http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jodietharp

Read updates on Jodie's Journey at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jodietharp

Jodie's CaringBridge website

I just wanted to let all of you blog followers of Jodie's Journey know that I have created a CaringBridge website for Jodie so that we can more easily update you on Jodie. I think you will all really enjoy using the CaringBridge website to receive updates on Jodie. You can choose to receive update notifications to your email from CaringBridge! That is so great - and honestly it's easier on me so I don't leave anyone out of notifying them about Jodie's updates. You can also view pictures and sign her guestbook. So I encourage you to visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jodietharp and read the latest updates on Jodie.

But don't fret - Jodie's Journey blog will still be here so you can read old posts and information on Jodie. You can still send her messages on the blog, as well.

Thank you so much for loving, caring and praying for Jodie!!!

Jodie in hospital

Please pray for Jodie. She was admitted to Greenwood hospital Sunday night after having a small seizure and running high fever all day. They did chest xray in ER and she has pneumonia. She has had a rough couple days. Please pray for her to get better and be able to come home soon. Also, please pray for rest for Mama - she's been staying with her overnight at the hospital. Thank you!

jennifer

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JODIE!!

Jodie turns 28 today :) Thanks for your continued prayers - please keep on praying! Prayer is the best present Jodie (or any of us) can and will ever receive! Jeremiah 29:11

.....In thinking about and reflecting on my little sister's birthday, I read back over the update I posted on her 23rd birthday, 5 years ago today. She's come a long way in 5 years but one thing hasn't and will never change - my love and admiration for Jodie. She is my hero. If you have time, read below what I pasted from my birthday update 5 years ago.....
-jennifer

August 31, 2004: Update
O God, for another day, for another morning, for another hour, for another minute, for another chance to live and serve Thee, I am truly grateful.

One of our prayer warriors sent this prayer in another email regarding a cancer survivor, and with it being only minutes away from Jodie's birthday - those words make me think of Jodie and how grateful I am for her and to have been able to have her in my life for 23 years. This is probably the most special birthday to me because so many times we get caught up in the excitement of "birthdays" and getting presents that it's often forgotten to just be thankful and how blessed we are to have life and spend it with people we love, those who God has blessed us with.

Tonight I'm more grateful and thankful than ever to be able to celebrate this birthday with Jodie. I was only 3 years old on the day she was born but I do remember it. I remember pouting because everybody kept telling me that I wouldn't be the baby anymore and I'd get a new sibling (my dad wanted it to be a surprise but my mom didn't so she found out and didn't tell anyone - except that Beth found the "pink" baby clothes Mama had hid in her closet). Beth, Bubby and I stayed at my grandparent's house while Mama was in the hospital and if I close my eyes I remember being there and remembering what their house looked like. I remember wondering what it would be like to have a new sister (because I already had one and she was just fine) - I didn't really realize what all this new baby stuff was going to be like. I had no idea that very "baby" would become my best friend. She, Beth and I have always been best friends - and sisters - we got to have our cake and eat it too. For that I am also grateful. Plus we have the best brother any 3 girls could have ever hoped for. What lucky parents we have! (ha)

Anyway, I guess I'm just rambling on but I wanted to share with you that because I wouldn't trade these 23 years with Jodie for all the riches in the world. And I thank God that He let us keep her - that's how I know He has great plans for her and I have faith that His divine healing will overflow upon her. We've all been racking our brains trying to decide what to get Jodie for her birthday, wanting to get her something she would need(we usually don't have this problem because she always picks things out and tells us what she wants) - and then tonight I got an email from the same prayer warrior that I mentioned above and she said she was sending Jodie the best present she could offer - PRAYER. And I realized - (duh) - That's ALL she needs! Sure, she'll enjoy the presents, but at this point all she needs is prayer.

