Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who put this wonderful bowling event together and to everyone who came or participated in one way or another. Ben, what a concept...what a terrific job!!! Deb, Kelly, Clyde, Scott, Hollie, Sarah, Stacey, Thom, people I didn't recognize and everyone else...WOW!! The turnout was incredible. I have no idea how many people showed up but the place was packed. Bowlers aplenty and great non-bowlers just having a ball. My biggest surprises...John Kurap, thought he was in New Guinea...Deanna and Bob, all the way from Farmington, didn't know they lived there!...Chuck Mathews, new eyeballs and all...and mostly Larry Clemans and Andy and Lynn Patzert, Clem and Andy were guidance counselors for Deb, Dan and I in the olden days! How cool was it to see those guys?! Brian had a great time but could only handle about an hour and a half. His day begins very early and all the noise and stimulation was overwhelming. But, today at therapy he was wearing his shirt and proudly telling everyone that his sister designed it and that Saturday was the fund raiser. It is very cool that he remembered it with no prompting. Memory is definately getting better...sometimes. He is walking a little bit with a four pronged cane. Getting stronger but a long way from solitary moving. His forearm in tight but he wears a new contraption during OT that helps him to grasp objects and release them. I tell him that he looks like Ahnold or Robocop. He likes that. So, keep those prayers a coming. He is doing so well with everyones help.
All for now, Love, Marcy :)
Monday, April 30, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
COME TO BRIAN'S FUNDRAISER THIS SATURDAY!!
Brian wants to see you! So please join us for the fundraiser, if you haven't already rsvp'd. See Ben The Organizer's email below.
Hi Everybody - Just a final reminder about the Bowling event that you've all received 8 billion times by now (attached).
If you haven't registered or let me know you are coming, now's the final opportunity, as it's the deadline on lanes day. Just drop me an email at this email address or at ben.kamm@comcast.net if you're coming.
If you've already responded "yay" or "nay" then ignore this message - it will self destruct in 5 minutes.
A partial raffle and prize list (the below items are definates):
Autographed pucks donated by the Detroit Red Wings: Robert Lang, Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Yzerman - can you believe there's a Stevie Y one???
A 2gig iPod Nano - listen to Yanni or John Tesh full-blast as you do your workout
2 $100 gift certificates to Salon 6 in Royal Oak - You can get your hair did at the best hair-did-ing-est place in all the land
4 tickets to Tigers-Brewers, Thursday June 14th - Who's your Tiger? Mine is Johnny Grubb.
A Trader Joe's Gift Basket - there's a bunch of stuff in it
An original work, 8x10 framed photo capturing the final game at the old Tigers Stadium created by Christine Crossley
A scented candle basket created by Doreen - these things are awesome, I have one in my room and my room no longer reeks.
$$$ from the 50/50 raffle
Free Bowling From Hartfield Lanes
A gift certificate from Marinelli's Restaurant - now you don't have to eat the horrible food you cook, unless you're a good cook of course, then forget I said anything.
So, if you haven't already, let me know if you plan on coming! Thanks…
BK
Hi Everybody - Just a final reminder about the Bowling event that you've all received 8 billion times by now (attached).
If you haven't registered or let me know you are coming, now's the final opportunity, as it's the deadline on lanes day. Just drop me an email at this email address or at ben.kamm@comcast.net if you're coming.
If you've already responded "yay" or "nay" then ignore this message - it will self destruct in 5 minutes.
A partial raffle and prize list (the below items are definates):
Autographed pucks donated by the Detroit Red Wings: Robert Lang, Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Yzerman - can you believe there's a Stevie Y one???
A 2gig iPod Nano - listen to Yanni or John Tesh full-blast as you do your workout
2 $100 gift certificates to Salon 6 in Royal Oak - You can get your hair did at the best hair-did-ing-est place in all the land
4 tickets to Tigers-Brewers, Thursday June 14th - Who's your Tiger? Mine is Johnny Grubb.
A Trader Joe's Gift Basket - there's a bunch of stuff in it
An original work, 8x10 framed photo capturing the final game at the old Tigers Stadium created by Christine Crossley
A scented candle basket created by Doreen - these things are awesome, I have one in my room and my room no longer reeks.
$$$ from the 50/50 raffle
Free Bowling From Hartfield Lanes
A gift certificate from Marinelli's Restaurant - now you don't have to eat the horrible food you cook, unless you're a good cook of course, then forget I said anything.
