Another Routine Week

I know it has been a while since my last post, but things have been moving along in a fairly routine manner at the Stressman household.

Scott is back to his old schedule at work, the boys are into both their school routines as well as baseball for Hunter and football for Parker. Trish continues to direct the Stressman orchestra keeping track of appointments, practices, games, and all the other family responsibilities. It really does seem like each day is getting shorter and fitting everything in is becoming more difficult. But then I guess this describes the challenges faced by most modern families.

Trish continues to fight with both her nerve pain and her muscle spasms, but is working constantly with her doctors to find ways to reduce the negative impact of these on her daily life. Each week she is spending more and more time on her own, and is gaining confidence in her ability to do everything around the house.

Trish & Scott are slowly making the changes in their home that are required to enable Trish to do everything she did before the accident. So, all in all, things are well.

Newspaper Article Published

The East Valley Tribune just published an article on Trish's situation. You can read the full article at http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/95988

A Good Week

I was fortunate to be able to spend the day with Trish on Tuesday of this week. I attended her PT & OT therapy sessions at Barrows, and then drove her to her house in Queen Creek. It was her first ride in my car since before the accident, and she was able to transfer herself from her chair to the passenger seat with no difficulty.

The therapists at Barrows continue to push her to try new things, and Trish continues to make amazing progress. Each week she gains more strength and learns more mobility tricks. Her PT even had her transfer clear to the floor and back up into her chair so she could handle an emergency if she fell from her chair when she was alone. She did great. She also rode six miles on the e-stim bike that helps keep her leg muscles toned and in shape.

After we got home I was able to get a little computer work done and managed to secure their wireless computer network, and clean up some PC issues. Now Trish is back on-line with the world and taking care of the family's personal business.

More next week ...

In the Routine

This week was pretty much "in the routine" and included out-patient therapy visits, a visit to Trish's school for parent's night, as well as shopping and a bunch of "hanging out at home".

We have been told by everyone at BNI that the process of recovery can last two years and sometimes longer. So sometimes we forget that Trish is only two and a half months into this process. She is doing wonderfully and has accomplished so much, but there is a while yet to go.

She did enjoy her visit to her school, and many, many of the staff, teachers, and parents were very glad to have a chance to see her and to visit.

More next week ...

Chair Lift Installed

Trish is now able to get upstairs in her home thanks to the chair lift that Scott had installed. It is electrically operated and travels along a rail. Trish is able to transfer from her wheelchair to the lift, move up the stairs, and then transfer into another wheelchair at the top landing.

This now gives her access to the master bedroom, the boys bedrooms, and the master bath area. And she can now sleep in her own bedroom for the first time in almost three months.

This was a very large expense and was not covered by insurance, but was really necessary for Trish to live a normal life in her beautiful two story home.

Great Day Boating

On Saturday, Trish, Scott, Parker & Hunter took their boat out to Bartlett Lake for a day of fun on the water. They were joined by four other boats and several of their new friends from St. Joseph's Hospital and the Barrows Neurological Institute.

In attendance were three of Trish's therapists from both her in-patient and out-patient experiences. Her mentor, Jennifer, was there as well.

Scott, Parker & Hunter all had runs on the wake board or tube. Trish along with the help of her therapists, was able to get in the water for a swim with the gang as well. This was pretty amazing since she just got out of the hospital a few weeks back. Now Scott knows how to help Trish get in and out of the boat on future trips.

Everyone was pretty bushed after a long day on the water and in the sun. So Sunday was a day of resting up for the new week of challenges ahead.

Good Week

While Trish has been enjoying her time at home playing sports with her boys, and getting back into the swing of taking care of them full time, she has also continued working on her rehabilitation.

Today she had a great follow up visit with her surgeon, Dr. Nick Theodore at the Barrows Neurological Institute. The doctor told Trish that she was healing very fast and had made excellent progress in her PT & OT sessions. And while her struggles with the nerve pain have been frustrating, Dr. Theodore told her that this may be a good sign. He said that it proves there is some nerve communication that is traveling past the point of her spinal cord injury to her brain.

