TBI: Mark's Journey Back Home

Mark's gait training continues on track

2008-10-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Here we are two months after Mark started standing with aid 8 seconds at a time, we are no close to a minute in time. He still needs a person behind him but his legs are getting stronger and he is more able to control them.

In standing mode with a person behind him holding his right leg strait, he can take a step with the left leg and also put the leg up on a book.

Speaking is also getting stronger, this in relation to loudness, his sentences are all well form. We are going to start studing for our Naturalizacion exam, please send good vibes are way

Mark is standing a for up to 30 seconds at a time!

2008-09-08T00:40:00.000-07:00

Hay every one!

Thanks for the e-mails, and sorry for our always late updates.

Last time we blog, Mark was learning to take steps, we are still working on that, but know trying to do it with crutches, and also to stand with no assitance.

This september 2008, Mark is going to see if he is accepted in the Grossmont speach clinic, please keep your fingers cross

I have several pictures that we need to ad so you can see this tall guy standing!

Bye for now Rosie

Mark in the News...

2008-01-14T23:10:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!.... Yes we are terrible updating this blog, but a full revamp is soon here!

For now we wanted to share this:

Challenge Center featured in Union Tribune Article

PEGGY PEATTIE / Union-Tribune
Every year, residents around the county pay tax dollars to four districts responsible for overseeing public hospitals.

And every year, part of their money goes to causes that have little to do with the hospitals, such as a struggling fire district, a rehabilitation center or a senior citizens club.

Brain-injury patient Mark Israel took a few steps...

(click here to read full article)

Wow almost two years with no postings!!!

2007-05-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hello and thanks for all the comments and e-mails!

It has beem almost two years since our last post. Mark had just graduated from the Sharp Intensive Rehab Clinic and home was, well home again.

To my surprised today when Mark wanted to start working with the Alt.usage web site, we found a link to our own journal!

Oy! what a trip down memory lane for me. For Mark it was good as he said it help him see himself before he had more control of his body.

It was hard to read about how he could not even move a leg or how he was not able to follow me with his eyes.

Right now after celebrating his third year since the accident, Mark is still home with us, still going every day to a wonderful rehab gym call Challenge Center, in La Mesa here in the San Diego area.

Last post we told you Mark was eating out for the first time, since then we have enjoyed many, many outings, overcome the fact that he could not drink thin liquids (which he can now), he slowly but steady is regaining his magnificent voice, and is actively getting Gait training.

That's right folks, the guy who three years ago was recomendent for disconecting of life support systems, is now relearning to walk, argues with me constantly (and corrects my spelling) and tells me all the right stuff to keep me going!

For all those who are new to brain injuries, don't give up.... It's a long road, a hard road, and I would take it again for him in a heart beat.

I LOVE YOU MARK, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK......

Mark's first cinema visit after hospital

2005-07-07T01:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Mark's first visit to the movies, plus eating some greek food (mainly a gyro).

Mark is home!!!

2005-06-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

We have two months of pictures to share from Mark's acute rehab at sharp. We have many ideas to share too, but right now we are still just enjoying the fact that he is home. After one year and four months, he is here.

We still have many more challenges to overcome, more gains to have, but the fact that our life is not dictated by a hospital policy, a nursing home or someone else, is just incredible.

Mark is In Sharp Memorial!

2005-04-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

We have been here 3 days, we are still not sure what to hope for. Mark was doing so well in Las Palmas, I am trying very hard to keep our routine going until we have a true routine here.

Any way here are some pictures of this new place:

The first here is Mark helping me pack!

We love the one with the fat plush cat... after a shower and a looooong day he was ready to sleep.... the cat was our idea, Mark just smiled and took it for a little bit. After the pictures he was living on the nightstand.

Next you can see him getting out of the ambulance that took him to Sharp.

Then there he is in his new room (kinda ugly! but we are not here for a long time)

Mark with some of the Nursing team of Villa Las Palmas

2005-04-22T06:23:00.000-07:00

I want to put proper comments to this pictures but for now I feel happy that you can see them!

Please note that Mark is trying to give his tumb-up with the right hand in some of the pictures... in others he just used the left. The yellow thing around his head is a thing-of-a-yig that Rebecca Elias (Our super, dedicated and loving OT in Villa Las Palmas) came up with so Mark would not drop his eye glasses during Therapy!

