Good Morning How about that Super Bowl Game? There were not a lot of smiles at our home that day. As everyone knows we're originally from Wisconsin and Chuck is the biggest Packer fan ever. So he was pretty upset - as were thousands of other Packer fans. We taped the game for Chris so he will be able to watch it one day. Chris went to another Hockey game last Friday night. Brain bought him a 8 oz cup of frozen yougert and Chris ate all of it! Maybe I should serve all his meals there! Then he stayed awake and alert throughout the rest of the game. So he did well. On Saturday Chris started showing some signs of changes. He just could not get comfortable all day and at night he got very agitated and pretty vocal. He almost fell out of the front of his wheel chair twice and gave us a bad time as we tried to get him up from a nap. Luckily Brain and Deanna were here to help me . As the night went on he became more agitated and his respirations became very rapid . I got very nervous and even called the hospital to see if any doctors I knew were on call. They weren't so I just continued his breathing treatments and watching and his breathing started slowing down. By the time Jen returned on Sunday Morning ( she was at her parents house in Overton for the week end with her niece Sadie ) he was a bit better. Dr. Cooper ( whom I called at midnight North Carolina time ) felt it was neurological changes and that would be good. But I just wanted to be sure he wasn't sick. "Bad things happen very fast" ( right Dr. Brown ) So we took more lab test on Monday and went to his internist . He could find nothing wrong with him. We had also gone to physical therapy Monday mourning , but after an hour Chris was behaving differently so the therapist stopped until we had seen the doctor. The conclusion is - he's not sick so this could be good news. We'll continue with all his therapy and with the electrical stimulation. Maybe we're on to something. Jen and I and Deanna are going to take him to a movie today - Titanic - it should be pretty stimulating! The race team leaves for Phoenix tomorrow. That means Brain and Deanna will be gone and Chuck and Jen will be at work so who comes to my rescue? Bob Gardner. As soon as he knew I needed someone he took off 2 days to come and help. What a guy! Even if he is a true Broncos fan. We'll keep in touch about the changes in his behavior - until then.
Barb |
Good Morning Its getting close to the one year mark. I can't believe how our lives and so many others have changed. I no longer work in a business where I used to put in 14-16 hours every day. Chuck has to carry the burden of all the business decisions and production. Jen no longer travels with her boy friend to numerous cities all over the United States - she waits with us to watch Chris for a sign of coming back to us again. She continues to work but every weekend and every evening she is here helping with Chris' care, giving him love and kisses and waiting. Their love for each other is extremely strong. My days are filled with daily personal care for Chris, transporting to therapy sessions and contacting the insurance company or the doctors. We still don't have a neurologist - one has not been approved by the insurance company. We really need someone to help regulate Chris' medicine for seizure prevention. Just tonight he had a seizure that lasted 1 1/2 minutes. His tegretol level was therapudic so I'm not sure why he still had a seizure. So hopefully we will have some help with this soon. All of the race team has had personal changes. Drivers like Chris are hard to find so everyone has had to make adjustments. The biggest adjustment came today when they moved the whole race shop out of our garage and into a new location. It was an ideal situation while racing was a major part of our lives, but now it became necessary for the new owner to have more space. We'll miss having the team around everyday - especially Brian. He's always coming in to see if I need help moving Chris from one place to another. He's been a wonderful friend to Chris. He and Deanna have been by our sides since Chris got hurt. Oh yes, even our animals have changed. We have 4 dogs and one of them got so sad when Chris and Jen and I left for California that she started having emotional problems and now has medication. Another one has become so protective of Chris that no-one except the people that live here can go near him. We have to lock her in the garage because she has become aggressive. Even Barbara Allen Jasons mom , had difficulty getting near him last night! Life has become crazy. No matter how long Chris remains quite - no matter what the prognosis is - all of us know he will come back - his family , his friends, his team and even the dogs. So don't forget us. We'll be here waiting until Chris can join us and go on. Until then we'll take him everywhere with us and one day someones' voice, the sound of race cars, or the smells of a race track will trigger what we need to bring him home. Barb |
