UPDATE 11/25

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Our family has a lot to be thankful for this year. Michele came home today from 1pm to 8pm and we had 16 people at the house. I cooked my first Turkey and it turned out perfect. The rest of the family brought dishes and help out to make this a wonderful Thanksgiving feast. Michele is normally the one in the kitchen as cooking is her passion. Today was my turn to do the cooking and she kept calling me over to tell me she was bored. I could tell she wanted to help but she is not ready for that yet. Michele did have dinner and ate half her plate. Last night I spent the time to write our prayer for thanksgiving and I though I would share it with all as it really does have a common factor between all faiths. "The commitment to life" Again our family has a lot to be thankful for and we will never forget it. I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

John

Thanksgiving Prayer 2010

Lord God we pray to you in rejoice of the life you have spared upon our family. Our petty living and abundance's have separated us from our true vision in your eyes over time but you have always shown us the true way to "love life and prayer" in your name. We are all thankful for the true miracle you have bestowed upon us and we vow now to never let that miracle be forgotten and we promise to use this opportunity to help others in need.

Your servant our Pope Benedict XVI has ask us all to join him in prayer this weekend of Thanksgiving Saturday at dusk, to pray for the commitment of life that has been given to us all by you our savior. How appropriate for a nation wide prayer after 500 years from a Pope to pray for life that is of all race, creed and religion in common. Our family has only one prayer and it is yours, one of life love and family. We pray to you for continued blessings upon our family and we continue to pray to you to continue your work to help our dear Miracle Michele as she struggles in her recovery by your guidance.

Bless our food and our family as we are thankful for the life you have given us all.

UPDATE 11/24

"Projects" as we call them in the O'Donnell family are often events were us men have nothing else to do but to tear down something and build in the new. It is often a hobby and keeps us busy and out of trouble. Over the years I have learned my share of handyman talents mostly from my Father as well as my Brother and Uncles. Since Michele and I bought our home we have just about renovated every part of the house but our bathroom. I wanted to do something special for Michele before her arrival home for good as in her condition she would never be able to use our current master bathroom including the shower, tub and toilet. What Michele needed was a handicap accessible bathroom that she cold use when she return home.

Well with that said about 4 weeks ago I got out the tools and started demolition. The usual trusted and steady helpers followed immediately, Brian, Billy and John John. After a week of demo and reconstruction I started to feel the work wearing on me. I forgot one helper that was always by my side, telling me to stop for the evening, feeding me and messaging my muscles for the next day "Michele". My point was I would go non stop with out Michele. I was truly wearing myself out for the first time in my life with a "project". This was not like me but I had to call in the troops. Other than my Father who would have been at my home in a moments notice the next best and most trusted carpenter I know showed up within a week to help with the project. Jim O'Donnell my Uncle, my fathers brother as well as Brians father came to the rescue. His wife Kathy came to keep us all in line, cook wonderful food and help with being a caregiver to Michele. Brian and I had most of the construction done before Jim arrived and honestly I had never done tile work before. I guess that was the one thing my father never taught me in construction. I can tell you though that from the tutelage of his brother Jim I have now learned the art of tiling. Jim upon his arrival decided on the pattern we should make and OH! it just so happens it is one of the toughest patterns to do. I feel like I can tile the world now after learning what we did. As you can see from the Pics below Michele now has a wonderful 35 square foot shower with 3 shower heads and a seat. she can operate the shower from a sitting position or from a wheelchair. Her toilet is handicap approved and she has handle bars all around where needed.

After 4 weeks of non stop work in the evenings till 3AM at times the work was done. My fathers brother came to the rescue and I thank him and Kathy for that. My trusted right hand man Brian never left my side and my 2 sons learned something from this that my father was never able to teach me. My wish was for Michele to see the finished project and that has yet to come. She is unable to get to the upstairs without being carried and she is not ready for that. She has seen the Pics and is waiting for the day to see the unbelievable job done by the trusted O'Donnell boys.

Thanks guys and this one is for the scrap book!

John

UPDATE 11/22

Last week we had a very nice visit from the Local 7th and 8th grades from Eldorado Elementery School where John and Alyssa attend. The event was so nice and Michele enjoyed it very much as well as much of the residents of the Boulder Manor. I would like to thank the children and the parents that made this happen and a specuial thanks to the music director of the school Mr Call. They made this night a very special one and Michele was once again enjoying her music and beat to the rythym.

