He recognized me!!!!!!! It was the first time I knew for sure that Chris knew it was me. He pursed his lips, he wanted a kiss. His lips are chapped so I asked him if he wanted Ruby red or Pretty pink chapstick. He made a face like he was trying to decide which color, then mouthed the words, pretty pink. That is my guy, still joking under these conditions. It warms my heart, he can still make me laugh from the hospital bed.
I read him all the cards in his room, he smiles at the funny ones. My friend Kim printed out a bunch of pictures for me that were in my camera (thanks again Kim!) and I showed them to him before I hung them on his wall. That made him cry.......I was trying to cheer him up, not make him sad. So I moved on to reading. Chris reads about one book a year, so I joked with him how many books I will be reading to him this year. We started a Michael Connelly book, his favorite author.
Chris moved in pain, which sounds awful, made me happy. I am happy he can feel.........so the nurse gave him some more pain medicine. I read two more pages of chapter four and he is out for the night. They are now limiting my visits to 10 minutes at a time.
They think they will move Chris upstairs this weekend, out of the ICU. I can't remember the name of the department. They throw their hospital lingo around like Kobe with the basketball during play off time.(During the regular season, he doesn't always try that hard) The move is a good thing, that much closer to getting him to a rehab center.
As for getting Chris into rancho Los Amigos, my rehab center of choice.....it is ranked among the top ten centers for this type of injury in the US. Good news is they are the only local rehab center that will take patients on a ventilator, which Chris will still be on for a while. Bad news is we applied for Medical in Orange County and Downey is in LA County which could cause some complications but the nurse says it has been done before.
I can't believe the girls have given me this much time alone to type. They either want me to come play or kick me off the computer so they can play webkinz. As for the girls they are doing as well as expected. Regan asked this morning when daddy is coming home........I don't lie to her.......I just say I don't know because that is the truth. Caitlin, who is six has many more questions. She seems to have accepted the fact that he won't be home soon and has moved on to wondering why I can go and see him but she can't. Again, I don't know what to say. They are getting me through this, keeping it real, as my neighbor Sandy said. They still make me laugh everyday and keep us busy with their daily activities.
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Christy,
ReplyDeleteThough Chris and I have not seen each other for many years I want you to know that all my thoughts and prayers are with Chris, you and the girls. Your strength is inspiring. God Bless.
love, cousin Steve
Christy!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. We have been waiting and praying for news! Please post address and room number for us to send cards etc.
PS Newport Harbor Aquatics is ready to help out.
Thanks,
Cousin Terisa
Christy ~ this site, your story and updates are wonderful! There is not a minute that goes by that we're not sending Chris healing prayers and prayers of strength for you and the girls. There is a plan...God always has one, even though through the darkness it's not always clearly visible. I pray for peace for you and your heart...and that this journey all of you are on, will continue to show healing. You are so strong and Chris needs that...dig deep my friend, and remember we are all here when you need a shoulder. Please tell Chris we are all praying for him...our families, our church, all of our friends....there is a lot of power out here. Take good care of yourself and please let us know if you need anything. With much love and God's blessing...Michelle and Roger
ReplyDeleteChristy ~
ReplyDeletePlease know that Chris, you, and the girls are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. Your words are truly inspiring. You are truly inspiring. Although I'm way over here on the East coast, know that if there is anything I can do for you, I'm here!
Sharon
Hey Christy... You don't know me and I don't know you... I know Tim - he and I went to high school together about a zillion years ago.
ReplyDeleteBut even though we've never met, I wanted you to know that even strangers are thinking about you, about Chris, about your beautiful family, and that even strangers are with you in spirit during this difficult time.
Have faith that there is no shortage of people out here that are rooting for you all.
Best,
-Beth
Day 10
ReplyDeleteThe last 4 days have been exciting in so many ways and yet the reality is still very scary.
Chris is off all sedation but is given pain medication when he needs it.
His temperature is now normal which indicates that they got the infection under control. His BP is still a bit low but good and his respiration is okay.
He has some feeling in his right leg and toes -- he can play "this little piggy" and he knows which toe we are pulling. Still there is no movement.
He has less feeling in his left leg and toes -- but he does have some.
He says he has feeling in his hands but he cannot move his fingers.
Communication is frustrating with the ventilator as he has to mouth all his words. Whenever it gets too frustrating we have a chart that he can point to or we can point to.
We have been able to give him ice chips and a swab with water on it for thirst.
He is being fed by a tube directly into his stomach. We keep asking what is the "gruel" of the day.
