Update #19

Dear Family and Friends,

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday—we all have a lot to be grateful for. We are pleased to send this update to all of you—to let you know that Laree is doing well. She is still paralyzed from the waste down and has little movement in her hands and totally dependent on skilled nursing services but she is off all of the life support systems and monitors now. She is talking, smiling and eating (although she still has a feeding tube, it is scheduled to be removed soon), her pain level (although still there) has greatly diminished along with the hallucinations. Now when she is moved and repositioned by the nurses she does not cry out in pain. We are so relieved she can communicate with us and advocate much in her own behalf.

Some of our family members have been traveling the greater Seattle area visiting some care/rehab facilities in order to find the best place for LaRee’s next phase of care. Although her body has not completely healed she will start the rehabilitation process now. LaRee has progressed so aggressively and is doing so well that she can skip the skilled nursing facility and go straight to the rehab facility. This is incredible news!!! She was transferred to the University of Washington Hospital yesterday we have been told that this rehab facility is one of the top two in the northwest. This facility is awesome and so wonderful!!!! Within the first two hours of her arrival (yesterday) she was examined by two physical therapists a Dr. of physical therapy her (new) regular Dr. a speech pathologist and occupational therapist and her nurse. All but one knew what Guillain Barre was and where very educated about what to do with Guillain Barre.

She will be setting her own goals and having weekly meetings with the staff. They are getting her dressed each day and taking her to the gym for intense rehab. This will EXHAUST her.

We as a family and LaRee consider this new UW facility to be heaven on earth as LaRee can now be very pro active in her treatment. She does have her own room and is still considered to be in isolation even though she has tested free of MERCA. She needs to test clean of MERCA 3 more times before she will come out of isolation.

LaRee got her first shower last night. In a couple of weeks a test will be done to determine her recovery prognosis. This will help us all understand what type of movement she will get back in her hands and legs! We are hopefull that she will regain all movement and continue to pray for this.
.

Thank you for all you are doing for Laree—your prayers, cards, loving thoughts and faith have made all the difference!

Love, LaRee's Family

PS. LaRees visiting hours will be limited during the day as she will be working with her therapists. We will post visiting hours within the day.