Dori Ariniello attended this event and I asked her to give her perspective.

"During my visit with Michele this past Tuesday, Alyssa, Michele's youngest daughter, brought her in a wonderful surprise. Mr. Call and the El Dorado school choir came to the Boulder Manor to surprise Michele and the other residents with their beautiful voices. Since I already knew about the surprise, I brought Annalise with me. We got Michele all ready and in her chair by 4:30 and shortly after Alyssa, John and John John arrived to deliver the news. Alyssa rolled Michele down into the Community room where a lot of other residents had already gathered and put Michele right up infront of the choir. I sat on the side and took pictures most of the time while I listened to the wonderful children singing their hearts out. The one thing that captured my attention while taking pictures was the look on Michele's face. The way she looked at Alyssa and John John, the love she has for them was written all over her face. She motioned at one point for John John's hand. He reached up and put his hand in hers and her smile could light up the room. She then started tapping their hands together to the beat of the music the choir was singing. It was a great experience. After about 4 or 5 songs, they asked the choir to come out to the cafeteria where there were several others waiting to hear them sing.
Love, Dori"

Life passes us by so quickly and special events like this usually only open to us by special circumstance as in our case. I first hand experienced the wonder of the faces of the residence and how much they truly enjoyed these children singing with all their hearts. It was enlightining to witness and I hope to withness and be involved in more similiar special activities for those in need in the future. I have said in the past, Michele and I will spend a life time paying our good fortune of health and happiness forward to others. Miracles are not often given and we will not waste the one that has been bestowed upon us.

UPDATE 11/17

A quick note from Micheles sister Cindy.

I arrived at 8:30 this morning, surprised to find Michele awake. She greeted me with a smile and a wave. She said she was feeling good and we talked about her headache. She said that she was fine and I asked her what she thought she got the headaches from. She pointed to both her eyes and then covered up the right one and then the left one. I asked her if she could see me fine with each one and she said yes, but as we know, has a hard time focusing with both eyes. I guess that would give me a headache, too. I mentioned to her that I had a conference call at 9:30 that I had to take, so I'd probably slip out of PT for a bit to be on that call. I asked her if she was ready to get changed, but my sister has a schedule. She wanted to get ready at 8:55 so that Sonja and Donna could get her at 9:00. Fine with me!

She was feeling her left temple and I asked her if her head hurt or itched. She shook her head no and was trying to say something as she rubbed her temple. I felt her temple and it was indented a bit. Since I don't normally touch her head, I don't know if that is a new indent since the shunt adjustment or not. Just thought I'd make a note of it.

At 8:55 I asked her if it was OK that we get her ready now, and she smiled and said yes. JWe got her in shorts quickly and the CNAs were in like clockwork as well to transfer Michele. Sonja met us in the room and we headed down to PT. Sonja said that she was going to do the bike today and Michele wasn't thrilled with it, but in Michele style she worked through it. The bike has a regular seat, and she can push with her legs and push/pull with her arms (see attached photo). She was told do pedal for 5 minutes. When the 5 minutes were up (and 11 calories burned) Donna asked her if she'd like to continue or stop. She shrugged, didn't miss a beat, and kept pedaling away! Shortly after, she looked at the clock, and pointed to me and the clock and started saying something. Of course, she was telling me that it was time to get on my conference call. Always looking out for everyone else!!!!

I left and took the call in Michele's room. The three of them came back at about 9:50 and said that they had Michele standing up on a special walker and she took 5 steps! They had to support her a great deal, but she did it! Donna took a couple more pics for me and I will send them when I get them. Michele asked for her eye patch and we watched Price is Right as I put some lotion on her legs and got her situated with a nebulizer treatment. She wasn't sick all morning and didn't pinch her nose once. Dad came in at 10:45 and I left at 11 just as they were getting her ready to move back to bed.

Michele is a Rock Star!

Cindy

UPDATE 11/10

This is an article on the front page of the Colorado Home Town news paper.
John

Road to recovery

By Kimberli Turner
Colorado Hometown Weekly

The Superior mother of four has always been the rock of the family, someone her children and husband, John, could turn to for anything.

But now, it's their support she needs.

