December 21, 2006

What’s Been Going On:

The last few months have been hectic. Mom and dad finished the addition to their house for Jordan. It is such a nice space, very bright and airy. The room has a kitchenette and a really cool built-in entertainment cabinet. The bathroom has a Jacuzzi tub which is great therapy for Jordan. The room has two large windows that open out onto the back yard as well as French doors which do the same. There is a small patio area where Jordan can sit out in the sunlight. Well, actually sleep out in the sunlight would be more accurate since every time we take him out there he gets all comfy and falls asleep. We were also able to get Jordan his own hyperbaric chamber, which is somewhat like the kind of therapy he was getting in Texas. We are so grateful for all of these things that we have been able to do for Jordan. He deserves nothing but the best.

How is Jordan Doing?

Jordan is good. He is still recovering every day. Special arm and leg braces have been made specifically for Jordan to help with the contracting (drawing in) of his wrists, arms and ankles. This is common amongst people who aren’t able to fully use their hands and feet and is also correctable with good braces. It can be painful for Jordan, having to stretch and fit his arms, wrists and ankles into the braces and he does not like wearing them at all. We know this because whoever is putting them on him gets the dirtiest look from him you have ever seen. Therapy isn’t easy on anyone and Jordan is no exception, it’s a struggle for him but he keeps working and we keep working with him and praying.

He is still trying to talk all the time. He makes eye contact and tries to respond when you are talking to him. Just last week as Nurse Linda was walking around his room talking, he was turning his head back and forth as she walked around behind him and following the sound of her voice with his eyes as well. Each time we see Jordan do anything, he is better at it and a little bit quicker. Another really cool thing is how Jordan smiles when we are messing with him. A couple days ago, I was in Jordan’s room with my Aunt Gail. I walked around to the side of Jordan’s bed and leaned down and grabbed him from behind like I was trying to pick him up out of bed by his shoulders. I said something like, “get that butt out of that bed and let’s go have some fun, this is getting old, let’s get up and get movin’!” I looked up at his face and he was SMILING! I mean really smiling at me like he could laugh at any moment. It was fantastic and excellent and a glimpse of the old Jordan. He was smiling in such a way that I thought he was going to say something. Looking right at me and smiling; it was just great and my Aunt Gail was cracking up at the whole thing. It was a great day. Dad is really good at getting the smiles out of Jordan. He’ll get close to Jordan’s face and say, “Whazzzuuupp?” again and again and Jordan just beams, it is the funniest thing and a positive sign—these are the things that keep us pressing on. These are real signs of recovery.

Jordan has the hyperbaric treatments every day for one hour. He still has physical therapy three times a week and occupational twice weekly. Theresa his occupational therapist is like part of the family. She recently had a baby boy whom she named Tony. It isn’t uncommon to find Theresa in Jordan’s room working him hard while Tony is passed around by us and the nurses or hanging out in his carry seat.

We are very fortunate to have such great nurses and therapists. Our current nurses, Sean, Jammie, Linda and Cheryl do a fantastic job and take great care of Jordan (and us in some cases).

Other Things:

We buy Jordan a lot of movies and play his music for him a lot too. Dad just signed him up for Netflix and we got him a new IPOD. I filled the IPOD with a lot of his favorites like Led Zeppelin and The Band and The Allman Brothers. Anyone who knows Jordan knows his music collection is his life—both vinyl and CD. Amongst his CD’s I have found a few of mine that he copied not long before his heart attack. It makes me smile, I remember him coming and borrowing Ben Harper from me, he was so excited that I had the double live CD. I miss Jordan so much. I would give anything to have a conversation with him right this minute, or to go to Crawdaddy’s and eat with him and just talk and laugh. I would love to tell him everything that has gone on since his ordeal began. Just to see his facial expressions and hear his laughter would be a dream come true and many prayers answered.

What’s Next:

From the minute Jordan was in the hospital my mom reassured all of us that “Jordan will be fine.” We still believe this and trust that through prayer, faith, love and support Jordan will recover completely. Someone mentioned to me that some people might think we are unrealistic to believe that Jordan will fully recover. I am going to venture a guess and say that anyone who feels that way has probably never met Jordan. To know him is to love him and to love him means giving him a chance to recover and being a part of it as his friend—even if all you can do is pray, you are helping Jordan recover and that is all we can ask. Our motto has always been to stay positive for Jordan, no matter what and if other people are not optimistic they simply are not welcome—period.

There has been talk of there being another Jordaroo sometime during the spring of 2007. As soon as the date is set I will post the information here on Jordan’s website. We wanted to try it during the spring this time to change things up a bit. Again, it is very early and tentative at this point but I’ll keep you posted.

As far as my sweet family, we are still moving along slowly but surely. We ask that you please continue to pray for Jordan’s full recovery. Jordan is a good person and he deserves your prayers and support. One thing his friends said to me in the very beginning when all of this first began was that what happened to Jordan could’ve happened to any of them. They were right. And I know that if it had, Jordan would be there, supporting them and cheering them on all the way.

Happy holidays to everyone. We wish you all the best in the New Year to come. God bless.