#59 Update December 17th

Steady process is still happening. Yesterday we met with 2 new doctors, the Rehabilitation Director for Memorial South and the Neurologist working with brain injured patients in
Memorial's Rehab clinic for a updated evaluation. They are trying some new medications, to help stimulate Sean's brain more & differently. We are checking out more options for the next step in physical therapy development. Sean is still on a marathon and not a sprint, hang in there. Sean has progressed a lot farther than the doctors were willing to give him credit for from the very beginning. He actually worked with the computer last night and today for the first time in a long time. This is wonderful as he was too frustrated before now. He still has short term and some long term memory challenges but surprises us all the time. He loved seeing all the cousins and Great Aunts and Uncles at Thanksgiving so much so he didn't want to leave early. We will spend Christmas with everyone and even more cousins on the Sunday after Christmas which will be fun and he is looking forward to seeing everyone again. Before we went to Denver I had asked him if he was afraid to see everyone and he said "No". A few minutes passed and he said "Should I be?" I told him no, I just wanted him to feel comfortable that we were going. We are still blessed and feel very thankful for each and every day as well as the progress he has made. As always thank you for your prayers and warm thoughts we can still feel them and pray for you all as well. We need to take the family photograph and then we'll send out our Christmas cards. Until then Merry Christmas everyone and a Blessed New Year.

#58 Update November 24th

Needless to say we have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Last night we were able to spend some time with cousins Donna and Sarge Marvel which are the first family members that has seen Sean since his return home. He is still developing strength and each day continues to have promise. We are also thankful for all of our family and friends that have been there for all of us with countless hours of prayer, warm thoughts and well wishes. It is truly humbling to be so blessed, all our love, warmth and prayers to each and everyone of you.

#57 Update November 14th

Sean is still progressing steady and sure. We were watching NCIS on television the other night and I could tell something was bothering him. I asked him what was wrong, he didn't answer so I asked him what he was thinking about. I almost cried - he said "I was wondering if I will be able to join the Air Force again." I asked him if he missed the Air Force and he said "yes". I told him that Paul missed the Air Force too. I told him he'd have to get his hands and arms stronger and be able to pass the Air Force physical, he said "yes". He is able to take a shower by himself now and needs very little help getting dressed. Using his hands for detail things like eating, tying his shoes, brushing his teeth and combing his hair are still challenging. He needs more strength and less movement while accomplishing the tasks. We continue to be amazed and are thankful for each and everyday. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

Update #56 October 28th

Sean is progressing nicely and the therapist are pleased with his progress. We have always been pleased with each new day. He printed his name Monday it was shaky but you can read it, this is a first for him. They retested his strength in his hands, his left hand continues to be his stronger side progressing from 20 lbs to 25 lbs and his right from 18 lbs to 20 lbs. Steady progress for sure. He is feeding himself more with a fork and spoon, still pretty frustrating at times but he makes the effort. All of your prayers and ours are working he is still on the journey of recovery bless his heart. God bless you and yours always.

#55 Update, October 10th

Sean has been doing outpatient therapies now for 2 weeks and is progressing slow but sure. He had an appointment to see about taking the filter out that they put in the day of his open heart surgery. The filter was put in to prevent the one blood clot in his lower left leg from moving up into his heart. They told us that day that it needed to be removed before it had been in for a year; it doesn't seem possible that it has been 10 months this week. He had an ultrasound and they found that he has not just one clot in his lower left leg but 3. They are stable and should not move but he needs to go to another doctor for a 2nd opinion to remove the filter or not. He tripped going back to his bedroom and hit his head on the rock collection at the end of the hall breaking the Plexiglas which nicked his forehead. He didn't get a bruise, bump, headache or dizziness which was wonderful because he broke his fall before he hit. Pretty scary watching him from behind him and not being able to prevent his falling. It was good that it was Plexiglas instead of regular glass as well. I'm sure the only reason the Plexiglas broke is because the collection was put together when I was in 7th grade and that was a few years ago. :o) Delaney loves to dance and Sean actually got up to dance with her yesterday which was delightful, they are best buds. She actually sat on his lap and fed him some of his sandwich yesterday as well. He has come such a LONG way and it is a GREAT feeling seeing him do so well. Thanks for your continued support and prayers. God Bless

Update #54, Sept 24, 2009

Sean is starting a new phase in his rehabilitation. He'll be going to a local rehab center for "out-patient" therapy, so that he can use specialized machines to help strengthen and train his body and brain. He was evaluated by physical therapy and occupational therapy on Wednesday. He had his speech therapy evaluation Friday. He will have all three therapies 2 times a week on Mondays and Fridays. He is beginning another part of his journey and improving more and more each day. We are thankful for each day. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

We promised photos from when Sean went to meet his friends Annie & Jeff and their family. We traveled to Gunnison in southwest Colorado to have a short visit; they were vacationing in the Four corners area on Jeff's family's property near Pagosa Springs. The top is Sean with the Steinmanns, and the bottom is of Sean and Jeff. He really enjoyed the visit with Annie, Jeff and their children. That was the last long trip we took in his Hummer before turning it in to GMAC after the lease was complete.

Update #53, September 15th

Sean has had 2 weeks off of therapies waiting to go to outpatient rehab. He will be evaluated next Wednesday and Friday. He has enjoyed taking naps whenever he liked and not be awakened by a schedule. But even he admitted that he is looking forward to working out again. We had his eyes examined and his vision is 5 times worse than before. The eye doctor said his own eyes changed a lot after having heart surgery and he laughs whenever he reads that heart problems do not effect your vision. Sean actually engaged in, started asking questions and making statements the other day when we were discussing the girls(our 2 female dogs) getting into another fight and what we should do. They asked for his social security number last week and I said it would take me a minute as I have it written down. Sean gave the nurse the number matter of fact without hesitation, I was impressed. Still making progress each day and we are very thankful for each of them.

#52, Sept 4, 2009

Sorry that we haven't updated this recently; our computer was being "tuned up" and in the shop. Anyhow, Sean has done just about all he can with in-home treatments and therapies, so we're looking for out-patient places so that he can do therapy with specialized machines. With the long weekend coming up, this process is slow at the moment.

