Sue Tatum Family Updates

Merry Christmas to all

2009-12-16T10:02:00.000-08:00

I wanted to take a few minutes and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! This season will be a little different for us. It will be the first Christmas season without Mother. I can always relish on the memories that she provided me throughout my entire life. She is being missed dearly. Mother was the type of person you would see out on Christmas eve night shopping to the last moment. I guess she did not think that she could get things before December 24th. She worked exceptionally great under pressure! She was the best.
I hope you remember the real reason for the season. It is the beautiful birth of Jesus Christ. He is the one person that can do all. Please pray and thank God for His only son. He is very special. I appreciate and worship Him. Hope you have a great time and enjoy your holidays!

God Bless,
Keith
Malachi 3:10
Trust God

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

2009-11-13T04:37:00.000-08:00

Today is my mom's 61st birthday!!! She is terribly missed everyday!!! I know she is in heaven watching over us. She is enjoying a wonderful birthday today...more wonderful than we all can even imagine!!! Join me today wishing her a happy, happy birthday!!! If you are fortunate enough to have your mother with you, tell her how much you love and appreciate her.

God Bless You All,

Kena

Sunday Service

2009-11-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

I wanted to thank the United Methodist Church in Prattville for a wonderful service Sunday. The had All Saints Day to recognize ones that pasted away this year. Mother was included in this service. All of our loved ones were there. My family had a wonderful day with my siblings. It was a special service and mother's picture was beautiful. I envy the place she is enjoying. Love you mother.

God Bless,
Keith

Hello

2009-10-06T11:36:00.000-07:00

To all,

I am not sure if anyone still reads this, but if so.....

A person told me the other day, "The devil attacks the strong because he feels the most threatened by them." This is so true. This tragedy still lives within all of us, and some still cannot cope with the loss. I hope that you would pray for those individuals. The process that one grieves may be different than the others. It is a process, and you have to endure all of the steps, but it is easier to walk with God through it. All you have to do is ask him. He WILL provide.

God has provided me with a fabulous family that I seek peace within. We miss our Mother deeply, but the Lord is the only light that shines on us. My children still remember their Mimi, so that is refreshing. Everytime that we hear about a person going to see Jesus, they say that Mimi is with Jesus. Cash even said that he wanted to go see Jesus and Mimi. I told him, "one day son". The Lord called my Mother home for His reasons. We are not to judge or second guess those choices. Hope all is doing well and God Bless.

Keith
Matthew 16:24-25

Our Friends

2009-02-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we had a very beautiful service for our mom. What a testimony she is! The church was overflowing with wonderful friends and family. My prayer is that maybe through this horrible tradegy someone lost was saved in church yesterday. That would be a great gift to our family. Our Lord will use this nightmare for the good.

Thank you to all that attended the visitation and the funeral. Please continue to uplift our family in prayer.

God Bless,

Kena

Arrangements

2009-02-20T06:42:00.000-08:00

To all,

Our family would like to invite all. The arrangements are the following:

Visitation: Prattville First United Methodist Church
100 East Fourth Street
Prattville, Al. 36067
Saturday, February 21, 2009; starting at 5 pm

Funeral: Prattville First United Methodist Church
Sunday, February 22, 2009; 3 pm
Graveside service will follow the church ceremony at Prattville
Memorial Gardens

Flowers will be accepted at the Church.

Keith

We will miss you!

2009-02-18T20:04:00.000-08:00

Since the beginning, I feared this time would come. I am struggling for the correct words to say. Mother has left this life on earth to be with the Lord. We feel the Lord's presence, but we will have a tough battle ahead. Please pray for our family as we prepare a special ceremony for her.

You can take comfort that Mother was very peaceful. I want to extend the utmost thanks to all. I will post the funeral arrangements when we complete them.

May you not walk alone,

Keith

Phil. 4:13

Mimi

2009-02-18T07:42:00.002-08:00

Mother,

God made you a special person;
With great character and commitment.
The love for us is everlasting.
It will be greatly missed.
To leave us is unbearable.
But God has special plans for us all.
Your care is unbeatable.
I can still feel your touch.
You are such a lively person.
Your joyful presence will be remembered.

Mimi will always be love, and your spirit will always be here.

Love you infinitely,
Keith

Mother is growing weaker. Her respirations are changing. Words cannot express the magnitude of what is happening to us. A person that we all look up to is being taken from us. This is the selfish person, but I can take great joy in the fact that she is going to a place that we all envy. I love you Mother, but God loves you more.

Our Precious Angel

2009-02-17T06:54:00.000-08:00

Our sweet angel is still fighting for us. My Grandmother said this morning that she just doesn't want to leave her family. Please continue to pray for peace and comfort. Thank you, sweet Theresa, for doing this picture. Happy Birthday, Cash! I can't believe you are 3!! Your Mimi loves you more than you will ever know! God Bless Everyone, Kena

This weekend

2009-02-16T08:10:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all,

We have endured one the longest weekends that I can ever imagine. First of all, Mother is still maintaining low, but stable vital signs. On Saturday morning, the nurses called the entire family around 430 am. They said gave us the word that "it would not be long". Mother is still breathing today. She has grown to a very weak woman, but she has to be the most determined and strongest person that I know. God has given us the peace that she will no longer be with us, but she is showing everyone what she is made of. What breaks my heart even more is to tell my children and Kena's children that they need to speak to their Mimi without her responding to them. They all told her how they loved her and how much they missed her. Hopefully, the Lord allowed her to hear them. They are a very important piece of her life! I have learned more in the past months than I have in a while. When you run to the Lord, during tough times, then you will find the strength and comfort.

Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

God Bless,
Keith

2009-02-13T19:08:00.000-08:00

I just got off the phone with my dad. He says Mama isn't doing well. It won't be much longer. Her breaths are shallow and fast. I haven't been up today because it is my baby girl's birthday. It is so hard to be happy and celebrate such a special day. Ella loves her Mimi so much! She wishes her Mimi could be here to celebrate her birthday. But, she can't because she is fighting for her life. This just isn't fair. Someone that we love so much is literally being taken away from us. It is hard not to be angry. I have to remember that our Lord is control. There is a reason for this senseless tradegy. Please pray at this moment for my mom, my dad, my brothers, my aunts, my uncles, my cousins, and my precious grandmother. We all love Sue Tatum but our Father loves her even more. Our Lord will carry us in His loving arms when we feel like we can't go on anymore.

My mom would be so proud of Keith as he has done wonderful works through this blog. He has minsitered to so many people. His words are so comforting and powerful. Thank you, Keith.

God truly cares for us and is there to help and heal when life comes tumbling down. That's how we feel. Life is crumbling down all around us. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" Psalm 147:3. We also know that during this time God gives courage and comfort. "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble" Psalm 46:1.
We will walk through the valley of the shadow of death holding the hand of our Good Shepherd.

Words cannot express how much we appreciate all of your prayers and concerns.

May God bless you all,
Kena

Today

2009-02-13T06:36:00.000-08:00

Sorry to be so short. Mother is getting very weak, but she is sustaining stable vital signs.

Thanks,

Keith

Today

2009-02-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

Mother is still fighting. She is keeping very stable vital signs. She is keeping good oxygen levels right now, even breathing on her own. We have come to substantial peace about this, but it is a very difficult situation.