So, if you haven't already, let me know if you plan on coming! Thanks…
BK
update
Hello everyone, I have had some difficulties getting on to the post part of this blog. Today, it's working. Here's what's going on. Yesterday, Brian had a thorough checkup at the Kresge Eye Institute. The best news is that the neuro-opthamologist could find no damage in either eye or in the optic nerve. Praise God! He checked to see if Brian possibly could use a stronger prescription, but that didn't seem to be useful. Apparantly, his eyes, just like his brain, need more time to heal and catch up to the strength that they normally had. Right now, vision is about 20/80 I believe. They were not able to get it any clearer. So, he just has to adjust and wait for more healing. There may always be some left side deficits or areas that he can't see as well, but again only time will tell. Today after therapizing, we go to see Dr. Cullis, his neurologist. He prescribes all the seizure meds and hasn't seen Brian yet. This will be a very long day. 1:45 to 4:00 at therapy and a 5:30 appt in Eastpointe for Cullis. Thank goodness the church ladies cook for us today. Therapy is very tiring both physically and mentally. Pray for strength for him to be successful in this area.
Brian would like to add some info. A big thank you and a hug to everyone who has been praying for me. Believe me I can tell that you are doing this. I hope to see you all this Saturday at my bowlathon. Love,Brian and Marcy :)
Brian would like to add some info. A big thank you and a hug to everyone who has been praying for me. Believe me I can tell that you are doing this. I hope to see you all this Saturday at my bowlathon. Love,Brian and Marcy :)
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
CLICK HERE for "Bowling for Brian" Fundraiser Registration
Monday, April 16, 2007
AARRRGGGGHHH!
Brians OT's name is Bhawda, not Bhawa, so it is pronounced Bavda. Sorry! Also, the entire website link did not come up on my computer for the deadline info. Probably cut off on everyone elses, too. Ben, is this your department? Kell? Hope you can fix it.
Love, Marc :)
Love, Marc :)
Bowling Fundraiser Registration
Bowling Fundraiser on April 28th:
Please click this link and print it for a registration form.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/kammkell/Bowling_For_Brian2.gif
REGISTRATION ENDS APRIL 21ST!!
Please click this link and print it for a registration form.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/kammkell/Bowling_For_Brian2.gif
REGISTRATION ENDS APRIL 21ST!!
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Happy 23rd birthday, Brian!
Today is Brians birthday. I have a few minutes to update, finally. He and Rachel are watching Napoleon Dynamite as I sit here. He has been enjoying videos since he got home. He loved The Pursuit of Happyness and even seems to remember that he watched it. This is his biggest challenge right now. Very bad short term memory. He will ask the same questions again and again. Usually if he is prompted to remember it himself, he will come up with the answer. By the end of the day when he is tired, he gets very repetitive. I think that his battery gets worn out and he just needs a new charge. He wakes up very pleasantly. Usually he asks about what is going on and we go through the whole AVM bleed, Harper Hospital, Clarkston Specialty, RIM and home routine. Then, after that, he starts to remember again. He knows all the therapist names and doctor names from RIM. His sense of humor is fabulous and he even pokes fun at himself.
We have all survived an entire week at home. It is time consuming but not as bad as I thought it would be. He needs 24 hour supervision. This obviously includes sleeping, too. He sleeps on a twin bed in the den and I sleep on the lazy boy next to him. This way, he cannot accidentally think that he is able to get up by himself and go to the bathroom or anything else. He relies on a wheelchair and transfers are very easy to do. He cannot walk without a lot of help and only walks down the 3 stairs of the garage and over to the car. This works well, thank goodness. He eats like a horse and bathroom duties have been going great. One of the biggest deals is taking a shower. He feels cold so quickly so I try to keep it warm and have lots of towels handy. The transfer from chair to shower bench works well but I have to switch belts from dry one to wet one and I know he gets chilled. I try to make sure that he is plenty warm before getting dressed. Even with all of these preset measures, he seems to get a headache after showers. I hate that part. Hopefully we can figure out a way to lessen the headache.
Brian saw a primary care physician in Detroit to get his medicines refilled. He also has to have a blood test once a week for cuomidin levels. He should be off of the blood thinners in about 2 months.
Yesterday was his first day of outpatient therapy. First, we met Bhawa (Bava), his OT. She administered tests to assess where he is at and how to help him improve. She is upper body therapy. His left arm is at about 130 degrees which is much better than a month ago. His shoulder is still very tight and he can only lift his arm to shoulder level. He was asked to put little pegs into little holes and then remove them as fast as possible. He did great with the right but could not even pick them up with the left. Too small, he said. Plus, his vision in impaired...(he goes to Kresge Eye Institute on Tuesday). He also had his grip strength tested and finger strength tested. These are obviously going to be the base lines for Bhawa to judge his improvement.
