I had an interesting conversation with a friend today. She wanted to know why we continued to classify Kathi as being in a coma when she was opening her eyes. Great question - let me see if I can clarify this.
Coma is the prolonged period of unconsciousness which is an absence of awareness of self and the environment. The normal state MOST of us are in is called Arousal and is the general state of readiness to respond to the environment. Basically, that means you can respond and take care of business. (Selective attention and purposeful responses.) The medical team grades coma on a scale of what a person can and cannot do. Two of the scales are the Glasgow Scale and the Rancho Los Amigos Scale. You can "Google" these yourself to see what they look at to evaluate a patient. Kathi is progressing along in their assessment, but is still officially in a coma. Whew! OK, that being said, let me tell you about today!
Great Day! Kathi was read to today, and during that time opened her eyes and looked right at the person reading to her. She has good movement and strength in her left hand - the right is a little weak and non-responsive. I concur with this - when I went in to see her today, she was much more responsive to my voice. Opened both eyes and followed my movement around the bed. Sometimes she squeezes hands on command . . . and sometimes not. Apparently the doctor on service today could not get her to respond to him. Hmmm . . . she really seems to enjoy her music for short periods of time. Also, Kathi had her ICP (Intracranial Pressure) monitor removed today because her measurements have been so stable. One less tube to her body!
STILL has a fever! Cooling blankets, Tylenol, antibiotics and prayer . . . it's the best treatment plan!
This afternoon, her nurse said that she believed that Kathi was going to do well. Strictly her opinion - but she has worked in that unit for 10 years. It's hard to balance hope and reality, but this was encouraging to hear from someone who has much experience dealing with patients with head trauma. I'm going to hang onto this precious nugget of encouragement.
Update on Kathy Hurd - I spoke to her husband, Gary, today. Kathy had a rough start to her physical therapy and needs our prayers, support and encouragement. She is a strong woman, which is good, because this is TOUGH! The UC Davis Trauma team has been exceptional in taking care of Kathy!
Tomorrow is the "one week" mark - yeah! The Sutter Roseville Neuro Trauma ICU Team is the bomb! You prayer warriors out there - God bless you.
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21 comments:
Great progress! I am praising the Lord and continuing to pray for healing! Much love to you Kathi!
Praise God!!! Keep up the good work Kathi! You ARE going to get through this! Our prayers all around the world for you are not only being heard but answered! What a great update to end our evening with tonight! Sweet Dreams for all!
I am rejoicing and giving thanks to God with every nugget of encouragement! Thanks so much for the updates. Hang in there, Kathi. My thoughts and prayers are with you and with Kathy Hurd as well. Love, Amy
Praise God for a great day! Two eyes open that actually follow someone around the room? Awesome! Kathi, I'd be happy to read to you any time and have a great book that takes place in Africa that I can share with you. I will continue to pray for your body temperature to cool down... I'm thinking of the winds in Chicago, blizzards in Tahoe, or bone-chilling tuly fog here in Sac - burr! ;o)
Love you bunches, Pam L.
God is great!! I praise God for the continued healing he's giving Kathi. Our family will continue praying for Kathi and Kathy : ) Thank you for the continued updates it really helps being in the know since we can't be there.
Big hugs and kisses Kathi
Love,
The Gonzales Family
Hi, Kath...I have been walking every morning and my first fifteen minutes or so are dedicated to praying for you, crying out for your healing, praying you're comfortable and peaceful,and knowing you're such an incredible fighter...you're made of tough stuff, and I know if anyone pulls out of this one it's you-maybe, just maybe, that feaver is a sign that your body is just fighting - hard - to kill an infection that otherwise would live - I know God has His plans for you...I don't pretend to know what they are - but you love Him, and He knows that, and that's everything. I want to bring you your Starbuck's nonfat latte that I used to bring to you when we talked about MOPS- and I want to hear all about this one day...all I can do right now for you is pray. I love you, Kathi.
Kathi - I am so proud of you. My hope is that you can continue to feel the energy, love and prayers daily from all around the world. Be still and allow your body to heal.
Cami and her friends in Little Steps and Blitz have you in their prayers as well. Its been a wonderful experience to see my 9-year-old daughter get down on her knees and ask for healing for you. You have been very good to us Kathi - Thank you!
Dear Lord - I thank you for the gift of healing. You are an awesome God!!! Please continue to heal Kathi. We love you Lord!