#51, August 23, 2009

Friday was the day that we drove Sean's Hummer to the dealer for lease turn-in. With a couple of signatures, we gave them the keys and they gave us the license plates. That evening Sean told Andrea that he had to drive his car, and Andrea explained that he needed to be able to grab the steering wheel and the shifter to do that, and that both she and he needed to do exercises to strengthen their hands, and he seemed satisfied with that.
As always, thanks for your good thoughts and prayers. Sean's progress is slow but steady, with more strength returning to his hands and legs. We'll update you as he progresses.

#50 Update, August 14th

Today was the first time we saw any frustration in Sean. One of his medications was changed to a lower level and it will now be increased back. He is getting stronger everyday. The right side of his body is showing great improvement in coordination. We have been playing some of his CDs and he will occasionally sing along with them. I thought the other day he was going to get up and dance but he didn't. Steady and sure is the course.
Thanks for continuing to pray for him and us, we feel it and know it helps a lot.

#49, August 4, 2009

Yesterday we took Sean to Gunnison, Colorado, to see two of his friends from high school, Jeff & Annie Steinman. Jeff & Sean played basketball together; Annie was his junior prom date, whom he introduced to Jeff. They were staying in southwestern Colorado with their family, and Gunnison is about halfway between us and them. He enjoyed spending time in the Hummer and seeing them for the first time in about seven years. He had some trouble recognizing the kids, which is normal. The day was really nice - not too hot or cold, and enough clouds to let us enjoy the park.
On the way back, Sean was able to handle his drink by himself and take sips on his schedule, which indicates that he is regaining dexterity in his hands.
We'll post some photos so that you can see the Knotts and the Steinmans.

#48 Update, July 27th

Sorry for not getting this posted earlier, Mom here has had a few health issues, I'm fine. Sean is beginning to toss a ball overhanded with both his right and left hands which is great. Dr. Patrick is really working on strengthening those arms & hands. He has 1 lb weights on each arm as well to help strengthen those muscles. As a treat each day Paul has been taking him out in his Hummer for rides. It is hard to think about turning it in since the lease is up the 22nd of August, that will be a very sad day indeed. He had talked to us before surgery about turning it in instead of purchasing it and getting another truck. It is just hard to deal with right now. The other day I asked him while he was in the bathroom if he needed any help, or was it alright if I went back to the kitchen. He said "Who are you talking to?" back to me which is a good indicator that the brain is processing more and more with real time situations which is GREAT! He is working on coordination and getting the right body part to work when needed. Crossing his arms to the opposite side of the person in front of him is hard but getting better. He is able to put his socks and shoes on next comes tying them. He can take his shirt off and on as well. We are reminded constantly what miracles our bodies are and how they work especially when relearning comes into play. He always works hard and still loves to nap. :o) He and Delaney play ball a lot more now and she will cuddle him as well as pull on his shorts to follow her and do what she wants done. All of his therapist are pleased with his hard work and continued progress. He will laugh at "Two and a half men" and occasionally at other things, he doesn't comment on items often. I asked him what he wanted for lunch, he looked at me and said "What are my choices?" I told him I wasn't giving him any choices. I just wanted to know what he wanted, I normally would give him 2 or 3 choices. Of course he said "BBQ", which we didn't have available; but we did get him BBQ for dinner that night. Progress for sure. Thank you as always for your prayers and warm thoughts we feel them and as always appreciate them. All our warmth, love and prayers.

#47 Update, July 11th

Sean has improved a lot this week with the new physical therapist. They have been working on the strength in is right hand, right arm and shoulder especially. He is able to pull up his socks, put on his shoe and needs help to tie them but he has come a long way. He is working on dressing himself which is a nice step to see him make. It will still be a little while until he can completely feed himself, that will come with strengthening his hands and arms. He is talking more in sentences instead of just yes and no which is encouraging. His memory is coming back bit by bit. Thank you to those of you that have sent him cards, he looks at them and I think it helps to stimulate his brain to remember who you are and how he knows you. This week is the first week he has looked at his scars with any interest. We have talked about them several times and may talk about them even more but that is ok. He has the long vertical one from the heart surgery with 2 small circles where the drain tubes came out then the stomach tube circle and the horizontal scar on his left side from when they took the fluid off the back of his heart and the circle below it from the drain. Everyday he gets stronger slow but sure.

#46 Update, July 3rd

This is a 2 week update, sorry I got behind. Life happens while we are making other plans. Sean is reading more, writing more and actually drew a picture the other day, it is on the refrigerator. The new physical therapist doctor came to evaluate him Thursday. He is getting stronger everyday but the muscles in his right shoulder, arm and hand are weak. This new therapist is going to work specifically on those weak muscles and his coordination 3 times a week instead of the twice a week he was getting. He may be reintroduced to a computer soon. The goal is to introduce him to things that he can successfully achieve. Challenging him is fine but frustrating him too much is counter productive. He is beginning to engage in a conversation sometimes rather than just answering questions asked of him. We went to a Deli and grocery store the other day and asked if he wanted to go and he did. The outing was very nice for him not too long as his endurance is still not up to speed. He is staying up more and more but when he wants to sleep in or take a nap it is good for him to do so. He is beginning to feel more comfortable being out in public which is great, he said he would like to see the cousins up in Denver. We are working on some plans for him to see the cousins soon.

#45 Update, June 20th

Long week with slow and steady progress. Sean was evaluated by the speech therapist team on Monday and had his first session on Friday. There are a lot of positive areas and several areas that need work. He can read a newspaper but doesn't always comprehend everything. They will begin to work with him 3 times a week in addition to the physical therapist and occupational therapist, which each come twice a week. He continues to amaze us with what he can do, remember and strives to do. His hands are getting much stronger, he works extra hard to get more control of his right one. He can't write yet but he is able to make marks on a page which is a start. He went to the barber with Paul last Saturday and got his hair cut but still has a full beard, we took photographs just in case he wanted it shaved. His blood is back where it should be for thickness since he was off of his medicine when his peg tube was taken out. He fell for the first time and scared the daylights out of us. He was getting up to go to the bathroom on his own and lost his balance. His hands were red and he was sitting on the floor when I got to him but no blood which I was VERY thankful. We walk several times a day still to add stamina and go out on various short errands in the car. Sean and Delaney are still very tuned in to one another and share each other's activities. He has started to wear his own underwear for which he is very proud and enjoys.

