Crystal's Journey - crystalsjourney

Crystal continues to get stronger, and she is doing well these days. She went back to school full time this semester and is living in the dorms at SIU-C with hopes of finishing her athletic training degree. While the course load has been tough and overwhelming at times, she feels that she is adjusting well to living on her own again and learning all the new information. Crystal is currently taking three classes plus a restricted PE class which requires three hours per week working with the physical therapy students at the rec center. There, she is able to use the treadmill and weights, which has worked out well for her and allowed her to take a break from formal therapy sessions.

Two great articles were recently written about her... Links are below:

http://dailyegyptian.com/2011/10/25/spt_10_25_11_trainer_jr/

www.dawgtracker.com  (Scroll down the page to find the article. It was posted on 10/19/11.)

 

 

I feel my strength is still getting better, and I am getting stronger as you can see in the videos I posted.  Everyday is still a struggle but I am still moving forward and seeing improvements.  I still go to CCS in Carbondale 2 days a week and use the underwater treadmill in Highland on Fridays.  Hopefully, I will have a video on the underwater treadmill soon.  Stay tuned!!  My back is continuing to hurt but Dr. Beck and Eric, my physical therapist at CCS, said the pain is the result of me doing more in therapy.  In therapy, I'm now able to tolerate 30 minutes at a time on the treadmill.  Eric adjusts the speed ranging from 2.5-5.0 MPH.  Yea, it was pretty cool to go at 5.0 for one minute.  Of course with a harass on.... :)   Crystal 

It has been a while since the last entry, but Crystal continues to make great progress. She still attends therapy in Carbondale twice each week, and she works out in the pool in Highland one day a week. Her strength and endurance have both taken great strides in the past couple of months. She walks on the treadmill for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. For the most part, she maintains a pace between 1 and 2 miles per hour, but she has had it up to a speed of 2.4 miles per hour for a short period. Her right arm continues to get stronger, and she has been working hard with her right leg as well. She now has her own Bioness device, which she wears on her right leg, and it mostly helps in controlling her right foot when she walks.

Crystal is taking two online courses this semester...an upper-level art history class and a marriage and family sociology class. Her art class has been quite demanding, but she plans to work through it, and she feels like it has helped her learn how to really study and do homework again. Also, she posted a bunch of new videos below, and she added all the captions herself...yet another sign of her amazing progress.

One night in early December, on the anniversary of Grandma Katie's death, Crystal was able to  move the toes on her right foot better than any other time since the accident. It required a lot of concentration, but she amazed everyone, including herself. Unfortunately, she has not been able to move them again quite like she did that night, but she still knows that there are some very special angels up above who continue to watch over her and give her the strength and incentive to keep moving forward.

Crystal went to an eye doctor in the area last week for a second opinion, and he agreed that the damage with regards to her peripheral vision is permanent. When she looks straight ahead, she does great, and her vision is 20/20, but she really can't see anything if it is just off to the right. He said that it is all the result of brain damage she suffered at the time of the accident, not damage to the eyes themselves. The doctor, however, told her that he thought she would be legal to drive in Illinois if she can get her right leg and foot working a little better, so she is not giving up hope. They are also working on getting Crystal her very own Bioness device, which straps to her leg just below her knee and sends electrical impulses to those nerves and muscles allowing her better control of her foot and leg.

Crystal's English 102 class went well, and she just submitted her seven-page paper. She still needs to take the final, but she did really well!

Crystal is doing well and continues to improve. A new video is posted below of her most recent bridging exercises. Just below that video, I reposted a video from almost a year ago which really shows her progress. Crystal was very excited to be able to look back and see how far she has come. She can now get into the bridging position on her own, and she requires far less physical support than before. She also continues to work with the Bioness device which helps give her a good stride with her right leg and foot when she walks.

Crystal also continues to work on the light exercises with regards to her eyes. She feels like she is getting a little faster with the light board, which would mean that her peripheral vision has possibly improved. They are looking to get a second opinion from a local doctor who specializes in these types of visual problems following a traumatic brain injury. Crystal is still holding out hope that her vision will continue to improve to the point where she will be able to drive again.

Crystal is currently taking an English 102 class which has included quizzes and writing papers, and she does much of the work with help from her speech therapist. While she has done well, the work often takes much longer for her to complete than it would for someone who has not suffered a brain injury. Crystal is still slow at processing information at times, and comprehending multiple steps at once is often difficult, but for the most part, the class has gone well so far. 

Overall, she continues to feel better all the time, and her back pain has finally started to subside. She has been able to help more around the house and has wanted to do more and more things. Hopefully, her good times will continue! 

Crystal remained in a significant amount of pain for much of the last month, but things have finally started to improve. She has been attending therapy in Highland this week but has been taking it easy for the most part. She has not been back in the pool since the surgery, but the therapists have been using massage, heat and electrical stimulation on her back. Crystal is also feeling good enough to try going back to Carbondale next week, so the plan is for two days of therapy there. Her physical therapist plans to start two hour sessions and incorporate Bio-ness, which really helped alot in getting her right arm moving again. Overall, she has been getting around a little better again and walking really well. Hopefully the good days will continue.

Crystal made it home late yesterday afternoon and is doing pretty well. She is still in some pain, but things are a lot better than they were on the day of the surgery. The nausea has mostly passed, and she is only taking pain medicine about every six hours. She will have to miss the next two weeks of physical therapy, but after that, she will get back to business.

 

Crystal's surgery took most of the morning, but the doctors were able to successfully remove the rods and screws from her back. After waking up from the anesthesia, she was having quite a bit of pain and nausea, but as always, proving to be a fighter. She will probably be in the hospital for a few more days, and I will update again when I know more details. Please continue to send prayers that tomorrow is a better day!

Crystal has been enjoying her summer, and she continues to make progress. During her therapy session last week, she was able to lay on a mat and get herself into a standing position twice in a row. She struggled a little the third time and required a little help, but it was a new, big accomplishment for her. She also spent an hour dancing with her case manager. She had a lot of fun with that, and it worked all sorts of muscles...stay tuned for a video! Crystal was able to tolerate 25 straight minutes on her hands and knees. She played 'Uno' during that time, and it was, by far, the longest she has been able to stay in that position without taking breaks. She has also been working on her fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination by playing the drums and guitar on the Wii. Bending her right knee continues to be a struggle at times, but it seems to be improving slowly. Finally, when she works on the underwater treadmill at Apex, Crystal wears water shoes without the brace on her right foot one day each week, which has been really exciting for her. Although the treadmill has to be set at a slower pace when she doesn't have her brace on, she has been able to pick up her right foot on her own. On the second day, she wears the brace in order to walk at a faster pace.

During her speech sessions, they have been working on comprehension. Crystal read five stories last week, each one a little more difficult than the one before, and she answered questions that followed. She did really well with those and feels like she has really improved in that area. The speech therapists are also working on a new program for people with aphasia, so Crystal has been able to participate in some of its development, which has been extremely interesting.

Crystal has recently had tingling and pain in the toes on her right foot a little more consistently than before, so she is again hoping that those muscles and nerves are trying to 'wake up'. She has also signed up for an online English 102 class this fall through KC. They have been extremely helpful in working with her, so she is hoping that she can at least pull off a 'C'.

A few weeks ago, Crystal had an appointment with her heart doctor which went very well. An echocardiogram showed that her ejection fraction was 60%, which is completely normal. They still want her to stay on her medications until October, and they then plan to do another echo in January. If things continue to look as good, she will not have to be on the medications anymore!

She will be having surgery early Friday morning to remove the hardware in her back. The doctor said that she will probably never be pain-free, but there is about a 75% chance of an improvement if the rods come out. Crystal said that she is willing to take that chance. She will probably spend about 3-5 days in the hospital, so please send some prayers her way this week!

Crystal is working hard and having a busy summer. She continues to attend therapy at Apex in Highland on Mondays and Fridays, and she goes to Carbondale every Tuesday and Thursday. She is also hoping to start working again on Wednesdays at Hodges. She is not taking any summer classes, but she is planning to take a class again this fall.

Crystal attended mass at SLU Hospital and later visited the nurses in the intensive care unit a couple of weeks ago on the one-year anniversary of the accident. They were very happy to see her and impressed by her progress. This morning, Crystal also went to the Albers Fire Department's open house. There, she was able to visit with some of the pilots and nurses with ARCH Helicopter, and she saw the inside of a helicopter similar to the one that flew her from the accident scene to SLU a year ago. They, too, were happy to see the progress she has made, and they told her that their jobs are often difficult because only a small percentage of the patients they transport ever do as well as she is doing. So the visit was as therapeutic for them as it was for Crystal.

Crystal still strives to break her own records...She has accomplished over 1700 steps on the stair master, and she can place 50 pegs on the peg board while bearing all of her weight on her right side. She seems to be moving her right knee higher than before, and her most recent evaluation at Apex said that her muscle tone has improved since she started therapy there back in February. Finally, she has had some treatments on her right arm and leg which involve electrical stimuli intended to 'wake up' her nerves. There has been success with other patients long after their initial injuries, so Crystal is hoping for similar results.
 

Crystal continues to keep busy with therapy five days each week. After next week, she will be going down to only two days in Carbondale and will have the other three days in Highland. This past week, she was able to bend her right knee on her own really well, and she was up to 2.4 mph for 20 minutes on the treadmill. She also walked for an additional ten minutes, without holding on, at 1.6 mph. She took her final exam in musculoskeletal anatomy and did very well. Finally, she gave a speech at the DARE graduation on Tuesday...a video is posted below, and the entire text follows...

 

(Crystal) "Before I get started, I need to let you all know that I have aphasia. That means that I have difficulty speaking. Sometimes, while I am talking, I will have to stop to remember what I was going to say. Sometimes I say one thing and mean something else; my mom will be correcting things if the wrong word comes out. Also, I may have extra pauses in my speech. For example... I...might...sound...like this.

I used to listen to music that my parents didn't really like. But since my parents drive me everywhere, I had no choice but to start listening to Country. As I would listen closely to the words, I really started to notice the messages the songs sent out. The words that these songs send out are very inspirational to my life. Really listen to the words of this song I'm about to play for you guys. Like the song says, 'God put us here on this carnival ride. We close our eyes, never knowing where it will take us next.'

(Play song.)

Life can be like a roller coaster ride...some days, you can be a little down in the dumps, but you have to keep riding the roller coaster because it will go up. Better days will always follow the bad ones.

Like Chief Wagner said, I just finished my junior year of college, so I was really looking forward to my senior year. Unfortunately, that all changed in a split second because of a stupid decision that someone made by drinking, doing drugs and driving. It was Memorial Day weekend, May 23rd, 2009. Around 9:00, I decided to go out and headed to Keyesport to meet my friends. That was the worst decision I could have made. I was the driver. There were six other people in the SUV. That is when the accident happened.

The girl that hit us ran a stop sign. A conservation police officer was on her way home that night after work and decided to take a different way home. Because of that decision, she saw the accident happen. The EMS and fire departments were on the scene within five minutes and had me ready to go when the ARCH helicopter arrived, which was within 20-25 minutes. I was very fortunate to have made it to the hospital in St. Louis because they said I would not have lived if I had not been flown in the helicopter. My brain was injured so badly that they had to open up my skull and do brain surgery three different times. That is why my hair is this short...because they had to shave it all off. I was in a coma for 2 months, which means I wasn't really awake. I wasn't breathing on my own, so they put a breathing tube in my throat. I had to be fed through a tube that was put in my stomach. I had several broken bones...my shoulder blade, ribs, jaw, hand and my back. My back was hurt very bad, so they didn't want to move me to fix it because of my brain unjury. They operated on my back two weeks after I was in the hospital.

I was in the intensive care unit for 2 months before they moved me to St. Mary's in Clayton, MO for therapy. I don't remember the first two weeks of therapy. I could not even nod yes or no, sit up, walk, talk, read or write. I now still go to therapy. Unfortunately, I have many things to work on to get the strength and movement back. I can't see anything on the right side. This means I can't drive. I have a lot of pain, especially in my back. The doctors had to fix six bones in my back. I'm still struggling with fine motor control in my right hand, so I cannot write very well. I just started to move my foot and knee a little. Every day is a huge struggle because I'm still weak and have to pace myself. With a brain injury, one needs a lot of rest and quiet time.

Instead of going to therapy every day, I would rather be in school finishing my athletic training degree. Instead of studying for quizzes and exams, I'm relearning how to spell, read and write. At this point, I'm not sure if I'll be well enough to finish college next year. Therefore, I will be two years behind. Imagine if you had to stay in the same grade for two more years...

Because of someone else's careless decision to drink, do drugs and drive, my life has changed forever. Can you imagine not remembering three months of your life? This is because my brain moved in my head causing a brain injury. It's almost one year later, and I still have many challenges. I'm hoping and praying I get everything back.

So often I think about how things could have been so different if I would have just stayed home that night like I initially planned. But when life changing events happen, you can't go back and change things...so you have to move forward and appreciate the things you do have.

Close your eyes for a moment..........ok..........now open them. Imagine that your whole life has changed, and you're in the hospital, in a coma with a brain injury. Just like that, in a split second, your life can change whether you like it or not. That's how it has been for me. Something that has really helped me through this is family and friends. Now I would like to introduce John Lampen and Casey Athmer who were in the accident with me. John would like to say a few words. John...

(John's speech.)

(Crystal) Friendship is very important to me. The loving support of my friends and family keep me going every day. I could not have gotten this far without them believing in me and praying for me. Treasure and enjoy your friends and family each and every day. I lost three friends and didn't get to go to their funerals. It's hard to believe they're gone. At least I have the memories to hold on to.

I just want to leave you with this message...

'May today there be peace within each of you. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be happy with yourself just the way you are. Allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.'

I'd like to thank you all for your attention and for this opportunity to speak to you today. BE SAFE!!!"

Crystal's therapists continue to think of new exercises to help her build strength, and she continues to well. Late last week, she was able to step over chairs that had been lined up, lifting her right leg and knee over the chair back. They have also had her practice marching, again working on lifting that right leg and knee. Crystal drove the lawn mower last week as well and was excited to be able to maneuver the foot pedal on the right side, which regulated the speed.

Crystal is up to 2.3 mph on the underwater treadmill. She walked for 20 minutes at that speed while holding on to the bars, then continued on for another 10 minutes at 1.5 mph while not holding on. Her walking continues to look more normal all the time, as she continues to move her right leg straight forward rather than swinging it out to the side. Finally, she was able to read her 300 sight words in 8 minutes and 15 seconds, so she continues to improve in that area as well.

New videos and pictures were posted over the weekend showing some of the things Crystal has been up to over the last month. Enjoy!

Crystal continues to work hard each week, and her balance has been a major focus recently. The therapists have had her walk with one foot in front of the other and also practice on a rounded balance beam, which requires even more strength and concentration from her right side than usual. She also continues to improve on exercises with her right arm, and she tolerated 27 straight minutes of weight-bearing on that side (playing Uno while on her hands and knees).

Crystal has been working on reading comprehension with her speech and occupational therapists. She first read a fourth-grade level story and correctly answered all the questions afterwards, and she later did the same with a seventh-grade level story. Finally, a more complicated article from the newspaper was a little more of a challenge for her, but she was still able to answer most of the questions correctly.

Crystal remains in good spirits, and small improvements each week continue to motivate her.

Crystal had yet another great week and is looking forward to the holiday weekend. She is working on her new goal of 2000 steps on the stair master, and her treadmill was up to 2.1 mph today. The Daily Egyptian, SIUC's newspaper, did another article and touching interview featuring Crystal. You can find it at the link below. From there, also click on 'Recovery Story', which is a video of the interview.

http://dailyegyptian.com/2010/04/01/crash-survivor-on-path-to-full-recovery/

By the way, in case you didn't see them, new videos were posted on Sunday. Enjoy!

Crystal continues to do well and make progress in many different areas. She is still working hard at getting new muscles to move in her right leg, especially near her knee. Last week, while in a sitting position, she was able to move her foot back and forth, and it didn't require near as much thought as before. Although they have been very stubborn, those muscles are slowly trying to come back, and there was a lot of excitement as Crystal did 20 repetitions with her knee.

Her walking ability has also shown much improvement since the beginning of her therapy in the pool at Highland. Her most recent accomplishment was walking on the treadmill at 1.8 mph for 20 minutes while holding on with both hands, then 1 mph for 10 minutes without holding on at all. There are new videos of her walking underwater, and things are starting to look more and more normal all the time. I will hopefully have those posted by the end of the weekend.

Her endurance also continues to improve, as she lasted 84 minutes on the NuStep the other day. During speech therapy, they have been working to improve her reading ability and speed. Crystal was given 300 words to work with...on March 2, it took her 12 minutes to read all of those, but last week she was able to read them all in under 10 minutes.

Crystal saw a doctor early last week for some lab work, and numerous vitamin and mineral deficiences were found. To make a long story short, the doctor said that she is on the verge of diabetes, and many of her aches and pains could possibly be attributed to those deficiencies. She has been told to carefully watch her carbohydrate intake, and she has been instructed to eat six meals each day with small amounts of protein at each meal and lots of fruits and vegetables. In three months, they will re-evaluate her levels and hopefully lift some of the restrictions on her diet.

Crystal went to a wedding over the weekend and had a really good time. Being around large groups of people has also become easier for her, as it was once overwhelming to even have more than one or two people in the room at a time. One final exciting piece of news is that Crystal has been asked to speak at the 'Dare' graduation on May 11. She is a little nervous but looking forward to it.

Crystal continues to make progress every day. She has taken walks on the street in front of her house, and the muscles around her knee seem to be kicking in a little more. Instead of solely relying on her hip to swing her right leg forward, she has been able to get a little more controlled movement with the help of those muscles in her right knee. She continues to work hard on her right foot as well. It is interesting in that there are times in which she cannot move her right foot, but after a significant amount of thought, she can get it to start moving, proving that the mind and body really need to work together. Crystal surpassed 1400 steps on the stepper this past week, and she walked on the underwater treadmill for 20 minutes at 1.4 mph, which is both her longest and fastest times.

Some exciting new developments of the past week include more new muscles starting to work. Although it requires a significant amount of thought, Crystal has been able to move her right foot a little more, and she was able to do 200 repetitions of moving it up and down. The physical therapists have encouraged her to keep working it hard in order to keep moving forward. They have also noticed new muscles around her right shoulder blade and hamstring starting to wake up, and she has begun to be able to pull her leg and foot forward rather than just swinging her hip. Crystal has even been working on crawling a little, mainly so that in case she falls while she is alone, she knows that she will be able to get to where she needs to go. Everything continues to move in the right direction!

New pictures and videos were posted this morning...

Crystal's week last week consisted of much of the same...lots of hard work and small improvements. She was up to 20 minutes at a time on the treadmill, and she was able to lift her right knee a little higher than before during exercises to strengthen that leg. She had a CT scan and blood work done to rule out any complications regarding her back, and those results were all normal. Finally, she spent both Tuesday and Friday in therapy sessions in Highland, and she continues to especially enjoy the pool work. She had a nice little break over the long weekend and will be heading back to Carbondale early tomorrow morning.

Here is a copy of the article posted in The Daily Egyptian this week featuring Crystal...

Accident Survivor Making Strides...

By Derek Robbins...

 

Crystal Fuehne has no memory of June and July 2009 – during that time she was in a coma at St. Louis University Hospital.

Fuehne was involved in a car accident on May 24 last year in her hometown while acting as a designated driver for a group of friends. The accident led to the death of four people, three of whom were riding with Fuehne who herself was hospitalized.

This semester Fuehne, a senior studying athletic training from New Baden, has returned to SIU and is attending an athletic training class once a week.

“I’m happy to be able to attend class again,” Fuehne said. “It feels good to be back at SIU.”
The journey back to college life has been a long one for Fuehne, she said. Following her accident, she was in a coma for two months.

 “They have pictures of me from that period,” Fuehne said. “I was wide awake, but I don’t remember it at all.”

While Fuehne has no memory of the two months following the accident, she also has no memory of what happened the month prior to the accident. She said what she knows about that time period is only what other people have told her.

After coming out of the coma, Fuehne had no right field of vision, was unable to move the muscles in the lower portion of her body and was unable to speak. 

The doctors did not think Fuehne would make it, she said.

“The doctors said I was a miracle,” she said. “I’ve had roughly four brain surgeries since the accident. The doctors said they haven’t seen anything like it, so they just tried different things. Surprisingly, they worked. They didn’t think I would ever talk again.”

Through use of physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech training, Fuehne has improved a lot since the accident, she said.

“I’m able to walk around the house now,” she said, adding that she only uses her wheelchair when outside her home.

Fuehne had a tracheotomy in June to help relieve problems with her breathing, but it was removed in July. Fuehne said she was able to hold her first long conversation in December.

Fuehne still has no right field of vision. She uses a computer that helps her with eye exercises and allows her to see objects that would not normally be in her field of vision.

Fuehne’s mother, Donna Fuehne, said her daughter’s recovery has been amazing.

“She has taught me so much; it makes me look at life differently,” Donna Fuehne said. “She makes goals for every week and she always shows signs of improvement. It really keeps her going, I think.”

Donna Fuehne said she returned to work at Scott Air Force Base Tuesday for the first time since the accident.

“What we have at work is donated leave, so the people in my office donated their leave to me,” Donna Fuehne said. “I am so lucky to have been able to spend time with my daughter. If I would have had to be at work every day, I wouldn’t have been able to focus and do a good job. People are amazing and we’re very lucky to have been supported like this.”

SIU volleyball coach Brenda Winkeler worked with Crystal Fuehne in the 2009 spring semester, as Fuehne was the volleyball team’s athletic trainer. Winkeler said Fuehne’s heart was an inspiration to her.

“It just speaks to the kind of person Crystal is that she was able to improve as much as she has,” Winkeler said. “Every time I would see her, she would have made improvements and it just made my heart feel so good.”

Crystal Fuehne’s improvement became apparent to Winkeler during a visit in December.
“Before that, conversation with her was kind of brief,” Winkeler said. “She would ask me things like how the team was doing. Then I saw some of her wit come back. We have the same personality. We like to joke a lot. It was amazing to see her back to that point.”

Crystal Fuehne now attends physical therapy in Highland, Ill. A Web site has been established at http://crystalsjourney.shutterfly.com by her family, and allows Crystal’s progress to be tracked. The Web site has had 250,000 hits since it launched.

Crystal had another really good week and again surpassed all of her previously set goals. She did 1250 steps on the stair master and rode the NuStep for an hour and a half at a level 8. They also continued to do a lot of strengthening and stretching exercises, especially targeting her back, and that seems to have helped, as her back discomfort was much less than usual today. Class also went well this week, and Crystal did very well on an anatomy quiz on Wednesday that she went through with her speech therapist.

Today, Crystal was able to experience the warm pool and underwater treadmill at the facility in Highland. They started slowly and then went faster, and Crystal spent close to an hour in the water. They also gave her weights to work her arms at the same time, and they later did more stretching exercises. She really enjoyed the day, and they feel like the new therapy is going to be a really good thing for her.

This evening, while lying on her bed, Crystal was able to lift both legs into the air, move her right foot around and pull her toes back. Interestingly, she cannot get that same movement from her foot while she is upright, but hopefully, with a little more work, that right foot will continue to make strides and regain more sensation and mobility.

Crystal was also interviewed and featured in a large article in The Daily Egyptian, the university's newspaper, this week. At the moment, however, the online article is supposedly unavailable, but I will post the link as soon as I can.

Crystal finished last week with her first day of therapy in Highland. They did a lot of new exercises with her and especially worked on stretching her right hip and foot. The entire day was a good experience, and she is happy to have started there. She is scheduled for four days in Carbondale this week, and on Friday in Highland, she will be in the pool for the first time, working with an underwater treadmill. She is really looking forward to that.

Crystal continues to do well overall. She has been managing her medicines on her own, getting around the house by herself and becoming more independent all the time. Donna is also planning to go back to work next week (one day per week at first), which is yet another exciting milestone in this journey and a sign that life is getting back to normal.

Crystal went to her back doctor on Monday, and everything was ok there. After five days off of therapy, however, she was a 'little rusty' on Tuesday. By Wednesday, she was back to her old self and once again taking steps forward. She did some weight bearing exercises with her right side, and she did not require the support of her arm like before. She also worked with the light board, bounced the ball back and forth, and did some new exercises on the stair master. Finally, she rode the NuStep and did not need her right foot strapped to the pedal as before. She was able to hold it up the entire time on her own. Although sometimes small, signs of progress continue to emerge all the time!

Crystal had a full week and continues to see improvement. The therapists worked her hard, and I will hopefully be posting some new pictures and videos later this weekend. Crystal also spent some time in class and very much enjoyed that. After everything, she has truly come to appreciate school, and it has felt good to be back. She has been doing homework and all. Finally, she has been spending more and more time with friends, so that has been really good for her too.

Yesterday, she had an appointment with her heart doctor and was hoping to be taken off some of the medications she has been on since her bout with endocarditis. They told her, however, that they thought she needed to continue the medications (lisinopril and carvedilol) for now. They felt that there was significant trauma to her heart at the time of the accident, and those injuries later led to the endocarditis, and there is still some evidence that her heart is not completely healed. They plan to wait until June before doing another echocardiogram, and they will then compare the results to those done back in September. There has been some improvement, but they would like to see more before allowing her to stop taking the medicines. They feel like she is doing well overall, and her heart seems strong. Her blood pressure was 100/70 yesterday, which they thought was perfect and shows that the medications are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing...keeping her blood pressure slightly on the low side to prevent extra stress on the heart and continue to allow it to heal.

Unfortunately, they had to cancel her appointment for therapy in Highland today so that Crystal could get her ingrown toenail taken care of. Although I'm sure it was painful, it has been a thorn in her side for the last couple of weeks and hopefully a relief to have been fixed.

Crystal had another great week of therapy. She topped 1000 on the stepper and again did a lot of new exercises working different muscles. During her speech sessions, they have been working through parts of an anatomy book, and Crystal is doing very well with that, which is part of the reason they are so anxious to get her back into the classroom. After such a busy week, however, she was having significant pain in her back. There are already plans to visit her back doctor later this coming week for her regular follow-up appointment, so they will be able to make sure that everything still looks ok there.

Yesterday, they had an appointment with the eye doctor in Indiana, and he seemed to be a little more positive this time regarding Crystal's chances of regaining her peripheral vision. He said that she is tracking and compensating with her eyes much better than before, but she does still have a significant field deficit on the right. She adjusts quickly to pick things up on the right, but if she looks straight ahead and something is held on her right, she doesn't see it. He said that Crystal's field of vision is at about 100-110 degrees, and the state of Illinois requires it to be 140 degrees for a driver's license. He encouraged them to give it a little more time and keep doing the eye exercises because they seem to have helped over the last couple of months.

Crystal also noticed more sensation and tingling in her right foot yesterday, so she is hoping it is a sign that more healing is taking place and there are still improvements to be made. She plans to start another physical therapy program in Highland on Fridays, and she was also looking forward to helping at Hodges today. Her determination to get her life back on track continues to be very, very strong, and she remains extremely motivated to continue to get better.

Crystal's progress continues to be very exciting! This past week, she surpassed all of her previous records by doing over 900 steps on the stepper, and she walked for 15 minutes on the treadmill, not holding on at all for 13 of them. During speech therapy, she read an article from the paper and then answered questions correctly, something she has been unable to do, showing that her reading comprehension is improving as well. She has been playing Sudoku, and she played euchre with her family the other night, which was a lot of fun for her.

Crystal's appointment with the eye doctor in Indiana was postponed because of the weather and road conditions, and it will be rescheduled for sometime in the near future. For now, she continues to work on those exercises to try to improve her peripheral vision. She says that she doesn't really notice much of a difference from a couple of months ago, but the therapists say that she is compensating well, and she is doing very well with the computer activities they have her do to try to make it better.

Crystal will be starting therapy on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in Carbondale next week so that she will be able to also attend an athletic training class on Mondays and Wednesdays at school. They are also looking to find other rehab options for her to attend on Tuesdays and Fridays close to home. She will be very busy this semester, but she is very much looking forward to going back to class!

Crystal is doing well and looking forward to continued progress in the new year. She will continue on with three full days of therapy each week in Carbondale as a part of a day program through mid-March, and she will be re-evaluated at that time to determine the next steps. This past week, she walked on the treadmill and used both the bike and the elliptical machine. New videos have been posted to show how well she is doing in those areas. Crystal also brought up the offertory and walked up to communion on her own for the first time since the accident, and she seemed very proud of those accomplishments.

Tomorrow will hopefully be her last dentist appointment, as she is set to receive her two new permanent front teeth. She will then be in Carbondale through mid-week and off to see the eye doctor in Indiana on Friday.

Crystal rode on the bike yesterday at a level 8 for 45 minutes, which is, by far, the strongest resistance she has mastered since the accident. She also worked on a new exercise in which she had to catch a ball with one hand and transfer it to the other hand. At first, she was dropping the ball a lot and getting quite frustrated, but she got a lot better with time. The therapists stressed that this activity requires the cooperation of both sides of her brain, and even though she is moving her right side better all the time, she still has some work to do to improve her coordination.

She has also been doing a lot of eye exercises, trying to improve her peripheral vision, since that remains one of her top priorities...being able to drive again. They will be making the trip to see the eye doctor in Evansville, Indiana again next week to see if there has been any improvement.

 

Crystal walked on the treadmill the other day! It was a very exciting, but scary, accomplishment for her. She said that she started while holding on with both hands. She eventually let go with her left hand and later her right as well. She said that she worked her way up to 1 mile/hour and felt like she was running. At one point, she lost her footing a little, but her dad and her therapist were there to rescue her and not let her fall. She walked for ten minutes, took a short break, and then another 15 minutes, so she was pretty proud of that. It was an exciting day!

Crystal had a very full weekend, and so many people stopped in to see her. She went back to Carbondale yesterday morning for another great start to her week of therapy. She was stringing beads and mostly using her right hand, and her fine motor movement seems to be improving tremendously. She also worked on bridging exercises, doing a total of 60. It wasn't very long ago in which 10 repetitions were a huge challenge, so she again seems to have become so much stronger over the last month. She was up and down on the ladder, and Crystal was able to reach with her right arm to the top row of a pegboard placed at the ceiling. It was the highest she has been able to extend that arm since the accident.

The therapists have been talking about putting Crystal on a treadmill, so that will be a new challenge for her in the upcoming weeks. Plans for the new year include three days each week of therapy in Carbondale, and they will begin to explore some new options closer to home.

Crystal had three full days of therapy to start the week, which included more work on the stepper and a lot of practice walking. The therapists also held a Christmas party and took everyone to the movies, so that was really fun for her. This morning, Crystal spent two hours in the dentist's chair and received her two temporary front teeth. It was painful, but she was glad to get that over with. This afternoon, she had an appointment with her neurosurgeon which also went very well. He showed Crystal some of her early CT scans and compared them with the one done today. He was very happy with her current scan, and he told her that she truly is a miracle. He said that after Crystal's second brain surgery, he wasn't sure if she would ever talk again, and he often uses Crystal as an example to give other families in similar situations hope for the future. Crystal showed him how good she has gotten at walking, and he was very impressed with her progress. Finally, they visited St. Mary's and talked with some of the doctors, nurses and therapists who took care of her there. They, too, were happy to see her and amazed at how far she has come. Overall, it was a rewarding, touching day.

Crystal will have another full day in Carbondale tomorrow, and she will then be home for the weekend.

Crystal had a very nice weekend. She was out and about a little, and she seemed to impress people with her progress everywhere she went. She looks great and is in good spirits, and she will be going back to Carbondale on Monday morning. There are three new videos and two new photo albums posted. Especially check out the video of Crystal walking with the tray and full glass of water, and if you have a second, go back and watch the 'walking' videos from November 2nd and 3rd. She is really, really improving!

Crystal continues to do well and has tolerated full, busy days of therapy this week without any problems. She has been walking a lot and getting so much stronger all the time. Donna and Marvin were told early on that many patients show quicker progress once the bone flap is replaced, and that has certainly proven to be true in Crystal's case as well. Her progress seems to have really accelerated since her surgery a couple of weeks ago, so the therapists are beginning to push more and more. More muscles have begun to work in her right arm and shoulder, and her mobility and range of motion have improved greatly. The therapists continue to use the Bioness device every day, sometimes multiple times a day, and everyone is amazed by her advances just in the last two weeks. Because of some pain, however, Crystal did have another x-ray of her right clavicle done this week to make sure it healed correctly, but they have not yet heard any results.

The scar on Crystal's head is thin and seems to be healing very well, and other than the cold showers, she has been enjoying her new room. One of the big adjustments for Crystal has been the lack of TV and internet access in her new place, but it has actually turned out to not be so bad. She has kept busy by playing various word games and other computer games, which has really been good for her. Her cognitive functioning also seems to have gotten much better over the last couple of weeks, and some of the therapists have commented that Crystal doesn't have to stop and think as much while she is having a conversation, and she doesn't look to Donna so much for help when she can't find the right word or name. The news has all been good lately, and Crystal is looking forward to a short, but well-deserved, break for Christmas.

