auntie
<font color=darkorchid>It's a really lovely way to
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2003
- Messages
- 7,311
As some of you regulars to the forum may recall, back in Dec. I asked for prayers for my cousin Debbie's husband, Jeff. He was hit broadside by a kid who ran a red light, while on his way to work that morning. In that instant..life as they knew it changed forever. Jeff remained in a coma for quite some time. To look at Jeff, you would have thought he was simply sleeping. Not a scratch on him. While he suffered no other injuries..the damage to his brain from the impact was devasting. Through it all..he has slowly been fighting his way back.
A couple of months ago..he started to respond to my cousins voice (30 years of marriage will do that I guess). When she went in the room she routinely asked him to give her a kiss..and that time.. he puckered his lips up to do so. Up until that point..there weren't too many who believed as Debbie did, that he was "in there".. coming around. Most thought it was wishfull thinking on the part of a devoted wife. Yet, her father and a nurse witnessed that particular response. The medical staff and dr.'s took notice..and from that day on intensive rehabilitation began. The swelling in his brain has subsided. The bleed that was there..is being absorbed. Little by little..he seemed to be "awakening". He recognizes voices..and responds correctly to questions. He's taken as many as 15 steps during physical therapy. He's ripped his trache out..and they didn't bother to put it back in. He's eating three meals a day..regular food. No feeding tube.
He was able to say the Lord's Prayer along with his Pastor during a recent visit. He has yet to open his eyes..but they do think he can see. Just that he is physcially unable to open his eyes. Although, he does attempt to do so when asked.This week he's being fitted with glasses that will literally hold his eyes lids open.
I tell you this, so as again, to ask for prayer. Jeff's long term care insurance..has run out. He's spent over 90 days in a Trumatic Brain Injury unit. Because..he is not "technically" in a coma..they want to move him out.
My cousin is preparing to bring him home. Yet...because of the progress he's made in the last couple of months..his dr.'s feel he would be better served in another Brain Injury unit. Yet...as so many of us have found out. Their
insurance won't cover it. Jeff works for the City of New York as a corrections officer. He was due to retire in August. We're hoping that either the City or Blue Cross/Blue Shield, will reconsider and continue to pay for Jeff's care...at least for a while longer. Intensive therapy is vital at this point in his recovery.
Through my brother George, we were fortunate enough to come in to contact with writer Joanna Malloy who writes for the New York Daily News. Joanna has taken it upon herself to highlight Jeff's plight in this Sunday's edition of the paper. It's our hope that through her contacts and writing of Jeff's plight in the paper..that perhaps the powers that be,(someone..somewhere) will see fit to help Debbie out and persuade either the city or BC/BS to continue treatment at this critical time.
I just wanted to ask once again for prayers for Jeff..that he is able to continue to find his way back to his family. That he is offered the very best care available..and not denied a chance to return to his family because the insurance company says 90 days is all you get. Debbie is by his side EVERY day...she's not given up on him.
Anyway, thought some of you might find this article that was featured in the Sunday Edition of the New York Daily News of interest..and if you're so inclined..keep them in your prayers. They're damn good people. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_...ght_beats_coma__but_fights_for_insurance.html
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A couple of months ago..he started to respond to my cousins voice (30 years of marriage will do that I guess). When she went in the room she routinely asked him to give her a kiss..and that time.. he puckered his lips up to do so. Up until that point..there weren't too many who believed as Debbie did, that he was "in there".. coming around. Most thought it was wishfull thinking on the part of a devoted wife. Yet, her father and a nurse witnessed that particular response. The medical staff and dr.'s took notice..and from that day on intensive rehabilitation began. The swelling in his brain has subsided. The bleed that was there..is being absorbed. Little by little..he seemed to be "awakening". He recognizes voices..and responds correctly to questions. He's taken as many as 15 steps during physical therapy. He's ripped his trache out..and they didn't bother to put it back in. He's eating three meals a day..regular food. No feeding tube.
He was able to say the Lord's Prayer along with his Pastor during a recent visit. He has yet to open his eyes..but they do think he can see. Just that he is physcially unable to open his eyes. Although, he does attempt to do so when asked.This week he's being fitted with glasses that will literally hold his eyes lids open.
I tell you this, so as again, to ask for prayer. Jeff's long term care insurance..has run out. He's spent over 90 days in a Trumatic Brain Injury unit. Because..he is not "technically" in a coma..they want to move him out.
My cousin is preparing to bring him home. Yet...because of the progress he's made in the last couple of months..his dr.'s feel he would be better served in another Brain Injury unit. Yet...as so many of us have found out. Their
insurance won't cover it. Jeff works for the City of New York as a corrections officer. He was due to retire in August. We're hoping that either the City or Blue Cross/Blue Shield, will reconsider and continue to pay for Jeff's care...at least for a while longer. Intensive therapy is vital at this point in his recovery.
Through my brother George, we were fortunate enough to come in to contact with writer Joanna Malloy who writes for the New York Daily News. Joanna has taken it upon herself to highlight Jeff's plight in this Sunday's edition of the paper. It's our hope that through her contacts and writing of Jeff's plight in the paper..that perhaps the powers that be,(someone..somewhere) will see fit to help Debbie out and persuade either the city or BC/BS to continue treatment at this critical time.
I just wanted to ask once again for prayers for Jeff..that he is able to continue to find his way back to his family. That he is offered the very best care available..and not denied a chance to return to his family because the insurance company says 90 days is all you get. Debbie is by his side EVERY day...she's not given up on him.
Anyway, thought some of you might find this article that was featured in the Sunday Edition of the New York Daily News of interest..and if you're so inclined..keep them in your prayers. They're damn good people. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_...ght_beats_coma__but_fights_for_insurance.html
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