week 1 at home....

Good evening my friends!
It's been a little over a week since Makenzie came home from the hospital. She and Pam are grateful to be home and sleeping in their own beds. Over the weekend she was excited to actually wash her hands by herself! It's the little things in life that make it! She is doing better and her feet are healing. Keep praying about this.

The dog days of summer will soon be here. Things are moving slower, not as many people around, not as much activity going on. The heat of the outside and the long days seem to last forever. It's hard to be 18 and stuck to a wheelchair. It's hard to be somewhat disconnected from your friends and their activities. Pray about this too!

Finally, the biggest issue to overcome is the eating. Makenzie's tummy is very sensitive now from all of the drugs, etc. It's hard to eat. Guts hurt a lot. Please pray about this especially, and that she will begin to get more stregnth. Muscle stregnth will be important in rehab.

Finally my friends, thanks for your continued support. There are doctors appointments tomorrow. Will post things as I hear.
Love to you all,
Mary

Taste good to be back home again.....

Good evening my friends!
Makenzie went home yesterday!!! She rode in a car too! The entire family is relieved to be home and ready to begin to put things back in order.
Chuck said that they even went to Sonic and ordered food! This is a real good sign that Makenzie is improving. We are thankful to God for her return. As hard and difficult as things were these past weeks, it could have been so much worse. She has another chance. Going home is a huge step in recovery.

There is however, more recovery. These next few weeks will seem like they are moving more slowly. Physical therapy will be the next phase. There will probably be days in this that will not be too much fun. It's a good thing that the girl is hard headed! It will serve her well in the next few weeks. Keep praying for my niece. And thank you for all of your prayers, your encouragement, your cards and emails. I will keep you posted on her progress, probably a couple of times a week. I am committed to letting you all know how she's doing throughout her complete recovery. I look forward to that day. I know you will too!
Good night for now!
Mary

Outside......

Happy Fathers Day my friends!

Yesterday we were at a 7 hour swim meet. Remember how hot it was? We were out by the pool watching our girls race from 7am to 2pm. It was blistering. We went home to sit in the AC for awhile. Then, went to Hermann to visit Kenzy, our new usual Saturday evening routine. Only thing is, Makenzie wasn't in her room when we got there! Her stuff was there, but she was out wheeling around the hospital in a wheelchair. We went to the lobbies, Cafe Hermann, all of the pavillions, etc. Finally called Chuck, and he stated they were outside! OUTSIDE? That was the last place we wanted to go. Sure enough, we went out and there she was, looking at the fountains in front of Hermann! You see, it didn't matter how hot it was to her. She's been in a small room of sorts now for almost 8 weeks. She just wanted OUT!!
Today is Father's Day. Makenzie will probably be getting out of the hospital today. Chuck said her going home was the best gift he could get. She woke up from her coma on Mother's Day, and maybe go home on Father's Day. Praise God!
I hope you all have a great Father's Day! Will give an update later!
Mary

please standby..

Good evening everyone!
Remember when you used to listen to the radio or watch TV and sometimes the antenna or tower would just fizz out and some voice would come on and say "please stand by"? Well, I've been trying to download some video stuff for you all to see to no avail! Ugh! Maybe someday I'll get it on here!

Makenzie had surgery yesterday and they closed her right foot. They did have to use a small graft on her foot, but it isn't the real complicated kind that's on her left foot. At any rate, the pain has subsided and she is feeling much better. Today was a good day for her and Pam. Kaleb was there today and I have some pretty funny video of him and Makenzie doing some dance moves (bed dancing!). Very funny! My sister was laughing like she hasn't done in a long time. Fun visit today.

Probably got another trip to the OR soon for a final cleaning or sorts on something. You know you've been in the hospital too long and been to the OR too many times when they know your first name and say "welcome back!".

Ok, so keep praying! I'll try to get those videos on here soon!
Mary

Chocolate cures all kinds of ills.....

