Jodie update

We recently returned from another visit to Dr. Leslie at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Everything went great and Dr. Leslie increased the dosage to Jodie’s baclofen pump a good bit, which I hope will help her loosen up some more.

On this visit we got to see Perry Ann Williams, the Regional Marketing Manager at Shepherd - she had not seen Jodie since we were discharged 3 years ago. When she walked in the room and saw us, she started crying. She kept telling Jodie how beautiful she is and how glad she was to see her. Perry Ann took pictures of us and they are posted along with this update. And I have to agree with her – Jodie does look beautiful! It is so strange because I see Jodie everyday and of course I know how well she’s doing, but when I saw these pictures I was even blown away at how great she looks. Her progress has truly been sent from above. Everyone at Shepherd says they think about us every day as they pass the Viking store coming to work!

Another notable – it takes awhile to empty out the old baclofen before they add the new and Jodie was ready to be finished – imagine Jodie impatient – so Dr. Leslie told her to count to 10 and then he’d be finished. He started counting and she mouthed it right along with him! She is really trying to say a lot of words, but I just can’t quite understand what she is saying sometimes - but I have faith that soon she’ll be able to say her words clearer so we can understand her better.

Jodie has also seen two other new doctors recently and we have been very excited about them. Dr. Ruth Fredericks in Jackson is her neurologist and has requested to see her every 2 ½ months so she can get to know her more and follow her needs – she is very knowledgeable in brain injuries and we feel she will be a great asset to Jodie’s care.

We also recently had an appointment with Dr. Daneca DiPaolo, an orthopedic doctor here in Greenwood. She is working on trying to get some more use to Jodie’s right arm. Right now it is contracted at the elbow and she cannot straighten it completely out. I had originally asked Dr. DiPaolo about tendon release (like Jodie had done on her feet) but she wants to try splinting first - the only problem is Jodie despises the splints and can get them off, which she usually does! Sometimes, as fast as I put one on, she takes it off – I’ve decided that she is turning into Houdini! Hopefully, with more use, she will begin to get comfortable with the splints and they will do their job.

As you can see, Jodie continues to progress. We thank you for keeping up with Jodie and we ask for your continued prayers for her recovery. It’s been a long journey and we still have a long way to go, but with the love, support and prayers from our friends, family and prayer warriors - the journey is a smoother ride. We thank God for Jodie and for each of you.


Nancy



Pictures taken at Shepherd Center - August 2007
Jodie, Nancy and Dr. Leslie

Update from Shepherd Center visit

Dear Friends, Family and Prayer Warriors,

I just want to update everyone on Jodie’s visit to the Shepherd Center, 5 days short of the 3rd anniversary of her arrival there the first time.

It was wonderful-- of course it is all very different as they are in the middle of a $60,000,000 addition project. More beds, bigger facilities, another parking garage and it will have small condos where families can stay when they come for a check up.

The best part of all was seeing the expressions on people’s faces when they saw us. I know they recognized me but not Jodie because if you saw the pictures in the last update they last saw her at the 2 ½ month stage. They were all stunned to see how far she has come and to see their mouths literally drop open when they saw her was so wonderful. I guess I see her everyday and although I know how far she has come seeing their expressions was the best boost I could have asked for.

We literally ran into Dr. Leslie in the hall and he just grabbed her, hugged her and just kept looking at her. We also saw all of her therapists and some of her nurses, and to say they were shocked would be an understatement.

Dr. Leslie asked about her baclofen pump, the dosage and what they were currently doing for Jodie at Methodist Rehab. They calibrate her pump dosage by computer and they have this thing that looks like a baby computer mouse that they place on top of her skin over the pump. He increased it 10% to help with her tone, and the level is now at 300 -- we will see him again on June 20th and I believe he will kick it up again.

We also discussed the problems with her right arm which she cannot straighten; it is basically locked at the elbow. He advised doing a partial release of the elbow in order for her to have some chance of getting use of that arm. He said with the position the arm is in now, she will never be able to use it. So that is something I want to get done in the fall and will discuss this with him in June.

He left the exam room and stayed gone for awhile and when he came back, Mrs. Shepherd was with him. She was absolutely shocked when she saw Jodie, she rushed across the room to hug us and just kept saying over and over how great Jodie looked. He had not told her where they were going - just that he had to show her something in the clinic – and she was so glad for the surprise. She told Dr. Leslie to be sure and take pictures of Jodie before we left. After she left the room, they sent for a camera and took plenty of pictures of Jodie.

