Here we are in a new month. Can't believe its all ready August!Matt ended July by getting a bigger feeding tube. So now it won't be so hard getting his food and water through that tiny tiny hole. It wasn't the best experience for Matt unfortunately. We now know that Matt can feel pain and everything! Not the way we wanted to find out, but being at kaiser we don't always get what we want.
If there's one thing to pray for its to get Matt out of kaiser! Its time, For him especially. He needs special care and he's not geting it there. Matt needs rehab, he needs a place that will help him get back on his feet. The doctors there are just not doing it. He's had some amazing nurses but the doctors and speech therapy-not so much.
Each day Matt contiues to be more alert. He knows what's going on around him and what people are saying. He's inside there its just taking some time to get out. We all have to continue to be strong and hope for the very best. Only him and God know when it will be time. Remember, its Gods timing, not ours.
Also if anyone is wondering why I am holding this golf benefit for Matt here's why...for many years Matt has touched our lives, been there for us, stuck by our side, and always belived in the best. Now its our time to give back and show Matt we can follow in his steps. Matt is the most amazing person I have ever met. He has such a strong heart, an amazing attitude about all things, and he doesn't judge you. I consider myself the luckies girl alive because I have gotten the opportunity to share his life with him. Matt is the one person that you want your son, daughter, brother, sister, friend etc to meet. Such an unfortunate tragedy happen early the morning of March 28th. Talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I want Matt to be able to have his life back. I want him to be able to one day move on from this and never look back. He'll be able to do that if everyone comes together to help. This is for Matt, his family, and friends to all get together and have some normal fun. So please pass the word on and come out and support him. You won't be sorry you did.
Once again, thank to everyone out there that has been praying. We feel them!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
July 21st
Over the weekend Matt swallowed alot, listened to commands and said some words! I stayed the night at the hospital Friday night due to some swallowing and coughing issues. Saturday morning he had coughed so much that you could hear his voice so much better. I kept telling him I loved him and he finally said the two words I have been waiting almost four months for...love you! I don't think I have cried so much! After a long tiring night that's all I needed! Two words.
Saturday night he said hi to his dad.his words are getting better. You just have to be patient and keep working with him. Its all there in his brain we just have to help him put everything back together.
His parents have talked to a lot of people in reguards to what we should do next for Matt. I believe they have decided to go straight to rehab now. We have to do whatever is going to be best for Matt. Getting him functioning again is going to be the best for him too. Matt will eventually come home. But for now we will fight to get him the best rehab care we can.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) Matt will go in for a small surgical procedure. He is getting a larger feeding tube put into his stomach. Please keep him in your prayers tomorrow morning. Matt is extremely strong and this is just a little turn in the road on his way to recovery. With a bigger tube it will be easier to feed him and then when we take him home will be able to blend food up and give it to him through the tube as well. Right now his tube is so small that its very difficult to push his food through and any kink will stop it from going through. This will just make it a lot easier.
Saturday night he said hi to his dad.his words are getting better. You just have to be patient and keep working with him. Its all there in his brain we just have to help him put everything back together.
His parents have talked to a lot of people in reguards to what we should do next for Matt. I believe they have decided to go straight to rehab now. We have to do whatever is going to be best for Matt. Getting him functioning again is going to be the best for him too. Matt will eventually come home. But for now we will fight to get him the best rehab care we can.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) Matt will go in for a small surgical procedure. He is getting a larger feeding tube put into his stomach. Please keep him in your prayers tomorrow morning. Matt is extremely strong and this is just a little turn in the road on his way to recovery. With a bigger tube it will be easier to feed him and then when we take him home will be able to blend food up and give it to him through the tube as well. Right now his tube is so small that its very difficult to push his food through and any kink will stop it from going through. This will just make it a lot easier.
Friday, July 18, 2008
July 18th, 2008
Today we are contuning to air out matts bottom. He has some skin break down that we are trying to heal. So we are now calling his room the "naked room" :) letting him air out will be good for his skin. Matt has also been moving his tongue around a lot in his mouth. Not sure why, but we are going to ask the neurologist about this.
His parents will have his room painted on Monday. Waiting on the seat cusion for the wheel chair still. So almost there with taking him home.
I have been getting a lot of response about his golf tournament too! I'm very pleased so far. So don't forget to sign up! :)
His parents will have his room painted on Monday. Waiting on the seat cusion for the wheel chair still. So almost there with taking him home.
I have been getting a lot of response about his golf tournament too! I'm very pleased so far. So don't forget to sign up! :)
Monday, July 14, 2008
July 27th, 2008
Hey everyone! Just a reminder about the golf tournament...Here are a few ways to sign up for the tournament. Either call or email me at (760) 484-2767 or Lrsmith31@yahoo.com, sign up at the Pro Shop at San Vicente, sign up at Ramona Lutheran, or sign up at Spirit of Joy Church in Ramona. You can mail me the deposit ( 24005 Nectar Way Ramona, Ca 92065) or for those who know my mom can drop it off at the San Vicente front desk. The deposit will secure your place on the course. Hurry space is limited!
