Danny Update

Candice wrote:

“Thanks for the prayers.  Jerry Cushman phoned Ellen Palmer for prayers and she in turn phoned us to check on Dan.  He was sent to Civista at 2 a.m. Friday with a temp of 107 and a high heart rate.  He was placed in the Coronary Care Unit Friday evening and last night was moved to 2 South.  His temperature is fluctuating and his heart rate is still on the high side.  He has aspiration pneumonia and multiple bacterial infections.  Right now I know he has C. difficile in his stool and MRSA and E. Coli in a bed sore near the base of his spine.  I’m sure he still has MRSA in his bloodstream.   He’s pretty miserable and has again asked God to take him Home.  And so we wait for His mercy.” Keep praying.

Prayer For Danny

I just received this email from the Vacin’s on Friday May 9 after the group meeting:
“During our power outage around 2 a.m., we received a call from the nursing home that they were transporting Danny to the ER.  Bob got dressed by candlelight.  Our power was restored around 3:30 a.m.   Bob phoned to say that Dan’s breathing is labored and that they were inserting a central line for Dan’s meds so it sounds like they are going to admit him.  It was two months to the day when he was last in the ER and almost departed this earth.”
“Dan and I had a great visit after the meeting.  He finished watching the last 10 minutes of Raiders of the Lost Ark that I started for him this morning.  He loves having the new portable DVD player right in front of his face.  He was so sweet and cute tonight and showed a lot of happy facial expressions towards me.  It made me happy although I knew he was feverish.”
Please pray for Danny and all the Vacin family.

May Support Group Meeting

Eighteen attended the May Support Group Meeting. We made $130 at the Yard Sale. Rusty’s grandaughter, Madison, had a mass removed from her brain stem. She has returned from Children’s Hospital. Keep her and the family in your prayers. The group agreed 100% to give $50 to the family to help with the cost of gasoline while traveling back and forth to Children’s Hospital. Current group projects include: attending a Blue Crabs baseball game in June, an end-of-summer cookout, and developing a business card for Brain Injury Survivors. A draft of the card will be reviewed at the June meeting.

Grey Matter

Heidi Lerner, a brain injury survivor, is the facilitator of a brain injury support group in southern California. She has written a new book called “Grey Matters.” I think her book would be of interest to all of those in our support group. The following is part of a press release that provides a link to her website and the book. Very Interesting.

“In 1989, Lerner survived a massive automobile accident and sustained a severe brain trauma as a consequence. Though struggling with cognitive, psychological and neurological difficulties, she later earned her master’s degree in special education, with a primary focus on therapy for brain injury survivors. Lerner currently facilitates a brain injury support group called “Gray Matters” at Scripps Hospital in southern California. Gray Matters is her first publication. Please visit http://www.graymatters4u.com for more information.”

April Support Meeting

Sixteen people attended the April meeting. There was a new caregiver, who has a granddaughter with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and two nursing students from the College of Southern Maryland visitors. We learned that Rusty is in Civista after a bout of sizures. We signed a get-well card–so get well Rusty–we missed you. The yard sale will be on May 3. Gather your “stuff”, put a price on it and bring it to the nursing home in La Plata. They say people will be there by 7 am to start shopping. The rain date is May 17.

The Brain Injury Clinic at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine is conducting a clinical trial to examine changes in the brain that occur after a TBI. To qualify you must be a least 18 years old, have had a closed head injury within the last 5 years and have no history of a mood disorder before injury. Participation in the study involves: having a MRI scan, a paper and pencil test, and a psychiatric interview. They will pay up to $50 for your time. If you are interested in joining the study or have questions call Vani Rao, MD, Primary Investigator at (410)-614-2176.

 

March Support Group Meeting

Eighteen attended the March meeting. We are still planning for the Yard Sale in May. Planning for the yard sale will be a big part of the next meeting. Remember Danny in your prayers and remember the whole Vacin family during difficult times. If you are a senior, check out the following link: www.cdc.gov/braininjuryinseniors.

Be sure and call or email Mr. Joel Davis at the Maryland Independent (jdavis@somdnews.com) and thank him for placing the support group meeting time in the paper.

Best Gas Prices

While we were down in Florida for the past three weeks, the gas prices have really gone up and are expected to go up more this spring. Here is a good resource to check for the lowest prices in the area. Good luck and see everyone at the next support group meeting.

Check Gas Buddy Lowest Gas Prices:

http://www.gasbuddy.com/Gas_Prices/Maryland/index.aspx

Rusty’s Story

A great article about our very own Russell (Rusty) Chaney that appeared in the Maryland Independent in 02/20/1985 has been reproduced and posted in the Survivor’s Stories page. Take a look. Rusty has done some very impressive things.

Great Quotes

I love great quotes. Click Here and turn your speakers on for some great quotes from some great leaders. Get ready to be inspired.

Change: No Talk Just Action

All the presidential candidates are talking about change. At the support January support group meeting we didn’t just talk about change, we actually did it. We changed our name from Charles County Brain Injury Support Group to Southern Maryland Brain Injury Support Group. The new name more accurately describes the area we serve and our growing membership.

I counted 23 people at the January 2008 Support Group Meeting.  A visitor and new member, Ellen Palmer, shared her son, Michael’s, story. He was hit by a car and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He is doing well and lives in Illinois. Thanks for sharing Ellen, you encouraged us.

We also discussed the organization charter, structure, and election of officers. Nominations were made for President and Vice President. We will elect officers at the February meeting.