Next, he saw Tracy, speech. She did some neat vocal tests with him to determine if there are any muscle weaknesses. He did great. When she got to ca,ca,ca,ca,ca it was obvious that there was a little slur there. What she gathered from all of this is weakness from the middle to the back of the tongue. Apparantly she can strengthen these muscles. She also noticed a little droop on the left side of the mouth. And I thought that this was his rakish pirate grin! She told us that this might improve or might not. It's a nerve thing.
Finally, we met Robbin, PT. She tested his leg strength in various ways. He did very well on this and she was very impressed. Right leg is of course very strong and mostly scored 5 of 5. Left leg was not too far behind. Lots of 4's, 3+'s, 4-'s. His hips were the weakest part and need the most work for walking. He walked with her and a "cane" and is so not coordinated at it. She attributes it to time in bed, hip weakness, brain confusion on working cane, left leg, right leg and the visual problems. So, there is much to do but she, and he, are raring to go.
He was tired when we got home and so was I. He conked out at about 8 and I had a devil of a time waking him for his 9 pm pills. Took about 10 minutes to get him awake enough to swallow them.
Rachel has spent a lot of time with us and as always, she is the best medicine. Looks like she has been able to arrange her work schedule into longer days and more days off so she can be here more often. Superb!
Got to go get my boy a gift...talk later! Love, Marcy :)
We have all survived an entire week at home. It is time consuming but not as bad as I thought it would be. He needs 24 hour supervision. This obviously includes sleeping, too. He sleeps on a twin bed in the den and I sleep on the lazy boy next to him. This way, he cannot accidentally think that he is able to get up by himself and go to the bathroom or anything else. He relies on a wheelchair and transfers are very easy to do. He cannot walk without a lot of help and only walks down the 3 stairs of the garage and over to the car. This works well, thank goodness. He eats like a horse and bathroom duties have been going great. One of the biggest deals is taking a shower. He feels cold so quickly so I try to keep it warm and have lots of towels handy. The transfer from chair to shower bench works well but I have to switch belts from dry one to wet one and I know he gets chilled. I try to make sure that he is plenty warm before getting dressed. Even with all of these preset measures, he seems to get a headache after showers. I hate that part. Hopefully we can figure out a way to lessen the headache.
Brian saw a primary care physician in Detroit to get his medicines refilled. He also has to have a blood test once a week for cuomidin levels. He should be off of the blood thinners in about 2 months.
Yesterday was his first day of outpatient therapy. First, we met Bhawa (Bava), his OT. She administered tests to assess where he is at and how to help him improve. She is upper body therapy. His left arm is at about 130 degrees which is much better than a month ago. His shoulder is still very tight and he can only lift his arm to shoulder level. He was asked to put little pegs into little holes and then remove them as fast as possible. He did great with the right but could not even pick them up with the left. Too small, he said. Plus, his vision in impaired...(he goes to Kresge Eye Institute on Tuesday). He also had his grip strength tested and finger strength tested. These are obviously going to be the base lines for Bhawa to judge his improvement.
Next, he saw Tracy, speech. She did some neat vocal tests with him to determine if there are any muscle weaknesses. He did great. When she got to ca,ca,ca,ca,ca it was obvious that there was a little slur there. What she gathered from all of this is weakness from the middle to the back of the tongue. Apparantly she can strengthen these muscles. She also noticed a little droop on the left side of the mouth. And I thought that this was his rakish pirate grin! She told us that this might improve or might not. It's a nerve thing.
Finally, we met Robbin, PT. She tested his leg strength in various ways. He did very well on this and she was very impressed. Right leg is of course very strong and mostly scored 5 of 5. Left leg was not too far behind. Lots of 4's, 3+'s, 4-'s. His hips were the weakest part and need the most work for walking. He walked with her and a "cane" and is so not coordinated at it. She attributes it to time in bed, hip weakness, brain confusion on working cane, left leg, right leg and the visual problems. So, there is much to do but she, and he, are raring to go.
He was tired when we got home and so was I. He conked out at about 8 and I had a devil of a time waking him for his 9 pm pills. Took about 10 minutes to get him awake enough to swallow them.
Rachel has spent a lot of time with us and as always, she is the best medicine. Looks like she has been able to arrange her work schedule into longer days and more days off so she can be here more often. Superb!