This was just what the doctor ordered for Trish as the thought that there is real hope for the future is all she needs to keep going strong, and to deal with whatever comes. She is committed to working with the physical therapists each week and including the "stim bike" in her routine to keep the muscles in her legs active, and strong (see the picture from the July 13th post).

Trish & Scott plan to go boating this weekend with one of the therapists from St. Joseph's (who also has a boat).

More Challenges

Trish finished her second full week at home, and continues to adapt to her new circumstances.

Her recovery efforts continue to be hampered by the nerve pain in her lower extremities. The doctors are struggling to find a medication that will deal with the pain without adverse side effects. Trish will be seeing a pain management specialist next week who has experience with SCI patients.

Scott has arranged for the installation of a stair lift in their home to help Trish get upstairs. This should be installed late next week and will open up a whole new set of challenges and opportunities. When Trish can transport herself up the stairs, she will be able to use the master bathroom and she will be able to sleep in her own bedroom for the first time since May.

She continues with her out-patient PT & OT therapies, and has set a goal to learn how to get from her chair into her car so she can begin driving again. This will take a lot of effort, but will represent a huge milestone in her road to independence.

Nice Weekend

Trish and Scott spent a nice, but busy, weekend with the boys.

Hunter celebrated his 8th birthday this weekend, so there were parties with various members of Trish & Scott's families.

Trish is getting ready for her second week of out-patient therapy, and looks forward to making more progress on her road to complete independence.

Her struggle continues to be tough, as she still is suffering from a significant amount of pain in her lower extremities. This is very frustrating and does hamper her work on her recovery. The doctors continue to work on this problem.

Trish, Scott and the boys are enjoying the generous support of many in providing their meals. This has helped greatly as Trish transitions back to a more normal life. Thank you all very much.

New Phase Begins

After four full days at home, Trish began her next phase of therapy yesterday at St. Joseph's Hospital's out-patient neuro rehabilitation facility in Phoenix. Scott reported that the atmosphere there was very positive and that Trish reacted very well to her first day.

Her two therapists expected quite a bit from her and acted more like "you can do that yourself". Both Trish & Scott think that this approach will help her progress more rapidly toward the true independence she seeks. Trish will be going to this therapy twice a week for 2-3 hours each day for as much as six months.

Home at Last

Trish was released from the hospital yesterday after almost eight weeks of ICU, surgery and neuro rehabilitation. She accumulated quite a bit of stuff in her hospital room, and it was a major project getting everything moved out.

Now that she is home, Trish can begin the real adaptation process of living day to day. She and Scott are still working to make the major home modifications that are required, but they will improvise until they get these things completed.

I understand from Scott's mom that a lot of wonderful folks have offered to help with meals for the family. This will make Trish's transition a little easier, and will be very much appreciated.

Next week Trish begins her out patient therapy, which will be two days per week. She and her mom decided to drive back to St. Joseph's so Trish can take advantage of the SCI specific treatment offered only there. She will maintain this therapy schedule for up to six months so she can complete her transition to full Independence.

More later ...

Help with Meals

As Trish will be going home later this week, her mother-in-law, Pam Stressman is organizing people who wish to help by providing meals for Trish, Scott & the boys.

If you are interested, please send an email to Pam at pstressman@cox.net to let her know. She will work with you on the details.

Once again, thanks to everyone for the terrific support you have given Trish during this very difficult time.

A Tough Few Days

Well, not all days are good. Trish had some problems the last few days that made this week high up on the "not so good" list.

To make a long story short, she has been knocked out of her chair by some auto-closing hospital doors, as well as a few other problems. She really just wants to go home.

The rehab gang was scheduled to go bowling tonight, and Trish is very upset that she will miss the outing.

Better day tomorrow ...

Almost Fun

Here is a shot of Trish riding the "Stim Cycle". This is a device the therapists use to provide some exercise for legs that otherwise get no muscular activity.

Electrodes are attached to the thighs, and a mild shock is sent to the muscles on a timed basis. The result is that the legs move and pedal the bike. This does not work for all patients, but Trish's legs responded beautifully to the stimulus, and she rode for several minutes.