July 27th,2008
Last night matt did something new!!! He was sleeping and rolled over and moved his legs in a more bented position. I was amazed! I just starred at him, thinking to myself..."did he just do that?" He did. I felt myself taking a deep sigh of relief, it's coming back. His brain is healing and he is starting to come back. What an amazing feeling. Seeing him all curled up sleeping like a baby was the most comfort I have felt in a long time. He was just so quiet and relaxed. I crawled into bed with him and just laid there with him. I just wanted to bottle that time up and hold onto it.
For some, it's hard to see the real Matt in this state, but if you look deep into those eyes you will see he's in there. He's just healing. I see him in there everyday. It's through his smile and his big brown eyes. It's when he makes noises and sighs. It's when he yawn's and coughs. It's his heart, his courage, and his strenght. He is our hero. Not just anyone could do what he is doing. So many doctors and nurses wrote him off and sealed his fate. But Matt has continued to show us each day that he will get through and he WILL show them all what he is made of!
I just saw Matt's new room at hs parents house. It looks great. It's so bright and cheery. I know matt will love it. It will be good for all of us to have him home one day.
I want to share a Bible verse that sticks in my head through all of these trialing times.
Proverbs 3:5,6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own uderstanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths."
July 26th, 2008
Well in this last week matt has continued to make baby steps toward recovery. Sharp rehab came and did an evaluation on Matt this week. I don't think he's quite ready for sharp yet but if they could just teach us what we need to do to get him ready, he'll get there with time. We should hear back from them beginning of next week. The person doing the evaluation was pleased to see how far matt was. This is good news.
Swallowing is getting better each day. He is quite alert too. We have been taking him outside for the last two days. I think it's good for him to get fresh air and see the ouutdoors. he just looks around at people and follows sounds. it's ood to see that.
One day at a time is my saying, he's getting there, slowly, but we have all the time in the world. Keep praying and keep the positive thoughts coming his way.
Matt Ruiz Golf Tournament
Golfing Time ladies and gentlemen! Get out your clubs, carts and Balls and lets hit the green for Matt!
When: Saturday, October 4th, 2008
Where: San Vicente Golf Resort in Ramona, Ca
Check in: 11:30am
Tee Time: 1:45pm
Food and Drinks: In the Bar at 7pm
Cost: $90 a person
Deposit: $45 on or before Saturday, September 13th, 2008
RSVP: Lindsey Smith 760-484-2767 or email me at lrsmith31@yahoo.com
It's going to be a lot of fun and I am hoping that Matt will be able to make an appearance for everyone! Let's get together, catch up, play some golf, have some grub and make some money for Matt!
July 15th, 2008
Well, Matt is doing really good. He continues to have calm relaxing days. I've been continuing to work with him on saying noises and sounds. He does make a lot of noises throughout the day. To me that's great because you can really see how hard he is trying.
His parents were going to put a bigger feeding tube in his stomach but they are holding off on that right now at the moment. we thought that the tube was actually going into his Bowel but it now looks as though it has worked its way back into his stomach. The doctors still wants to go with a larger tube but his parents want to wait and see if it's really necessary to go through that whole surgical process.
As for taking him home we are almost there. The construction for the doorways is completed, the new carpeting was put in yesterday, now all we have to do it paint the walls. We have his custom wheel chair already. It's just like a regular one only the back is higher so it'll support his neck when he doesn't hold his head up. Dad has already pimped out his wheel chair with bight neon green handle grips and a bar pad. He also put seat belts on with black sheep skin! Matt's going to be pimpin!! Dad wants to put a motor on it but I said NO! I can just see it now, Matt's zipping down his street in a high powered wheel chair! lol
As for Matt's prognosis...Matt has what is called Diffuse Axonal Injury. Also known as DAI. This is a traumatic brain injury. 90% its patients stay in a vegetative state. 10% of the patients will eventually return to having normal functions. This improvement will be seen in the first year.
The more severe the injury, the longer the recovery period, and the more impairment a survivor will have once recovery has plateaued.
Recovery from diffuse axonal injury takes longer than recovery from focal contusions.
Cognitive and behavioral processes are controlled by specific areas of the brain, so the location of the injury determines the type of impairment. For example, patients who suffer a diffuse axonal injury and/or a diffuse hypoxic injury often have difficulty with concentration and long-term memory. They may have trouble dealing with more than one thing at a time, difficulty keeping track of appointments, and keeping organized.
There are several mechanisms of recovery after brain injury. Initial improvement may be due to the reduction of swelling (edema) of brain tissue occurring over days, weeks or months, depending on the severity of the injury. Next, damaged brain cells begin functioning again, usually over a period of weeks to months. Finally, undamaged areas of the brain may, to a certain extent, take over the functions of areas that suffer permanent damage.
Matt is past a lot of the rocky area which is good. We still have a very long road to go though. Right now we are working with him on swallowing so that we can start giving him liquids through his mouth and eventually food. He is breathing all on his own, he gets breathing treatments daily every eight hours. This is to help break up the mucus and make it easier to cough up. Matt has a very strong cough. This is a very good thing.