Hi my friends!
Makenzie is finally starting to eat a little more! She even ate some of this chocolate bar! Yeah! We are grateful for the tissue that is healing nicely too!
Tomorrow is another day of surgery for her. The good news is that the plastic guru of the universe will be taking over her case from now on, and Pam, Chuck, and Makenzie are thrilled! Dr. Minosnos is a fantastic surgeon and a wonderful human being. He has been on her team since they arrived at Hermann on April 29. He is terrific! Another prayer answered!
So, pray that the best decision regarding the left foot can be made. Pam & Kenzie want to go home! Pray for more recovery. We're looking for the day we can check out! It's hard for them to believe that sometime, as Thursday is the beginning of the 8th week!
Have a great evening my friends!
Mary

Monday June 14

Good evening my friends!
Mackenzie went into surgery late this afternoon. The worst thing about going later in the day is that you haven't eaten since the night before. So, one tends to be crabby. I know that the worst thing for me is not having any coffee! Ugh!
Surgery went pretty well. The docs still did not close the wound on the right foot up yet, but stated that it looked very good. Will go back in Wednesday with hopes to close it and be infection free. We are still praying that there will be no skin graft as well.
Mackenzie is starting to eat a little, although nausea still comes and goes with the meds she's on. Pray that this subsides and her appetite returns. I told her this past weekend that I would donate my body fat for a body to body fat transfer if she wanted......
So, hopefully we're beginning to see a teeny tiny light at the end of the long Hermann tunnel. Keep praying! We know you already are!
Mary

I recently received this pic from a friend. It's Makenzie giving her Valedictorian speech from her stretcher. I really like it, it says a lot.

Tomorrow Makenzie has surgery to check the wound on her right foot. There are some concerns about the way it is healing. We are praying for the best outcome, and that is no more skin grafts. Please pray about this, that the tissue is growing properly and that there is no more infection. Makenzie is in her 7th week at Hermann. I thank you already for your sustaining prayers. It really means a lot to Chuck & Pam that you all are praying about these things.

Thank you my friends,
Mary

Saturday....

Good evening my friends! Just got back from visiting Makenzie at Hermann. She seemed to be feeling better today. Pam stated that today was the best day she's had in a while.
Just a couple of updates and prayer request. On Monday Makenzie will return to the OR to check the infection in the right foot. We are praying that the wound is clear of infection and that they will close the wound totally. We heard some news today that wasn't in the plan. Don't want to go there. Just pray for healing in her right leg, that it can be sown up and healed. Thank you my friends. Keep praying! Pam said today she might see a little light down at the end of the tunnel. Let's keep it that way!
Peace to you all my friends....
Mary

If it's not one thing, it's something else....

Good Evening my friends,
I have been out in the sun a lot this week. The heat index has been horrible around the coastal areas. Lots of canoeing, and now lots over brain fuzz to go with it at the moment. Hopefully I'll be coherent this evening.....

Makenzie has another trip to the OR tomorrow morning to examine her right foot and change the dressings on her left. The decision will be made as to whether or not they will sew up her right foot, indicating that the infection is not within the tissues. If they feel they need more time to treat it, they will leave the area open with a wound vac attached. If things go well, they will stitch the area together. That would also mean the possibility of going home soon is around the corner. Hopefully that will be the case. Pam & Makenzie are terribly homesick right now. Please pray about this.

The pain in her foot is now more controlled, but she is experiencing terrible pain in her gut. This is causing some serious problems with eating pretty much anything. This must be resolved before leaving Hermann Hospital. She also needs to eat to gain some stregnth. This has been a trying week with this matter. Please pray about this as well.

Thank you again my friends for being there. My eyes are crossing so I'm going to bed.....
See you tomorrow!
Mary

June 9d

Today is Wednesday. Tomorrow is Thursday. Aren't you glad I know what day it is? Hey, I've been at Girl Scout Day Camp this week and I think the heat is getting me!

At any rate, tomorrow marks the beginning of the 7th week at Hermann Hospital. I get weary thinking about it. And for sure Pam, Chuck, and certainly Makenzie are tired of being there. Currently there is another trip to the OR on Friday to possibly close the incision on her right foot. This is the area that has an infection. It is the foot that also gives Makenzie a lot of grief, as it is in pain much of the time. Her left foot is looking better and better, praise God. It's the right foot we're concerned with. Please pray about this when you think of it.