Thank you all for those prayers that you've been sending up for Jodie since April 3rd. God is still listening and healing. Thank you also to the many of you who have sent her birthday cards - my mailbox has never been this full with mail (other than bills) and I read them all to her in the 1:00 afternoon visit today. I could tell she perked up when I was reading them to her and showing them to her. I just wanted to remind her how loved she is and how many people are praying for her. She's such a fighter. And I want you all to know that Jodie knows who is healing her - Jodie is a Christian, too, and she has faith - she's got God on her side! When we pray over her, she closes her eyes - isn't that amazing to know that she's praying along with us!

Jodie is back home...

Jodie came home from the hospital today and Mama said she has been sleeping a lot and resting. Thanks for your prayers and please continue to pray for her.

We believe prayer works!

God's love,
Jennifer

update on jodie

Please pray for Jodie - she had a seizure tonight and had to be taken to the ER here in Greenwood. She spiked a fever quickly and started seizuring while Mama was feeding her supper.

I just got home from hospital - after all the tests, they found she has a urinary infection that probably caused the spike in fever that caused the seizure. They admitted her to the hospital and giving her iv meds. Mama is staying with her at the hospital tonight. I wiill let you know when she gets to go home.

Please continue to keep Jodie and Mama in your prayers.

We believe prayer works!

Jennifer

Update on Nancy's surgery

Hi everyone,

Just wanted you to know that Mama's surgery went well yesterday. The doctor was able to relieve the pressure on her Ulna nerve in her left arm, and she is at home recuperating. Her follow-up appointment is next Tuesday, so we should know more at that time. Please continue to keep her and Jodie in your prayers.

All my best,
Beth

Update on Jodie

Jodie has been doing well since her last seizure in May. She was briefly hospitalized while they tried to figure out the source of her infection that spiked the fever; but after several rounds of testing, they never determined the source.  She was released home to IV antibiotics and has been feeling good ever since.  

She's been being herself lately and bossing me around.  The other morning I got up and when I passed by her room I looked in and she had her "mean face" staring at me and was motioning me in there with her finger.  She told her therapist "Hey, Dale" a few weeks ago during therapy and this morning she told Geneva, her sitter, "good morning".

 

I've been having pain in my arm and shoulder lately and the doctor says that I have a compressed ulna nerve and am scheduled for surgery here in Greenwood on Wednesday, the 22^nd - and it can’t come soon enough.  It feels like someone is hitting my funny bone 24/7. I've been putting it off long enough and now the pain is so that I can't wait any longer.  Doc says I'll be in a hard cast for 10 days and several weeks of recovery afterwards.  Please say prayers for me next Wednesday and the days following as I recover. I know my darling children and grandchildren will help nurse me back to feeling better.

Jodie went back to Methodist Rehab to see the new physiatrist doctor they have on staff, Dr. Parrilla.  Jodie and I both really liked her a lot after our first visit.  She asked a lot of questions and was real attentive to Jodie and made us feel comfortable.  She Botoxed Jodie’s hands a few weeks ago and the left one is doing great and there is some looseness in the right.  Doc does not want to do much with the right leg right now because if her right leg gets too limber, it would make it more difficult to stand or walk - well, her walking is a few steps with her therapist.  Since the Botox, Jodie seems much more relaxed.  

 

We have a kitty named Whiskers (an adopted pound kitten) that defies everything you ever heard about cats.  She is not aloof but rather nosy – so much so that she gets in purses and drags out whatever you have in there.  When the nurses gave Jodie home IV meds after her last seizure, they had to put Whiskers in the bathroom because she would not keep her nose out of what they were doing.  Jodie and Whiskers have had a few issues lately – the kitty was in Jodie’s bed and Jodie was trying to kick it out.  Whiskers was quite happy in the bed and wasn’t going anywhere – finally Jodie took her knee and pinned the cat to the bed.  The cat went nuts trying to get away and a few scratches occurred.

