" Whoever said our family is not artistic" Lorrie's Jerry

02-09-2009

1753 hours

For those of you who may have been wondering about Lorrie's husband. Everyone meet Jerry, the breakfast cook with a little artistic flash. Loves to cook breakfast and loves to take that trailer camping,.

Thanks Jerry for all you have put up with from me and the lack of sleep that I know you too suffer. Love ya bro

For those following on a daily bais I posted again tonight on this mornings blog, check it out.

Good night everyone, Jerry thanks again for being there and taking care of sister. Your a "peach", inside joke folks.

Danny/Dar/Mav

"can't beat being surrounded by good friends"

02-09-2009

0350 hours

Got home last evening to tired to sit at the computer, Fed Maverick , picked up around the house and went to bed.

This morning I thought I would do something a little different.

Over the week end I emaild Dr. Doherty a couple of times, I thought you might find it interesting to read the following emails between us.

Written Saturday fron the motel

Thank you so much for bolstering my spirits today. really felt encouraged after our talk.
Darlene has an appointment Tuesday for a haircut, in fact her hairdresser is a former outpatient of the hospital. Sue Gillen, owns a shop down the street.

Hair will be donated to Locks for Love.

She tells me of a book about you and a former patient of yours, I look forward to reading it.
As a footnote and something I noticed while combing Dar's hair. She seemed to be wanting and succeeding at supporting her head somewhat. Not long but it had some strength to it, it was not totally without tone.She was trying, maybe you folks have been seeing this too.

She laughed the whole time we worked on her hair and was a great sport.
Her appointment is at 2:45 on Tuesday.

Thanks again Dr. Doherty we all love ya
Danny Mardilla and all those who love Dar

Dr. Doherty response

we are indeed also starting to see just a bit of the head support. i think having dar hold her head as best as she can is great practice. there have been 2 or 3 books written about the krsh . one of the best was written by lewis richmond. i am blanking on the name of the book, but my secretary can help you.your new assignment is brushing dar's beautiful hair when you visit - while she is sitting in the wheelchair. you will be our newest marin county stylist, monsieur danni! take care and enjoy the weekend.dr. d

I thought it was very cool that Dr Doherty responded to my emails, in fact she has always responded to my questions and observations, and welcomed me to email. Pretty special lady.

The name of the book I am referring to is "Raising Lazaruth", a story from a former patient at Kentfield and Dr. Doherty's involvement. Check it out, I am,

Well I will post again tonight after work, eye doctor appointment in Chico this am, more fact finding in Chicoand back out to school for the remainder of the day.

Have a great day everyone, talk to you tonight.

Danny

1749 hours

Day was a day of accomplisments, my fact finding mission was a success, my eye doctor appointment was a breeze, I wear mono vision contact and my Dr. is amazed at how well I do. Ordered up another round of lenses and we are good to go for another year.

When I got back to campus I "texted" Tosha's mom Carol to find out how the girls were. She texted me back that they had just gotten Dar back into bed from therapy and she was happy to be back. Carol tells me that the therapists said that Dar had a "GOOD DAY" in therapy.

My new gift from Dennis and Darci has already proven to be a blessing, I have reception at the campus where normally everyone has to hunt for a signal. NOT ME, this new Blackberry has all the bells and whistles. It is absolutly amazing, it was so nice to take a little lunch break and find out how the girls were doing. Made my day a whole lot brighter.

Sister Lorrie dropped off a care package in my truck while I was getting my eyes checked, some dinners I can prepare easily. You have to understand folks that since Dar and I have been married she has yet to cook for me, deserts now and again but I do all the cooking, I LOVE TO COOK, Dar loves it too. Well you can imagine since this has started I have not had the desire or really the time to do any serious cooking. Time will come when that returns.

Lorrie also dropped off a cute little stuffed "bear" for Tosha, it seems that one of hers ended up with Dar. This happened Sat, so the new bear will put a smile on Tosha"s face. I am going to text her shortly and tell her I have a present for her.

Stewart and I went to Longs yesterday and I had to replace Dar's docking station for her Ipod, she has been using our Bose station but for some reason it won't charge the Ipod. Picke dher up a little Ihome station and it seems to be working just fine, much smaller than the Bose but the sound is ok. Dar likes to sleep with her music on at night. I brought the Bose home with me to run some tests with Dar's Ipod, maybe my battery in my "pod" needs to be replaced.

Has anyone found the book "Raising Lazaruth" as yet, let me know if you do.

