" Wearing her new clothes ready to see Maverick"

01-26-09

1840 hours

This is one happy girl !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats right Dar got to go outside and see her Maverick dog on Sunday morning. I am not sure who was more excited. Dar had worked hard that morning so when we got outside she was sorta sleeping. It was a cool brezzy day so we had her bundled up nice and warm. A new friend watched Dar while I got Mav. He was so excited to see mommy he could hardly control himself. After finally getting him settled down he gave mommy kisses and sang songs to her and told he that he loves her. Yes, I am serious Maverick can say those three magic words "I love you". Dar laughed and smiled and it was very clear she new her "buddy" was there. We did not stay out too long as it was fairly chilly, I know it did Dar alot of good to get out of bed for awhile.

This weekend was another roller coaster ride for me. I am not going to give all the specifics but I will share with you, that the little miracles continue.

Friday when I got to the house I had a message that Dar had been moved to a different room, no explanation, needless to say I fretted all night. When I got to the hospital I learned why. All that need be really said is that it will and is a blessing.

Dar's new roomate (Latasha) has the ability to write and text, Tasha's mom and dad have a vidual being with her, mom in the mornings and dad at night. Super people, when I left Sat. to get a room I said my goodnights and went about my business. Lo and behold sometime during the night Tasha texted her dad that Dar needed to be suctioned, dad stepped up and took care of the problem. When dad went back to Oakland he talked with his wife, Carol ,and told her that we spent alot of time talking and sharing during the day and the previous evening, he told Carol of the distance I travel and not able to get the play by play and he was going to make sure that I had all their numbers and that I could rest a little easier knowing that he and Tasha and mom would look out for Dar. That they would make sure Dar was well taken care of. I was so overwhelmed that I did not know what to say or offer in return, dads responce was you owe us nothing, this is what life and friendship is all about. Dad is a big fisherman and he and mom both have Harleys and a class A motorhome so I told them that when the girls are up and about that they are all invited to our lake, (hopefully with water), for some great fishing and camping.

I also got a chance to recommend a movie to him and I will recommend it to all of you. Take a moment and rent the movie "Pay it Forward", staring Helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey, it is all about helping others when someone has done something extrordnary for you. A true story and well worth watching as a family. Please take a moment and watch it. It would mean alot to Dar and I. We have watched it together and hope you will too.

Stewart and I have been texting tonight and Dar is doing fine, so is Latasha.

Well what is new for Dar, all kinds of stuff, she is tracking my voice with her eyes when I change sides of the bed, she will close her mouth almost all the way if I really get her to focus, she definatley knows when I come in the room, loves to smile and laugh. Dar has won the hearts of many at the hospital and so has Maverick.

Dar and I are working on comunicating with simple movements of the fingers. One for yes two for no, not too much success as yet but we keep practicing. Dar loves to have the "butler" put lotion on her hands, wrists.legs and feet. She is so pamperd, makes her laugh to have the "english butler" talk to her. Still loves to hear about her chicken in the bed and so on.

Something really cool that Dar is doing now is that she was moving her head from right to left last weekend, well now she is moving it from left to right. When I change sides of the bed her eyes go directly to where I am at and she tries to follow with her head. Moves it alittle more each time.

I am going down Friday so that I might be part of a full day of therapy for Dar and do some networking with the staff, showing them things that they might not be aware of yet. Have emailed Dr. Doherty and she is letting Dar's therapists know that I am coming.

Will spend an extra night this week.

My sister Lorrie, and her husband Jerry have made it a mission to find a place for our trailer and have been busy writing to folks and putting it out in their church family and bullitins, thank you so much guys for all you are trying to do. I know I may seem short at times, (I am) I do appreciate all that you and everyone is trying to do for Dar and I. I apologize ahead of time for my short comings.

So many things to do and not enough time in a day to do them, papers to fill out, submit, a house to run a dog to take care of, wash to get ready to return to Dar, it is so overwhelming at times. But, we keep on plugging away.

I will tell you more about Tasha and her very special family in the days to come, I think I have it rough. Their daughter has been thru hell these past two years.

Well more to come, rest well my friends and know that we love you.

Dar/Danny/Mav