 

All the grandkids were at the house a week or so ago and, as usual, they were wild.  Jodie loves them so much but often they get rather loud and rambunctious – she gave them a few looks, which did no good at all.  Finally, when they left she looked at me with the most “WOW thank goodness they're gone” look.  Loud, sustained noises make her nervous, but those wild ones make enough noise to make a rock nervous.  They are so darn cute, sweet and precious that they can get away with lots of things around me and Jodie.

 

If you haven’t seen Jodie’s recent paintings, go to www.msbia.org and click on the Art of Recovery link on the left sidebar - Jodie has several paintings featured on the site, Color Me Happy and The Four Ladies (there's a link on the sidebar of this blog).  If anyone would like to bid on her paintings, please do so - it's a tax-deductible donation to the Brain Injury Association of MS. Last year Jodie's friends, Jason and Lisa Clark, bid on and won Jodie's painting.  She has more that she is working on and a couple completed works.   If anyone is interested, I will post them on the blog soon and you can let me know if you'd like to order a "Jodie original"! 

 

For the 5^th anniversary of her accident (April 4^th) Beth & Jenn decided we would have a cake to celebrate her life and how far she has come.  It was very special for all of us to have her with us and to be celebrating life and God's blessings.

 

I ask that you please continue to keep Jodie in your prayers. Your continued love and support mean so much to all of us.  We hope you're all having a great summer and don’t get too sunburned.

With God's love,

Nancy

PS:  My girls have now set me up on Facebook, so visit me there, too: Nancy Senner Tharp.  We're trying to figure out how to set up a Jodie's Journey group on FB so if you know how, let us know!!

Update on Jodie

Thanks for your prayers for Jodie.  She is doing well.  She is better from her pneumonia and is still painting.  Please continue to pray for her and her recovery - it means so much.  We believe prayer works!!!

In His Name,

Jennifer

Prayers for Jodie

Please pray for Jodie - she had a mild seizure on Friday coming home from therapy, as the result of a spiked fever.  She went to the ER and they found early pneumonia.  We were thankful that it was caught early and she was given antibiotics in the ER.  She went home late that afternoon and has been resting at home all weekend.  She has not had much of an appetite and has been sick a couple of times today, throwing up.  Mama is going to check in with the doctor tomorrow (Monday).  We pray that she will feel better soon and that her pneumonia will be healed quickly.  We don't want any more setbacks for her.  

Other than this illness, she has been doing good lately with the current medications.  She has been more alert and is vocalizing more and her pincher grasp ability has gotten better.  As mama mentioned in the last post, she has been painting again and I think she really enjoys it - it's another therapy, I believe.  

Speaking of therapy, a couple weeks ago Jodie went to see a new therapist in Jackson - an occupational therapist who specializes in vision rehab. Mama recently read about the vision therapy and talked to them to see if Jodie was a candidate for this type of rehab. Jodie has been seeing an eye doctor for the past 6 months or so that has been working on helping with her double vision.    She is still wearing her (stylish) eye glasses and they seem to be helping.  The vision therapy is interesting - there's a lot of different techniques and activities that the therapist works with Jodie on.  Also, she (Ashley) is originally from Greenwood, so it's nice to have that "home" connection.  Jodie will go back again this week on the same day as her next appointment with Dr. Katz.   We are hoping that she will be able to receive the vision therapy on a monthly basis and maybe even twice a month.  We think it will be really beneficial to her continued progress.  

As alway, thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers for Jodie.  We are continually humbled and amazed by all of your support - there's not a day that goes by that someone doesn't ask me "how are Jodie and your mama?".  It just means so much to know that you all still care and pray and that you are in this journey with us.  It makes the load much more bearable to have so many wonderful prayer warriors on Jodie's team.  Jodie continues to fight every day and you can see the determination in her spirit to keep on believing and getting better.  She is such an inspiration to me and I am so blessed to have her as my sister and hero.  