Big side Note: EVA!!! Mark really misses your cooking.... the food at Sharp is terrible.

Picture of Mark in The standing frame!

2005-04-22T06:20:00.000-07:00

It took a couple of days for Mark to be a little more secure when on the frame. As soon as this happend I asked if I could take a picture...He gave a tumbs-up and here we are!.

This is it!!! Acute Rehab a reality!!!

2005-04-20T17:39:00.000-07:00

On Monday April 24, 2004 at 12:00 Mark will take the trip up to Sharp Memorial (one freeway exit from our home!!! vs the 45 minute right I do each day both ways)

He has worked hard to get to this point, his workout routine will be expanded and who knows how far will Mark get during the next few weeks. He already gives me something new to smile about every day.

As soon as I have room info I will let you know.

Here is some information on what acute rehab is, and about Sharp Rehab:

http://www.sharp.com/services/index.cfm?id=686

This is an artist rendition of the hospitals new image, right now there is all this construction going on. But it is still a nice place.

Standing Frame!!!

2005-04-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

Well this day has been busy and full as always, but it had a little extra:

Mark was put on the Standing Frame for the first time!!

It was hard and painful, but he did it. But he wants another go at it. He did need assitance from three rehab ladies (we love ya' all), plus one overachiving wife.

This is what a standing frame looks like:

I want to take a picture of Mark in it I will try tomorrow. If he lets me...

The frame is good for:

Natural sit-to-stand transition allows user to stop at any position.

User is fully supported from sitting to standing.

It works well with people who have limited range of motion.

Ease of use increases compliance with standing programs.

Helps with adnormal tone

Before this he was using a Tilting table. It did all the work for him, but helped with balance issues. It look a like this:

A great example of recovery!!

2005-04-19T19:27:00.000-07:00

In Villa Las Palmas, we got the opportuny to meet a young man (only 18 years old) who like Mark suffered a brain injury. His recovery is recorded with much love in a website that his mom has dedicated to him.

Please share the joy of another BI troupper that is going back home, to regain his life and to show the world that their is life after an injury of this magnitud!

Here is the address to the site: ( This site is currently under construction, we are sending an e-mail to his parents Jan/15/2008)

http://ayersmedicalconsulting.com/index.htm

Acute rehab!!!!

2005-04-18T20:49:00.000-07:00

Well after months of stimulation, tears and pain, Mark is ready to go to acute rehab. After that is home. We could be talking about as soon as 6 to 8 weeks. Tomorrow is the one year aniversay of his accident, we desided not to call him victim or survivor.... He is a dedicated, hardheaded (in more ways then one), but most of all he is simply our Mark. He is a fighter! This is his comeback!

I love you Mark, I will always hold your hand...

Now for some updates:

Mark no longer has a feeding tube. He is almost eating like his old self.

Mark can read very good now, so please let the e-mails rain on him : )

He has started to regain use of his right hand (about three days ago he started to slowly take food with it).

His right leg has almost reach the abilities of the left one.

His voice is still lost, but we try every day to find it. He is working very hard to make it possible for me to fall in love with that voice one more time! Not that I am not in love with the "big-log" in general. : )

He kisses and hugs me and Vidia, he enjoys the little things we were hopping he could still have. He still gets very pround of our kid's merits. He is here, just alittle crack here and there. For us this is our personal miracle.

We have so many new things to tell you!

2005-02-02T19:44:00.000-08:00

Sorry, sorry to all of you who check this site for Mark's updates.

Forgive me, but Mark has been very busy with occupational therapy and rehab! These activities mean I am busy too.

Plus we had a scary set back last week, and Mark had to go to Alvarado Hospital for a week. But we are back and we are re-starting the feeding program (we are doing little tastings now hoping to get the OK for full feedings).

Mark's right side is more active now, and I have many things to write about it and what this means to his communication rehab.

Plus we have one new member in our home a soon to be one-year-old kittty! His name is Franky (he came with this name) and Mark likes him ( he likes cats in general).

Here is a pic of this little guy who we hope will help Mark in the "pet therapy" area

Rosie

Fall is on us!!!

2004-09-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

Mark, Vidia and I (Rosie) have been enjoying the visit from Mark's parents. Over the last 14 days they witness with me how Mark is regaining his body inch by inch.

We have a new set of goals for him, we are starting talks about more aggressive physiotherapy but he needs to follow comands better he is resisting some of the things to get him there.