The primary purpose of this treatment is to help Trish keep the muscle tone in her legs and to prevent atrophy. I think there is also a psychological boost just to see your legs move after so much inactivity (even if you are not really the one moving them).

The last few days have been good ones, and Trish continues to prepare for her eventual release from the hospital and the transition into out-patient therapy.

She really does enjoy all the blog comments, cards and notes, and looks forward to reading your messages every day. Thank you for the continuing support.

Another Week of Work

This will be another week of physical, occupational and recreational therapy for Trish. She continues to hone the physical skills that will help her be more independent when she returns home.

The efforts by the doctors are also continuing to deal with the various accident related internal issues. These continue to frustrate Trish and make the PT work even tougher.

Here she is working with Mellisa, her PT, on making the move from her chair to the bed which has been raised above her. This more advanced transfer skill will be needed for her to "pop-over" from her chair into the chair on the stair lift she and Scott hope to buy. This stair lift, while very expensive and not covered by insurance, will be the key for Trish to live her life both down and upstairs in their new home.

Today Trish will be going out to lunch with the other rehab patients as the RT staff continues to work with the gang to "get out and about" from the hospital.

More later this week ...

Quiet Weekend

Trish & Scott took advantage of a day pass from the hospital on both Saturday & Sunday to spend some time at home.

On Saturday they had some friends over for dinner and enjoyed some relaxing time together. On Sunday they had the boys and also went over to Trish's mom's for dinner.

These trips home are really nice as Trish can escape the routine of the hospital and gain experience with what life will be like at home very soon.

Today she will be back at the PT & OT routine in earnest as this will most likely be the last full week of in-patient therapy. Trish will be concentrating on regaining her balance skills after removing the chest brace, and also wants to improve her ability to "pop-over" from bed to chair, and chair to bed.

Her doctors continue to work on the proper combination and dosage of medications to fight her nerve pain as well as her muscle spasms. This effort will probably continue after she transitions to the out-patient therapy sessions.

Next Steps

After reviewing her current condition, Trish's surgeon ordered the TSLO brace removed. This is a full chest, clam shell like brace that Trish wore every time she was sitting up. It was great to get rid of this thing, but she is now presented with a new set of problems.

The purpose of the brace was to provide stability when Trish was upright and protect her spine at the site of her surgery from further injury. She was originally told that she would need this brace for 8-12 weeks. But with only 5+ weeks passed since her surgery, this shows how quickly she has healed. Now that her spinal bones have fused with the screws and metal rods, there is no danger of further injury to her spinal cord.

With the brace gone, Trish must relearn all her balance and transfer skills. Yesterday, she said she felt like a cork bobbing on the ocean when she sits in her wheelchair. This feeling of instability was very unsettling, but should go away after additional physical therapy to help her regain her balance.

Trish and Scott are now making plans in earnest for Trish's return home. If all continues to go well, she may be released from the hospital in two weeks or less. After release, she will continue her PT & OT sessions on an out-patient basis for several months. She will be traveling back to St. Joseph's from her home in Queen Creek two days per week.

Working Hard

Here is a shot of Trish and Max, one of the other patients that was admitted shortly after Memorial Day weekend.

They are both working on improving their upper body strength, which is critical to their level of independence. Once released from the hospital they will both need the extra strength to get around.

Trish is working extra hard with additional sessions each day so she will be able to both get around in her house more easily, and also transfer herself into her car sooner rather than later. As you know, Trish does not like to sit around very much, so getting into the car by herself will be a really big step.

Parker & Hunter came to visit again yesterday afternoon and shared mom's therapy session in the hospital's pool. Not a bad place to be on a 115 degree day. Today, Trish & Scott hope to go to a movie together with several of the other rehab patients.

And since this is the 4th of July, they all plan on rolling out into the parking garage tonight and taking the elevator to the roof. From that vantage point, they will be able to see 2-3 of the downtown fireworks displays up close and personal.

Making Plans

On Monday, Trish, her mom and I were able to visit the out patient rehabilitation center at Barrows Neurological Institute. It is right down the street from the hospital and is a very comprehensive facility.