Well now that I have my new "high tech toy" it will be easier to get the play by play during the day with Carol on scene and the night action with Stewart, I am kinda stoked about this new ability to stay in touch.

Don't forget that Dar gets her hair cut tomorrow at 2:45, pray that Sue has a good time with Dar and smiles a time or two for Sue. Sue's shop is Sue Gillens Salon and Day Spa on Sir Francis Drake Blvd in Kentfield.

Sue, if you start reading this blog, welcome to the Dream Team, man this team is getting big, oh well, let it get as big as it wants.

Folks I have said it before and I will say it again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done and the support that you have shown and the miracle that so many of you have had a part in.

This is what "paying it forward" is all about, I know that somewhere sometime I will be given the chance to "pay it forward" to someone or somebodies. Thank you everyone for all that you have done and for the great things to come.

Getting done early and tonight has been a night that it was not hard to write, probably rambled too much, oh well, feel pretty good today.

I love you all, please keep those prayers coming.

Darlen/Danny/Mav

"Lots of news today"

02-07-2009

1800 hours

So much news today, good news and some sad news.

First the little bit of sad news. This morning Dr. Doherty was the on call doctor. So as you can imagine I got to talk with her at great length.

The little bit of sad news is that the doctor would like me to have Dar's hair shortened. It has become very matted and staff does not have the time to deal with it.

Therefore Dar's hair will be shortened to about shoulder length. I will make a donation to "Locks for Love" in Dar's name. This is a small price to pay in her recovery. Hair will grow and she can gladly kick my ______ later. I will smile forever.

A miracle also happened in this matter also. My sister, Lorrie made some calls in the area and found a local shop owner, Sue Gillen, shop name to follow tomorrow, was a former patient of kentfield and has volunteered her services to Dar free of charge. This was a very gracious gesture from a very special lady that has been where Dar is and is living life to the fullest. Sue has exchanged addresses with my sister and will now be following Dar's blog. Tomorrow I will give you the name of her shop and all particulars. Halleluia to the newest member of Dar's Dream Team.

Ok, more about that tomorrow, while talking to Dr. Doherty as you can well guess my first question to her was "how is our girl doing", Dr. Doherty said that progress is being made slowly and that even in the last few days since my last trip Wednesday Dar has shown progress. Dr reminded me that this will be a slow process. a very slow process, and if you remember and I was reminded by Dr. Doherty, the longer Dar takes the better the results will be. Soooooo, when asked if she was still positive, Dr. Doherty said and I quote, "absolutley, then showed two thumbs up". That is some cool and great news.

I should also take a moment to qualify something I said earlier about what therapists would like to see. When I said that Dar was limp like a noodle, that is a good thing, it gives muscle tone a chance to come back naturally, the opposite of this which we don't want to see is very rigid and constricted. This being said Dar is in a very good place, in fact while Carol and I were combing out Dar's hair tonight I noticed that she would hold her head up by herself for a short time. This was very exciting, she evidently started doing this since Wednesday. I was supporting Dar's head while Carol combed, Dar laughed the whole time we worked on her hair.

Dar was very tired today and was up in her chair for over three hours so when we got her back to bed I decided to leave get my room, take care of the dog and do some writing.

One of the tasks tohight was to download a program to my computer that allows me to use my new Blackberry as a modem for the internet. Sooooo, tomorrow while I am at the hospital I can continue writing to you all. I am going to relax a bit and go to bed shortly but I wanted to take a minutseto drop you all a short note.

Again my thanks to Lorrie and Jerry, Dennis and Darci, Sue Gillen, Carol, Stewart, Latosha, for all that they have done today and being small little tools and angels that God is using in Dar's recovery.

I am going to close tonight with this, Dr Doerty is absolutley positive, this will be a very long road, and most importantly, this " THE LONGER DAR TAKES TO RECOVER THE MORE POSITIVE THE RESULTS", please rember this and keep it to heart, I must be honest, I lost sight of that for but a brief moment. I wanted what we all want, immediate results,,,,,, not this time folks, prepare for a marathon, not a sprint. Talk to you all tomorrow from the hospital.

We love each and every one of you, God bless you all

Darlene/Danny/Maverick

"special request from me....MAVERICK"

02-05-2009

0325 hours

WOOF WOOF, THE MOST INTELLIGENT ANIMAL IN THE FAMILY"!!

