Getwellbean

Kathleen relaxed while the family went on a mad cleaning binge in the home and the backyard. Mike and Alvaro sought out 5 wasp nests which were certainly curtailing the kids play in backyard while the kids cleaned their room.

Kathleen was calm and content during a visit with from one of her former Kaiser nurses. It was a nice visit and the kids played well with the nurses' children.

Dad was kicked out again tonight as the kids wanted to "sleep with Mommy" again.

Hopefully Republican Senator Bill Frist's break with Bush will help the new stem cell legislation pass congress. Unfortunately it looks like their currently aren't enough votes to overcome bush's likely veto.

Kathleen slept long into the morning hours after her rough night and had a nice walk with Rachel, Maria and Kim in the afternoon.

Kathleen had a wonderful 90 minute massage on a massage table with hot rocks after a nondescript visit to the doctors. Her massage was followed by accupuncture and a chiropractor visit. In the evening she initially slept well, but awoke in the middle of the night with frequent coughing and phlegm production

Kathleen had a tremendous physical therapy session holding her head up for a long period and stretching out much better than normal.

Kathleen and the girls were surprised and thrilled by the acquisition of a new dog, Sydney, who was given to the family by the girls' first babysitter, Nicole. Sydney is a sweet 6 month old puppy who loves attention and gives kisses to the girls and Beaner. Sydney is part Finnish Spitz and looks a bit like Kathleen's last dog Molly.

Mike and the kids arrived back home to see Bean giving her big kisses and tales of their trip to the Valley of the Hair Dryer (Phoenix). After dinner the girls snuggled up with Mommy and Daddy on the bed to watch the classic Bad News Bears before bedtime.

The Davey's contacted Novavision about a new non-invasive medical device being used to stimulate neurons after strokes and traumatic brain injuries. The device supposedly helps and restore vision. Doctors have disagreed about whether or not Bean is cortically blind following her cardiac arrest.

Mike and the girls come home tomorrow. They wish Kathleen could be with them, but they eagerly call to say hello and tell her about their trip.

Joan came by today to perform Reiki. Connie and one of the caregivers commented on how responsive Kathleen seemed today.

Kathleen had a good day today. The house was quiter than usual since Mike and the girls are away. The girls and Mike called to say goodnight once again.

Kathleen had a good day today. She took her daily walk with Maria.

The girls and Mike are visiting with Kathleen's brother Jim in Arizona this weekend. The family had a heartfelt good-by. Samie instructed Maria to tell Kathleen at least once a day, how much she will miss mommy while in Arizona. The girls gave cute good-bye kisses to their mommy. Mike and the girls called to say goodnight to Kathleen.

Another case of pullups and arrhythmia, fortunately this kid was saved earlier.

A well written stem cell call to arms by Senator Feinstein. Truly, the United States should place a focus on stem cell research as the "moon shot" of this era. Though the space race was undoubtedly valuable, saving millions of people in the human race can only be more so.

Kathleen had a good day on Wednesday and looked simply beautiful. It was concerning, however, that she took very shallow breaths in both the morning and evening. Her blood oxygen level declined and the family was forced to give her oxygen briefly to help her recover.

Kathleen had a good day of therapy. Mike had to stay away from her due to a little tickle in the back of his throat. The family also busied itself in making vacation plans and include Kathleen.

Please say prayers for Kathleen's cousin Caitie Smith who really needs them right now.

Kathleen has made significantly more vocalizations (though none resembling words) as of late.

Thank you FDR. Social Security still works (despite George Bush's scare campaign).

"There is no greater sorrow than to recall in misery the time when we were happy."
-Dante

Kathleen had her first tough night in some time. Her oxygen dropped to 89-90 for awhile and Samie and Rachie wanted to make sure she was okay. They wanted to be with Mommy so they kicked Daddy out of his bed and spent the night by their mommy's side (for much of the night the girls slept with their arms around each other). Kathleen gathered her strength back and was able to get to sleep around midnight.

Out of the blue this morning while watching a video of her mother, Rachel said "Mommy's last words to me were Thank You." Questioning her, she said that Mommy did not go to sleep right away after she "fell down" but said "I love you" and then "Thank You" after she was brought a pillow before she "started mumbling" and then "fell asleep." Of course Mike has no way to confirm or deny the story (which Rachel and Samie both were certain of) because nobody else was home. The girls, especially Samie, have been missing Mommy greatly of late and going through a particularly tough stretch with Auntie Tutu and Uncle Vari (the crooner)moving out soon.

More evidence that GCSF, which the Davey family asked be given to Kathleen at both Kaiser and Valley Med (and was refused) might be helpful in bringing about neural regenesis (neurogenesis).

Kathleen had two uneventful days. Her phlegm is better since the room cleanup and she surely enjoyed her daughters reviews of the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the original was a favorite movie of hers), but otherwise their have been few positives or negatives to report.