I have been going to the hospital everyday for almost four months now. And I can tell you that he is improving so well. When I look back on pictures from a week ago to now, he looks so much better! Everyone says what I do and his parents do must be so hard but really, what Matt does everyday is the hard thing. He's a miracle! A living, breathing miracle! I know that it's going to be a long time before life as I know it will start to feel normal again but, it'll all be worth it when he is able to stand on his two feet and say "What's up?" And one day we will be there. Just keep praying and believing.
His parents were going to put a bigger feeding tube in his stomach but they are holding off on that right now at the moment. we thought that the tube was actually going into his Bowel but it now looks as though it has worked its way back into his stomach. The doctors still wants to go with a larger tube but his parents want to wait and see if it's really necessary to go through that whole surgical process.
As for taking him home we are almost there. The construction for the doorways is completed, the new carpeting was put in yesterday, now all we have to do it paint the walls. We have his custom wheel chair already. It's just like a regular one only the back is higher so it'll support his neck when he doesn't hold his head up. Dad has already pimped out his wheel chair with bight neon green handle grips and a bar pad. He also put seat belts on with black sheep skin! Matt's going to be pimpin!! Dad wants to put a motor on it but I said NO! I can just see it now, Matt's zipping down his street in a high powered wheel chair! lol
As for Matt's prognosis...Matt has what is called Diffuse Axonal Injury. Also known as DAI. This is a traumatic brain injury. 90% its patients stay in a vegetative state. 10% of the patients will eventually return to having normal functions. This improvement will be seen in the first year.
The more severe the injury, the longer the recovery period, and the more impairment a survivor will have once recovery has plateaued.
Recovery from diffuse axonal injury takes longer than recovery from focal contusions.
Cognitive and behavioral processes are controlled by specific areas of the brain, so the location of the injury determines the type of impairment. For example, patients who suffer a diffuse axonal injury and/or a diffuse hypoxic injury often have difficulty with concentration and long-term memory. They may have trouble dealing with more than one thing at a time, difficulty keeping track of appointments, and keeping organized.
There are several mechanisms of recovery after brain injury. Initial improvement may be due to the reduction of swelling (edema) of brain tissue occurring over days, weeks or months, depending on the severity of the injury. Next, damaged brain cells begin functioning again, usually over a period of weeks to months. Finally, undamaged areas of the brain may, to a certain extent, take over the functions of areas that suffer permanent damage.
Matt is past a lot of the rocky area which is good. We still have a very long road to go though. Right now we are working with him on swallowing so that we can start giving him liquids through his mouth and eventually food. He is breathing all on his own, he gets breathing treatments daily every eight hours. This is to help break up the mucus and make it easier to cough up. Matt has a very strong cough. This is a very good thing.
I have been going to the hospital everyday for almost four months now. And I can tell you that he is improving so well. When I look back on pictures from a week ago to now, he looks so much better! Everyone says what I do and his parents do must be so hard but really, what Matt does everyday is the hard thing. He's a miracle! A living, breathing miracle! I know that it's going to be a long time before life as I know it will start to feel normal again but, it'll all be worth it when he is able to stand on his two feet and say "What's up?" And one day we will be there. Just keep praying and believing.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
July 10th, 2008
Hi, well today I stopped before work to see him, he's doing quite well this morning. He was a little tense but he just needed to be repositioned. His parents have a meeting today to go over all the details for taking him home. So i'll have more info probably by tomorrow. Everyday he seems to be getting more aware of his surroundings. It's amazing to come and see him everyday and see what progress he has made. I am going to continue to focus with him on saying words and sounds to get the muscles working again. I asked him to stick his tongue out today and he did it! =) it's the little things that make us smile.
July 9th, 2008
Hi everyone! Cristi suggested that I start my own blog so I can keep everyone update more often, and now with Matt coming home soon I will be able to share new things with you as he continues to get better. And yes I did say he is coming home. I am very excited! We should be able to take him home around the first of August. Right now we are just getting everything ready at his parents house for his arrival. As I speak, the contractors are working on widening the door ways so we can get the wheel chair in and out. Matt has been taken off most of the medications that he was on and he seems to be doing just fine. Right now the only thing that we will have to watch for is his feeding tube and his catheter. He no longer has any IVs which is nice because he just looks so normal now. I was able to get him to squeak out the word hi about two weeks ago. =) It was amazing! I was really happy that his first word was with me. I work very hard every night with him to get him to start talking so that was very rewarding for me. The way he lights up when I come in the room just gives me goose bumps! It's so good to see that he knows me. It really helps after almost four months. Please keep praying for him everyday. He is such a fighter and I can't wait until he is back on his feet. Also please keep me and his family in prayers as well, even though he is doing so great, time is taking a toll on all of us. Pray for patience because it's just going to take time.
Also I know alot of you live out of state but if anyone is in town or interested in playing in a golf tournament for Matt in September, I would love for you to join us! I will have more info soon. Just wanted to put the bug in every one's ear.
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