Prayers for a little girl

[pcford]

Things are looking up a bit. She's still comatose, but after 30 days she's out of I.C.U. and into the re-hab wing of the hospital. She's been there for a week or so, now. She's able to follow some simple commands such as move her limbs when told to and seems to be trying to mouth words when asked. The docs expect her to wake up a lot more in the next few weeks. They seem to be satisfied with her progress..

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That's wonderful...hope the progress comes ever faster!!

[Paul Pless]

Things are looking up a bit. She's still comatose, but after 30 days she's out of I.C.U. and into the re-hab wing of the hospital. She's been there for a week or so, now. She's able to follow some simple commands such as move her limbs when told to and seems to be trying to mouth words when asked. The docs expect her to wake up a lot more in the next few weeks. They seem to be satisfied with her progress..

Thank you for passing on some good news.

A fundraising spaghetti dinner was held in her small hometown this past weekend. Nine hundred people showed up. Family, friends and total strangers (mostly people who had never heard of her) came together and raised over $15,000 for the family. This money will go a long way in helping with everyday expenses. Both parents had to take leaves of absence from work to take care of the girl. Hopefully, she can be transferred closer to home this summer.

I know you are not asking, but if we wanted to send along a donation is there an organization and address that is accepting them for this family?

[brad9798]

GREAT news, Richard ... continued prayers ...

B

[Rich Jones]

Thank you for passing on some good news.I know you are not asking, but if we wanted to send along a donation is there an organization and address that is accepting them for this family?

I really appreciate the thought, but I wouldn't ask for donations here on an open Forum and I don't know if I'd be violating Forum Rules. There is an account to send money to, but for privacy reasons, again, I wouldn't post it on an open Forum. If you like, you can PM me and I'll give you the info and bank's address. Thanks for the thought.

[B_B]

Any news? Did a lot of driving over the last two weeks, much of it with a trailer; this story haunted me every time I hooked it up.

[Rum_Pirate]

Fingers still crossed and another positive thought and prayer sent.

[2MeterTroll]

any news?

[Rich Jones]

It's been almost three months since the accident and she's still in sad shape. Not awake, not asleep. Stuck in a limbo world. She can wiggle her toes when told to and such things like that, but no real consciousness. Still has the feeding tube in her belly.
She's due to come home to her northern N.Y State home from North Carolina on July 10th. She'll be well enough to travel, so her prents want her home. Nothing more the hospital down there can do for her. So, she's got years if not a lifetime of therapy ahead of her.

I just spent a week at her home renovating a bathroom for handicap use. Along with two of her uncles, I knocked down walls and made an 8'X10' bath. It's got a fully tiled roll-in shower, so her wheelchair can be rolled right in without having to jump over a curb. The entire bathroom floor is waterproof using the Schutler Kerti System. Waterproof membranes are put on walls and floor and tiled over. I've never used the system before, so I'm hoping for the best. It's a hell of a lot of work, but it will be worth it.
I worked 12-14 hour days, but that was nothing compared to the rest of the family. My sister and her husband own a large dairy farm on which the whole family works. It's haying season and, while the weather was good, those guys were out in the fields from dawn till 9pm. Plus they have to milk 400 cows twice a day. My nephew, Natalie's father, is the head herdsman, so he's missed a lot while he's in N.C.
Farming is WAY too tough a life for me!

[Katherine]

My continued prayers for your family.

[Spin_Drift]

Prayers from us too. So very sorry.

[skipper68]

Thank you for the update. I'm glad there is some response, and encouraged she is hearing and understanding. My Prayers are still coming her way. It is truly heart wrenching. It sounds like the doctors are doing there best, but the rest is in Gods hands. Your familys love will help her get stronger I Pray. God Bless you all, on your difficult journey to a full recovery.

[McMike]

Continued good wishes and hope for your grand-niece and all around her.

[Durnik]

My thoughts are still with your grand niece & family.. thoughts of the best..

it was good your family could get together & do what you did, silver lining & all..

bobby

[brad9798]

Any news, brother????

[AussieBarney]

Any improvement? any news? Sue and I are still praying for a miracle. Love and support to you and yours.

Regards, barney and Sue.

[Phil Y]

So sad-but hopeful. And of course this sort of thing happens on roads everywhere, every day. I dunno-maybe cars should have speed limiters at 15 or 20 mph. Is the speed and efficiency we take for granted really worth the cost?

[Rich Jones]

Well, I suppose people used to be killed in horse and buggy accidents.
In this case, it wasn't speed. It was some guy not taking the time to properly hitch his trailer to his truck.
The driver is devastated about what happened. But, that doesn't help little Natalie.

[brad9798]

OMgosh ... is she now dead? Hope not!!!!

[Rich Jones]

OMgosh ... is she now dead? Hope not!!!!

No, she's still pretty much unchanged at a hospital in N.C. Sorry if I was a little mis-leading.
I should have said, "People used to get hurt in horse and buggy accidents."

The handicap ramp into her house is being built this week and hopefully she'll be home by mid-July.
Perhaps familiar surroundings will jog her brain a bit.

[brad9798]

Oh ... than goodness ... I was about to have a heart attack ... keep us posted, brother!

[Rich Jones]

Just a little update and then I'll give this thread a rest.
Natalie returned to her home in northern New York State from the hospital in North Carolina last week. It's been about four months since the accident and her parents are happy to once again be home and reunited with family and friends. Through a huge effort by family and friends, the house has been renovated for handicap use.
Her condition is still very guarded. She's making very, very small improvements. The latest one was, when put in her new hospital bed in her bedroom, she smiled for the first time. This means that something is going on in her brain. She's able to make some eye contact and move limbs when asked.
They're in the process now of lining up therapists to come in on a daily basis for what would appear to be years of therapy.
Again, thanks for all your kind thoughts.
-Rich

[Flying Orca]

Something to think about when I see my stepson up and about under his own steam. I've been thinking of you, and of her and the rest of her family.

