We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and the New Year brings you all the best
As always we want to thank everyone who has hung in there with us this almost 3 years (April 3, 2004), wow! 3 years seems like a long time but yet it seems to fly by. When I think how far she has come - it is still amazing even to me! If anyone you know says there are no such things as miracles - send them to see Jodie. Your prayers have been such a major part of the healing process for her and for me; I could not have made it without knowing all of you were praying so hard for her.
We never know why these things happen, we just know that God has plans and although we may never know "why" - we just have to believe. I have had so many people come and tell me that Jodie is such an inspiration to everyone around her and they have actually been able to witness her miracle. I take no credit for anything that has happened and when people comment on what I do or have done, it is nothing more than anyone else I know would do for a child they love.
The Baclofen pump is still doing good things for her and except for the right arm she has much less muscle spasm issues. She goes every 3 months for a "pump refill" and as the dose increases the times will get closer together. Jodie, who hates needles, is not real excited about the refills, as they fill the pump by inserting the needle into the pump. It is located on her left side just below and to the left of her belly button. She has a prescription for the numbing cream to put on about 2 hours before and that helps to some extent.
Jodie had outpatient surgery back in November to remove scar tissue from her airway which was more than likely caused from the breathing tube she had for about 6 weeks after the accident. As soon as I got to her after recovery, she was jabbering - a lot I couldn’t understand but I certainly understood her saying “I wanna go home”. Her voice is different now, a bit - it's much deeper and raspy than before the accident - you can see that it takes a lot for her to speak. But I am so glad to hear her - that’s the main thing. Her favorite is “I love you” and I tell her "I love you more" then she says “I love you more”. Some days it just seems easier for her to say things than other days. Her newest thing is when she wakes up in the night, she calls me to let me know she wants something – but it sure is good to hear her yell "Mama".
Her sassy ways come to the surface regularly and one of the funniest happened at rehab. When Geneva (her sitter) takes her she signs Jodie in....one day when they got to rehab and before Rae (one of her therapists) could hand Geneva the clipboard, Jodie reached over and grabbed teh pen and signed herself in. I think they all were unbelievably excited about that performance. When they showed me the sign in sheet I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry because I could definitely see the J and o. Whenever I have her write those are the 2 letters that are the easiest for her to do - after that you can’t quite make it out.
Another one of her little attitude show-outs happens if she wants something and you aren’t paying attention, she will reach over and grab your arm and pull it to her. One time she snatched me so hard I landed in her lap, needless to say she thought that was funny. When I tell Geneva some smarty thing Jodie did, Geneva will ask her, “Jodie did you do that” and Jodie will turn toward her with the biggest "jodie smirk" you have ever seen. I love it when we see her personality shine through.
Last weekend Beth, Jennifer, Jodie and I were going shopping. Beth and Jennifer were telling a funny story that happened to them after their first trip to Atlanta to see Jodie at the Shepherd Center - we were all laughing about it and all of a sudden Jodie laughed out loud with us. We got so excited to hear her interact with us in that way. She laughed out loud again later that afternoon on another tale they were sharing.
Jodie loves all the babies and we are getting a bunch – she loves to hold them but they grow so fast and don’t want to sit still for long. She got to hold the newest addition last weekend -big brother Andy and his wife, Rachelle, have a baby girl born January 9th, Andi Claire. Sumner likes to hug & kiss but not sit still in her lap. Baby Hiram will sit still for a little while and rub on her face but Mary Allyn and John Hollis are now too big BUT occasionally they will try to climb up and sit on her lap and they always love to give her hugs and kisses. They also like to tickle her feet, which always gets her tickled.
I got her a dog, Coco, in November to be her "lap dog" and Coco did really well at first, but now she is a typical puppy and is too busy playing to sit still for a very long time. She does sleep with Jodie most every night and will sit with her for awhile and do her job of licking her hands. I know some might say that’s gross, but in Hippocrates writings he talks about the healing power of dog licks - so Coco does what she was hired for – licking! She is white and fluffy about 7-9 months old, part Bichon Frise and Shih-Tzu and we found her at the Humane Shelter – perfect personality for Jodie.
There are two verses that I love and have been Jodie’s through this journey – "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11. The other is – "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible for you". I love both of them. A friend of mine gave me the first one 4 or 5 years before Jodie’s accident and then one of her angels, Karen, gave it to Jodie in a frame just before she left for Atlanta. The mustard seed was given to me by my grandmother when I was a little girl and she gave me a necklace to always remember it. I hadn’t thought about in years until we were in the Med and Hiram bought a card for me with the mustard seed verse on it. They are both so fitting for Jodie because the Lord continues to prosper her and every day is a day better for her and she certainly has the faith.
With all your thoughts and prayers and the Lord's blessings, she will keep getting better and better.