Yep that's me "Mr Awesome Dawg"

This note is an addendum to my dad's notations and updates that he provides everyone who reads my moms "Blog" Sometimes, I watch my "Dad" diligently writing, it's hard to watch him sometimes, he gets sad and is hurting. Sometimes he wonders if people are still reading about mom, he doesn't get too many comments. Did you know you can comment at the end of each blog? I would like to see my Dad smile, when he gets a message from all of you who are praying and reading. You don't have to write much, just a little something. It's hard for us to be alone and away from "mum". We miss her, but know she is well cared for. I enjoy going along to see her. Would you make my Dad happy and write a little something??It would mean alot to all of us.

Love to all and thank you for your prayers,

Maverick and Lorrie and Jerry

A very special thank you this morning to Dennis and Darci, They have graciously hooked dad up with a new phone that will keep all his appointments in order, give him the ability to use a keyboard to text the "Gaurdian Angels",it is too funny to watch him with his little phone, but most important he can talk anytime he wants for as long as he needs to. Dads last cell bill was out of this world and Dennis and Darci stepped up and helped dad out in a big , big way.

So to Dennis and Darci, the newest members of Dar's Dream Team, I, Awesome Dawg, also known as Maverick say welcome and thank you for caring. Mom I am sure would want to thank you for looking out for dad. Thanks guys we love you.

"You can certainly tell who came in second"

02-05-09

0530 hours

Several things to let you know about but unfortunatley time is running short this morning. I havve to pick up one of the school busses at the shop and then head out to school.

I left at about 0300 hours yesterday morning and returned about 1900 hours last night. A very quick trip yesterday but it was well worth it as I was able to be in on all therapy sessions and got to see first hand Dar's progress and in some cases lack of or very small progress in other areas. I can tell you all about them later on today.

I was exhausted last night when I got in and just went to bed, I will give the full details this evening after work while I do Dar's wash and get things ready to go back down this weekend. Talk to you all real soon, like after work, OKAY, everyone have a great day.

1730 hours,

Where was I. Yestyerday was quite the day, I was able to participate in all of Dar's therapy sessions. First was ocupational therapy where they work on specific tasks related to everyday living. Lots of information. Then came physical therapy, this is where we need lots of prayer and some small miracles.

As we already know Dar's brain is processing information. We now have to begin seeing some purposeful movements, there is that phrase again, PURPOSEFUL, we need Dar to begin to follow some simple requests. Open the eyes when asked, move one finger for yes, two for no, move your right hand, things like this. These simple little tasks have a great deal with the length of her stay at Kentfield. We need to also begin to see muscle tone return to her body. At this time there is none, she is as limber as a noodle, not able to support herself in any way. I realize these things all take time but it would go along way to her recovery and ability to communicate with us if we started seeing some of these things soon. There in lies the prayer request, pray specifically for PURPOSEFULL movement, movement upon request, movements that begin to build muscle tone. Nothing wrong with asking for the specifics.

When it came time for speech therapy, it was all about what I could now do with Dar when I am there. The head of speech therapy showed me how to put the "speaking cap" on Dar's trach tube, thus allowing her to communicate if so she desires and to hear her own sounds. She did very well earlier in the week but had a little discomfort when I was with her, so we did not work very long. The reason we can now begin this step is because she has passed 2 of the dye tests. The third one (an overnighter) was requested but as of last check with the Angels it had not been done today. She is protecting her airway so therfor we can use the cap. It was very unsetteling at first but I think as time goes by I will get used to the procedure. You have to absoultley follow certain steps and you can't leave her alone while she has the cap on. I will ask for a refresher course again this Saturday before capping her tube. What was exciting was that first off she has passed two of the three test and also that she would make the same type of sound that the therapists were asking her to make. Kind of like vocal scales for singers. She did really well and her therapist is excited.

I am doing Dar's laundry in preparation for this weekend and hope to get to bed early tonight. I will be texting the Angels to see how the girls are doing tonight, earlier Carol said they were doing fine and missing the "smooth music", for some reason the Ipod gave up the ghost early in the week but I have reconciled the problem and we are good to go again.

Tosha had dyalisis yesterday and boy oh boy what an ordeal for her, she comes through like a troopper but is really really tired at the end, she slept alot yesterday afternoon. Stewart had both the girls tv's on after he arrived about 5:30 ish. Seems like Dar gets quite active when the set is on.

Please continue to pray for the girls, pray for Tosha's mom and dad, they both work and commute to Kentfield every day to be with their daughter, they are so commited to Tosha.