In His Love,

Jennifer

Update on Jodie

I’m so sorry for the delay updating Jodie’s blog, as always we appreciate your interest and continued prayers. I hope everyone is having a happy new year.

We are currently having issues with Jodie’s medication. We’re working with her physician in order to get this straightened out, but it is a very lengthy process. Jodie is on a couple new medications that have made her rather lethargic and not herself. In order to discontinue a medication, we must wait at least 2 weeks to gauge her responsiveness/reaction. At that point, if she has not had a seizure or experienced another reaction, we can make further changes.

As the doctors have told us many times, no 2 brain injuries are alike. There is so much trial and error that goes along with this process, and unfortunately no set protocol that allows you to quickly determine the best course of action for the patient. As a result, that leaves us trying different things in hopes that something will work.

As you may remember, Jodie received a phenol block treatment to her hand in an attempt to loosen it up. Unfortunately, it did not work. It relaxed the index finger too much and really didn’t affect her ring or mid finger. For a time, this has affected her ability to grasp certain things, but she remains steadfast in her efforts and has even started painting again with my assistance. Yesterday she was able to choose her own brushes and the colors she wanted to use. She maneuvered the brush in her hand and would then look at the pallet to decide which color to use next. It is awesome to watch her paint, she tries so hard! I will post some pictures of her artwork on the blog soon so you can see her determination.

I’m happy to report that Jodie has not had a bad seizure in several months and we thank the Lord for this blessing! Her seizure medication has also been altered so we are hopeful that she will remain seizure-free.

Thank you again for your concern - we humbly ask for your continued prayers for Jodie’s healing.

God's love,
Nancy

Thank You

Our family would like to thank everyone for your outpouring of love and sympathy for our family during the loss of our dad.

Thanks to everyone who has prayed, emailed, called, visited, attended the visitation and funeral, sent food, flowers, cards, etc. - everything has just meant so much to all of us. Your expressions of sympathy and the memories of our dad that you have shared with us help give us comfort in this difficult time.

It all would have meant so much to him.

We pray that God will bless each of you during this holiday season and may you have a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

grace and peace,
Jennifer

Our dad's passing...

It is with great sadness that I let you know that our dad, Glen Allen Tharp, has passed away today.

He was a good person with a big heart and was loved by so many people. People still stop me and tell me stories about him when he was younger. I would always call and tell him when someone asked about him and it meant a lot to him, too. He will be missed.

He died early this morning of heart complications. He lived here in Greenwood at Magnolia Manor Apartments. He had many great friendly neighbors that he loved to visit with and talk to. He was driving himself and loved to come and see us and play with the grandkids and visit Jodie. He had been doing good since his stroke 2 years ago and had told us over the weekend that he had a cold and was going to go to the doc today to see if he could get some medicine to get rid of the crud.

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers for our family. Please especially pray for our grandmother, as this is real hard on her, and Jodie. It broke our hearts for Beth, Mama and I to tell her tonight.

God's grace and peace,
Jennifer

www.ofhwinona.com Funeral services for Glen Allen Tharp of Greenwood, formerly of Winona, are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 9, at Lee Chapel in Winona, with burial following at Milligan Springs Baptist Church Cemetery near Kilmichael. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, December 9, at Lee Funeral Home in Winona.

Gala pictures & Update

Sorry that it has taken me so long to post. We moved houses and my little boy broke his leg so it's been busy around my house. Mama and Jodie have been helping us out a lot!

The Brain Injury Association Gala & Fundraiser was a great success. Thanks to everyone who donated items for the auction, bought tickets for the raffle and to Jodie's great friends, Lisa & Jason Clark, for attending the event. Lisa and Jason bid and won the painting that Jodie painted and donated for the "Art of Recovery" fundraiser. They were so excited that they won Jodie's painting and we were so happy that it now belongs to someone very special to us. Also, thanks to Jonathan Nichols (and his mom, Robbie :) for letting us borrow his Ole Miss jerseys to wear for the sports-themed event - we got a lot of compliments!!