Good Morning We've had a busy day. It was Chris' second day for physical therapy. It takes all my energy to get him bathed and dressed and get ready my self and get out of the door by 9:30. Our appointment was at 10:00 and " wonder of wonder" we made it. Pam, our friend and Chris' baby sitter from age 2 came to help me today. It was wonderful to have her here and she was a great help and welcome company for me. She drove Chris and I to therapy and to the lab for all his blood work for the week ( 9 viles of blood ) So, by the time Chris 2 hours of therapy and 1 hour of lab work he was pretty tired. The last hour of therapy was spent working with the standing frame - he managed 20 minutes standing for the first time in 2 months. We were all pretty happy with that. We are entering our 3rd week for the electrical stimulation program with Dr. Cooper. We're always looking for new signs from Chris. We still haven't had any actual words but he does mumble at times. He does seem to be awake for longer periods of time and to be alert - although he nods off pretty frequently. Dr. Cooper calls every day for a update and I wish I could report that Chris was talking again. One day soon I'll be able to tell him that or maybe Chris will tell him himself! In March there will be a big race here at the new Speedway - The Busch and Winston Cup Cars will be here during that time one of the hotels in town , The Santa Fe will be hosting a benefit for Chris. We had a meeting with them today just to get an idea of what their plans are and we took Chris with us. We plan to bring Chris to the benefit. It will be his first time to actually take part in anything since February of last year. In just a few weeks it will be a year! Time just keeps getting away from us. Sometimes it seems like yesterday and sometimes it seems like we've been doing this for a lifetime. Please keep your E-Mail and letters coming. I've been behind in my returns. But I do read every one of them. One E-Mail stared out by saying that we probably can't read every one, but I do. They are so genuinely sincere and wonderful . Thank you for continuing to remember. Wednesday we head back to physical therapy and he will also start with a speech therapist. Perhaps she can find a way to communicate with Chris. I'm anxious to see what she thinks of the electrical stimulator. Super Bowl is coming up - Chuck has all his Packer parafanalia lined up. He's loaning Chris one of his Packer sweat shirts for the day. I hope they win - or Chuck won't be fit to live with!! Barb |
Good Morning Last Friday was a good day for us Chris and I went to physical therapy for the first time since he got sick on 12/1/97. I was very worried that he would lose some range of motion or some of his ability to stand in the standing frame. But after a hour of evaluation, Bernie ( his therapist ) told me Chris was really in better shape than when he saw him before he got sick. So I was extremely happy . We had been doing the best we could at home and we had a home health care therapist twice a week. So I guess we did the right things. So now he will be able to go to therapy 3 times a week. I need to find someone for the other days of the week. We believe he will be able to come back to us faster if his body is healthy, strong and moving. We're still using the electrical stimulator Dr. Cooper provided. There hasn't been any major changes in Chris. He is how ever , awake more and he has definitely has been eating better the last time he began talking to us started with him eating much more enthusiastically. I wish someone had a crystal ball so we could know for sure what is the right thing to do and if one thing works better for Chris. But since thats not possible we'll have to continue on with anything we can think of. We have started playing ping pong basket ball in the evening. He was good at both those games and we're hoping the sounds will remind him of his life. On Thursday some of the Winston Cup cars will be in town to practice. We're taking Chris out for a couple of hours - would you like to go Dr. Freedman? We're still marveling over the results in Tucson last week end. They announced on the races today that they have over $35,000.00 for Chris' medical fund. Isn't it amazing? Deanna brought back the pictures taken during the auction- there was a great crowd of people there. We are so grateful to everyone. We received a tape from a young ( 12 ) girl who interviewed Chris during Winter Heat last year. She was so cute when she ( wearing her trench coat and carrying her pad of paper ) appeared at our pit site to interview him for her school newspaper. We can hardly remember what he sounded like. I'm so glade she sent us the tape. Everyday we think " Today is the Day " and we will continue to think that until one day he will ask for hugs and kisses again. Take Care Barbara |