No wonder we love it so much there, everyone is kind and caring beyond any words I could ever use to describe.

The plan right now is to go back in June and get her pump filled again and discuss the plans for her arm and the surgery release. In the meantime, I hope to soon speak with Dr. Willingham the new local physiatrist (whole body doctor). We would like to find some doctors in the surrounding area that use baclofen pumps for their patients, so we can get it filled here (closer to home) and then maybe twice a year we will go to Atlanta. We may have her arm release surgery done in Atlanta with the same doctors that did the tendon release on her feet 3 years ago.

God has shined graciously on Jodie and continues to do so. I wish I had taken a picture of her this morning holding Andi Claire (Andy’s baby), she was smiling from ear to ear and it was the kind of smile that lights up her eyes and not just her mouth turned up. When we all see how far she has come, only God could have performed this miracle of healing. I love to think of all the prayers that everyone has sent up for Jodie and I know he knew that she was loved and cared for by so many that he wanted all of us to be fortunate enough to witness a true miracle. And that is what Jodie is - a true God-given miracle.

I ask for your continued prayers as Jodie’s Journey continues - you have helped all of us so much and those prayers have given her the strength to keep moving forward.

Love in Christ,
Nancy and Jodie

P.S. As a funny side note – CoCo (the little white fluffy dog I got Jodie in November) was the recent winner of the Greenwood River to the Rails “Paws Parade”. CoCo sat on a pink pillow in Jodie’s lap, wearing a little pink doggy dress and pink bow in her hair, as I pushed them in the parade. Out of the 50+ entries, CoCo was named Miss Leflore County Humane Society and sat on a throne (wash tub) wearing a long red Queen’s robe. She will now ride in the Christmas parade because of her illustrious title! It was a hoot to see, as you can witness in the attached pictures of Jodie and her majesty, Queen CoCo.

Jodie update - 3 years

Dear Family, Friends and Prayer Warriors:

It is hard to believe that it has been 3 years since Jodie's accident. Some days it feels like it's been forever and other times it seems like minutes.

When I look at her it is so amazing to see how far she has come from that frightening night. I will never forget those first hours - the "not knowing" on the trip to Memphis and then the days and weeks that followed.

When most people hear about "traumatic brain injury", they tend to think that the injured person is "brain dead" but in most cases nothing is farther from the truth. TBI means that part of the brain has been damaged and some life functions are affected and are different and have changed. In Jodie’s' case the part of her brain that is damaged controls her speech and her ability to use her right side and controls her movement ability. But her mind remains so sharp - it constantly amazes everyone around her.

I will never forget the first time she cried after the accident - I was excited beyond belief, I know that sounds strange but in some cases of TBI the injured person cannot cry. It's unbelievable the things we get excited about, things that everyone just takes for granted. The smile on her face that lights up her eyes, seeing how she looks at her nieces and nephews, and especially the times she knows she has done something mischievous or just plain funny, when she calls for me in the night or the best when she tells me she loves me. She tries so hard to do anything she can and of course some things are easier than others.

The Lord has truly blessed Jodie and our family - wWhen we learned how many people were praying for her it was just unbelievable that so many people cared. There is no way that we can ever thank everyone enough for praying and continuing to keep her in your prayers. It is easy for us to keep things in our mind for awhile but then so many other things happen and it is harder to stay focused. To know that you all are still praying is what makes things so much easier and comforting. If anyone ever says prayers do not work or there are no such things as miracles - send them to meet Jodie.

Six days short of the third anniversary of her going to the Shepherd Center, she returns for a check up. At this time we have an appointment on April 24, 2007 at 2:00 pm and will see Dr. Leslie and Dr. Kaelin. It is exciting and hopeful - I just hope and pray that she has progressed far enough that she can go back into rehab there.

I know I ask a lot but I hope that you will continue to keep Jodie in yours prayers – you have done a fantastic job and we will never forget.

Love to all,

Nancy & Jodie

Jodie - 2 1/2 weeks after accident.....

Jodie - 2 1/2 months after accident....

Jodie and Nancy today...

Jermiah 29:11

Recent picture of Jodie

Recent Pictures

Grandmother's Birthday Reception
"Jodie and Mamaw" (August 27th)















Jodie's Birthday Party (August 28th)













Jodie with John Hollis, Mary Allyn, Andy,
Beth & Jennifer













"Birthday loot"












Jodie and family

July 7 pictures

Mama, Jodie, The Ewing's








Jodie walking

Jodie head up








Jodie smiling

Jodie picture before accident