LOVE NEVER FAILS

Something a friend shared with me today and reminded me SO much of Michele and the love her family and friends have for her. Watch and listen.

Make sure you pause the Music Player on the side-bar before watching the video

UPDATE 4/26 (From Home)!!!

Sorry for the delay but it has been a very busy 4 days since we have arrived back in Colorado. Michele and I arrived in Colorado on Friday at 2:30 pm. We were met at the airport by an ambulance and taken to St Anthony’s Hospital. Michele had a full day and was wiped out from the trip. She spent 2 days sleeping and the doctors spent there time giving her tests and learning her case. All of the family had time to visit her and spend time with her over the weekend. It has been so long since we were home and it has taken a few days to get everything unpacked and back in order. Michele is 30 minutes from the house so the family has worked out a schedule to break up the time with Michele and make sure someone is with her at all times during visiting hours. Today I received a call from the doctor and he was very impressed with her condition and therefore released Michele from NSICU to the long term acute care facility I have picked out. Michele was again transported to another hospital Kindred Care where she will spend the next few weeks building up her strength with occupational, speech and physical therapy. She needs to be able to participate in therapy before she goes to the last hospital Craig for intense 30 day therapy. Michele is in stable condition now and is no longer in an ICU unit therefore the family is able to be with her more and we are at the next stage on healing. She still is not very responsive, she cannot move her body on command but when she is asleep she moves all over the place. She needs to learn how to do everything all over. Today we put her speaking device on her “trake” and she was able to make noises. I asked her to say John John’s name and she tried but after several tries she clearly said “NO” meaning she could not do it. I was so impressed that she even tried and I could see her determination and she really did a great job for her first time trying to talk in 2 months. The family is very dedicated in keeping her motivated and pushing her to get better. Alyssa, Tana and Jordan sang songs to Michele tonight and her attention to them was unbelievable. I though Michele was going to join them in singing as a few times we caught her humming along. I spent the last 2 days with the help of the family giving Michele a spa treatment including her nails, toes, legs shaven and hair cut. We really never had a chance to do this before as she was always in a critical stage and the infections that she had did not allow us to keep her groomed properly. She is now glowing and I know it makes her feel even better. Just because we have made it home does not mean this tragedy is over it is only the next stage of her healing process. I will continue to send emails in hopes to draw upon all the prayers still needed to keep her on the path of 100% recovery.

John

Some pictures of our flight Home sweet Home!

OUR MIRACLE.

This scrapbook customized with Smilebox

UPDATE INFORMATION 4/24

Michele arrived home to Colorado Friday afternoon with John, and is now in the NSICU at St. Anthony's Central in Denver.

The family is very excited to have her here, as we know all of her friends in the Denver area are as well. We plan to work with Michele over the next week or so to get her ready for visitors, but until then, she is still in a fragile state and the family has worked out a schedule for her care.

We will let everyone know as soon as it is time for visitors, as we know this will be extremely beneficial to Michele's recovery.

Thanks to all of you that have asked, "What can I do to help?" Tracey Mattox is still coordinating meals for the family. Please contact her if you make a meal or two. In leiu of flowers or gifts, please send any size contribution to the O'Donnell Family fund, via 1st Bank or the GiveO site, links below. The NSICU does not allow flowers as they may bring allergens or other issues to the patients, and we would urge you not to bring any when it's time to visit Michele.

Thanks to everyone for their love, support and prayers during these past few months. Michele needs us more than ever to help get her back to the life she wants and deserves to lead.
Light Love Power and Presence! Michele is HOME!

Donate on-line by visiting http://www.giveo.com/needs/fyCR6Qn/ or click on the WAYS TO HELP button on the side-bar! You can also make donations at any 1st Bank in Colorado to the O'DONNELL FAMILY FUND. Account number: 868-290-1625. The address is: 500 S. McCaslin Blvd, Louisville, CO 80027

UPDATE 4/22 - GOING HOME :)

Tomorrow, April 23rd will be exactly 3 months to the day since we left Colorado and I think I can finally say WE ARE COMING HOME!!!! Karen, Brenda and I worked most of the day getting all the last minute things done in order to be able to leave tomorrow. The ambulance will be at the hospital at 10AM. Karen and Brenda will be taking me to the hospital at 9AM with luggage in hand. We are told that it could take a few hours before we actually leave the airport but if I have my way we will be out of here before Noon. We will be flying into Centennial Airport in Denver and then directly to St. Anthony Central Hospital, NSICU which is about a half hour away from our home. The children will be anxiously waiting to meet their Mom at the hospital.