Got to go get my boy a gift...talk later! Love, Marcy :)
Friday, April 6, 2007
The Condor has landed
Well, we are all home and it feels really good! Kelsey, Rachel and I arrived at RIM at 11 and we were on the road by 12:30. Most of the time was spent saying good-bye to all of the wonderful people who took care of Brian there. We had to promise to come up to visit when we were doing outpatient rehab. Ali told us that he is usually down in outpatient about the time we will be there to visit his former patients. That will be fun. Loading him in the car was no problem...the chair was awkward. I'm sure it will become easier with time. I got all of his prescriptions filled and went to the secretary of state to get a hanging handicap sign for the car. In the meantime, Dan and Kathy, and Mark were getting other things ready. Mark brought over the sliding bench for the shower and a spare commode. Danny switched out the broken TV for a working one. Ben and Zo had come over yesterday to take the sofa bed out of the den and bring the twin bed from Cindy in to the room. Oh, Dan also brought the recumbent bike up from the basement. I'm not sure if it's super steady but he doesn't pedal very fast yet. He walked up the garage steps pretty well. Then we practiced down and then up again. All of us tried, even Kelsey. While I was gone, Dan and Kathy had him go up the house stairs and back down again. Apparantly, he did a great job with their help. Now, we are rethinking the ramp, and may just have Mark build a stairway with rails to go over the existing steps. Something to think about.
He sure seems happy to be here and we are thrilled to have him.
Hopefully I'll have more details later in the week.
Later, Love, Marcy :)
He sure seems happy to be here and we are thrilled to have him.
Hopefully I'll have more details later in the week.
Later, Love, Marcy :)
Monday, April 2, 2007
Helloooooo, again, Hellooooooooo
Buenos dias mis amigos!!!! Soy ZO!
Hey Aunt Marcy, I saw your last post and would like to donate my time (and truck) to help the cause. The cause I speak of is, of course, Operation: Condor. The operation consists of getting the house prepared for Brian's triumphant return home. I have a pick up truck and a rock hard body capable of lifting many times my own body weight (but not all at once). I'm sure that Ben and some of the other guys would be more than willing to assist, so let me know when you would like to execute said operation and we can work out the deets.
XOxOox, (Big kiss, big hug, little kiss, Big hug, little hug, little kiss)
ZO
Hey Aunt Marcy, I saw your last post and would like to donate my time (and truck) to help the cause. The cause I speak of is, of course, Operation: Condor. The operation consists of getting the house prepared for Brian's triumphant return home. I have a pick up truck and a rock hard body capable of lifting many times my own body weight (but not all at once). I'm sure that Ben and some of the other guys would be more than willing to assist, so let me know when you would like to execute said operation and we can work out the deets.
XOxOox, (Big kiss, big hug, little kiss, Big hug, little hug, little kiss)
ZO
Sunday, April 1, 2007
5 days and counting
Today is Sunday...Brian is due to come home on Friday. Praise the Lord! He seems to be very anxious to come home.
Let me begin by saying that I was having some problems logging on to this site and I am glad that today was successful. I have no idea what the problem was but now, no problemo. (That was for you, Zo)
Last Wednesday, they pulled the feeding tube out of his stomach. When I visited on Thursday, I asked him if it hurt and he said "not that I remember". At the same time, Dr. "Babe" was nodding his head up and down indicating that it did indeed hurt but obviously he was over it. He now has a wonderful scab about 2 inches above his navel. Looks like it will make a great lumpy scar therefore Brian will have 2 navels! I got to watch some pretty cool therapy on Thursday and glean some info on what to expect when he comes home. They are setting up his therapy at a RIM offshoot at 13 Mile and Stephenson Hwy. It is one of only 3 RIM's that deal with neurological rehab. He will have PT, OT and speech all in one day, three days a week. I also have to find out if they will set up a visit at Kresge Eye Institute. I feel that his therapy would be much easier, especially walking, if he could see better! I have already talked to Mark Neindorf about installing a ramp, grab bars in the shower and finishing the bathroom painting. My friend Cindy from Trader Joes told me that she has a twin bed that I could have to put in the den. I will probably sack out next to him on the lazy boy until we figure out something better. I could use a couple of big strong backs to move the sofa bed to the garage for pickup, and move the bed into the den. Any takers? Anybody have a truck? Cindy might have a truck but I'm not certain.
Anywho, Kelsey and I visited today and had a great time. He knows that he forgets and he knows that he asks the same questions over and over. I feel that this is a good sign. He isn't frustrated about it and I don't mind answering the same things again and again. We were able to go outside and enjoy the beautiful, sunny, 75 degree day for about an hour. How nice! He really liked being out there. I told him that I was looking forward to sitting on the deck, Brian in his wheelchair, me with a glass of wine. He said...hey, I get a glass of wine too.