God bless,
Nancy (Jodie's mom)
As always we want to thank everyone who has hung in there with us this almost 3 years (April 3, 2004), wow! 3 years seems like a long time but yet it seems to fly by. When I think how far she has come - it is still amazing even to me! If anyone you know says there are no such things as miracles - send them to see Jodie. Your prayers have been such a major part of the healing process for her and for me; I could not have made it without knowing all of you were praying so hard for her.
We never know why these things happen, we just know that God has plans and although we may never know "why" - we just have to believe. I have had so many people come and tell me that Jodie is such an inspiration to everyone around her and they have actually been able to witness her miracle. I take no credit for anything that has happened and when people comment on what I do or have done, it is nothing more than anyone else I know would do for a child they love.
The Baclofen pump is still doing good things for her and except for the right arm she has much less muscle spasm issues. She goes every 3 months for a "pump refill" and as the dose increases the times will get closer together. Jodie, who hates needles, is not real excited about the refills, as they fill the pump by inserting the needle into the pump. It is located on her left side just below and to the left of her belly button. She has a prescription for the numbing cream to put on about 2 hours before and that helps to some extent.
Jodie had outpatient surgery back in November to remove scar tissue from her airway which was more than likely caused from the breathing tube she had for about 6 weeks after the accident. As soon as I got to her after recovery, she was jabbering - a lot I couldn’t understand but I certainly understood her saying “I wanna go home”. Her voice is different now, a bit - it's much deeper and raspy than before the accident - you can see that it takes a lot for her to speak. But I am so glad to hear her - that’s the main thing. Her favorite is “I love you” and I tell her "I love you more" then she says “I love you more”. Some days it just seems easier for her to say things than other days. Her newest thing is when she wakes up in the night, she calls me to let me know she wants something – but it sure is good to hear her yell "Mama".
Her sassy ways come to the surface regularly and one of the funniest happened at rehab. When Geneva (her sitter) takes her she signs Jodie in....one day when they got to rehab and before Rae (one of her therapists) could hand Geneva the clipboard, Jodie reached over and grabbed teh pen and signed herself in. I think they all were unbelievably excited about that performance. When they showed me the sign in sheet I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry because I could definitely see the J and o. Whenever I have her write those are the 2 letters that are the easiest for her to do - after that you can’t quite make it out.
Another one of her little attitude show-outs happens if she wants something and you aren’t paying attention, she will reach over and grab your arm and pull it to her. One time she snatched me so hard I landed in her lap, needless to say she thought that was funny. When I tell Geneva some smarty thing Jodie did, Geneva will ask her, “Jodie did you do that” and Jodie will turn toward her with the biggest "jodie smirk" you have ever seen. I love it when we see her personality shine through.
Last weekend Beth, Jennifer, Jodie and I were going shopping. Beth and Jennifer were telling a funny story that happened to them after their first trip to Atlanta to see Jodie at the Shepherd Center - we were all laughing about it and all of a sudden Jodie laughed out loud with us. We got so excited to hear her interact with us in that way. She laughed out loud again later that afternoon on another tale they were sharing.
Jodie loves all the babies and we are getting a bunch – she loves to hold them but they grow so fast and don’t want to sit still for long. She got to hold the newest addition last weekend -big brother Andy and his wife, Rachelle, have a baby girl born January 9th, Andi Claire. Sumner likes to hug & kiss but not sit still in her lap. Baby Hiram will sit still for a little while and rub on her face but Mary Allyn and John Hollis are now too big BUT occasionally they will try to climb up and sit on her lap and they always love to give her hugs and kisses. They also like to tickle her feet, which always gets her tickled.
I got her a dog, Coco, in November to be her "lap dog" and Coco did really well at first, but now she is a typical puppy and is too busy playing to sit still for a very long time. She does sleep with Jodie most every night and will sit with her for awhile and do her job of licking her hands. I know some might say that’s gross, but in Hippocrates writings he talks about the healing power of dog licks - so Coco does what she was hired for – licking! She is white and fluffy about 7-9 months old, part Bichon Frise and Shih-Tzu and we found her at the Humane Shelter – perfect personality for Jodie.
There are two verses that I love and have been Jodie’s through this journey – "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11. The other is – "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible for you". I love both of them. A friend of mine gave me the first one 4 or 5 years before Jodie’s accident and then one of her angels, Karen, gave it to Jodie in a frame just before she left for Atlanta. The mustard seed was given to me by my grandmother when I was a little girl and she gave me a necklace to always remember it. I hadn’t thought about in years until we were in the Med and Hiram bought a card for me with the mustard seed verse on it. They are both so fitting for Jodie because the Lord continues to prosper her and every day is a day better for her and she certainly has the faith.
With all your thoughts and prayers and the Lord's blessings, she will keep getting better and better.
God bless,
Nancy (Jodie's mom)
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