none at all ! Many of us can probably still close our eyes and see that precious little girl with all that blond hair in curls just flowing down her back. Well, she'll get it all back before too long - it seems to be coming in a bit darker, so we may get a brunette!

Many who have never met Jodie - just touched by her journey - have mentioned wanting to see what she looks like, so I attached a picture of her, taken at the beach last August. Beth took this picture of her looking out into the water.
Please pray for Jodie and a successful surgery and recovery. I will send a surgery follow-up in the days to come. We can all pray that this surgery and the recovery process that follows will lead Jodie to a continued path of recovery and healing. Pray for Dr. Esposito and the assisting physicians who will perform the surgery. Pray especially for her brain and for the injured areas to heal in time. We trust in God's time and in His will and in His incredible healing powers that we have already witnessed in His miracles on Jodie.

You may continue to send Jodie cards at my address (1320 Poplar Blvd, Jackson MS 39202) or to her room directly at Methodist Rehab - MMRC c/o Jodie Tharp Room 527, 1350 E. Woodrow Wilson Ave., Jackson MS 39216. Following her surgery, she'll be at UMC for a few days but will go back to MMRC - she still has her room so she will still get any mail you send to her at MMRC.

Take care and God bless you all,
Jennifer

September 20 Update

Well, this is my second attempt at this email - my laptop just erased the other I had spent an hour composing so I'll try and retype with the same enthusiasm as my fingers are typing so fast....

In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

This has been sort of my "verse" and refuge for the past week or so. I keep relying on it and referring to it often and it's most appropriate for what my family has been through the past few months, but it speaks to each of us in all our lives. God tells us in His word that we will have trials but He sent His son to overcome it all for us - and He assures us in His word that through our trials and tribulations, He will never leave us. What comfort! Thank God for His comforting words in such times as these we face. When my brother-in-law was in his final stages of his losing battle with cancer, Paul Azinger (the PGA golfer of which had won a fight with cancer) called Jeff to give him these words, "it's not what we accomplish in life that matters, it's what we overcome". Even in losing that wonderful man, those words have been etched in my mind for so many years and only now have I really been able to understand what they mean. I believe it's the "overcoming" that is truly the measure of man and brings everything into perspective. I thank God for His teachings in my life and for our precious Jodie, who teaches me and shows me new blessings every day, and for what she has already overcome, is a true legacy and hero.

We have so much to thank God for what he has done over the past week. His healing hand continues to lay upon Jodie and so please keep praying!
Jodie has been at Methodist rehab since last Friday. Her surgery last week to put in a new shunt went well, and Jodie has been doing good since. She had a "slow Saturday" (she slept a lot and didn't interact with us much) but she must have been resting up for what all she's been doing today!

She started her rehab therapy today and has a wonderful group of therapists. She also got to meet and interact with "Fair" the golden retriever therapy dog. She has therapy from 9am to 3pm with some breaks and a break for lunch, so needless to say, Jodie is being "worked". All worth it - the prize is worth all the pain and hard work!

Last Thursday, Jodie ate "real food" for the first time since her accident. Not thickened, but actual real food (or as real as hospital food can be!). Her first meal we fed her was chopped BBQ chicken with cheesy scalloped potatoes, green beans and strawberry shortcake, along with milk and tea! She ate every bite we offered her - it must have worn her out because she feel asleep while eating! She has had many more different foods since then and has really seemed to enjoy it. Jodie has always loved to eat and I know she was just so ready to get to this point. Beth made her lasagna this weekend and brought it to her. Hiram said that he's sure she's ready to eat some of my grandmother's good cookin'. Of course, most of what she eats is chopped or puree' to make it easier for her to chew and swallow but it's all "real"! How awesome to have food for the first time all over again!!

Also, another "first" occurred tonight as Hiram, Mary Allyn and I arrived to visit and tell her good-night! She has had only the best nurses and when we rounded the corner tonight, nurse Jean said that Jodie had just had a shower. Of course, at first I thought she meant one of those "spit baths or cat baths" that she'd been getting but after I said 4 times "you mean a real shower", she finally told me to just go down and see for myself! I swear Jodie has not looked (or smelled) so good in over 5 months! Not to say that she hasn't been getting bathed or good bed baths but there's nothing like a real shower to make you feel better! Mama assisted Jean while they showered her - I think Beth was crying over the phone when we told her the good news. I never realized how much rejoicing one shower could be!

Another "first" is that we saw the first signs of real emotion, when Jodie cried today. Mama said around lunch, after her morning therapy, she was streaming tears - we don't know why - but as sad as it sounds, it's really "good news" that she felt an emotion (or pain) that upset her or touched her. Jodie's like the rest of us and has always been an emotional person, so to see that come out in her again was a blessing. She even had tears and seemed to cry again when we left her tonight. It's amazing the blessings that God gives to us, even in our tears!
Please pray that she continues to progress and that God's healing will continue over her body. I pray that I continue to have good news to report to you on her progress at rehab. Of course, I realize that with all things, Jodie may still and most likely will encounter bad days and our roller coaster will continue to go up and down and even spin us around at times, but it's all for God's ultimate plan -
God shows us miracles every day - even if you don't get to experience them firsthand here with Jodie, we all rejoice the same. I pray for God's miracles to each of you this week and to come.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace. Romans 15:13

September 13

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. --Romans 5:3-4

Jodie is having surgery to insert a new shunt (where they removed the old one) tomorrow - Tuesday @ 6:30am. By the time most of you read this, she'll be in surgery or in recovery. Either way, I just wanted to let you all know so you could remember her in prayer this week.

Following this surgery, the doctors will decide if they will send her to Methodist Rehab. Otherwise, we will continue with our plan to take Jodie home to Greenwood until she is ready to be admitted into rehab.

In the next 2 to 6 weeks, she will have surgery to put her "bone flap" back in (this is the piece of skull they removed shortly after her accident to relieve pressure on the brain when she had the craniotomy). It was sent from Memphis this week.

I pray for God's healing miracles upon Jodie this very night and into the morning and the rest of the day and weeks to come. I pray for the doctors and nurses who administer her care. I pray for my mother who is at Jodie's side. I pray for healing currents to overflow on Jodie and that God will grant her peace and rest to recover from her surgery, and ultimately her injury, specifically her brain. Oh, Great Physician, bless her and keep Jodie close in your arms. In Jesus name, Amen.

Thank you for the many who have visited, called, emailed or remembered Jodie and our family in your thoughts and prayers. God is taking care of us all. We continue to have faith and hope that Jodie will be healed and that God's will be done in Jodie's life, as well as those who surround her and love her.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and please continue to pray for her. She's fightin' hard and we're prayin' hard so with God on our side, all things are possible!!

Take care and God bless,
Jennifer