Well I will save some for tomorrows post and will be cheking in with Stewart in a few minutes. Thank you my dear friends for your prayers and support. Rest well all

Dar/Danny/Mav

This note is an addendum to my dad's notations and updates that he provides everyone who reads my moms "Blog" Sometimes, I watch my "Dad" diligently writing, it's hard to watch him sometimes, he gets sad and is hurting. Sometimes he wonders if people are still reading about mom, he doesn't get too many comments. Did you know you can comment at the end of each blog? I would like to see my Dad smile, when he gets a message from all of you who are praying and reading. You don't have to write much, just a little something. It's hard for us to be alone and away from "mum". We miss her, but know she is well cared for. I enjoy going along to see her. Would you make my Dad happy and write a little something??It would mean alot to all of us.

Love to all and thank you for your prayers,

Maverick and Lorrie and Jerry

"This is the Life" Rocky Point Lake Almanor

02-03-2009
0500 hours

Darlene did well yesterday, I was in contact with the "angels" throughout the day. Both Tosha and Dar had good days.

Dar passed "blue dye" test number two I have been told.
With that I will get her equipment ready to take with me tomorrow when I go. I will return home late tomorrow night.

Still running the squirrel cage of paperwork, thankfully my sister was able to make calls on my behalf yesterday which allowed me to keep working. Thanks sis, I appreciate your efforts and help.

Made an effort to contact my housing source yesterday but we are playing phone tag, will try again today.

Short post this morning, I will bring you new info as it comes during the day.

I will be leaving tomorrow around 0300 am so as to beat the morning traffic on hwy 101, I hear it can get real nasty. Go early take a nap when I get there.

Talk soon

" We call him "Stump Jumper"

02-01-2009
1410 hours.


Can you believe what you are seeing. Silly dog swam all the way out to that stump and climbed on top of it got a drink, spun around 360 degrees and jumped off.

The amazing thing is that he did this feat the day before and we did not have a camera, but him being the "Awesome Dawg", he went out and did it the very next day, same thing, water about 4 feet deep, stump out of the ground about 10-12 inches, Silly dawg scratched his way to the top. Hence the name "Stump Jumper"


Well after some careful thought yesterday I decide to come home a day early and prepare some material that the therapists are wanting. I will return on Wednesday to be with Dar and all her therapists with "ammo" in hand.


They wanted me to put together an audio tape of simple questions and tasks that Dar can start working on. They have learned that Dar works even harder than she is, when I am around. I put together a tape of about 20 things they can focus on. Maverick even got involved, talking to mommy when he heard his name mentioned.


Therapy also wanted a photo album of different pictures with titles on the back that they could use to begin to see how much Dar might be seeing. I put together about 18 phots of different things we have done and people we have been with.


I would imagine that tomorrow Dar will have her second "dye" test, if all goes well and we successfully pass three test we might be looking at putting the "button" on the trach maybe Wednesday. I do not know how long between tests that they wait. If it were to be Monday and Tuesday and Dar passes all three then I need to be ready to take her Bi-Pap and oxygen machine to the hospital. For those of you that may not know Dar also suffers from chronic sleep apniea, (forgets to breath), so she is supplemented with 30 per cent oxygen at night. So, if Dar is basically sleeping and they put the button on the trach, then you can see that she will be with her breathing machine all the time until she wakes up further. Creates a new set of conditions, some that quite frankly scare the crap out of me.


I am looking forward to working with Dar's therapy team, I saw her physical therapist, Mike, a couple of times Friday. He was encouraged with Dar's progress although he would like to see more voluntary movements and some following of commands. He stopped by again before he left and got to see Dar move her head several times, and "he" even got her to stick her tongue out when asked.


Latosha and family continue to be great, Carol and Tosha went for a litle stroll yesterday and as I said Carol braided Dar's hair. Tosha has even gone so far as to make sure the curtain divider between the girls is open when mom or dad leave so she can keep an eye on Dar. As I said, "Angels On Earth".

Stewart stayed home yesterday and went to a long overdue neighborhood bar-b-que, I told him he better bring me back some chicken, Dar heard me say it and started laughing, must have thought it was her chicken.

In addition to all the medical chores I have had today I paid the bills, gave Mav a bath, changed the sheets, two loads of wash, two loads to dry and fold, maybe I will get a moment to just relax and watch a little of the Super Bowl. We'll see.


Once again folks thank you for all you have done and all of your support, it is going to be a busy week, down and back on Wednesday back down on Saturday and Sunday,


As always, love to you all

Dar/Danny/Mav