I am increasing my efforts for communication stimulation, and Mark just keeps stepping up to the plate!!! YES in this area Mark seems more insterested. But again it goes up and down.

Our next main focus for more independence for him is getting the feeding tube out, out, out!! But we still have to work for that in many ways.

First week of Septembre

2004-09-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

September is taking us close to our fifth month after the accident. At one point I heard from one of the many medical-type people that have cross our path since the accident, that if anything is going to happen after a Traumatic Head Injury (THI), it is going to happen within the first three months.

Well, that seems to be one of the many myths around THI, not one person's recovery can be measured against another's ups and downs.

For us the end of the fourth month and the beginning of the fifth have seen Mark advance a little more each day.

One day he was trying to scratch his chin, the next he was scratching his nose, the next pushing his glasses up his nose, and most recently for the last three days he takes tissue paper or moist-wipes to clean his chin or mouth. He also moves his left leg with good coordination, even avoiding obstacles (the right one is following along at a slower speed).

He is also trying to use pen and paper, but we need to work on that longer for his left hand to take over the job (he was always right handed), on top of motor coordination.

But, so far we really have not had long periods with no gaining grown over the THI.

So if your love one has any possibility, be patient, loving and help him/her keep trying. Keep a record of any drill you perform, for example writing, or range of motion and make notes about his/her attitude, attention and the time spend on the drill. In this way you can chart down a clear progress or you can analyze what your doing to rise or lower the difficulty for him/her. But what ever your do don't give up, it takes time, but it took time the first time around when any one of us started to talk, write, eat, walk, etc.

Please visit this site!

2004-08-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

One of the things we are waiting for is Mark saying his first word after his accident.

It make take a long time for him, it may need hours of work and we still do not know if it will happend.

Speaking is such a complicated process, for all of you who want to know more I will send you on a reading safari to:

http://www.aphasia.org/NAAfactsheet.html

This site has also been inserted in our favorite sites space.

Mind you, Mark is trying, to let us know things, but so many things are making this difficult, his tone in both hands, lack of cordination, the lung and respiratory problems he had after the accident (of which he seems to be getting ahead).

Here is a very fresh picture of Mark!

2004-08-19T21:08:00.000-07:00

I took this picture of Mark on Monday 16 of this month, right after he had his tube removed. He still looks this fine (but without the gottie, it had a trimming accident and needed to be shaved off. But we hope to grow it back soon).

The Stoma (the opening in Mark's neck) has a simple dressing on it, and its very clean and dry. It will take one or two weeks for it to close up and then a month to be as good as new.

IT TOOK OVER A MONTH BUT DECCANULATION WAS ACHIEVED!!!!

2004-08-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

Sorry, but these past days have been very full, starting with visits (Pia came from Victoria in BC, Canada), I am working on getting Mark's books in some kind of order to gain open space in our little apartment, to finally Mark having ACHIEVED DECCANULATION !!!!

Now we will focus on gaining oral control for eating, swalloing and talking (Thank you again Garret for getting the information to us so we can help Mark get there!).

It happend yesterday morning, he got the canula out from his neck and he did well all day long, we even had some time to go sit under the sun. Mark is using a "Geri Chair" (to know more go to: http://lifts.articleinsider.com/24318_geriatric_chair.html)

so we can take him safely around the facility. They look more or less like this:

So this kind of chair has a back support that can tilt-back this helps the person "gain" sitting control of spine and neck. It also can elevate his legs to avoid blood pooling in the feet.

Any way, he looked good and I hope today will be a good day to.

We are looking at next week for deccanulation!!!

2004-07-24T23:35:00.000-07:00

This weekend Mark has been to his first accordion concert (By Smiling Jack in the activities room at Villa Las Palmas), he has been dressed in his usual gear more often, he has been out of bed in several occasions and the most important thing:

He has been breathing on his own. They have told me that we are looking for a deccanulation some time next week. Maybe Pia will see it happening (Pia is Mark's big sister, and she is coming to visit us).

Keep those prayers coming, and your fingers cross!!!!!!!