We were given the tour by the therapist that would work with Trish if she chooses to go there when she leaves the hospital in 3-4 weeks. The main attraction of this facility over the ones available in the east valley is the staff of therapists. They are the only ones that are specialists in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehab. While several of the other rehab centers have therapists that work with neuro rehab, they are really generalists.

Trish, Scott & her mom will make the decision on which center to attend based on the quality of the services, and the travel time required. Once released from the hospital, Trish will need to continue her therapy as an out patient 2-3 days per week for several months. Each session will be anywhere from 1-3 hours in length and will continue her program of strength training as well as occupational skill building (living life).

More later this week ...

Another Up & Down Week

Trish continues to make progress with her therapy each day, and was able to go swimming again on Thursday. This time Parker & Hunter were able to join her and the therapist recruited them to help Trish with her exercises in the pool. They were real troopers and took to the task like professionals.

The downside of each passing week is Trish's realization that she may never again have the use of her abdomen and her legs. The thought of living the rest of her life like this is depressing for her, but luckily, she only gets down occasionally. Most of the time she continues to have a great attitude and is willing to continue her fight to get better.

This week Trish was able to "pop over" between her wheelchair and the therapy bed in the spinal cord gym. This means she did her own transfer without the need of a slide board and represents one more great step toward her Independence.

Trish continues to receive greeting cards and comments here on the blog, and very much enjoys reading each and every one. Thank you so much for all the continued support ...

Working Out

This is an old picture from two weeks ago (when Trish was still wearing the neck brace). She is with Jason, her Occupational Therapist, who also sees her twice each day. As you can see, Jason is helping Trish improve her upper body strength so she can better handle all her daily tasks.

It is really amazing the strength that is required to do every day things when you have no help from your abdominal muscles or your legs. But being an athlete really helps, and Trish has taken to her routine with real dedication.

Both Jason and Melissa accompanied Trish & Scott to their home yesterday to evaluate the changes required to improve access. While much of their home will work well, they will need to make two major and rather costly adjustments.

First, they will need to install a stair lift that will allow Trish to move up and down the stairs between the first and second floors. This will be a major investment, but will enable Trish to use the upstairs bedrooms and bath. Next, they will need to remodel their bathroom to provide access to the shower. Trish & Scott hope to use the generous donations they have received toward the cost of these projects.

Again, Trish & Scott both want to thank everyone for their wonderful support through this ordeal.

Therapy is Working

Here is a shot of Trish with her physical therapist, Melissa, who works with her twice a day. The guy on the right is me, the therapist in training. Scott has worked with Trish so much during her therapy that he is now an expert and can help her do all the exercises. Trish's mom and I are still learning the ropes.

This week Trish was able to sit up from a prone position all on her own. This is a real milestone as it is the first move required to get out of bed and get into her chair. Her upper body strength is improving each day and this is helping her greatly.

Trish remains frustrated, however, as she continues to experience strange feelings in her abdomen and legs. Even though she cannot move her legs, they continue to spasm and jump occationally. She sometimes feels like she is standing in a snow bank and her legs and feet are freezing. Other times her feet feel like they are wrapped tightly in tape.

While having these sensations might be considered as good, if they do not contribute to any movement, they are just frustrating and uncomfortable for Trish. She is also experiencing muscle spasms in her chest that knock the wind out of her.

But, all in all, things contnue to get better each day. This past weekend Trish, Scott and the boys went to see "Fantastic 4" and she got her first theater experience in her wheelchair. And this week the therapists are planning several "out of hospital" activities.

More later this week ...

Nice Weekend

Trish took advantage of a pass on both Saturday and Sunday to go home for visits during the day. She and Scott spent most of Saturday at home together, and on Sunday they were joined by Parker & Hunter. These visits help Trish begin the process of returning home full time and also help her understand how she will be able to function out of the hospital envirnoment.

This week the Barrows therapists will be visiting Trish & Scott's home in Queen Creek to help with an evaluation of the changes they will need to make. The biggest challenge will be the stairway that leads to the bedrooms and master bath on the second floor. We are looking at companies that sell stair lifts to enable Trish to move between floors with a minimum of assistance.