His sense of humor is terrific and his eyes light up whenever Christy, his mom, or another beautiful woman enters his room.
There have been a couple humorous incidents -- I'll spare you the details except for one: he received a number of helium, mylar balloons with happy faces, get well greetings, etc. early on, when he was under sedation. As the sedative wore off, he would open his eyes, see these balloons taped to his wall, and begin hallucinating. Can you imagine one of those huge happy faces as you come out of a drug induced stupor! The little girls have them here at home.
We mention to him all the hundreds of people who have called, written, blogged, facebooked, stopped by, and stop us in the streets. I went to the local dry cleaners yesterday -- I hadn't been there in a couple weeks, long before this happened -- and they knew who he was, what happened, and asked about him.
Christy and June are holding up well and over the last couple days we have spent time with good friends and relatives in the area and received tons of comfort.
Last Wednesday evening, 25 people got together representing his college fraternity, the neighbors, and Chris/Christy's church group, and organized a website -- www.chriswillwalk.com, which is up and running, a meal rotation, tee shirts, and committees to help out with finances, legal aspects, physical aspects, etc.
We are trying to keep lives for the girls as normal as possible but they miss their dad and wonder why they cannot see him.
We continue to hear about prayers, prayer groups, masses, candles being lit, etc., seeking God's grace for Chris and his family. We know of Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Zoroastrians, Hindus, Eastern Orthodox (Romanian, Antiochean, Russian, etc.) that are praying for him. The priests, ministers and other religious that we have contacted have been great.
For these prayers we thank you. But please don't stop now -- we need these to continue as we move from rescue through recovery to rehabilitation.
I would encourage you to go to www.chriswillwalk.com and let your heart guide you.
Visiting hours are listed as 22 hours a day (no visiting during the 7-8 change of shifts) but we want Chris to have a good night sleep so we discourage visits after say 9 PM or before 10 AM. He wants visitors but some times they have to wait while they test him, change him, etc. He is now out of ICU and in room 402 so visiting times may be slightly different.
Again, THANK YOU, big time, for your love, support, prayers, calls, letters, emails, blogs, stopping by or just stopping us on the street.
Don
Chris is now in room 402. The official visiting hours are 1 PM to 8 PM but...he really wants visitors.
ReplyDeleteLet us know if you have trouble getting in at other times.
Don
Chris and Christy,
ReplyDeleteI wish we had the chance to meet you that night...so many people, ya know. We think of you everyday. Wishing you all the strenght possible.
A hopeful neighbor,
Suzi
Christy
ReplyDeleteYour family has been in my prayers every night since I heard. I'll keep praying and spread the word about the website. Do you mind if I put it on my own blog? I have a few loyal readers.
Sorry, that previous comment was from
ReplyDeleteJessica (Dawn's friend).
Dear Christy,
ReplyDeletePlease know that your East Coast relatives are sending all the love, prayers, strength, and hope that we can to you, Chris, and the girls.
Hugs,
NYC Cousin Mary
Word cannot express how we all feel at this time. This is by far one of the hardest roads we have ever had to walk. And as a mother this goes beyond heartache My love goes out to All who are praying for Chris and Christy. Thank you ever so much it give us strength each and every day
ReplyDeleteJune (Christopher mom)
Jessica
ReplyDeletePlease post what you want. The more exposure the better.
Love,
Christy
Hello Jessica and Praise the Lord - for all things are possible through HIM I am an ex co worker of Tim and I saw him in the Giant one morning and he asked me to pray and I did ! To get this praise report that he is improving is truly a blessing and a testimony that GOD is still in the blessing business. CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE STRENGTH OF GOD AND HE WILL SEE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THROUGH THIS....God Bless, Cheryl Miller
ReplyDeleteIn the name of Jesus Christ, We pray, Dear Lord, see us through these hard times. In these troubling times, we are filled with unspeakable fears. We reach out our hands to you now, we ask you to walk beside us. We can not carry all our burdens, but we know you can, and will. Please walk beside Chris. Please guide us. Please help us hold on strong, through the trials and storms. Help us hold on to our faith. In even the darkest hour, stay with us Lord, show us Your way. In your love and Holy Spirit we abide. Amen.
ReplyDeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteWe can't wait to come and visit you soon. Dan and Miranda have been our day by day reports as well as the everyday comments from your beautiful wife. You are in our prayers and thoughts and know with your strength, faith and prayers and the support of all those who love and care for you that you will pull through this and get stronger everyday.
All our love, Sherrie and Ty