So what is deccanulation:

Successful decannulation marks the completion of tracheotomy management. Contemplation of decannulation assumes resolution of the underlying condition that necessitated the tracheotomy. At this stage the patient must be able to protect the airway, clear secretions, and have no significant compromise of the airway. Additionally, there should not be other mitigating factors such as anatomic abnormalities or planned surgery that would make preservation of the tracheotomy tract desirable. Removal of the tube can be done in a number of different ways and is closely supervised in hospital. Ward decannulation takes several days. A smaller tube is inserted as a routine tube change. This allows the stoma to begin the gradual process of closing. Once the smallest possible tube is used, it is blocked with a small bung for 24 hours. If the Patient has tolerated this, the tube is removed completely and the stoma covered with an airtight dressing

Oh! my 7 days without an update!!!

2004-07-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

Sorry Folks!

But this week has been more than crazy. Vidia (Our kid) got sick down in Tijuana, Mexico.So I had to go up and down the International boarder several times.

Any way, I am happy to share that since we last posted, Mark has been "capped"or "Pluged"

decannulation plug/cap - Attaches to the outer cannula of a fenestrated tracheostomy tube when the inner cannula has been removed. Blocks airflow through the tracheostomy tube and directs breathing through the mouth and nose.

This is how it looks, only that he has a little red cap over the oppening. (I have taken pictures for Mark's journal of his own capping, but I need to get them to the photo place)

This is how it looks when connected to the oxygen and moisture dispenser.

This means that their getting him ready to have his traqueostomy tube out. It means that he has about a week breathing on his own, with good oxygen status.

It means moving on to a new face of recovery and maybe even now working on getting the G-tube (gastric tube) out and moving onto food!!!!

His hand tone has gotten better too. His right leg is moving and feeling stimulation like fingers rubbing the foot area and bending the knee or pulling away.

Tomorrow will be Friday!!!

2004-07-15T23:02:00.000-07:00

Mark is doing well this week in general. As Lisa our medications nurse said "He seems to be doing more little things this week"

Today in fact for the first time when I walked into the room and got to the right side of his bed (he tends to be on his left side so I do this to stimulate the opposite) I said "I Mark" and he turned his head and eyes to see me!!! Yuppie!

We are working on controlling and time body functions to make his stay at the Villa Las Palmas more pleasant.

We are still working in controlling the tone on his hands and arms, his right side is doing great, but the left has a very strong tone that causes him pain (tone is a contraction of his muscles that is involuntary in nature). The OT lady (occupational therapy) is using splints on Mark's hands (he hates this, but it really is working for him)

Here is a pic of a splint similar to the ones Mark is using:

And this is the same model that Mark wears to prevent foot-drop:

Mark's attention is growing...he listens more and the flash cards are back in our routine since he is looking at them and following them.

This Saturday I will be off during the morning from 10:00 am to around 2:00 PM to support group meetings. Last weekend made such a difference in my emotional state during this week that I want more of that!!!

I am getting Mark a tank top to go with his shorts, the shirts are to hot right now.

Great Saturday!!!

2004-07-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday came with great sun and great people!.

Vidia and I (Rosie, Mark's wife) set off for El Cajon City to visit Mark and work with his head support. When we got there Mark was very active with his right hand and needed some cleaning and grooming. Well, Mark had other plans, in the middle of trying to clean his face with a cloth he started to lift his head and shoulders of the mattress. He was lifting also his left foot when doing this in order to gain more lift!!, The nurse came in and she tried to explain that he was getting more agitated (stage 4 in the Los Amigos Chart) but we just smiled and shared our joy for this movement with her.

Julia our nurse said "He seems to want to get out of bed...Don't worry Mark soon, soon"

She is very nice.

That same day at 12:30 we took part in our first support group meeting. Here is the information for that:

Brain Injury Support Group For Survivors And Families by The Head Injury & Trauma Support System (HITS) is held every Saturday from 1:00-2:30 PM (more or less, by 1:30 it is usually going strong) in the 3rd floor conference room at UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest. Call 800-986-4487.

Well, let me tell you that hearing the recovery and surviving stories from the survivors mouth themselves was just the thing we needed. It was for me and Vidia, the confirmation that the light we have always seen at the end of this tunnel is really there. Mark's 11 week injury was called "very fresh" or "new" by the people in the group. After talking to a man who's accident happened some 20 years ago I could see way.

All of the survivors in this particular group were men that day. All had different ages and different kinds of accidents that took them down the similar path.

After the meeting we head to Mark's side again, we did our routine again with more "gusto" than before, sharing with Mark all the inside that we have gain.

Sunday was much more relax, activity with Mark comes in picks and valleys as told in the booklet that Pia (Mark's sister) mailed to me.

