Dog Community

Posted : 7/9/2011 11:33:27 AM

I spoke to my friend this morning and found out that the doctors have determined that 3 y.o. Owen's spinal cord was severed up high and he will be a quadraplegic. They'll likely be moving him to the only hospital in Florida equipped to deal with this type of injury and it's in Miami. Fortunately, they have family in that area but the logistics of getting everyone transported there is still being worked on. Please continue to pray for this family.

From today....

Hi everyone, it's been a busy couple of days here in TN...

Brooke was discharged after having here wrist adjusted and re-casted, she opted for light blue this time. Overall she's doing much better, even putting small amounts of weight on her leg. She's still plagued by headaches, but hopefully those start to go away with time.

Kathryn was discharged today as well. Her follow-up for her leg surgeries went well, but she did have to get one leg re-casted...leaving here with one purple leg and one white one, her stylist will have to do something about that :-). The girls are now officially residents if the Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House!

Owen has had two surgeries over the last two days...yesterday getting a tracheotomy and feeding tube, and today having his broken femur repaired. The doctor brought us some of the screws he used as a memento; surgeons have an odd sense of humor :-). Both surgeries went well and now you can see the entirety of his handsome little face. Owen's follow-up MRI results also came back, which show that he suffers from a complete severance of his cervical spinal cord, very high in his neck. This is devastating news, especially following some of the limited movement he initially showed. Given the diagnosis of paralysis below the neck, we've begun consulting with the neurosurgeons to identify the best facility for his recovery and long-term care. He's not planned to have any more surgical procedures here in TN, so the goal is now to get him stabilized and ready to move elsewhere.

Please keep up the prayers.

- David

FrisbyPI

Posted : 7/9/2011 4:43:45 PM

Continued prayers for everyone. ((((((((((hugs)))))))))))

Johnny&Tessy

Posted : 7/9/2011 9:04:16 PM

FrisbyPI

Continued prayers for everyone. ((((((((((hugs)))))))))))

Same here! I can only imagine what the family is going through.

Miracle vibes coming from me!

calliecritturs

Posted : 7/10/2011 4:05:48 PM

Oh wow -- continued prayers and good thots for this family ... it's going to be a difficult road ahead.

sharismom

Posted : 7/11/2011 8:23:50 AM

So very sad. I don't know what else to say.

shadowsgin

Posted : 7/11/2011 8:37:53 AM

This family is still in my prayers, Owen a special prayer for healing.

cakana

Posted : 7/14/2011 11:18:54 AM

I had wondered if Owen was going to be on a ventilator for life and today, I got my answer Crying . I don't know how this family is coping but I know their faith is strong and they've got a great support system. Still praying hard for strength for all of them. From today...

Today was the first day of really focusing in on Owen's next place of care. He'll need to be moved to an inpatient rehab facility soon, the location of which is still TBD. Interestingly, there are very, very few facilities in the country which are experienced in providing care for toddler-age quadriplegics who are ventilator dependent. I had the opportunity to go tour one such facility in Atlanta, GA, today and was very impressed. There are still some other programs to consider, and that's something we'll be working to make a decision on quickly so that the logistics can be worked out.

Tomorrow is another big day for Owen as he'll be having a "Halo" fitted in lieu of the collar he's currently wearing (these things help stabilize his neck) and also his tracheotomy changed for the first time. We'll be sure to take some more pictures of him with his new gear.

Funeral services for Hannah are in the process of being planned. Once an exact date/time is set, we'll let everyone know.

iluvjamison

Posted : 7/14/2011 11:27:28 AM

I'm not sure how this family is coping with everything. I don't think I would be strong enough to get through something like this. My continued good thoughts go out to them.

Deb W.

janobonano

Posted : 7/14/2011 10:28:40 PM

Wow. That is so horribly sad. I can't even imagine. Prayers and strength for their entire family.

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 7/15/2011 9:22:50 AM

I'm totally speachless. I can't imagine how they are coping with all this horror. They are in my prayers.

tacran

Posted : 7/16/2011 12:15:59 AM

Cathy - I saw this thread earlier this week while taking a reading break at work. I didn't post anything because it was just so awful and heartbreaking that I couldn't think of anything coherent to say. Now reading your latest update, all I can wonder is how do parents cope with such unbearable tragedies? The loss of one child would be enough to finish most people, but to add to that what appears to be the long-term disability of their young son is just imaginable. I can't imagine being able to even basically function, never mind composing such thoughtful and thorough updates like the ones you've quoted in your posts.

Again, I can't think of anything useful to say other than I hope they find every bit of strength they need from their circle of family and friends, and from strangers they don't know at all (like everyone here) who are thinking good thoughts for them.

cakana

Posted : 7/18/2011 10:30:38 AM

Hannah's funeral is this Thursday. A very generous person donated their jet to fly the family back to Palm Bay, FL Thursday morning and then they'll fly back that afternoon. I'm sure they don't want to be away from Owen for long.

She was such a beautiful little girl...

kpwlee

Posted : 7/19/2011 7:54:08 AM

Cathy I am just seeing this - it is a horror beyond words. My deepest and heartfelt sympathies to the family. I am truly at a loss as to what else to say. They are in my thoughts and heart

CoBuHe

Posted : 7/19/2011 8:38:26 AM

Oh Cathy, my stomach dropped as I read this thread. I am so saddened for their loss of this beautiful baby girl. Equally sorry for the challenges for their boy.

My sincerest condolences go out to this family.

Heartbreaking.

shadowsgin

Posted : 7/21/2011 8:15:05 AM

I have lit a candle for this family today, my prayers are with them as they lay their precious baby to rest.

Prayers requested