[Spin_Drift]

Thanks for the update. I think it's a promising sign that she recognized home and smiled when she knew she was home. It's great that she can have eye contact and also move limbs when asked. I think positively that getting to the "safety of her beloved home" will also help her get better.

It will be a tough road but hopefully you will see day to day improvement.

Please do NOT put this thread to rest. Give us at least a monthly update. I, and I am sure everyone else would like to know about her progress.

Prayers and smoke continue for her, her immediate family, and to you, -and all who know her and care for her.

Love, -Spinner & Family

[Bernadette]

yes, if you can, please keep the thread going on with updates. im sure i speak for many people, we would love to hear how she is going.
its such a sad story but she has many world wide freinds now that say a little prayer for a little girl...each day.
keep her stimulated and in time her little body will start to respond more and more.
and love her to bits...as im sure you all do.
please forward on my well wishes to natalie and her parents and family.
god bless.

bernadette

[bob winter]

At least she is back home. That should have a positive impact. I hope improvement continues and that she gets back to something near normal. I don't pray but I will certainly keep her in my mind.

[brad9798]

SO GLAD she is home ... and thank you, truly, for the great update.

Small steps, brother.

Still praying ...

B

[AussieBarney]

Yes, baby steps, every little improvement matters. Again, love and hope from down under. Barney and Sue

[Rum_Pirate]

Still in my thoughts, good wishes and prayers.

[Rich Jones]

It's now been a little over six months since that terrible day. Her condition is pretty much the same as post#122. She just lies in bed, eyes not focusing on much. Seems to understand a little bit of what's spoken to her. She has to have someone by her side 24/7, as she's prone to vomiting and can't clear her throat by herself. Still incapable of swallowing or being mouth-fed; feeding tube still in. She gets all sorts of therapy every day and every once in a while, there's a sign that something is going on upstairs. The daily grind is starting to really get to her parents. They were able to buy a used handicap-use van, so it'll be easier moving her to appointments. Medical costs are slowly creeping up towards the one million dollar mark. Luckily, their medical insurance will cover everything up to the one million dollar limit. After that, who knows?
But, they still have strong family and friend support. My sister (the girl's grandmother) has now retired from nursing and spends most of her time at their house (just down the road) helping out as she can.
I'll give this thread another bump at the one-year mark, next Easter.

[htom]

Gulp. More prayers for her, and you and all of those caring for her.

[B_B]

Thanks for the update Mr. Jones, much appreciated.

Drove 900 kms today in snow and sleet and freezing rain, to a job and back. Had about 20 heart attacks/white knuckle moments. Three cars off the road (comparatively little traffic to, say, I95), two rolled pretty bad; one b-train (semi pulling two 90,000 pound trailers full of fuel) started to slide it's way around a bend going way too fast, just as I was approaching the apex. That was three hours ago, I'm still shook. Roads, and the people (and some idiots) on them; sadly I gotta make a living.

WRT to your grand-niece - she's still in my thoughts periodically. There but for the grace of God...

[MiddleAgesMan]

This is such a sad tale. Best wishes to the little girl and her family.

As for the insurance maxing out, I was thinking Obamacare removed the caps but maybe that part hasn't kicked in yet.

[Garret]

Damn, I'd hoped to hear better news. Here's wishing her all the chances on a recovery.

[Bernadette]

thank you for the update.
i feel sorry to read about the state she is in and the position the family is in.
sadness is all around us unfortunately.

[Lew Barrett]

So very sad, Richard. Daughters are our lives. Thinking of you and them.

[Y Bar Ranch]

I think of your grand-niece often when loading up my kids, or just driving around. Praying for the best.

[Rich Jones]

Well, there was a break-through today. After her speech therapist finished with their session today, Natalie reached out, touched her and
said, "all done". These were not only the first words she's spoken since the accident six months ago, but also the first sounds of any kind she's made. The reaching out and touching was a major move also. Needless to say, everyone is estatic about this development. It means her brain is working and there is hope. Miles and miles to go, but there is hope.

[Paul Pless]

Great news! And thanks for posting it to us.

[Y Bar Ranch]

WOW

[Glen Longino]

Yippeeee!!!!!!!!

[McMike]

This is very good news!! Hot damn, good news indeed!

[Garret]

Hot Damn indeed! Great news & best of luck in the road back.

[bamamick]

Wonderful and exciting news.

Mickey Lake

[Ian McColgin]

Hope it's the first of lots.

[B_B]

Today's been a day for good news; icing on the cake! Thanks!

Hot Damn threed.

[Flying Orca]

Holy sh1te, this is wonderful news!

[MiddleAgesMan]

All smiles.

[Canoez]

Well, there was a break-through today. After her speech therapist finished with their session today, Natalie reached out, touched her and
said, "all done". These were not only the first words she's spoken since the accident six months ago, but also the first sounds of any kind she's made. The reaching out and touching was a major move also. Needless to say, everyone is estatic about this development. It means her brain is working and there is hope. Miles and miles to go, but there is hope.

- Here's hoping for speedy and continued improvement, Richard. The brain is a wonderful and mysterious thing. Hopefully her youth is in her favor.

[Old Dryfoot]

Fantastic news!

[Rich Jones]

Another happy note: Natalie's aunt, who was also in the van at the time of the accident, had just learned she was pregnant. She had a lot of cuts and bruises, but the fetus was fine. She and her husband didn't announce the pregnancy to anyone until just about three months ago because they didn't want any attention taken away from Natalie. Well, last week, she gave birth to a healthy little boy.