Matthew 11:28-30--- "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

God Bless,

Keith

Today

2009-02-10T05:59:00.000-08:00

There is not much change with Mother. She is resting very peacefully. The Lord's plan will work out the way He wants it, and it will be beautiful. His ways are never doubted. His timing is always perfect. He tells us that He has a plan for all of us, and we should trust Him. That is what we are doing. The prayers are being felt. We continue to pray for peace and comfort for Mother. She seems to have that.

Thank you and God Bless,

Keith

Update

2009-02-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

Mother is still having stable vital signs. The staff is keeping her very comfortable. Hospice has been called in to assist in this. We thank you for everything.

What a strong lady

2009-02-06T22:42:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a strong individual we have for a mother. Even though she is very weak, she is still fighting a courageous battle. We have just returned home. Mother's vital signs are still very stable. Since 3:30 Thursday, she has been removed from all medication and any machines. She is getting some medication for comfort. The nurses and doctors are amazed that she is still with us. I want to continue to thank you for the incredible support. Mother would be very thankful also. The family has felt the love of God and the effects of the Holy Spirit all day. We do have peace and joy in our life. We know the our Lord has prepared a wonderful mansion for our mother. I cannot wait for her to be dancing down those golden streets, worshiping our Savior the whole way.

Thanks for the prayers, they have been felt,

Keith

Today

2009-02-05T06:25:00.000-08:00

Today will be a bitter sweet day for us. We have decided to withdraw the medication and ventilation from our loved one. This decision was the hardest thing that our family has ever faced. The one that we all love is not doing very well. Her little body is very tired and lost. We ask for the prayers to lift her up and to help our family deal with this situation. We ask for your support.

Thanks and God bless,

Keith

Yesterday

2009-02-04T07:12:00.000-08:00

Mother had a bad day yesterday. She was breathing at a laboring rate. Her heart rate was elevated. The doctors did treat it with medication, but it seemed to not have any effect. I cannot report if this a downward turn, but she is not doing well. She did not have her eyes open. I wish from everyone that reads this to pray for our family and the decision that we might be faced with. We have to remember who is in control. God is and will always be.

"We know that that all things work together for the good of those who love God."

Keith

Good morning

2009-02-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

Good morning,
I hope everyone is well today. I am trying to recover from watching the super bowl. Mother is doing OK this weekend. There is really no change form the last time I updated. Her vital signs are staying in a good range for now.

In Sunday School, we learned about abstaining from all appearance of evil. God tells us that we should not retaliate, never trade wrong for wrong. In Romans 12:19,"Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, "says the Lord." God states that vengeance will be His and we shall have comfort in that.

Take care and God Bless,

Keith

Mom

2009-01-27T12:40:00.000-08:00

This is no real change to Mother over the weekend. She is doing OK. Kena and Aunt Deb did give her a good hair washing that was well needed. We still ask for everyone to still pray for her. This past weekend was the 6 month landmark. A half of one year is a long time to endure this kind of battle. Troubles that come our way can bring a different spiritual life that God takes glory from. We have to continue living our lives through Jesus Christ. He is our truth and light!!!

God Bless,
Keith
Phil. 4:13

Mother

2009-01-21T06:36:00.000-08:00

Mother was doing fine yesterday. I went and visited her in the afternoon. Her vital signs were good, and her temperature was OK. I just pray and wish that I could communicate with her again one day. That is the hard part of this. She has her eyes open, but there is not any communication. God only knows what she is thinking, hearing, and seeing. I wish I knew.

I ask myself all the time, what causes catastrophes like this? Why doesn't our Lord protect and shields these things for us. We are all sinners in this world, and sometimes we steer off His path. He teaches us lessons, and He guides us back on track. We praise His name for this.

In so many words, Mother would always say that adversity builds character. If you are not on your knees, God will bring you to your knees. If you cannot recognize that God is the answer in the time of turmoil, then you are lost.

God bless you and my Mother,

Keith

Happy Birthday John Tate!

2009-01-19T06:32:00.000-08:00

I went to visit Mom yesterday. She has been moved back to a regular hospital room again. She looked very good. Well rested and not as swollen. I went by myself which is unusual. Keith, Kyle, Daddy or Aunt Deb are usually with me. I sat and talked to her quietly because she was sleeping most of the time I was there. I told her all the things that are going on in my hectic life. She just looked at me listening to every word. I told her how much we all miss her. I prayed with her and read scriptures that were very uplifting.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Yes, we are having trouble, but we will look to our Lord for the peace and understanding we need to get through these troubling times.

Today is John Tate's 6th birthday! He is my third child. She has a very special bond with his Mimi as all my children do. I can't help but to think of what she has always told him. She would say, "John Tate, please don't grow up any more. I want to to stay just like you are right now forever." He told me not very long ago. "Mama, do you remember when Mimi would tell me not to grow up anymore?" I said, "Yes, Baby." He said, "Well, I'm not going to grow up anymore until Mimi can see me again." Today she would surround John Tate with lots of birthday hugs and kisses. And she would tell him not to grow up anymore.

Please continue to pray for Mom's complete healing. Miracles do happen and they happen everyday.

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the many blessings you give us everyday!

Kena

2009-01-17T13:41:00.001-08:00

We love you, Mimi! We are still praying for you every day. God hears little children's prayers. You are the best grandmother in all of the world!

Love, Jack, Ella, John Tate, and Jess

Today

2009-01-17T11:49:00.000-08:00

Mother was good today. She normally only looks toward her injured side, but today, she did look towards me on her right side. I asked her to look at me and, she attempted to look in that direction. Only imagine if she heard and understood me. That is a great feeling. We can give praise to God.

God only brings us to our knees to reroute our lives. Billy Graham said, "You who suffer take heart. Christ is the answer to sorrow." Please continue praying for our Mother. She needs every little prayer. This tragedy has changed so many lives. It hurts more and more each day.

Ephesians 4:31-32 is a tough verse to swallow.

Take care,

Keith

We Still Have Hope and Faith

2009-01-16T14:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

I just wanted to take a moment to tell of you how much we appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers. Not a day goes by that someone asks me about Mama. I know there are so many people that love her and are praying for her. She is in a good place in the NICU. She has terrific nurses that were glad to have her back. She has really made some great friends! They take really good care of her and they are very attentive of her every need.

We are uplifted by all of your prayers. Our God is carrying us through this most difficult time. I miss her so very much. Everything I do or see reminds me of her. My children still miss their Mimi more than you can imagine. I keep pictures of her around so they won't forget her. Jack went to bed the other night crying because he said he couldn't remember what Mimi's voice sounded like. I got out some home movies so they could see their beloved Mimi. I depended on my mom for a lot of things. She helped me out with all 4 of my children. Running to ball practice or gymnastics. But most of all, I depended on her friendship. She is my best friend that I could tell anything. Our lives will never be the same. We trust in our heavenly Father to see us through this unbelievably horrific time. Please continue to pray for my dad. He misses her so very much. He is a lost soul without her.

