This update was received February 8 2008
Dear family and friends,
Never a dull moment. I know I sent out an update a short while ago, but I have a favor to ask of you who live in our neighborhood and this seemed the best way to get the word out. I'll start with the favor and then give you some uplifting news about Danny.
Misti James, our remarkable family friend, has been at Danny's bedside every night since July 17th, 2005. She has never missed a single night, staying up to turn Danny every two hours, seeing to his food and water. Three mornings ago she left here and returned to her small apartment in Redondo Beach to sleep. She woke up with her room on fire. The investigators suspect an electrical cord under her bed started the flames. Providentially, she escaped with only some burns on her hands and a slight case of smoke inhalation. But her apartment and nearly all of her possessions were destroyed. She was very fortunate: the firemen said that her bed was burning from both ends.
She has moved in with us while she looks for another place to live. So I'm wondering if any of our friends and neighbors in the area know of any small apartments in the $800 a month range? A guest cottage would be ideal; a guest room with a private bathroom might also work. She sleeps during the day and is gone every night. If you know of anything, please email me: manonash@verizon.net and I'll tell Misti.
As for Danny's news: he continues to struggle with stomach issues-- at least we think they're stomach issues-- a physiatrist recently told me that with brain-injured patients, an ingrown toenail can trigger the cramps and sweats that are still bothering him. So we don't know for sure what the problem is-- though we've ruled out ingrown toenails. He also had another seizure the day after I sent out the last update, but seems to have weathered it all right.
We're having some more blood and stool tests done, checking for allergies as well. X-rays and initial tests have failed to turn up anything abnormal. The gastroenterologist suggested knocking him out and scoping his digestive tract, but we're reluctant to sedate his already compromised brain so we regard that as a last option.
It's puzzling that, while he often has sweats and stomach tightness in bed or in his wheelchair, he's relaxed and dry when sitting on the therapy table where he's often bent over. In this position, he is still answering questions and math problems. We asked if there was anything we could do for him and he replied "No". We asked if we should take him to a doctor. Again: "No". (But we did anyway.) We asked if he was happy. "Yes".
I recently told a friend that Danny is teaching me that although we can't overcome suffering, (illness and death are always there, waiting for us or our loved ones) we can perhaps transcend it. I'm a long way from fully accepting it, but that's what Danny seems to be doing, maybe through love.
We've all been watching a lot of cable news shows about the presidential race, so during one of his sessions on the therapy table last week, Lynn asked him if he wanted to vote on Super Tuesday. After he touched "Yes", Lynn used his board to have him choose from the candidates and statewide propositions on the ballot. On Tuesday, Lynn went to the polls where Danny was registered. They wouldn't let her vote for him, but the supervisor made the rare decision to send a poll worker home with Lynn, with a small ballot punch machine. When the man saw how much effort would be required for Danny to make his picks again, he requested Danny to watch while Lynn punched the ballot with his choices. Then she held Danny's hand so he could sign the disabled voter form with an "X". For the rest of the day, Danny wore an "I Voted" sticker on his shirt. The poll worker said the experience touched him profoundly and asked to come visit Danny again. We were all deeply moved that Danny was able to participate in our democracy. By the way, he voted for Barack Obama.
As always, we thank all of you for all the love and support and prayers. And if any of you know of any apartments for Misti, please let me know.
Much love, Jeff
Dear family and friends,
Never a dull moment. I know I sent out an update a short while ago, but I have a favor to ask of you who live in our neighborhood and this seemed the best way to get the word out. I'll start with the favor and then give you some uplifting news about Danny.
Misti James, our remarkable family friend, has been at Danny's bedside every night since July 17th, 2005. She has never missed a single night, staying up to turn Danny every two hours, seeing to his food and water. Three mornings ago she left here and returned to her small apartment in Redondo Beach to sleep. She woke up with her room on fire. The investigators suspect an electrical cord under her bed started the flames. Providentially, she escaped with only some burns on her hands and a slight case of smoke inhalation. But her apartment and nearly all of her possessions were destroyed. She was very fortunate: the firemen said that her bed was burning from both ends.
She has moved in with us while she looks for another place to live. So I'm wondering if any of our friends and neighbors in the area know of any small apartments in the $800 a month range? A guest cottage would be ideal; a guest room with a private bathroom might also work. She sleeps during the day and is gone every night. If you know of anything, please email me: manonash@verizon.net and I'll tell Misti.
As for Danny's news: he continues to struggle with stomach issues-- at least we think they're stomach issues-- a physiatrist recently told me that with brain-injured patients, an ingrown toenail can trigger the cramps and sweats that are still bothering him. So we don't know for sure what the problem is-- though we've ruled out ingrown toenails. He also had another seizure the day after I sent out the last update, but seems to have weathered it all right.
We're having some more blood and stool tests done, checking for allergies as well. X-rays and initial tests have failed to turn up anything abnormal. The gastroenterologist suggested knocking him out and scoping his digestive tract, but we're reluctant to sedate his already compromised brain so we regard that as a last option.
It's puzzling that, while he often has sweats and stomach tightness in bed or in his wheelchair, he's relaxed and dry when sitting on the therapy table where he's often bent over. In this position, he is still answering questions and math problems. We asked if there was anything we could do for him and he replied "No". We asked if we should take him to a doctor. Again: "No". (But we did anyway.) We asked if he was happy. "Yes".
I recently told a friend that Danny is teaching me that although we can't overcome suffering, (illness and death are always there, waiting for us or our loved ones) we can perhaps transcend it. I'm a long way from fully accepting it, but that's what Danny seems to be doing, maybe through love.
We've all been watching a lot of cable news shows about the presidential race, so during one of his sessions on the therapy table last week, Lynn asked him if he wanted to vote on Super Tuesday. After he touched "Yes", Lynn used his board to have him choose from the candidates and statewide propositions on the ballot. On Tuesday, Lynn went to the polls where Danny was registered. They wouldn't let her vote for him, but the supervisor made the rare decision to send a poll worker home with Lynn, with a small ballot punch machine. When the man saw how much effort would be required for Danny to make his picks again, he requested Danny to watch while Lynn punched the ballot with his choices. Then she held Danny's hand so he could sign the disabled voter form with an "X". For the rest of the day, Danny wore an "I Voted" sticker on his shirt. The poll worker said the experience touched him profoundly and asked to come visit Danny again. We were all deeply moved that Danny was able to participate in our democracy. By the way, he voted for Barack Obama.
As always, we thank all of you for all the love and support and prayers. And if any of you know of any apartments for Misti, please let me know.
Much love, Jeff