Good Morning The Las Vegas Thunder ( Hockey Team ) won tonight. That in itself isn't real exciting but one of the spectators was very exciting and important to us - Chris Trickle. Chuck ,Jen , I and Brian and Deanna were guests of Craig Keough in the Star Nursery Box to watch the Thunder. Chris looked wonderful and he did very well. He was up in his wheelchair more than 3 hours and didn't seem uncomfortable. He got a little upset during the noisiest parts of the night ( when the Thunder made thief 2 goals ) and stressed a bit but, he remained awake and pretty alert during the game. We're glad we went and we've decided to take Chris to as many functions as possible. He didn't talk tonight but he ate ice cream and drank soda ! Chris had several visitors today - he was happy to see Mike, Ray and Ricky Cobb. Were so gland no one forgets about him. Were excited about finally being able to start physical and occupational therapy again on Friday. I only hope he's able to stand in the standing frame. Its been a long time. I'll never let him be without therapy again. He still has complete range of motion and will always be sure that remains. When he starts responding, he will need a healthy body Barb |
Good Morning Good wishes and help continue to come to us as a result of the auction last week end in Tucson. Our long time friend and representative from the local Speedway ( The Super Speedway is the most amazing facility we've seen if you haven't been to a race here make plans to do so ). Joey is calling on some personal friends to try to fill in the gaps on Chris' physical therapy. As you know we've had a difficult time trying to stay within the insurance plan and get the acute therapy Chris needs. Our schedule for out patient therapy starts Friday - I'm so glad. But it may not be enough so Joey is trying to help us out. He also sent tickets for the Busch Race in March to the auction last week end. Thanks , Joey. I wish time were different - like last year - flying back and forth to Tucson for Winter Heat. We'll have to look forward to more racing trips when Chris is better - or driving!! We've had to hold up for a day on Chris' electrical stimulation. He was having a server jerking movement in his right arm and we could only attribute it to the procedure. We called Dr. Cooper and discussed it , but not being here , he couldn't really say . We thought it might be seizure activity but discounted that because his pupils remained the same it didn't look like previous seizures. So we made a call to one of our doctors from Daniel Freeman - Chris' neurosurgeon Dr. Yadegar. He was in surgery but returned my call when he was through. Isn't that great? He hasn't seen Chris in 2 months but still responds promptly if we need him. He told me his jerking was local seizures and they were not as strong the kind we had seen before. He told me they were like starting a fire with "wet wood" - it just doesn't continue on like it normally would so it only affects a localized part of the body. He suggested a bit more Tegretol but he emphasized seeing a local neurologist as soon as possible. Thats another area I'm having some difficulty with. There are only 2 neurologists in our HMO, and we've met them both. Neither showed much desire or enthusiasm for Chris. Dr. Friedman always said " you need some one who wants this as much as you do " so I'll choose carefully. Meanwhile his jerking has stopped and we started the electrical stimulation once again. Thank you Dr. Yadegar. Chris remains healthy - we had blood work done yesterday and our home health care nurse ( who comes in and checks on us each week ) faxed the results this morning . Everything looks good . He's moving his arms and legs more and he's very vocal- but no actual words yet. Maybe tomorrow Barbara |