#44 Update, June 12th

Smiles, strength, tears of joy and laughter were all part of this week. Those of you that we have had the privilege to share a meal with you know we hold hands, say grace and then everyone from the youngest to the oldest has the opportunity to say what they are grateful for each day (good haircut etc). Delaney has been know to chatter a little during this time as well. Sean surprised us by saying grace with us and then he added "Thank you for today, thank you for this meal, thank you for everyone" pure joyful tears and lots of praise. He is getting stronger everyday, we walk several times a day up and down the street. He likes taking car rides to various places besides going to see the doctor. He will start with a new speech therapist on Monday. He is making great strides; he is reading more, doing some math, exercising using his right hand more and more. His short term memory is tough some days, he is beginning to remember more about his past. Certain foods he used to like or didn't like are changing so we are having fun trying new recipes as well as some old ones. He and Delaney play catch and she will sit with Sean more now. I think his having the peg tube out has encouraged that connection again. Each day is a blessing and we all grow more and more with each other.

#43 Update, June 5th

Another week of progress, Sean read Are You My Mother by Dr Seuss. He read it slowly but surely. He continues to strengthen his grasp in both hands and his core muscles for balance and walking. He always takes the harder choice whenever we ask him which challenge he'd like to accomplish and works hard at accomplishing whatever is given to him to do. He stamina needs work so we will need to walk him twice a day and a little longer each time. He has a full beard and mustache; you'd hardly recognize him. I think he looks quite handsome but I am prejudiced. When he agrees, and we are hoping that will be very soon, we will post some recent photographs on line. He colorizes all the parts and puts the items together when working with them. When given a task he starts it pretty quickly now, so the processing time is a lot shorter which is very encouraging. He misses playing with his peg tube, it is almost completely healed. For those of you that have sent him cards & words of encouragement; we read them with him as soon as they come in. I'll ask him if he remembers you and he'll say "yes", sometimes he says "no" but that is not to say he won't remember later. Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers, warm thoughts, words of encouragement and being our as well as his friend. It means the world to us and helps those long days we have sometimes. He is a joy and very up, he hasn't gotten upset or angry since he came home which is wonderful. Somehow that lets me know that I am doing my job correctly with respect and love.

#42 Update, May 28th

Sean's latest step is the removal of his feeding "PEG" tube this morning. We went back to the Medical Center of Aurora for the procedure. As an update for those of you who have been here, especially when Sean was in the Critical Care Unit, the remodeling has proceeded to the point where the main entrance of the hospital is now open, and what seemed to be miles to walking is now down to a few yards. The first night, when Sean spent so long in surgery, the Berger clan came to stay with us while we wondered what was happening and then if he'd survive. That waiting area is now part of Admissions. We pulled up, Sean and Andrea went in, and Delaney and I parked the car and met them in their same-day surgery clinic. A nurse came in and removed the feeding tube, put some gauze on the wound, and sent us home. We were in the house before noon. Prognosis is excellent. Evidently the stomach lining heals within two or three hours of removal.
His therapy continues. Balance and strength are returning, and his vocabulary is expanding, although 90% of his replies are "Yes" or "No."
We'll update this blog as things happen. As always, thanks for your prayers and kind thoughts.

#41 Update, May 22nd

Another week has passed with growth in strength and development. Sean is doing occupational therapy, physcial therapy and will have speech therapy again starting next week. He remembers so much; the therapist stopped him after he counted to 50, he knows his abc's and was saying the words for picture flash cards. He still needs development in control of his hands. He is able to do a lot such as picking up objects but putting them in a particular place is sometimes a challenge. They are working on muscle control for his arms and hands especially his right. He is trying to feed himself and can with help but it is frustrating for him a lot of times. Writing will come, remember doing lines and circles when you began penmanship well that is still the standard. He will laugh at TV shows like Two and a half Men and some comedy shows which is nice to hear. Occasionally he will ask questions and we are asking him more questions that are not just a yes or no answer. Our neighbor Jason, and his friend, came over to see him the other night when he saw him outside walking on the driveway. They used to share memories of Germany, talk trucks and cars as Jason rebuilds them all the time among other things. It made me and Jason cry when he didn't remember him but that is not to say that he won't remember later. He LOVES being able to sleep in; anyone who has ever been in the hospital will remember not being able to sleep very well while being there with them checking blood pressure etc all the time. Each day is a blessing and it is exciting to see him progress and do more and more. He will have his stomach tube taken out Thursday the 28th which will be nice not to have to worry about it anymore.

#40 Update, May 15th

Several people have requested Sean's current address in order to be in contact with him. He is living with his parents; his permanent address while he was moving around in the Air Force etc. You can send mail to Sean at 5565 Lantana Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80915. We kept his cell phone number active for him.
For those of you that knew him while he was Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, he is now 260 lbs. Before having surgery he was missing being in the Air Force and his friends. When he finishes his recovery we don't know what he will be doing but I know he will continue to put his heart and soul into whatever he decides. It was interesting to us that when he was in his coma and later on, several of the nurses and doctors said they could tell he had a good heart just by his demeanor. He has always had a good heart, loves and cares a lot for people; even though sometimes expressing himself hasn't always been easy for him. When he agrees to photographs I will post some for everyone. He got himself up this morning and has done several things without help; turning on lights and going to the bathroom. It may not sound like much but these little steps are GREAT progress forward for his independence. Thank you again everyone especially his friends for asking and caring so much.

#39 Update, May 14th

WOW! What a wonderful Mother's Day present to have Sean home at last! It has been almost a week that he has been home, time flies so quickly. He is doing great, talking more and asking questions on his own. He can at times stand up and walk short distances by himself. We are still very guarded and protective. He's gaining more strength everyday. He loves being able to sleep in now in the mornings. We have had some up and down days as expected for the most part they are UP and the best part is he is home. He saw his new doctor Tuesday and he is very nice and Sean seemed to like him. He and Delaney have played ball and he almost picked her up last night while sitting in the recliner. Thank you for your continued prayers and support; we continue to feel and appreciate your strength and love.