Michele is in a wheelchair and recovering at Boulder Manor from the head trauma she received while vacationing in Cancun on Jan. 27.

Michele slipped and fell in the bathroom of the family's timeshare, and hit her head, causing a brain hemorrhage that required an immediate operation.

She was in a drug-induced coma for a week during her month-long stay in a hospital in Mexico.

Michele was then moved to a Florida hospital for two months where she suffered a second brain hemorrhage, which doctors said was rare, John O'Donnell said.

John said he flew the couple's four kids down to see her during Easter week following the hemorrhage because she was on life support and he was afraid she was going to die.

"She was just barely hanging on," he said. This was one of eight times the family faced losing the woman who had always been the family's strength. "When (nearly losing your wife) happens multiple times, like a roller coaster, you just keep fighting," John said. "I have a wife who won't quit fighting. If she won't quit, I won't quit. We will continue our family."

Following Michelle's initial injury, her family did its best to fill in for her.

Her 18-year-old son, Billy, who was not in Cancun at the time, flew down to retrieve his sisters Alyssa, 14, and Tana, 16, and his 8-year-old brother, John John, while his father stayed to look after their mother. "After this event, we've become a lot closer in helping each other," Billy said.
"It wasn't hard," he said of taking care of his siblings, with help from Michele's mother. "I took them to school, made sure they ate, that they didn't kill each other," he said.

When Michele finally returned to Colorado in April, she spent five months at Kindred Hospital in Denver, where she remained in a comatose state for 45 days.

John said after doctors adjusted a shunt that controls the drainage in Michele's head, she began responding.

"It took me 45 days to get the right doctor to say what I wanted him to say," he said. "It was like watching grass grow in the beginning. She would move one finger one day and move another finger three days later. Now I see progress every single day."

Every movement means she is a step closer to her road to recovery.

Michele has been home for a couple hours twice since the accident, and was able to present the coin toss at John John's Mustang football game Saturday, Oct. 30, in Superior.

John John was thankful to have her at his game. "It felt good," he said with a big grin.

John said he hopes to have Michele back at home in January, nearly one year after her fall, and he has constructed a wheelchair ramp and an accessible shower for her.

They will start with baby steps, he said, bringing her home for Thanksgiving, and a sleep-over at Christmas. She will also undergo intense physical therapy at Craig Hospital in December, and John is hopeful he'll soon bring his "Miracle Michele" home for good.

"I'm convinced she's going to walk up the stairs to her bedroom," he said. "That trip might be exhausting, but that's our goal."

Michele, who also had lung punctures, a blood disease and received a tracheotomy in the last nine months, is still working at speaking. She can say a few words, but her eyes say it all when she looks at her husband.

When John asks her what her favorite thing to say is, she responds with, "I love you."

To help with medical expenses, donations can be made in person or by mail to the O'Donnell Family Fund, 1st Bank, 500 South McCaslin Blvd., Louisville

UPDATE 11/11

Michele attended her first outdoor adventure in the last nine months. Her son John has been playing for the Mustang football league and they ended up divisional champions. Michele wanted to see one of his playoff games before the end of the season and we were invite by coach Steve to not only attend but as he stated we would do something nice to honor her hard work and perseverance. He hinted as to having Michele do the coin toss at the beginning of the game. Michele worked hard to practice her coin toss all week in preparing of the big day. During this time of the year you could have sunny 80 degree weather or it could be snowing. We were blessed with the most beautiful day and Michele even got a little color.

When we arrived early the boys were practicing before the game and coach Steve asked to do a team photo, presented Michele with a hat signed by all of the players and coaches, a team roster and roses. Much to our surprise this was a wonderful gesture by the entire team. Michele listened while the boys chanted her name and the team name.

Well game time came quickly after that and we were prepared to go out to the center of the field with the refs and 3 team managers John being one of them from each team. Well again much to our surprise all of the team members including coaches from both teams all came out to the center of the field and took a knee all around for Michele to make the toss. Michele had her moment and did a great job.

I want to thank all of the Mustang players as well as all of the coaches for making a very special moment for "Miss Michele" in a difficult time in her life. Not to mention what it will do to a small 8 year old son named John. I also want to thank the Mustang organization as John would have never had the chance at this experience without the donation from the league presented by Steve Smith.