Crystal moved into her new place today. Although she thinks it will take a little adjusting, it is much quieter there, and she will be able to do more things on her own. She is set for five full days of therapy this week but is looking at a little easier schedule to close out the year. She worked hard in physical therapy today doing mostly different exercises again, and she practiced walking at the end.

Crystal will have her final dentist appointment next week to have her two front teeth fixed. There are also plans to have a CT scan done and see her neurosurgeon FOR THE LAST TIME, so that is exciting as well.

Crystal had two more good, full days of therapy. Her endurance continues to improve, and her progress from week to week is so interesting and nothing short of amazing. The physical therapist has had Crystal walking with a four pound weight on her right foot, and she did 200 steps on the stair master also with the weight. She rode the bike today at a level five for forty five minutes, while her previous work on the bike was only at a level one or two. They continued to work with her right arm a lot, and her strength and range of motion are still increasing all the time.

The stitches came out of her head late this afternoon, and all is well. Crystal went home afterwards with a five pound weight in tow and instructions to continue working this weekend. She will be returning next week to new accomodations. Her things were moved to a new house in which she will have her own bedroom and bathroom, so she is very excited about that. Hopefully, she will continue to advance, as she has truly impressed everyone in this week after her surgery.

Crystal went back to Carbondale yesterday and had a full day of therapy. They took it a little easy on her for her first day, but they still kept her very busy, and she did well. So far, it doesn't look like the surgery last week set her back at all. The plan for this week is for four solid days of therapy. Crystal will then have the stitches taken out of her head late Thursday afternoon, and she will be dismissed for a three-day weekend.

Yesterday, Crystal used the computerized driving game again, and her improvement over the last time was amazing. Before, they had to secure her right hand to the handle for steering, and she spent much of her time running off the road. Yesterday, however, she was able to hold her right hand on the controls on her own the entire time, and she drove the complete route on the road (with only a couple of 'whoa-whoa-whoa's' from Marvin). Donna said that today was very much a normal day, like those before the surgery. Crystal was back to climbing the ladder and doing bridging exercises, and she did extremely well.

I added a few new pictures taken at the reception held with the athletic training department at SIU-C a few weeks ago. Enjoy!

Crystal made it home from the hospital just after noon on Thanksgiving Day. She had some problems with nausea during the drive, and she was frustrated that all the pharmacies were closed, but she was relieved to be home and hoping to get some much needed rest. In the operating room, the doctors shaved Crystal's hair on the left side of her head for the surgery but left the hair on the right side. Although this is routine (surgeons are not beauticians), Crystal was very anxious to have the rest of her head shaved, so that is one of the first things we accomplished after she got settled. When we finished, she said that it felt so good, she was thinking about getting her head shaved regularly for the rest of her life. I'm sure she was kidding, but it was good to see a smile on her face. Overall, she looks really good. Much of the swelling has already subsided, and her left eye is a little bruised but open again. Her head is symmetrical and has a normal shape.

Donna was able to get Crystal's prescriptions filled this morning for stronger pain medications, and Crystal caught up on her sleep, so today was a good day. They still plan on being in Carbondale on Monday for therapy. 

Six months have now passed since the night that changed their lives forever, and now that Crystal has made it through this surgery, she will be starting another new chapter in her journey. She will begin striving for greater independence, and the therapists will gradually become even more aggressive. There were a lot of days early on in which many of us were very afraid of what Crystal's future had in store, but we now know that it is filled with hope, promise and an excellent quality of life. Although she still has more hurdles to overcome, she has recovered faster than anyone thought possible, and she has begun to heal emotionally as well.

Finally, thanks again to everyone for the overwhelming response to this site. It has generated prayers from across the country and around the world, and that is something we are all very grateful for. When we started this whole process, never did I envision over 230,000 hits, but I'm happy it has become a source of support for Crystal. Most importantly, we have documented her journey, and will continue, so that she will someday be able to tell her story for herself.

Crystal remains in the hospital but plans to be discharged tomorrow morning. She continued to struggle with pain much of the day and was receiving Codeine and Vicodin every couple of hours. The doctors would like for her pain to be more under control before they send her home. They took her head wrap off today to expose the incision, and it was very swollen but looked good. As the day went on, some of that swelling drifted down into her face, and her left eye is almost completely swollen shut. Donna said that Crystal looks a little rough but seems to be feeling better tonight. She was up and walking with the therapists today and did very well with that. They are very much looking forward to heading home in the morning!

Crystal's night was ok, but because of a fair amount of pain medication and not much sleep, she was pretty confused. They have decided to keep her in the hospital for another night to watch her. She did move out of the ICU this afternoon and is now in room 511. Donna said that the left side of Crystal's head was pretty swollen today, and her left eye looks bruised, but that is all normal due to the surgery. Other than that, things are going ok, and they will hopefully be discharged tomorrow.

Things really could not have gone better today. Crystal is now in the ICU and hoping for a nice, quiet night. The procedure went as planned, and she was awake, talking and moving her right side well this evening. Although she had to deal with a little pain and nausea shortly after the surgery, which is completely normal, it has since passed, and she was able to eat a little for dinner. The surgeons did end up shaving her head again, which Crystal was not thrilled about, but she knows that they did what they felt was best. They said that because of everything she went through early on, there was so much scar tissue in the area, and they wanted to make sure that the site was completely clean and free of any possible source of infection. They just didn't want to take any chances. The CT scan of her brain after the surgery looked good as well.

Probably the best news of all is that they are thinking about sending her home tomorrow, as long as she does well through the night. The doctors believe she will do better in a home, rather than hospital, environment, and they are hoping to prevent any exposure to the flu and other hospital-borne infections. Thanks for all the prayers! It looks like Crystal will be home for Thanksgiving!

 

Crystal is out of surgery and in the recovery room, and so far, everything has gone well. The doctors said that she was stable throughout the procedure, and the bone flap fit just as it was supposed to. They plan to do a CT scan of her head before taking her up to 5ICU. Donna and Marvin have not yet been able to see her, so hopefully later this evening, there will be more good news to report when she is fully awake and ready for a visitor or two.

Crystal had a really fun weekend and is now anxiously waiting to get tomorrow over with. She is very nervous but knows she is in good hands with all the skilled professionals at SLU. Surgery is scheduled for 11 a.m., and the doctors said that the procedure could take as long as three hours. I will update as soon as I hear from Donna tomorrow afternoon.

PRAYERS, PRAYERS, PRAYERS!!!

After more good days, Crystal is home this evening, hoping for a nice weekend and preparing for a big, important week ahead. She did 801 steps on the stair master yesterday and was walking better than ever later in therapy. She also had the Bioness device used on her right hand again, and her physical therapist felt like more muscles in her hip are starting to work again. Crystal also did really well reading, and she seemed more interested in getting back to school and continuing on with her education.

Last night, Crystal, Donna and Marvin visited a newly remodeled house in which they are hoping to move Crystal to soon. The setup is similar to where she first stayed when she went to Carbondale, except the therapists will often come to her at the house rather than having her transported to the other facility to do her therapy. They plan to see how she does with her surgery next week and go from there, but right now they feel like she is ready to take the next step toward less supervision.

Today, the therapists did a lot of stretching exercises with her, and Crystal played with the Wii. Bowling was pretty frustrating for her, but it was fun to do something different.

Crystal will be heading to SLU Monday morning for her surgery to replace her bone flap. The doctors said that they are going to try to only shave her hair along the scar line in order to save what she has been able to grow back. Crystal is happy about that, but regardless of what happens with her hair, we hope and pray that she bounces back quickly and makes it through without complications.

Crystal had another exciting day yesterday. She went to school and sat in the classroom for an athletic training lecture. Although she is not yet ready to be there full time, it felt good for her to go, and the lecture about brain injuries was particularly interesting. They held a reception afterwards for her in which she was able to speak with many of the faculty and classmates she used to see every day. They have followed her story closely, and it was a very touching morning. The new program director also talked to Donna and Crystal and assured them that she will do everything she can to get Crystal through the program to graduation as soon as the time is right.

Crystal was exhausted by the afternoon, but she still managed three straight hours of therapy. The occupational therapist tried a new Bioness device with Crystal and felt like it will be a tremendous help in moving forward. Bioness is a medical device that uses electrical stimulation to help victims of stroke regain movement and function. The therapist gave Crystal a very good prognosis for her right arm and hopes that her progress will pick up even more speed if they continue to use it. The physical therapist also gave her a tough workout targeting her hips this time, and everything continues to get a little stronger every day.

Crystal's dentist appointment went well today, and she is now only looking at a couple more visits before her teeth are completely back in order. She spent the entire afternoon at SLU, which made for a long day, but everything checked out ok. She had a CT scan of her brain, an EKG, chest x-ray and blood work, and they met with both an anesthesiologist and a neurologist. Everything is a go, and they are not anticipating any problems going into the surgery. It has been officially scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 23. Start sending the prayers!

Crystal had a little bit of a rough night on Saturday. After getting out of the bathtub, she passed out again for a short time. Donna and Marvin got her down to the floor and raised her feet, and within a couple of minutes, she was awake and talking normally again. They couldn't think of any reason why it could have happened again, but they did remember that Crystal seemed to have a tendency toward fainting even before the accident. Although Crystal didn't feel the greatest the rest of the evening, after a good night's sleep, she felt good again on Sunday morning and went on to have a really great day.

I posted ten new videos of Crystal's therapy sessions, added new pictures to the Oktoberfest file, and also uploaded 'Crystal's Journey', a slideshow put together by Lindsay Holtmann that includes pictures of Crystal and her friends before the accident and pictures of Crystal while she was in the ICU at SLU. Make sure your volume is turned on when you view the show! Enjoy!

Crystal had a few more wonderful days of therapy and was to be dismissed around lunch time today. She did 600 steps on the stair master yesterday with only a couple of tiny breaks, and she did more work with the ladder and walking while blindfolded. Her right side continues to get stronger and stronger. I will be posting new pictures and videos this weekend that show how hard she has been working and how much she continues to improve.

Crystal had a good start to her week of therapy. She worked very hard, as always, and she seemed to have less pain and tolerated weight-bearing exercises for her right arm better than usual. They did a lot of stretching, and Crystal thought that felt good. She was climbing ladders and lifting weights, and she worked with a different physical therapist for a while who presented more new exercises. Donna commented that Crystal was 'very impressive' and 'did amazingly well', and she was 'so proud of her'.

Another exciting development was that Crystal brought her backpack to her speech therapy session, and they started looking back at athletic training textbooks. They are watching her closely for now because all the information may still be a little much, and they do not want her to get overwhelmed early in this process. They started with the basics, but at least it is a start.

On Monday, Crystal will have a dentist appointment in the morning, and she is scheduled to have her pre-op testing done in the afternoon at SLU in preparation for her surgery. As she approaches the six-month mark, she really seems to be on a roll, so hopefully it will all continue.

Crystal had a really fun weekend going to the wedding and visiting with her friends. She was very proud of her first trip out of the house without her parents, and she was so thankful to Jennifer for all she did to make that happen. Crystal said that everything went perfectly.

Crystal went to the dentist again this morning and two more teeth were fixed. The dentist has been working to fill all of the fractured teeth, and there are still a few more visits in store. He again commented how severely damaged her teeth were and how big of a hit her mouth must have taken. There continue to be those daily reminders of what a miracle Crystal's recovery has been.

Crystal's bone flap replacement has been tentatively scheduled for Monday, November 23. She will have to undergo the routine pre-op testing next week which will include being cleared by a cardiologist. As long as everything checks out ok, Crystal will be in the hospital for the first half of Thanksgiving week. The doctors are anticipating a smooth procedure free of complications, but many, many prayers will be sent their way anyway. They even told Crystal to keep her therapy appointments scheduled for the following Monday in Carbondale because they plan to have her back to work quickly. It will be both an exciting and scary time for Crystal and her family.

Crystal stopped in to see Johnny this afternoon and said that his surgery last week went well. He was in some pain today but doing ok.  

It was a really exciting day as Crystal had her first big outing without mom and dad. A friend picked her up and took her to another friend's wedding. Crystal had really been looking forward to it and couldn't wait to go. Life seems to be, ever so slowly, getting back to normal. 

Crystal had a good day yesterday. She first went to St. Mary's and visited with the therapists and nurses that took care of her. She did a lot of walking for them and really enjoyed her time. She later also visited with the nurses in 5ICU, which was really nice as well. Her neurosurgeon was very pleased with how well she is doing. He agreed that her peripheral vision will be very hard to get back, but he said to give it a year before giving up hope, so that sounded promising. He feels like she is ready to have the bone flap replaced, so the office plans to call Donna on Monday with the date and time. Tentative plans are for the week before Thanksgiving. Crystal will probably spend a day in the ICU and be in the hospital for a total of 3-5 days to make sure that there are no complications.

Please say an extra prayer for Johnny today as he undergoes knee surgery.

Finally, there is a benefit concert on Saturday, Nov. 7 starting at 2 p.m. at Bretz Wildlife Lodge and Winery located on Rt. 127 in Carlyle. EFFIC will be playing at 9 p.m. All proceeds will go to 'Forever in Our Hearts'.

The news today was not exactly what Crystal had hoped to hear. The eye doctor spent about an hour and a half with them today and did extensive testing. It was determined that Crystal really has no peripheral vision to the right side, and both eyes have been affected. Donna and Marvin were told in the beginning that of the areas of Crystal's brain affected by strokes, the part that controls vision would be the hardest to get back, and that was again confirmed today. The doctor gave her some glasses which are clear but have prisms on the side. They are meant to extend the visual field, but they will take some getting used to. They, at first, caused her to have more double vision, but after her eyes adjusted a little, she was able to see to the right side a little better. The worst part about all of this is that the doctor told Crystal that she may never be able to drive again. Although things could be a lot worse, it was a very hard thing for Crystal to swallow.

There are still, however, a few reasons to remain hopeful. The doctors, in the past, told them to give the vision aspect a good six months, and since just over five months have passed, they feel that there is still a little time. Also, Crystal, Donna and Marvin have met someone who now works at the rehab center who was in a similar situation years ago. He told them that it took eight months before his vision started to improve, and now everything is fine. So...they are home tonight and trying to focus on the positives and remember the countless blessings that have touched their lives throughout this recovery process. There are many, many reasons to be thankful. They just need a few more prayers sent their way today.

Crystal had two very good days of therapy and has not complained of any further rib pain. Thank goodness!! The therapists worked her very hard, and Crystal pushed herself as well. She set a new record on the stair master with 475 steps, and she did a bunch of other exercises in the gym. The physical therapist also took Crystal outside and worked with her on the concrete steps and the ramp up to the building, which is quite long. At one point, he even blindfolded her while she was walking to prevent her from looking down at her feet. He wanted her to 'just walk', and he always seems to have clever ideas on how to help her accomplish her goals. Because she did so well these last couple of days, they are planning to go down to four days of therapy next week. She will still have the same number of sessions, and they will just be packed in a shorter amount of time. The plan is to eventually move to three days a week.

They will be heading to Evansville, IN early tomorrow morning to see the eye doctor who specializes in these types of injuries. The exam will likely take a couple of hours. Afterwards, they will be driving home and getting ready for appointments in St. Louis on Thursday. Hopefully Crystal will get good news tomorrow and continue on her fast pace toward recovery!

The Oktoberfest on Saturday turned out to be a big success, and everyone seemed to have a good time. Thanks to everyone who came and also those who helped pull it off, and the weather cooperated as well. It was a very special day for Crystal being her first chance to meet and thank those at the scene of the accident. One of the nurses from Arch Helicopter was there, and he was actually the one who transported Derek to Barnes, but he called the nurse who transported Crystal and allowed her to speak to her. It sounds like it was an emotional and rewarding conversation for both of them. One comment the nurse made was that she did not think Crystal was going to make it at the time. She truly is a miracle! A video of the award presentation is posted below. Fr. Jim Goeke, a chaplain from SLU Hospital, led the outdoor mass to honor the memories of Blake, Justin and Derek and also celebrate the recoveries of Crystal, Johnny, Casey and Elisha. Additional videos and pictures will hopefully be posted later today.

Crystal was experiencing some pain last night underneath her ribs in the same area as when she had her bout with endocarditis a couple of months ago. Please keep your fingers crossed that it does not turn into anything bigger again! She had to leave bright and early this morning for Carbondale and has a busy week ahead. 

Crystal did great in physical therapy again yesterday. She did some strengthening exercises and then went right into her bridges, which she did a total of 80 repetitions. Not long afterwards, she did 451 steps on the stepping machine. Hopefully she will continue to trend in the right direction and stay strong. The progress she has made recently has brought some renewed hope that she may need less overall therapy than once thought.

Next week will be another interesting one for Crystal. She will be in Carbondale on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and they have packed the same number of therapy sessions that she normally does in an entire week into those three days. On Wednesday, they will be heading to Indiana to see an eye doctor who specializes in the rehabilitation of brain injured patients. Crystal's peripheral vision on her right side is gone, so they are hoping that the trip will be worthwhile. There is no doubt that this is a problem that will not be fixed over night, but this particular doctor has been highly recommended by those taking care of her in Carbondale. Crystal also has an appointment with her neurosurgeon on Thursday and will spend the day in St. Louis. One topic to be discussed there is the replacement of her bone flap.

Again, please keep them in your thoughts and pray that Crystal continues to get stronger every day. See you on Saturday!

Yesterday was unusual in that Crystal did not go back to Carbondale. She was only scheduled for a short session of therapy, and then they were supposed to have a Halloween party, which Crystal wasn't terribly enthused about. She decided to take advantage of the extra day at home and skip the festivities there. Her big accomplishment of her day at home was walking down the basement steps. It was the first time going all the way downstairs since the accident, and she did very well.

One thing Crystal had been wanting to do was watch the funerals of the three boys who died in the accident with the hope of taking another step toward healing and closure. It was a very emotional day as she watched Blake's funeral, so she decided to wait with the other two and take her time with it all. She later sat on her front porch and released three balloons in honor of Blake, Justin and Derek. All in all, it was a tough but good day.

They headed back to Carbondale early this morning and had a full day. Crystal participated in occupational and physical therapy sessions throughout the day, and she also had two speech sessions. She did more new exercises, as the therapists are constantly changing the routine to keep Crystal thinking and on her toes. This evening, she is staying with Donna at the hotel for the first time, and they were upgraded to the jacuzzi suite for the week. Crystal spent quite a while in the tub, and loved every minute of it.  

Crystal had a nice, busy weekend at home and is gearing up for another big week of therapy. On Friday night, Crystal took a bath for the first time, as opposed to a shower, and the warm water on her legs and feet seemed to get the blood flowing more than ever. She was able to move her right foot better than any other time since the accident, so that was really exciting. Other than that, she enjoyed the time she spent with a couple of friends and her family, and she watched the trick-or-treaters in Damiansville on Sunday night. She is very much looking forward to the Oktoberfest on Saturday, so please help spread the word to those who are not reading this site! Hope to see you all at the park in Damiansville at 1 p.m. for a full day of activities for the whole family!

Crystal continues to do well this week. She had a little break from therapy yesterday morning, so Donna took her shopping for some new jeans, and trying them on was a workout in and of itself. Her therapy sessions later in the day went well. Crystal worked her right hand a lot on the computer, she was doing twenty repetitions with her bridging exercises, and she already met a newly set goal of being able to tolerate ten minutes of lying on her stomach while propped up on her elbows.

She really had a good time at the game on Tuesday night. The players visited Crystal in her seat in the balcony, and the ceremony they had in between games was really nice. If you would like to view it, please go to http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/category.asp?C=176412. Once the screen loads, you can use the cursor to fast forward to the 1 hr. 3 min. mark to watch the ceremony on the court honoring 'Forever in Our Hearts'. 

Crystal has had another good start to the week. She was at the dentist again yesterday morning, and he has been doing a great job getting her teeth back in order. She has at least two more appointments, but hopefully it won't be long before her long visits to the dentist's chair are over. She was strong through therapy, and she later enjoyed going out to eat and stopping by 'the vacation home' (Donna's hotel room).

Today, Crystal again improved on her previous total on the stair stepper with 278 steps. Last week, she was only getting a little over a hundred, but she has already more than doubled that this week. The therapists also had her rolling over her right side for the first time today. They tied down her left arm to prevent it from helping, and they made it even more difficult by putting a velcro band around her abdomen, but she was able to do it. The speech therapist also continues to be impressed by her continued progress. This evening, Crystal and her family went to SEMO to watch the volleyball game vs. SIU-C. Crystal was so excited but torn regarding who to cheer for, so she wore her SEMO shirt and Saluki hat.

 

Crystal had another good weekend filled with visitors. On Friday evening, she was on the couch with heating pads on her shoulders trying to recuperate from the rough week of therapy, but she was still in good spirits. I posted several new videos from last week and a new photo album which really show how hard she worked. Her curiosity continues to grow regarding the accident itself, and Donna and Marvin took her to the scene earlier today. It was tough and emotional, but good for her as she continues to try to achieve some sense of closure and move forward with her life.

Crystal continues to work hard, and the therapists are pushing her harder than ever. She has been fighting through some pain this week as she adjusts to life without the Fentanyl patch, but she is doing very well overall. Her bridging exercises have become increasingly difficult, and her therapists say that those types of complicated exercises not only help her strength, but they also are very stimulating to the brain as well. Yesterday, she had both hands down on the mat, her left foot up on a chair, and her right foot up on a rolling table. While keeping her entire body off the floor, she had to move the table back and forth with her right leg. She also did more work with a peg board, and she was leaning forward and standing on her tip toes, which are both signs of an improvement in her balance and movement in her right foot.

She has had a couple of tough counseling sessions this week, but it has been good for Crystal to be working through some of the grief she still feels. According to the counselor, Crystal is experiencing 'survivor guilt', which is a very normal reaction for someone who has survived a traumatic event. She has had a little trouble sleeping recently, and she has said that she feels guilty that she survived the accident while three very special friends did not. Although this is a commonly experienced stage of grief, we pray that Crystal finds the strength to get through this difficult time.  

Crystal had another really great day yesterday, but her muscles were a little sore from the big workout the day before. She again did some exercises while on her hands and knees, and she was at times asked to support the majority of her weight on her right arm. She also did some crawling, which probably sounds a little strange, but the therapists stressed that it is actually a complicated task that requires a lot of coordination of both mind and body. She later rode the New Step machine for a full 30 minutes, and she played some thinking games in occupational therapy. Her Fentanyl patch has been discontinued completely, and she is adjusting well.

Donna said that Crystal had a really amazing day today. They did co-treatments on her during physical therapy where they work several areas of the body at the same time. She worked hard for a full hour, and the therapist said that he plans to go full-force this week, so it should be interesting. Crystal did all sorts of complicated exercises again, and she also spent an hour working with the occupational therapist strengthening her right arm. Her heart rate and blood pressure were very good after her workouts, so that was good news as well. Hopefully, the rest of her week will continue to go just as well.

Crystal had a great weekend filled with a couple of trips out of the house and lots of visitors. She was feeling well and especially enjoyed talking with all of her friends that stopped by. She has also begun to walk more around the house on her own. She continues to look forward to the event being planned for October 31st at the park in Damiansville, so please try to attend. Crystal and her family have met so many wonderful people along the way and have experienced so much love and support, so they are hoping to be able to thank people in person. The home page will be periodicallly updated regarding details, which are still in the works. The day will begin at 1 p.m. with a 'Lifesaver Award' ceremony presented by the American Red Cross and will include many of the first responders who were at the scene of the accident. Other activities will include a euchre tournament, live music, games for the kids, wine-tasting, horse-drawn hayrides and an outdoor mass. Please pray for good weather!

Overall, the news was very good today. Crystal's echo showed that the left side of her heart is functioning normally again, and her right side was slightly enlarged but looks a little better than the previous scan. After reviewing her records, the attending cardiologist spoke with Donna and Marvin at length and said that he believes that Crystal suffered severe trauma to the chest, which was evidenced by her fractured sternum and subsequent injury to her heart. The weakened heart wall probably led to the endocarditis and enlargement, and just as her brain has begun to heal over time, her heart is healing as well. He said that the brain may have something to do with the fluctuation of her heart rate and blood pressure, and she should simply rest during those times when her heart rate is high. He feels that she still needs to be watched closely, but he is not concerned with the findings of the echo overall. He took her off some of the medicines, stressed that she needs a lot of fluids and wants to see her again in three months.

After a very long afternoon, Crystal still wanted to stop by St. Mary's. She was able to see some of her therapists and nurses, which she thoroughly enjoyed. They ran into the doctor who was in charge of her entire therapy schedule, and he spent some time working with Crystal. They also saw the psychiatrist who was there when they first told Crystal details of the accident, and he talked for a while as well. So it was a good visit and a productive day, and everyone has been able to breathe some sighs of relief this evening.

Crystal had another low-impact day, and the therapists decided that they wanted to see the results of the echocardiogram before they went much further. After the first ten minutes in the gym this morning, Crystal's heart rate was up around 140, so they immediately shut her down. She still managed to get a couple of speech therapy sessions, and the occupational therapist worked with her right arm for a while. They also really pushed fluids today and felt like it positively impacted the way she felt this evening. The highlights of her day were, of course, her visitors both at lunch time and also tonight while she was at home. Being with friends not only helps her mood, but all of the thinking and brain stimulation that goes into those interactions are so crucial for her at this point.

Please pray for good news tomorrow! 

Crystal went to Carbondale yesterday afternoon, and they worked her very hard for a full hour. She did pushups for the first time and more bridging exercises, and she was strong through it all. Later, however, she briefly fainted again while getting out of the shower. Donna and Marvin were, thankfully, close by and were able to quickly get her into bed with her feet up. It didn't take long before she felt fine, but she was pretty tired for the rest of the evening.

This morning, Crystal wasn't feeling well during her physical therapy session and came close to passing out again. She said that she felt light-headed and dizzy at times, so the decision was made to keep her in bed for the rest of the day and allow her to rest. Her blood pressure was within the normal range today, but her resting heart rate was up around 120. For the most part, the shortness of breath she was experiencing last month with the onset of endocarditis has passed except for when she changes from a lying to a sitting position. Hopefully, if there is anything still going on, they will find it on Thursday.

Crystal still had two speech therapy sessions today at the bedside, and a few of her friends visited this evening. Being able to have those conversations right now is probably much more beneficial than most people realize, and there continues to be noticeable differences from week to week in how well she can communicate her thoughts.

They will be heading home tomorrow after her last therapy session, and hopefully her day turns out to be much better for her.

Crystal had a pretty quiet and uneventful weekend and was ready to get back to work this week. She had another appointment with the dentist this morning and then planned to head to Carbondale afterwards. She has an interesting week ahead as she plans to come back home on Wednesday this time. She has appointments in St. Louis, including an echocardiogram, on Thursday, and she also hopes to have time to visit some of the friends she made at St. Mary's Rehab. She will then head back to Carbondale on Friday morning for therapy and back home that same night. Hopefully, it will all make for a quick week.

Sunday was somewhat of a difficult day as Crystal again wanted more details about what all happened to her. She wanted to see the clothes she was wearing the night of the accident, and she wanted to see pictures of the vehicle she was driving. Donna and Marvin showed them all to her and were again reminded what a miracle it was that she even made it out alive. As Crystal continues down this path toward emotional recovery, she needs the support of her close friends and family now more than ever. I encourage all of her friends to put themselves in her shoes every once in a while and try to understand how much she appreciates, looks forward to, and truly needs that occasional visit no matter how short, the phone call or text message to remind her that she is still being thought of and prayed for, or even just a little posting on facebook. The support from so many is what has helped her get to where she is today, and socializing with friends is therapy in and of itself.

Crystal said that her therapy this week has been rough, but good (with a little different choice of words). Her wrist, which was previously fractured, was hurting more, so she was able to use her elbows to support her body instead of her hands during some of the exercises. They actually had her on a skateboard on Wednesday working on balance issues, and she continued with numerous right-sided weight bearing work. She also got to play a game in which she had to watch the screen, hold onto a steering wheel and drive a car. She laughed when she said that she spent quite a bit of time on the curb and sidewalk, so that was definitely a lot of fun for her.

Yesterday, Donna said that Crystal seemed stronger and not as tired as before. She was able to do 20 repetitions with her bridging exercises as opposed to 10, and she spent 30 minutes on the bike immediately afterwards. Crystal's Fentanyl patch is as low as it goes, releasing 12 mcg/hr, so the next step is getting rid of it altogether. They felt like her head already seemed a little clearer with the decreased dose. She had some blood work done that looked 'perfect', and they are hoping that her echocardiogram scheduled for next Thursday will turn out just as well.

Crystal is having a pretty good week so far. It started with a trip to the dentist in which she spent an hour and a half in the chair, but she tolerated it well. He was able to fix a couple of teeth in the back that he was worried about. Because of the blow to the jaw, many of her teeth shifted and a couple are gone altogether, so she will still require fairly extensive work, but it has at least begun. After arriving in Carbondale, she walked with the physical therapist and did better than the week before. She is also working with the counselor in reading a book about the stages of grief. Not only has that helped her work through some of the emotional effects of this tragedy, she has been able to get more practice reading.

Yesterday, she had a tough time with her bridging exercises, but the therapists felt that the difficulty was probably due to the fact that she hadn't done them since last Thursday. Hopefully, as she gets stronger, she will be able to better maintain her strength between sessions. Despite some tears, she worked through the pain and again walked better and for a longer distance on her own afterwards. During her speech therapy session, they gave her words, and she had to give the definitions, and her ability to read the smaller words has gotten infinitely better over the last week. The therapists have an amazing ability to recognize a problem and then work quickly to get it fixed. Her pain medicines were again decreased, so she is trying to adjust to that as well.

The team conference went pretty well. They talked a lot about more things they plan to work on, and they estimated needing about three more months of intense therapy five days each week. After that, they still want her to be there three days each week for a while for day treatment. The therapists stressed that Crystal has so much potential, and they enjoy working with her because she always works so hard and shows up on time. Their main goal, however, is for Crystal to become more independent, so they encouraged Donna and Marvin to leave more often, and they said that they have never seen a group of family and friends be quite so supportive before. Donna and Marvin, on the other hand, feel more comfortable being close at this point for many reasons, and they hope that after the bone flap is back in and she can walk a little better, they will feel better about leaving her there during the week. For now though, they enjoy watching her physical therapy sessions because they learn a lot about how to work with her at home, and they are simply amazed by the progress each day. They feel that they can also help with her physical safety and her mental well-being. They are able to take her out in the evenings, which she really enjoys, and they worry that the home, though nice, could be a very lonely place if she is there all week by herself. Much of her socialization occurs in the evenings, when her family and friends can meet them out, and they don't feel that would happen as much if they weren't there. After a lengthy discussion, the staff was more supportive of their decision. Donna and Marvin do plan to start taking turns during the week, but one of them will probably be in Carbondale for a while. Although it has been difficult for them finding time to spend with the other girls, they have truly done their best and feel that Crystal needs the majority of their attention right now. They have also been so blessed with so many supportive friends who have donated their time to help on the farm and allow Donna the leave time. Some day they will look back on all of this and wonder how they made it through, but the family is so close and strong, that everyone is doing well. 

Crystal went to the mass in Damiansville last night for Blake and later enjoyed dinner and games with all three of her sisters, Donna and Marvin, and some friends of the family. This afternoon, she also attended the appreciation dinner for those that helped with the kickball tournament, so it was another nice weekend for her, and all is well. I posted some new videos that Donna took last week of Crystal during some of her therapy sessions. Not only do they show what a slow and difficult process this has been, but Crystal's determination and drive are evident as well. Some of the exercises were too complicated to try to put into words, so I think the videos speak for themselves. I also uploaded a new photo album which includes pictures from Crystal's birthday, and there are a couple of new pictures added to the kickball tournament album. Crystal is slowly, but surely, recovering, but she continues to need lots of prayers! 

My next update will be early Wednesday morning, and I will hopefully have good news regarding the meeting on Tuesday with Crystal's doctors, nurses and therapists.

Finally, we are hoping for a great turnout at the event being planned for October 31st, so please save the date! There will be fun activities for the entire family. I will continue to update the home page as more plans become finalized, but it is shaping up to be a very special day.

Crystal had another good day and continues to build her strength. She did more 'bridging' exercises, and the therapists thought they noticed more new muscle movement in her right arm today which was very exciting for everyone. They are planning to do a lot of walking tomorrow before going home for the weekend. There will also be a team conference on Tuesday morning with all of the doctors, nurses and therapists to discuss how Crystal is doing and answer some questions including the length of time they expect her to be there. We are praying for a relaxing weekend at home, good news at the conference next week and continued progress toward getting her life back.

Crystal received quite the workout today as the physical and occupational therapists worked together with her. They had her rolling over onto her stomach for the first time, and then she had to get up onto her elbows. The right side was too painful to roll over, but she did well with the left. She was also doing 'bridges' in which she had to put her elbows underneath herself while lying on her back and then lift her bottom off the floor. The therapists were amazed at her strength once again, especially that of the right side. During speech therapy, they mostly just had conversation about brain injuries, which turned out to be helpful for her as well. This evening, Crystal enjoyed a trip out to eat in Murphysboro and had a really nice time with her visitors. It has been a good week so far!