#38, May 8, 2009

I am still not sure what happened, but Andrea got a call from the hospital that there was some challenge with Sean's procedure and would we be picking him up today? Of course we would! We motored up the freeway to Aurora and, due to a "minor accident" which turned Interstate 25 into a parking lot at the Tech Center, took the scenic route to Spalding. Sean was packed up and waiting for us, so we dressed him in warmer clothing and wheeled him to the Hummer. On the way back, I selected some of his radio presets, which really seemed to please him.
He is resting comfortably in our bed, which he likes so much more than the hospital bed that he's been in for so long. We bought a bed rail so that he won't fall out and a bed alarm so that he won't walk out in the middle of the night.
Sean will now be doing some home therapy and some in-office work; all is in flux right now due to the speed of his release. We'll keep you all up to date on his progress.

#37 Update, May 7th

Today is a MAGICAL DAY! We got the final word that Sean can come home on Saturday. I can't imagine a better MOTHER'S DAY PRESENT!!! They are taking the filter out of his groin tomorrow morning and will observe him for 24 hours to make sure everything is all right. They put the filter in just before he had his open heart surgery so he wouldn't throw any more clots while in surgery or shortly thereafter. He has worked so hard and we trained hard together and it has paid off. He is really looking forward to sleeping in a BIG bed; he only remembers being in a twin bed since Spalding - not the 2 months before. We are going to bring him home in his Hummer, which is what we promised him that we'd do if he worked hard in his therapy.
Of course, he'll have more therapy when he gets home, but he is walking very well with the occasional tilt. The last test was getting on and off curbs in his new chair, which is better suited to his size.
We'll add to the blog as he progresses, as we're sure that he will, but don't expect daily posts. We want to thank you all for your kind and positive thoughts and prayers. He continues to beat the odds and impress his medical and therapy staff. If you should ever need a facility like Spalding, we recommend it whole-heartedly. Thanks again to all our friends and Sean's.

#36 May 3, 2009

We "survived" our overnight stay with Sean in fine shape. The hospital has a section of their training area that looks like a one-bedroom apartment. Andrea and I did some training with Sean, fed him his supper, and then helped him to bed when he got tired. The nurses came by about midnight to check up on him, which woke us up. Lesson #1, don't close the sliders all the way because staff will want to get in. About 2 am, Sean woke up and wanted to use the restroom. Lesson #2, make sure that the bed alarm is attached. Around 5:30, he was moving around in the bed and set off the bed alarm. Lesson #3, make sure that the alarm cord isn't someplace that can get tangled up. After breakfast, we did some more training and then headed home.
This week, we'll bring Delaney in for training for when she and Sean may need help at the same time. As we understand, this is one of the final steps between now and Sean's being able to go to home health care.
Sean is able to get up on his own with minimal help from us and is taking his medications by mouth, which means that his feeding tube may be removed this week. The big news is that he may be discharged as early as this week, which means that we need to do some rearranging of furniture to accomodate him and his needs.

#35 Update April 30th

The last couple of days have been GREAT! The training classes have gone very well and tomorrow night we will be staying overnight in the hospital apartment taking care of Sean full time just Paul and I. There is the call button if we need help, but we aren't planning on needing any help. We took up his Hummer today for him to transfer sitting in it. He didn't want to get out and would hardly give back the keys. :o) He is looking forward to sleeping in his California King size bed again. He hasn't complained but the twin size hospital bed is getting to him for sure. The training is being done with the Occupational Therapist and the Physical Therapy Therapist. We will train again tomorrow, spend the night and train again Saturday morning. Some more training next week will include Delaney. My notes will be a good reference for what to do in various situations. We still do not have a dismissal date; but we are really getting prepared for his release whenever that will be in the future. He will still have therapy sessions after his release but they will be here in Colorado Springs. We are looking forward to being at home and enjoy each other.

#34 Update, April 27th

Paul and I started our at home training today with the occupational therapist. We need to have between 5-10 hour sessions in the next 2 weeks and an overnight stay to see how to take care of Sean so he and we are safe. We don't have a date for his coming home as of yet but it could be soon. It went very well today and he is excited to work with us because it means he is getting closer to coming home to his California King bed instead of the hospital size bed he has been in since January. This Friday he will have been at Spalding Rehab Hospital for 50 days which doesn't seem possible. He has come a long way in such a short time. Thank you everyone for continuing to pray for him and supporting us with warm wishes and thoughts. We have another challenge right now I have a blood clot (DVT) in my upper left arm from when a box fell on me just over a month ago, they found it last week. The challenge is my arms are weaker than normal but I will be going to therapy soon for strengthening them so that won't be a problem. The good news is they took enough blood before I started the blood thinners that if my side of the family has a gene that is causing this we will be able to identify it and it may mean Sean won't have to be on coumaden for the rest of his life. They couldn't determine why Sean had all the blood clots he had because they gave him Heprin the blood thinner right away and that modified the test results. He has good days & bad as expected but he is moving forward. We are so excited that he is getting stronger and better with each passing day.

#33, April 24, 2009

We took Delaney up to see Sean this evening, and unfortunately both Delaney and Sean had just woke up, so neither of them were very social. We'd let Delaney know that Sean had a tender tummy (due to the feeding tube, which they only use to give Sean his meds), and she seemed a little tenative due to that. He was able to say her name, though. If they both are awake, they'll probably do much better.
Sean went outside yesterday and got to play catch with his physical therapist for a while. There is a semi-enclosed area off the first floor dining room with paved areas, cobblestones, grass, and landscaping for different therapy challenges, and with the warmer weather, Sean likely will be spending more time there.
We've had a cold front move in this morning, but we'll be heading up to see Sean soon.
The next step for us in Sean's journey back is to receive training in how to help Sean with his daily activities, including an over-night stay in Denver. When we finish, then we'll be preparing for his discharge, with the goal of his being able to live an independent life again.