Now that a month has passed since the accident, Trish continues to heal from her surgery, and she continues to gain confidence in her ability to handle her body. At times she does get down as she contemplates the big changes in her life, but her true spirit always shines through. That beautiful smile is always there and she manages to pull through the rough times.

Trish & Scott very much appreciate all the support they have been given by both family and friends. They are beginning to look at the new medical expenses and home modification costs and they very much appreciate the financial support that has begun to accumulate. Please keep the prayers, messages, cards, and support coming.

More later this week ...

Tough Week

This has been a very tough week as Trish continues to struggle with nausea and some tiredness. The doctors are still working on the combinations of medications so Trish will feel better, be able to eat more, and more effectively work to regain her strength.

On Wednesday, the therapists took Trish & a group of patients out for lunch for Chinese. Scott was able to meet them and join in with the group. At lunch, the group also met one of the former patients that had been in the Neuro Rehab unit several months ago.

Each week, some of the rehab alumni drop in to visit with the current group and share their stories. Trish particularly enjoyed a visit from Scott Hogsett. Scott is a young man in his late twenties who was injured in his early teens and is now quadriplegic. In many ways, Scott has led a more full life since his accident than before.

With a winning personality and smile, he helped explain to the group that with a display of the right attitude, people see him as a person, and do not even look at his wheelchair. He was able to answer their questions and help them understand that there was really nothing they could not do if they wanted.

Scott shared the intimate details of his personal life and how he faces the struggles of daily life. He also shared his experience as a member of the US Quad Rugby team in the Para-Olympics. His experience, as well as the other members of the team, was showcased in the movie documentary "Murderball" (available on DVD).

Trish really enjoys all the comments and good wishes she receives. Keep the positive thoughts and prayers coming ... she needs them.

More later ...

Getting into the Rehab Routine

Well, Trish is getting more and more into the routine of her rehabilitation. Each weekday her morning begins at 8:00am and she does not seem to stop for a minute until 3:30pm or so.

She continues to make excellent progress in her therapy sessions, and even though she has not yet seen any change in her paralysis, she continues to develop more and more independence. Late last week she and Scott shared a bitter sweet moment as they ordered her wheelchair. In some ways it was a downer to accept the fact that she may need this long term, but it was also nice to look forward to having a chair designed and fitted perfectly to her needs.

This week Trish has been challenged by some nausea, and has lost her breakfast each day along with all of her medications. We had a meeting with her doctor today, and she is changing the combination of medications to address the nausea, as well as some general tiredness that Trish is experiencing. Trish really does not like to take any medications, and looks forward to the time when her body fully adjusts to her new situation.

One of her new activities is swimming. Under the close supervision of a recreational therapist, Trish spent an hour in the pool on Monday. It felt really good to get in the water, and with the aide of some ankle weights, to actually stand for the first time since the accident. Being upright is such a natural thing for us, Trish has missed this the most. She managed to swim the back stroke for four laps, as well as perform a log roll where she used her arms to right herself after the therapist turned her face down in the water. Much of this was designed to help her build confidence that she could be in the water without fear of drowning.

Scott has returned to work full time this week (they had to drag him kicking & screaming), so Trish has had more time on her own. This is tough on Trish, but may be even harder on Scott. He really has not left her side since the accident and has provided incredible support toward her recovery.

Well, I had better stop for now ... more later this week.

A Visit Home

Yesterday, Trish was able to get out of the hospital for a few hours and visit her home. Scott took responsibility to help her transfer from her chair into her car for the trip to Queen Creek.

Once at home, Trish enjoyed a visit with Scott, Parker & Hunter, the two dogs and the cat. She said it sure felt good to be in their wonderful new home again.

After some games, some swimming (Parker & Hunter), a BBQ in the back yard courtesy of chef Scott, they headed back to the hospital late in the evening.

Now that Trish no longer has to wear the neck brace, she is looking forward to a very productive week of PT & OT sessions.

Another Step Forward

After a visit from her surgeon, Dr. Nick Theodore, Trish was told that she would no longer need to wear a cervical collar neck brace.