Did I mention the Mustangs won 5 touchdowns to 1 to a very good team in the league. As we left the game the entire team chanted as we walked to the car to leave. What a wonderful day and a wonderful experience prresented by a wonderful team of young boys and dedicated coaches.

John

UPDATE 11/3

Tuesday

When I arrived this morning at 8:45, Michele was sleeping soundly. She woke up a little later and was very stiff and it looked as though she had spit up on the sheet to her right side. Shannon came in at that point, so we changed Michele's clothes and got her all freshened up. Donna and Shelly (PT) told Michele that they were going to put her into her chair with the standing lift (they had a special name for it, but I don't remember what it was called.) Michele didn't like that one bit, but we pressed forward. They strapped the belt around her waist, and lifted her up to a standing position with the machine. Then, they pivoted her and sat her down in her chair.

Niki came in to give Michele her morning "cocktail"" of meds, which as of last night no longer includes Robitussin, the brucella antibiotic, one of the stimulants and the folic acid. She's still on the anti-seizure meds, and John wants to keep her on them since she is doing so well. Don't want to take a step back. While in the chair, Michele began rubbing her left temple and pinching the upper part of her nose - like she had sinus pain. Niki gave her Tylenol with codeine, and PT began in front on Michele's mirror at her sink.

While sitting there, Michele put her fingers up to her trach hole and was looking at it. Shelly told her that it is healing up really well. Shelly had her brush her teeth, brush her hair, put deodorant on, and put chapstick on. Michele was having a hard time unclenching her right hand. She can do it - Shelly was just new to Michele's situation, I think.

Donna mentioned to me that Michele doesn't always get up for afternoon PT in her chair, and that in order for us to get to the next stage and get her to Craig, she needs to tolerate more chair time. I told Michele that in order for her to reach our goal, moving to her chair twice per day is so important. She promised me she'd do it, but Caregivers, please help Michele with this process in the afternoon. While sometimes she might be super sick (where you might want to cut her some slack) most of the time she can certainly tolerate it. John is going to talk to the staff about not asking Michele in the afternoon, but telling her that it's time to move to her chair. I know this seems harsh, but it's the only way we're going to get her progressing steps closer to getting home. It's much easier to lie in bed, but she has definitely proven that she can work . . . read on .

We went to the PT room and Michele sat on the side of the bed near the bars, facing them. Shelly was trying to physically open up Michele's right hand, but Michele was frustrated by this. I told Michele to just relax and stretch out her fingers like she always does, and this amazing person stretched out her fingers on her own, beautifully. Shelly was amazed and said that this was "active" use of the hand and not just relaxation. Michele was also proud of herself.

Her feet were nice and flat on the floor, and we got her all prepped to stand up while holding the bar. Of course, I didn't have my camera this time, but let me tell you, it is so amazing to see her stand! I know how much muscle strength it takes her to accomplish this, and even though she shakes just a little, she pushes through it. (Heather from Kindred would be so proud!!) Donna and Shelly were supporting her, so I got in front of her - eye to eye - and reminded her of our goal. She nodded her head "yes" and I told her that this is how we were going to get there.

Then, she sat down and Shelly asked her to support herself on the bed with her hands. Shelly moved away from Michele, and Michele supported herself in a seated position for a FULL 5 MINUTES while we talked about her and John, among other things. I was right in front of her again, just watching how she used her core strength to keep herself balanced. She would often self-correct and lift up her head and body so she was sitting up straight. It was quite amazing to see. I said, "see how I told you that you can do this" and she gave me some "Michele attitude" back, like "yeah, yeah, yeah." Priceless.

She stood up once more, and then she was back in her chair. She was using her legs to push herself back into her chair, so she is definitely gaining muscle strength. By then it was 10:00 - just in time for Price is Right, so we zoomed back to her room to get us there in time! JShe asked for her eye patch, and at 10:30 asked for her nebulizer treatment. That girl knows her schedule! We called the nurse in at 10:45 (as I had to leave) so we could get things in motion to get her back to her bed. Since I was on a time crunch, I put the call button and the bucket next to her in case she needed them and told them to push the button again if they weren't in there in 5 minutes. John was coming to take her to her appointment this afternoon. She did SOOOOO well today.

Thursday

I had a great morning with Michele. She worked VERY hard today! Donna and Sonja came in at 9:15 and moved her to her chair - without the board. Michele put her feet on the floor for a few moments to aide in the pivot and transfer. We got to the PT room where Carla joined us - it was a big group effort today!