#32, April 21, 2009

Today we met with Sean's therapy team, and they all are happy with the progress that Sean is making, but noting just how long of a road is ahead of us. The main thrust of each therapist is that sometimes he does really well, and sometimes, not so much progress.
After the meeting, both Andrea and I worked with the physical therapist to help Sean stand, walk to and from the toilet, and sit back at the bed. When we came into the room, he was sleeping, so we didn't do much more than feed him some pudding and a quick run-through of getting his gait belt on and the therapy. He'd actually been outside earlier today, so was kind of tuckered out.
We're beginning to talk about when Sean leaves the rehab center and comes home , what things we'll need for the house (grab bars, ADA toilet rails, etc.) and just what our expectations are for him vs what his needs are going to be.

#31, April 19, 2009

Due to the snow, this was the first time we'd been up to see Sean since Wednesday, and he is still doing well. We got to take him around the hospital in his chair, and fed him both pistachio pudding and his regular supper. If the weather had been a few degrees nicer, we could have taken him outside, but that will be coming very soon.
Tuesday will be the first "formal" team meeting with his therapists. We've spoken to them all individually, of course, but we will be sitting in on their daily meeting where they let each other know about what Sean has been doing in the individual sessions. The communication among nursing and therapy staff really seems to be excellent here, which helps the healing process tremendously.

#30 Update April 15th

Sean had a great day! His appetite is back; he ate 2 helpings of his dinner tonight. He is working really hard and making great strides. He is able to sit up for hours at a time now and occasionally only needs one person to help him with his walking. We asked him if he wanted to get a haircut today and he said "no". Not to brag but when the nurse asked him what kind of cooking he liked best he said "my Mom's".

#29, April 11, 2009

Sean has moved up a room, from the stimulus-controlled section to a room with more of a view (of I-225) and a little more room. Tonight, we helped Sean walk from his bed to the restroom and back, and Andrea and I fed him his supper. His walks are with help, but not necessarily with mechanical support. He can go up stairs pretty well, but has trouble going down the stairs. The staff has mentioned several times that we seem to be having a good effect on him; he is less likely to balk at their attempts at helping him or giving him medications through his feeding tube than before we arrive.
We're hoping that either we can walk him to the dining room or that he can come out there to see Delaney tomorrow. When she is in the ward, she sometimes gets a little loud, and we don't like to feel that we're bothering the other patients.
Thanks as always for your prayers and positive thoughts; we feel that Sean is responding to them.

#28, April 8, 2009

Andrea was able to feed Sean his supper tonight. He's progressed to the point where he can have pretty much anything he wants; in fact, the aide told us that he'd picked out his meal this evening. Somehow he got salmon and asparagus on the plate, and he didn't really care for them. He's a lot more alert today. We think that the doctors have been adjusting his medications to help him be more in tune with his surroundings. His speech is improving as he regains control of his tongue and lips. The therapists are also happy with his progress.

#27 Update April 6th

Sean is doing better, he seems to be processing a lot. Some of the answers to questions are coming a lot faster. Granted these are yes or no answers but that is a huge step. He is very tired lately so we are hoping that is due to processing more and his brain healing more. He told us 1 + 1=2; there are neat windows of light that some signals are there, working and we are hoping/believing with more to come.
He is not as combative, mainly he wants to do things on his own so he can come home. He told us yesterday that they won't let him come home. We were able to help him understand that he will be able to come home as soon as he is capable we promised. He had to promise that he would let them help him get better so that it could happen faster. A "I promise, you promise" exchange and he understood and repeated "I promise, you promise" back. He has gained back some of his weight loss so that is good.
The biggest thing that has upset him lately is he now understands it is April and he has been in hospitals since January. Bless his heart!

#26, April 5, 2009

We went up today to see Sean, and he was sitting up on his bed, with his feet on the floor. Andrea brought along some tapioca, which had too many "pearls" for him to be comfortable with. We explained the best that we could that he needs to be able to do more things for himself before he can come home. Tomorrow will be a chance to meet with his therapists to set some weekly goals for him. It's our hope that if he understands that he needs to do more than walk and swallow before he can leave, he'll be more cooperative with the therapists and staff. Thank you all for keeping us and Sean in your prayers.

#25 Update April 2nd

Sean is improving but is extremely frustrated as he has had to relearn the basics of life. They are trying new medications to help with the movement he has that is like but not Parkinson's disease. The new medication made him combative and so they stopped it and will try something else. He has another urinary tract infection as well. April Fool's day was a blustery winter snow storm for us but seeing him and being able to calm him made the trip all worthwhile. Thank you again for your warm thoughts and prayers; it is making all the difference.

#24 Update March 30th

Today was an unusual day for Sean as we were there to see him about noon. I fed him some pistachio pudding that Paulette had made and he really enjoyed it. We haven't seen him so frustrated for a long time; he was running a bit of a fever and not letting the nurse take his blood pressure. My sister Mary Lou and niece Anne got to visit for about 5 minutes as he was having a challenge and unable to explain what was upsetting him. He had 3 good therapy sessions today and walked a lot. The therapists are mainly there to steady him. They took him down the hall to the elevator, then had him walk around the first floor gym and back again, which is a pretty long walk.

#23 Update March 27th

After the blizzard from yesterday it was a treat to see Sean this afternoon. He was talking and walked a lot today. He graduated to chopped up pieces about 1/2 inch in size of chicken, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and applesauce. He can also suck out of a straw. I stayed to feed him and it was delightful to share the time and meal with him. He was hungry and has eaten 100 % of all of his meals today. His nurse asked him what branch of the service he was in Navy, Army or Air Force and he answered Air Force. He is making small but noticeable steps forward. He will always be one of our best achievements in life no matter what. Between him and Delaney, she "talks" more but we understand more of Sean's words; someday soon hopefully they'll be even.

#22 Update March 26th

Sean is relearning how to take food! He had some "nectar" yesterday without incident. Not a sirloin, but we all have to start somewhere, I guess.
We met other caregivers of brain-injured people in a support group yesterday, and we feel humbled by what these people have gone through after traumatic brain injuries--falls & auto accidents in the crowd we were with. If we didn't process that this is a marathon, the experiences we heard last night brought that home. The doctors tell us that the first six months or so will bring the greatest healing and learning; due to the coma that Sean was in, that six-month clock really didn't start until he arrived at Spaulding. Thanks again for the prayer groups that you all have added Sean's name to, and thank you again for the individual prayers and positive thoughts directed our way.
Due to a springtime blizzard here in Colorado, we aren't going up tonight, and we might stay home tomorrow as well. Saturday is forecast to be bright and sunny, though. We call the hospital to see how his day is, and what new things he is doing. All the best to everyone.