Shami and Cami Davis
Praise God that she is doing so much better. My husband was injured in October and flown to the same neuro trauma unit. I am sure that Kathi is being by the same wonderful nurses that he had. I speak from experience with the head trauma and coma scales. These signs that she is showing are remarkable for being this soon. She will wake sometimes and be able to answer questions and then the next time not. It is just the brain re-wiring itself. My husband is 8 months out from his accident and coma, and praise God he is doing much better than expected.
I will continue to pray for Kathi and for you all. Please hold firm in your faith and lean on the Lord for your strength. He will be there to hold you up when you think that you cannot go on.
Thank you so much for daily leaving such detailed accounts of Kathi's progress. It's hard to have our hands tied in helping her and this makes us feel a part of things. And we also know specifically what to pray about. It would also be really helpful if we could know who is posting the update each day. Thanks again.
Kathi - we believe in you and are expecting God's best for you. We trust that He will provide! Still praying...
Heather-Lynn
Kathi! Awesome news! We are still praying for you and Kathy and will NOT LET UP!!! What a great update, thank you so much! And thank you to the staff at Sutter, what a blessing and gift they have been!
Micah 7:7-8
"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light!"
Kathi, I just imagine and pray for such a rest that the Lord is with you and holding you. I pray that He is visible to you and that you are resting in a place of unimaginable peace while your body works to heal! Thank you Lord for your creation of a body that can heal through your power!!!
Each day I come to this blog hoping to find a new post with some exciting improvement. You haven't let me down! The process of your recovery will be a testament of God's powerful hand and I can't wait to see His work. As Pastor Brad said this past weekend, this may just be your way of bringing more people to God's precious word. If my family is any indicator, you are certainly achieving this…this weekend my husband actually offered to attend worship with me. Wow! I hope that brings you some happiness as you rest and let our Lord do His thing.
May God bless you and keep you in His healing hands...The Kifer's
You go girl!! You can do this. Keep singing your worship tunes, hang on to Christ and work hard. We are all doing the praying for you, routing for you and waiting on you. Can't wait to sit and have a chat. Keep going Kath! Dana and family
Praise and Worship.."The Prayer That Changes Everything", according to author, Stormie Omartian. Kathi, your soul must be rejoicing with your beautiful music echoing through your body. What amazing healing power there is in worship! Next thing we'll hear is that you are singing along! Amen?! ...To the Blessed Blogger - Thank you for the explanation about coma. So many questions. Also, gratitude to those sharing their experiences with head trauma and coma..and the encouraging words. "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.(2 Corin 1:2-4)
God be with us... Cherie LaLanne
I want to offer Teresa and David encouragement. I was life flighted to Sutter Roseville with head trauma 7 years ago after falling from a horse. I spent almost a month there, but I recovered well. My injuries were not as bad as Kathi's.
If you think I can be of any help during the recovery process, please contact me through Beretta Pysical Therapy. I am a cyclist and a member of team Revolution, and Mike knows me.
I found the book, "Over My Head," by Claudia Osborn, very helpful during my recovery.
Don't give up. The recovery process is long and slow; it took me a year.
I'm praying for Kathi; please let me know if I can help.
Heidi Napier
Our team has been off in Brazil, Kathi, but we have been praying for you each day there...even the people at Restoration Ministries have been praying. Praise the Lord that you are responding. During our time in Brazil, our theme to the kids has been "Olympics" and to run strong...that Jesus helps us over the hurdles. You have a large hurdle, but we know Jesus will help you over it to finish strong. Keep running, Kathi! We are praying for you!
Still praying like crazy--thrilled to hear fo the progress. Thanks for allowing us to be part of your community.
Yes Praise God Praise God, He is so faithful, He is our Healer in so many ways. And thank you for this blog, it's so wonderful to be able to keep up with Kathi's progress and "see" how my friend is improving. This has been a great exercise in prayer and I know very pleasing to God to see so many people crying out for our beloved Kathi!
Kathi -
My thoughts are about you and prayers are for you. I am hanging onto every update and know God has something to say to me through this and through you. Get better - you are such a beautiful woman to know.
Wanted you to know...our prayers are not ceasing :) We continue to have faith, hope and love. Keep loving her-keep talking to her. Tell her what her body needs to do to heal, if the mind is listening it may take the advice-and we all continue to pray for it does amazing things.
Randi Fay and Family
PS to my comment earlier this morning. Beretta Physical Therapy's phone # is 916 941 2440.
You are welcome to contact me any time.
Heidi
The latest blog bring so much relief. I always giggle when reports reflect a nurse's or doctor's "surprise" at improvement and change... We have a God who intervenes in His children's lives to show the world that He is! We thank our physicians for their commitment to our health and wellbeing, but really, there is just one Great Physician and that One is Jesus.
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