Michele had a fairly good day today. Vital signs are all good. Although she is not able to move very much she has been awake and very alert a good part of the day. We have been working on her goodbye wave and tomorrow morning when we leave Miami I told her she is going to wave her left hand to all the doctors and nurses.

The trip tomorrow will be full of emotion as I have tried from day 1 to take Michele home. Every time we think we were on the right track another problem would arise and delay our trip. I would like to thank all the family, friends, doctors and nurses that have help us over the last 2 months in Miami. I can’t imagine getting through this without everyone’s help. Without it I would probably be in the room next to her. Michele, the children and I will embark on the next stage of healing for her and we will finally be able to be together again as a family on a daily basis.

Michele will be traveling with the banners in the pictures attached hand crafted by Karen and directed by Brenda.

Please continue to pray for Michele’s safe return to Colorado. I don’t think I can handle another setback and delay to our return home.

John

UPDATE 4/21

Michele had a difficult but good day today, this morning she opened her eyes as requested and she moved her left hand a little after some massaging. I visited her again at 1pm with Brenda and Karen she continued to sleep off and on. Then the physical therapist came by to work with her for 20 minutes. It wore her out and she fell asleep again. Later in the day she woke up and was very alert, she wanted her bite block out of her mouth. I took the time to explain why she had it and that she needed to open her mouth for us to take it out. Brenda and I rubbed her jaw to relax her muscles to allow her to open her mouth. She agreed and opened her mouth to allow us to extract it. If you can imagine this device held her tongue down to her throat therefore it was about 4 inches long. We were able to get it out and I spent the next few minutes suctioning her mouth to get her comfortable.
Later in the day Michele had several visitors, Annette and Tom, as well as Alex and Maite later in the evening.

Michele is on track for us to leave on Friday and I can tell you all she and I cannot wait to get home, although Michele will not be at home she will be in her home state of Colorado. I am teaching her to wave good buy to all the Doctors and Nurses and I am sure she will do it on Friday. Michele will be going to St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver to the NSICU. We have spent too many days away and we need our family together again even if it is from a small distance to the hospital. She will be traveling on the same date the 23rd as when we arrived in Cancun (exactly 3 months to the date).

Country Roads Guide Us Home to Colorado!!!!

John

**If you have sound turn it on. Just sing Colorado instead of W. Virginia and it will make you smile. I Promise** Our Miracle is coming home.

COMING HOME!!!!!

Michele woke up at 930 this morning just as I had asked her last night her vitals are all good and she was able to move her left hand. We are scheduled to leave for co on Friday. She will be going to St Anthony central.

Please spread the news.

John

UPDATE 4/20 PM

Michele had a very rough night last night which resulted in her being on an ice blanket this morning, due to a high fever about 102. They decided to do an EEG test to see if she was having any seizures. Blood tests, x rays and physical checkups were done throughout the night. Michele again tried to bite her tongue and it took 3 doctors to get her mouth open and put a bite block in. This all sounds bad but Michele and I have been through this three times now. I do believe this is a result from the operation and the sedation. It will pass in time and I can only hope and pray she did not have any brain damage throughout the process. Dr Bullock called me this morning to tell me that there was too much fluid draining from the brain and they needed to back off on the shunt a little to slow down the drainage. It will take some time to get her to a perfect level that will work for her.

This afternoon I spent time giving her a pedicure since her toes have not been touched for almost 4 months now and her nails were very long. I was able to take the time while she was asleep to cut each toe, clean them up and rub them with lotion. This is a first for me and hopefully a last as I would rather Michele be able to do them herself. I will gladly help on the lotion and rub her feet anytime.

At 4:30pm I asked her to sleep 4 more hours and then open her eyes at 8:30pm so I could see her. I told her how important it was to do this so we could show the doctor how much she can do so he would allow us to go home on Thursday. She did at 9pm open her eyes tonight just for a few minutes and barely looked at us through squinted eyes. I again asked her to sleep for another 12 hours so she can be awake at 9am tomorrow which I am confident she will.

She still has a lot of healing to do and we are still waiting on results from many tests she has had over the last 2 days.