Lately, he has been calling me and Rachel several times a day to ask questions and wonder if we were coming to visit and to tell us that he was confused. So, I guess that it is time for him to come home to the people who love him the most. Although, he is well loved at RIM. What's not to love?
I'm done for now...more tomorrow. Love, Marcy :)
Let me begin by saying that I was having some problems logging on to this site and I am glad that today was successful. I have no idea what the problem was but now, no problemo. (That was for you, Zo)
Last Wednesday, they pulled the feeding tube out of his stomach. When I visited on Thursday, I asked him if it hurt and he said "not that I remember". At the same time, Dr. "Babe" was nodding his head up and down indicating that it did indeed hurt but obviously he was over it. He now has a wonderful scab about 2 inches above his navel. Looks like it will make a great lumpy scar therefore Brian will have 2 navels! I got to watch some pretty cool therapy on Thursday and glean some info on what to expect when he comes home. They are setting up his therapy at a RIM offshoot at 13 Mile and Stephenson Hwy. It is one of only 3 RIM's that deal with neurological rehab. He will have PT, OT and speech all in one day, three days a week. I also have to find out if they will set up a visit at Kresge Eye Institute. I feel that his therapy would be much easier, especially walking, if he could see better! I have already talked to Mark Neindorf about installing a ramp, grab bars in the shower and finishing the bathroom painting. My friend Cindy from Trader Joes told me that she has a twin bed that I could have to put in the den. I will probably sack out next to him on the lazy boy until we figure out something better. I could use a couple of big strong backs to move the sofa bed to the garage for pickup, and move the bed into the den. Any takers? Anybody have a truck? Cindy might have a truck but I'm not certain.
Anywho, Kelsey and I visited today and had a great time. He knows that he forgets and he knows that he asks the same questions over and over. I feel that this is a good sign. He isn't frustrated about it and I don't mind answering the same things again and again. We were able to go outside and enjoy the beautiful, sunny, 75 degree day for about an hour. How nice! He really liked being out there. I told him that I was looking forward to sitting on the deck, Brian in his wheelchair, me with a glass of wine. He said...hey, I get a glass of wine too.
Lately, he has been calling me and Rachel several times a day to ask questions and wonder if we were coming to visit and to tell us that he was confused. So, I guess that it is time for him to come home to the people who love him the most. Although, he is well loved at RIM. What's not to love?
I'm done for now...more tomorrow. Love, Marcy :)
Bowlin' 4 Brian (and Marcy)
It's ON!!!
If you haven't heard yet, we are putting together a charity bowl-a-thon for Brian Beckett. This will help cover some medical expenses and give us an opportunity to get together and play Brian's favorite sport (next to Extreme Shuffleboard, that is).
Event details will be coming soon - I hope to have the invite out this week with how much you'll have to pay, prize details, etc.
HOWEVER - I wanted to at least get the word out to mark your calendars for April 28th, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM. This is a Saturday.
I have officially booked it for this day and time.
There'll be a bar, food, and prizes - all that good stuff. We even have the possibility of Thrivent Financial, a Lutheran financial aid association, matching our donations (we have applied and are awaiting approval).
We have an initial hookup of 20 lanes at fabulous Hartfield Lanes in Berkley. There are a total of 52 lanes at this particular alley - once the invites get out, and I see some RSVP's, I can always reserve more lanes.
If you've never heard the legend of Hartfield Lanes, you will soon. Let's just say there have been many an eventful karaoke night there, and leave it at that...
But once again, April 28, 2p-5p. Mark it down, and I know I'll see lots of ya's there!!
BK
If you haven't heard yet, we are putting together a charity bowl-a-thon for Brian Beckett. This will help cover some medical expenses and give us an opportunity to get together and play Brian's favorite sport (next to Extreme Shuffleboard, that is).
Event details will be coming soon - I hope to have the invite out this week with how much you'll have to pay, prize details, etc.
HOWEVER - I wanted to at least get the word out to mark your calendars for April 28th, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM. This is a Saturday.
I have officially booked it for this day and time.
There'll be a bar, food, and prizes - all that good stuff. We even have the possibility of Thrivent Financial, a Lutheran financial aid association, matching our donations (we have applied and are awaiting approval).
We have an initial hookup of 20 lanes at fabulous Hartfield Lanes in Berkley. There are a total of 52 lanes at this particular alley - once the invites get out, and I see some RSVP's, I can always reserve more lanes.
If you've never heard the legend of Hartfield Lanes, you will soon. Let's just say there have been many an eventful karaoke night there, and leave it at that...
But once again, April 28, 2p-5p. Mark it down, and I know I'll see lots of ya's there!!
BK
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