Well, today, Mark is going to take a shower, and we are adding some speech development drills (very early stage stuff). I hope that with this drill he can gain more control of his mouth since I see him spending time on moving lips with what looks like more purpose.

Bye for now

Thanks to Dr. Gina

2004-07-08T23:04:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Dr. Gina, a friend of Mark's from the very helpful Degreeinfo.com forum. She posted there for me to read the three new TBI web sites that we just included in the "my favorite sites" section.

We are now in room 117

2004-07-08T19:41:00.000-07:00

Well, aside from are daily routine. Mark got a professional hair cut (a buzz haircut), his shower and a new room.

We are now in room 117, our roommates are the same couple that was sharing a room with us during the first week at Kindred Hospital. It was nice to already know them.

He had to change room (we are in the room in front of the old one) because this one has only two beds and the other patient is not moving around in a wheelchair, plus the new bed with the six inch extension that Mark needs sticks out and would have not been practical in the room with the two patients in wheelchairs.

My morning meetings were great, the Social Security Person Gwin was so nice it was incredible. Other paperwork got done also today, so in all the day was very productive. I even got dinner for Vidia on time today, but the poor dear was in after school care until 5:38 PM today. Any way, thank you for reading our journal!!

2004-07-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

I am eating lunch right now at home, so that gave me time to write these entries. I had Mark's Social Security Administration meeting today. I was actually pleasant!

The lady, Gwin, who was the one guiding me in the process was very, very nice and considerate.

I am off to Villa Las Palmas, now...Will post about that later...

I will also include in the journal the SSA information for any one that may need it.

Forget the Plaid, Mark moved his right leg!!!!

2004-07-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

I did showed Mark his new shirts, hi did seem to track them paying more attention to the red one and the light green one.

But...In the middle of his neck routine, Mark started moving his left leg up and away from the pillows it was on, then towards the edge of the bed, finally letting it almost hanging from the knee down.

I keep putting the leg were it should be (according to me, because Mark had other plans). By the 10th time I was on his right side when hi did the same move, but there rigth in front of me his right knee was flexing up and the whole leg looked like a small copy of the other leg's movement!!

: )

Plaid, plaid and plaid

2004-07-06T23:20:00.000-07:00

We are happy and hopeful that Mark will move away the hospital robe pretty soon. If only for a bit of time during the day, he may be permitted to wear some of his favorite shirts (plaid of course). In order to make this happen we got Mark today really big and roomy plaid shirts with short sleeves. We did not get long sleeves for medical reasons (they need quick access to his arms).

We already have roomy shorts (red of course, since Mark has about six of them).

So if you come to visit Mark, he will be deck in his usual material.

Tomorrow we will show him all the shirts with the pictures of him wearing similar ones.

Mark held his head up longer today

2004-07-06T22:49:00.000-07:00

Since our stay at Kindred Hospital and thanks to Allan our physical therapies, I have been working with Mark's neck to control the dystonia to the left side and to help him move it and now to hold it up!

In our room at Villa Las Palmas it happened again today, he seem very interested in Vidia's lipsinging performance of The Queen's aria from the magic flute.

I was holding his head and was feeling his effort to hold it in place, until he did it several times for longer periods of almost half a minute. In all he keep doing it for about 7 minutes.

Before this we had our usual session of massage to the neck and shoulders, which I believe is basic for him to gain flexibility.

What happend to Mark?

2004-07-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

Many friends want to ask, but can't, many are afraid to know. But I will let you have the choice.

This link will take you to the news article about Mark's accident:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20040419-0946-bicycle.html

Bicyclist critically injured in La Jolla

SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES

9:46 a.m. April 19, 2004

SignOnSanDiego

A Toyota truck is parked in the intersection of La Jolla Village Drive and Genesee Avenue after being in an accident with a bicyclist.

LA JOLLA – A 43-year-old man suffered massive head injuries today when he was struck by a vehicle at a busy La Jolla intersection, San Diego police said.

The bicyclist rode through a red light as he headed north on Genesee Avenue and was hit by a Toyota traveling west on La Jolla Village Drive at about 7:30 a.m., Sgt. Rodney Vandiver said.

The man, whose name was not released, was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and treated for massive head injuries, San Diego police spokesman David Cohen said.

Traffic at the intersection was closed as police investigated the accident, Cohen said.