Crystal had a good day today and seemed to be a little stronger than she has been. Her workouts were a little more intense than those of the previous week. She rode the stationary bike for 15 minutes and later had to bear all her weight on her right side while placing pegs on a board. Another exercise involved moving to the right, left and forward as the therapist instructed her, and Crystal was required to follow directions at a faster and faster pace. Donna said that it was amazing how well Crystal was able to keep up with the commands, and it reminded her of how there was a time when it took a lot of thought just to figure out which was right versus left. It was good to see how much Crystal's brain seems to be healing. 

Crystal is also required to visit with a counselor a few times a week as a part of her therapy. Donna and Marvin have not been allowed to attend those sessions, but the counselor has said that he feels like she is doing very well and has been very open with her feelings. Although her setback has been very frustrating for her because she was on such a fast pace, she is slowly coming around and doing a little better each day.

Crystal had a quiet weekend at home and has gotten a good amount of rest in preparation for the week ahead. She still seems a little weak, but again, that is to be expected. She has also, however, had a couple of brief episodes of blurred vision and dizziness, so she will continue to be watched closely by the doctors, nurses and therapists. Hopefully, she will take more steps forward, continue to build her strength and endurance and keep her spirits high this week.

Crystal again showed big improvements today, and watching her gave Donna and Marvin a huge sense of relief that things are back on the right track. She still has an occasional pain near her heart, but her headache is finally gone, and she wasn't as tired as she has been the last week. She remains a little weak, but the sparkle in her eyes is back, and she is laughing and smiling often. She has an appointment to see the cardiologist and have another echocardiogram done in two weeks, so the therapists plan to take it easy on her at least until then.

There were quite a few positives that came out of today. Crystal continues to get a little better at reading each day, and she left her own comment on this site. She occasionally gets tripped up on small words, but she doesn't seem to have any trouble with bigger words, so hopefully that just means she really doesn't have far to go at all. She was experiencing the same thing with speaking for a while, and now she almost never stumbles over her words. The therapists had Crystal walk between the parallel bars today, and she did very well despite not having walked hardly at all for the past twelve days or so. They also downloaded a new software program on her computer, and she really seemed to enjoy working with all the questions. Lastly, she has been able to finally move the toes on her right foot a little, and she is starting to get more feeling in the rest of her foot, which is simply amazing considering it has been almost four months without it. Although it still requires quite a bit concentration to make it move, those nerves seem to be regenerating ever so slowly, and moving her fingers started the exact same way.

So all in all, it was a great day, and they are, of course, looking forward to the weekend.

Crystal went back to Carbondale yesterday, participated in therapy during the afternoon, and did really well today for her first full day back. The intensity is much lower than before, but she still worked the right side, spent 15 minutes on the New Step machine, and did some squatting and bending exercises. She said that she has felt tired and a little run down, but that is to be expected after everything that happened over the last ten days. They are keeping a close eye on her vital signs. Her blood pressure and heart rate are stable but running low now that she is taking the new medications to keep the rate down, and according to the doctor, that is probably also contributing to her tiredness.

On the bright side, Crystal's speech continues to improve all the time, and she is now able to read many of the texts and comments posted on this site on her own. Although she says that her new room 'is going to take some getting used to', she is happy to be feeling better and getting back to working toward her goal of a complete recovery.

Although Crystal had a pretty good weekend, Donna and Marvin decided not to go to Carbondale today. They wanted to wait one more day in order for Crystal to build up a little more strength. This evening, they finally felt like she was feeling much better as she wanted to sit outside for a while, and she has been really trying to exercise her right arm on her own as much as possible. They plan to head out around 11 a.m. tomorrow and will be there for the rest of the week. She will be under much closer supervision, at least for a while, until the doctors are convinced that this infection has passed.

Crystal continues to experience some pain, but it is much improved over last week. She had another episode on Saturday morning in which she felt faint, but it passed fairly quickly, and there have not been any more occurrences since. As her brain continues to heal, she is becoming more emotional as well. She has been more curious about what all happened to her, so at Crystal's request, Donna and Marvin showed her the first few entries on this site. It was tough for all of them, as even Donna and Marvin in some ways forgot how scary those early days were. Crystal has also been fighting many feelings about why this had to happen to her and Blake, Justin and Derek, and why so many other people had to get hurt. Please continue to pray that she finds the inner strength to deal with all that she has been forced to face and that the rest of her road to recovery is blessed with much support and fast healing.

Crystal went home this evening and is doing very well. She was started on some new medications today aimed at keeping her heart rate within normal limits, and the plan is to return to Carbondale on Monday. She will not be staying at the same place as before. She will, however, be in the same building where her rehab takes place and where the doctor and nurse will be able to keep a closer eye on her all the time. Crystal definitely seems to be back on the right track!

Crystal had a good day, and Donna said that she is doing 'amazingly well'. The EEG from yesterday showed no evidence of any seizure activity, and the H1N1 culture was negative as well. The echo showed that the infection in the lining of her heart had actually moved into the heart muscle, and although it is serious, the doctors explained that it is really minor compared to everything else Crystal has already been through. They now believe that the endocarditis was caused by a virus, so Crystal is no longer on high doses of antibiotics, and the infection will have to run its course on its own. Crystal's heart rate is still in the 120s, so she is now being treated with medication to help lower it, and they feel that the tachycardia is contributing to her feeling weak, run down and easily short of breath. They have recommended that she not do any cardio workouts for a while and try to just focus on strengthening the right side for now. The pain is much better, and Crystal's medications were again adjusted to doses closer to those before this week. There is a possibility that she will be going home tomorrow, but it will depend on the results of a chest x-ray planned for the morning.

Just a quick story I wanted to share...Donna went home the night before last because she had some appointments she needed to attend to. It was a particularly difficult drive home because Crystal wasn't feeling well at all when she left, but Donna spent the entire drive praying and asking God for a 'sign' that this was all going to be ok. The next morning, while Donna was at one of her appointments, she was talking to someone who worked there, who eventually sensed that something was wrong. Donna told her all about what happened to Crystal. The girl finally stopped her and told her that the same thing had happened to her. The girl showed Donna the scar on her head where her bone flap was out for months. Other similarities included the long road to recovery, the complications, the aphasia, relearning how to walk and the entire rehab process. And here she was, only a few years after the accident, working and talking about her husband and little kids, and Donna would have never in a million years guessed that she had been through a similar ordeal. It turned out to be the best dentist appointment Donna had ever had, and she left there feeling a lot better about the entire situation. We've all heard the saying, 'The Lord works in mysterious ways', and this is yet another example of how those 'signs' often come in the most unlikely places.

Crystal is finally starting to feel a little better this evening. She is again smiling and asking for food, and the confusion she has experienced at times over the last couple of days is gone. She is speaking in complete sentences again, and she definitely seems to be bouncing back. She ran a low-grade temperature earlier today, but after some tylenol, she felt better and her fever has not returned. They started her on high-dose aspirin in order to decrease the inflammation around her heart, but they still plan to consult with the infectious disease team to make sure there is nothing else going on. Crystal's heart rate has remained in the 130s today, and although it has come down slightly, the doctors have warned that they will not be able to send her home until it returns to normal.

They ran an EEG (electroencephalogram), a test that measures and records the brain's electrical activity and is useful in diagnosing seizures. Because of Crystal's two fainting spells over the weekend, the doctors wanted to rule out any seizure activity. Crystal also had a detailed echocardiogram done, but Donna and Marvin have not yet heard the results of either test. Finally, Crystal had her nose swabbed for the H1N1 virus, and those results are still pending as well. Crystal moved into one of the 'executive' suites, 509, which is a nice, large, private room. It was a very busy day, but things are looking up!

Crystal had a rough time through the night last night and didn't get much sleep. She was very confused and complained of left sided chest pain much of the time. Her medicines were readjusted, but nothing seemed to help much. By morning, her mind was much clearer, and she was able to communicate normally again. Numerous doctors saw her today. Despite her diagnosis of pneumonia, they continued to look for another source of infection since its main symptom, a cough, was absent. A CT scan of her chest this morning showed only a trace of pneumonia, but there was also evidence of endocarditis, an infection of the inner lining of the heart. This helped to explain the severity of pain in her chest, fever, increased heart rate and shortness of breath.  An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of the heart, was done this afternoon at the bedside, which allowed the doctors to watch the heart at work, get a closer look at the heart valves and check for infected tissue. It didn't show anything too scary, but a more thorough one is planned for tomorrow.

Crystal also had a headache and neck stiffness today, so they performed a lumbar puncture to check for meningitis. Her CSF was clear of any infection, so that was a relief. The left side of her head where the bone flap remains out seemed to be a little swollen today, but the neurosurgeon explained that any time someone is in pain, the intracranial pressure will increase slightly. They are not concerned about it, and that swelling is very normal under the circumstances. Crystal's heart rate has remained in the 140s much of the day, but hopefully as the antibiotics and pain medicines start to work, she will quickly bounce back to her old self. When I saw her at lunch time, she was hungry and smiling, both good signs, but she, in general, seemed very tired and like she just didn't feel very well. She really is doing ok despite this setback, and Donna and Marvin were told that she will probably be out of the hospital in a couple of days. Although endocarditis and pneumonia are serious conditions, the current feeling is that they were caught early, and there will hopefully not be any permanent damage. Please continue to send your prayers.

They have diagnosed Crystal with pneumonia. They explained that it can progress very quickly, and it is not surprising that the chest x-ray looked normal yesterday. They have already started IV antibiotics, and she is now resting with her pain under control. Her heart rate has begun to come down, but her fever remains at 101.7. She will be moving to room 501 shortly, but they plan to move her to a private room tomorrow. Please pray that she quickly overcomes this setback and gets back to her rehab routine. 

Crystal needs more prayers tonight as she is being readmitted to St. Louis University Hospital. She started complaining of abdominal pain already on Saturday night, and it was briefly addressed yesterday during their visit to the emergency room, though nothing ever came of it. Today, however, the pain progressively became significantly worse, and Crystal was sleeping a lot and even seemed a little confused at times. Rather than calling the ambulance, Donna and Marvin took her back to the emergency room themselves. When they got there, Crystal's heart rate was in the 140's, and it later went as high as 165. She started running a fever and passed out again while they were trying to take her to the bathroom at the hospital. Doctors again ran a complete list of tests. They are saying that it is likely some sort of infection, but they are not completely sure of what is causing the problems at this time. They plan to admit her to the 5th floor while they continue to try to figure out what is going on.

On a lighter note, the kickball tournament and auction on Saturday was absolutely amazing, and there are pictures posted on the bottom of the home page. I can't imagine how much work went into planning such an event. It was very organized, and everything seemed to go off without a hitch. Somehow, the rain cleared out, and it turned out to be a beautiful afternoon and evening. It was unbelievable how many people and businesses donated items and helped at the benefit, and a good number of people came to support 'Forever In Our Hearts'. Thanks a million to everyone there, especially Crystal's closest friends who have supported her every step of the way. You have truly demonstrated the true meaning of friendship and played a crucial role in her recovery. It has meant the world to her.

Crystal is back home this evening and doing well. They ran all sorts of tests and blood work today, and everything looked good. In fact, they said that the CT scan of her brain looked even better than the last, so she is still healing and improving. They also checked her heart and made sure that there were no blood clots anywhere. The doctors assured them that this was definitely not a stroke or seizure, so that was comforting as well. They are not exactly sure what happened, but they felt like it was probably a case of dehydration, something that can be easily fixed. Obviously, it was all a huge relief to hear the good news. Crystal is planning to take it easy the rest of the weekend!

Crystal has given us all a scare this morning. While she was sitting at the table getting ready to eat breakfast, she passed out for a short time. Donna and Marvin called 911. While they were waiting for the ambulance to arrive, Crystal came to. She was able to speak coherently and move all extremities, but she was a little slower to respond than normal. When the EMS personnel arrived, the decision was made to start an IV and take Crystal to the emergency room at SLU hospital. They did not leave in a rush or speed to St. Louis, but in light of everything that has happened over the last three and a half months, they wanted to be cautious and bring her where the doctors know all about her condition. Please pray today that this all turns out to be nothing, and Crystal can return to the road of fast progress very soon. I will update again later today as soon as I know something.

Crystal actually had sore muscles from her intense workouts the last couple of days, so they decided to take it a little easier on her today. She walked a little on her own, and the therapist is very determined to get Crystal walking 'normally' again. A new brace was made to help stabilize her foot and ankle, and preventing hyperextension of her knee has also been a focus. Crystal said that she was very frustrated at times, but she is trying to be patient and keep up her positive attitude. She also attended a group therapy session in which they played a couple of games aimed at improving her word-finding skills.

Tomorrow morning, she plans to work on the 'New Step' machine for a while and then attend physical and occupational therapy sessions. She will be allowed to head home around noon, so she is very excited about that. Crystal does not have to be back until Tuesday as she gets to take the holiday off too.

Crystal's address: 625 W. Rigdon  Carbondale, IL  62901

For those who did not see the flyers regarding Saturday's event, it will be held at Lehrter Park in Albers, IL. The kickball tournament begins at 11 a.m. The silent auction will take place from noon until 6 p.m., and the oral auction begins at 9 p.m. There will be inflatable rides from 6-10 p.m. and live music throughout the afternoon and evening. Plenty of food and beverages will be sold as well. Hopefully, the rain will hold off and there will be a good crowd to support 'Forever In Our Hearts'.

Crystal had a 'good but hard' day of therapy, and she had an 'excellent' evening celebrating her birthday with her friends. Her therapist pushed her through numerous activities today, many of which are just too complicated to try to explain here. She also did more walking, this time carrying a ball at the same time. She is doing well but is really concentrating on balance and regaining her confidence. During her occupational therapy session, Crystal struggled a little with addition and multiplication but was able to subract and divide without much trouble. It is interesting how some things come very easy for her, while other similar activites are more difficult. Overall, though, Donna and Marvin continue to see improvements each day with regards to her memory and word-finding skills.

Crystal enjoyed the pizza and ice cream cake this evening, but most of all, it really meant a lot to her that some of her close friends made the trip to visit with her on her birthday.

Anne Marie sent this update on Johnny...John had a doctor's appointment today, and it went well. He can start to put weight on his left leg now. He will walk with crutches for a week or so, then move to a cane for as long as needed. He has an appointment for an MRI on Tuesday of next week, so he is hoping to move right along with the next surgery. The orthopedic doctor he saw today said that, based on the movement in his knee, she is pretty confident that the ACL is now completely torn, and in the records from his previous knee surgery, his meniscus was completely gone as well. Surgery might be pretty extensive, but we shall see. We are making great steps toward being finished with all of this...thank goodness!

Crystal did really well again today. She walked COMPLETELY on her own for the first time. She wasn't using a cane or holding onto anything, and the therapist did not even have a finger touching her. She also used the 'New Step' elliptical-type machine for another 30 minutes and worked beyond the goals set for the day. Her workouts are intensifying, and she has even surprised herself with the strength of her right side.

Crystal said that she had a fantastic evening with visitors. Tomorrow, there will be pizza and cake to celebrate her birthday, and anyone who would like to join them should feel free.

Crystal had another exciting day of improvements. She was able to use a new piece of equipment similar to an elliptical machine in which she had to use both her arms and legs. She lasted for 31 minutes of continuous exercise, and her right side again seemed to be moving a little better than before. During speech and occupational therapy, they are challenging her more each day as well, and they plan to focus more on strengthening the mind and the body all at the same time as she continues to move forward. Her endurance, persistence, determination and even her sense of humor continue to shine through each and every day. Donna and Marvin feel like Crystal has reached an exciting point in her recovery. Donna said tonight that it doesn't seem like very long ago when she would leave the intensive care unit and walk back to the auxilliary house in St. Louis feeling so scared of the future. She was overcome with emotion each time she saw a helicopter land on the hospital's roof, and she often felt frustrated and saddened when it felt like little or no progress was made in a day's time. In the beginning, the only certainty was that it was going to be a long road, but no one knew exactly what was in store for Crystal. Today, many of those fears have subsided, and the future looks very bright. Although many of us have often wondered why such bad things have to happen to good people, Crystal's recovery is proof that good things happen to good people too.

There are a few more pictures posted on the home page from the golf tournament in Keyesport.

Crystal had a good day on Friday to finish out the week. Although she remains a little frustrated with regards to her walking, it continues to get better, and the therapists are happy with her progress. She is still being encouraged to take very small steps and mostly walk with the therapist. She did amazingly well in other areas of therapy as well. The puzzles and questions are becoming increasingly difficult, but Crystal has managed to do well with all of the challenges and keep up with the pace. She was so happy to be home this weekend and is already looking forward to the kickball tournament next Saturday.

Crystal's 22nd birthday is on Wednesday, and she is expecting a few visitors. Hopefully the excitement of the week will help the time pass quickly.

Crystal had a better day today and is so anxious for the trip home tomorrow. She did a great job walking without the cane or brace, and the therapist just followed closely behind to make sure she didn't fall. He also encouraged her to take smaller steps for now, and he thought that she already looked much better than yesterday with regards to her hips being level and kicking each leg forward evenly. She seemed to have more control over her right side than before, and she was even able to put her shoes on by herself for the first time. Crystal also used her right arm more on her own than usual today and seems to be relying on it more and more to perform the usual daily tasks.

They performed a vision test today and found that Crystal's peripheral vision, especially on the right side, has been greatly reduced. It is still possible that she will regain all of it, but again, the brain is very slow to heal, so only time will tell.

Crystal had a little bit of a rough day, and she wanted me to pass along that she gave the therapists a hard time. She was very frustrated and upset at times, but after a long talk with the physical therapist, everything he was saying began to make sense. He had several concerns and does not want Crystal to use the custom-made brace or her cane anymore, and he also wants her to walk less when she is not in therapy. With regards to the brace, he feels that her right knee does the same thing whether she is wearing it or not, and her ankle does not get any exercise with the brace on. He said that Crystal's right leg and foot need to start working together to send signals to the brain to get everything moving again. The brace may actually be preventing her from doing that now. He said that it was helpful at one time, but she has now progressed beyond needing it. He also said that Crystal's left side is so strong, and her hips have now adjusted during walking because of it. One is now slightly higher than the other, and he wants to try to correct the problem before it gets any worse, which is why he wants her to do most of her walking during therapy sessions. In order to prevent the assymetry from getting worse, the right side needs to become stronger so that she doesn't have to rely on the left to do most of the work of walking. He feels that she is ready to move on to more intense therapy on that right side, except there is one issue that stands in the way...the bone flap being out presents a huge risk. The doctor, nurse, therapists and others now involved with Crystal's care are planning a team conference to discuss the big picture and possibly talk to the neurosurgeon about replacing the bone flap sooner. Despite Crystal's frustration with all the changes, she came to realize that they never would have had the conversation if she wasn't doing so well.

Visitors are welcome at the house after 5 p.m. The address is 625 W. Rigdon, Carbondale.

Finally, I wanted to wish Donna and Marvin a happy 26th anniversary. Even though I was only in the third grade when you married, I still remember how happy you looked that day, and you continue to amaze me all the time. Your marriage is truly inspirational. The stress of the last three months would have been too much for many couples to handle, but together, you have been so strong and have led your family through some of the darkest days you have ever seen. You have set a wonderful example not only for your girls, but for everyone who knows you. I wish you many more happy years together. Love you both...

Crystal had a good first day of therapy down in Carbondale. She participated in occupational and speech therapy, and she did a lot more walking than riding in the wheelchair today. She was able to reach with her right arm higher and farther to the side than before, and she, in general, seems to get a little stronger each day. They also met the new doctor and nurse in charge of Crystal's care, who said that it often takes people at least a week to feel fully adjusted to the new routine. Crystal said that she felt a little nervous today and she is already looking forward to going home this weekend, but the hope is that she will also look forward to heading back each week and working hard to get better.

Donna and Marvin took Crystal out for a while, and Crystal was able to give directions on how to get to certain places in Carbondale. Despite her current problems with short-term memory, it has been both interesting and surprising at times to see how much of her long-term memory has actually remained intact.

Donna still cannot imagine leaving Crystal alone during the day, but just a couple of weeks ago, she wouldn't have left her alone at night either, and they have now crossed that path. The subtle changes each day continue to lead to more and more independence for Crystal. Despite the amazing amount of strength and endurance the entire family has shown every single day of the last three months, there are still occasional moments in which they feel overwhelmed and emotional. Please continue to pray for all of them, that they continue to find the strength they need to weather this storm.

Donna and Marvin brought Crystal to Carbondale today and checked in to the new place where she will be staying. Although it was much different than what they expected, Donna said that she thinks it will be perfect for Crystal. She will be staying in a very nice, large house with three other 'patients'. Each of them have their own bedrooms, and college students work there to maintain the house and work with the people. They will take Crystal by van to therapy each day, and her schedule looks very busy. Donna and Marvin will be staying in a hotel this week, away from Crystal for the first time, so this is a big step for all of them.

Crystal also enjoyed a trip to Applebees and Walmart today, something that she never would have been able to tolerate just a month ago, so things continue to move in the right direction. A few of her friends visited this evening and helped her get settled, and that was a lot of fun for her as well. Please send some extra prayers her way that this transition goes smoothly and she continues to progress quickly.

Crystal had a really good weekend at home. Although it was very sad to say goodbye to Grandpa Art, Crystal was able to visit with so many people that she hadn't seen in a long time. She dressed up and wore makeup for the first time since the accident, and everyone was commenting on how great she looked. On Saturday, Crystal insisted on going out to the golf course in Keyesport, and she really enjoyed seeing her friends. This morning, she went to breakfast at Rico's and was able to see still more family and friends. She is resting this afternoon and getting ready to head to Carbondale tomorrow.

The golf tournament yesterday seemed to be big success, and the prayers for good weather must have worked. It was a beautiful day, and everyone had a great time. Thanks to those who organized it all and those who worked, golfed or just came out to support 'Forever In Our Hearts'.

I posted a video and some pictures on the home page below the journal entries, so please scroll down to view. This week, I will be posting more pictures from the various events and benefits of the last couple of months. If anyone has pictures they would like me to add, please e-mail them to me at ltoennies@hotmail.com. Thanks!

 

Crystal had a full, wonderful day today. There were many emotional goodbyes this morning as she prepared to leave St. Mary's for the last time. The rehab staff gave her a 'card-with-sound' that sang 'Celebration', and they were all so proud of how far she has come over the last six weeks. Her appointment with the neurosurgeon went well, and since he hadn't seen her since she left SLU, he was also amazed and excited by how well she is doing. Based on how much she has already accomplished, he believes that she will continue to have a good recovery. Her CT scan looked good, and they scheduled another appointment to see him again in six weeks to schedule the bone flap replacement which will probably occur in early October. Crystal was able to squeeze in a short visit to 5ICU, so she showed off her walking skills by going completely around the entire unit on her own. They saw some of the nurses that they got to know pretty well during their stay, so it turned out to be a very enjoyable stop.

Crystal's appointment with the dentist also went well, although she will need a fair amount of work. The x-rays showed that many of her teeth moved a little, and he believes that she probably took two pretty severe blows to the mouth because some of them were shifted in two different directions. The good news was that none of the roots were damaged, so she will not need root canals or anything like that, and he is confident that he will be able to get her teeth to look normal again.

Crystal had a lot of visitors this evening to keep her busy, so she was completely wiped out a little while ago. I am thrilled to finally be able to say that she is now sleeping in her own bed for the first time in almost three months. It was definitely a good day!

I will probably not update tomorrow. Crystal and her family will be busy all afternoon and evening with Grandpa Art's funeral, so please keep them in your prayers.

Crystal's final day of therapy was a good one, and she received her last 'team conference report' this afternoon. They said that Crystal was their 'finest patient' and truly a 'success story', and she has made excellent progress toward her goals during the past six weeks. Initially, she required maximum assistance with almost everything, but the intense therapy has helped a great deal. Just a little over five weeks ago, Crystal said her first words since the accident. Today, she still has mild to moderate aphasia, but she is able to communicate her wants and needs with minimal assistance. She needs a little extra time to process some information, and she sometimes has trouble recalling names or certain words. She struggles a bit with reading and writing, but that has gotten a little better each day. She continues to experience mild to moderate short-term memory impairment, but that also seems to have slowly improved. She requires minimal assistance now with eating, getting dressed, transferring to the chair and other activities of daily living, but the recommendation is still for intense occupational and speech therapy to continue with the ultimate goal of returning to school. When Crystal arrived at St. Mary's six weeks ago, she had not even been in a standing position since the accident, but she can now walk on her own with the assistance of a cane. Crystal's right side remains weaker than the left, but she has taken great strides in improving its strength and endurance. There have been very brief moments of possible movement in her right foot over the last couple of days, but for the most part, she has not been able to move it on command. The therapists, however, have encouraged her to not yet give up hope of regaining more function over time. Despite the deficits that remain, Crystal has made an unbelievable amount of progress in a very short time, and she remains committed to overcoming every obstacle that still stands in the way of achieving all of her goals.

Tomorrow is shaping up to be a very busy day for Crystal. She will be leaving St. Mary's around noon and heading to SLU for a CT scan. She then has an appointment with her neurosurgeon, and if things run on time, she will see her dentist as well. We pray that everything goes smoothly over the next several days as Crystal embarks on the next leg of this amazing journey.  

Crystal has begun her LAST full day of therapy! The decision was made to discharge her first thing tomorrow morning. She will then go to her appointment with her neurosurgeon at SLU, and there are also plans to visit the dentist to fix some of the damage to her teeth that resulted from the accident. Crystal is very excited to be heading home tomorrow evening and then to Carbondale on Monday. She is ready to put the hospitals behind her and move on to a new routine.

Yesterday, Crystal had an appointment with an ENT specialist (ear, nose and throat) because she had been feeling like something was in her ear. The doctor removed some large pieces of dried blood from around her eardrum that presumably had been there for the last three months. She said that she felt so much better today.

Our condolences go out to the Fuehne family as Crystal's Grandpa Art passed away yesterday afternoon after a long illness. He is most definitely in a better place, away from all the sufferings of the last few years. Services will be on Friday and Saturday, so our prayers are for the entire family this week as they remember him.

Although Crystal had to work through a little pain again today, she had a good day overall. They are trying to adjust her medications in order to eliminate the Fentanyl patch by the time she leaves St. Mary's, and finding a good balance with other pain medications can sometimes be a challenge. Crystal walked about 900 feet with the physical therapist today, which is her longest distance since the accident. She also practiced more steps, spent much of the day working on achieving a greater range of motion with her right shoulder, and played a new, difficult game with the speech therapist. She continues to be a little stronger and more independent each day!

Crystal had a wonderful, relaxing weekend visiting with her family and friends at home, and she is now back at the hospital gearing up for her last week there. She was able to stop by the BBQ and bake sale at Hodges this morning after therapy. When they got there, Crystal insisted on walking...by herself...from the car to the area where the event was being held. She later said that she was a little nervous and praying that she wouldn't fall in front of everyone, but when it was over, she was very excited to have finally accomplished the feat. Crystal didn't stay long, but she wanted everyone to know how thankful she is. A huge thanks goes to Kathleen and the rest of the crew at Hodges, and also the New Baden Jaycees, for another successful benefit. Thanks also to all those who donated baskets and baked goods and the large number of people who came out to enjoy the excellent food and participate in the raffles.

Crystal received countless gifts in the days after the accident, and numerous balloons decorated her room. One balloon, in particular, that was brought to Crystal the day after the accident, has remained in the air after almost three months, and several comments have been made recently regarding its resilience. On it are the words to 'Footprints in the Sand'. Although most of us have heard this story many times over the course of our lives, I included the words below because they have struck a chord over and over throughout the last twelve weeks. Often times, when we see this story, it ends with the words 'Author Unknown', but it is believed to be written by a woman named Mary Stevenson during the Great Depression and was distributed to those who needed comfort at a low point in their lives. She felt that the words were so powerful that she often shared them with those who could gain strength from them during their time of need. In many ways, faith is what has gotten Crystal and her family through this tremendous trial, and the power of prayer is truly believed to be a important factor in her recovery.

 

'Footprints in the Sand'

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have been only one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, it was then that I carried you."

Crystal had another great day yesterday and continues to challenge herself every chance she gets. She is very close to walking completely on her own. She walked from her normal starting spot in the gym all the way out to the elevators, rode the elevator down one floor, walked to the steps, took the steps back up, and then walked back into the gym. They feel like it won't be long before she can lose the cane, and right now, someone walks along her right side holding onto the gait belt in case she starts to fall. She has been concentrating on touching her heel to the floor first, then her toes, and that has really helped her balance and flow as she 'relearns' the process of walking.

During the group therapy, Crystal decided to play two bingo cards, and she was very proud of how well she did keeping up with the fast caller. She also did really well playing 'Guess Who' again, and she is spelling and writing five-letter words more easily now. Things that were extremely difficult for Crystal a month ago are becoming much less overwhelming and are getting easier all the time. Donna made the comment yesterday about how it was hard to even get out of bed and go to some of the group therapy sessions when they first got to St. Mary's, but now Crystal is watching the clock, anxious to go, mastering the tasks presented to her and conquering many of the hurdles we once thought would possibly be a part of her life forever.

After therapy this morning, they will be heading home for the day. They don't have any plans but to relax, and they will have to go back to the hospital this evening. Crystal will again be out tomorrow as well. Next weekend will be her first chance to sleep in her own bed before heading to Carbondale. 

Crystal had a wonderful day of therapy and got a few pieces of good news as well. She was up bright and early this morning and did four laps around the gym in no time, and the muscle tone in her right leg seems to improve each and every day. The custom-made brace for her right foot and leg came in today so Crystal was able to try it out for the first time. It was actually very comfortable and really seemed to help with control of her knee and ankle. Eventually she will be wearing the brace for most of the day, but for now, they plan to ease her into it. They have also been working on range of motion exercises on Crystal's right shoulder. Although it is sometimes painful, they have been encouraging her to work through it, and Crystal has responded well. She continues to get a little better each day with her speech therapy, and she has also begun to practice writing and drawing with her right hand. Her attitude remains one of strength and determination, and Donna commented today what a pleasure Crystal is to be around these days. 

It seems as though the plan for the next couple of weeks has been changing every day, but more definitive plans seemed to be put into place today. Crystal has now been approved to stay at St. Mary's through next week, and her first day in Carbondale will be on Monday, August 24.

The t-shirts are in at Cornerstone, so please pick them up as soon as possible, and don't forget about the bake sale and BBQ at Hodges in New Baden on Sunday. 

Crystal had a great day, and she did well in all areas of therapy. She practiced some writing and spelling, and she was able to raise her right arm higher than ever without pain. She also worked both legs really hard by drawing both knees up to her chest. She can also push out with her knees while someone else pushes them in and vice versa. She was on Lovenox, an injection which helps prevent blood clots in patients at risk due to restricted mobility, but it was discontinued today making it Crystal's first day without a shot in almost three months. Another piece of good news is that the insurance company finally approved a little longer stay for Crystal at St. Mary's, so she will be there at least through next Wednesday. Although Crystal is anxious to leave, she feels like the therapy is helping so much, and she isn't quite ready to move on. She will hopefully be out and about again this weekend.

Crystal didn't feel well for much of the day today, and she was really sick to her stomach through the night. They weren't exactly sure of the cause, but the doses of her Gabapentin and Naprosyn were decreased, and she said that she felt much better this evening. She was smiling and laughing a lot with everyone, and she came up with quite a few wise cracks of her own. :) The therapists worked with her at the bedside today, but she is already gearing up for a busy day of therapy tomorrow.

Crystal began the day with a trip to SLU for an appointment with the ortho spine surgeon who performed the thoracic fusion back in June. He was satisfied with how well her back has healed, and he was very pleasantly surprised to see how great she is doing overall. Crystal's rehab doctor also spoke with her neurosurgeon, and it was decided to wait a couple more months before replacing the piece of bone that was once a part of her skull. They do not want to see her take any steps backward right now while she is doing so well pushing forward. Once the bulk of the rehab is over, they feel like she will be able to tolerate the surgery much better without having to worry about a setback.

The therapists were able to give Crystal two separate physical therapy sessions this afternoon, and she continues to impress every day. She walked a total of 575 feet, and she is becoming ever so close to not needing someone's assistance with her right side. She is hoping that the brace will be in soon, which will help to keep her ankle at a ninety degree angle and prevent hyperextension of her knee. She did a ton of exercises to strengthen the larger muscles in her legs, and she is still hoping to regain a little more fine motor control of her right side.

One thing I didn't post yesterday but thought was kind of neat...Yesterday, when Crystal visited 5ICU, she said that she recognized some of the nurses who took care of her quite a bit. She had previously thought that she didn't remember anything from her time there, but her visit seemed to jog her memory a little.