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles." Isaiah 40:31

Bless you all,
Kena

A thought for the ones that need it

2009-01-16T09:26:00.000-08:00

Hope

Hope. Nonetheless, it is very unknown and hard to hold out for. We, personally as a family, are searching for hope. Most of you know what my family is going through. We have faced adversity, obstacles, crisis, hard decisions, and the temporary loss of our Mother. Romans 8:28 states “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. God has the plans and knows the ultimate outcome. He allows us to live and hope for the good that we see. We do not have the same vision that God has. He told us that “We do not see the same has He”. Romans 5:4-5 states “And hope will not disappoint us for the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit”. In life, when tribulations come your way, you have to see the faith and hope in God. We have to turn to the gentle One that we call Jesus. He gave us His life, so we could have a better one, for now and the everlasting. Faith and Hope are sometimes seen as one in the same. Faith in our Father gives us Hope that He will see us through difficult times. Jeremiah 29:11 states “For I know that plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. We have to believe in His word, and that gives us hope. Hope. How long does hope last? How long does He leave us in turmoil? We do not know, because His plans are not known to us. We have to weather the storm and put our Hope in the Lord. He is the way to peace in our souls.

Lord,

We praise you for your works. Lord, we love you. We come to laid down all of our burdens at Your alter. Lord, thank you for your son Jesus Christ, as He died for us. Lord, we don’t understanding the turmoil that we go through in life on earth, but Lord we trust in You. We give you the praise for the things that are not yet done in our life, and we thank you for all the things that You have done. We glorify You. In Jesus’ All Mighty name we pray, Amen.

"Your greatest ministry will likely come out of your greatest hurt." Rick Warren

This is so true. You should always lean on God the most during the times that hurt the most.

Keith

Mother

2009-01-16T05:51:00.000-08:00

Mother is doing better. Her fever has come down. She is still in the NICU unit. She is getting great treatment there.
We appreciate everyone that has visited this site, and the ones that continue to do things for our family. God has a special place for you. We have to continue telling ourselves that God loves us, and He will not place too many burdens upon us. He truly is a loving God!

Thanks to all,

Keith

Today

2009-01-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

I just got back form seeing Mom. She looked good. She is running another fever. It is around 101. They are treating this.

KT

Today

2009-01-13T06:36:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all. Mother is still in NICU. Her vital signs are improving. She has fought off the fever. Her blood pressure is stable, and she is breathing at a good rate. She still has some swelling in her ventricules. They are monitoring this. They might have to do another procedure to relieve this.

Thanks,

Keith
Psalms 119:2

Today

2009-01-07T10:36:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay, but I have had a bout with Strep Throat. I have not been around Mom in several days. I did not want to give her anymore germs. Dad said that she looked very good last night. He said all of her vital signs were good. She is still in the NICU unit at Trinity. I am feeling better, so I am going to probably see her tomorrow. I will let you know my thoughts then.

Thanks,

Keith

Update

2008-12-31T11:27:00.000-08:00

Today, Mother is doing better. Her temperature is down, but her blood pressure is still a little low. The doctor did a CT scan this morning. There is a little bit of fluid on her brain. This is very noticeable on her scar line. They will continue to monitor her in the ICU unit. The temperature is being caused by the UTI, as expected. They started her on a stronger antibiotic.

Remember Psalms 147:3. "He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds." We have to continue living the faith to endure all of these situations that we are placed in.

I am wishing everyone a Happy New Year. In case you are out tonight, please be careful and responsible. You never know what is around the corner. Walk with God. I pray for your safety and joy.

Keith
Philippians 4:13

update

2008-12-30T13:38:00.000-08:00

Mother was moved into the NICU. Her blood pressure dropped and her heart rate also increased with the increase in her temperature. They wanted to move her back to ICU to monitor this closely. They think she may have a urinary tract infection. I will let you know more later.

Thanks,

Keith

Please pray

2008-12-30T08:36:00.000-08:00

A few minutes ago, I was informed that Mother has to go back into NICU. She is running a high fever. They want to move her back so they can monitor it more closely. Please pray for her.

Thanks,

Keith

Hello

2008-12-28T18:41:00.000-08:00

Good evening,

I am sorry for the delay in posting. We have been so busy lately---Christmas stuff. It has been a whirlwind. It has been good but tough. This seems to be Mother's favorite time of year. She has always been the type to give to us. She loves to do that. I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We do appreciate all the love and prayers during this time. It has helped. Praise God! I have felt a sense of peace. Lori told me she tried to keep me busy to help get through the holidays. She is great.

Mother has been doing about the same. Her heart rate has increased, but this seems to be normal for her. I wish there was a change to tell, but there isn't any. We will continue to gain strength through God.

Thanks and a late Merry Christmas and Happy new year,

Keith
Phil. 4:13

Today

2008-12-17T05:36:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all,

Mother is doing about the same. Her color and skin look good. She is still not responding to any commands. She is still considered to be in a coma state. I not sure if I am painting a good picture for some. Mother is still very sick, and her life is still in great danger. She is not mobile. She is not really responsive to anything. She does open her eyes, but she does not focus on us. She tends to look toward the injured side of her body. Words cannot describe how much each of you are appreciated. Times for are still enduring every day God allows us to breathe.

God sticks us to the fire, guides us to the lowest valleys, but He is always in control. We have to take comfort in that. He never sleeps, so we can. I have come to the conclusion that he places us in difficult situations so we can build our faith, and He gains all the glory. When we face difficult situations, we can defy God or we can trust in Him. I will always choose the latter. I do not want to preach to anyone, but maybe this can touch someone who reads it, because my God is loving. I have to believe this.

May God bless you and keep you, may His hands always be around you,

Keith

Today

2008-12-13T05:20:00.001-08:00

Good morning to all,

There is no real change to Mother today. She is doing better after they cleared the fluid from her lung. Her heart rate is still up. Sorry for the short message. She is really the same.

Keith

Good morning

2008-12-10T06:57:00.000-08:00

Mother went through her Bronchoscopy well. They removed a lot of fluid of her right lung. They are giving her some breathing treatments to also help. She is doing well. The staff said she stayed up the entire time Saturday afternoon while Alabama was playing. She was tuned in! All of her vital signs are fine.

We are trying very hard to cope with this situation. It is very hard. We have lost our "Bud", for now.

Thanks to everyone for what you do,

Keith

Today

2008-12-04T05:22:00.000-08:00

Hello!

The TEE procedure was not for mother. The nurse advised me that it was ordered in error. The procedure that they are going to do is a bronchoscopy. This is to see the details of her lungs. The doctor advised me that she thought mother has some sort of pneumonia. They are starting her on antibiotics. They have to change the type of trac she has to complete the procedure. This should happen today. Please continue praying for her. I am suspecting she is getting sicker. The problem is that she is not able to move around on her on. Once the body lays for a long period of time, other things can take over. I am afraid of this. I do not want my mother to suffer or struggle in any way.

Thanks for all of you,

Keith
Psalms 28:7

Good morning

2008-12-03T05:49:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all. I am sorry for the delay in posting. Mother has been doing OK lately. Her heart rate has been elevated the past few days. The Doctor wants to do a TEE procedure today to check her heart structure and evaluate it. The also will do a check on her lungs. They are concerned that she may be getting pneumonia. I will keep you posted on the outcome from today.

Keith

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to all. I hope you have a wonderful day with your families. Enjoy.