Please keep praying for my Miracle Michele!!
John

UPDATE 4/19 - PM

Cindy and I went to see Michele this morning at 9:30am to say the rosary and get updated about the surgery by Dr Bullock. Michele was scheduled to have the shunt operation as well as a muscle biopsy. When I was at the hospital speaking to the Dr. we decided to take a look at her latest CT scan that was taken on Saturday and it revealed another abscess in the same spot as the last. This time it was small but the Dr felt it was necessary to add it to the procedure today and take fluid from the area with a needle and if necessary add a tube to drain. At 1:37 pm her surgery started and by 2:40 pm the Dr. called to tell me she was out of surgery and everything went well. Her shunt is in and draining, her biopsy is done and they did have to add another drain to her head to drain some more abscess fluid. We will get results from the abscess fluid in the next 2 days, but the color was not good and makes them think she has another infection.

Michele was back to her room by 3:15 pm and was awake when she arrived and was able to move her hand and she closed her eyes to tell me she loved me. That has been our only way to communicate for the last 3 months and is so sincere when she does it. They gave her some pain medication and she was off to sleep. I took Cindy to the airport then back to hotel to pick up Karen and back to the hospital again to see Michele awake around 6pm. We left her to sleep again and get her strength so we could see her later tonight. At 9pm we arrived to find her sleeping still and did not want to wake her tonight.

Her head used to be swollen quite a bit but now it is completely sunken in which is normal but tough to look at. The nurse told us it will look worse in the upcoming weeks but this is a good sign. It will take about 4-6 months before we can add her bone plate back to her skull so this will be something we will have to get used to. I expect to see great things from her tomorrow as this is what we have been waiting for and has taken so long to get done.

I added a picture of a bird that flew 18 miles from the coast of Marco Island Florida to land on my hand while fishing. Not really sure of what that symbolizes.

Thanks for the prayers today at 1pm they obviously worked.
John

SHE'S OUT!!! SUCCESS!!!

The shunt operation was a success! Michele is out of surgery and will be back in her room in NSICU soon. There was a biopsy of muscle taken to help determine the cause of her myopathy (the reason she is not moving around much). They also removed 7 – 8 cc’s of fluid from her brain which looked infected based on the last CT scan. An update from John will be posted soon.

Thank you for all your prayers!!! They were heard and answered!

UPDATE 4/18

I had a good time fishing with Tommy and mentally preparing for the coming week. In my absence, Cindy took care of Michele, helped her with physical therapy, giving her positive thoughts and getting her ready for the upcoming shunt surgery. She made some great strides over the last couple of days, and is now moving both of her legs. While she’s not moving her knees all the way up by herself, the movement is on her own and very deliberate. She also pushed on the nurse’s hand with each of her feet. It was a very good sign! She got a chance to talk to Billy, Tana, and Alyssa today, and after she listened to each of them, she waved to them. She was very responsive over the last couple of days. Her eyes were wide open in between her times of rest, and she was taking an active part in the movement of her legs and arms. She is a fighter.

Michele is scheduled for the shunt operation tomorrow (Monday) at 1:00 p.m. It is not a long procedure, but it will be a significant one for Michele. A valve (shunt) will be placed in her back, and a tube will run to the front of her torso to allow for the drainage. This will remain in her body for the rest of her life. Normally, the valve is placed above the ear, but the doctor doesn’t want to introduce anything new to Michele’s head area. In addition to adding the shunt, they will be taking a 3mm section of her muscle from her back to test for any issues that would point to her decreased muscle movement.

I believe that this operation is absolutely crucial to her recovery and I am hopeful for a great outcome. We’ve been waiting for this for over a month but due to her infections, we’ve been unable to move forward. Now, she is ready.

I’m asking that at 1:00 Florida time you lift up prayers for Michele so that we have everyone praying together for a successful surgery, and an even more successful outcome.

Thank you, and I’ll give you an update tomorrow.
John

UPDATE 4/15

Overall, today was a good day, but it was up and down. It started out very well, with Michele responding to my questions using one raised finger for yes, and two fingers for no. It was very encouraging. Later in the afternoon, though, she took a step back, not responding to me or making any movements whatsoever. This afternoon, I picked her sister Cindy up from the airport and we went for another visit. Her eyes were closed the entire visit which was very discouraging because she’s been so alert over the past few days. Her head was swelled quite a bit on the left side which got me questioning her CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) drip. They had reduced the amount of fluid that they were allowing to release, which was causing her head to swell. I know that this is what was causing her reduced movement, so I spoke with the ICU doctor at length about it. He was ordering some tests and was also looking into the amount of fluid being extracted. When Cindy and I returned for the evening visiting hours, we were so happy to see her eyes wide open and tracking our movements. She moved her left arm up a bit while I rubbed her left leg. We spoke to her and she definitely understood what we were saying based on her responses. You might even see a little smile on her face on the attached picture. The best part was when she WAVED to the ICU doctor when I was talking to him. It was a great moment.
I’m planning to go to my Brother Tommy’s house for a day and a half to spend some time fishing, gathering my thoughts, and getting ready to bring Michele home. I told Michele that Cindy would be there to spend devoted time with her. Cindy is excited about working with Michele, reading to her, and just hanging out with her sis. I know that I’ll come back more positive, refreshed, and ready to start a whole new chapter in this healing process.