#21 Update March 22nd

Yesterday he wasn't talking very much. Today he stood by himself for a few minutes while they were transferring him to his walker for physical therapy. He can walk down the hallway with assistance and "walk" himself down the hallway while sitting in his wheelchair. He was talking a lot more today and a good percent of the words you could understand. Sometimes when you ask him a question you can see him processing it, if you wait you might get an answer. I read him some of his Consumer Report Magazine. He listened and sometimes made comments which was great.
Thank you again for your continued prayers and support.

#20 Update March 19th

Before I share today Thank you to Aunt Judy, Bev, Sheila and Paulette who brightened Sean's St. Patrick's Day by their thoughtfulness.
Today was both informative and challenging-knowledge is power yet it still hurts.
Sean's brain damage is located in the middle of his brain the Caudate nucleus and Globus pallidus; both the right and left side are affected. The middle of the brain is the control center for the other parts of the body. The high functions are not affected except by the overall control he needs from the center area. There is no time table for how long it will take or how much will heal at this point. Usually the first 6 months are the most healing but it can take a year to 18 months as well, time will tell. How long it will be before he is discharged from rehab is unknown as well. He is responding and progressing but it is definately a journey.

#19 Update March 18th

Sean isn't sleeping very much only about 3 to 5 hours a night. Today he walked up and down the hallway and I understood him when he was telling me about it. He was talking a lot today but the nurse and I were having trouble understanding him. Paul and I go see him tomorrow during his physical therapy and speech therapy sessions so maybe we will be able to learn more then. The rash he has been dealing with on his legs is doing a lot better and he isn't itching so that is GREAT!

#18 Update March 16th

Today was the first full day of therapies for Sean and he did AMAZING! He has 1 hour of speech, 1 hour of physical and 1 hour of occupational each day and we were there to watch occupational today.
He didn't sleep very well last night 3 hours at most. Probably because he wasn't understanding what is happening & where he is at even though we tried to explain it to him. They took him off all of the sedating medications so that he is fully awake and able to process as much as possible. He has been very emotional, it is hard to see him so upset. The therapist said that whatever their disposition before they had brain damage is greatly exaggerated afterwards. They(his team) can tell that Sean has a big heart, is tender and loving by his emotions.
Last night we told him he could come home after he learns to walk and eat again. Before we left he told us he wanted to walk. We can only stay for 15 to 20 minutes now. As he progresses we will be able to stay longer.
He walked up & down the hallway 4 times behind his over sized wheel chair with assistance. He read all of their names aloud from their badges, the team was impressed. He spelled "deer hunting" to the nurse as well.
He was less emotional today with us, excited to see us and actually said, " I will learn to swallow again." When we told him goodbye, we'd see him tomorrow and we loved him; he repeated he would see us tomorrow and he loved us and didn't cry. We think after having his therapy sessions today he understands he needs help to learn to do things again. It was so much easier leaving him tonight, he is at the right place and moving forward. Thank you for continuing to pray for him and us it helps so much.

#17 Update March 15th

Sean has settled into his room. Since he is off the Percocet his skin looks much better. One side effect of this med is itching, and since Paulette had that reaction, we mentioned it to his doctors, and they have him on alternate medication. When we saw him, he looked almost as though he was in bed at home; almost all of the tubes and lines that he had been hooked up to have been removed, except for the feeding tube. He is aware enough to be kind of overwhelmed by what has happened to him. He asked us several times, "Why?", and we did our best to explain the things that he has undergone. Talking is still difficult; it's possible that either when they put in the airway to help him breathe, or when he pulled it out that there may have been damage to his vocal cords--or else, he's just out of practice.
The staff is starting to evaluate his base position for speech, occupational and physical therapy, and we'll be talking with them on Monday. So far, we're very impressed with how well he's being taken care of.

#16 Update March 14th

Sean did very well yesterday making the move, confused but he is adjusting to the quite environment of Spalding. He slept through the night and will have more evaluations today. We will go up later to see him. They have him in the brain injury unit, they control the environment with absolutely no noise of any kind at first. It gives the brain the rest it needs and helps it to process better. Delaney won't be able to see him for awhile because she has so much energy which is overstimulating for an injured brain. They will tell us when he is ready to see her again. He can tell them his name which is wonderful, he is talking more. When I saw him last night he was responding to some questions and following commands. He is assigned one nurse that stays with him at all times currently until he progresses more. He can have visitors only 1 or 2 at a time. He isn't able to swallow yet but the speech therapist will be working on it with him; so he can have his feeding tube removed. He now has lost 65 lbs, he will be very surprised I'm sure. We are on the right track and moving forward. The therapists had him standing at Triumph yesterday and he patted one of them on the head. He still needs prayers as he faces relearning everyday things now. Thank you for your love, prayers, warm thoughts and kind words. I give him all of your messages and print them out for him to see later.

#15 Update March 12th

Sean will be moving tomorrow Friday to Spalding Rehabilitation Center. Paul and I checked it out today and again he will have access to the same doctors at The Medical Center of Aurora should he have the need; continuity is vital to the plan. He stood up 3 times today with help. They did the swallowing test and he is unable to swallow at this time so they will leave the feeding tube in for awhile longer. They will put him in the brain damage unit where it is quieter and he will have one on one assistance for awhile until he is able to do things on his own. He was talking a lot today mainly one syllable words yes, no, on. He is still itching but they are giving him Benadryl which helps a lot. Craig Rehabilitation Hospital doesn't have a bed available for 3 weeks. After visiting Spalding we need to move him now to keep his progress moving in a positive progression. This has been our ultimate goal to get him to rehab so that he can have the opportunity to have a life on his own again.