For those of you who do not see the Breese Journal, Crystal was featured on the front page of last week's edition of the paper. A 'thank you' note from Crystal and her family was also printed, and it follows:

'Whether you sent thoughts, prayers, food, cards, gifts, hugs, had anything to do with the benefit at Cornerstone, helped with the kids, donated leave, etc., our family is so blessed to have such special people in our lives. Thanks for EVERYTHING! Your love and support has helped us get through this tough time. Special angels are carrying prayers in their wings. Crystal wanted the families of Blake, Justin and Derek to know how sorry she is...she made the statement, "God bless the boys and their families." The boys will forever hold a huge place in all our hearts. Sending our love to each and every one of you who have helped in your own special way.  The Fuehne Family...Marvin, Donna, Lindsey, Robert, Crystal, Shannon, Michelle and Grandpa Elmer'

Another 'thank you' letter from the families of all seven involved in this accident was posted in the Breese Journal as well:

'On behalf of the families of Casey Athmer, Elisha Englemann, Crystal Fuehne, Derek Garrison, Justin Harr, John Lampen and Blake Thole, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has sent cards, prayers, well-wishes, food and loving thoughts our way. We would also like to say thank you and let the members of Keyesport, Mulberry Grove, Clinton County, Bond County and ARCH EMS personnel, Clinton and Bond County Police Departments, as well as all who worked on the scene know how grateful we are for each and every one of you. This has been a horrible tragedy, but through all of this, we are extremely grateful to live in such an amazing community. Your continued thoughts and prayers for these young men and women are deeply appreciated. You are all forever in our hearts and your kind actions will never be forgotten.'

Crystal had a few things she wanted me to pass along. These are her own words...

'My symapthy goes out to Blake, Justin and Derek and their families.'

'It was nice to see my family and Johnny, Casey and Elisha in the newspaper.'

'Kim, Sarah, Brynn, Christine and Melissa (my therapists): I would never have done it without you.'

'Thank you to everyone for making this easier by talking to me and supporting me. All the love you've shown is great.'

There are countless more people that Crystal wants to thank for helping her through this ordeal. Although reading and writing continue to be very overwhelming for her, she is still working on gathering her thoughts and putting them on paper.

The plan is for Crystal to be at St. Mary's through the end of this week. She will probably then spend a couple of days at home before heading to Carbondale. They are anticipating being in Carbondale for approximately two months, but we will keep praying that Crystal continues to defy the odds and come home for good much sooner! 

 

Crystal was able to go home for the day yesterday, and she said she had an 'excellent' time visiting with friends. After sleeping at the hospital, she was again allowed to leave this morning. They visited the nurses from 5ICU who were very excited to see how far Crystal has come. Crystal and her family then attended mass in the chapel at SLU and headed home for the afternoon to rest and relax.

In case you didn't see the postings on the right side of the home page, there are a couple of upcoming events you might want to know about. Next Sunday, August 16th, Hodges Produce and More and the New Baden Jaycees are sponsoring a bake sale and BBQ to benefit Crystal. It will be held in the lot next to Hodges Produce in New Baden. The bake sale starts at 8:30 a.m., and the BBQ will be from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. There will also be raffles and coolie cups with the saying 'Even the longest journey begins with a single step'.

The Breese Catholic Fraternal Organization is selling raffle tickets for the 'Forever In Our Hearts' drawing to be held on September 5 at the kickball fundraiser, and the golf scramble at Twin Oaks Golf Course in Keyesport is only two weeks away. Thank you again to everyone for all the support. It has meant the world to Crystal and her family, and it has helped give her the strength to not give up and persevere, and even smile, on some of the most difficult days.

Crystal's big accomplishment of the day was walking up and down an entire flight of stairs. Even though it was very scary at first, she managed much better than she thought she would. She is getting another day pass to go home again on Saturday morning. They don't have any real plans, but Crystal is very excited just to be getting out of the hospital. She will have to go back to spend the night because of insurance requirements, but she will be able to leave again on Sunday for a while. The plan on Sunday is to go to mass at SLU Hospital and possibly visit 5ICU afterwards. Although Crystal doesn't remember being there at all, she hopes to thank much of the staff personally for all they did to help her through the crisis stage.

Crystal's walking continues to get 'better by the minute' according to one of her therapists today. She is currently using a cane in her left hand, while a therapist walkes along on her right side holding onto a gait belt wrapped around her waist. It requires more effort to move the right leg forward than the left, and she appears to be in full-concentration mode during her sessions. She is still lacking fine motor control in her right side, but the larger muscles seem to get a little stronger each day. A mold was taken of her right leg this afternoon so that a new brace can be custom made. This brace will allow for a little more control over her right foot and knee by preventing foot drop and knee extension. Crystal won a few games of 'Guess Who', and the results of the test she took yesterday showed that she has 'mild aphasia', which they believe will get better over time and has already gotten better over the last couple of weeks. We are no longer just hoping and praying for a full recovery...we are expecting it!

Crystal was excited to see herself on the front page of the Breese Journal this morning. She laughed at how skinny her legs were and then went right back to her walk around the gym. A thank you note from Crystal and her family was also printed, and I will post a copy of that tomorrow for those of you who do not get that paper. 

Crystal walked with a cane today for the first time and did three consecutive laps around the gym with very little assistance. Even the therapists who have worked with her every day for the past few weeks were very impressed and couldn't believe how well she did. She also practiced walking up and down the steps again and continues to improve there as well. She had a longer speech therapy session than usual today, and she survived fifty straight minutes of answering quiz questions. Despite occasionally getting tripped up on a word or two, Crystal is becoming quicker and more accurate with her responses.

It is very possible that Crystal will only be at St. Mary's Rehab until the end of next week. She will then be transferred to another facility in Carbondale which specializes in post-acute rehabilitation for young adults with brain injuries. The Center for Comprehesive Services (CCS) focuses on increasing independence and participation in both educational and community activities, and individualized plans are developed based on each person's strengths and interests. A representative from the program met with Crystal, Donna and Marvin today and had very positive things to say. She talked to Crystal about some of the lasting effects that she may see well into the future including becoming easily exhausted. She told her not to feel bad about taking a nap each day because it is very common for brain injured patients to become fatigued just from being awake, and adequate rest is critical for better cognitive functioning. Crystal will also probably need to have things repeated at times and sometimes have difficulty in catching things that are quick, like inside jokes for example. Those are definitely things she can live with!! Overall, based on her conversation with Crystal, the rep believes that she will be able to make a full recovery with time, patience and determination.

Each day continues to be a little better than the one before for Crystal. Today she was able to stand completely on her own for quite a while. Although Crystal thought she only lasted for two minutes, it was really more like ten. She hit a balloon back and forth with one of the therapists while standing by herself, and her balance was amazing. She did three laps around the gym using a walker. One therapist helped to guide the walker because Crystal tends to push a little harder with the left side, but other than that, she was pretty much on her own there too. She did another lap in the wheelchair using both feet to move forward, which was also a first. During another session, she used her right hand to pull pegs from a peg board and replace them. She continues to work hard on using the right side and increasing her strength every chance she gets. She also played memory games, attended her group cognitive therapy session and did really well with some 'fill-in-the-letters' sheets. She still becomes fatigued easily, which is normal at this stage, but she spent more of her day in therapy than ever before.

She talked a little about Blake, Justin and Derek today and what a terrible ordeal this has turned out to be. Even though her memory of that day is gone, she wants their families to know how sorry she is for what happened. While we celebrate how far the others have come, Crystal is now mourning the loss of three close friends.

Crystal had another good day in the gym and tried some new exercises using the balancing ball. The physical therapists feel that more muscles below the knee on her right side are beginning to work, and although she still cannot wiggle her right toes, they believe that it will not be long before she can. It is also interesting that Crystal's right side has been very cold to touch since the accident, but as the muscles slowly come back, the warmth is also returning. Now, her foot is still cold, but much of her leg is feeling better. Her rehab process has been impressive, and everyone has shown a great deal of care, compassion and professionalism. They challenge her to do tasks she doesn't think she can do, but those they know she will be able to do through their insistence, support and encouragement. Their efforts have helped Crystal overcome some of her deficits and allowed her to do so much more than she could just a couple of weeks ago.

Crystal now knows the details of that awful night. Donna and Marvin, the psychologist, and Johnny, Casey and Elisha all sat down with her earlier this evening to talk. It went about as well as it could have gone, and there was a lot of good conversation. They told her about the entire day and night, of which Crystal remembers nothing, and she has been surprised to learn that over two months have passed since the accident. When they told her about Blake, Justin and Derek, Crystal just kept saying that she couldn't believe it and wondered why such bad things have to happen. Despite a few tears, she didn't show an overwhelming amount of emotion, but with brain injuries, the expression of emotions is often changed, and this seems to be true in Crystal's case as well. People often return to a more normal emotional balance and expression over the course of months after the injury, so it is possible that she will experience many more emotions still to come. They explained to her that she did nothing wrong, and she said that she understood. They also spent some time talking to her about why they didn't tell her sooner, and she was ok with all of that as well. After it was over, there was a huge sense of relief that everything is now out in the open, and Crystal says that she wants to post some things to the site about Blake, Justin and Derek as soon as she is able to get the right words out and communicate a little better.

As Crystal continues down the road in front of her, she knows that there are many obstacles she still needs to overcome. Although this summer has not turned out to be anything that she expected or desired, she remains fully committed to returning to all the things that were once a part of her life. 

Crystal had a really nice Sunday. She went to her physical therapy session this morning and worked on walking and balancing. Afterwards, she went to church with the family and sat with many visitors throughout the afternoon. She was still very worn out from yesterday, so she plans on getting a good night's sleep before returning to her busy therapy schedule tomorrow.

It was a glorious day as Crystal made her first trip home in exactly ten weeks. There were signs, streamers, balloons, and quite a crowd that had gathered along the road and in the driveway. As Crystal came out to greet everyone, there were a lot of tears, cheers, and smiles. She said that seeing everyone was overwhelming, but all in a good way. After about an hour, she went inside to just enjoy being at home, and later in the afternoon, she sat out in the patio and patiently waited for her wonderful steak to come off the grill. They were back at St. Mary's by 8 p.m., and Crystal was exhausted.

Thanks to everyone who came out this morning. It was a day that Crystal and her family will not soon forget, and everyone there helped to make it that much more special. It has been exactly two months since the doctors first discussed doing the surgery to remove the blood clot that formed in the subdural space outside of her brain, and Crystal faced some of her most critical days. Her future was so uncertain at that time, and there were moments that we weren't sure if we would ever see this day. Seeing Crystal today smiling and talking with so many people that love her was truly a blessing and a reminder that miracles really do happen.  

Crystal continues to do well and is on track to leave in the morning for a day at home. She has done so many laps around the gym, each time a little better than the one before. She also practiced doing steps yesterday, and she worked on getting in and out of the car. The transfers are becoming easier, and she continues to need less assistance all the time. The doctor who oversees Crystal's entire routine thinks that she will be walking on her own in just a couple of weeks. Her right leg is still very weak, and it helps to have her foot in a brace or wrapped so that it is in a ninety degree angle with her leg, but she is working so hard to get it back.

Crystal's long term memory seems to be pretty good, and she remembers many things about her life before the accident. She has a little more trouble with her short term memory, and she admits that she is not very good at remembering names these days. She sometimes gets stuck on a word when she is trying to say something, but even that seems to get better each day. She was a little disappointed to learn that she will not be going to school for the fall semester, but believe it or not, it is not being ruled out for the spring just yet. They are beginning to look at other types of rehab facilities that are designed to help those with brain injuries get back up to speed with regards to school, so that will be the next step after her discharge from St. Mary's. Although there have not been any official decisions made, there is a program in Carbondale that the therapists have highly recommended, so it is possible that Crystal will be headed there in the next couple of weeks.

Tomorrow morning, Crystal plans to eat breakfast and then go to her physical therapy session before she is allowed to leave. She wants to drive through Damiansville on her way home, so that will be the direction they will be coming from. They are hoping to be home by about 10:30 a.m., so please join us along the roadway heading to their house shortly before that. For those who do not know where they live, the address is 3232 Haselhorst Rd. New Baden, IL 62245.

Finally, I was asked to pass along that the extra t-shirts were ordered, and it would be greatly appreciated if those who ordered them could stop by Cornerstone to pay for them sometime next week. Thanks!

Crystal's workout in the gym today was, once again, an improvement from yesterday. She was able to complete the entire lap swinging her right leg forward on her own. In the past, she has started the laps moving her leg on her own but has needed a little help toward the end. Today, however, she showed that her strength and endurance are getting better as she made it the entire way. The therapists continue to help Crystal to regain as much independence as possible. She experimented with different walkers, but the hope remains that she will be able to completely walk on her own again someday.

Don't forget to eat at Dairy King tomorrow. They will be donating 10% of their sales to 'Forever In Our Hearts'. Also, we would like get as many people together as possible to welcome Crystal home by lining the roadway to their house on Saturday morning. Please understand that it will be just that...not much visiting...because Crystal is looking forward to a quiet, peaceful day in her house. They do not yet have any idea what their arrival time might be, but I will pass that information along as soon as they know. Please join us as Crystal makes her first trip home in ten weeks.

Crystal has now strung together four really great days in a row, and she remains on track for her trip home on Saturday. The therapists had her doing knee squats today, and she was able to pull her right knee all the way to her chest while in a side-lying position. She says that her right arm still feels very heavy, but she is able to lift it high over her head. She is not quite able to lift her right leg off of the bed while she is lying down, but she can now move it side to side. She is constantly trying to increase her strength and fine motor control. She did four laps around the gym, and they had to again tell her to slow down. She continues to require less assistance while transferring from the bed to the chair and while walking. She worked on spelling four letter words, since the three letter words are now too easy, and her homework for tonight was to work on writing her name. She is a little worried about her memory and her ability to find the right words at times. The doctors believe that it may take a year for her memory to get back to normal and for the aphasia to completely go away, but Crystal continues to show improvement every day.

Crystal received some very good news today! Because she is doing so well, the doctors told her that she will probably be able to leave the hospital for a while on Saturday and spend the day at home. She will have to return in the evening, but the little day-trip is a big step toward achieving one of her major goals...to go home for good. They are thinking that it may be another six weeks or so before she will be officially discharged, but at least there is now a very bright light at the end of this tunnel. I asked her what she was going to do first when she got home. She wasn't really sure, but she sure had a big smile on her face just thinking about it. She walked four laps around the gym today, and the therapists commented that they provided less support than ever before. She is also transferring from the wheelchair to the bed with only a small amount of assistance, and she can get to a standing position almost completely on her own. She had quite a few visitors today, and her spirits were high. She is getting there!

Crystal has had a great weekend in so many ways. She was full of smiles and conversation today, and she even came down and went to mass with all of us in the chapel at St. Mary's and ate Imo's pizza in the outdoor courtyard afterwards. She was started on a new medication a few days ago, and it seems to have made a huge difference in the amount of pain she is experiencing. Gabapentin was originally approved to help control seizures in patients with epilepsy, but it is now often used to treat nerve-related pain. It was prescribed for Crystal because of the severe tingling sensations she was having in her right side recently as those nerves try to reconnect and start working again. Another advantage to gabapentin is that it has been found to be effective in preventing migraine headaches, so it is possible that it is also working to relieve the horrible headache she has had for nine weeks now. She has not required any oxycodone the last couple of days, and that seems to make all the difference in the world in helping her words to come more easily and her mind to be clear. She continues to work on some memory issues, but even that seems to be better when she is able to avoid the oxycodone.

After just two weeks in rehab, Crystal has surprised everyone. She has been dressing in her own clothes and taking showers again. Despite having to deal with another urinary tract infection, she has already retrained her bowel and bladder. The trach is out, and she is talking and holding conversations. Her feeding tube has come out, and Crystal has started to eat normal foods. Two weeks ago, Crystal could barely move her right hand and couldn't move her right leg at all. Now she is moving her right side again, and she showed today how she can shake hands with that side and even lift her arm over her head. Her right leg, although stubborn at times, has begun to show incredible signs of improvement as well, and she is now able to walk with help. Her pain has finally subsided, and she has gotten some fresh air for a change. Her story has been so remarkable and inspirational.

Equally as compelling as Crystal's miraculous recovery is the support and love coming from the entire community. It has truly been overwhelming and is more touching than words can say. Thank you to everyone who supported the poker run last weekend, and I heard that the proceeds doubled their previous highest total. I really don't know where to begin in discussing the event yesterday at Cornerstone. On behalf of Crystal's family, I wanted to thank the owners of Cornerstone who worked so hard to make it all possible. Everything from the set-up to the food, drinks, drawings, and raffles was perfect. Both the silent and oral auctions were amazing, and a huge thank you goes to Jennifer for organizing all of that. Thanks to all of you who donated items and those who bid, and all of the winners who donated the money back to the benefit. Thanks to Night Life, who provided the DJ services, and the bands, Vintage Jam and Hair Syndicate, for the wonderful entertainment. Three thousand raffle tickets were sold for the drawing, and three hundred shirts sold out with orders for more taken. Lindsey's update and Elmer's speech left so many people in tears, and I'm sure Crystal's many angels had hands in making the weather absolutely perfect as well. The turnout was very impressive, and each person there has contributed to Crystal's story in some way. Since the beginning of this ordeal, you all have sent a very powerful message about the strength of a community and the power of prayer.

Finally, I wanted to post the words of a card that Crystal received in the mail. She showed it to us today and found the words to be particularly touching. She allowed me to take it home with the promise that I would bring it back to her first thing in the morning...

"The Oak Tree" - A Message of Encouragement...

A mighty wind blew night and day. It stole the oak tree's leaves away, then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark until the oak was tired and stark. But still the oak tree held its ground while other trees fell all around...

The weary wind gave up and spoke, 'How can you still be standing, Oak?' The oak tree said, 'I know that you can break each branch of mine in two, carry every leaf away, shake my limbs, and make me sway. But I have roots stretched in the earth, growing stronger since my birth. You'll never touch them, for you see, they are the deepest part of me. Until today, I wasn't sure of just how much I could endure. But now I've found, with thanks to you, I'm stronger than I ever knew.' 

Crystal, especially now, try to remember that you're stronger than any problem you encounter or any disappointment life will bring.

Crystal had an ok day yesterday, but the pain continues to be an issue. The therapists came to her bedside to work with her because she didn't feel well. The physical therapist still had her walk down the hall, and she got her a new wheelchair. The speech therapist spent a lot of time talking to Crystal about all sorts of things and gave her a homework assignment for the weekend. On Monday, she wants Crystal to take the pictures hanging in her room and be able to tell her who is on each of them, where the picture was taken, and what they were doing at the time. She compared Crystal's brain to a large file cabinet in an office. At the time of the injury, all those files were spilled out and strewn everywhere. The information is still there, but Crystal is being faced with the enormous task of of reorganizing it all and making it all make sense again.

The feeding tube was taken out yesterday, so Crystal is now tube-free! See you at Cornerstone tonight!

I just received an update from Anne Marie regarding Johnny's visit with the doctor yesterday... Johnny was told that he could start to apply weight to his right leg. The amount will depend on muscle strength and pain. He does not have to wear his TED hose anymore or receive the twice daily injections. He will be starting out using a walker, and hopefully by his next visit on September 2nd, he will be using crutches. He is still not able to put any weight on his left side, but he will hopefully be able to start out slowly after the next visit. He did try to stand yesterday for the first time since the accident. He was VERY shaky and light-headed, but he will work his way up. He will be referred to another doctor after the next visit to discuss the meniscus and ACL procedure, and we will also have to see the vascular surgeon to have the Greenfield filter removed. Unfortunately, this means he will have two more procedures, but we are definitely on the right track and very excited! John is very nervous and excited all at once.

Crystal had a little bit of a rough morning but was doing much better this evening. Earlier today, she had a headache and also pain in her right leg. Instead of tylenol, she received some oxycodone, and the side effects seemed to dominate much of the day. She was more confused than usual and had a lot of trouble remembering most things. She also complained of double vision, and she kept saying that she just didn't feel right. By this evening, it seemed as though the oxycodone was out of her system, and she was thinking more clearly. The hope is that they will be able to stick with the tylenol for the most part, especially during the day when she needs to participate in therapy.

They are in the process of doing a calorie count, so once Crystal proves that she is eating enough, the feeding tube will come out, probably in the next day or two. Crystal also did an amazing job walking again today. She continues to become stronger each time, and the right leg is definitely starting to work. Her knee gives very easily, so they put a knee immobilizer on at one point, and it seemed to help. She also says that her right side is very tingly, which is a good sign meaning that those nerves are trying to 'wake up'.

Some people have asked what Crystal has been told regarding the accident, so I'll try to answer some of those questions. Back at SLU, when Crystal first started showing signs of becoming more aware of what was going on around her, Donna and Marvin told her that she had been hurt very badly, but they wanted to wait to tell her the details until she could talk and ask questions. She now knows that she was in an accident, but she has asked only a few questions so far. She seems to know or sense that she was driving because some of her questions have been about why she didn't see the other car coming, although she also says that she doesn't remember that night. Crystal does not yet know about what happened to Blake, Justin, and Derek. A psychologist at the hospital has been very supportive and plans to be there when the time comes to tell her. Donna and Marvin know that Crystal will grieve for her friends no matter when they tell her, but they feel strongly that she is not quite ready to deal with such a complex set of emotions. They know that Crystal will be trusting them to tell her the truth about everything, and they plan do that when the time is right. For now, though, they answer her questions the best they can and continue to focus helping Crystal improve both mentally and physically.

 

 

Crystal had a really good day today. She once again proved that nothing will stop her from winning this battle. During her physical therapy session today, she amazed everyone by moving her right leg a little. She was in a side-lying position and being asked to pull her leg forward, and sure enough, she surprised both Donna and the therapist by doing it for the first time since the accident. She still requires a lot of help walking, but she again walked a long distance. She was able to swing her right leg forward on her own a little, and the therapists had to tell her several times to slow down, but she just kept pressing on.

She continues to have the Fentanyl patch but is only receiving tylenol for breakthrough pain. It is wonderful to see that her thinking abilities continue to improve every day, and this is probably partly due to the decrease in strong pain medicines. Crystal seems to have a touch of aphasia, which in her case has made it difficult at times to find the right words to communicate what she is thinking. Each day, though, she seems to get a little quicker and more accurate with her responses to questions. She also did really well putting a puzzle together of the 50 states.

Crystal has not had a huge appetite and does better with small meals throughout the day, but there are still plans to take the feeding tube out tomorrow. Last night, Crystal had one of her old favorites for dinner...she chose a beef tongue sandwich from the deli's menu. Mmmmmmm...:)

Crystal continues to make a miraculous recovery, and even the staff members at St. Mary's can't believe how far she has come in such a short period of time. Every time there has been doubt that she could do something, she has turned around and done it.

  

Crystal had a better day today. She did well at her therapy sessions earlier, despite being reluctant to go at first. She played games that worked on her memory and math skills, and she tossed bean bags, which she was really good at considering she has been throwing the ball around her room for the last week and a half. It made them realize how good the group sessions are for her, and she is simply going to have to go, even when she isn't quite feeling up to it. Her physical therapy also went really well. She walked three separate times - the first for 60 feet, the second for 80 feet, and the third for 100 feet. She continues to suffer quite a bit of pain, but the doctors are trying to wean her from some of the medications anyway. Unfortunately, Crystal may have to live with some degree of pain for the rest of her life, so they are trying to explore ways of controlling pain other than medications. Besides her Fentanyl patch, she only received tylenol today, and Donna and Marvin felt that the difference in her thinking abilities were amazing compared to the days where she has gotten other medicines.

I may begin to skip a day here and there as Crystal's progress slows. I know how much some people look forward to the updates each day, but if there isn't much to talk about, I may just wait until the next day to post something. Please keep sending lots of comments and prayers. They mean so much to Donna and Marvin, and now Crystal too.

Today was a little difficult for Crystal. She remains on a couple of different pain medicines that have contirbuted to an upset stomach, which has also made her a little less enthused about going to therapy. She has been feeling discouraged, and she even said today that she doesn't think she is going to get her right leg back. She has been hard on herself, and every time she hasn't been able to give it her all, she feels like she isn't doing very well in general. She still needs a lot of encouragement and reminders of how far she has come. She did so exceptionally well last week. These last couple of days, however, have been a little step back into reality in that she still faces some big challenges and a long road to recovery.

The strength in Crystal's right arm continues to improve, and she has been doing great with sitting, balancing, and pulling herself to a standing position. The physical therapists have said, however, that they are still not feeling anything more than a slight twitch in her right leg while they are exercising or walking. Crystal participated and did really well in a cognitive thinking group session today where they played games like 'hangman'. She is also working very hard on her memory. Crystal's thought processes seem to have gotten better over the last couple of days, but she still gets very frustrated at times when her words come slow or she has a hard time trying to say something on her mind. Overall, though, she is doing well and vows to keep fighting.

It has now been eight weeks since the accident, and Crystal is doing well. A CT scan of her brain this morning showed that there has not been any further CSF accumulation on the left side of her head and everything looked really good. Her blood work done this morning was also competely normal. Unfortunately, Crystal's Fentanyl patch had fallen off early this morning, so she was in a significant amount of pain by the time her physical therapy session was supposed to begin. She ended up taking it easy much of the day, but she really enjoyed all of the visitors. Only a couple of people went into her room at a time, and everyone kept their visits fairly short, so Crystal felt like things went really well.

The best part of the day was when Crystal was able to lift her right arm up at the elbow, and she has now been exercising it on her own ever since. Before today, her hand movement had begun to come back, but if her arm slipped off the table, for example, she was unable to get it back up without help from her left hand. It was another small step in the right direction, and she continues to give everyone hope that she will someday get back to where she once was.  

Crystal had a good day and continues to do something new each time. The physical therapists have been working on her right arm so that she can begin to bear weight, and the movement in her right hand has improved further. Today, Crystal seemed to be able to open and close her hand quicker and more effortlessly than before. She has still not gotten her right leg or the large muscles in her right arm to cooperate much, but that situation will hopefully get better with time, just as her hand has very slowly become more purposeful. She has started doing word search puzzles, and the therapists have been impressed by her ability. Her PICC line is out, and her feeding tube is only being used for one small pill, so it may also come out soon. Crystal and her family finished the day with a really nice visit. Donna and Marvin, Lindsey and Robert, Shannon, and Michelle all sat with Crystal for a while this evening. Crystal especially enjoyed tossing the ball around the room and showing off her left-handed throwing ability.

The benefit at Cornerstone is only one week away! It sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun and a huge success!

Crystal continues to do well with her therapy. She walked a distance of 60 feet with assistance, and that is up from 13 feet earlier this week. She also exceeded the week's goals set by the speech therapist. She had a little bit of a down day with regards to her spirits, so this afternoon, some of Crystal's friends including Casey and Johnny visited with her for a short time. Crystal sat on the outdoor patio with them with her hat and sunglasses on and said that she really enjoyed seeing them. She still, however, gets a little confused and agitated when there are too many people around talking at once, and she is hoping to maybe watch a movie with her friends the next time they come to take some of the focus off of herself. I'm sure there will be a lot of visitors this weekend, but they will probably try to keep the visits short and only allow one or two people in the room at a time. Crystal may be able to come out to the patio with the group, but they plan to play it by ear, see how she feels, and let her decide. She is doing great but still needs a lot of prayers and support.

Crystal had another good day, one that totally wiped her out. Her trach was taken out this morning, so she just has a bandage covering the small opening in her neck. She was a little uncomfortable with that while she was eating, saying that she felt like she was still taking in air through her neck and that it was a little frightening. With some encouragement, however, she was able to get through her meals and remain fairly calm. It will hopefully get a lot better over the next couple of days as the stoma site heals on its own. Crystal is able to eat regular foods and take in thin liquids. She hasn't had a huge appetite but has been getting enough nutrition. They have also been talking about removing the PICC line very soon, as she no longer receives anything intravenously. She is completely off of the antianxiety medications, and her pain is being controlled with a Fentanyl patch.

They gave Crystal a weekly 'report card' today, and it was full of stars. One doctor commented that she is 'very, very determined', but I guess we already knew that. She is the ideal patient with a great deal of potential, but there are still many areas to work on. She needs assistance getting dressed and showering, but she is able to brush her teeth and wash her face on her own. She is talking well and using short, simple sentences, but she gets confused easily when there are several people in the room. She is also doing well with some sequencing exercises like putting the months of the year in order. They received official reports from SLU saying that her right hip and knee are without any fractures, and her right shoulder fracture is doing well. They plan to work on increasing her ability to bear weight with her right arm. She needs two assistants to walk, and someone does almost all of the work of moving her right leg, but Crystal has been pushing for longer and longer distances. Donna followed them with the wheelchair today, and Crystal was asked several times if she wanted to stop and sit, but she always said 'no'. The movement of her right side continues to be one of the biggest hurdles she faces, so say an extra prayer or two that it improves. Only time will tell, but the hopes are high that Crystal will someday be able to walk on her own.

  

It wasn't Crystal's best day today, probably because she didn't sleep well last night, but there were still several positive developments. A swallow study was done this morning which Crystal passed with flying colors, so she was given the green light to finally be able to eat some real food. She had her first meal at lunch time today. They also capped her trach and asked her to leave it covered for 24 hours. If things go well, the plan is to possibly remove the trach entirely tomorrow.

Her workout with the physical therapist was less intense today. When Crystal walked, she told the therapist that she was having pain in her calf. Because she is at an increased risk of developing blood clots due to immobility, they took her for an ultrasound of her leg to rule that out. The ultrasound looked good, but they plan to look into the calf pain more tomorrow.

Another therapist gave Crystal cards with the months of the year written on them and asked her to put them in order. She needed a little help but was mostly able to accomplish that on her own. It was a good sign that some things like letter recognition and reading ability appear to be intact. Her words still come a little slow, and giving her too many options right now easily confuses her, but those are things to be expected at this stage. She still has come so far in such a short period of time.

As much as everyone's continued support means to Donna, Marvin, and Crystal, it truly has been for the best that there have not been visitors this week. The days have been packed full. Crystal even made the comment yesterday that with all the doctors, nurses, and therapists, there have been 'too many people', and she knows that getting better has to be her priority right now. Please know that all of the prayers and comments being posted are very comforting to them, and it hopefully won't be long before Crystal is ready for all kinds of visitors.

It was an absolutely joyous day for Crystal and her family today. She is talking! Just this morning, Crystal attended her session with the speech therapist, and they attached the speaking valve to her trach again. Crystal again made noises but no words. They later talked to Marvin and told him that they were anticipating some significant problems with her speech, partly because she had only made noises those two times, and also because she hadn't ever really seemed to even mouth words. I'm not sure what changed between this morning and this afternoon, but when the doctor worked with her later, she began to speak. He had her say the ABCs, the months of the year, and count to ten among other things. At times, the words came a little slower than others, but her speech was very clear. One thing she said was that all the therapy "seven days a week is totally worth it". We also told her that there were so many people out there pulling for her, and she said to "tell them I appreciate it". Her ability to actually hold a conversation and speak in sensible, complete sentences was shocking, and she has the same scratchy voice she always had. I know that it is tempting for everyone to want to see her and hear her talk as soon as possible, but the doctors have continued to recommend very limited visitors and only allow her to talk to one or maybe two people at a time. They do not want to downplay the importance of support from family and friends, but at this point, she can still be very easily overwhelmed, and the overstimulation would only cause more confusion and frustration.

Crystal had productive sessions with the physical and occupational therapists as well. She walks between the parallel bars with a lot of assistance, but her will to improve is amazingly strong. I wanted to clarify something I wrote yesterday about the strength in her right side. It is actually her hand grip that is about half that of her left. The larger muscles of her right arm and leg, however, are still very weak, and she has a long way to go. When she walks, she is unable to hold onto the bar with her right hand, and her right leg is mostly helped along by the therapist, but just the fact that she is working so hard, gritting her teeth, and willing to keep trying to improve adds so much to her potential. They did finally say that there are no fractures or visible ligament damage in her right hip, so that is good. Her pain has been being controlled via a Fentanyl patch, and today seemed to be a comfortable day with minimal pain even during her exercises. Her spirits are good, and she truly seems so determined to win this battle.

Crystal had her busiest day by far. She was awake very early this morning and participated in a full day of therapy. Donna and Marvin have been absolutely astounded by all the new things the doctors, nurses, and therapists have gotten Crystal to do in such a short time. Crystal walked for the first time today, and they worked hard at improving her balance when sitting up. She also used a device in which she squeezes with each hand and it measures her strength. Crystal was able to exert 35 lbs. of pressure with her left hand and 16 lbs. of pressure with her right. It was very encouraging to see that the strength in her right side is about half that in her left, especially considering that only a week or two ago, Crystal's voluntary movement of her right side was extremely minimal. Occupational and speech therapists also gave Crystal intense workouts today. A major focus this week continues to be communication. They are mainly working on yes/no questions for the time being. Crystal also received a new type of trach today, one which allows her to talk. While they were working with her, she seemed to surprise herself with the noise she made, but she has not said any words yet. At the pace she has been progressing, though, it probably will not be long before she does.

On the down side, Crystal is dealing with another urinary tract infection and has also contracted 'c. diff', a serious inflammation of the colon caused by bacteria. The c. diff bacteria is commonly found in the intestines and is usually not harmful, but long term antibiotic use and hospitalization can disrupt the balance of normal flora and cause an overgrowth of the bad bacteria within the GI tract. This overgrowth then leads to the production of toxins that can damage the lining of the colon. Crystal is being treated and has also been placed on isolation precautions to prevent the spread to others. Everyone who enters her room must wear a gown and gloves, and when Crystal leaves her room, she must also wear a gown.