Michele sat unassisted for a bit . . . what a great accomplishment! (see the first picture - that's Donna behind her trying to get out of the way while I snapped the photo - Michele is supporting herself on her own!). She also put deodorant on for herself (after saying "deodorant" and removing the cap herself), brushed her own teeth, brushed her own hair, washed her own face, and put chapstick on. With each of these tasks, she had to say the word . . . like brush, or chapstick before she used the item. She did REALLY well. You can see her grimacing in some of these photos since she was obviously working hard! (Amy her nails look FABULOUS in the pic of her putting the cap back on her chapstick) - that takes a lot of dexterity and she did it with ease! Sonja thought that in the next week or so they could try doing these things by her sink in her room so that she'd have her mirror and all of her supplies in front of her.

Carla fed Michele some thickened water from a spoon and also had her try some vanilla pudding. She didn't like the taste of that, but was able to FEED HERSELF NUMEROUS TIMES! It was amazing to see the control she had as she lifted the spoon into her mouth. Absolutely incredible. I told her that soon we could go across the street to that Gelato shop! JCarla is working on getting the swallow test scheduled for next week. She's ready.

We were all amazed by the progress she has made in just the last few weeks! After the session, Michele and I headed back to her room to get our sunglasses before going outside. Tracey came over for a surprise visit, so the three of us headed outside to soak in some sun. Michele took her sunglasses out of her case and put them on herself! The three of us were out there 'til 11, and then Michele got to bed at 11:15, got some Tylenol with C at 11:30 (said her head was hurting) and I put her boots on shortly after. She's looking really good, and the two of us made a secret agreement that she'd be walking by the end of November. She said she thought she could do it by then . . . I have no doubt!

Friday

Without a doubt, Michele is on a completely new track. When I walked in at 2:55 today, I pointed at the clock and she pointed at the clock with a huge smile. It's Dr. Phil time! Before I turned on the show I reminded her of our "walk by the end of November" goal. She smiled and nodded her head. I reminded her how much her muscles had atrophied, so we decided to put together a workout plan for my visit. During each commercial of Dr. Phil and more than half of Oprah, we did leg exercises. Not much at a time, just 5 sets on each leg each time, but she did it! She would lift each leg and touch my hand with her foot. (See the picture of her workout move, attached). She is much stronger with her left leg than she is with her right. Then, I had her bend her knee and straighten her leg as she pushed her foot against my hand. She's got a lot of strength. She's also got a very strong will, so with this goal in mind, I know she's going to work hard.

Kenzie called and she talked to her on speaker, and Mom called and she spoke to her by holding the phone up to her own ear. She said very clear words to both of her callers. Mid-Oprah, Donna (RN) came in to change out Michele's food. Donna was getting ready to leave and Michele looked over at her and said something to her. I said, "Donna, Michele wanted to tell you something." Michele started waving her hands and making lots of noises. I was getting ready for the frustrating game of trying to figure out what she wanted but that didn't happen. Donna asked her if she wanted Tylenol, and Michele shook her head no. I asked her if she was in pain, and she shook her head no. She was pointing to her mouth and I said, "Oh, is it time for your nebulizer treatment?" She said yes! It was a great accomplishment for us to figure this out so quickly. Donna told Michele that she could have more than 2 treatments per day if she wanted to . . . good to know.

There was a portable toilet in the room but Michele said she hadn't used it. Perhaps they are getting ready to start working with that. I had Michele try and work the remote . . . she pushed channel 5 with the greatest of ease (that's The Price is Right and Dr. Phil!!) Funny!

When I was getting ready to leave I asked her if she knew if John was coming tonight. She shrugged her shoulder so I decided to call him and put him on speaker. As soon as he started talking, she got a huge smile on her face. He asked her if she wanted him to bring her earrings to wear so her holes wouldn't close up. She said, loud and clear, "no". I said she'd be home soon enough and she could wear all of her jewelry. JI left shortly after 5 and she wanted to listen to her music.

She is going home for the day on Sunday again. If you are coming by next week and want to drop off some bagged candy, the Manor is having trick-or-treating for kids, and the residents are giving out the candy. You can just leave a bag or two at the front desk.

Love,

C