Since Makenzie has had pain issues pretty much the whole time she has been in Hermann, she has been on some pretty stiff pain medication. One of the side effects is nausea and loss of appetite. This is beginning to be a big problem as she has lost a significant amount of weight. It is very difficult to eat when all you feel like doing is hurling your guts out. Please, please pray about this, as we don't want it to become more serious than it is. The spirit is willing, but the flesh wants to hurl.....

Finally, Makenzie & Pam are tired: tired of being in the hospital, tired of the seemingly endless pain, tired of being separated from their family and friends, tired of the OR. Chuck is tired too. There are lots of concerns about other things too. Ever spent one night in a hospital? Remember what it cost? Please pray about this too.
Admittedly, I'm tired too. I want them to be able to go home and begin putting their life back together. I wish I could make things so much better. Thank you my friends for being there. Thank you for your prayers....
Mary

Monday, June 7

Technology is great until it doesn't work.......The blog server has been down for a couple of days, so sorry to my friends who have been looking for an update! Who really knows what is going in cyberworld....

Makenzie just got out of surgey this evening after waiting all day for it to happen. She was supposed to have gone in for a routine cleaning of her feet around 7am this morning. However the OR was way backed up (it's Monday of course) and she didn't get in until almost 5! And that's without eating! The good news is that everything is healing pretty much like it should. The left foot grafts are healing very nicely, and Chuck stated that it's starting to look like a real foot again! Praise God for this! Finally some good news to mull over. The right foot is healing ok, and they will go back to the OR on Friday to close it up. It is on a wound vac at the moment. Keep praying for healing for this infection and for the pain.

Though they are weary from being in Hermann right now for this long, they are thankful for the good progress and the great care of the staff. Dr. Minosnos, the graft guru, has just been wonderful. On top of being a world class surgeon, he is a caring person and offers such great support particularly for Pam. I am thankful for him.

Today my daughters and I were at Girl Scout DayCamp. I am in charge of canoeing for over 200 girls this week. Today as I was sitting by the canoes on the shore, I told God thank you for letting me be there. So many times I take for granted the opportunity to do things. I am thankful for being out there, though it was pretty freaking hot! I am thankful for good health, for a strong body, and a great family. Be thankful today my friends where ever you are.
Mary

Hospital time....a whole other universe...

I've kind of lost what the day count is.....We're now beginning our sixth week in the hospital. Makenzie is doing ok as she is now on antibiotics for the skin surface infection on her right foot. Her left foot and leg are healing too, and the foot guy is pleased. Makenzie went into the OR today for more cleaning, and there will be another one on Monday. Not sure what will be decided after that: when and if she will go home, or stay at Hermann, or stay somewhere else. Docs are not too keen on giving you too much info or answering too many questions...Maybe it's because the answer will change anyway.....

Pam & Makenzie have a hard time sleeping in the hospital. Hospitals apparently have their own circadian rhthyms: CAT scans at midnight, baths at 4am, X-rays somewhere in between....even the trash bins go crashing down the halls at all hours of the night. Then there's the hourly temperature and blood pressure checks, food service people, phones that ring outside in the nurses station.....On Thursday Pam was told that Makenzie would go back to the OR on Monday. Last night around 10pm, the nurse told them that they would be going back to the OR at 11am. Of course, they came at 7am instead.... Who can sleep in a place like this? Needless to say after 5 weeks fatigue is a big factor. Boredom has also set in. How many episodes of "19 Kids and Counting" and "What Not to Wear" can someone watch? Oh to be able to go outside......even if it is in Houston.....

Continue to pray for Makenzie's feet and legs. Pray also for pain management. This is getting a little better, but at times still an issue.
Thank you my friends....
Mary

The good news is there's' no bad news....