A collar was applied by the Mexican paramedics a half hour after her accident and she has worn one for almost three weeks. When she was admitted to the St. Joseph's trauma center, they thought they detected a hairline fracture at the base of her skull. So the collar was necessary to prevent potential further injury.

But, after further examination, it did not appear to be a problem, so she was able to take it off. Other than a little weakness in her neck, and a little nausea when she moves her head around, she is now free to look sideways, up and down.

The collar had added greatly to her discomfort, and impeded a lot of movement during her PT sessions. Once her neck is strong again, she will be much better able to handle the movements they are teaching her.

So, one small step at a time towards mobility and a normal life ...

Trish Continues Rehab

Each day brings a new challenge as Trish continues her rehabilitation. The PT & OT staff introduce something new almost every day to push her to new heights of independence. I had the privildge of helping with her therapy on Tuesday, and very much enjoyed the experience.

Early this week she was introduced to the new ways she will need to approach her work in the kitchen preparing meals for Scott & the boys. After a few small adjustments in her new home's kitchen, she will be able to handle this just like before the accident.

Later this week she will also begin to learn car transfers and take on the challenge of getting from her chair into the passenger seat of her Honda Pilot and back again. Once this is accomplished, Trish will be eligible for a field trip where she can leave the hospital for a visit home with Scott, Parker, Hunter and her pets.

During the past week or so Trish has endured some really tough times, but continues to have a positive attitude as she still manages to flash that beautiful smile. She really is an amazing woman.

Her very proud father ...

Trish Says Thank You

Trish wants you to understand that she loves getting your messages, comments, emails, cards, etc. But, due to her very busy rehab schedule and her need for required rest, she does not have time to respond. Please know that she very much appreciates all you do, and worries that she has not had time to answer.

Please take this as a huge "Thank You" for everything you have done. Every time we see Trish read these cards/messages and receive gifts, flowers, etc. we see a great big smile and we know how much they mean to her. Most of all, she feels very blessed with all the people that are thinking of her and praying for her.

Hospital Mailing Address

Hello all ...

Several people have asked for Trish's mailing address so they could send cards ... here it is:

Mrs. Trish Stressman
Neuro Rehab - Room 2R31W
St. Joseph's Hospital
350 West Thomas Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85013

Trish certainly enjoys hearing from everyone, and very much appreciates all the wonderful words of encouragement.

More soon ...

A Quiet Weekend

Trish & Scott had a fairly quiet weekend in St. Joseph's Neuro Rehabilitiation Center.

On Saturday only one PT session was scheduled and Sunday was a day of rest. So they had a chance to get caught up on some visits with family & friends, as well as spend a little more time together.

Today, Trish starts her routine all over again with a full week of rehab exercises. She told me that she was going to have a field trip this week where the rehab staff takes a group of patients out of the hospital for a visit to a local attraction. This will be Trish's first time out of St. Jospeh's since the accident over two weeks ago.

More later ...

A Day of Mixed Blessings

Well, yesterday was certainly a mixed bag of events for Trish. Every day is different, and presents its own set of challenges.

During her morning rehabilitation session she was working with the therapist when the muscles in her upper back seized and knotted. This was very, very painful and forced Trish to stop the therapy. The staff applied heat, and massaged her back until the muscles began to relax. By noon she had relief on one side, but the other side was still in spasm. Within another hour, both sides had relaxed and she had some relief from the pain.

Trish was determined, however, to return to her afternoon therapy. Once she got into the routine again, she started to make some terrific progress. By the end of the session she was playing volleyball while sitting up, bumping and setting the ball as it was thrown to her.

This was such a natural athletic activity for Trish that she was able to balance herself without really thinking about how to do it. This experience was a glimmer of the good things to come as she showed herself that she will recover her abilities, even if she has to do them sitting down.

More soon ... Trish's proud father.

Visitation Rules

Trish & Scott have asked me to post some rules for visitation while she is in the rehab center.

Her schedule each day is very full with both physical and occupational therapy sessions, and each of these sessions really takes a lot out of her. So there are definately periods of time during the day when she needs to rest.

Here are the rules ...