Beth and I enjoyed getting to finally meet Dr. Katz - we have heard Mama and others speak so highly of him that we were honored to get to meet him and his wife. He is really concerned and focused on helping Jodie get better. We were also glad to meet other brain injury and spinal cord injury survivors and to hear of their own "journeys" - these are some of the most amazing and inspiring people that I have every had the privilege to meet. Their stories are true testimonies to the Power of Prayer and God's healing grace. We had a wonderful evening!!

We hope that you will continue to support this worthy and special cause - it means so much to us.

Jodie had an appointment with Dr. Katz a couple of weeks ago and like I have said many times, he is focused on gettng Jodie to speak and we couldn't me more excited and supportive of him and his treatment of Jodie. He continues to work on a medicine regimen that is best suited for Jodie and her needs and at times he has to change around her meds to get her on the right track. We continue to pray for Dr. Katz as God directs him in helping Jodie reach her fullest potential.

As always, thank you for your continued love, thoughts and prayers for Jodie - she feels them every day!

Our family would like to wish you a very happy and healthy holiday season - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Blessings,
Jennifer

Update & Invitation

Jodie has been doing good since her last seizure. She has an appointment in Jackson on Friday to have her baclofen pump refilled. Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers for Jodie. Prayer Works!!!

You are all cordially invited to the Brain Injury Association of MS Gala - Jodie, Nancy, Jennifer and Beth will all be there and we would love to have you join us and participate in such a worthy cause! There are still raffle tickets for the Viking package still available and lots of awesome auction items that are unbelievable - the donors have been so generous that we expect this to be the best year ever! Come join us!!!

Prayers for Jodie

Please pray for Jodie. She had a seizure last night and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Mama had been out of town and Jodie had the seizure 5 minutes after Mama walked in the door.
She was released and had a good, restful night.

Please pray that she doesn't have a big setback and that she will bounce back quickly. Also pray that the doctors can find a medicine that will help prevent the frequency of the seizures.

As always, thank you for your thoughts, prayers and concern for Jodie. We believe Prayer Works!!!

Grace and peace,
Jennifer

Update on mom

Mama is doing much better - she went back to work today. We just can't keep that woman down for very long!! The tests came back normal today and confirmed that the nodule they removed was benign. Praise God!!

Thanks again for ALL your prayers for Mama and Jodie.

Prayer Works!!!

Prayers for Mom

We ask for prayers for our mother, Nancy. She is at home recovering from surgery - this morning the doctor removed a small nodule from her thyroid (to the left of her throat). He said it appears to be benign and sent it off to the lab and we will know for sure in 72 hours. We pray for a speedy recovery and, of course, for the doctor to confirm that it is indeed benign.

She was doing well tonight - just very very sore and her throat hurt a lot. But of course she is not a good patient and doesn't like to be the one "waited on" so we had to make her stay in bed and let us "nurse" her for a change.

Jodie is doing good and hopes to see Mama feeling better soon!

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers for Jodie and our family. We believe Prayer Works!!!

God's love and blessings,
Jennifer

Update on Jodie

Sorry that we haven’t posted lately but there has been a lot going on the past few months.   

The latest on her knee/lower thigh: the final diagnosis was Heterotrophic Ossification – which means calcium (bone) was starting to form on top of the muscle. It often happens early in brain injury patients but this happened so long post-accident that they feel she might have possibly bumped it during therapy. It is very painful and she is on 12 weeks of meds.  We also use heat to the area at night or ice during the day as needed.