In light of this new infection and the rigorous therapy schedule, they have asked that visitors be strictly limited at least for the rest of this week. Crystal is still trying to adjust to the new routine, and it is easy to become overstimulated, not to mention the fact that there simply seems to be too few hours in the day right now to accomplish everything. Waiting at least until the weekend would be best, since the therapy schedule is a little less demanding on Saturdays and Sundays.

Crystal's sense of determination continues to be very strong. She gives an enthusiastic 'thumbs-up' every time someone asks her if she is ready to try something new. The therapy sessions have been very difficult at times, and Crystal has frequently had to fight through the pain and frustration, but she continues to meet this challenge of her life head on.

Seven weeks have now passed since the accident, and Crystal continues to be a miracle in progress. I truly thought that by this time, I wouldn't have enough things to write about to continue daily updates, but Crystal has proven me very wrong. She was dressed in her Saluki   t-shirt and shorts today and is looking more and more like herself. One of the most exciting new developments is that Crystal has begun to communicate by giving the 'thumbs up' for 'yes' and 'thumbs down' for 'no', and for the most part, her responses have been appropriate. She has also learned a little sign language and has used it to say things like 'I love you'. She has received text messages from some of her friends, and Crystal was able to flip through those totally on her own. All Donna and Marvin had to do was hand her the phone.

Crystal had a lot of smiles for us today and gave the kids 'knuckles'. As soon as she saw me, she spotted a hair on my shirt and pulled it off, so I have to say that her vision must be doing pretty good too. She also seems to be recognizing people more and more. Jay Voss brought Crystal a baseball today that was autographed by all the players on his team. Marvin looked at the ball for a while but couldn't find Jay's signature. Crystal took the ball, shuffled it around in her hand a little, put her thumb on Jay's autograph, and showed it to Marvin. She did the same for us later in the afternoon. It was pretty awesome.

The physical therapists have been mostly working on building upper body strength these last couple of days and have begun to see a little more purposeful movement from the right side. They also showed her the gym where she will be working out during the rehab process, and those sessions will increase in intensity this week. A complete recovery continues to be the ultimate goal, and Crystal is showing so many signs of being well on her way to accomplishing exactly that!

Crystal safely made it to St. Mary's late yesterday and was admitted to room 636. Donna was able to ride in the ambulance with her, but her new surroundings were a little overwhelming at first. After somewhat of a rough night, Crystal has had another great day. She was in the chair almost all day and was even able to go for a ride this time. She got to take her first shower and go to the bathroom in the bathroom for the first time in seven weeks! :) I can't even imagine how good that felt! She is no longer on any antianxiety medicines either, and she has been very calm and relaxed today. The physical therapists worked with her for a while, but there is again some concern that her right hip is causing more pain than it should, so they will be looking into that.

Visiting hours are more limited now that she is in rehab in order to not interfere with therapy sessions. During the week, visitors are only allowed from 4-8 p.m., and on the weekends, visiting hours are 12-8 p.m. Many of you also know that due to the highway 40 closure, St. Mary's is a little more difficult to get to than usual these days. I have tried numerous routes over the last six months and the one I've found to be the quickest and easiest follows: Take 64/40 all the way to the closure at Kingshighway. Go right on Kingshighway, left on West Pine, left on Lindell, left on Skinker, right on Clayton, and left on Demun into the garage. Take the walkway into the hospital and the main elevators up to the 6th floor.

 

Crystal is doing wonderfully, and plans are in place to move her to rehab later today. She has been able to throw a ball with her left hand, hold a magazine, eat ice chips, and use the bed controls to move the bed up and down on her own. Late yesterday, for the first time, the physical therapists sat her on the side of the bed, and while holding on to her, they asked her to stand. She was able to pull herself into a standing position several different times. She still needs a lot of strengthening exercises, especially for her upper body and right side, and she tires easily, but the progress has been remarkable.

Donna and Marvin continue to make an amazing team. They have both been at Crystal's bedside so much learning how to take care of her and putting their heads together to understand and remember everything the doctors tell them. They have learned more about neurosurgery and critical care medicine than they ever cared to know, but they are now counting their blessings. They know they have so much to be thankful for and feel so lucky to have so many wonderful people in their lives. They are thrilled beyond belief by Crystal's progress and can't wait to start this new phase of her recovery. They packed up and checked out of SLU's Auxiliary House yesterday, which is where they have stayed for the past nearly seven weeks. It was a really great feeling to know that the worst was behind them. They know, more than ever, to appreciate the little things in life and to not sweat the small stuff, especially when it comes to the kids, because you never know when your world might be turned upside down.

Crystal will be transported by ambulance to St. Mary's Health Center in Clayton, MO and will be in the brain injury rehab unit on the 6th floor. The exact time and room number is unknown at this point. It will probably be a very busy afternoon for her because she will be fully evaluated on arrival, and plans will be made for a big day of therapy tomorrow. I will post more details as I get them. Once again, pray that the transition goes smoothly and that Crystal's progress continues at such an unbelievable pace!

The mass at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Damiansville will be for Crystal.

Crystal has moved to room 511! She looked very scared at first and had some tears, but after a lot of talking, she was convinced that the move was a good thing. She already had a fight with Marvin over the remote...The incision on Crystal's head has been itching as it heals, but they don't want her to introduce any infection by touching the area. She must have reached up a couple of times, and Marvin told her that if she didn't stop itching, he was going to take the remote away. Well, she tested the waters one more time, so he grabbed the remote, but Crystal was quick to hang on and wasn't about to let go. :) The therapists were there this afternoon working with Crystal. She will hopefully have a nice quiet weekend, and rehab is probably right around the corner.

Here is an update from Diane regarding Casey...Casey has been progressing very well. She continues to wear a boot on her right foot and is able to bear weight on that foot. She has been using the walker to get around the house and is slowly getting her strength back in that leg. She has an appointment on Monday with the 'foot' doctor, and our hopes are that the fracture in the right foot has healed enough that she won't need to wear the boot anymore. The cast on her left foot will be removed on Monday to check the incision and do x-rays to make sure the bones remain in good alignment and are healing well. They will then re-apply the cast, and she will continue to be non-weight bearing on that foot for another 8-10 weeks. The laceration to her right lower leg has healed and we no longer have to do dressing changes - yeah! The site of the abscesses on her back incision are almost completely healed, and we continue to cover it with a light dressing only. At present, she cannot sit in a regular chair for any length of time because the muscles in her upper back are very weak. She is not scheduled to see the spine surgeon for another two weeks, but hopefully he will give clearance at that time to start physical therapy to strengthen the muscles and build her tolerance. At present, the physicians are continuing the Lovenox injections daily to keep her blood thin and to reduce the risk of blood clots forming. It is anticipated that she will need to continue these until she becomes a little more mobile. All in all, she is doing very well!

Crystal is doing well but has not yet moved out of the intensive care unit. Now they are saying that she will move to a different room either later today or tomorrow. I think they are just being extra cautious considering what happened the last time, so that is a good thing. Crystal was awake, alert, and up in the chair earlier today. The occupational therapist had her brush her teeth by herself, which she was able to do, and he worked with her right hand quite a bit. He had Crystal opening and closing the hand, which she was able to do a little, but still a lot more than she could do a week ago. Unfortunately, the look of frustration on her face from not being able to move it as well as she would like was plain to see, but a great deal of progress was evident as well.

Last night, Crystal was holding a flash light, and she figured out how to turn it on and off. Marvin told her to shine it at 'mom', and she shined it right at Donna. He then told her to shine it at the nurse, and she got that one right too. Sometimes, it's the little things that make the day really special.

Crystal really seems to enjoy looking at pictures. There are a bunch of them posted on the wall in her room. Yesterday, Donna was standing on the side of her bed and blocking the view, so Crystal reached up and pushed her to the side so she could see them better. Sometimes we've given her pictures to hold and look at. One interesting thing is that she frequently closes her left eye when she looks at things close up. In the beginning, when we first learned about the strokes, the doctors said that her vision would probably be affected, and that definitely seems to be the case. No one is really sure the extent, but Crystal will hopefully be able to overcome those deficits with therapy and time.

Something else that we all take for granted but continues to be a daily struggle for Crystal is the difficulty with communication. Even though Crystal follows many commands, waves goodbye, and does a lot of other things that let you know she is thinking and is still her old self, when something appears to be wrong, it continues to be a guessing game. They have been trying to get her to nod or shake her head 'yes' or 'no' in response to questions, but so far, she has not been able to answer. It is yet another hurdle that she will hopefully cross sooner rather than later. Crystal is truly in for the challenge of her life and will continue to need all the prayers and support she can get.

There will be mass for Crystal on Saturday at 4 p.m. at St. Damian's Church.

There was another exciting moment this afternoon. We were finally able to see a nice big 'Crystal' smile! About five minutes earlier, we were just discussing how we had seen a couple of tiny smiles but no 'real' smiles from Crystal in more than six weeks now. I was finally saying my goodbyes, and Marvin told Crystal that she needed to give me a kiss. She looked at me kind of funny, and I told her not to worry, that I wasn't going to make her kiss me. She started to smile a little (with relief, I'm sure), and as everyone in the room started laughing, Crystal's smile got bigger and bigger. I told her I would settle for a kiss on the cheek, but she turned her head away and kept on smiling. It was really neat, and so good to see. It was the smile that everyone has been waiting for!

Talk of moving Crystal to another room has continued to heat up, so that may happen late today or tomorrow. They have blocked room 511 for her... a.k.a. 'Casey's old room' or 'the executive suite'. She certainly deserves it after everything she has been through!

Crystal continues to do well. Her CT scan this morning looked great, so they decided not to do the shunt. Although the possibility still exists that Crystal may need the shunt some time in the future, Donna and Marvin were thrilled by the news today, especially considering all the progress Crystal has been making with her right side. All this time, it has seemed like the improvements she made moving her right side were always negated after each trip to the operating room. Each time, Crystal had to start back at square one. They now hope that Crystal can continue to move forward from here. There is talk about moving Crystal to a new room possibly tomorrow. The plan is to bypass the Neuro Observation Room this time and go straight to a private room. Donna and Marvin will have to be with her around the clock during the transition to make sure that things go more smoothly than her previous bout outside of the ICU. Rehab is also on the horizon, so keep praying as things are definitely starting to look up.

Crystal had a great day today. She was seen moving her right arm and leg on her own several different times, and at one point, she raised both her arm and her leg completely off the bed. She also squeezed Donna's hand really tight with her right hand. It was, by far, the most she has moved that side on her own since the accident. Crystal also spent some time working with shapes and fitting them into the correct slot. She was very good at it and showed that her fine motor movement of her left hand and her thinking skills are doing well. She was awake and in the chair this morning but slept much of the afternoon. She will have a CT scan first thing in the morning to determine whether or not she needs the shunt.

An article about Crystal appears in this month's issue of Saluki Illustrated. If you are interested in reading it, please go to http://issuu.com/salukiillustrated/docs/2009_july.

Johnny was taken to the emergency room at Barnes last night because of significant swelling in his knee. They did some blood work and removed fluid from the knee. He was diagnosed with cellulitis, a bacterial infection that affects multiple layers of skin. Luckily, it was caught early and had not extended into the joint. He has been started on antibiotics and was told to keep it still, wrapped, iced, and elevated as much as possible. It was a small setback, but he is doing ok. 

Crystal's CT scan this morning looked good, so the ventriculostomy was removed. She has been scheduled for a shunt on Tuesday, but if things continue to go well, the procedure will be cancelled. It will not necessarily be a bad thing if she gets the shunt, but it would be really great if she could avoid it if possible. Crystal looked good again today and was awake and sitting in the chair much of the morning. She had a lot of visitors, and there was a great turnout for the mass in the chapel today as Casey, Johnny, and Elisha were in attendance as well. Even though six weeks have passed, the lasting effects of this accident remain fresh in the minds of so many, and we pray for the continued healing of all those touched by this tragedy.

Crystal had a pretty uneventful day. There are plans for a CT scan of her brain tomorrow, and if it looks the same or better, the ventric will come out. They have also scheduled a shunt placement for Tuesday. Another CT scan of her brain will be done that morning, however, and if it looks the same or better, the shunt will be cancelled.

Anyone is welcome to attend the mass in the hospital's chapel at 10:30 on Sunday mornings. Besides our group, there are usually only a handful of other people, so the priest makes a special point to mention the names and pray for all seven of the accident victims each week.

As we approach the six week mark, the amount of love and support shown by so many people continues to be extraordinary. This site had its 100,000th visitor today, and there have been almost 1000 comments and prayers left for Crystal and her family. Recovering from a brain injury is a long and terribly difficult process, but an unbelievable number of people have come together and helped make the journey bearable. Thank you, again!

 

Crystal has had a very stable day so far. Her vital signs and ICP have been within normal limits, and her temperature has stayed down. The neurosurgeon talked about taking the ventriculostomy out soon, hopefully sometime this weekend. The last CT scan of her brain showed that the CSF pocket has remained about the same, so they are encouraged by the fact that it hasn't gotten any larger, and they continue to believe that it will go away on its own over time. There has still been no official word on the CT scan of her hip, but they did get Crystal into a chair today, so there seems to be less concern about that. While exercising her right side today, she seemed to tolerate the hip movements well but showed signs of discomfort when they moved her knee, so they plan to investigate that further over the next couple of days. Overall, Crystal is doing well, so keep your fingers crossed and pray, pray, pray that things continue to get better and her next trip out of the ICU goes better than the last! Once the ventric comes out, it won't be long before she gets a new room!

It was a slow and quiet day for Crystal today as she slept most of the time. There are plans for another CT scan of her brain tomorrow to make sure that the pocket of CSF has not gotten any larger. Also, it was recently noticed that Crystal appears to be in pain every time her right leg is being exercised, so some x-rays were done. There was an area in her right hip that looked suspicious for a fracture, so she was later taken for a CT scan of the area. Donna and Marvin have not yet heard from the doctors regarding these test results.

I do not know of an account here in Clinton County, but an account was set up at Old National Bank in Carbondale for anyone who would like to donate to Crystal's cause. Here is the link to an article with easy instructions for payment... www.salukiillustrated.com/helpcrystal.html

Thanks again to everyone for the continued prayers, support, care and concern. It means so much. Crystal will have a really amazing story to tell someday.

 

 

Overall, Crystal had a good day today, and she was comfortable and relaxed most of the time. Her ventriculostomy remains in place, and it continues to monitor her intracranial pressure, but they are no longer draining any CSF from her brain. The doctors are hoping that her ICP stays below 20, but if it rises above 20, they can still drain a small amount of CSF to bring it down quickly and easily. Since they have not drained any CSF today and her ICP has remained stable, they believe that the normal mechanisms for reabsorbing CSF are working inside her brain. The last couple of CT scans have shown that the pocket of CSF on the outside of her brain has remained the same, but they think that it will eventually go away on its own. They are not ruling out needing a shunt some time in the future, but for now, they are going to take the conservative route. They are hoping that by allowing the intracranial pressure to increase, enough force will be placed on the CSF to move things along. It may take a long time for it to completely go away, but they feel that it will resolve without another surgery.

Crystal was awake and bright-eyed most of the day. Besides the softball, she also has a washcloth that has been taped into a roll which she likes to pass back and forth with Donna. Today, while Crystal was lying in bed with her one knee up, Donna asked her to balance it on that knee, which she was able to do. She also took her stockings off again this morning. Her progress sometimes has to be measured in small steps, but thankfully, she is again taking steps forward.

It was a better day for Crystal today. Her ventriculostomy is now being drained for an ICP over 15, and they continue to monitor closely for signs of CSF leaking from the side of her head. So far, so good. The doctors still hope that the pocket of CSF underneath the skin on the left side of her head will begin to dissipate on its own very soon. Another CT scan was done today, but Donna did not get to speak with the doctors about the results. Crystal was awake and relaxed most of the day, and her vital signs were stable. She seems to be enjoying the softball that the team brought for her yesterday. She spent much of the day holding it, looking at the names, and handing it back and forth with Donna. She continues to follow commands, and she waved at visitors and gave Marvin a kiss when he came into the room again. Also, Crystal has had to wear pneumatic stockings on her legs which help to prevent blood clots during times of immobility. At one point, she seemed to be a little annoyed with the one on her left leg. Donna finally told her that she was moving that leg enough, and if she wanted it off, she should go ahead and take it off. Crystal made quick work of it...she quickly tore through each velcro strap and handed the whole thing to Donna. Despite everything, she still manages to put a smile on your face sometimes. We all continue to pray that today was a building block for many more good days to come.

I wish I had better news, but a CT scan of Crystal's brain this afternoon showed that CSF is again collecting outside of its normal space and pooling underneath the skin. The neurosurgeon talked to Donna and Marvin and explained that this is a very rare complication, and this unique situation is good for his students but not good for Crystal. They are not exactly sure at this point where they will go from here, but for the time being, they have allowed her intracranial pressure to rise to 10 with the hope that the ventricles in her brain and the normal mechanisms for reabsorbing CSF will start working again. She ran a fever for much of the day but was otherwise stable. She was allowed to rest, and she received plenty of pain medication to keep her comfortable. We continue to be patient and have faith that things will get better again very soon!

Crystal had a pretty average day today. She slept off and on, and at times was more alert than others. The ventriculostomy was draining a small amount of CSF when her ICP rose above 8, and the dressing covering the surgical site remained dry today with no evidence of leakage. Although there have not been any obvious signs of major blood loss, Crystal's blood counts were low again this morning, so she received two units of blood. The low count is believed to be the result of the surgery and the dilutional effect from an increase in fluids over the last couple of days.

Crystal's left hand has been restrained now for quite some time to prevent her from pulling at the trach and other tubes. Marvin caught her trying to untie the knot today :) She is definitely thinking... 

The recovery process continues to be agonizingly slow at times, and Crystal and her loved ones have had to be very patient. The painful theme of taking steps forward and then back is still the reality, but we continue to believe that Crystal is going to fully recover. She has definitely had more good days than bad, and we hope and pray that her surgery on Friday was the turning point we have been waiting for. 

Crystal had a restless night and morning. She seemed to be very anxious and in pain. Her heart rate was up in the 150s, and she was running a low grade fever again. She wasn't really following any commands or making eye contact for a while. She finally received some pain medication and something to help with the anxiety, and she was able to get some rest. This afternoon, things were much better. She was more alert and following commands again, and she was able to be in the chair and have her arms and legs exercised. The ventriculostomy has been draining small amounts of CSF to keep her intracranial pressure at 5, and the dressing on the left side of her head has remained dry with no signs of CSF leaking from the surgical incision site today. Crystal emotions have begun to surface more and more these last couple of days, and she sometimes appears scared and upset. It is a positive sign of progress, but we continue to pray for her as her emotional healing is just beginning.

Crystal's sixth trip to the operating room was believed to be a success, but they will continue to watch the left side of her head for signs of leaking CSF. When they opened the flap, they said that the place where the CSF was leaking from was obvious, and they were able to overlap the membranes and secure them tightly. The shunt they originally planned was not inserted, and the ventriculostomy remains in place for now. The ventric continues to allow for tight control of the intracranial pressure, so they will again allow her to tolerate higher and higher pressures until they feel that the site has healed. They also saw small signs of infection in the area, so they were able to clean the site well and revise the incision to maximize blood flow, which should help the healing process as well. Crystal remains on heavy duty antibiotics and pain medication and was able to rest most of the day.

Just a quick update on Crystal's surgery...Crystal is in the operating room now, and the doctors came out to talk to Donna and Marvin about a change in plans. They remain leary about placing the shunt, and after discussions with other neurosurgeons about Crystal's case, they have decided to reopen the original site and try to do some repairs there. They hope to be able to overlap the membranes to prevent the CSF from getting to the outside of Crystal's brain. They are anticipating the surgery to take a few more hours, so say some prayers that this will be the end of the complications!

Crystal was restless at times today, but overall, it has been another good day. She had a CT scan first thing this morning, which the neurosurgeons said looked very good. The accumulation of CSF on the left side of Crystal's head has gone down significantly, so they feel like even though there has been a small amount of CSF leakage, the ventriculostomy has really helped keep most of the excess CSF away from that area. They are planning to bring Crystal to the operating room early tomorrow morning to first take a very close look at the problem spot on her head that hasn't healed completely. They want to clean the area well and restitch to hopefully prevent further leaking of CSF, and if there is no evidence of infection, they will place the VP shunt. Just as the ventric has decreased the amount of CSF collecting in that space, they believe that the shunt will accomplish the same. Crystal did receive her PICC line today, so she will no longer have to suffer through multiple sticks for IV access and other blood draws.

I cannot take credit for organizing the benefit, but a huge thanks goes out to those who are. The date was changed to July 25th due to band availability, and anyone who would like to donate a basket to the silent auction should contact Jennifer Wempe at 618-523-7104.

I have not spoken with Johnny or anyone in his family, so despite requests for updates, I do not feel qualified to write anything regarding his progress, but if he or someone from his family would like to post something, please feel free. There are many people still praying for him and asking how he is doing.

Casey ended up having surgery on her foot yesterday. The bones across the top of her foot were crushed and needed many small plates and screws to rebuild the area. She has a small catheter in her right hip which has a small pump attached, and it instills a local anesthetic to block the nerves. This nerve block serves as a form of pain control in addition to IV pain medication. She had a rough afternoon as tubing from the pain pump became kinked, and her pain levels were very high. The anesthesiologist was called and gave her a bolus of medication through the tubing to open the pathway and alleviate the pain. She is now resting comfortably. Tomorrow they will remove the temporary splint and apply a fiberglass cast. She will not be able to bear any weight on that foot for approximately ten weeks to allow for adequate healing. In lieu of any complications, she will be coming home tomorrow or Saturday.

For those who didn't see the e-mail Diane sent out yesterday regarding Casey, here is a quick update on her...It has been one month since the accident and Casey is doing much better. The laceration to her scalp has healed, and the surgeon who repaired it went to great lengths to make sure the scar is as minimal as possible. It looks absolutely fabulous. She was able to tolerate being off the oxygen on her last day of hospitalization and has not had any more problems with breathing. Her right scapula (shoulder blade) is healing, and she can now tolerate using her right arm without too many problems. She has three vertebrae in her neck and six in her thoracic spine that were stabilized with brackets and pins - 17 pins in all! Dr. Place himself was amazed that she was able to avoid any spinal damage. Her guardian angels were working overtime that night! She continues to wear a neck brace until more healing takes place due to some instability in the neck area. The lower part of the incision on her back continues to have an area which has not healed, and the dressing is being changed 2-3 times daily. The laceration on Casey's lower right leg became infected while she was in the hospital, so the stiches were removed and the wound was left open to drain. At present, the wound has closed about 50% of the way, and those dressing changes are still being done twice daily as well. It will be another couple of weeks before it is totally healed, but it is definitely getting better every day. The right foot fracture is healing well, and she now has an air boot to mobilize it and start to bear weight. At present, she stands long enough to pivot from the wheelchair to bed, etc. Physical therapy is working with her to strengthen her leg muscles and build her tolerance. The left foot continues to be problematic. While in the hospital, Casey had a stabilizing external device placed on the bones to hopefully allow them to heal in place. On Monday, she had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Kargis, and he feels she needs to go back to the operating room for additional surgery to align the fractures and fuse the joint on the top of her foot with plates and pins. This surgery will be done in the next couple of days, and she should only be in the hospital for 2-3 days afterwards. The surgery will hopefully move along the healing process and get her back on her feet by the end of summer. All in all, she is progressing and getting better!

We are now at the one month mark, and Crystal had a pretty good day again today. The side of her head leaked more CSF, but the doctors are not too worried, and they say that it will simply take time to heal. On Friday, they plan to bring Crystal to the operating room yet again to take out the ventriculostomy and place a VP shunt. During this procedure, they will place a small thin tube into one of the ventricles in her brain and then tunnel it under the skin all the way down into the abdominal cavity. When the pressure in her head rises, CSF will be able to flow from her brain, through the catheter, and into her abdomen to eventually be reabsorbed by the body and eliminated. It is something Crystal will probably have for the rest of her life, but Donna and Marvin are looking forward to this getting done and hoping to be able to move forward from there.

Tomorrow, Crystal will be receiving a PICC line, or a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter. It is a type of IV access that can be used for a prolonged period of time. This will cut down on the multiple sticks Crystal has had to endure, as finding her veins and getting IV access has frequently been a difficult task.

The speech therapist worked with Crystal today and gave her both juice and pudding from a spoon. She did great with the spoon and swallowed well, so it has been really nice seeing a little progress in this area as well. The physical therapist was also impressed, as Crystal was very purposeful in moving her left side over to the right side of her body. She explained that this means her brain is working on both sides, and it will hopefully just take time to get the right side moving more. Crystal was moving the fingers on her right hand today, squeezing tightly, and providing resistance to movement with her right arm...all encouraging signs.

A lot of people have been asking lately how Donna and Marvin are doing...They are doing well considering the circumstances. Some days are better than others, while some are particularly difficult. This experience has been a roller coaster ride as they have watched Crystal take steps forward and sometimes backward. They have been living through every parent's worst nightmare, but they both have shown an unbelievable amount of inner strength, and their sense of determination to give Crystal every opportunity to fully recover is amazing. They have been positive, supportive, and strong advocates, and they have remained patient and hopeful through it all. They continue to try to find a balance between two things that Crystal needs so much of... aggressive therapy and stimulation but also time to rest and heal. Because the brain is the least understood organ in the body and the slowest to recover, they have had to come to terms with the uncertainties that lie ahead. They believe that Crystal is truly in God's hands, and their faith has been called upon countless times in the last month. They have been by Crystal's side so much that it is sometimes difficult to see the small changes, but they are sometimes reminded to step back and appreciate the big picture...even though Crystal is a long way off from where they hope she ends up, she truly has come a very long way, and she continues to fight to improve every single day. They are so thankful for the wonderful care she receives, for the immense amount of support and prayers from so many, and for being able to spend so much time by Crystal's side focusing on getting her better.

Finally, as you can well imagine, the financial costs resulting from this ordeal are enormous. So far, insurance companies have taken care of most of it, but the bills have already started to add up. A benefit is being planned for August 1 at Cornerstone in Germantown for anyone who would like to help. I will pass along more details as I hear them, so keep that date open if you can!

'Trust Him when your thoughts assail you. Trust Him when your faith is small. Trust Him when, to simply trust Him is the hardest thing of all!' (From the book 'Overwhelming Odds' written by Susan and Denny O'Leary)

 

It was a little quieter day for Crystal today. The neurosurgeon looked at her head this morning and was not terribly concerned. The leaking had stopped. Yesterday, they were draining CSF every time Crystal's intracranial pressure rose above 5, which subsequently led to some leakage. Today, they brought it down to zero, and the plan is to inch up again ever so slowly and allow her to tolerate higher and higher pressures again without leaking. Again, the hope is that while her pressure is low, the leak will seal itself.

One exciting development today was the deflation of the trach cuff, meaning that some of the air Crystal breathes can now move from her lungs and up through her mouth and nose rather than just through her neck. This is another small step toward getting the trach out completely and allowing Crystal to try to talk again. It also, for the time being, should help make it a little easier to swallow.

Overall, Crystal had a restful day as she caught up on the sleep she missed out on yesterday and last night. She still spent some time in the chair and was given a little work-out by the physical therapist. Her infection seems to be well under control, and her vital signs have been very stable. Day by day, little by little, Crystal continues to make progress.

Crystal had another busy day filled with many visitors. She spent a long time in the chair, and her temperature, heart rate, and intracranial pressure have remained stable. She continues to be very awake and alert, and make slow, but sure, progress with following commands. Some good news from today was that Crystal was given some grape juice this morning through a straw. She swallowed well, as this was her first real drink in over four weeks that didn't pass through the feeding tube. The not so great news from today was that Crystal's incision on her head appeared to be leaking cerebrospinal fluid again. Just this morning, the head neurosurgeon looked at the site and was very pleased that it hadn't been draining. Unfortunately, that changed and the doctors were called, but no decisions have yet been made. It has been so very frustrating seeing these complications arise when Crystal, her family, and her entire community of supporters have been doing everything right...working hard, staying strong, positive, and hopeful, and praying. Keep the prayers and comments coming...Crystal's luck has got to turn around soon!

Crystal had a full day today and is now relaxing comfortably and watching the baseball game. She was up in the chair two separate times, the first for four hours and the second for an hour and a half, and she tolerated it very well. She continues to follow commands well. The occupational therapist had Crystal touching her finger to her nose and kicking her left leg out multiple times. They are also doing some passive exercises on Crystal's right side, and she has, on occasion, moved it a little on her own, but it continues to be a challenge. It is yet another mountain for her to climb, but she will get there!

The ventriculostomy remains in place. Her ICP has been very stable, but they plan to watch her for a few more days before removing it. The ventric is essentially the only thing that is keeping Crystal in the ICU at this time.  

The best part of the day was when Crystal gave Marvin a Father's Day kiss. He certainly deserved it after everything they have been through these last four weeks. It was a bittersweet moment and turned out to be the best, most emotional Father's Day he could have ever imagined.  

This morning, Crystal was taken to the operating room for a ventriculostomy placement. This means that a catheter was placed into one of the ventricles, or fluid-filled spaces within the brain. It is connected to a pressure transducer which constantly measures Crystal's intracranial pressure, and it also allows for the drainage of CSF to lower the pressure if it is high. This catheter is different from the intracranial pressure monitor Crystal had a couple of weeks ago. The one she had previously did not allow for the drainage of CSF, it simply gave the pressure reading. With the current problems with CSF build-up, however, the neurosurgeons felt as though a ventric would hopefully be able to lower the pressure within Crystal's head, therefore allowing the tiny hole where CSF is leaking to seal itself off. It will also hopefully buy more time until the normal mechanisms for CSF reabsorption start working better. A ventriculostomy is typically placed at the bedside in the ICU, but in Crystal's case, she went to the operating room simply because she has had such a hard time catching a break lately, and they didn't want to take any chances.

After Crystal returned to her room, she was very awake and alert and was following commands well. She even waved 'hi' and 'bye' to some of her visitors today! Donna also showed Crystal a picture of her and Lindsey and asked her which one was Lindsey. Crystal pointed to Lindsey! She spent much of the day in the chair, and she didn't appear to be in near as much  pain as the last couple of days. Her heart rate and temperature were also very stable today. Crystal continues to give me an amazing story to pass along every single day!

Today was a little better than yesterday. Crystal is back in intensive care and getting lots of attention and wonderful care. The wound culture from the incision on Crystal's head was found to be the source of infection. A small part of it was opened, cleaned, and drained, and a few new stitches are in place. The doctors with 'infectious disease' were consulted, and they feel like the antibiotics Crystal is currently on should take care of the infection, and much of the redness and acute inflammation has already subsided. The left side of Crystal's head also appeared very tight and full today, and the CSF collection continues to be an issue that is being watched closely. She still appears to be in pain at times, but she is receiving a couple of different medications that help throughout the day. They allowed her to rest today, so she got a break from the chair and physical therapy. Crystal ran a fever for much of the day again, up to 103. She didn't seem to focus or make eye contact most of the time, and she didn't follow commands for the most part, but she occasionally seemed to really be listening. Donna was talking to her at one point and told her that she had a lot of angels watching over her. Donna then pointed to some of the angels that are hanging over Crystal's head and asked her if she could see them. Crystal looked up right at them and gave a really tiny nod.

The other good news from today is that Crystal's back dressing was removed by the ortho spine doctors, and they were very happy with what they saw. Despite the small amount of drainage, the incision is healing well and could not look any better. A lumbar puncture was done last night to drain off some cerebrospinal fluid. This allowed them to both relieve some pressure in Crystal's head and analyze the CSF for signs of infection. Her CSF was clear, and meningitis was ruled out...thank goodness!!

The neurosurgeon talked with Donna at length about the current setback and explained that it is very normal for someone with such serious injuries to experience a course like this. Throughout these early days, it is common for someone's level of consciousness to 'wax and wane', especially in light of infection, fever, and CSF build-up on the outside of the brain. They are very confident that Crystal will soon be back on the upswing as soon as the infection subsides.

Crystal hit a big bump in the road today. After a restful night, she spiked another fever this morning, and her heart rate was in the 160s. She became restless and winced in pain every time someone touched her, especially her head. It was noticed that the lower part of the incision on her head appeared very red and inflamed, and part of the dressing covering the incision on her back had some yellow drainage. Both of these findings were very concerning, and a steady stream of doctors worked with Crystal much of the day. Wound cultures were done on both her head and her back, and new blood, urine, and sputum cultures were obtained in an attempt to pinpoint a new source of infection. She was started on three new antibiotics. They hope to manage her conservatively for now, but it is possible that she will need another operation to debride those wounds. Also, at one point today, Crystal's oxygen saturation dropped into the mid 80s, so arterial blood gases were drawn. She wasn't quite as alert today as the last couple, and in general, Crystal looked like she just didn't feel well at all. They planned to take her for another CT scan late this afternoon and then readmit her to the intensive care unit to regain control of the situation. There will hopefully be more answers very soon. Pray, pray, pray in the meantime!