1. No visits before 4:00pm each day
2. Before you visit, please call ahead to make sure Trish is having a good day and is up to seeing you. Please call 480-242-2590
3. Please keep your visits short ... approximately 15 minutes
4. Please consider sending a card or an email rather than visiting

Trish very much appreciates all the wonderful support she has received, and feels bad she has not had time to write thank you notes to all those who have sent flowers, etc.

Trish's Therapy Progresses

Now that Trish is into her first full week of physical & occupational therapy, the staff at the Barrows Neuro Rehabilitation Center has been able to fully evaluate her condition and her progress.

They have told Trish that she should expect approximately six weeks in the center before she can go home, and then to continue therapy sessions as an out patient. This is really good news and shows how hard she is working at each session. Trish remains determined to recover her full independence.

She still has a way to go, but the outlook continues to be bright with small amounts of progress each day. Scott is there with her every single minute, and has been a rock of support. With his help, there is nothing that Trish will not be able to accomplish.

Trish's Rehabilitation Schedule

On Friday the 1st Trish completed her first full day in the rehabilitation center. Most of the activities were focued on evaluating her physical and mental condition.

The staff told her that she was only the second person they had admitted so soon after surgery. They felt that this was due to her excellent physical condition, her physical & mental strength, and the relative ease with which her body handled the spinal surgery.

Her daily schedule is fairly well packed with OT & PT sessions. She starts the day at 8:00am getting dressed and moving from the bed to a wheelchair. She then is responsible to move herself to the spinal cord gym for her sessions. The staff really does believe in helping her become indepentent very quickly. In fact there is a rule ... no spouse or family member is allowed to push her in the wheelchair.

Due to this busy schedule Trish & Scott have asked that her friends limit their visits to the late afternoon after 4:00pm. This will enable her to concentrate on her therapy as well as get the needed rest periods after each session. Trish really does enjoy your visits and wonderful support.

Her room is now filled to the brim with the many beautiful flower arrangements that have been sent. In fact, Trish & Scott would ask that no more flowers be sent. If you wish to show further support, please consider a donation to the account at National Bank of Arizona (see details in an earlier post or contact Kristi Sheahan).

I will attempt to update this site every few days with news on Trish's progress. Thanks again for all the love, prayers and support everyone has given.

Trish moves into Rehabilitation Center

Late Thursday afternoon the 31st Trish was moved into her new room in the Barrows Neuro Rehabilitation Center. This facility is directly connected to St. Joseph's hospital and is located just south of the 3rd Avenue parking garage. The facility is on the 2nd floor of the 240 building and allows regular visiting hours.

Trish is sharing a room with another spinal cord injury (SCI) patient. Her roommate also suffered a spine injury in an accident and is currently 6 months pregnant. All the patient rooms in this facility are doubles. The Neuro Rehab Center is less than six months old and is a world class facility.

Trish's schedule in rehab will be quite busy. She will be in various physical therapy sessions from 3-4 hours each day (Monday through Saturday) and will be working on her recovery in both the morning and afternoon. I will share more details regarding the specific times as we become more familiar with the program so you can plan your visits.

Trish remains positive and is 100% committed to do whatever it takes to regain the function of her legs. While she is experiencing quite a bit of pain, she has tackled her early PT sessions with excellent effort. There is nothing they have asked of her that she has been unable to accomplish.

Once again, thank you for all the love, support, and prayer ... keep it all coming.

Scott's Arm is OK

On Tuesday, May 29th Scott was able to see an orthopedic surgeon to evaluate the injury to his left elbow. We took the X-Ray films that were taken in the emergency room at St. Joseph's Hospital the night they arrived.

After a detailed inspection of both the films and Scott's arm, Dr. Alan Rothbart told us there were no fractures, and no apparent ligament or tendon damage.

After he provided Scott with a prescription for an anti-inflammatory medication and showed him some exercises to help in the healing we returned to Trish's hospital. Scott will have a return visit in two weeks to evaluate his progress.

We are all pleased that Scott's injury will heal quickly, as he will need all his strength for the challenges ahead.