We will gather at Kena's house for lunch today. We will be minus a special important person, as all know. Mother is doing fine today. I know she would rather be will all of us, but God has not allowed that. Please say a special prayer for us today, because it will be rather hard on us. The holidays put our feelings in a different place. I feel more in touch with life and family during these times. I pray to God that he give us a sense of peace to make it through the day.

Don't eat to much and will blog soon.

Grandmother is out of the hospital. Special thanks to all that prayed for her. Thank You.

I am going to miss Mother's sweet potatoes. I hear everyone say that nothing is better than your Mother's cooking.

Take care and God bless,

Keith

update

2008-11-22T06:04:00.000-08:00

The family meeting went fine. The short term for Mother will be to leave her where she is to further heal and try to make progress. We are still praying and hoping for God's miracle. We still are receiving grim outcomes from the staff. The longer Mother goes without making any significant progress, the unlikely she will come out of this. We, as a family, know this, but I will never give up hope for her. She would do everything possible if the shoe was on her foot. With that said, I have to give her all hope. It is hard to see Mother struggle, but she is the toughest human being I know. For the ones that know her, I am sure you would agree. Romans 8:28 has become my favorite verse from the Bible. I know I love God, and He is working for the good for me. Next week, when we all gather for a great meal on Thursday, Mother will not be there with us. We will have to endure another difficult situation. We will call upon all prayers to guide us through this day. We will rally around Mother to ensure that we have a good day with her spirit there. God bless all.

My Grandmother was admitted back into the hospital this week. Please include her in your prayers. She is going through these times with a lot on her shoulders. I love you Grandmother.

May your peace and love be through Jesus Christ,

Keith

2008-11-19T19:13:00.003-08:00

Dear Friends,
I thank you for your prayers and thoughts. We really need your prayers tomorrow as we meet with case worker at the hospital to discuss Sue's care plan. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow. We know Sue is in God's hands and He is watching over her. Please keep Kena, Keith, and Kyle in your prayers also. They have been so strong for me. I have been blessed with such wonderful family. These have been such tough times and only God has seen us through this. Only with our faith, knowing God is in control and He is going to heal Sue, we have we been able to face each day. And again I want to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts, and kind words. We do have many great friends and we love each and every one of you. Life would be so lonely without you. Again I ask for your prayers for Sue. I love and miss her so much. Life as I knew it will never be the same without her. In God's name with love.

Thanks,
Kenny

Good Morning

2008-11-17T06:37:00.000-08:00

Good Morning to all,

Mother was doing fine this weekend. She is settling into her new environment. It is easier on the family because we can go in the room whenever and stay as long as we choose.

There is not any changes to report today. It seems to me that things are the same. We have to continue praying for change.

Thanks,

Keith

Mom

2008-11-14T11:50:00.000-08:00

Mother had a good birthday. She received flowers, balloons, new pictures, manicure, pedicure, and a lot of love. I hope she sensed what was going on. I know she would proud of us for trying to find something positive during these terrible times.

She is doing well today. She was resting very good at lunchtime. She really did not open eyes a whole lot. Maybe she was very tired. I would love to say more, but there is no significant changes.

Thanks to all that wished her a happy birthday and thought about her and us yesterday. I felt a strong presence of our Lord yesterday. I felt His arms surrounding us. It was appreciated. Praise God.

May you all have a special and great weekend,

KT

Go Bama and Lions!

Happy 60th Birthday Mimi!!!

2008-11-13T19:09:00.000-08:00

We hope you have a wonderful Birthday!! We love you so much!!! We pray everyday that God will make you better real soon!! We miss you so much. Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

XOXOXO,

Isabella & Cash

Happy Birthday!

2008-11-13T06:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Mimi! We love you so much! We are praying for you everyday to get better! God hears little children's prayers! We miss you so very much. Our mommy is going to give you lots of kisses from us. You are the best Mimi in all of the world!

Love, Jack, Ella, John Tate, and Jess

Happy Birthday!!

2008-11-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

Today is Mother's 60th Birthday. I want to wish her a Happy Birthday!!! Mother, I hope you have a wonderful day.

If you can, please join me in wishing her a Happy Birthday.

Keith

Mother

2008-11-12T06:20:00.000-08:00

Late yesterday afternoon, Mother was moved into another room in the hospital. She is finally out of the ICU unit. I believe that this is progress. Her vital signs are staying steady. This is another step in the healing process. We are waiting for her opportunity to be moved into the long term facility soon. We appreciate all the comments and all of you that read this blog. It makes us feel good to know that you care.

As Kena indicated, Mother's Birthday is tomorrow. Please say a prayer for our family, because it is going to be an emotional day. Thank you.

Mothers....we all have one. Some might not have the kind of relationship that is desired, but most do. I would challenge you to give your Mother a hug, a call, a note, or a kiss, because you never know what God's plans are. I wish desperately that I could have one more conversation with my Mother, because I would tell her how much she means to me. I say this with tears in my eyes, because it hurts so bad.

May God bless you,

Keith
Romans 8:28

We Need Everyone's Prayers

2008-11-10T06:49:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,

Some days are really harder than others. Today is one of those days. I just think "Is this really happening to us?" It most definitely is. I can't even think about the holidays. I wish I could just close my eyes and the holidays would be over. But, I have 4 precious little children that are really excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas. They are also sad because their Mimi will not be home to celebrate. Being together with family that you love is really what is special about the holidays. Right?

Thursday is Mom's birthday. She will be 60! I had planned on having a big 6-0 birthday party for her. I will celebrate with balloons and maybe a cake in Birmingham. I hope she will know that I am there to wish her a Happy Birthday. Also, Saturday is Mom and Dad's 40th wedding anniversary. Please remember my dad in your prayers for I'm sure this will be a hard day for him. There isn't any change with Mom. My Aunt Toots went to see her yesterday and she said she was really alert.

We are uplifted by all of your prayers everyday. Please continue to pray for a miracle. It is hard to have patience, but God is working on His time not ours. Thank you to our friends that respond on the blog. I look forward to the encouraging messages everyday. May God bless everyone.

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Matthew 21:22

Kena

This Week

2008-11-07T07:42:00.001-08:00

Team,

There is no real changes to Mother this week. We are still waiting on moving her to the long term facility. She is still considered in a coma state. She does still open her eyes during a sleep-wake cycle. She does move her head and mouth on occasions. She is still on the ventilator. She is still pulling for Alabama to beat LSU. I will report back with more this weekend.

God Bless,

Keith

Good morning

2008-11-03T06:13:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you have to step back and see the big picture. Our plan for our Mother has never changed. We will continue to do all we can to restore her. That means praying daily for this, and giving her all the opportunity to heal.

This weekend, she was doing some different things. She actually had some movement in her legs and more movement in her neck and head. This was caused by natural causes, but I have never seen her make any movements like that. It is showing us that things are changing for her. Praise our Lord!

Today is the 86th day. 86 days? That seems like a long time. She is missing a whole season, she is missing Alabama being #1, she missed Halloween (she does not like it anyway), she missed some of her kids' birthdays, she is going to miss a new President. But you know what? I do not really care. I would trade all of those things and more for her to get better. I love you Mother, and I pray you are on your way back to us!