Jodie is seeing a new physiatrist (remember: whole body doctor), his name is Howard Katz and he is in Jackson. I have decided although he is not our Dr. Leslie in Atlanta, he is as close as we will ever get. At the first visit Dr. Katz asked a lot of questions and we talked about various things and then all of a sudden he says, “You’re going to think I’m crazy, but I want to start with her eyes.” He had been commenting on her eyes and I assumed at first he was talking about how green they are - but he was talking about her focusing problems. He sent us straight to Dr. Joseph who is an Optometrist that works with a lot of brain injury patients. There is no way to describe the kindness and patience that he used with Jodie and she responded in-kind and did all he asked of her. Jodie now has new glasses and she picked out the frames – when we showed her several styles she didn’t show much interest until I told her one was Kate Spade. Our Jodie has never lost her good taste – once she found out they were the most expensive of the ones we looked at, of course those were her pick!  She looks so sophisticated in her new glasses and she is good with keeping them on all day.

We saw Dr. Katz again a few weeks ago and he was thrilled with the changes he had already noticed with her eyes. When I told him that she had a seizure 4 days before, he said that was our new focus - to find the right meds that will completely control the seizures, as they put her back at least 2 weeks every time she has one. I told him that was true except for the one she had last November that set her back 6 months. He has now started her on another medicine he thinks will prevent these seizures. He is also adding a new medicine that he hopes will help her talk - we are all excited about this one and pray that it works. Dr. Katz also wants her seen by an ENT again to scope her for scar tissue again on her vocal cords – we see Dr. Lambdin on Sept 4th for this test. I also want Dr. Lambdin to check her nose to see if it might be causing some of the loud breathing issues – she broke her nose in the wreck and it has never been addressed because there were more pressing issues.

Back in January I became a board member for the Brain Injury Association of MS and I was so honored and excited to be asked to be part of this group. One of the first events that followed was a program at the State Capitol called Art of Recovery – this was an art show and a brain injury awareness function for all the legislators. Jodie had been dabbling some with painting so she did a painting  for the show  (look for link at bottom of post). Her works are abstract and we think they are awesome - the best part is to look at them and see what you find in her painting.  In this particular painting, there is what looks like an angel fish, another fish and a figure kneeling and praying over another figure (I swear it looks like Mary kneeling over Jesus). This painting is among 25 others that were done by brain injury survivors and has been touring the state and will be at MS Rehab in the next week or so. 

Anyone can bid (sealed bids) on the pictures and the winners will be announced at the annual Gala, being held on October 18th at the MS Sports Museum in Jackson. It is a costume type shindig and you can come dressed in any type of sporting attire. There is a silent auction, food, and a band – tickets are $50 and all proceeds go to the Brain Injury Association. Also, we are raffling off a Viking Culinary Package donated by Viking Range Corp. that is worth over $3000!!  Tickets are 1 for $5;  3 for $10; and 10 for $20 – please let me know if you are interested.

As you can see, we've had a lot going on and more exciting things to come!  

We thank everyone for all of your prayers and we ask that you continue to pray for Jodie. God is hearing your prayers and has brought her so far – we have been truly blessed.

God's blessings to all,

Nancy

Art of Recovery:  www.msbia.org - Go to the website and click on Art of Recovery (left sidebar, 4th from the bottom) and open the 2008 group. Scroll down to the bottom to see Jodie's artwork, Journey.  You will also recognize Jodie in the picture on the BIA homepage!!!

update on knee

At first it was thought she had cellulitis, but had no relief from antibiotics. On Thursday the bone scan showed osteomylitis which is a serious infection in the bone and they ordered an MRI for Friday. Then on Friday afternoon they determined that she did not have osteomylitis. Somewhat good news is that she does not have a severe infection where the femur and knee join but it is just to the bone and has not entered the bone. Jodie was discharged from the hospital last night (Friday night) and for the rest of the weekend home health will give her IV antibiotics at home and then on Monday Dr. Moses will decide if we need to continue the IV or can we go to oral antibiotics.

We have an appointment soon to see a new doctor (physiatrist), Dr. Katz, and we pray that he will be able to help Jodie continue to heal.

God bless you all and thanks for your continued prayers for Jodie.