Day 97… Another Surgery

Day 97: Christy had her 4-week post-op followup appointment. Looks like we are going to have another pair of brain surgeries to take care of the spinal fluid leak. I seriously want this to stop. We’ll do what we gotta, but come on…

Thankful

It looks as though it has been a while since the last update.  Christy has been home for a couple weeks now and is doing really good.  I have been to visit her a few times.  The first one was right after she got home and she was very tired so it didn’t turn out to be the best visit.  The next time my Dad made her some Chicken Gumbo soup.  We took it over to her and she chowed it down!  Well it wasn’t a LOT but it was a LOT for her.  She still has to have the PEG line in for extra nourishments and she doesn’t eat too well but with time it will come.  She also got to come to my other sisters house for a Open house we were doing for a couple of our businesses. Scentsy, MaryKay and Tupperware.  We all joked and laughed with each other and it was TONS of fun.  Even if we didn’t sell anything it was awesome to visit with her.

Our Family has a lot to be Thankful for this holiday season.  Some of these include Shayne (our 4 yr old nephew).  He fell out of a Window on July 25th and ended up with a ruptured spleen and had to be transported to Primary Childrens.  It could have been a lot worse.  On Aug 27th Cole (our Brother in Law) fell off his loader at work and had to be lifeflighted to UVRMC.  He broke his back, and his ribs.  Luckily it was a “good” break and he is able to walk and he will heal from the fall.  Aug 28th a Day after Coles accident Christy took her terrible fall.  We almost lost her a few times.  We had the best doctor and all the timing was right. (everything fell into place)  Dr. Reichman said that if he hadn’t of been there she would have died.  We are Thankful for him for being there.  He was on Call but decided to go into the hospital and just wait.  He was meant to be there for this purpose.  We can not thank him enough!

A couple weeks into it a cousin of ours got in a head on collision which claimed the life of the other driver.  They thought she had a broken neck and back but ended up only a severe broken leg which again will heal with time.

These are just a few of the example that we have had going on with our family there are more.  These things have brought our family closer (immediate and extended).  We (I) have also learned that your family are “friends for life” no matter what.  They will love you for who you are and not want to change you for who they want you to be.  Friends come and go, sometimes it’s sad to let them go but to have your family be your Best Friend is something I will take over anything else.  I love my Family so Much!  Thank you for everyone that helped us, you know who you are.  We also have family friends that are like family that we Thank.

Live today as if tomorrow will be your last!

Day 70

Day 70: Christy is so much more comfortable & happier here at home. I feel less stressed. Ryker is starting to get used to having here home again. Christy slept better last night & hasn’t vomited once since coming home {knock on wood}. We spent the day yesterday just hanging out as a family at home. We didn’t go any where. We just watched a movie (500 Days of Summer), had some awesome home cooking, I cleaned up a bit & overall just chilled. It was very nice.

Tags: bake sale, bills, brain, brain injuries, brain injury, brain surgeries, brain surgery, brain traumas, care, christy ericksen, christy steele, doctors, donations, dustin ericksen, family, finances, food, friends, fundraiser, head injuries, head surgery, head trauma, head traumas, help, home, hospital, hospital food, hospitals, ICU, laughing, LDS, love, marriage, medical, medical bills, money, Mormons, nurses, photos, ryker ericksen, trauma, twilight, Utah Valley Medical Center, utah valley regional medical

Going Home… Now The Test Begins

Leaving the hospital

68 days 7 hours 30 minutes later, she comes home again.

Finally made it home at last. 9:22pm 11.4.10

Tags: bake sale, bills, brain, brain injuries, brain injury, brain surgeries, brain surgery, brain traumas, care, christy ericksen, christy steele, doctors, donations, dustin ericksen, family, finances, food, friends, fundraiser, head injuries, head surgery, head trauma, head traumas, help, home, hospital, hospital food, hospitals, ICU, laughing, LDS, love, marriage, medical, medical bills, money, Mormons, nurses, photos, ryker ericksen, trauma, twilight, Utah Valley Medical Center, utah valley regional medical

All Done!

Everything went well. Resting after surgery #5. 11.1.10

Tags: bake sale, bills, brain, brain injuries, brain injury, brain surgeries, brain surgery, brain traumas, care, doctors, donations, family, finances, food, fundraiser, head injuries, head surgery, head trauma, head traumas, help, hospital, hospital food, hospitals, ICU, laughing, LDS, love, marriage, medical, medical bills, money, Mormons, nurses, photos, trauma, twilight, Utah Valley Medical Center, utah valley regional medical

Waiting Game

Joking around while we wait for her surgery. 11.1.10

Finally going in at 1:00pm

Tags: bake sale, bills, brain, brain injuries, brain injury, brain surgeries, brain surgery, brain traumas, care, doctors, donations, family, finances, food, fundraiser, head injuries, head surgery, head trauma, head traumas, help, hospital, hospital food, hospitals, ICU, laughing, LDS, love, marriage, medical, medical bills, money, Mormons, nurses, photos, trauma, twilight, Utah Valley Medical Center, utah valley regional medical

Surgery #5

Here we go!!
11am on November 1st, 2010

They will be putting something over the missing part of her skull.

Tags: bake sale, bills, brain, brain injuries, brain injury, brain surgeries, brain surgery, brain traumas, care, doctors, donations, family, finances, food, fundraiser, head injuries, head surgery, head trauma, head traumas, help, hospital, hospital food, hospitals, ICU, laughing, LDS, love, marriage, medical, medical bills, money, Mormons, nurses, photos, trauma, twilight, Utah Valley Medical Center, utah valley regional medical

Halloween!

Ryker was dressed up like a frog, so I dressed Christy up as a princess, stole her away from the hospital & went trick or treating at the mall for like 45 mins. It was pretty much amazing. It took a lot of coordination to pull it off, but it was worth it. Now we are all plum tuckered out.

Tags: babies, bake sale, bills, brain, brain injuries, brain injury, brain surgeries, brain surgery, brain traumas, care, children, costumes, doctors, donations, family, finances, food, fundraiser, halloween, head injuries, head surgery, head trauma, head traumas, help, hospital, hospital food, hospitals, ICU, laughing, LDS, love, marriage, medical, medical bills, military, money, Mormons, nurses, photos, trauma, twilight, Utah Valley Medical Center, utah valley regional medical

Chillin’ In The Big Chair

Lounging in a real chair, watching TV. I’m loving all the simple things! 10.27.10

Tags: bake sale, bills, brain, brain injuries, brain injury, brain surgeries, brain surgery, brain traumas, care, doctors, donations, family, finances, food, fundraiser, head injuries, head surgery, head trauma, head traumas, help, hospital, hospital food, hospitals, ICU, laughing, LDS, love, marriage, medical, medical bills, money, Mormons, nurses, photos, trauma, twilight, Utah Valley Medical Center, utah valley regional medical

Big Room & Big Bed

From Stacey:
Went and visited Christy yesterday… She was gone???? So I asked and they moved her to a BIG ROOM with a BIG BED that is more homey. They are preparing her for going home next week sometime! Her surgery is scheduled for Monday. Can’t wait for her to be home, even though it will be a longer drive to see her.

Tags: bake sale, bills, brain, brain injuries, brain injury, brain surgeries, brain surgery, brain traumas, care, doctors, donations, family, finances, food, fundraiser, head injuries, head surgery, head trauma, head traumas, help, hospital, hospital food, hospitals, ICU, laughing, LDS, love, marriage, medical, medical bills, money, Mormons, nurses, photos, trauma, twilight, Utah Valley Medical Center, utah valley regional medical