Keith

Today

2008-10-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Kena and I just left the hospital after seeing Mother. She was resting very well. The nurse said that Mother had a good morning. Mother is still having periods throughout the day when her heart rate goes up, and the staff has to treat her with some medicine. She said it happens about once a day. This is keeping her from being stable. They do not have any explanation for it, except that it is stemming from the brain injury.

She did move her head more than I have seen her before. Hopefully, that is a positive sign from God. We are still praying daily for some sort of positive change. We are told to not sweat the small stuff, but, in this situation, we are looking for the small things to increase our hopes and dreams.

I, personally, thank everyone that is concerned and overwhelmed with this nightmare. God will guide us through this deep dark forest we find ourselves in. We have to be faithful and loving to our Lord. He is the only way, and the light that illuminates our path.

Lord, our Father, which Art in Heaven, please show us some more postive signs. Amen.

KT

Mom

2008-10-29T06:11:00.000-07:00

This is no real change to Mother. She had her eyes open yesterday more than usual. She does not have any fever now. The doctor said that he was going to do another CT scan tomorrow. He said that he was checking to see if there was anymore swelling. The next step would to get her to the LTAC facility. Their main goal would be to ween her off the ventilator. After that, we are not sure what is going to happen. We are leaning on God to provide us the path for Mother.

Please keep praying for her complete healing.

Thanks,

Keith and Family

Today

2008-10-27T05:36:00.000-07:00

To all,

This weekend, there was no real change to Mother. Her temperature was down to around 99. Her vital signs are good. They are periodically giving her some "calming" medicine to monitor her heart rate. She does get this elevated on occasions. I should know more this afternoon after I see her today.

Take care,

Keith and Family

Romans 8:28

Today

2008-10-24T06:59:00.000-07:00

To all my brother and sisters,

We met with some of the case workers from the hospital yesterday. They were giving us some options for the long term. Right now, Mother is still too sick to move to a long term facility. She is still running a temperature this morning. They are not treating it, because it is low grade. She still needs more time for God to work his miracle.

God has given us all these emotions as human beings. I will be very honest, it hurts us severely. I cannot imagine going through all the things that I have witnessed my Mother go through. I cannot tell you how much this has impacted all of our lives. We do not live in the world that we used to. It has changed, and I cannot stand it. But we, through God and Jesus Christ, will grow and persevere through this horrific accident.

We love you all in a special way.

Toots---I hope you are feeling well. Love you.

With Christ,

Keith and Family

Update

2008-10-22T06:21:00.001-07:00

It seems like the same old song and dance. We pray daily for our Mother's healing. There is no real change to communicate about Mother. We will be meeting with hospital staff on Thursday to discuss long term stay for Mother. I am still praying that she will not have another surgery. With her state and condition, things can turn for the worse at anytime. Right now, she is staying steady with her vitals. There is some apparent swelling, but it is minimal. They will have to keep a close eye on this. This may delay her moving.

I want to thank the ones that are truly concerned and probably make this website a daily ritual. Thanks for all the prayers.

Gob Bless,

Keith and Family

This weekend

2008-10-20T07:12:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I have not posted anything this weekend. I was out of town without a computer. Mother is doing about the same. She is still opening her eyes. All of her vital signs are good. She is showing marginal swelling of her ventricles in her head. The doctor still does not think that the shunt needs to go in. We have to keep praying that we do not need to put that in. She has been approved for the long term care facility at Trinity. We will be discussing her move soon. It will be at the same hospital but on a different floor.

God Bless,

Keith and Family

Last night

2008-10-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

Everything was about the same last night. Kyle, David, and I went to see Mother. She was resting pretty good. Her heart rate was elevated, but there was no concern. They had given her some medication to calm down. Mother has all of her dressings removed from her head. She has a few scars, but she would say that they add character.

Please pray for our Family. Mother's mother, my grandmother, was admitted into a local hospital last night. She is not taking this accident very well. She is a not the youngest chick either--sorry Grandmom. Mother is her oldest child, and she yearns for her to get better. All the parents out there cannot imagine--or some can--what she is going through.

We thank all that visits this site and pray for your well being also.

Praise God for all,

Keith and Family

Today

2008-10-15T11:41:00.001-07:00

Dr. Hrynkiw told us today that Mother is almost ready to be moved to a long term facility. This is a step in the right direction. This means that he does not think that Mother will have to endure another surgery. He said that she was absorbing all of the fluid that her body makes. We are very pleased with this--Praise God. He also said that it was too early to predict or know about her recovery.

The long term facility at Trinity is going to see assess Mother. This will allow them to see if she is ready for their facility.

Keith and Family

No change

2008-10-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

Mother seems to be stable at this moment. All of her vital signs are staying constant. She is doing some things different with her eyes. The nurse did not have a answer for why she was "constantly tracking" with them--probably something neurologically. She is not running a temperature. She is opening her eyes with noise. She is still considered in a coma.

We are constantly praying that we see more improvement. Lord is touching the hands of the doctors and nurses.

Keith and Family

This weekend

2008-10-13T05:34:00.001-07:00

I was hoping that I had some positive news to report this weekend. Mother is still in the same condition. It seems to us that there is no change to report. We are still praying to our Lord and Saviour that we will see some positive progress.

Thanks,

Keith and Family

Happy Birthday, Keith!

2008-10-10T16:06:00.001-07:00

Today is my brother's birthday. My mom always makes such a big deal on our birthdays. We pray that Mom will be healed so she can celebrate with us again soon. God has a plan and we are praying that her full recovery is part of that plan. Keep praying for her, please! Thanks for all that you all are doing for us!

In Christ,

Kena

Today

2008-10-10T06:41:00.000-07:00

Mother was resting good when we left last night. The ventriculostomy was removed yesterday--Praise God! Her ICP was level enough to remove. They will continue to monitor her pressure with CT scans.

They did another EEG yesterday. We are curious to see if the results have changed.

She is being trialed on a Trac collar at times--she is not doing very good on these. We have to pray to our Lord to allow her to be weened from the ventilator. That is the next step to her recovery.

Mother, I know if you were alert, you would be the first to wish me a Happy Birthday. I know you are thinking about it, so don't worry. We will have more of these things in the future. I love you so much.

Take care,

Keith and Family

John 16:33

Praise God

2008-10-08T16:15:00.000-07:00

To my family and friends,

It always exciting to get some kind of good news. Mother is doing well today. Dr. Hrynkiw removed the two drains and bolts from Mother's head today. He left the ventriculostomy in for now. He should remove it in a few days. He reviewed the CT scan from two days ago. He said that there was no more swelling of her fluid on her brain. He did not think that she was going to need a shunt put in. This is the part that is great news for us. We have been praying to not put that in. God is hearing us and working for our Mother. We love Him and Praise Him! We have to continue praying for our miracle to come.

Thanks to all,

Keith and Family

Mother

2008-10-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

Mother is doing good today. Her temperature has decreased. The source of the temperature has been discovered, so the staff can treat that also. They are aggressively doing this. All of her vital signs are good. I cannot wait to go see her at 1230, but sometimes it is very hard to see Mother in this condition.