Kathleen had a good day today and did very well in physical therapy.

Another encouraging PVS story

Don't forget to post encouraging thoughts to Kathleen on the Main Page

Kathleen is unchanged, but the kids had a particularly tough day wishing for Mommy to come back.

"The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just"
-A. Lincoln

"Nothing is impossible. Some things are just less likely than others."
-Jonathan Winters

Another awakening

Stem cells centers in Korea, and India, but not the USA.

Happy Birthday Sheila!

Kathleen had a very tough night in which she woke up at 5AM and coughed up phlegm the rest of the morning. She coughed her trach cap across the room several times. In the morning, Mike & Kim did a search and destroy mission on all dust in the room which took many hours. The family thinks that allergies may be the cause of the problems (which are really only apparent in the evening) though Calaratin hasn't done the trick as of yet.

In the afternoon Bean's sister Sheila and the girls had a great walk around the neighborhood.

In the evening, the Davey family had a wonderful combined birthday party for Kathleen and Sheila. It was a wonderful evening with kids running around, plenty of laughter and a sense of togetherness after 18 long months. Sheila's birthday for Kathleen - that next year they would drink champagne together - came a bit early as Kathleen swallowed a couple of spoonfuls of a wonderful vintage. Hopefully next year Kathleen will give her resounding laugh after she sips a glass on her own.

Kathleen had a relaxing day spending much time with the girls. When daddy beat Rachie at checkers, Rachel started crying "Mommy" and then she gave Mommy a huge squeeze.

In the evening there was girls night with Samie, Rachie, Auntie Tutu, Kathleen, and the girls watching "Ghostbusters" and eating popcorn.

Later in the evening Kathleen had significant phlegm and coughed significantly until she had some "sinus relief from Bath and Body Works" (a birthday gift from Kathleen's sister in law Kim).

The Davey family received an amazingly personal, caring, and supportive letter from Dr. Dennis Steindler, head of the McKnight Brain Institute. His note concluded with a message for the website:
EVERYONE NEEDS TO EMBRACE THE NEW FIELD OF REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, BECAUSE IT WILL LEAD TO CURES FOR HUMAN INJURIES AND DISEASES...IN HOPEFULLY THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE.
To that end, the Davey's are updating their donation page and creating a foundation (see main website soon).

Happy birthday Kathleen! The boys from across the street and their parents arrived early with a dozen beautiful red roses to sing Happy Birthday to Kathleen with Samie and Rachie.

South Korea keeps moving forward on moving stem cells from the research laboratory to clinical practice .

Possible positive results from stem cell therapy.

Birthday Wishes from Sheila:
Here's my birthday wish for Bean.

Dear Bean,
Last year you made the journey from Kaiser to Valley Med for your
birthday. It was a big step in your recovery process. In the last year
you've continued to make strides towards getting well. Don't be discouraged
if they seem inconsequential to some. To those of us who love you,
yourefforts are monumental and do not go unnoticed. Bean, for this
birthday Iwish for you another year of continued progress and recovery (and feel free
to speed up if your up to it!). Don't give up and remember that you're not
alone. We all love you. And next year, the two of us will be drinking
champagne on your birthday!
-Love,
She

Kathleen had an easy day and relaxed in the evening. She wa in such a deep sleep that her heart rate touched the low 50s

Kathleen had a good day. She went out to breakfast with the girls and Mike and then spent significant time in the girl's room as overseer of the massive room cleaning.

In the evening she was up again (nearly 7 hours today) to watch the firework festivities with the friends (still not boyfriends) across the street.

Kathleen had a tough night with lots of phlegm and coughing at night. Prior to that, however, she was able to spend the evening in the backyard and the kitchen watching the birthday party of 8 year old Jeremy from across the street who is Samie's "friend but not my boyfiend."

Thanks to Kaiser traveling therapist "Amy" who truly cared for Kathleen and gave her innovative and productive therapy. Amy's last day was an extra long work out with Kathleen today. Amy will be moving on to head a clinic helping children in Los Angeles.

Kathleen went out to dinner with the family to celebrate her mother in law's birthday and a late father's day. The evening was great and Kathleen looked around the room with her eyes significantly and seemed particularly focused on the overhead fans. On a separate note, though it is understandable, it is interesting to note other people's strong reactions to someone in Kathleen's state. While some stare rudely, others smile and help move things in the way of the wheelchair treating her like a person and still other individuals glare as if bringing her out to dinner with her family was a personal imposition on them

Kathleen's birthday is Wednesday July 6th. All friends are welcome to share in a barbecue at the Davey's house Saturday evening to celebrate Kathleen and her sister Sheila's birthday.

Another story documenting the amazing discoveries made at Dr. Steindler's lab in Florida.