Michele knows that she needs to work from the inside out, and that she’ll have the shunt operation on Monday. We are planning on bringing her home via Medivac on Thursday, so please pray for a successful surgery, and that she will be able to come home next week.

Thank you for your continued prayers!
John

UPDATE 4/14

Today was another good day Michele was more attentive and was awake most of the day. She enjoyed the leg rubs I gave her and we worked out the arms a little. She is moving her left arm more and more and we are close to her being able to use her hand to answer yes or no showing fingers. This will help us communicate with her better if we know her responses. We are still scheduled for Monday morning shunt operation and Thursday at 1pm to leave Miami on a Medivac plane. I forgot to share another experience yesterday with you all. Brenda and I were leaving the parking garage following a pick up truck slowly going down the parking lot when the driver decided he was going out the wrong exit and proceeded to stop put the car in reverse and hit the front end of my rental car. Go figure this is only par for the course as this is the 3rd car accident I have had since this mess has started. Karen and I were in a cab in Mexico that was involved in an accident at 45 mph as well as my rental car was broken into in the garage in Miami smashing the drivers window and stealing a bunch of stuff. I can only hope we are done with all of this. Throughout all of this my heart, soul and mind continue to be dedicated to Michele and her 100% recovery. I continue to have stumbling blocks thrown in my path but I have and will continue to jump over them so I can concentrate on Michele’s recovery.

My mind is made up Michele will be coming home on Thursday and she will recover from this horrible situation.

Please help me by praying for a successful operation and a safe passage home next week.

John

UPDATE 4/13

I made it to Miami last night late and was able to visit Michele at 9:30am this morning with Brenda. I honestly was shocked at how well she looked and responded. Although she is still in a critical condition she was better than what I expected and better than when I left. I came back to Florida with a very positive attitude to get my wife better to travel home to Colorado and when I saw her it made my job easier since she is doing better herself. I will continue to motivate her and work with her to get better but to see her do it on her own helps greatly. Don’t get me wrong she is not up and walking around and running the floor as she would do if she had the chance but she is more responsive and aware of her surroundings. She can lift her left had on command and is working to get off the ventilator. Our new plan is to have her shunt operation on Monday and transport to Colorado on Thursday. I do not want to elaborate on this too much as I have been shut down too many times on this issue and only pray that it can actually happen this time.

Please keep the prayers coming as this is the only way I am going to get her home safely.
John

UPDATE 4/11 & EVENT PICTURES

I am leaving tomorrow to go back to Miami. Today is John’s 8th birthday and we had a wonderful day today. We went to a friend’s house to let the kids ride horses. It was John’s first time and he did a great job. He learned how to brush the horse, saddle her and ride on his own including a trot. Yesterday we had a fund raiser at a local restaurant “Bagali’s” and it was a beautiful and overwhelming evening. We had more than 300 people attend with a silent auction, raffle and live band. My heart is so full of emotion of thanks that I cannot even start to explain. I cannot wait for Michele to get better to see all the support, love and prayers that have been sent her way throughout the world. I have saved every card, email, photo and donation so that she and I can thank everyone. We are going to spend a life time “paying it forward” to other deserving people.

Michele’s condition has not changed much and she continues to be in stable condition but she is not progressing as we would hope. Our goal now is to have her shunt operation this Friday or next Monday and if all goes well she will be transported to Colorado within 4 days after the operation. I know this has been our goal several times and due to set backs we continually have to push back the dates. I hope this is not the case this time and I have her in Colorado by the 23rd of this month.

Thanks for the continued prayers.
John

PICTURES FROM THE EVENT

THE THANK YOU SPEECH

By Amy (Michele's Sister)

Thank you all for coming to the O'Donnell Family Fundraiser tonight, I am Michele's sister Amy. There have been so many prayers and so many people who have done so much already for my sister, from friends and strangers in Cancun, to people across the country.