Some of you know and have had interaction with our Mother. She is always on the go. She really never sits down and relaxes, so you can understand how hard this is on us. Our Mother is not the type to lay around. One day she will be up and at it again. We pray for these things in Christ's name. We really believe in our Faith and our Mother's determination. She is full of the Holy Spirit and full of determination. Come on Lord and Mother, show us what we are counting on. (Mom, you are going to laugh when you read this blog one day)

I Love you Mother,

Keith

PS Thanks Kena. I love you too.

Keep Praying

2008-10-06T18:51:00.000-07:00

Dear All Our Wonderful Friends,

People always ask "What can I do for you?". It is hard for us to say there is nothing. All we ask for is prayer for God's Will to heal our mother. Please continue praying for her. I know life gets busy and sometimes people are forgotten. We are asking everyone to remember Mom in their everyday prayer. We could not get through this horrific time without all of you and God's everlasting presence.

Mom's fever is down tonight. The nurse took out her IV today around noon. She is getting an "IV Holiday" until tomorrow just to give her arm a rest. They did a CT scan on her shoulder and it did not show any dislocation. They also did a CT scan on her head and we will find out the results tomorrow.

I would like to say how much I appreciate my brother, Keith. He is going to the hospital everyday, several times a day to check on Mom. He is our saving grace now since we all can't be there everyday. Also, he is doing a great job keeping everyone updated on the blog. He is one terrific guy! I love you, Brother!

Once again, thank you for all your prayers, cards, calls, and meals you have given us. God is glorified in all that He is doing. We praise Him and thank Him.

Kena and Family

Last night

2008-10-06T06:28:00.000-07:00

Mother is staying about the same right now. She did run a temperature last night. They are treating it and doing cultures to see if she has an infection somewhere. My Mother continues to battle, and she is very strong. We are very thankful for another day with her. I will update a little later today after I see her.

Thanks,

Keith and Family

today

2008-10-04T19:48:00.000-07:00

Mother was resting well today. All of her vital signs are good. The two drains are still in, and the doctor said that they are doing their job. They will look to remove them in a few days. She still is opening her eyes. She is moving a little more. She actually moved her right arm and shoulder. She moved her head some today. We thank you all so much for your concern for Mother. God is showing us the way to her recovery.

Thanks,

Keith and Family

Surgery

2008-10-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

The doctor said that the surgery went well this morning. He said that he drained the fluid to relieve the pressure on the right side. I misspoke yesterday. The subdural is where it was located. He placed two more exterior drains at the location. Mother is doing well. I will post more tomorrow.

Keith

Today

2008-10-02T12:08:00.000-07:00

We have decided to allow the doctor to do another surgery on Mother tomorrow. He will relieve more pressure on the right side of her brain. He said that she has another subdural there. He said that the shunt can go in also. We have decided to not place the shunt right now. He said he could monitor the levels with the ventriculostomy now. If her levels do not decrease by next week, we could face the shunt being placed then. The surgery tomorrow might relieve some of the other fluid also. Please pray for her as she will be having her third brain surgery tomorrow morning.

Thanks,

Keith and Family

I Corinthians 10:13

Another Day

2008-10-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

To All,

The doctor has requested to see me and Kena today. He read the CT scan from two days ago. He said that Mother has an apparent brain bled on the right side. He said he needed to do another surgery to repair this and also put in the shunt to constantly drain the excessive CSF. Please pray that we make the decision that our Lord wants us to make. If the surgery takes place, Dr. Hrynkiw wants to do it tomorrow. I will let you know the outcome. We would like to ask for the continual prayers.

Thanks,

Keith and Family

Last night

2008-10-01T06:28:00.001-07:00

Last night, she had her eyes open a little. The staff took her off the sedation medication. She looked at me as if she was telling me that she was very exhausted. I read some bible verses to her and told her that God loved her. She was very peaceful. I called to check on her this morning, and they told me that she rested well last night. And all her vital signs were normal.

Keith and Family

Today

2008-09-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

The one thing that we do not want to hear is that our Mother will not be the same again. Sometimes in life, you have to face reality and come to reason with bad situations. That is where we find ourselves now. Mother had an EEG performed, and the deciphering showed minimal slowing. The doctor said that Mother has a severe brain injury. He said that Mother's brain function was dysfunctional and confused. Trinity's staff is giving her the benefit of the doubt and caring for her deeply.

The roller coaster ride is on the downhill fast pace like the mindbender at Six Flags. At times like this, we surround ourselves with Friends, Family, and most importantly, God.

Lord, we are Your hurting children crying out for You. Please Lord, we ask for miracles. We praise Your work. Heal and comfort our Mother and Family. In Christ's name, Amen.

Thanks to all,

Keith and Family

Today

2008-09-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mother is more calm now. The staff has given her some medication for sedation. Her vital signs were more normal yesterday and today. Two drains were removed yesterday and she did great with that. The ventriculostomy is still in. I called and check on her this morning, and the nurse said she had a good night. She is resting today. He said that the plan was to reduce the level of the medication today to see how she reacts. God, we are praying for our Mother and her healing. Amen.

Thanks,

Keith and Family

New changes

2008-09-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

It was a testy day today. Mother suffered a seizure and bit her tongue pretty bad. The doctor said that seizures are something common with brain injured patients. It is very scary. It is not what you typically think a seizure is. She was not shaking her body at all. Her breathing rate went up. They had to settle her down with a medication that calmed her down. They said her brain was and is going through some changes that it cannot comprehend.

The neurosurgeon did say that he saw improvement in her CT scan that he performed this morning. This means that what he did, with surgery, created an improvement from where she was. This is another little stride in the good way. Praise God! Everytime that I see or hear something that reminds me of my Mother, I say a prayer for her. So I am asking everyone to please say a prayer everytime you think of our Mother.

Thanks,

Keith and Family

Today

2008-09-26T19:22:00.000-07:00

Mother was doing good this afternoon. She really senses us being in the room with her. Her heart rate and respiration levels increase when we are in there with her. Lori asked her to move her mouth if she heard her, and she did. This may sound very small, but it is huge for us.

She had her eyes open all day. This nurse said she was more alert today. They placed three drains in Mother's brain to constantly monitor the pressure. Once the fluid turns a more clear color then two of the drains will be removed. She is settling into her new "home". We praise God for another day with her. We cannot wait until tomorrow, because it will be another one.

The accident is a life changing event for all of us, and God has taken this opportunity for us to get closer to him. Mother is his precious child. He said that we cannot comprehend His ways. Our ways are not the same as His ways. Lord, we will trust and pray that You are working for us as we are working for You.

God bless,

Keith and Family

Today

2008-09-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

It seems that Mother is resting fairly good today. All of her vital signs are good. She had her eyes open some today. Her ICP is down to an acceptable level. Kyle, Lori, Dad, and I visited with her at lunch. There really is no change to her today.

I will update again after I see her at 430.

Thanks and God Bless,

Keith and Family

The move

2008-09-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

Mother is a new resident of Birmingham. She was successfully moved to Trinity yesterday. Upon her arrival, the new doctor completed several scans of her. He studied the results, and discussed his plan with us. He told us of the four problems areas that he discovered. In his opinion, he wanted to do another brain surgery to relieve the problem areas. It was tough to swallow, but we wanted the problems he identified fixed. We prayed to our Father, and he gave us the comfort to go ahead with the surgeries. She was scheduled for this morning.

