She's talking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They extubated (removed her breathing tube) Colleen this morning, and she is talking and responding appropriately to questions. She knows where she is, who is around her, what year it is...etc.  I talked with her for a brief moment on SKYPE and she said, "Oh Lynette...I love you." She is still very weak and fragile, and tires very quickly, but we are SOOO grateful at this progress. Our prayers have been asking for more precious time with her.

Thank you for all of you who have been following and caring so deeply from afar.

thank you.

Just wanted to write and thank you guys for how many of you prayed for our family and Colleen. What a blessing to have this type of support behind us in the middle of such uncertain times. We are all encouraged by the progress we have seen in Colleen in the past 24 hours. Hoping and expectantly waiting for more of our sweet Colleen to come back to us. She is still intubated, so is unable to talk. From what I've heard she is breathing on her own, but it has been easy for them to suction with it so they decided to keep it in a bit longer. There is talk of removing it soon, and then we will anxiously be waiting to hear her voice. Love to all of you.

Coming Along!!

written by Ron Polinder

Colleen is surely moving in the right direction--nicely responsive to our inquiries, signalling with thumbs ups.  Even gave the peace sign, a product of the 60's, though Colleen was never a hippie. In fact, can you imagine anyone less a hippie?  Actually, the 60's did not come to Lynden until the 70's, so we missed it.  

We opened an eye asking, can you see us?  Her eye moved to Shawna, Staci and me--thumbs up!  She was able to point to her tummy when asked where she had pain, and later to her head--and indicated it was moderate.

All these are good signs for which we give gratitude to God, and his petitioners!  We are a thankful family.

It was Rusty and Lynette's 8th anniversary today--celebrated via Skype. And I wasn't even aware of it until later tonight--goodness gracious, desperately need Colleen back in action.  

Praying that she will be!

Ron

New Hope

written by Ron Polinder

Dr. Foltz came with his report about an hour ago.  Clearly it was this very rare "brain lock."  His initial procedures were not successful, then he irrigated the brain and it broke loose, so to speak, moving substantially, releasing pressure from the brain stem enabling her brain to rebound to a better space.

He fully expects her to wake up within the next 24 to 48 hrs, though she is now on a respirator and thus would not be able to talk--but we are hoping to see those eyes again. 

While Dr. Foltz observed two of these while in training, this is the first time one of his patients developed this syndrome.  He was breaking new ground even as he was working on Colleen.  He was buoyant as he shared the result with us. 

Having said all of this, Shawna reminded me before this post to plead for your ongoing prayers.  Her mom is not out of the woods--it has been a particularly tough morning for all of us--ominous.  Rusty replayed so much of the Olive experience.  Staci, the medical social worker, is first of all a loving daughter, and mother of her own children.  So will you hang in there with us--and keep praying?

Ron