Crystal has once again given us a reason to celebrate! Today, she absolutely, positively followed commands by holding up two fingers when asked, and she gave the 'thumbs-up'. It marks a huge milestone and a moment that Donna and Marvin will not forget. She did a few other things today that also let them know that she is becoming much more aware of everything. At one point, she was running a low grade temperature and had a little sweat on her face. Instead of wiping it off for her, Marvin handed her a box of tissues and asked her if she wanted to wipe her face. Crystal promptly grabbed a tissue and did exactly that. The speed of her progress continues to be absolutely amazing! 

Crystal had a really unbelievable day. Today, on her 24th day of hospitalization, she was moved out of the intensive care unit! It was just two weeks ago today when Crystal had her first operation to remove a subdural hematoma from the surface of her brain, and she faced her worst, most critical night. It has only been one week since the tracheostomy tube was inserted, and she was completely dependent on the ventilator to meet her body's needs. Just a week ago, Crystal didn't follow any commands, she made very minimal eye contact, and she still hadn't been up to a chair or even seen a physical therapist. Only six days ago, her back surgery finally took place, and Crystal began to show more signs of improvement. Her progress this past week has truly been remarkable!

Crystal was moved to the 'Neuro Observation Room', a large room with four beds and two nurses where she will continue to be under a very close watch. Unfortunately, there are no walls in between the patients in this room, only curtains, and Crystal has an interesting neighbor or two. It might be a good thing that she can't talk right now, or one of her neighbors would probably be getting an earful! :)

Johnny visited Crystal again this afternoon, and she held and squeezed his hand constantly. She seemed to be very aware of who he was and how much they need each other right now. Another friend who visited Crystal today asked her to wink, and she did it! Also, Michelle was watching the baseball game with Crystal earlier. Michelle moved the TV a little so she could see it better, but Crystal immediately grabbed it and moved it back where she could see it better!

Another exciting development today was that the tracheostomy tube was downsized, and a smaller tube was inserted. This allows the stoma site to shrink in size and is the first step in preparation for the tube to eventually be removed completely. Because the body's natural tendency is to heal, Crystal's stoma site should heal on its own with time without further surgical intervention.

Moving out of the ICU has also brought more rigorous workouts for Crystal. The therapist had her sitting on the side of her bed today, rather than the chair, and it became obvious how much work Crystal will need to regain a lot of muscle control. Based on her progress in other areas, though, this probably won't take long either!

Finally, on behalf of Crystal's family, I wanted to thank the entire staff of 5ICU for the amazing work you do, for saving Crystal's life, and for helping her and her family and friends deal with this nightmare of an ordeal. You gave Crystal top-of-the-line care, guided us every step of the way, tolerated the endless lines of visitors, and helped in so many other ways. Most importantly, you all seemed to be pulling for Crystal too, and that meant so much. You are very wonderful people!  

Crystal is beginning to follow more simple commands. This morning, her nurse asked her to open her mouth to get her teeth brushed, and Crystal opened nice and wide. Later when asked if she was watching the basketball game, she gave a little nod, and when told to close her eyes, Crystal gave an extra long blink. She wouldn't wiggle her toes or give the 'thumbs-up' on command, but everyone who has visited Crystal often in the last three weeks felt like this was again her most alert day so far. The neurosurgeon talked to Donna and Marvin about Crystal's most recent CT scan. The pocket of CSF on the left side of Crystal's head has actually remained the same as before, but he is not concerned because she continues to improve. The fact that it hasn't gotten any worse is encouraging, and it should only be a matter of time before it goes away. He also told Donna and Marvin that Crystal actually seems to be progressing faster than average as compared to others with similar injuries, so he believes that the rehab process may go quicker than once thought. We'll continue to keep our fingers crossed for that!

Crystal remains in the intensive care unit, but her days there are probably numbered! Her arterial and central lines have been removed, and she only has two regular IVs for infusing fluid and medications. She has been receiving only a small amount of pain medication each day, and she has not required any help from the ventilator in over 24 hours. Her vital signs have been stable, and her temperature has remained low for the most part. Crystal's most critical stage has passed.

All of the comments being posted on this site are so much appreciated. Hopefully it won't be long before Crystal will be ready to listen to all of the messages being sent her way. Keep them coming!

Crystal had a pretty good day again today. This morning, her neurosurgeon walked into her room and said her name. Crystal's eyes popped open immediately, and he was very impressed. He explained to Donna and Marvin that even though it may seem like a small accomplishment, so many connections in the brain have to be working correctly to be able to do that, and Crystal could not do that a week ago. He is also confident that the CSF collection in the area where Crystal's skull was removed has significantly subsided, but another CT scan was done this afternoon anyway. They had not yet heard any official report.

She needed a little help from the ventilator for a few hours early this morning but has again been on her own for most of the day. This was not considered a setback, however, since she progressed so fast to begin with, and the occasional need for assistance is to be expected at first.

Crystal sat in the chair again for several hours today. The ball game was on in her room while she was up, and her eyes were glued to the screen. Every time a commercial came on, however, she looked away until the game started again. Signs of progress have, at times, been very subtle, but we will take them!

As I update this site tonight, it has been almost exactly three weeks since that fateful night. Despite the fact that Crystal still has a long journey in front of her, she has taken some great strides. She again seemed very awake, active and alert today, and the feeling amongst the doctors and nurses who have taken care of her a lot is that each day has been a little better than the day before. Today she was making great eye contact with the person who was talking to her, but she just isn't quite ready to consistently follow commands.

Earlier today, Crystal's nurse was cleaning around the trach site. It must have been pretty uncomfortable, and Crystal was not happy...She was making some really angry faces that showed Donna and Marvin some glimpses of the feisty girl they know and love:) 

Crystal continues to do well without the ventilator and will spend her first night in three weeks completely breathing on her own. She sat up in the chair again today, this time for four and a half hours. Physical and occupational therapists will continue to work with her every day. They have spent much of their time exercising Crystal's right side, since she already moves the left side so much on her own. There has not been an official report on Crystal's right shoulder, collar bone and arm x-rays, but they are healing well and should not need any surgery. Another CT scan of Crystal's brain is planned for tomorrow.

 

Crystal had a really good day today. She sat up in the chair for quite a while and again seemed very alert. This morning, some of the doctors felt as though Crystal followed a couple of simple commands, but they were unable to get her to do it again. Regardless, it is very promising news and completely normal for someone in this situation to follow commands very inconsistently at first before you start to see more consistency. Also, the neurosurgeon thought that the CSF collection we talked about yesterday could possibly be already subsiding a little, based on the outward appearance of the left side of Crystal's head and the fact that she seemed a little more alert today as compared to yesterday. 

Crystal was completely off of the ventilator for a few hours today and had nothing more than humidified oxygen blowing toward her trach. She was completely breathing on her own. She tolerated the trial very well and will spend more and more time off of the ventilator each day as the weaning process continues. The feeding tube was inserted today directly into her stomach, and her antibiotics are being changed to treat an elevated white blood cell count. They do not know of any specific new source of infection, but her blood cultures continue to be negative. All in all, Crystal has had more good days than bad over the last week and a half, and she continues to make slow, but sure, progress.

The news today was a little disheartening compared to the last few. Crystal's latest CT scan showed a collection of cerebrospinal fluid forming in the area where the subdural hematomas were evacuated last week. The neurosurgeon is slightly concerned by this finding and plans to monitor the situation very closely. It is likely that this complication is preventing Crystal from doing the things we have been so anxiously awaiting...following commands, communicating, and becoming more awake and alert. The neurosurgeon hopes that Crystal's body will begin to absorb the fluid on its own, but it is possible that a drain or shunt will have to be inserted some time in the near future.

On a more positive note, the ventilator's respiratory rate was set at zero for much of the day, so Crystal had to initiate all of her breaths on her own, and she was up to a chair for three hours. More x-rays were done on her right collar bone, shoulder, and arm to determine if there is any need for intervention, but the results were not yet available. The feeding tube insertion was delayed yesterday, but it will hopefully happen in the next day or two.

Crystal had another restless night, but seemed to be very comfortable this morning. She was  receiving Fentanyl, a powerful narcotic, every hour for pain control, but even that did not really seem to be enough these last couple of days. At times through the night, Crystal's heart rate would climb into the 130s and even 150s, and she occasionally broke out into a sweat, so the concern was that her pain medication was not lasting long enough. They were finally able to restart the continuous Fentanyl infusion to hopefully avoid some of the peaks and valleys.

Crystal's back surgery yesterday was, again, a success, but it is probably another source of significant pain. The ortho spine surgeons used screws and rods to fuse and stabilize six vertebrae in her thoracic spine. She has a couple of drains in place near the incision site, but those will probably come out in the next couple of days. Because the thoracic spine normally does not see as much movement and does not have to be as flexible as the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower) spines, the hope is that Crystal's movement will not be terribly restricted in the future.

Later this morning, the nurses got Crystal up into a chair for the first time. She was up for two hours and tolerated it very well. She seemed to be very alert while she was sitting up, and Donna and Marvin thought that Crystal seemed to be tracking them with her eyes as they moved around the room. Before today, she sometimes looked at people and seemed like she focused a little, but she hadn't tracked movements very well. The news today is another great sign of more good things to come. The physical therapists gave her a little work-out while she was in the chair, and the ventilator's respiratory rate was turned down a little to let Crystal do some of the work of breathing on her own. She passed this trial with flying colors. At the end of the two hours, though, they put her back in bed, and she has been sound asleep ever since.

The plan for today also includes a new feeding tube, a procedure that can be done at the bedside in the ICU. They will place this tube directly through the abdominal wall and into the stomach, and it will allow for long-term nutritional support since Crystal is unable to take in anything by mouth at this time.

Donna and Marvin talked to the neurosurgeon again yesterday, and they asked him if he was concerned about the fact that Crystal has not yet followed commands. He is not worried at this point, and he said that out of all of Crystal's injuries, the brain and nervous system will, by far, be the slowest to recover. He continued to stress that these injuries require a lot of time, but she is young. He told them to set their sights on a year from now to get Crystal back on her feet, and anything less than that will be a bonus.

Finally, I just wanted to congratulate Crystal on being named to the Dean's List at SIU- Carbondale. Donna and Marvin just received the letter in the mail the other day, and it is now hanging in Crystal's room. Even though she isn't able to celebrate now, I thought it was an accomplishment worth mentioning. Everyone is sending so many prayers her way, so that she eventually achieves all of her goals and the life she always dreamed of.

Crystal's back surgery was a success, and she is now resting comfortably back in the ICU!

Crystal is resting comfortably this morning after a very active night. The nurse told Donna and Marvin that Crystal's eyes were open for much of the night, and she was constantly moving around. She has not yet followed commands, but her increased movements and wakefulness continue to be more baby steps in the right direction. Her right side still does not move as well as the left. The strokes have not been talked about as much this last week, and the lasting effects are still uncertain, but the general feeling is that at least part of the reason why she isn't moving the right side as well is because of the fractures to her right collar bone, shoulder, and hand. Crystal does occasionally pull her right leg up, and the hope is that as the fractures heal, that right arm will start to move more as well.

The trach went well yesterday, and Crystal now has all of the tubes out of her mouth. She coughed a lot through the night, which is normal for anyone who has pneumonia and a new trach, and that will decrease as her airway adjusts to its new route. They have discovered a urinary tract infection, which is also very common when someone has a catheter for any length of time, so her antibiotics will continue. Her back surgery is scheduled for 12:15 today, and they are anticipating it taking 6-8 hours, so I will post another update later this evening. Send some extra prayers their way today.

 

Crystal had another quiet morning. She received a little more pain medication than usual today, and there hasn't really been any further progress as far as her level of consciousness is concerned. She spiked another fever through the night. It easily came down with tylenol, but they did another set of blood and sputum cultures to make sure they are treating the right organism. She was also going to have the tracheostomy done this afternoon, which is a surgical procedure on her neck to place an airway directly through her trachea. It is commonly done when long term ventilator support is anticipated. It is not known at this point how long Crystal will need help with breathing, but the tracheostomy will be much more comfortable for her by allowing all the tubes to come out of her mouth and nose. They hope to start weaning her from the ventilator after her back surgery is finished. As of now, the back operation is still on for tomorrow, and Crystal will be having another procedure on Wednesday to place a feeding tube through her abdominal wall directly into her stomach for nutritional support. Hopefully, after all this is finished, we will start to see a little more progress.

Donna and Marvin wanted to pass along a huge thank you to everyone out there who has shown their support during these last two weeks. So many people have prayed and sent cards, pictures, angels and medals that now decorate Crystal's room. So many people have visited them at the hospital, kept them company in the waiting room, attended mass in the hospital's chapel on Sunday mornings, sent home-cooked meals and desserts, and helped take care of things at home. So many people have frequently visited this site to check on Crystal's progress, left comments and well-wishes, and offered to help in any way they could. So many people, both near and far, have heard about Crystal's story and wanted to see her win this battle. The list of people to thank is endless. It is difficult to put into words how much it has all meant to them, but it has made them feel so good knowing that so many people are pulling for Crystal and will be there to assist them down this long road. They know that Crystal can really feel the love and is benefiting from the power of prayer as she continues to progress. It will be impossible to personally thank everyone who has shown their support, but it will never be forgotten. Prayers continue to be the one thing they need the most.

 

Crystal has had a fairly quiet weekend, which is exactly what she needs in preparation for her surgery on Tuesday. Crystal continues to receive pain medication, but her sedation is now off. This morning, she had both eyes wide open, was looking around, and seemed to be more aware of her surroundings than any other time since the accident. When Donna held her hand and started talking to her, Crystal's heart rate immediately went from 95 up to about 120, which is yet another sign that she is really trying to come around. Crystal was frequently reaching up and scratching her eye or touching her head, and she now wears a large mitten on her left hand, which looks more like a boxing glove, to prevent her from pulling the tubes out of her mouth. She has been squeezing with her left hand and showing off her strength...still not on command, but all of the signs are pointing in the direction that she is getting closer to that point. Her nurse this weekend has had so many positive things to say. He stressed that this process is not something in which drastic changes will be seen overnight and that it may take months or even a year for Crystal to recover from this, but he and the doctors agree that Crystal is on the road to recovery. They do not believe in giving false hope to people, and if they didn't believe it, they wouldn't be saying it...they very much believe that Crystal will be the old Crystal again.

 

After a week full of both highs and lows, I have nothing but good news to report from the hospital tonight. Crystal already looks a lot better than she did a couple of days ago. Because of the surgeries on the left side of her head, her left eye is still too swollen to open, but for the most part, much of the swelling and bruising in her face has subsided. Her ICP monitor actually stopped working this morning, so the doctors removed it and opted not to replace it since her pressures have been so stable. Crystal's sedation was turned off for a while earlier, and she managed to get her right eye open pretty wide and was moving quite a bit. She still didn't follow commands, but she seems like she might be getting close. After everything she has been through this week, Crystal is doing amazingly well.

Casey was being discharged tonight around 8 p.m., so she is hopefully sleeping in her own bed right now!

Crystal had a fairly quiet and uneventful day today. Her temperature and intracranial pressure remained low, and this time without the help of tylenol and other medicines. Her sedation was lowered a little, and she was moving her left arm and leg again on her own. Donna, Marvin, & Elmer were at her side today talking to her. She was trying to open her eyes a little and move her mouth, and they really felt like she knew they were there. She even had a few tears stream down her face.

Crystal's back operation has again been postponed, not because she had a bad day, but the neurosurgeons feel that she is simply not ready to take on another major surgery this week.

Crystal had a very special visitor on Tuesday...Johnny was released from Barnes and was able to see the girls for the first time since the accident. It was yet another reminder to keep praying for all of the victims of this tragedy. In some ways, their lives have been changed forever.

Despite the multiple tubes and lines, Crystal looked much like herself for the first nine days after the accident with mostly just scrapes and bruises showing on the outside of her broken body. Since the surgeries on her head, however, her appearance has changed. Most of the hair on the left side of her head had to be shaved, and her face is very swollen and bruised. My hope is that Crystal reads this some day and understands the incredible depths she fought back from and the unlikely odds that she beat. Few people survive injuries like these, and we have already witnessed a miracle in that Crystal is still with us. Seeing her now makes you realize how much her young, 21-year-old body has been forced to endure, which is far more than anyone should have to deal with in an entire lifetime.

Crystal had a really good night. Her intracranial pressure was at or below 15 all night, which falls within the normal range, and she was even moving a little on her own despite the continued sedation. Her temperature was also down for the first time in eleven days. She did receive two more units of blood to treat her low blood count and to prepare her for the back surgery that still might happen tomorrow. Her central line was taken out and replaced on the right side, which is routine for any line that has been in for ten days. Overall, it was a quiet, stable night, the complete opposite of the night before. Crystal has hopefully finally found the right track! 

Crystal is now safely back in the ICU after her surgery this morning. The neurosurgeon believes that the tiny blood vessels in the subdural space bled very slowly through the night, therefore causing her intracranial pressure to continuously rise. The clot they removed today was actually twice the size as the one taken out yesterday, but he feels very confident that the bleeding has completely stopped. Another CT scan immediately after surgery looked good, and no further damage was done by the increased pressure on her brain through the night. Her intracranial pressure is now well within the normal range, so lets pray that it stays that way!

Crystal was diagnosed with pneumonia a couple of days ago, and she continues to run a fever, so she is receiving antibiotics and chest x-rays every day. For the most part, though, she has tolerated being turned side to side, and her oxygen saturations have not been a problem.

Because the procedure this morning went so well, Crystal's back operation is tentatively planned for Friday. Now that she has made it past this huge hurdle, hopefully some real progress will be seen very soon!

It has been another rough morning. The intracranial pressure monitor in Crystal's head has registered a little higher than the doctors had hoped, and the CT scan shows that another subdural hematoma has formed in the same area as the one that was removed yesterday. They are taking her back to the operating room shortly for another subdural evacuation. The neurosurgeon feels like the rest of Crystal's brain actually looks very good, and he referred to the areas of stroke as 'tiny'. Again, however, the pressure caused by the clot needs to be relieved before any progress can be made. This is an extremely scary and critical time, and Crystal and her family need all the prayers they can get today.

Crystal underwent surgery today for an evacuation of a subdural hematoma. Neurosurgeons made a large incision in the side of her head, removed a portion of her skull, and then took out the clot. The decision was made to leave the piece of her skull out for now to allow room for her brain to swell, and it will be preserved and replaced at a later time, probably months from now. They also placed a monitor in her head which will continuously measure her intracranial pressure. The purpose of this is to be able to detect dangerous increases in the pressure quickly and treat her accordingly. A CT scan was done immediately after the surgery, and according to the neurosurgeon, things looked good. Crystal, however, remains in extremely critical condition, and they plan to continue sedation for the next couple of days in order to minimize stimulation and allow her brain time to rest and heal. They are also treating her with medications to aggressively prevent any increased swelling in her brain, and another CT scan will be done either tonight or in the morning. They are considering doing the back operation on Friday, but the issues with Crystal's brain will have to be very much under control before that will happen. One baby step at a time...

Casey is doing well. She continues to get up into the wheelchair every day, each time a little longer than the day before. She remains on supplemental oxygen, though, and the doctors talked for the first time today about a lung contusion, or a bad bruise that resulted from a blow to the chest. Hopefully Casey will be able to leave the oxygen behind in the next couple of days as the contusion continues to heal on its own. She is receiving IV antibiotics to treat an infection in her leg laceration, and there is some concern that the crush injury in her other foot may need another operation sometime in the future. The IV pain medications were discontinued, and her pain is now being managed with oral medication. Casey is looking at possibly getting to go home this weekend or early next week.

 

 

A big setback today...The neurosurgeon talked to Donna and Marvin today and feels that Crystal needs to have surgery to evacuate a subdural hematoma, a blood clot that formed in one of the layers of protective covering surrounding the brain. The clot was visible on the initial CT scan on arrival, but the doctors were able to actually decrease the pressure on her brain, therefore avoiding surgery. The CT scan from yesterday, however, showed that the pressure on her brain has increased slightly over the last couple of days, and even slight increases in pressure can really depress the level of consciousness. The surgeon believes that Crystal needs this surgery in order for her level of consciousness to improve. They also plan to place a monitor in her head to measure her intracranial pressure. The surgery is scheduled for 8 a.m., and the back operation has been postponed for now with no date set. They also said that absolutely no visitors will be allowed in the ICU for the next couple of days because they do not want Crystal to have any stimulation whatsoever. Lots and lots and lots of prayers tomorrow... 

 

After a stressful morning, the afternoon went a little better for Crystal. The sedation and pain medication were increased to allow her to rest better and prevent her from fighting the ventilator, and they were able to turn her on her side for a while without her oxygen saturation falling. It has been a frustrating vicious cycle these last couple of days...they want to get her up to help her lungs get better, but they can't sit her up until her back is fixed, but they can't fix her back until her lungs get better, and so on. As of now, the back surgery is still on for Tuesday, so we'll pray that things go as planned.

She had a CT scan today, but no one talked to Donna and Marvin about the results. We are assuming that no news is good news. When the sedation was turned off today for neuro exams, the nurse said that Crystal moved her left arm up over her head and even moved her right arm up a little for the first time, which is a really exciting step in the right direction. Once the back surgery is finished, they hope to be able to leave the sedation off for good and allow her to wake up more.

Casey was up in a wheelchair for about 45 minutes today, and they were able to take her outside for her first breath of fresh air in a week. They had to reopen her leg wound and pack it to allow any infection to hopefully work its way out. The wound cultures are still pending, but Casey is on IV antibiotics in the mean time. Overall, it was a good day!

 

Crystal's progress continues to be a roller coaster. A chest x-ray this morning showed a lot of atelectasis, another common condition that develops when someone is on a ventilator for a prolonged period of time. Her oxygen saturation dropped again when she was turned to the side. A bronchoscopy this morning was clear, but the fear is that if she cannot tolerate being turned on her side, she will not be able to have her back operation on Tuesday, where she would have to be face down for hours. They also plan to do another routine CT scan of her brain today.

There are updates on Elisha and Johnny in the 'comments' section under yesterday's journal entry. Also, there will be a prayer vigil at St. Damian Church tonight at 7 p.m. for all the victims of this tragic accident. Please spread the word.

Crystal had an uneventful night. This morning, her nurse turned the sedation off for a full hour before doing a neuro exam. Crystal managed to get her eyes open ever so slightly and was blinking, and she tried to move her mouth a little as well. She continues to be very purposeful with her left side, but is not yet following any commands. The chief resident of neurosurgery talked to Donna and Marvin last night. The three areas on Crystal's brain that have been affected by the stroke are those that also control vision, 'executive thinking', and memory. The degree to which those areas are affected is still very uncertain. He told them that because Crystal is so young and normally healthy, he believes that she will be able to overcome most of the deficits with time and extensive therapy, and he is confident and hopeful that Crystal will be able to lead a good life again someday. 

Diane left an update on Casey in the 'comment' section under yesterday's journal entry. I couldn't have said it better, so I copied and pasted it here...

Casey was up in the chair for approximately 1/2 hour yesterday. The emphasis at present is to do physical therapy to increase her strength and decrease the chance of blood clots forming due to inactivity. We had a scare last night as she woke up in the middle of the night complaining of shortness of breath and chest pain. They immediately did a Chest CT to rule out a blood clot in the lungs. All was clear! The Physician and nurses talked with Casey for a while and the general feeling was that she had a nightmare followed by a panic attack . She has a lot of emotional healing to do as well as physical healing ..... The wound on her right leg is showing signs of infection. The doctor left orders to remove a few of the stitches to allow any pus to drain out. They will obtain a culture of the drainage and in the meantime they will start her on another antibiotic until the culture reports are back. Bless all of you for your thoughtfullness and prayers....Many people have been affected emotionally by this tragedy and this website is a great way to share and start the healing process....

There weren't any major setbacks today, but really no steps forward either. Crystal did not open her eyes today, but occasionally looked like she was trying. Her back surgery was postponed and tentatively rescheduled for Tuesday. They started feeding her via a tube that was placed in her nose and down into her stomach. She also received a blood transfusion because her hemoglobin was down to 6.9, which is barely more than half of what it should be. A major concern now is that she is possibly developing pneumonia. Her oxygen saturation dropped a couple of times today just from her being turned side to side, and her fever has remained around 101. Her last set of blood cultures were negative for infection, but new blood and sputum cultures were done to again make sure that the infection is not in her bloodstream or lungs. Unfortunately, pneumonia is very common in any patient who remains intubated for a period of time, and right now, getting the breathing tube out is not even being considered.

Today, the doctors asked that visitors be strictly limited. Although Donna and Marvin cannot even begin to express how much they have appreciated each and every one of you who made the trip, only a few visitors will be allowed to see Crystal each day for the time being. The visits to the 5th floor waiting room in support of the family are still ok, but actually being able to go back into the ICU will be unlikely most of the time. Today was a reminder of the long, slow process that Crystal faces in the days to come.

Finally, I wanted to pass along that I talked to Elisha today. She sustained a thoracic spine injury in the accident, but she did not require surgery. She also had a laceration on her arm that required stitches. Elisha was released from the hospital less than 24 hours after the accident, and despite a lot of bruises, she is doing well physically. It has been a very difficult week for her, though, so please keep her in your prayers as well. 

More good news from the hospital today...An ultrasound of Crystal's heart this morning was completely normal, and the MRA showed that all the blood in Crystal's brain is flowing normally, so the doctors have concluded that the three small strokes they see on the MRI occurred at the time of the accident when the swelling was at its worst. Also, in light of the normal scans, they believe that the likelihood of her having more strokes is extremely remote. They will not have to do any kind of procedure on her brain, but she will need extensive physical therapy to get her right side moving again.

Crystal continues to receive sedation and pain medication as comfort measures. The nurses still turn it down every two hours to make sure she can move her left side well. She continues to 'localize briskly' with her left arm and leg, and she opened her eyes another time for a very brief period.

She is still running a low-grade fever, but it is much improved. The blood cultures were negative, so there is no horrible infection in her bloodstream, which is a very good sign. She is getting the occasional dose of tylenol, but the cooling blankets have been taken off.

In case you missed the update on Casey in the 'comments' section, here is the latest from her parents. Casey had a seven hour fusion and stabilization surgery on both her cervical and thoracic spine on Monday. She will be in a neck brace for 6-12 weeks. She was briefly up to a wheelchair yesterday. Casey has a fractured shoulder blade which did not require intervention and will heal on its own. She has a large laceration on her scalp and another long, deep laceration on her right leg which have both been repaired and are healing well. She had another surgery today to pin fractures in her left foot, and it went well. She will be non-weight bearing on her left foot for a while, but she will be able to stand on her right leg when the laceration heals. Her blood count has been a little low, but so far they have not given her a blood transfusion. Casey was able to talk to John Lampen on the phone yesterday, which was very emotional for her, but it was maybe a small step in starting to heal some of the emotional wounds caused by this terrible tragedy.

The prayers seem to be working...Keep them coming! 

CRYSTAL TRIED TO OPEN HER EYES THIS MORNING!!!!!! The sedation and pain medication had been decreased a little, and Donna and Marvin were at her bedside talking to her and asking her to open her eyes. She blinked a few times and seemed like she could maybe hear them. Donna and Marvin jumped for joy, hugged and cried. What an exciting moment for them! Finally a step in the right direction!

The nurses were getting ready to take Crystal down for the MRA just a little while ago. I will update later today after the doctors talk to Donna and Marvin about those results.

The news today was not very good. Crystal had an MRI this morning which confirmed that she did suffer a stroke probably in the hours shortly after the accident. They are planning to do an MRA tomorrow morning, which will show even more detailed images of the blood vessels in her brain. The doctors are trying to determine the exact cause of the stroke and whether or not there is anything they can do to restore function to the right side of her body at this time. Hopefully there will be more answers tomorrow.

Crystal's fever remained high throughout the day today. They have started IV antibiotics, and she has been covered with cooling blankets, but they are still not sure of the infection source. Unfortunately, her level of consciousness has not improved either.

I will update tomorrow as soon as I hear the results of the MRA. Keep praying! 

Crystal was flown by helicopter to St. Louis University Hospital and admitted to the neuro ICU after sustaining extensive injuries in the accident. She remains in critical condition. Here are some details regarding her injuries and priorities of care.

Her head injury is at the top of the list. CT scans show swelling of her brain, with the left side (the side of impact) being worse than the right. Because of the swelling, she is being sedated to allow her brain time to rest and heal, and to hopefully prevent further swelling. The sedation is decreased every two hours to assess her movements. During those times, Crystal has not yet opened her eyes or responded to any commands. She 'localizes' with her left side, meaning that she moves her arm and leg in the direction of painful stimuli. Her right side is not moving near as much, but the hope was that as the swelling went down, she would begin to move it better. She had another CT scan this morning, which showed that the swelling had finally started to subside, which is both good and bad...good in that it has improved, but because the movement on her right side has not really improved, they are concerned that she may have suffered either a stroke or seizure shortly after the accident. Right now, they are taking a 'wait-and-see' approach. If she starts moving her right side more purposefully over the next couple of days, great...if not, they may have to do a procedure to drain some of the excess fluid on her brain.

Crystal has multiple fractures including her jaw, sternum, collar bone, shoulder, hand, ribs, and bones in her thoracic spine. Orthopedic surgeons have tentatively scheduled fusion and stabilization surgery on her thoracic spine for Friday, but whether or not it will actually happen on Friday will still depend on several other factors including fever and issues with her head injury. Some good news is that they cleared her cervical spine today, meaning that there are no fractures in her neck, so the neck brace was able to come off.

She has a breathing tube and is on a ventilator which is doing almost all of the work of breathing for her. Occasionally she takes some extra breaths, but the ventilator will remain in place until her level of consciousness improves.

Crystal had a large laceration on the back of her neck that was repaired with stitches. She has multiple IV lines, and an arterial line which monitors her blood pressure with each heartbeat. She has been running a fever, up to 103 today, so they are also trying to find a source of possible infection. Her prognosis is still very uncertain at this time.

Finally, Crystal's family wanted everyone affected by this tragedy to know that you are all in their thoughts and prayers as well. They also extend their deepest sympathies to the families and friends of Blake, Justin, and Derek.

12/21/2010 12:23:10 AM - 002051595116
Crystal- thank you for speaking to the DARE kids at Albers today. You were great.

12/7/2010 6:24:30 PM - fb:100000957332202
I just want to say, that im glad you are ok and doing better u dont know me and if you did you probably would'nt like me because it was my sister that did this. You guys are still in my prayers and im extremely sorry for what you have to live with.
p.s im sooo sorry for the familys that had lost there loved ones! Crystal W.

9/2/2010 10:25:30 PM - 000066478890
Happy Birthday Crystal. God will reward you for all your hard work and faith. We have already been rewarded with you.

Jerry & Mech

7/20/2010 2:06:47 AM - 002075305751
Thanks for all the wishes and prayers. Thanks for thinking of me. It sure helped again, I'm back home recovering. I'm still in alot of pain and don't feel the greatest, but hopefully this is my last surgery....or let's just say this WILL be my last surgery.

Crystal

4/2/2010 9:10:46 PM - 003025499596
Hi Crystal (and Fuehne family!) This is Whitney from the Carbondale Holiday Inn. Crystal, I read your story in the Daily Egyptian today and was very moved. I've only been working at the hotel for 6 months, but I have see such wonderful progress in you!!! Keep up the great work! Hope to see you soon!!!

3/21/2010 7:36:42 PM - 002072518214
Crystal, I am so proud of you!!! It's so good to see you behind the counter again and running the register at Hodges'!! If anyone wants to see a miracle in the works come to Hodges Produce on Saturday mornings and let Crystal check you out!! I can see improvement everytime I see you!

Love Ya Crystal!!
Kathleen

3/1/2010 9:01:42 PM - 000094633672
You probably don't know me but I saw you on Sunday at PJ's in Breese with your friends. You looked great and are doing amazingly well; not to mention you looked SO happy; you have such a warm smile! You are a true inspiration; keep the spirit.

2/4/2010 5:34:51 PM - 003017386734
Crystal:

I read in the paper what happen to you. I am so sorry. My heart is so sadden to hear of your accident. I am wishing you the best and I know that you will do everything possible to make yourself well. I am pulling for you and I am here for you if you need me.
Dr. Peggy Wilken

1/4/2010 1:18:15 AM - 002072518214
It was sooo good to visit with you and your family last night. I am so glad you were able to get out with your friends, I'm sure you had a good time. Have a good week! Now that the crazy holidays are over I can keep up with the updates more. Looking forward to them all. Keep smilin!! Love YA!!