Good Morning As everyone returned from Tucson, they all brought stories of the magic of the auction in Chris' benefit last Saturday night. Benny Parsons said on ESPN on Sunday that he did know how the people of Tucson would react to a benefit for a NASCAR driver, but it was truly a magical night. Here are a few of the highlights. * Sean Monroe donated his 1997 Most Popular Driver Trophy and it sold for $1100.00 - purchased by Craig Keough ( Star Nursery ) * A young boy donated his own signed "Jeff Gordon Collectors Card " - the winner paid for the card and gave it back to the boy. *Benny Parsons' donated the shirt off his back and it brought $1100.00 - he then donated his hat! * Ron Hornaday donated his personal Action Collectibles Jacket which brought $750.00 - he then donated his socks ( the ones he was wearing ) and they brought $ 120.00 * A little girl who had only $40.00 and wanted the last large T-shirt was losing the bidding but, Craig Keough gave her the additional $220.00 she needed to get the Tucson Raceway Park T-shirt. * Sweatshirts donated by Lanny and Diane of LTR brought in $100.00 each. * A piston from Jeff Gordans car run in his Championship Winning Race at Bristol * Numerous items donated by Winston Cup drivers - especial Rusty Wallace * Tucson Raceway Park donated many T-Shirts made up showing previous " Winter Heat " Legends ( the winners - including Chris ). Fluidyne purchased the last X-large for $1000.00 - redonated it and it was purchased for $1000.00 by Nitro Tech - who again redonated and it was repurchased for $1000.00 again and again redonated - The first Child to raise their hand got the shirt for $50.00 !!! * John Sewell donated a "lock " of his hair and the winner got to cut it off. * And of course there was the NASCAR 50 TH Anniversary Jacket purchased for $9000.00 by Craig Keough. * All the Drivers on Sunday carried Chris Trickle Hearts - and Sean Woodside carried him in his heart. * Davey carried his # 70 * Tony Toste carried his colors. The list could go on and on. We feel blessed to have so many people love and care for Chris. Chuck promised the fans of Tucson that Chris would come to a race this summer. We'll try to visit all the tracks that have been so generous and caring including Tucson and El Cajon - hopefully we'll be walking in beside Chris - and he'll be whole again. Barbara |
Good Morning We've had quite a week end. Chris remains the same. He turns to voices and his eyes are open and he appears to be able to focus at times. He looks absolutly wonderful with his new hair cut ( thanks to Sarjan Salon ) and wearing normal cloths. He is eating, although not all the time. So our week end was good because Chris is good. Our Dinner at Malayo's went so well we decided to try some other trips. We went to the Rain Forest Cafe with Samie and Talina and Chris' friends Calvin and Michelle and their baby. It was very "loud" and lots of animation and laughter. Chris did real well his eyes were wide open . He never dozed off or was inattentive. The babies rode in his lap through the Casino and we all had a good time. Another thank you goes out to Bob Gardner for the wonderful visit we had with him last Thursday. Good things happen when Bob comes to visit - Paula says he's Chris' guarding angel. We love getting his letters of encouragement and of what knowing Chris means to him Bob also makes good cookies! I hope you all got a chance to see ESPN2 this weekend. There was an absolutely wonderful benefit given in Tucson on Chris' behalf . The members of the ESPN crew ( Benny Parsons, Bill Weber, Bob Jenkins ) and the owners of the Tucson Raceway Park ( Lee Baumgerten ) put on a Amazing Auction. I wasn't there because we have to have at least 2 people with Chris in order to care for him and move him. So Jen and I stayed home with Chris. Deanna called at 11:00 or so and told us what happened. She said there was three hours of wonderful things going on. Craig keough the Owner of Star Nursery bought the leather NASCAR jacket ( Commerating the 50th Anniversary of NASCAR ) for $ 9,000.00 - Thank You Craig ! We saw the jacket on Deanna on TV the next day as she waved the green flag to start the Winston West Race good job Deanna. There were many many wonderful stories coming out of the auction. Ron Hornaday came in for the benefit and the socks he was wearing were auctioned off for $120.00 ! Benny Parson's shirt off his back went for $1100.00 - Chuck was so moved by everyones sincere desire to help Chris that he said he had tears in his eyes the whole time. They raised $30,000.00 for Chris' Medical Fund and we are so very grateful. Thank You all - everyone who had the Idea , everyone who participated , and ESPN and NASCAR. Being members of the racing community has proven to be the best thing that has happened since February TH of last year. Thousands of people have come together to stand by a special young man we call "our son". None of us will ever allow him to stop here. He must go on - he must get better. He has the love of the world behind him. He is a symbol of what is "right"in our country and it beat the wrong that did this to him. Thank you for standing with us.
