Thursday, August 18, 2011

Kris Update: Another wait and see situation

[Email from Carol and George Kline]

Hello loved ones and friends!

Just to let you know... at 6:30 p.m. this evening, it was still 101 degrees here in San Antonio. We keep seeing weather reports from Florida and it is not near as hot there. We also keep hearing that this summer has been unseasonably hot since May. They’re right! Okay, enough of the weather.

Just to let you know, too... our week away last week helped us to loosen up, lighten up, and sing!!! We gave two performances: a country show at Johnson Creek RV Resort in Ingram, Texas (near Kerrville), and a gospel concert at a beautiful Baptist church also in Ingram. Both were fun and a great blessing to us, and we have our dear friends (Chaplain Don and his wife, LaVon, Baker) to thank for it all. Again we met some wonderful Christian folks and what a beautiful time we had singing praises in God’s house. Many thanks to everyone!

Now, as referenced above, another “wait and see” situation is just exactly that: we won’t know for sure until sometime next week. Our daughter, Kris, was evaluated yesterday (Wednesday) by two speech therapists at the VA hospital here in San Antonio. While they have to discuss their findings with the rest of their team of speech pathologists and therapists, they do feel they might be able to help her. If you recall in the last update or so, we were told by the doctors at BAMC who interviewed Kris some time ago they would like to send her to one of the VA poly trauma hospitals. The search included several around the country, but they then centered their search right here in San Antonio. A brand new poly trauma center is soon to open as part of the VA hospital here, and that’s where we went yesterday.

As a last ditch effort, the BAMC doctors want to “immerse” Kris in a real in depth augmentative speech/communication program to help her learn to communicate consistently in some way to family, friends, and people in general. Of course, our greatest prayer is to hear her speak again and there is always that possibility going forward. Until then, however, augmentative speaking devices (there are many fantastic instruments, by the way!) will be tried and tested with Kris to see what will be the best help to her. There are devices that speak what the person is thinking, I believe, as they look into a tiny camera in front of them. It’s simply amazing! Still other types of equipment from Dynavox include a Dynawriter, which provides numerous programs on a mini-computer style screen that speaks the words out loud once she types them in. That, of course, has not been a perfect solution, given that her right hand does not work very well and her left hand doesn’t have quite the dexterity to hit the right keys. She’s working on that however, and every little bit helps.

So, that’s the latest update on our little trooper! She actually is quite psyched at the idea of going to another facility and giving it an all out try see if the brand new speech pathology group at the all new Audie Murphy Poly Trauma Center can help her. She will go there as an inpatient first in an interim area, since the new facility won’t open for a few weeks yet. But, as soon as it is open, she will be one of the first as a patient. By the way, for all you “youngsters” out there... Audie Murphy was the most decorated war hero from World War II, and he became a movie star (mostly westerns only, I think). Sadly, however, he died some years ago rather broken, a badly bruised ego, and a not-so-pleasant temper. His lovely wife, however, carried on the dignity of her husband’s war hero legacy, and volunteered for many years at the VA hospital in Los Angeles. She passed away on April 8, 2010 after a 35-year career helping veterans. This new facility is named for her late husband.

So that’s the latest update and we apologize for being a little slow to the keyboard this week. It’s been busy already and next week will be the same. Kris’s attitude has been one of renewed determination I think. Her physical therapy just today included about 30-plus deep knee bends on what is known as the “total gym” machine. Then she walked with a walker and minimal assistance two times around the entire PT gym and then back to her room.
Tonight, before I left to come back to the RV, she reminded me to put her eye drops in (she pointed to them) and pointed to the trash can when I was cutting her fingernails. (She wanted the clippings to fall into the can, not in the towel on her lap!) Her smile consistently charms all who see it, and her laughter (that little chuckle of hers) takes one’s breath away. She is a charmer with a little tender heart, and we love her so much. Our prayer now is that she will be accepted at Audie Murphy Poly Trauma Center and that she will really, really do well there. Communication with others around her is paramount for her care and her well being. Your prayers will help tremendously!!!

Blessings and love and our gratitude,
Carol and George

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