Today was a long, anxious, and tiresome day. Mother was taken to the OR around 1140 am. She underwent the anesthesia, and was in surgery for approximately 2 hours. The doctor came out, and discussed what was performed. He tackled the areas of concern, and she did well. It was was a relief. Praise God! The doctor removed a blood clot that was on the left side of the brain. He relieved an enormous amount of pressure from her brain. He relieved a pocket of fluid that was collecting under her skin but above the skull.

This is the first step, and it was a big one. It is amazing how powerful the work of our Lord is, and He has told us that if we believe, we can move mountains. We have to wait and see how this new environment and how the procedures will help Mother. We thank you all, and we Glorify God. He is great.

Thanks,

Keith and Family

Today

2008-09-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

There is no real change to Mother today. The only thing is that she had to put back on the ventilator yesterday. This is considered a set back, because she was only on pressure support. She was breathing at a higher rate than she needs to be.

She will be moved tomorrow to Trinity in Birmingham. Please continue praying for our Mother. She is still in a dark place, but she has Our Shepherd looking over her.

Thanks for all,

Keith and Family

This weekend

2008-09-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

It seems to us that this weekend was more of the same from a neuro standpoint. Mother was very constant with her breathing and heart rates. She did get a little excited when the Alabama/Arkansas game was on. Roll Tide!

We have decided to intiate a move to Trinity Hospital in Birmingham. Mother will be transported by a critical care unit on Wednesday morning. She will be seen by the neuro group that resides at Trinity neuro ICU. We are pleased that this is happening. We are very thankful to the Doctors, Nurses, and staff at Baptist. I fully believe that they had a hand in saving my mother's life. They have been so kind and gentle with their care of Mother. She has made many new friends with her stay there. Thank you to Baptist.

We stand very faithful in the Lord, our Father. He is showing us this path, and we are going to follow his instructions with this move. We still ask for the continued prayers and we will continue to update this site.

With our blessing from the Lord,

Keith and Family

Update for Today

2008-09-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

Words cannot express the overwhelming love we feel from all of you. Your prayers and words of encouragement help us every minute of every day. We feel so uplifted from all of you who love us and my mom. God is working through this horrific tragedy. I can definitely feel it! I had someone tell me the other day that he didn't pray much but he had definitely been praying for Mom and our family. I can only hope this will bring him closer to God.

Mom has had a fever last night and today. They think it could be an infection in her lungs. She is a little congested, but the nurse doesn't think it is too bad. They are terrific about suctioning her and trying to keep her clear. Mom's blood pressure and heart rate are a little high. She is such a fighter! Please continue to pray for her. My dad also needs your prayers. She has been the love of his life since they were 15 years old. This is unbelievably hard on my dad, my brothers, and me. We are at a lost without her. Also continue to pray for my Aunt Deb (her sister), my grandmother, and her brothers, Tommy and Jackie. They are all hurting as well. She is loved by so many people.

In Christ,

Kena and family

Today

2008-09-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

During times like these, there are swings in emotions. You find yourself content sometimes and very depressed other times. We lean on the Lord to pull us through the depressed times. You could say today was one of those depressed days. After spending a few minutes with Mother, we had a serious discussion with the staff at the hospital. The neurosurgeon does not think, medically, that Mother will progress anymore. We try to stay as positive as we can, but it gets hard sometimes. I will not reveal much of the negative side as I would like, but I can tell you that our Mother desperately needs all the prayer that she can get. We pray for the complete restoration of our Mother. She is very precious to us, and our love for her is overwhelming. She is very proud of her children. She raised us, cared for us, nourished us, hugged and kissed us, and cared deeply for us. That is one thing that can never be taken from us. That is something that we could always count on. We pray that we can feel that one more day.

Prayerfully,

Keith and the Family

Update

2008-09-16T05:42:00.001-07:00

Mother rested very well last night. Her breathing patterns were down from this weekend. She is a little congested this morning, so the staff is testing her fluids this morning to make sure she has the correct antibiotics. It seems that we are holding on to every little change. Times like these are when we lean on our Father the most. God is good. Mother is His child, and His hands and the Holy Spirit are present with our Mother. We continue to ask for His miracle.

Keith

This weekend

2008-09-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

To all,

It was a real uneventful weekend. Mother had her eyes open sparingly. She was breathing at a higher rate this weekend, so the nurses had to give her some medication to slow this down. She seemed to rest very well. My aunt Denise did tell me tonight that she was real alert and had her eyes open wide. She said that was the best that she had seen her. More fluid was drawn from her on Friday. The protein count was still high. There was also another CT scan performed on Friday, and we should know if there was any change this week. We continue to pray daily for this horrible situation to improve. It is very hard for us to see our Mother in this condition. We still are asking for everyone to continue praying for her. We appreciate it.

I was given the book 90 minutes in Heaven written by Don Piper by my boss (Thanks Debbie). I completed it this weekend. It was very inspiring. He talks about his encounter with death and how people, not him, prayed him back to life. God says that if you ask for things, in my name, you will recieve. Lord, we and many others are asking. Please bring our Mother back to us.

Keith and Family

last night

2008-09-11T08:01:00.001-07:00

After a nice dinner at the Prattville United Methodist Church with Kena and her kids, I went to see Mother. She was doing about the same. She did seem to me a little more alert. She had her eyes open. I felt a little movement in one of her fingers. She looked great, and I was pleased with the visit. She was yawning and had some new facial expressions. Her vital signs were good. As we were about to leave, she seemed to settle in for her nightly nap. We are expecting these little things to change throughout this journey. As the new friend to the Family, Junior Riley, states, "If the little things keep coming, soon we will have a big ol' pile of it". We are counting on and looking forward to our "Big ol' Pile".

Thank for everything,

Keith

Update

2008-09-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

I have the understanding that a lot of people rely on this website for updates. We will try to do a better job with this. It seems that Kena updated the site this morning. To some who do not realize, Mother was severely injured, and the Doctors did not expect her to live very long. Today is the 32nd day removed from the accident. We feel blessed to have her one day at a time. God can move mountains, and we believe that this mountain will be destroyed.

As you can read from Kena response, Mother is fighting every day to "shake it off" (she would tell us this when we got hurt). With God's love and our support, she will shake it off. We are honored that everyone is concerned with her condition and are praying for her healing. We appreciate it.

Keith and the entire Family
Psalms 118:6

Update for Today

2008-09-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

Mom is doing about the same. Dr. Kendrick doesn't think the bacterial infection in her spinal fluid is "real". Meaning, there could be an infection on her skin not in the fluid. He says her white blood count and glucose level are good. If it was a "real" bacterial infection, the bacteria would "eat" the glucose up. She is being treated with an antibiotic. Her protein level is still high, therefore they still can't put the shunt in. The doctor says that will just take time. After the shunt is put in, we will be moving her to Birmingham.

Last night when we saw her, she was very alert. She had her eyes open almost the entire time. I was rubbing her hand with some lotion and she curled and stiffened her fingers. She also curled her fingers around my Aunt Deb's hand night before last. She's not "squeezing" our hands just simply gripping them a little. We are hoping that is some sort of response.