Barbara |
Good Morning Time continues to slide by and Chris still remains caught in the web between insurance and hospital pricing and lack of sufficient therapy. It has been over a month now since he has had the benefit of standing up in a standing frame or sitting up by himself or laying prone on the wedge or ----. I could go on and on. I just don't want him to loose any ground he has made. We can go back to IDS , but only as a full time patient and we don't want to subject Chris to that again unless he is truly sick. We've asked to be able to go there during the day for all his therapy and just leave at 4:00 PM and go home for the evening. But we've been denied that plan. So our case manager is trying to find an out patient clinic that has the equipment and the therapists Chris desperately needs. The bright spot of the past month has been meeting Dr. Cooper from North Carolina. He gave up special time with his family to come here and start the electrical stimulation program for Chris. I expected ( after many phone calls ) a very serious and devoted doctor - which he is . But what I didn't expect was his great sense of Humor. He fit right in with our family and friends. He jumped in to help with Chris and gave us much needed encouragement. Since starting the stimulus Chris seems to have regained his appetite. He also stays awake and seems to be more alert for longer periods of time. We continue to do stimulus at home and we remain hopeful. And we are forever grateful to Dr. Cooper and his family. Our friend Bob Gardner from San Diego came in just for the day. We are always happy to see Chris' "Guardian Angel " right Paula? The day went great. We had an eye doctor appointment at 9:30 and Bob flew in at noon. At 2:00 Chris had his first " social " outing. We actually took him to Jens work place to have his hair cut. We went to dinner at Malayo! Chris actually ate his beans and Cheese and orange sherbet. He did so very well. He was awake and alert and he ate enthusiastically. Is the electrical stimulus working or is it Bob Gardners Presence? I'm still working on getting a much needed rehab program. Again thank you all so much for the E-Mail, Cards, and letters. Pam I got your E-Mail it was so special to me Thanks Barbara |
Happy New Year and I certainly hope and Pray it will be. Were still at home at home and I'm frustrated about the fact Chris is not getting any physical therapy or occupational or speech . We have a "home health " physical therapist whom has seen Chris once and otherwise it is up to us to keep him moving . But, even though we can do range of motion , we cannot accomplish any of the things that were being done at Daniel Freeman. We feel like we've been left adrift in the middle of Insurance Companies and Doctors. Although we would like to stay in Las Vegas , we really have no acute rehabilitation hospital that we can go to. We have no re-hab days left on our insurance and the hospitals here will not reduce their rates so we can use skilled care benefits and still get therapy. So Chris is in the middle of this. Although we can take good care of him at home , we have no equipment to really help him progress. And thats what he needs to do. We know he can - he's done it before. Dr. Cooper is coming Saturday to perform the electrical stimulation procedure. He will be here 2 days and we will check Chris back into Sunrise to do this. However we will not be able to stay at the hospital or in the re-hab unit because the insurance will only approve 2 days. Were hoping the procedure will shoe improvement so we may be able to go to the re-hab facility for a couple weeks or more. Actually, we feel that the only way to keep Chris healthy and to make any progress is to return to Daniel Freeman. I admire anyone who has had to face the reality of a very sick or totally dependent family member and has had to be a care giver. We're taking turns staying up all night to be sure that Chris has breathing treatments and gets turned from side to side during the night. Usually the days are so busy you can't get a chance to sleep. Its something you do out of love , but its still difficult. Thank God for Jen and our friends and family. Chris' status right now is " quiet " He makes noises , and he will follow voices from side to side. He has not said any words lately, although sometimes we think he responds to questions with a " yeah " . His last lab work was okay and his last doctor visit pronounced him healthy. So we have some good things to start the New Year with. Barb P.S. We wish all of you the very best in the coming year- and again we can't thank you enough for all your support and love. |