I would like to say a special thanks to some very special people here in Colorado:

Lance & Margaret Hollinger - Owner's of Bagali's, Bob Keslin, Mark & Jane Shine, and the band Flashback. Thank you for HOSTING and performing tonight.

Steve Smith - John & Michele's life-time friend. For dropping everything at a moments notice to handle anything and everything John asks for, handling all of their insurance needs, and just being the kind of friend everyone would hope for. I've been around all of the O'Donnell family over the past 2 1/2 months and the entire O'Donnell family holds you in the highest respect.

Hugh & Tracey Mattox - John & Michele's neighbors and best friends. For creating The O'Donnell Family Fund at 1st Bank, for organizing meals for the kids, and for making this event come to life tonight.

Kelly McAlister - John's best friend. You moved rooms numerous times in Cancun to accomodate my family, for changing flights to fly back with the kids, for helping John run the business, taking Tana to get her driver's license, for being a huge part of organizing this event tonight & for being John's sounding board - many times on the phone up until 2 o'clock in the morning.

Brian O'Donnell - John's cousin. For stepping up and helping run the business and helping out at home.

Jordan - My nephew Billy's girlfriend. For being the house mother, cleaning, doing the laundry, cooking, taking care of the dogs, and driving the kids around.

Lance and Jorena Collins - Alyssa's best freind Jasmine's parents. For driving the kids to and from school, and for taking care of Alyssa on the weekend sleepovers.

Dan Weller - John's good friend. For arranging and paying for all of John's flights to and from Miami.

Jeff Dunahue - John's good freind from Regis. For buying Billy a ticket to Cancun, so that he could be there for John's birthday.

Liz Christiansen - Michele's highschool friend. For taking John John to his first reconciliation. I was with John in Miami when he found out this took place, and it was so important to him & Michele. When he told Michele that day, at a time when she was awake, but could not speak, the emotion in her eyes really said it all.

Ed Messman - John & Michele's neighbor and friend. For creating the GIVEO site for Michele.

Thanks to ALL of you that donated on the GIVEO site.

Thanks to ALL of you that have provided meals for the kids.

Thanks to ALL of you who donated silent auction items.

And to my brother-in-law John. I love you, I respect you and I am so glad that you are married to my sister.

PRAY FROM CINDY

(Michele's Sister)

Hail, Holy Queen

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us. And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, o Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

FUNDRAISING UPDATE!! COMING SOON!!

Thanks to SO many amazing people last nights fundraiser for our Miracle Michele was a HUGE success! Check back soon for all the details, pictures and much more......

BIG EVENT TOMORROW NIGHT!!!

*** TOMORROW IS THE BIG FUNDRAISING EVENT ***

IT'S GOING TO BE AN AWESOME EVENT TO HELP AN AMAZING FAMILY! HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!!!

UPDATE 4/7

will be leaving at 5am tomorrow morning for Colorado. I told Michele I was leaving and she understood. Karen will be with her Thursday and Friday and Brenda will be with her Saturday till I return on Monday night. John John’s 8th birthday is Sunday so I plan to spend time with the kids and get some work caught up. Michele was awake for most of the day today but she is battling another fever again. We are at “day by day” watching her every moves and responses to treatment. The Doctors think she should be responding better at this point and have no explanation as to why she is not at this point. I just may be that she has been on so many antibiotics for so long that once she is off all of them she may that have the strength to get better. Unfortunately we still have a few more weeks of antibiotics ahead of us.

Please continue the prayers.
John

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

I am sitting here tonight thinking about my best friend Michele. I have been best friends with Michele and her sister Amy for almost 12 years now. I don't remember too much of my life prior to them being a part of it. I have been to Miami and seen Michele. I look at the same pictures you all do everyday. I see Michele the only way my heart knows how to see her. I see her beautiful smile and her gorgeous big eyes. I see the cute dimple in her cheek and hear that funny little laugh she has that always makes me laugh back. In my eyes I see my beautiful best friend and in my heart I always feel her love.

Thought I would share with you some pictures I found of us over the last 10 years.

Red Lion Pub and Spinach Dip....Nothing will ever compare to those nights!

This is me and Amy, my other-half, my soul-mate & my Godson John John

when he was only a few weeks old.

Michele, Billy and John John... Seriously...how much more gorgeous can she get after

JUST having a baby!!!

Michele, Amy and my husband Dave (they have known each other since they
were all about 4 years old)!

My Best Friends in the WORLD!