12/30/2009 5:13:24 AM - 002071626599
Hey Crystal! I am glad to hear that you are getting stronger and better by the day...heck by the minute. People still come into work asking how you are doing and I feel great to say you are doing wonderful. I can't wait for the day that you come back and run the register. You did miss out on the insane fruit basket season...bet you are bumming about that hahaha. Keep on working...you are doing great!

danielle huegen

12/24/2009 5:40:22 PM - 002075305751
Crystal and the Fuehne family would like to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a safe/healthy/blessed New Year. Crystal would like to thank everyone from the bottom of her heart for the prayers, love and support and for sticking by her thru this rough time. She said she wouldn't be able to do this without you.
May God bless each and everyone of you!!!

12/23/2009 2:05:36 PM - 002071825131
Marvin, Donna, Crystal and Family,
We continue to think about you and read how great you're doing Crystal. Keep it up! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!
Dale and Leah Kehrer

12/17/2009 6:36:54 PM - 003009509055
Crystal,
It was great seeing you in clinic today. What progress you have made. Can not even believe you are the same patient from earlier this year. I am sad that you have graduated from our neurosurgery clinic, but will enjoy seeing your healing process through this site. May many blessings come your way in the years to come. (And I fully expect to see you in a suprise visit one day!)

Blessings- Mandy

12/17/2009 5:54:53 PM - 002071942436
hey crystal! i was just thinking about you. you are an inspiration to a lot of people. your drive is jsut so amazing. i wish i had that sometimes. Keep doing well with all the obstacle that are headed your way. I know you will jsut skate by them. Love you!!
Cassy Becker

12/15/2009 6:02:51 PM - 002073927782
Hey Crystal! Its Katelyn Newton, I just watched your new videos...your looking so good! This website has been giving me some much needed strength. My cousin was in a horrible accident almost a month ago and it seems she may never walk again. Watching your videos keeps my hope up, and I can only pray that she's as strong as you are! Lots of love!

11/29/2009 11:59:16 PM - 003002885358
Hey Crytstal, greetings from Carbondale, I don't know you, but you are a fellow Saluki, just wanted to say hi, and to let you know there are people out there thinking of you, and praying for you. Keep your mind strong and brave, and your body will do amazing things. God bless.

Bill H

11/29/2009 11:01:14 PM - 003002682885
Crystal,
God speed! Recuperation is never fast enough. Hang in there and be patient. You'll be back in C'dale enjoying college life in no time.
Ty Y.

11/26/2009 3:28:28 PM - 003002705914
Hi Crystal,
Just learned of your misfortune by reading Saluki Talk. I hope you're doing better and want you to know how much I wish you a speedy recovery. Think good thoughts and you'll be back with we Saluki fanatics before you know it. God speed, girl.
Andrew Klein

11/26/2009 2:08:58 PM - 003002405022
Hello Crystal,

I'm Michael Hepner... the guy who stopped by your room yesterday (Wednesday 11/25) and and asked if you wanted to head down to Carbondale to see a game.

I met your parents at SLU on Tuesday evening. I was there on the fifth floor visiting a friend when I saw your dad wearing an SIU hat, and being an SIU alum myself, I struck up a conversation. They told me your story and I remembered reading about it in Saluki Illustrated.

I saw you walking down the hallway a short time before I stopped by your room! It was happy to see that and very happy to know you're recovering as well as you are. Stay strong! You're doing great and you and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Go Dawgs!

mrh

11/15/2009 8:09:47 PM - 002075305751
NOTE FROM CRYSTAL......I'd like to thank Jennifer, the 1st responders, the paramedics, the firefighters, Arch helicoper (thanks so much for the Med t-shirt :-)), and SLU and anyone else involved that night for saving my life. Also, thanks to all who attended my celebration of life day. It made me feel very special and loved. Thanks to all who helped in anyway or brought something for the Octoberfest. WOW, WHAT AN AMAZING DAY!!!

Thanks to my friends and family for helping me thru this.....THIS ALL MEANS THE WORLD TO ME........I couldn't get thru this without each and everyone of you!!!!

Lisa, you are a very special angel to us. I always look forward to looking at my website and reading the comments even though mom makes me read them.....yea, I know it's really good for me :-). It's pretty cool that so many people from around the world read this website.

I always look so forward to my visitors at home on the weekends and my visitors in Carbondale. Thanks for the phone calls, cards, and text message I receive......Thanks for sticking by me.

Thanks to the University of Northern Colorado Athletic Training Program for the T-shirt and card. I LOVE IT!!!!

I'm improving every day. Thanks to the all my therapists and staff at St. Mary's and CCS. It's all because of you that I've come this far.

Please say some extra prayers for me as I am having surgery to replace my bone flap next Monday 23 Nov.......I'm so scared.

Thank each of you from the bottom of my heart, I can't keep doing all this without YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT AND you pulling for me.

If I forgot anyone....I truly apologize.

Sending my love and a big hug.......Crystal

11/4/2009 5:54:20 AM - 002097920928
Crystal, you are the strongest person I know I pray for you everyday and know everyday is a new journey for you!
love always,
Nichole M.

11/3/2009 2:06:34 AM - 000060420631
What a wonderful ceremony you had on Sat. My many prayers continue for all of you. You are an inspiration to all.
God bless you.
Melissa

10/22/2009 2:21:12 AM - 002073927782
Hey Crystal! Your lookin so strong girl! Keep it up!! Lots of love! Katelyn & Diane Newton

10/15/2009 1:59:31 AM - 002071538778
Donna, Marvin and girls - Hugs and prayers continue to go your direction from the McMinn's. Crystal - You are one tough cookie and an inspiration to all. Keep it up. ~ Lonnie, Lori, Alyssa, Briana and Kiley

10/8/2009 12:59:09 PM - 002072307033
Also, I wanted to let everyone know, on Octboer 20, there is a SEMO volleyball game in Cape Girardeau, MO, about 2 hours away from home, against SIU Carbondale. There will be a small "Forever in Our Hearts" Benefit and I would LOVE for everyone and anyone to come support this benefit, along with seeing a great volleyball game. These families mean so much to me and I am trying to help in any way that I can. My prayers and thoughts go out to each and every one of them. If there are any question and if you are wanting any information, don't hesitate to ask: 618-830-9190 or sarah_b50@hotmail.com

Hope to see everyone there!! Love, Sarah Barth

10/8/2009 12:56:08 PM - 002072307033
Crystal,
You seem to amaze me everyday!! I cannot tell you enough how proud of you I am for fighting and being so strong. I promise that when volleyball is over I will make some trips to Carbondale to visit you! :) I can't wait to see you at the SEMO Volleyball soon! I love you!!

10/6/2009 3:05:08 AM - 002091541618
Crystal,
Hi! I am Tammy Rolfingsmeyer and Nathan Graham's Mom. I have been following up on your progress and all the help you are getting. Nathan tells me he could have been in the vehicle with you all that night but chose to go somewhere else. Such a blessing for me. I want you to know that I have prayed everyday for your recovery. I have prayed also for the kids and the parents of the ones who didn't make it. We Have To Believe....everything happens for a reason sometimes we may never know what that reason was. We just have to have faith and believe God is watching over us, helping us accept things we don't understand. I pray daily for your parents and your family asking God to give you strength, patients, and love. And also the support of friends, family's and sometimes people you haven't even met. If you need our help in any way let us know. 618-978-0471 or rolfgram@yahoo.com
Tammy Rolfingsmeyer

10/6/2009 2:25:31 AM - 002071919553
Crystal, I justed watched your new videos and it put a huge smile on my face. It is great to see! It looks like that hair is still curly:) You look amazing, and I hope you feel that way, too. It has been crazy lately and it seems like forever since I've seen you. October 31st can't come fast enough. Love ya lots and keep up the good work. Kelly Jackson

9/29/2009 8:33:02 PM - 002090744033
I'm in the band The Hair Syndicate and we played at a benefit for Crystal in Germantown over the summer. Since we played at the benefit, I have been periodically checking this site to see how Crystal is doing. Even though I don't personally know you, Crystal, reading over some of the recent entries today brought tears to my eyes. To see your determination and strength and the amazing progress you have made is truly inspiring. Congratulations on your achievements thus far and I will be praying for continued progress toward a full recovery for you! - Laurie Diamond

9/29/2009 1:26:06 AM - 002072307033
Crystal I am so proud of you! You have come so far. You are my inspiration. I love you and I cannot wait to see you!!
Love,
Sarah Barth

9/28/2009 9:16:37 PM - 002035444263
Crystal! I just watched the videos of you working out and you are just unbelieavable! Keep it up, Crystal!! Your "celebrate good times" performance was pretty stellar as well... much better than my kickball abilities! ;) haha...Don't stop working hard, keep smiling and I can't wait to see you again soon!
Love you!!!
Jenny Lampen

9/18/2009 3:40:03 AM - 002071404407
Crystal!! So glad you are progressing well!! I hope to see you soon! love ya girl! =)

9/17/2009 2:46:39 PM - 002075305751
NOTE from Crystal......I've been reading some of the previous log-ins, I would like to thank everyone for sticking with me all this time. This means SO much to have an abundance of people that love and support me. I really appreciate it lots. It makes me stronger knowing that I have my mom and dad here and all you guys praying and cheering for me.

Also, A very special thanks to Lisa for organizing this website. It means so much to look back on all this and I now realize how truly blessed I am and how far I've come.

I'm so blessed with good friends, love you all
Crystal

9/14/2009 2:19:59 PM - 002088702050
crystal,donna, marvin and family.

it has taken me a long to write, but I know some of things you are dealing with. Elliot had some of the same problems. Wanted to let you know we have been thinking about you and the family and saying many prayers. This is a passage I say everyday, I can do all things through Christ, which will strengthen me (Phil 4:13)

s and j frick

9/13/2009 10:07:13 PM - 002087891250
My dad was in the hospital (ICU) in the beginning of June and we were able to meet Crystal's parents. They gave us this website to look at...amazing how she is progressing! My dad is originally from New Baden and they new a lot of the same people. Please tell them that the Jansen's are thinking of them and keeping Crystal and the family in our prayers!!!
Ashley Jansen
anjpooter@yahoo.com

9/8/2009 1:54:04 PM - 002071518345
Good morning Crystal,
I hope you are feeling better today and you will be back to recovering shortly.... Stay strong, and I will see you soon...
Cassie Peppenhorst

9/2/2009 11:16:51 PM - 002071536391
Happy Birthday Crystal!!!

Hope you are enjoying your day!

Kevin, Gina, Andy, Blake & Brandon

9/2/2009 7:26:19 PM - 002071303965
Happy Birthday Crystal, Have a good day! Love, Jon, Tracy, Hunter and Hannah

9/2/2009 7:19:41 PM - 001037764209
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRYSTAL! Celebrate and enjoy the day ! :) Love, The Athmer's

9/2/2009 5:18:28 PM - 002086825833
Happy 22nd Birthday!! We LOVE YOU & see you soon. Phyllis & Maria Cross

9/2/2009 5:08:04 PM - 002075470789
Happy Birthday, Crystal! You are doing an amazing job!! Keep up all of you hard work :-) You are an inspiration to so many people! Also, Happy 26th Anniversary, Donna & Marvin! Lautenschlaeger Family

9/2/2009 12:00:58 PM - 000066478890
Happy birthday Crystal!! Your hard work and God's grace gives us all a reason to celebrate this day with you. We love you. Jerry and Mech

8/30/2009 3:35:37 PM - 002071931775
Crystal & Family -- It was great to see you in church this morning! Hope all is still going well in Carbondale with your newest round of therapy. Keep up the GOOD WORK :) :) You are quite an amazing person and we could all learn something from you! Ron, Leigh Ann, Caleigh & Garrett Arentsen

8/28/2009 11:35:15 PM - 002085650651
Hi my name is Wendy Iam the cousin of Chaz Sargent I am sorry for what his girlfriend did to you I hope you are doing O.K. I can not get this out of my mind I dont know you but I feel for you. I can not stop see my cousin in my brain or the other people I am so SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN I WISH I COULD CHANGE BACK TIME I WOULD

8/27/2009 9:18:45 PM - 002073511916
I don't know you, but I was in a car wreck in 1965 and I know what you are going through. Your alot luckier than I , there wasn't all the great treatment one gets now. So keep up the hard work and you'll do great.....my prayers and thoughts go with you.......

8/26/2009 6:00:18 PM - 002070995284
HAPPY 26th Anniversary Donna and Marvin!

8/26/2009 5:37:02 PM - 002071825131
Marvin, Donna, Crystal, and family,
You are on another road in your journey, I am sure it is very scarry but you all will do well. Look at how far you have come. As always you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Dale and Leah Kehrer

8/24/2009 8:35:28 PM - 002071502693
Hey Crystal, Its so good to see the progress you have made over the last few months. I check this site often and its really encouraging to look back and see how far you have come. Keep it up!!

8/18/2009 1:53:48 AM - 002073927782
HI CRYSTAL & FAMILY!!! We just wanted to tell you all we think about you often & look forward to reading your awesome accomplishments everyday! You're an amazing person & don't forget it!!
Love, Katelyn & Diane Newton

8/17/2009 2:50:33 PM - 002083459213
Crystal, This is the first time we are posting on this website, although we have read the posting every evening and shared in the joys of your accomplishments. We just wanted to let you know that we are thinking about you each day and praying for you and your family. Everytime Melissa visits we immediately ask her for an update. You are amazing! We love you and can't wait to see you around the County. Good luck in Carbondale.
Chuck and Aggie Strieker

8/10/2009 2:15:37 AM - 002071937690
Crystal you are doing great. I will have to catch up with you some time when the overtime slows down for me. Then I can sit and play catch- up with you. Stay strong it takes time.

8/7/2009 11:42:47 PM - 002071825131
Marvin, Donna, Crystal, and Family.
Just wanted to let you know we are still thinking about you and praying for all of you. Crystal, continue to be strong and forge ahead. You can do anything you set your mind to.
Dale and Leah Kehrer

8/7/2009 3:23:05 PM - 002071737800
Lisa: Could you also add that the Breese Catholic Fraternal Organization is selling raffle tickets for the "Forever in Our Hearts". The drawing will be held September 5 at the Kickball Fundraiser. I know Britni Holtmann has tickets and my daughter Lindsey Pakosta have some and were selling them at the Girls Softball Playoffs last night.

8/6/2009 11:51:09 PM - 002072518214
Lisa, could you please include the following on the home page --

Hodges Produce & More and the New Baden Jaycees are sponsoring a Bar-b-Que and Bake Sale to Benefit Crystal. It will be held on Sunday, August 16th in the lot next to Hodges Produce in New Baden, the bake sale will start at 8:30 and the barbque will be from 11 - 4 p.m. There will also be raffles, special coolie cups designed with the great saying from the back of the t-shrits from Cornerstone and this websites address will be on there. Crystal has worked for me off and on since 2004. We miss her dearly but continue to believe she will be back to help us in the future. please call me with any questions. thanks so much!! Kathleen Hodges

8/6/2009 7:47:06 PM - 002082404219
So glad that things are coming along! Hang in there! Our prayers are with you!!!
Mary, Kathy and Roseann from Mascoutah

8/6/2009 2:51:50 PM - 000094633672
Not a single day goes by that I do not think of you and pray for you. You are teaching us all so much about faith, courage, and hope. Keep working hard, and believing! You are an inspriation to many! Prayers and hugs to Marvin, Donna, Elmer and girls! Love you all!

8/5/2009 2:14:32 PM - 002072330686
May God continue to Bless you, Crystal, and give you the strength to continue on your road to recovery.

Sandy

8/2/2009 2:59:35 AM - 002081827524
Crystal you always seem to amaze me, and I know that you will continue to do so. I hope that you had a wonderful day at home! I cannot wait to see you next week :) I miss you and I know that you are going to pull through all of this! I cannot tell you enough how proud of you I am. I hope you will be able to make it to one of my volleyball games this season! Keep going strong!! I love you!!!! :)

8/2/2009 12:29:05 AM - 002074490520
Keep working Hard Crystal.... As was told to me earlier by someone this county has endured enough in the last couple years..

You and Amanda are the two that will hold the faith in god in people's hearts...

You are in our prayers everyday as we pray that god will be kind to you two young and beautiful ladies...

Mom and Dad continue to take care of yourselves as well, as Crystal's recovery counts on your leadership. For this you both are also in our prayers..

God Bless you all. Stay Strong.....

7/31/2009 3:46:58 AM - 002081503399
Crystal, I know we were never close, but I want you to know that I think and pray for you all of the time, and check your site multiple times a day. It puts a big smile on my face when I read all the progress you have made. You are so strong and are an inspiration to so many people including myself. Never change your tough girl attitude and keep pushing forward! You can get through this and its only going to make you stronger. Keep your head up girl everyone is behind you 100% here in Clinton County!!
Brianne Knobeloch, Germantown

7/29/2009 12:02:54 PM - 002072739853
Crystal, I just read a book called "Mistaken Identity" (it's a true story about 2 accident victims being misidentified at the crash scene). It's an amazing story about a girls fight back to her life from a brain injury as well as other broken bones and truly reminds me of you and your journey. Her name is Whitney. She went back to college with an aptitude of an 8th grader. It wasn't long and she was right back to college level. The brain is an amazing organ that WILL heal. Be patient with yourself, Crystal. You'll get there. You have the fight and determination to be all that you want to be. We all believe in you!!! :)

Shelly Lankford, Washington,DC

7/25/2009 2:51:59 AM - 002071931775
Wow, Crystal! We are amazed at the progress you are making! Sounds like you are your therapist's star patient these days ... Keep up the great work ~~ we know you can do it as you have already proven that to everyone in Clinton County. We will continue to keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. Ron, Leigh Ann, Caleigh & Garrett Arentsen

7/25/2009 2:31:31 AM - 002075305751
We are so lucky to have such special people in our lives. The love, support and prayers have truly touched our lives and hearts. WOW, GOD is great. We have a beautiful miracle here. Crystal really enjoys the comments and closes her eyes while we read to her. This evening she made the comment "I really appreciate everything people say." She usually has a real hard time trying to think of the words she wants to say, but had no problem expressing her appreciation. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I can't begin to tell you how much we appreciate each and everyone of you. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. Sending our love and a hug. Marvin, Donna, Lindsey, Robert, Crystal, Shannon and Michelle

7/21/2009 7:47:06 PM - 002075471237
Crystal. Congrats on all of your recent accomplishments, you are amazing. You seem to be making great strides in your recovery and it is very inspirational to read about all of your hard work and determination. We are all behind you and keeping you and your family in our prayers..

7/20/2009 3:48:01 PM - 002073586473
What an amazing week you have had****We know God is still performing miracles. Thank God for your strength and the strength of your entire family. Thanks Lisa also. Love and prayer always, mel & alice

7/20/2009 1:55:56 AM - 002072669119
Wow, I am amazed by you Crystal!! You are the strongest person I have ever known!!Thank u to SIUC for your support! I did not realize Crystal was atteneding SIUC, I graduated in 1995 and was a softball player on a scholarship there. I can't tell you what the athletic trainers did for me, it was incredible. It's kind of ironic that I discovered this accident that night, but I am so very proud of you Crystal!! God Bless you and your family always!!! I pray for you all everyday!! Thank you Lisa!!

7/19/2009 3:39:27 PM - 002013382844
Crystal-
Glad to hear you are healing so quickly. We are so happy that you are up, eating, and talking already. Come visit us when you are up to it. We would love to see you.

5icu...and the bulldog

7/18/2009 1:07:16 PM - 002074831465
Crystal - Always remember the longest journeys begin with the first few steps. Frustrations will come & go but in the end you will remember alll the good things and great family & friends you & your family have. We keep you in our prayers every day & love to see the great progress your making - Keep it up & God Bless! Mick & Geralyn

7/17/2009 1:03:52 PM - 002072602437
Crystal you continue to amaze me with your hard work, strong will, and determination. we all love you and miss you! can't wait to see you again! :)

7/15/2009 12:30:44 AM - 002072728303
Sounds like you'll be selling me my Ski at Hodges in no time at all. Godspeed, Crystal. Julie Huff

7/12/2009 6:01:30 PM - 002078610954
Crystal its Nick Hill from SIU's football team, i was just reading the saluki illustrated and read about your story. Im so sorry to hear about your situation, i will be praying for you. Keep fighting.
Nick

7/11/2009 5:49:25 PM - 002074490520
I am sorry for what you are going through. My sister in law was involved in a bad car accident in St.Rose not that long after this accident. She has suffered some severe brain trauma as well. It is a tough rode that we are going down with her and I know that you know what I mean. She is still at Cardinal Glennon Hospital and has just made it up to rehab. If anyone in your family needs a reminder of how much of a miracle these two are just let me know and I will remind them.

God has been working for these two girls and personally I think he will continue to do so. Stay strong and remember their progress will move along much better if we are there with them. God Bless...

If you are not aware of the other accident I am referring to please visit moomoorecovery.shutterfly.com

And Mom I will tell you the same thing I tell my mother in law everyday > You need to take very good care of yourself too because your good health will help lead your daughter to good health..

Stay strong!!!

7/11/2009 6:44:09 AM - 002077394760
Crystal,Donna and Marvin , we see your web sight daily. we are so proud of you.keep up the goog work are prayers are with you we love you lots.see you when you come home. Sonny and Nita (Ginas Parents)
,

7/7/2009 1:12:34 AM - 002071825131
Wanted to let you know we are still thinking and praying for all of you. We read up on Crystal progress everyday. Keep up the hard work Crystal!
Dale and Leah Kehrer

7/1/2009 11:49:01 AM - 002074754606
Dear Donna and Marvin and family, I dont know you personally but my daughter just graduated with your daughter. We check this site several times a day. Chrystal your a strong woman. My sister had a severe brain injury in 93 and yes it was like we were on a roller coaster. Chrystal you are on the prayer list as well as your family. Have faith and trust the doctors. good luck and god bless.. Al, Kathy, Jessica and Heather Feldmann

7/1/2009 4:16:07 AM - 002076349300
Dear Donna & Family, You have been in our thoughts and prayers. Keep the faith and be strong. Love, Jean & Nick Nicholson

6/30/2009 7:34:43 AM - 002072491006
Hello all. I am SO sorry for the delay, but I have finally got a giving account set up for Crystal & the Fuehne family. The account is at Old National in Carbondale. Checks can be made payable to "Benefit of Crystal Fuehne" and mailed to me at 1107 Cedar Lane, Marion, IL 62959 or electronic donations may be made via paypal. The Paypal account to send funds to is helpcrystal@salukiillustrated.com. I will be writing a small feature in this month's Saluki Illustrated magazine encouraging folks to donate. Every little bit will help!

Thoughts & prayers-

Toby Brooks
Athletic Training Education Program Director
SIUC
618-509-3677

6/29/2009 3:00:10 PM - 002072739853
Crystal, I have told your story here at the Pentagon. Several people ask about you periodically. Know that you are loved and surrounded by prayers near and far!!! You're an amazing young lady and have shown us all how much determination you have. Keep it up!!!!

Donna, you are on my mind all the time!! Haven't wanted to bother you by calling but wanted you to know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers!! Love and hugs to you, sweetie!!!

Shelly Lankford-Washington DC

6/27/2009 10:59:55 AM - 002057325210
Thank you Lisa for keeping this going. You are an angel!
Donna and Marvin, I can't even imagine what you are going through. This is a parent's worst nightmare. Our prayers are with you all and Crystal, keep hanging in there; we are praying for you.
Kathy & Vince

6/27/2009 3:23:38 AM - 002011918901
Crystal, We just wanted you to know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers constantly. Although I do not know you or your family personally, I check this website quite often. You have so many angels, friends, and family who love you and know what a difference you have made in their lives. Keep fighting! Thanks Lisa for every update and all of the details-- you are a blessing to all!
Carla & Allan Litteken

6/26/2009 7:14:14 PM - 002075784099
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Crystal, as well as your family!
Ron (Gina's brother) and Nancy Maroon

6/20/2009 4:22:31 PM - 002071339287
Hang in there Crystal!!!.Keep fighting!!.We are thinking about you everyday and night!!Your in our thoughts and prayers!!
Love, Gary,DeAnn,Amanda,and James Fuehne

6/20/2009 3:51:06 PM - 002074786407
We, the 100 members strong of St. Dominic's Church, Breese Prayer Ministry Group have been praying so hard for you Crystal, along with your family and all of those involved any way in that terrible accident 4 weeks ago. Praying too for Lisa for the wonderful work she is doing to keep us all ilnformed. May all those angels keep bringing blessings that we pray so hard for your recovery every day and then some...
Even tho, we do not know you, our prayers keep going strong that all of you need at this recovery time. You will beat this...so far your spirt has shined through it all.
Barbara Richter (R. Joe) of Breese

6/20/2009 1:20:05 AM - 002074381041
Hang in there Crystal. Your doing great. You are in our thought and prayers. Marvin, Donna, Elmer and family stay strong. We are praying for all of you. Cindy & Chuck

6/19/2009 1:40:34 AM - 002073586473
Thank you Jesus for the miracles you are showing us, continue to hold Crystals hand through th is journey, we ask this prayer in your holy name. Amen Mel and Alice

6/17/2009 2:27:04 PM - 002074438902
First of all, I would like to thank you for keeping this website up to date. There are so many people pulling for Crystal and it is such a blessing to be able to read the progress each day. Crystal and family, you have been in my thoughts and prayers often. I have always thought Crystal to be a "full of life" person and believed her to be very strong; she is proving that now. Life is not fair sometimes and it's hard to understand. Crystal is a shining star in all this and an inspiration to many. Crystal, you will be back soon, I know it!

L. Garrett

6/17/2009 2:43:57 AM - 002074633983
Crystal I am praying for you and your entire family. You guys will weather this storm. Stay strong and keep the faith.

6/16/2009 2:18:26 PM - 002072330686
Keep on fighting Crystal! We are all praying for you and riding this roller coaster with you!
SS

6/14/2009 11:14:53 PM - 000096415131
Continuing to keep all of you in our thoughts & prayers.
Paul, Heather, & Zoe Todd

6/12/2009 4:36:46 AM - 002072852930
Crystal someday you & your family will look back on all of this & wonder how you ever came through it all. It will be because now through your most difficult time in life God is carrying you. Just like the footprints in the sand. Along with the strength, prayers & thoughts you & your family are receiving from family, friends & people you have never yet met each & every day. Crystal keep fighting & we will keep praying. God bless you & your family & the person who is keeping this web page up to date.

Hilmes fmily

6/12/2009 1:52:34 AM - 002073358002
God Bless you Crystal and your family....all of Clinton County is prsaying and thinking of you constanly, even from those of us that do not know you......Judy

6/10/2009 4:16:53 AM - 002073927964
Hi Crystal... This is Karen from the Lake of the Ozarks! Just wanted to let you know that Kevin and I think about you all the time and wish you well in your recovery. I check your progress everyday and pray all goes well with you. We hope to see you at the lake again next summer - so fight hard and get better! We really enjoyed meeting you. You have a very infectious smile! So glad your surgery finally happend and went well! Ill keep checking in on you. You seem to have such a large and wonderful support system!

Again, we will be thinking of you everyday! Good luck girl!!! We are praying for you!!!

6/10/2009 4:03:36 AM - 002073927782
I pray for you all everynight...hoping for the best! I keep reliving our grade school adventures at your house...they always make me smile! If there is anything at all you need...were just around the corner!
With lots & lots of love,
Katelyn & Diane Newton

6/10/2009 1:00:12 AM - 002055727660
GREAT NEWS! I continue to think of Crystal and her family often. Lately I feel like I've forgotten how to pray, watching Doris, Myron and Brooke grieve the loss of their son/brother has been heart-wrenching. I'm sure he's in heaven, but the loss is difficult. I know Crystal is a strong girl and I have to believe she will be a walking miracle. This accident has been too tragic as it is. Thanks for the well written updates. God bless us all with peace and strength to get thorugh this difficlut time, Anita

6/10/2009 12:05:24 AM - 002072669119
Hang in there sweetheart and keep fighting!! I have been praying for you all day during your back surgery!! Be strong, you will beat this Crystal!! Jen K

6/9/2009 9:43:42 PM - 002073421638
Crystal /Donna & Marvin and rest of your famlies our prayer are with you. if there is anything Diane or myself can do to help you guys lets us know.
Duane & Diane Ripperda

6/9/2009 4:32:36 PM - 002073315911
We're praying for you Crystal. Everyone can't wait for you to wake up so we can hear that beautiful voice of yours!

6/9/2009 3:56:35 PM - 001024780829
I am one of the many praying for Crystal, although I do not know her personally. I just wanted you to know that your family is in my thoughts & prayers constantly, and my church in Trenton also has Crystal on the prayer tree...hang in there, and God Bless!
Tanya Ferguson

6/9/2009 3:41:11 PM - 002071326344
Hey Donna, Marvin and girls, I'll be praying for Crystals surgery, her doctors and the outcome. May God continue to be with her during her recovery. Monica

6/9/2009 1:13:17 AM - 002071937690
I am praying for everyday. I tought of you tonite when I was cooking at cornerstone. I can't wait to see your smile and hear that laugh. Me and the family are praying for your family be stong and fight. Tara

6/7/2009 8:33:48 PM - 000066478890
Crystal, We know how tough it must be..but you are tougher! The power of prayer is overwhelming...People you don't even know are praying for you. Keep fighting and all of us will keep praying. Marvin and Donna and girls, stay strong, the news is great. Jerry and Mech

6/6/2009 2:49:46 AM - 002072864305
Donna, Marvin & Crystal, you are in my thoughts and prayers every day. I am reading your website daily and thinking of you.
Rita Barker

6/5/2009 10:08:35 PM - 002072330686
Saying a prayer for Crystal, her family, and friends every day. Keep fighting!

Bob and Sandy Schulte

6/5/2009 4:55:51 PM - 002071315641
Crystal, We are praying very hard for you as you are on our prayer tree at St. Luke's in Belleville. Marvin and Donna hold on. Good things are going to happen soon. We love you guys. Pam Rout and Brian Fiebig

6/5/2009 5:33:27 AM - 002072852930
Crystal you are one tuff cookie. You & your family have been through so much & have come so far. Keep it up. We will keep you & your family in our prayers. Your family & friends will give you the stength to help you get through all of this, along with everyone else who you have touch along the way. Take it one day at a time. You keep on fighting & we will keep on praying.
Mark, Geri, Tiffany & Tyler

6/4/2009 8:02:22 PM - 002064438490
Donna, Marvin, Elmer and Family. We are all praying for you every day. I know God will take good care of Crystal and also all of you. We just want you to know that we love you all very much and if there is anything you need please do not hesitate to call. Stay strong because we know you are in good hands, (God's loving hands).

Love always,
Dave, Karen, Josh, Ryan and Nichole

6/4/2009 5:31:30 PM - 002072503920
Stay strong Crystal. We are all praying for you. Love and prayers are with all the Fuehne's and the extended family.
Love always, Joe and Sherri Toenjes

6/4/2009 2:13:00 PM - 002072739853
Donna, Marvin, Crystal and Family, I'm praying for ALL of you that Crystal continues to make progress!!! I haven't stopped thinking about you since we heard about this horrific accident. Hugs and lots of love to you, Donna and family!!!

Shelly Lankford

6/4/2009 10:55:41 AM - 002072821878
Donna, Marvin, Crystal, Elmer, Sisters, we are praying for you all!!! Be STRONG!!! Your Angel in heaven is holding your hand every day . . . Grandma Katie is standing by your side!!!! You guys have been through so much in your life, you can do this!!! We are all behind you every day. . .keep pushing forward!!! We love you all!! ANYTHING, anyone can do for any of you guys, we are here for you. . .Bless you all!!! God only gives us what we can handle.. .HE knows you can do this. YOU guys must be very special because HE chose you to go through this challenge!!!

Love you!!! Randy, Tina, Andrea and Andy Kampwerth - Trenton

6/4/2009 9:28:26 AM - 002072803741
My prayers and thoughts are with all of especially Crystal. Every day I ask Pat how she is doing when she comes to the nursing home to see her husband. God's speed Crystal's recovery. Diane K.

6/4/2009 2:40:24 AM - 002072835738
Donna, Marvin and family,

We wanted to let you know Crystal is in our thoughts and prayers every day! Mom keeps us informed as her and Ben check out the website daily! If you need anything let us know!

Sheila, Steve and Denae

6/4/2009 2:23:33 AM - 002072935480
Just wanted to let you know I will keep Crytstal in my prayers. Actually, I will keep all of you in my prayers. Keep good thoughts and trust in God.

6/4/2009 1:11:02 AM - 002072934185
Marvin, Donna, Lindsey, Shannon, Michelle & Unce Pud:

Are prayers are with all of you and Crystal everyday. We check the updates at least twice a day and if you need anything or just someone to talk we are there. Glenn said he is stuck in Arkansas twiddling his thumbs any way because of the weather. He is at 618-660-76994. Our prayers and love

Glenn and Margaret Wiegmann & Family
P.S. Shannon you looked wonderful at graduation. Glenn thought you would wear out your feet from standing so many times.