Please know that we appreciate your prayers tremendously! Thank you for the meals, cards, calls, and prayers you have given my family and me!
We are asking everyone to continue to pray for Mom. We know that there is nothing God cannot do! It is truly a miracle that she is here today!

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

Kena and the Tatum family

This weekend

2008-09-07T16:15:00.000-07:00

There is no real change to mother this weekend. The only thing is that the spinal fluid that was drained Friday came back positive for a living organism. They think it came from the lake water. They have started a stronger antibotic to treat this. This may be the reason for the high count of protein. She has opened her eyes more this weekend. She seems to be a little more focused when she has them open. Mother is still in a really bad place, and we are praying daily that God delivers her back to us. We continue to thank everyone for what you are doing.

Keith and the Tatum Family

Please continue to Pray for Mother

2008-09-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

Today there is no real change in Mother's conditions. The shunt has not been placed yet. The doctors are waiting on her protein levels in her cerebial spinal fluid to decrease. The levels are up because of the injury or inflammation. The doctors have drained the accumulated fluid and sent it off for testing. The ventilator is still giving Mother pressure support. They are doing Trac collar trials for one hour increments daily. These are to try to ween her off the ventilator. Her breathing elavates during these times, but she calms down afterwards. The nurses have said that Mother lungs sound clear.

We continue to ask for prayers for her, because she is still in a horrible place. We are very grateful to all, and thank you for all that you have done. The support tree for our family is tremendous, and we are blessed to have you all.

Mother

2008-09-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

It has been a tough weekend for us. Emotions have varied for all of us. The precious person that we have all relied on for everything now needs us to care for her. The doctors informed us that Mother's spinal fluid is not being absorbed by her body. This means that her head still has fluid being produced, but it has no where to go. The doctors have said that they need to place a shunt in to relieve this pressure. This will require another surgery. This will be a set back to Mother's recovery short term, but will obviously help her. We still are asking you to help her with your prayers. She still has rocky road to travel.

Kena, myself, and Kyle have always had our Mother to comfort us. This is a difficult and brand new place that we find ourselves in. We just continue to ask the Lord for peace and strength to guide us through these extraordinary times. Words cannot describe the enormous challenge we are going through. We want to thank everyone for the support throughout this situation that we are trying to deal with.

Sincerely,

Keith

Update on Mother

2008-08-28T18:52:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement, thoughtful gifts and cards, and most importantly your continued prayers. Mother is healing well and making positive progress every day. They are working with her to ween her completely from the ventilator. She is still opening her eyes and moves them some. Our family is still trying to make decisions for her long term care to ensure we have her at the best facility and under the care of the best doctors. We hope to have her moved within the next few weeks. She is no longer running a fever, her swelling has decreased ,and her pneumonia has been treated. We could not make it through these rough times without our devoted family and friends. Thank you all!

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Keith and family

Mother

2008-08-25T13:37:00.001-07:00

The Doctor has removed Mother from the ventilator. She is breathing on her own. The ventilator's only job is to give Mother more Oxygen. The Family sends our appreciation to everyone that has had a part in this process. We are asking for the continued messages and prayer to the Wholesome, Glorious God above. Mother is still opening her eyes briefly, and on occasions, she will cut her eyes in different directions. We only can have patience now, as the healing process will take time. Mother will soon be moved to a long-term facility that specializes in nuero patients. Our Family will make that decision (where she will be moved) after we research various facilities.

Again we thank everyone from the bottom of our broken hearts. It has been a long two weeks, but you all have made it better,

Keith and Family

Romans 8:28

Continue Praying

2008-08-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

This is Mama with her mother, brothers, and sister. The picture was taken last Thanksgiving. She doing good today. They are still weening her from the ventilator. Every day we have with her is a miracle. We are praying that God will perform a miracle on her. The nurse said last night she called Mama by her name and she opened her eyes. God is so good! She is the rock of our family and we desperately want her back. Continue praying for her full recovery. All we ask from any of you is prayer.

Love you all,
Kena and the Tatum family

Amazing Family and Friends

2008-08-23T06:33:00.000-07:00

We all are so overwhelmed and thankful for the family and friends that have come by the hospital or sent a card of hope or called to say how much you love us and are praying for us. We definitely could not get through this horrific time without all of you. We feel your prayers uplifting and strengthening us EVERY day! Mama is about the same from yesterday when Keith updated you. She is still opening her eyes and doing so when we talk to her. The doctors are talking about weening her from the ventilator in the upcoming days. This is going to be a long road and we need your prayers! PLEASE continue to pray for Mama's healing. We know that prayer can do all things!

Love to you all,

Kena and the entire Tatum family

Another day with Mother

2008-08-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

Mother was taken off the sedation medication today. We believe that this a step in the Lord's healing direction. She is showing more movement in her facial areas. She is opening her eyes briefly. I am taking this as a positive note. I spoke to her over the phone. Kyle said she moved her lips and her head.

God has told us that if we believe in Him then anything is possible. Psalms 22:24 states The Lord does not ignore the one who is in trouble. He does not hide from him. He listens when the one in trouble calls out to Him. (This is from Cash's childrens Bible)

Lord, we are in trouble and need you to continue working for our family. We love you!

Thanks for all the prayers,

Keith

Update

2008-08-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

Update on Mother: Her ventriculostomy was removed yesterday. Her body seems to be resting more since this. She was still running a small temperature. The doctors are treating it with Tylenol. She went for another CT scan yesterday. We should get a summary from Dr. Kendrick this morning. All of Mother's vital signs are staying constant. The nurse said she actually opened her eyes for a brief moment and closed them. She is showing signs of what the Great Lord above is doing! We just ask for continual prayers for her. We have been blessed with another day with her. She is tough, and with God's will, we will get through this.

Thanks to all,

Keith

2008-08-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

Mimi,

We are praying for your full recovery every day!! We are so thankful for your continued healing progress!! The Lord works in such amazing ways!!! We can't wait to see you!! Keep fighting!!

We Love You Mimi,

Jack, Ella, John Tate, Jess, Isabella, and Cash

Update

2008-08-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

The doctors have told us there has been no change to Mother today. She rested well today and was strong. Every day that there is no change is a good day for us. We ask for all prayers to continue, because that is the best thing we can do right now. We are asking the good Lord above to continue laying his hands on Mother. He has done a great job! We give all the Glory to Him! We thank the ones that have called or come by the waiting room to visit. It has been a special time to see how many love Mother. We constantly tell her who has come by and called. She thanks everyone.

2008-08-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to update everyone on Mama's condition. We spoke to Dr. Kendrick, the Neuro surgeon, today. He has never given us much hope to go on. He is very straight-forward and realistic, but that is his job. He said today that he is just "tickled" about her week. I don't think he expected her to survive this week. Her vital signs and organs look good. Her lungs are clear and that is great because of the high risk of pneumonia. He was also very pleased with the pressure on her brain. The pressure is going down. Whenever it goes up, they are able to control it by releasing fluid. PLEASE continue your prayers! We need a miracle and we know God can do it!

We love you all,
Kena and Family

You're in our prayers

2008-08-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

Kena,

We just want to let you know we are thinking of you and your family and PRAYING for your mom's recovery. Brennan wanted me to tell you that he said a prayer for you and misses you.

Sympathy and Regards,
Yupin & Kevin Lee and Family