Account Created for Donations

Our families would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone for all of your prayers and support this week. Trish was moved out of ICU into a recovery room yesterday, and will hopefully be moved to the Rehabilitation Center at St. Joseph's Hospital tomorrow.

She has had two therapy sessions so far and was able to sit in a chair for about 3 hours today. She gained about 2 -3 inches of feeling in her chest yesterday, which was a positive sign. They are still telling us that everything is day to day so we continue to pray for every milestone that is reached.

We thank everyone for their offers of help and support. We are trying to organize everything and will hopefully be utilizing you all soon.

There has been an account set up to assist Scott and Trish with the medical bills and expenses that are to come. Donations can be made at a National Bank of Arizona to Acct. #0568005203. Please contact Kristi Sheahan if you have any questions.

We ask that you continue to keep the family in your prayers for all the obstacles ahead.

Trish & Scott have ATV accident

This memorial day weekend Trish & Scott traveled into Mexico with several friends. They planned a long weekend an hour south of Yuma on the Baja bay. Their friends have a home very near the beach and they planned a weekend of fun including some ATV riding, sun bathing and swimming in the ocean.

On Saturday afternoon, Trish and Scott we riding double on his ATV (which they have done many times before) along the beach. As they were riding along, they approached an unexpected steep berm, and despite Scott's best efforts to slow down, they hit the berm and were launched into the air. The ATV came down on its nose and they were both thrown over the handle bars. Trish apparently landed on her head and seriously injured her back. She was unconscious between 1-5 minutes and when she awoke she had no sensation in her legs and could not move.

An ambulance was called and arrived 20-30 minutes later. The Mexican paramedics stabilized her on a back board, applied a cervical collar and started an IV. They then transported her into town to a clinic. After a lengthy delay, which included Scott's arrest for being involved in a vehicle accident, the authorities agreed to transfer Trish across the border to the hospital in Yuma, Arizona.

After further treatment in Yuma, Trish & Scott were transported via helicopter to St. Joseph's hospital and the Barrow's Neurological Unit in Phoenix. They were met in the trauma room by all Trish & Scott's parents and Scott's sister. Once at Barrows the neurologists were able to evaluate her injury more completely.

We were then told that Trish had suffered a fracture of her spine between the T5 & T6 vertebrae. She had also suffered a spinal cord injury that was causing the paralysis. The entire spinal cord team at Barrows was consulted in the middle of the night and surgery was scheduled for Sunday morning to fuse the fracture in her spine.

Scott had suffered a potential broken elbow on his left arm, and while the x-rays were not conclusive the doctors splinted his arm and put it in a sling. He will need to consult an orthopedic surgeon next week for further evaluation.

On Sunday morning we waited in the ICU for Trish's surgery to begin. At one point I counted 14 people in the waiting room ... all there for Trish. The minister from her church showed up late in the morning with a prayer shawl that had been blessed by the entire congregation at that morning's service. Several friends and every single member of her extended family have been visiting and praying.

About 10:00am Trish was taken into pre-op and made ready for the surgery. We waited almost 2 1/2 hours until the surgeon came out to tell us how everything went. He said that he had installed several screws and rods to stabilize her broken spine. He then told us that while there was a severe bruise to the spinal cord, it had not been severed in the accident. Without giving us any unrealistic hopes, he said that there was a chance Trish would begin to recover some feeling and movement in her legs. At the moment she is paralyzed from the chest down.

As she came out of surgery (and they wheeled her past the waiting room) she wanted to stop and say "hi" to every single one of her family and friends. She said that she is ready to start therapy and will do whatever it takes to recover. She has a terrific spirit and is a real fighter.I am going to wrap this post up for now, even though I know I have left out some critical points. I will use this writing as therapy for myself and also to help fill the time in the waiting room.

More soon ... keep the prayers coming.

Welcome to Trish's Place

Hello all ... welcome to the new blog space created for Trish Stressman.

Please come back often to keep up to date with new posts, and don't forget to leave a comment or two for Trish. I will make sure she gets to read every message.

And again, thanks for all the love, prayers and support she has been given.

Richard Sauerbrun ... Trish's proud father.