6/3/2009 8:45:43 PM - 002072329965
You and Casey have been in our thoughts and prayers as well all the accident victims and families for healing medically and emotionally. I have added them all on our prayer partners list at St. John's United Church of Christ in New Athens. Darlene (Gebke) Rausch is a friend of mine and gave me your website. Take one day at a time. God Bless. Diane Boschert, New Athens, IL

6/3/2009 7:04:05 PM - 002072728303
We are all praying and asking God to fill Crystal and her family with the Holy Spirit to get through this terrible time. We all miss Crystal's smiling face and jokes at Hodges!
I also want to thank Lisa R for keeping us posted on Crystal's progress.

The Huff Family

6/3/2009 4:13:13 PM - 002072625404
We pray that Crystal will soon be past this very critical time and will be on the road to recovery. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Clete, Ann, Landon & Kenzie Schroeder

6/3/2009 3:46:33 PM - 002072924966
We all hope and pray that the news for Crystal will be positive shortly. Hopefully you'll be taking two steps forward for every one step back on your way to recovery! Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Fuehne & Loepker families. Gwen, Roger, Ethan & Simon

6/3/2009 1:25:50 PM - 002071994278
While I don't know Crystal personally, I too pray every day for her. I have faith that God is indeed watching over her. God bless all of you as you travel this long journey together - Betty

6/3/2009 3:45:01 AM - 002072703285
My thoughts and prayers have been with everyone involved with this tragedy since the moment I learned who they were. My thougths and prayers continue to be with Crystal, Casey, John, and Elish as well as the families of Justin, Blake, and Derek. Continue to be strong and keep fighting!.......Dennie

6/3/2009 12:12:44 AM - 002071825131
Marvin, Donna, and Family,
You and Crystal continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. We know how hard this is on you, the minute by minute waiting but hang in there.
Dale and Leah Kehrer

6/2/2009 7:53:11 PM - 000084879336
My prayers go out to Crystal and her family. Stay strong!

Your story breaks my heart. It wasn't too long ago where my situation was very similar to yours and I offer any of the help or support I can give... My email is emny3@hotmail.com and my phone is (618) 973-6178. Any time day or night...

Emily (Holtmann) Litteken

6/2/2009 3:03:47 PM - 000096415131
Thinking extra special thoughts of you this morning. Will be waiting to hear good news.

Heather Todd
Okawville, IL

6/2/2009 10:41:18 AM - 002072503920
Best of luck today and our prayers are with you.

6/2/2009 2:53:33 AM - 002071880333
Marvin,Donna and Crystal,We are very sorry to hear about the setback today.We think about you all the time.We will all say an extra prayer for you all tonite , tomorrow and every day after that untill Crystal comes home. Dale,Becky,Laura and her family and Eric Peters

6/2/2009 1:08:46 AM - 002071598866
Crystal, Donna, Marvin, Lindsey, Shannon & Michelle - I along with Donna's AMC/FM family at work will continue praying for Crystal's recovery. You are all in our thoughts and prayers each and every day.
Karen Schroeder

6/2/2009 12:39:16 AM - 002071498410
Marvin, I hope for the best for your daughter. If you need anything, please holler. I will keep your family in my prayers.
Harold Hails

6/1/2009 8:44:38 PM - 002071594190
Keep fighting girls and Johnny. The three of you great people and I know you will get through this. We are all thinking and praying for your full recoveries. God Bless.

6/1/2009 8:17:19 PM - 002071937690
Crystal keep fighting I will be thinking and praying for you tonight so you can get your back surgery. This will get you step closer to getting better. We are praying for all the families in this tough time. Tara

6/1/2009 5:42:44 PM - 001077483179
Crystal.. can't wait to see you again.. continue getting better.. it may be hard now.. but i know you can make it through anything.. Kayla and Brooketini

5/31/2009 1:51:03 AM - 002071440632
I added a short update on Johnny under the comments under the latest entry. I am not sure if this is where you want me to do this?

5/31/2009 1:35:48 AM - 002071365803
poor crystal i feel terrible she is my cuz btw

5/30/2009 7:47:59 PM - 002071962253
Our thoughts and prayers are with Crystal, her family, and the families of all of those involved in this horrible accident.
Joe and Nancy Schlarmann

5/30/2009 4:15:44 PM - 002071923739
MARVIN, DONNA AND FAMILY , WE ARE KEEPING YOU IN OUR PRAYERS!

ED AND SANDY KRAMER

5/30/2009 10:57:14 AM - 002071757673
Donna, Marvin and family. It's rough I know, but HE will get you through this horrible time. I will pray that God lifts you high and holds you tight to get Crystal back to being "the Crystal that you know and love".
Vicki Cotton

5/30/2009 3:50:02 AM - 002071538778
Marvin, Donna and family – We continue to think about you and pray for you. Stay strong Crystal! Congratulations on your graduation Shannon. Thanks Lisa for keeping us abreast of the situation.

“Challenges are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things.” Crystal has great things ahead of her ~ Lonnie, Lori, Alyssa, Briana and Kiley McMinn

5/29/2009 10:58:55 PM - 002071929437
Dear God..……we beg of you……please bring Crystal through this and back to all of us……help her recover from this horrific accident. Our hearts are broken from the loss of Blake, Justin and Derek..…. we are numb. Our hope rests with Crystal and the others……..they are giving us a reason to go on, to pray, to believe, to have faith……Take care of our precious children…some already in the arms of the angels and others in the arms of their parents, family and friends.

5/29/2009 6:15:53 PM - 002071549523
Donna, Marvin, and girls
Roger and I are keeping you all in our prayers and anything you need we are just a phone call away. We love you all want you to know we are here for you.
Roger and Mary Brandmeyer

5/29/2009 5:12:07 PM - 002071333540
Marvin,Donna and girls. Great News! Our thoughts and prayers are with Crystal and your family. We are thinking and praying for all of you everyday. If we can do anything for you guys,please call. We Love you!!

Lester and Netsy and Family

5/29/2009 4:50:13 PM - 002071948386
Fuehne Family.
Our thoughts and prayers are also going out to you and your family. Our prayers also remain the same for all the kids involved in the accident. They will all need extra prayers to get through this journey ahead. Shannon you looked very proud last night as you made your last walk through the Cougar doors. I have good pictures I give to you next time your over at the house. Stay strong and God Bless all of you!
Trevor,Lorna, Larissa, and Landyn Hubbard

5/29/2009 2:51:29 PM - 002071445287
hey girly, hang in there...the road to recovery is going to be alright...you are very strong...you are on a fast pace right now...when i read yesterday that you opened your eyes i leap for joy...if you or your parents need anything they can give me a call my family and myself will help in anyway we can...you are very strong and you need to keeep telling yourself that you can do it...just like the little train that could...

5/29/2009 2:47:23 PM - 002071518345
Thoughts and prayers are with you daily.... Clay and the gang are keeping you, Casey and Johnny close in their hearts and will support you to the end... I will be there tomorrow to see you, keep fighting...
Love ya, Cassie Peppenhorst

5/29/2009 2:33:29 PM - 002070463135
Crystal….. you are really strong so keep fighting girl. We have been praying for you every day and I just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you right now!! :) Donna, Marvin, Lindsey, Shannon, Michelle, and Elmer......you are all in our hearts and our thoughts and prayers are with you. Stay strong and positive, there are so many people pulling for her. I pray for her all the time and all of you!!! We love you!!! Josh, Heather, and Gavin Schniers

5/29/2009 2:30:35 PM - 000091809175
Crystal, We're praying for you and your family plus the other families every day! Hang in there, stay positive, and keep fighting which I know you'll do. You are an inspiration to all! Prayers do wonders you know! Can't wait to hear more good new from you and the rest of them who are healing. Hang in there!
Dennis and Elaine Behrmann

5/29/2009 1:34:45 PM - 002071611129
A turning point for Crystal! (and Shannon -Happy Graduation!) Marvin & Donna are falling over with joy! Thank you Lisa, and all 11,886+ friends and family.

5/29/2009 12:32:29 PM - 002071645079
Crystal you are a very special young lady. Our love, thoughts, and prayers are with you and your family. You're a fighter and a real tough girl. Get well, stay positive and remember we all love you tremendously!!
Bev "Mom" Henss and family.

5/29/2009 11:20:27 AM - 002071944690
I know so many people are praying for Crystal and all of the kids in this horrible accident. You can add us to the list. We look forward to hearing more good news as we know it is sure to come. Yes, it's a long road, but we know what God is capable of! Again, we are praying constantly for Crystal. I light a candle at home for her every night and when I walk by it I am reminded to say a prayer for her. God bless all of you and hang in there! The Ruppels from Bartelso

5/29/2009 4:35:22 AM - 002071743428
My Prayers are with all of those effected by the accident, victims, family, and friends... This is a hard time for all of us, and the ability to see progress in the blessings we have is so encouraging. Anne Marie thanks, for the update on John, I have been thinking about him a lot, and Lisa thanks for the site and the updates on Casey and Crystal, my prayers will continue to be focused on all of them. Keep it up everybody :)

5/29/2009 3:28:26 AM - 002071802815
Marvin, Donna, Lindsey, Shannon, and Michele.....Crystal your in our prayers 24/7...We love hearing about the good news today, keep it coming. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you were just a phone call away if you need anything....WE LOVE YOU ALL! Keep fighting Crystal ......Love you, Lester, Debbie and family

5/29/2009 2:43:21 AM - 002070995284
Thanks for the update AnneMarie. I saw John on Wednesday when he was over here to wash vehicles. Crystal, John, and Casey are all very strong and have a lot of people looking out for them. Sister~ keep getting better. We all believe in your strengh! Your strong, determined, and always get what you want! See you tomorrow!
LOVE YOU!
Lindsey

5/29/2009 2:33:44 AM - 002071341982
Really good news!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time. Love, Carl and Jackie Wiegmann

5/29/2009 1:23:12 AM - 002071840839
Marvin, Donna, Crystal, and girls, We just read the good news about Crystal's progress. It was a good day, let them continue. We have been thinking about all of you & pray for Crystal's complete recovery. Her smiling face is always such a joy to see. Matt & I have lots of spare time, let us know if there is anything we can do for you. Matt & Linda C.

5/29/2009 1:10:46 AM - 002071440632
This is Anne Marie Toeben, John Lampen's sister. Johnny is out in recovery after a 6 hour surgery today. His left hip socket, pubic bone and right rear pelvic bone was repaired today. His right knee was repaired in a surgery on Sunday afternoon. He had a filter put in the main artery in his abdomen to stop any clots that may travel through his body yesterday. We do not expect any more surgery for a while, and that will be to repair his ACL and Minuscus. Johnny will be on no weight bearing for 8 weeks after he is released. His spleen, colon and left kidney were also damaged. His kidney is no longer functioning, his colon seems to be fine and his spleen will be monitored for at least the next 5 months.

5/29/2009 12:16:27 AM - 000096415131
Having known Crystal from coaching against her (Breese Dist. 12) in grade school, I know that she is a fighter & very determined. So glad to hear the good news & know that prayers are being answered. We will continue to think of you & lift your name up in prayer. 

Heather Todd
(Teacher @ Breese Dist. 12)
Okawville, IL

5/29/2009 12:07:54 AM - 002071839614
Donna, Marvin, Crystal and Family, So sorry to hear about the accident. Alex called me from San Antonio to tell me. We have you all in our prayers. Be sure to let us know if you need anything. We are going to try and follow her progress on this website. Love you all. Alex and Joan

5/28/2009 11:23:28 PM - 002071538974
we are praying for you, and you are always in our thoughts. Be strong and stay positive, you are in our pryaers. We will see you soon! Love, Garrett, Amber , and Lilly Reilmann

5/28/2009 10:57:42 PM - 002071825131
Marvin, Donna, and Family,
We are praying for Crystal and all of you. Today, sounds like a very positive day for you. We will continue to pray for her continued recovery. Take care! This website is great, thank you for keeping us posted.

Dale & Leah Kehrer

5/28/2009 10:29:45 PM - 002071622175
Step in the right direction! Crystal we know you can pull through this and have plenty of life ahead of you. Our thoughts and prayers are coming at you and your family from Florida! Keep fighting.... Love, Jeff and Christy

5/28/2009 10:16:59 PM - 002071812797
AWESOME- you keep fighting!!! Looks like the prayers are working and were gonna keep them up. Virtual hug to Marvin and Donna and you guys hang in there - it's gonna get better everyday! Love, Kelly Arentsen

5/28/2009 9:57:26 PM - 002071937690
Hey Crystal keep it up you have always been strong. You and your family are in my prayers everyday. The kids even say a prayer at night for you. I hope to see you soon!!  Tara

5/28/2009 9:52:52 PM - 002071617905

My prayers are with you and your family. Stay strong and never give up. You don't know me,  I am just an extra angel praying for you all.  Take care and God Bless

Debbie Williams

(Friend of Tonya L from work)

5/28/2009 9:26:50 PM - 002071536391
Marvin, Donna, Lindsey, Shannon & Michelle.
We are thinking and praying for you everyday through this difficult time. Crystal is a strong and determined. Let us know if we can help in anyway.
Kevin, Gina, Andy, Blake & Brandon

5/28/2009 8:42:28 PM - 002071736624
Marvin & Donna - We are praying for Crystal and your whole family. May God (and Grandma Annie) give you strength. The Voss Family.

5/28/2009 8:40:43 PM - 002070396363
Oh how wonderful to hear! Great job Crystal! Keep getting stronger...we love you and continue to pray!
Love, Corey, Karen & Bryce

5/28/2009 8:30:15 PM - 002071303965
What good news! I'm so excited to here that! Keep getting stronger every day O.K. Donna and Marvin, please call if you need anything! We don't have any plans this weekend, so if Michelle wants to come over, she can. Love you guys! Jon, Tracy, Hunter, and Hannah

5/28/2009 6:55:14 PM - 002071631814
To The Fuehne Family: Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you - Keep up the fight!! If there is ANYTHING that we can do, ANYTHING at all - PLEASE let us know - but know that we will continue to pray - May God and his angels continue to watch over ALL of you!! Tim, Diane, Ashley, and Justin Luitjohan

5/28/2009 6:03:31 PM - 002071933966
Stay strong Crystal! You are in my thoughts and prayers!

5/28/2009 5:59:42 PM - 002071433954
Crystal and family...please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers. With so much concern, caring and love coming at you from all side, things can only get better!!! Selina, Frank, Kaylee and Kiera Kennedy

5/28/2009 4:26:59 PM - 002071332539
Crystal, I know you are a strong lady! I know you will get through this! Stay strong and you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I think about you all day, every day!!!! Jackie Gebke

5/28/2009 4:22:48 PM - 002071631681
Marvin, Donna & family. We are thinking about you 24-7 and you are in our prayers always. Crystal is a wonderful and strong girl, we know she will pull through this. If there is anything you need or we can help you with, PLEASE don't hesitate to let us know. We love you!

Leroy & Gerri Wiegmann

5/28/2009 4:10:51 PM - 001029504551
Marvin, Donna and family -- Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you each and every day. Your family is so strong and that strength will get you through this. Crystal is by far the strongest, most determined person I know. She is such a caring thoughtful person and that shows in this tough time. She is a fighter and she will recover. Love, Holly, Terry, Aisley and Raya

5/28/2009 4:01:51 PM - 002071732123
I am so sad to hear about the accident with all these fine young people. My prayers are going out to Marvin & Donna and their whole families and to all the others involved.
Dr. Kay Bennett

5/28/2009 3:41:10 PM - 002071931775
Marvin, Donna & Girls -- Please know that Crystal and your whole family are in our thoughts & prayers. Stay strong and know that you have many people praying for her and your family. Ron, Leigh Ann, Caleigh & Garrett Arentsen

5/28/2009 3:35:02 PM - 002071631681
Marvin , Donna, and family. Our thoughts and prayers have been for Crystal and your family every day. Crystal is a strong girl, she will pull through this. Hang in there!! Our love and prayers will stay with your family. Elmer Pud- keep the faith. we love you.

Pam Timmermann & Family

5/28/2009 3:11:58 PM - 002071431287
Marvin, Donna & Girls: Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. You have so many people rooting for you, Crystal! You are a strong young lady with a wonderful family and support system. You can do this! God's blessings to each of you.
Brian, Angela, Alex & Emma Rogers

5/28/2009 2:09:44 PM - 002071630323
Marvin, Donna, Lindsey, Crystal & Shannon:
Please know that all of you are in our thoughts and prayers. Congratulations Shannon on your graduation tonight! What a bittersweet day for all of you. Even thought Crystal will not be able to be physically present in the Cougar gym tonight, she is extremely PROUD of her "baby sister". While at Central, Crystal was a determined young lady and worked very hard to accomplish what needed to be done. She will remain that same type person as a patient. Each of you take care!
Sincerely,
Jan & David Rittenhouse

5/28/2009 1:47:12 PM - 002071623316
Crystal, I remember you playing softball with my daughter Michelle at Central. You always played hard and never gave up. You can do this, with everyones prayers and love. Marvin and Donna , Shannon and Michelle , our thoughts and prayers are with you. Marvin, Kelly Eubanks sends his thoughts and prayers also. We are there for you. Love, Allen and Darlene Menietti and family

5/28/2009 1:36:06 PM - 002071829779
Donna, Marvin, Crystal, Lindsey, Shannon & Michelle,
Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers.

Herman, Michelle, Brad, Jeff & Abby Wegmann

5/28/2009 4:57:56 AM - 002071727118
3 John 1:2 Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. Stay strong Love Tony Kayla and Brooke.

5/28/2009 4:35:31 AM - 002071626599
Marvin, Donna, girls, and family,
I think of you many times throughout the day and each time I do, I say a small prayer. In times like these all we have is hope and prayer but they can take us a long way. Crystal is so strong and will pull though we just have to give her time to build up strenght. We are all praying for you. Stay strong and keep God near.

danielle huegen

5/28/2009 4:13:50 AM - 002071426646
Marvin, Donna, Lindsey, Shannon, Michelle and Elmer - it's been a while since I've lived at home, but it's clear that in that time, Crystal has transformed from a curly blond-haired tom boy into a strong, caring, wonderful young lady (and managed to keep her adorable curls intact : ). It's clear, too that Crystal and your family have a huge community of people pulling for you and a wealth of support, love and prayers. I'll be keeping you and all of the families involved close to my heart.
Also, thanks to Lisa for all the effort she's put into getting this site going.
Love and prayers,
Terese Toennies

5/28/2009 3:38:48 AM - 002071326344
Marvin and Donna, We are so sad to hear about your lovely daughter. We are praying for her recovery and for your family at this difficult time. Love you guys, Monica and Jeff

5/28/2009 3:35:47 AM - 002071321164
Donna, not a minute goes by that your friends from FM aren't thinking of you and your family. Don't hesitate to call if we can help. Steve.

5/28/2009 3:25:57 AM - 001024941379
Marvin, Donna & Girls - We are thinking and praying for you all. I know god will get you all through this difficult time.

All our love. Matt, Britt (Horstmann), Kannon & Alivia Reisch

5/28/2009 3:14:45 AM - 002071525170

Marvin, Donna, Lindsey, Shannon, Michelle, and Elmer:

We want you to know that we are here for you each day, every day until Crystal is home and is "Our Crystal" again!  You ARE our family - our closest and dearest friends - and when you are hurting, we are hurting right along with you.  It is impossible to understand why this has happened, but Crystal's strong will and determination will prevail. We, along with hundreds of other friends and family members, are praying for Crystal.  And, I am certain God is listening.  Keep your faith.

 

Dickie, Dorice, Aaron, Leslie, Chris, A.J., Kylie, and Margie 

5/28/2009 3:14:04 AM - 002071826006
To the Fuehne family and friends,
We are from Aviston IL. We have recenlty heard of this tragic accident and hearts sunk. Our prayers and hugs go out to you.

5/28/2009 1:56:49 AM - 002071523490
Donna, Marvin and girls,
My heart breaks for your entire family. You, especially Crystal, are in my thoughts and prayers. Sending a big hug! Love, Karen Kinzel

5/28/2009 1:44:13 AM - 002071824284
Marvin,Donna, Lindsay,Crystal,Shannon and Michelle,

Just want you guys to know that Crystal and the entire family is in our thoughts and prayers. If there is ANYTHING we can do for you, please let us know and do not hesitate to call! Crystal stay strong!!

Thinking of you everyday

Ope,Connie and Lauren Loepker

5/28/2009 1:16:41 AM - 002071323943
you may not know me but i live in breese and my sisters are friends of yours and the others involved in the accident. Crystal...hang in there babe. so many people here in CC are praying for you. You are thought of everyday and to her family...god has you in his hands. believe that all things are possible. i know your daughters strong but she needs you to be strong to. Have faith!! and always know your being thought of back at home. Take care and God Bless You all :) Jessica Luebbers

5/28/2009 12:56:59 AM - 002071823465
Crystal, Donna, Marvin & family.......my thoughts and prayers are with all of you and all the other families involved with the accident. Stay strong and know we are here if you need anything.

5/28/2009 12:45:37 AM - 002071623316
Marvin and family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of need. Kelly E from Sesser sends his thoughts and prayers , Allen,Darlene, melissa,michelle, nick and brendan

5/27/2009 11:16:49 PM - 002071521712
Crystal we all hope you get better. We miss you a lot and have you in our prayers, we will never forget to pray for you.\
Love, Joe, Annette, Amber, Paige, Hayley, and Joseph.
P.S. We hope to see you soon

5/27/2009 11:11:52 PM - 002071521712
Crystal i hope you get better soon. We all miss you and have you in our prayers.

5/27/2009 11:06:08 PM - 002071821127

Marvin, Donna, and entire family;

 

We are thinking of you and praying for you.   It hurts to know you are going through this hard time.  Crystal, you are a fighter and you have a loving family and friends to get you through this, and I know you will.  Hang in there and know you are always on my mind.  

Love,

Carol, Ryan, Brett & Justin Winkeler

5/27/2009 10:47:27 PM - 002071802815
Crystal you are on our prayers everyday and cant wait to see you and your smiling face soon.... U were always so strong when we were growing up and I know your going to pull out of this and be even stronger... We love you so my.... Sean and the Loepkers..

5/27/2009 10:34:49 PM - 002071921114
Crystal, Donna, Marvin, and girls,
We have been including you in our bedtime prayers and will continue to do so.
JoLynn, John, Jake and triplets

5/27/2009 6:35:39 PM - 002071617002
Shannon and Family,
I just wanted to let you all know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. The overwhelming response to this site goes to show you how truly great of a person Crystal is. She has touched so many lives and now everyone is here to support you. If there is anything that I or any of the girls from the softball team can do to help, please do not hesitate to ask.
Coach Witte

5/27/2009 6:30:00 PM - 002071516896
Crystal- our thoughts are with you and your family! Stay strong and keep fighting! We're all praying for you here in Clinton County!!

5/27/2009 6:09:40 PM - 002071502693
Crystal, so many people are praying for you...even people who don't know you. We all know you are one strong girl so you can pull through this. Stay strong hun and come home soon!!!

5/27/2009 5:14:56 PM - 002071315641
Crystal, our thoughts are with you and your wonderful family. We have said alot of prayers this weekend. I always know that beautiful deep, throaty voice of yours when I go into Hodges. Can't wait to hear it again. Marvin and Donna stay strong. Pam Rout and Brian Fiebig

5/27/2009 4:11:00 PM - 002071914506
Shannon and Family:

I do not know Crystal, but I just wanted to extend my thoughts and prayers to your family.

I have been Shannon's P.E. teacher and Health teacher this past year.

Shannon, I'm sorry that you and your family are going through such tragic circumstances. In these times, it's important to surrond yourself with the ones you love and trust in God, those two things will see you through. If you need anything please let me know. I'm always here.

Coach Short

5/27/2009 3:32:54 PM - 002071413689
Crystal, I keep picturing you raking the field tirelessly, lifting the grate all by yourself to connect to the gator to drag the field, and stopping lasers down the third base line...enough said...you are strong! There are so many people who love you and who are praying for you and your family. Hang in there!--Coach Pettus

5/27/2009 3:29:13 PM - 002071513781
Crystal, Hang in there darling! You are one of the strongest girls I ever got to meet & I know that you will pull through! I am prayin for you!

5/27/2009 2:30:11 PM - 002070396363
Crystal - you are a fighter, we know you will pull through this. You are such a strong person and have so many people praying for you. Keep strong...We Love You!

Marvin, Donna, Lindsey, Shannon & Michelle - we are praying for all of you and for Crystal's quick recovery. She is one tough girl, she will get over these hurdles!

Love,
Corey, Karen & Bryce

5/27/2009 2:23:27 PM - 002071312547
Crystal - Stay strong and keep fighting! You are in my thoughts and my prayers as you battle through these obstacles that have been placed before you. I know you will pull through! Please know that you and your family have the love and support of myself as well as the rest of the SIU Athletics staff.
Katie Carrier

5/27/2009 1:25:36 PM - 002071611626
Crystal- our thoughts and prayers are with you. You are a strong woman. Marvin, Donna and family our thoughts and prayers are with you and all of yours as well. Our prayers are also with all the other families, friends and loved ones that have been affected.
Vicky and Squig

5/27/2009 12:57:00 PM - 002071511121

Crystal - Keep Strong!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you! We all know you are a strong girl and can fight through this!
Marvin, Donna and girls - we are praying and thinking of you as well. Hang in there.

Love,
Brian & Cassie (Loepker) Beckmann

5/27/2009 5:00:08 AM - 002071408712
Crystal, Just know that a lot of people care about you and are praying for your recovery, you are a strong person and you can pull through. This is a wonderful site so everyone can keep track of your progress. Sam & Carol Gorman

5/27/2009 3:48:37 AM - 002042442170
i love you crystal! you are the strongest person i know! keep making progress and get out of there as soon as you can! ill keep praying for you babe

5/27/2009 2:48:24 AM - 002071407018
Crystal, hang in there...we are all praying for you and wishing for the best! Marvin & Donna & family, you are in our thoughts and prayers also - stay strong!
Mark, Karrie (Santel) & Melaina Rakers

5/27/2009 2:00:13 AM - 002071802815
Crystal....
You are the Strongest and Toughest Girl I have ever KNOWN and I know you are going to get threw this and be even stronger....!!! I cant wait to see your smiling face soon, were all here for you girl and praying for you...!!!
Love Ya.... SEAN....

5/27/2009 12:51:50 AM - 002071404407
CRYSTAL!!!
Girl i love you and i hope you get better soon! You're the toughest girl i know and you WILL get through this!! I'm thinking of you constantly!! LOVE YOU!!

5/27/2009 12:42:13 AM - 002071303965
Crystal,
You are a very strong person, we have faith in you and know you will fight your hardest to get through all of this.
Love,
Jon, Tracy, Hunter & Hannah

5/27/2009 12:14:23 AM - 002071903614
My family & I are keeping Crystal & her family in our daily thoughts & prayers. As a nurse on the Neurology floor at Children's Hospital, I take care of kids who have suffered the same types of injuries that Crystal has. I also get to see these kids make miraculous recoveries. Take one day at a time, and remember that each and every positive thing that happens, no matter how minor it may seem, is another step in the right direction. We will continue to pray for all of you! Thank you for keeping us updated!

5/26/2009 11:38:14 PM - 002071302894
Crystal,
I came to see you today you looked great. You are so strong and are one of the few that could make it through something like this. I love you and pray for you throughout everyday. Can't wait to keep hearing the positive news. I will see you again soon!

Love,
Britni

5/26/2009 5:23:00 PM - 002070995284
Hi Crystal,

Your doing great. Your stronger than everybody I know. Just remember we love you and everything is going to be okay.. There have been so many people coming to see you that mom and dad have lost count. We miss you and love you!

Love you sister!
Lindz

Walking at 2.5 MPH

Climbing the rock wall

Climbing the rock wall

Standing on Bosse ball, throwing weighed ball

Running at 5.0

Jogging at 4.5

Walking on the treadmill

Jumping up on a step, alternating feet

Planks

Stepping up with weight on ankle

Stepping up with weight on ankle

Good ol' Planks

These are called planks.  Crystal held herself up for 20 slow seconds and did this 3 times.

Using 6 pound weighted ball

While using a 6 pound weighted ball, Crystal works on shifting her weight from right to left 10 times on each side.

Weighted ball

Crystal is using a weighted ball, practicing balance, muscle memory, and strength.  With a brain injury, it can be difficult for the brain to tell the muscles to respond when crossing from the left side of the brain to the right and vice versa. 

Weighted ball

Crystal is using a 3 pound weighted ball using different muscles by being on her knees and going around her back.

Throwing a weighted ball

Crystal is throwing a 3 pound medicine ball.  Working on balance and strength.

Throwing the swiss ball

Crystal throws the swiss ball while on her knees working on balance and strenthening her right arm.

On the swiss ball...

Crystal sitting on the swiss ball doing exercises on the BTE.

On the swiss ball

Crystal laying back on the swiss ball to stretch her back out.

On the swiss ball

Crystal is doing arm exercises while laying back on a swiss ball.

Using the BTE

Crystal is using the new weight machine called the BTE to strengthen her right arm.

Walking the Agility Ladder...

Crystal is walking the agility ladder with one foot in each square while having one or neither of her hands in her pocket.  Notice how she walks better with one or both hands in her pockets.

Working on bending knee...

Crystal is stepping over a box with the goal being not to knock over the box that is upright and to step in between the yellow weights.  

Walking Stairs...

Crystal walking up and down stairs without holding on with Bioness on.

September 23, 2010

Crystal's forced-use bridging...

October 14, 2009

Bridging exercises...

May 11, 2010

Crystal's speech at the DARE convention...

April 22, 2010

Stepping over chairs...

April 22, 2010

April 21, 2010

April 21, 2010

More fun with Guitar Hero...

April 21, 2010

Playing Guitar Hero...

April 21, 2010

'Baby Got Back...'

April 18, 2010

Riding the 4-wheeler...

April 11, 2010

Mowing the lawn...

March 18, 2010

Pulling her knee all the way back and controlling the movement...

March 18, 2010

Crystal moving her knee better for the first time...

March 18, 2010

Barely able to move the knee...

March 15, 2010

Walking with the ladder...

March 15, 2010

Ladder work...

March 12, 2010

Walking on the underwater treadmill...

March 6, 2010

Out for a walk...

March 1, 2010

Pulling her foot up against a resistance band...

March 1, 2010

Going down the steps...

February 5, 2010

Weights in the pool...

February 5, 2010

More treadmill work...

February 5, 2010

Watching her legs under water...

February 5, 2010

Smiles...

February 5, 2010

On the treadmill...

January 20, 2010

Walking with her right foot leading...

January 20, 2010

More right sided weight bearing exercises...

January 20, 2010

Stepping over the bar...

January 20, 2010

Light exercises...

January 20, 2010

Getting up on all fours...

January 20, 2010

More pushups...

January 20, 2010

Pushups...

December 31, 2009

More elliptical work...Crystal has to concentrate on not allowing her right knee to hyperextend, and her right foot is strapped to the machine for added support, but she is really doing well!

December 31, 2009

Crystal using the elliptical machine...

December 30, 2009

More treadmill work...

December 30, 2009

Crystal walking on the treadmill...

December 9, 2009

Walking on her own while carrying a tray with a glass full of water on top...Crystal was told that if she spilled the water, she was going to have to clean it up herself... :)

December 9, 2009

Strengthening her right side...

December 2, 2009

Up and down the ladder...

Crystal's Journey...

This is a slideshow put together by Lindsay Holtmann that was showing at the park the day of the Oktoberfest. It includes pictures of Crystal and her friends before the accident, and it also contains some pictures from Crystal's stay in the ICU among others.

November 12, 2009

Walking while pushing the ladder and trying to concentrate on posture...

November 12, 2009

More complicated ladder work...

November 11, 2009

Walking outside with her goggles on...

November 10, 2009

Moving weighted balls with her left hand while supporting the weight of her body with her right arm...

November 3, 2009

More walking and a quick visit with Brenda...

November 3, 2009

Skateboarding...

November 3, 2009

Lifting the chair while her left foot is on the skateboard, forcing her to mostly use her right side for strength and balance...

November 2, 2009

Walking on the ramp in front of the building where her physical therapy sessions are held...

November 2, 2009

Up and down the steps...

November 2, 2009

Pushups...

October 31, 2009

Donna's speech...

October 31, 2009

Our focus of the mass...

October 31, 2009

Presentation of Lifesaver Awards...

October 16, 2009

Working on the stair stepper...

October 16, 2009

Crystal using the skateboard to help strengthen her right side...

October 15, 2009

WALKING!!!

October 13, 2009

One of Crystal's exercises that requires cooperation of both mind and body...

September 25, 2009

Crystal walking on her own and getting better every day...

September 25, 2009

More walking in between the parallel bars...

September 24, 2009

Exercises to tone and strengthen...

September 24, 2009

A particularly tough workout...

September 24, 2009

Crystal working on strengthening her right side...

September 24, 2009

Crystal on the 'New Step' machine...a.k.a. 'the bike'...

August 20, 2009

Crystal received this card from the rehab staff at St. Mary's just before leaving the hospital for the last time.

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Getting her new haircut...


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The National Anthem...
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The pumpkin launcher...
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Singing 'The Climb'...
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Evelyn with her winning guess...
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Crystal, Elisha, Johnny and Casey...
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Crystal, Elisha, Johnny and Casey with their 'siblings' kickball team...
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