Well here it is almost a year after I posted Karen's story. She's now in a Nursing home and surprisingly she's doing much better here than at HealthSouth. In fact, I'd rather her stay here than go back. Funny how I thought the opposite a year ago.Her progress is very slow but constant. "Baby Steps". There's alot going on. She could still be mourning for Kaitlyn which could take a mother years or even her whole life to come to terms with. Notice I didn't say "Get over", as a loving mother could never get over that. And she was hit pretty hard by that truck which did considerable damage to her brain. I know she'll never be the same. Never. But if we can just get her to talk. That's all I settling for now. I just want her to talk. She is moving her legs, feet, and lower arms. Mainly her right arm and her right leg is the strongest. She smiles, she laughs sometimes and she's still a very good kisser.
This past winter through the holidays wasn't very good for her. The holidays always got her down. She missed Kaityln. Kait's birtyhday is the 28th of December and there's Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Years. All the special ones within 30 days of each other. Wow what a crappy way to celebrate huh? But there over now and it seems she's perking up. let's hope spring brings more than flowers and showers.
My story is about my fiance Karen. If she didn't have bad luck, she'd have no luck at all. She's a Speech Therapist which will make this story a little ironic at one point.
On Jan 30, 2002 She was on her way to fill in for her boss in Henryetta, OK. She aleady had 3 nursing homes in Oklahoma on her case load the way it was nd was very upset about going to a forth. Anyway, the weather ws cloudy, rainy expecting it to freeze. She entered an intersection which was poorly marked nd was struck on the driver's side door. She never saw the truck coming. She was ambulanced to St.John's Medical Center in Tulsa and they did a wondeful job of bringing her back. She was in a coma for 5 day's before she started to open her eyes. I remember I didn't sleep for those 5 days and her doctor insisted that I get some sleep or I will eventually pass out. After he assured me that she would live thru this I finally went to bed.
Well, after that first 5-6 weeks at St. Johns we flew her to HealthSouth Rehbilitation Hospital of Erie in Erie, PA.(Near Family and friends) Since her arrival here on March 15th 2002 she's made som consideral progresses. She's moving her head back and forth, her eyes follow and observe everything. She seems very aware of her environment. Sometimes she's able to move her arms and legs on command an sometimes not. We have 2 more weeks to make better progress or we'll have to send her to Nursing Home.(or a Skilled Nursing Facility) as they call it.She has so much potential in her. I just know it! I feel like sending her to a nursing home would only slow things down. If they would only give her more time.
She needs and very well desrves a break. She lost her only child, her 9 year daughter to an Inoperable Brain Tumor 1 1/2 years ago. She still found it hard to even get out of bed to go to work then. And even now, she fights with all she's got. She want's to live. She's a fighter, an the sweetest, most loving person you'll ever meet.
Please, if you've made it ths far in my letter, say a prayer for her. I love her with all my heart and the world needs her.
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