#14 Update March 10th

Sean is very restless; he has a yeast infection on the back of his right leg especially and a reaction to his new medication so he is itching like crazy. The nurse gave me some Benadryl allergy cream to put on his rash and that seemed to help. She also stopped his new medication and gave him some Benadryl. He stopped squirming quite so much. Anyone who has every had a yeast infection knows how much it itches, poor guy. He is a lot more comfortable before I left. He had the speech therapist today so we should see him talking a lot more now. One of the medicines they took away that controlled his tremors is noticeably making a difference. He is having tremors again in his hands, not as bad as before though. It is a little unnerving for me to see him step a little back but I will endure and pray. It has been hard these last couple of days, I want my Sean again.

#13 Update March 6th

Sean was calmer this evening, but is still trying to remove his oxygen line from his ears; the tube loops around them and then connects under his nose. His "meals" are given for a half hour period through the feeding tube, since he is prone to gagging if it comes any faster.
We're looking forward to letting Delaney see him and, more importantly, to his seeing her. He seems to perk up when she talks to him.

#12 Update March 5th

Quite a day, Sean is trying to talk more, tried to climb out of his bed 3 times and the doctor from Craig rehabilitation came to evaluate him. He has lost 56 pounds as of March 1st. The doctor from Craig will come back in a week after he has been off of several medications to reassess him. He felt the medications were inhibiting his movements and responses. I told him he had a bald spot in the back of his head when I washed his hair and his eyebrows raised.

#11 Update March 4th

Sean is more alert and can track you when you enter his room. Today when cousins Bev and Geno visited him he had just finished sitting in a chair for 2 hours. He isn't talking a lot, but he is checking out all of his monitor lines and other lines attached to his body. Bev asked him if he was going to stop playing with one of the tubes today and he said "no". He now wears a mitten on his left hand. When I got there this afternoon he was sleeping. He slept off and on, he tried to say something to me but I couldn't understand him; then he fell asleep again. I am currently reading one of his books to him even when he is sleeping. The book is pretty interesting. I bet he can tell me all about the plot and characters. I definitely would never have read this book if it weren't his for sure. Someday soon he is going to talk a blue streak I just know it. Thanks again for your prayers and support, words simply aren't enough.
Andrea

#10 Update March 1st

Sean is more alert today, and seemed to respond to us. Andrea brought some lotion to put on his feet, and gave him the squeeze dispenser to handle. He took it from her hand and pulled it closer to his face, then lost interest in it. We should get more information about his pneumonia and MRSA status tomorrow, and with luck, he'll be back doing his therapies.
Thanks again for all of your prayers and good thoughts; we'll never be able to thank you all enough for them, both for him and for us.

Paul, Andrea, Paulette, Delaney & Sean

#1-9 Updates Feb 28th

Hello,Paulette created a blog page for updates so that you can keep up to date at your leisure. http://pkknott.blogspot.com/
Sean was moved to Triumph Hospital late on Thursday evening. He still has pneumonia; he started coughing a lot with some blood involved so he is semi-sedated so he won't cough and also has MRSA (a super bug) so we need to take precautions around him. BUT he is doing a lot better and stable.
The move last weekend went amazingly well thanks to a lot of people. There were about 20 of us between cousins, aunts, uncle and friends that packed & loaded into the truck Sean's apartment on Saturday. Then on Sunday 12 agents from the office came to unload and it took a mere hour and a half. Thank you everyone that helped. Words are simply not enough for what it meant. When this is over and done we will have a HUGE party to celebrate Sean's victory and survival.
Friday, Nina, Delaney and I finished finalizing Sean's apartment. Delaney and I spent some time with him then headed home.
When Paul and I went up today he woke up several times, looked around for a few minutes then he'd fall back asleep. He is getting some needed rest.

#8 Feb 20th
This has been a very long day, we got a call at 2:00am from Triumph hospital saying Sean had spiked a fever and they were sending him to the Emergency room at The Medical Center of Aurora again. Paul and I left at 2:30am got there pretty fast with no traffic. They had already put a breathing tube in him, had him sedated and ready to go back upstairs to the Critical Care Unit. When the ER nurse called upstairs for a room; Dr Forrester the head ICU doctor said they only had one bed and couldn't take another patient. When they told him it was Sean they moved someone out of ICU that was going to move later in the day anyway. See we were right, he needed to be in Aurora and have the ability to go back to his previous doctors and nurses to take excellent care of him if needed. They ran a million tests and still don't have complete answers because some of the cultures take a few days. To make a very long day short he has pneumonia (we knew this could be a possibility), still has the blood infection, his kidneys are compromised again and his cardiac doctors performed another surgery taking a liter of fluid off the back of his heart. When we left him at 8:45pm he was holding his own, critical but stable. He will be in the ICU until they can get a handle on the pneumonia and make sure the fluid is drained off his heart.Remember when I told you the doctor at Triumph Hospital said not to get too excited on the good days or the bad days because there would be a lot of both in the days to come, I didn't think this was what he meant. Yesterday when I left Sean-I told him I was going home, I'd see him tomorrow and I loved him; he told me I love you back. Words are not enough for how I felt last night.
Again, thank you for keeping him in your prayers, being his friend and ours too. Life is way too short and days like today prove it over and over again.
We are still packing up his apartment tomorrow and moving his belongs to storage in the Springs.

#7 Feb 17th
Today was OUTSTANDING! The doctor told us last week not to get too excited for good days or bad ones because Sean would have a lot of both in the process BUT today seemed to be HUGE! He told his speech therapist "yes" and "ok". His nurse said he was talking a lot today. I am not sure but I thought I heard him say "mom" when I walked into his room this afternoon; it was very soft so I'm not positive. He is coming back inch by inch. They almost had him standing up today, with help of course. His therapist expect to have him standing for a few minutes tomorrow in a special standing type chair. They are pushing him and it is working. We are thrilled for windows of hope and progress.Saturday we will be packing up his apartment and putting his belongings in storage. It has been difficult going through his things but I know he will have them again in the future.Thank you again for all of your support and prayers.

