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Graduating...

7/26/2015

 
Everything continued to improve. Jorge noticed that David’s feet were pointing all the time. Because of the brain injury, he had develop a condition called foot drop, “which refers to a weakening of the muscles that allow one to flex the ankle and toes” (spine-health.com). What a blessing that Jorge had noticed that detail. Special boots were ordered to help keep the ankles in the upright position and prevent pressure ulcers or skin breakdown on the heels.

Every day was a new day for all of us. We waited in anticipation for David to respond to the stimuli that was constantly given to him through a prayer, a familiar voice, music, a beep, or a command.

And then on June 2nd, Ana Carolina’s birthday wish came true. David opened his eyes and kept them opened. It had been 23 days hoping and praying that he would come out of the coma. Laughter and tears were mixed in wonder. Every prayer said had been answered. We called, text, emailed everyone – everywhere. David had reached a huge milestone. The staff was static and we all hugged like a family. After so many days not paying attention to myself in the mirror, all of a sudden I hoped my hair and my face looked well. What a gift! This was the miracle we had asked for. Joy was in the air.

David stared with a vacant expression. He looked as if he was starring off into space – no emotions – his eyebrows didn’t move at all. We continued to learn about brain injuries. David’s limited awareness was known as a minimally conscious state. “Some patients move from coma to the vegetative state but others may move from coma to a period of partial consciousness. The latter patients have a reduced level of self-awareness or awareness of the world around them and have inconsistent and limited ability to respond and communicate”. (www.msktc.com)

His neurologist, Dr. Jagid, gave new orders and the medical staff talked about David graduating. He was being moved to the 9th floor the next day. The ICU had been a safe place for all of us. Things were about to change. We didn’t know what this meant but we were ready to learn the new staff, the new routines, and the next steps. So many new details were to become familiar.

The busyness of our lives obscures the signs, wonders and miracles of every day. We live in such a rush-rush era where everything is instant, drive thru, on the go, snap and run that we miss important details. The past leaves important experiences for tomorrow, which is today, and the future has its own worry, which we are incapable of dealing with, until it becomes real and present. Too much attention to the past keeps one on a standstill and too much attention to the future can leave damaging gaps and a life of anxiety. Moving forward living in the present with what each day brings is the only way to go.

(Isaiah 43: 18-19; Matthew 6:34)

Moving forward together...

7/17/2015

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While Ana Carolina whispered in David’s ear to open his eyes on her birthday (June 2), Eddy would ask David to speak to him on his birthday (June 15). We all whispered in David’s ears. We repeated to David that he had been in an accident, where he was, that we loved him and not to worry. We learned that “hearing a familiar voice telling a story could help coma patients with recovering their consciousness faster and start responding”, (medicaldaily.com) and so we did. We were all in this together.

At one point as we waited for the ICU visiting hours to begin, Eddy met us at one of the waiting rooms and informed us that the staff had taken David to perform a brain angiography. This intervention is used to identify or confirm problems with the blood vessels in the brain and is done to evaluate arteries before surgery. We all entered the chapel and prayed without ceasing until it would be over. Not even 20 minutes later, Eddy came back and told us that because David’s cranial pressure had changed the doctor had aborted the procedure. We all looked at each other and praised and cried of joy for there had been a divine intervention instead. Afterwards everyone gathered to celebrate my nephew’s Hector Luis birthday at his apartment. Celebrating life was the constant theme. 

Back home, dad’s tests indicated he had accumulated water in his lungs so he would remain at Winter Park Hospital until all would clear. My sister Gaby would constantly keep us informed. She had created a group to text message dad’s and David’s progress every day.

The next 6 days we would experience one victory after another. First, David’s brain swelling continued to subside by the hour to the point were he was taken off the paralytics. Just for a second, he opened his eyes at the doctor’s command in one of her rounds. A tracheotomy (a surgically created hole through the front of the neck and into the windpipe/trachea) was performed. He was breathing on his own and the ventilator was turned off. Back in Casselberry, dad was given the thumbs up to go home from the hospital and we all rejoiced at all the good news.

My uncle Carlos prepared dinner and had us meet at his house on May 29th, which would be the first time I would leave the hospital. David’s friend John and my nephew Hector Luis’s fiancé Sue would watch over David while I was out. The time with family at my uncles’ was refreshing and rejuvenating. The food was delicious. The warmth and love of God was made present in each one of them.

Relationships help us practice love, forgiveness, compassion, service and kindness. Mother Theresa’s quote, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”, reminds me how blessed I am with my family and all the people I’ve met in my life. Blessed with each one I’ve laughed with, danced with and cried with and those with whom I have shared a dream, a hug, a kiss and a poem. We are not meant to be islands but to connect with people. Life is formed with all these connections, which enrich us in a unique special way. I no longer expect to meet anyone but feel blessed with those who cross my path each day.

(Romans 12:6-18)


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Life is Fragile... handle with prayer

7/10/2015

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We are not the authors of life. We need to protect life at all cost.

The medical staff was committed to perform every task necessary to keep David stable, which was the goal at that moment. Beeping machines, graph monitors and pumping systems would let us know his breathing pattern, brain and blood pressure every second of the day and night. These beeps and sounds became our companions and would incite us to an extra prayer of plea or praise.  

Three cubicles from where David was, the lady who sang and prayed for her son to awaken had received the news. Her son was out of the coma.
We could hear the mother sing praises and see relatives visiting with gifts and flowers. The joy invaded all of our hearts. He was able to speak and comprehend all that was taking place. He had suffered a spinal cord injury. He was told that he would not walk again and would have to remain with life support in order to breathe. The next day, as I came back from having coffee, the hallways and waiting room were packed with this young man’s friends and relatives. The atmosphere had suddenly changed. The mother walked out of ICU with tears in her eyes and as we embraced she explained that after learning his fate, he had requested to sign paperwork to donate his organs and release forms to be disconnected. Everyone had come to say goodbye.

Free will is a gift from God. It gives us the opportunity to choose. We are responsible for our intentions and desires and how we act upon them. We are responsible to help others to choose wisely.

Like many other issues in our modern world, original oaths and decrees, which were thought of for the preservation of humanity in its intended existence, have been constantly revised to accommodate the culture’s lifestyles. Physician’s oath has been modified as well. Part of the original Hippocratic oath reads “Nor shall any man’s entreaty prevail upon me to administer poison to anyone neither will I counsel any man to do so…” Euthanasia is the practice of ending a life intentionally to avoid pain and suffering even at the request of a patient. Defenders of euthanasia call it “dignity of dying”. In contrast, Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta opened homes for the dying so they could die with dignity. Do we choose life or death? Jesus reminds us to choose life. Free will is a precious gift.

In order to make a choice we need to have options. The world presents us options, which change to fit the times, tied to the culture and human cravings. God has offered us His options thru His Word, which is unchanging and eternal. His Word reveals his will towards mankind. The life of the saints can inspire and enrich our lives. We have choices. Ultimately it comes down to our free will.

(Isaiah 40:8; Malachi 3:6; 2 Tim 3:16-17, James 1:5; Deut 30:19)

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    Authors

    My son, David Arroyo  and I, Ana Curras, collaborate together. This is our story. Our story because we are connected. We all are. When you hurt, I hurt, when you succeed, I succeed, when you have joy, I do too. It's in our design as human beings. Our story is intended to give hope, joy, encouragement and light. We pray to be inspired by our Creator, guided by Jesus Christ, moved by the Holy Spirit and accompanied by our Mother Mary.
    We believe.

    NOTE: Bible verses referred to in each post are linked to open to the verses for your convenience.

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