August 3, 2004
Update 3
Good Morning Everyone,

Again, I'm sorry you have waited for this email; I didn't have computer access for a few days. We are so overwhelmingly busy that you can plan on receiving emails every couple of days (as we are sure there will be days w/out heavy progress).

First of all, lets re-address where dads situation stands, we receive several calls a day with miscommunication (we completely understand, as this information is going to hundreds of people). Thank you for including all of us in your personal and group prayers, prayer chains and your everyday thoughts, you have no idea how much it has touched our lives...WOW!

Now Dad...he has remained in ICU until today as there are tentative plans to move him to rehab by this afternoon. His condition remains stable, however his greatest challenge is the breathing. Our first prayer was answered when he was permanently taken off the respirator and they removed it from his room..."he's breathing on his own". Now, what does that mean? He is not breathing like you and me...he has a tracheotomy and that is what he breaths through, with the aid of fresh oxygen. If you were to take a straw, put it to your lips and take every breath you breathe in and out of "only" the straw, which is how dad breathes!!!! Its not easy and he tells us, its not easy. As of this a.m. he still has fluid on his lungs and throughout his entire body (b/c of the surgery, which is normal) once this is gone, he will breathe "a little" easier. He has to keep the trach in for a minimum of six weeks and maybe forever, depends on rehab...pray for him. Please hold, the phone is ringing....

This is how fast Dads situation changes, that was the ICU Neuro Doc relaying info to us that Dad WILL NOT go to rehab today and will remain in ICU for a couple more days. He continues to have secretions that are hindering his breathing as well as a situation regarding his heart rate. You have two nerves relating to your heart, the sympathy and the Para sympathy. One comes from the brain and the other from the cord (Para). The Para isn't firing messages to the heart therefore his heart rate drops or stops. They have meds to kick the heart back into gear immediately no matter where you are in this hospital. They need to get this situation stable so they can deal with it in rehab.

His paralysis situation is the same. He has feeling ONLY in his head, neck and top of his shoulders...NO WHERE ELSE! He does move his arms, but his shoulder motion solely controls that. They have hope he will regain some of the upper arm feeling, which could help utilize his hands (not fingers). "General info" on the spine: He is a complete C4 fracture. C4 controls shoulders, C5-diaphragm, C6-upper arms, C7-lower arms, C8-hands fingers and on down. What we are praying for is for him to get to C7. They tell us, that is probably the best-case scenario. B/C he is a C4 injury alot has to happen for him to get anything to work below the C4 vertebrae. (I think I'm going to med school when this is over, as I’ll have half my classes out of the way). He will have to retrain the body to breathe (...remember he cant feel his diaphragm), swallow etc. The road is long and we are taking it hour by hour.

His spirits are stable, and he continues to fire off one liners that keep us smiling (if only for the moment)...as they said in the ER when he came out of the medivac "your Dad's a feisty one", we just tell everyone on staff to "gear up, he will be running your rehab unit before its over and raising funds for you to change the way things are done!!!!" We know its frustrating for him and cant even imagine the entrapment he feels not being able to move or talk, but our communication is getting better through the lip reading and eye blinking. As I said before, he's busy trying to make sure everything's in place for he and moms’ future, we reassure him, it is!!! As always, his concerns are always about my mother and us kids, never about himself. Have you ever met someone so unselfish? We haven't.

Mom is doing well, considering.... She had her second surgery yesterday morning and we have her back at the hotel with us, she is much happier. She does not have an infection in her hand; she has three pins to hold the break in place and will remain in a "cast" for 6 weeks. She will then endure rehab to get her hand back to full function. Her road is long also; both those hands need to be working for dad!!!! We all have our moments, but we remain strong, rely on faith and hope and pray alot. Our motto (from Mary Wood) is to: "Hang on and hope hard'.... that’s what we do.

If any of you have questions, let me know and I will try to answer them in the next email. My mind is on overload and sometimes I say too much or not enough. Sorry for all the typo's, misspells, grammar etc.there is only so much time in the day.

We love you all and cannot thank you enough for all your prayers and concerns, my parents are so loved, and it’s amazing. Your prayers are working.

Dad doesn't want visitors until after he gets going into rehab, if that changes, we'll let you know.

PS.if you're a doc reading this correct anything I have said or better the explanation :)!

Thanks for everything,
The Henry Kids