Well, that's pretty much the statement of the day. The good news is there's no bad news today. Makenzie went in the OR today to have her wounds cleaned on both feet. The left foot is healing as planned according to the graft king of the universe. The right foot, the one we're concerned about right now, is ok but not great, according to the ortho docs. The good news here is that the bacteria in the right foot is not the big hairy scary kind. It is a "friendly" bacteria, whatever that is.....At any rate they will be treating Makenzie with something that is standard.

Even the kind of antibiotics they're using has had a moment. Tuesday evening they started a preliminary round of antibiotics for the right foot. However, Makenzie had an allergic reaction to it! Kind of serious stuff! So, they couldn't really start anything until the culture results came out.

I'm thankful this evening that the bacteria isn't the super bad one. I have personally been worried about this all day. I'm grateful that it can be treated and that they are trying a new pain management approach. The pain has been terrible that past couple of days.

Right now the plan is for Makenzie to go back to the OR on Monday for more cleanout. Hopefully the pain will be less by then.

Thank you my friends for your prayers. I have seen many of you around town (Seabrook) today asking about Makenzie. Thank you for your thoughts.....Remember her daily.....
Mary

How long?

I have two girl scout troops. Last month my older girls, Junior Scouts, earned their Bronze Award. This is a huge deal for these girls. We started working on it in January 2009! We had many, many badges to earn and steps to complete. It was the longest most complex project the girls had ever done. When they finally figured out specifically what their project was going to be, it was then another 6 months before it was completed. It seemed like forever to them and me. I was beginning to wonder if we were ever going to be done with it. Every meeting, every badge, every outing had something to do with it. And, there were always complications with something. I was never so glad to be done with something like I was that project!!! Seemed like an eternity then, but now it is a mere memory for which my girls have a pin on their vest for.....
Today we found out that Makenzie's right foot is infected. Not sure as to what yet, and won't know what for another couple of days. They will be cleaning it and the left foot in the OR tomorrow. So, they began some anti-biotics for this via IV. What this more than most likely means is 6 weeks of additional hospital time. Ugh. HOW LONG???
Yeah, we're discouraged. It's the "now what?" issue. When are things going to get better? When will Makenzie's right foot stop hurting? When?

Please pray for both feet, right now the right one. Pray that the infection will go away and that the pain will stop. This is hard.
As always, I love you. We could not have made it this far without you....
Mary

Beauty in the eye of the beholder......

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Remember your parents saying this kind of thing to you? What about this saying, "one man's trash is another man's treasure"? Everything is relative. These are things I was thinking about today while Makenzie was in surgery.

Yesterday there was concern about some of the wounds Makenzie has on her legs and feet. This area suffered a lot damage in the accident. Lots of broken bones, damaged tissue and nerves, etc. The left leg, the one we've been praying a lot about has had a lot of reconstruction, including muscle and skin grafts. The right foot has issues too, as the ankle was crushed and there was extensive surgery to repair it. Skin grafts take a while to heal, and the recovery is somewhat meticulous. Makenzie must keep her left foot up above her heart, which means she is reclining almost horizontally most of the time. Four times a day for 10 minutes is all that is allowed in letting her foot be lower than her heart. This regimen is really long and tedious. In another week or so, whe will have 15 minutes, then in a couple of weeks, 20. Laying around is difficult. It was the left skin grafts and the right ankle that was of great concern yesterday.

It was decided by Pam, Chuck & the home help nurse that they should return to Hermann Hospital to have these areas looked at. The wounds were oozing, looking not so great (actually that is an understatement accoring to P&C), and hurting. After arriving in the ER, it was decided to do surgery and do a clean out of sorts to check for infection. This is why we were requesting so much prayer. We don't want to deal with infection. So, the skin graft guru of the universe went in and looked at it, and pretty much thought things were ok, so he cleaned it. I think he told Chuck it actually looked really good, to which Pam replied "it looks terrible!". It's who ya ask! So, surgery went very well today, and Makenzie will remain in Hermann for a few days. She will go back into surgery on Thursday to do another clean out. The right ankle was cleaned up too. As I said earlier, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

So right now, we're up for surgery on Thursday. Chuck & Pam are ever so grateful for your undying suppport. Thank you once again my friends for your prayers....it's changing things, right this minute!

Mary