#6 Feb 13th
Hello Everyone,Thank you for praying for us and Sean; it has made all the difference; his recovery has a greater purpose which will give God the glory.
We have met a milestone. Yesterday (Thursday 2-12-09) we moved Sean to the interim hospital. He is at Triumph Hospital at 700 Potomac St. in Aurora. It is 3 miles north of The Medical Center of Aurora where he has been for nearly a month (his surgery was the 14th of January). Delaney got to see him for the first time yesterday and it was very touching to see them react to one another. He held his left hand out and tracked her and she held his hand, patted him then talked a blue streak. He is aware of his surroundings and beginning to respond to people more and more. He doesn't talk currently but I can hardly wait for him to do so.
He has a blood infection currently but is stable; we found that out today. We had hoped to have been able to move him to Colorado Springs but it wasn't the best fit for Sean. He will have some of his Critical Care Unit doctors, the continuity is a huge plus and if he has an emergency he will be with taken back to the Medical Center of Aurora and have doctors that know his history. He will have Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, and some Neurology therapy 6 days a week. His primary doctor told us yesterday that in 6 weeks we will know what part of Sean we will have for the future; for us we will take whatever that means. The amount of brain damage he has is still unknown and probably due to being on the heart by-pass machine for 10 hours. Even though they monitored it closely that is a long time, his age is on his side.
When I went up today he responded to me and held out his hand for me to hold. It is a GREAT feeling to know he wants you to touch his hand even if he can't speak. He is awakening slowly and I know he will amaze us all when everything is said and done.

#5 Feb 2nd & 3rd
We had a scare last night and today as Sean was bleeding out but we didn't know from where his blood count was 24. His white count was elevated as well. They gave him back 30% oxygen, 2 pts of blood, took him off the Heparin and stopped his stomach tube feeding because the area was distended on the opposite side of the stomach tube. They waited until today for his blood count and pressure to stabilize to do a total ct scan. They found his diaphragm is bleeding possibly from all the coughing and being on the Heparin(a blood thinner). They are hoping it will stop on it's own because in this area the tissue usually does. His kidneys took a hit for lack of blood and low blood pressure so they are hoping they don't have to put dye in the veins to find the bleed and repair it as the dye is extremely harsh for the kidneys. He has better color today and we are praying that he maintains his blood count and pressure through the night.

#4 Feb 1st
Today has been Sean's 37th birthday, yesterday was Paulette's 32nd. The weekend was a mixture of emotions, celebrating life and being thankful for small changes. Paulette didn't feel like she could celebrate without her big brother being able to celebrate too so we did things quietly as a family. Sean no longer needs oxygen; they say he is breathing room air and holding his own. He has a feeding tube now and getting the nutrition he needs to heal. He is also taking almost all of his medications through the feeding tube as well. When he is able to eat on his own they will remove the feeding tube. His lungs and heart are showing some improvements, his upper heart still needs some meds to keep it in rhythm. He is moving & bending his left leg and sometimes moves his left arm. He isn't talking to us but he does make noises like he wants to talk at times. He is being evaluated by several hospitals; he hasn't advanced enough to go to a rehab center. They need him to do things on command and he doesn't yet so 2-3 hours of rehab would be out of the question. A hospital in-between the critical care unit and a rehab facility is the next step. We had requested if possible, he go to an interim hospital in the Springs. We should know this week. If they can only place him in Denver we will continue to keep the oil companies in business with daily trips up I-25, whatever it takes. Thanks for your continued prayers, we know they are helping. The doctor said 99 out of 100 people would have died. Sean is an anomaly. He has come a long way from being thankful for each minute for the 2 days after surgery till today -- he just needs more time to heal.
God Bless you and yours, all our warmth, love and prayers.

#3 Jan 25th
Thank you everyone that has been praying for Sean and us throughout these past two weeks. He is in God's hands! A parent's 2nd worse fear is happening, please continue to pray for him. The first fear being their death. They consider him to be in a coma even though he opens his eyes a lot now, can track you, look at you and make eye contact for short periods of time but he doesn't do it on command. He doesn't talk yet and has moments of tremors. The various tests, MRIs, EEGs, Spinal Tap & Cat Scans continue to be normal. The doctor says he has some brain damage called defused slowing so after his 37th birthday next Sunday he'll need to go to a neurological rehab center and then possibly to 24 hour long term care for awhile. We aren't giving up hope and want the very best rehab. The doctors says he may come back with more time because he does more and more each day but he won't necessarily be the same. From our viewpoint he and we will fight through this and doctors have been wrong before and we are up to the challenge. We go to see the social worker tomorrow, and get started on paperwork to get his affairs in order, pack up his apartment etc. Paul, Paulette and I are numb this it is going to take more time than we expected but we'll do whatever it takes. Again thank you for all your warm wishes and prayers we feel them we just need some more for awhile. All our love, warmth and prayers, Andrea, Paul, Sean, Paulette and Delaney

#2 Jan 21st
Some of you didn't get the first email so I included it with this one. Sean is still critical but stable and in a coma. They don't know why he isn't waking up other than it took massive amounts of medication to put and keep him under for the long surgery. He is not responding on command so one possibility may be "global brain damage" which doesn't show up on the EEG and Cat scan which were normal. Personally I don't like the word coma, I'd prefer him to be in a deep sleep and just needs to wake up. The rest of us have the crud and are unable to be with him due to running fevers among other bodily functions. Thank goodness for my Aunts, Uncles and cousins that live in the Denver area that have been wonderful and staying with him these last two days. I came home tonight, I was staying in Sean's apartment in Denver, I figured if I couldn't see him the least I could do was help with Delaney and Paul who are still sick. Paulette is doing better and works 5am to 1:30pm. If any of us are better tomorrow and not running a fever we will go be with him in the Critical Care unit. Thank you for your phone calls, prayers and warm thoughts please keep it up, he needs all he can get. I keep telling him he has visited with his Grandparents long enough he needs to come back to us. Thanks again.

#1 Jan 18th
Sean our son needs your prayers to recover from a very traumatic open heartsurgery. I took him to the ER Wednesday night for possibly pneumonia. Whatthey found was massive blood clots on his lungs, in his heart and one stillin his leg. They did open heart surgery Thursday to find out that the oneblood clot in his heart that they wanted to remove was 15cm and there weremore. They finally got him off the by pass machine after the 3rd try, 10hours later. He is in critical but stable condition fighting for every inchof progress. He hasn't been awake since surgery, they are cautiouslyoptimistic, it is now hour by hour-Thursday and Friday it was minute byminute. They won't be able to begin to figure out the blood clots and whatcaused them until he is out of critical care and stable. He will be 37 Feb.1st.