Updates about Karen's Condition - August 1999

• August 1 - Karen is getting around very well in her new wheelchair and she went to a concert this afternoon. Tim is busy finishing the final home renovation -- the ramp -- for the big homecoming Friday.
• August 2 - Karen was having kind of a bad day (halo pins bothering her, etc.) until Elizabeth (who was also a little crabby) went for a ride with her in her wheelchair - Elizabeth cozied up with Mom, fell asleep in her lap, and made her day.
• August 3 - Karen had lunch at an outdoor cafe in the Central West End with her recreational therapist and family. She wheeled herself there completely - ramps, busy streets, narrow pathways and all.
• August 4 - Another lunch in the West End today (Einstein Brother's). Tim is loading up the van every time he visits to bring home Karen's many cards, pictures, flowers, etc. The ramp is done (thanks John, Tom and Kevin!) and a new hospital bed and all the new necessities of life have been delivered.
• August 5 - Karen will be going to the Cardinal game tonight with her Recreational Therapy group -- she has a good chance of seeing Mark McGwire's 500th career home run! Tomorrow is the big day.....
• August 6 - Home at last!
• August 7 - Karen is having a nice weekend of adjusting to home. Her sister Jill and the rest of her family are there to help her transition.
• August 8 - 15 - Karen is adjusting well to life at home and Tim and the girls are happy to have her there. She is getting around great and enjoying visits from friends and family and is still reading and enjoying all your emails, cards and letters. Sunday (8/15) is a big day of outings for Karen - she has a family birthday party and the fuzzball/stickball tournament. K goes back to the hospital this Thursday (8/19) to see if the halo can be taken off. From now on Karen updates will be weekly, instead of daily, and posted on Sundays. However, there will be special updates throughout the week -- for example the results of her doctors visit, results and pictures of the stickball tournament, etc. Look for the date in red immediately following the weekly report to see when it was last updated.
• August 16 - 22 - The halo is off! Karen will have to wear a soft neck brace for a while and undergo some physical therapy, but the halo is gone and there is no need for any further surgery! Karen is going back into the hospital on Monday 8/23 for two weeks of intensive physical therapy on her neck now that the halo is gone. She will be going back to the 2nd floor (rehabilitation) of Jewish Hospital, but has not yet been assigned a room. Karen is in great spirits but she has to readjust to everything now that the halo and associated brace are gone. She and her whole family are very thankful that her neck has healed. Be sure to read the thank you letter from her mom in the new "Thank You" section of this web page and, attention therapists, check back later for a letter from Karen.
• August 23 - 29 - Karen is back in Room 2206, the Independent Living Apartment she was in before she left Jewish Hospital two weeks ago. Karen had a good week of therapy back in the hospital, the therapists are really working her over but she is doing great and even requesting extra time with some of her therapists. She is also concentrating very much on her diet, she is contemplating vegetarianism and welcomes any good vegetarian recipes any of you may have. Karen got to go to the Missouri Botanical Garden on Thursday and the Cardinal game on Saturday (she only stayed for 11 of the 13 innings because she had to back to the hospital) then wrapped up her Saturday by having dinner with her sister Jill in the Central West End. She only has to wear the soft brace on her neck for another 2 weeks and then will need it only on a limited basis (i.e. when she's in the car) for another 3 weeks. She still enjoys and thanks you for your visits, cards, calls and emails.Last Updated 8/30/99