Saturday, March 15, 2008

Thursday, March 13

Christmas came early this year for Deena!  She is "halo free"!  Yes, the spine doctor took her halo off this week and Deena could not be happier.  Although she said her head feels like a bowling ball on top of her shoulders - because you can imagine after having the halo hold her head up since early December she has not used her neck muscles and must strengthen them all over again!  Deena said she couldn't wait to actually take a shower and wash her hair.

Prayers are continuing to be answered for Deena and the McLarty family.  She is still experiencing some numbness in a couple of places on her head and face as well as 1 finger and the balls of her feet - but hopefully in time she will regain the feeling back either partially or completely.

Thank you again for all of your thoughts, visits, prayers, etc. and please continue to keep Deena in your prayers until she has been completely released from all of her doctors.

God Bless.
Posted by McLarty Family at 20:44:23 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Thursday, February 07, 2008

The Halo Stays....another 6 weeks

Good afternoon!

Deena took a trip to her spine doctor today and the cervical vertabra has healed nicely.  The thorasic vertabra (the one that was literally "crushed") is still healing and the docs are requiring Deena to sport her halo for another 6 weeks. 

She's still going to physical therapy daily and is faced with lots of fun challenges (ok sometimes annoying challenges for her) - but she goes daily with a smile on her face and comes home very tired from all the hard work she has to do.

Please keep Deena and the family in your thoughts and prayers as the entire family heals from this opportunity that they have been faced with.  With Greg's senior year over 1/2 way thru - there are lots of things on their plate right now so no prayers are too large or too small right now.

God Bless you all for your continued prayers and support.
Posted by McLarty Family at 17:24:39 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Saturday, January 26, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEENA!

What a blessing!

Happy Birthday Deena!

With the progress she's made to date - I'm sure we all feel like celebrating just as if it were "our" birthdays! 

Deena's continuing to go to therapy daily and continuing to progress each and every day. 

What a day for celebration!

Please give Deena a call or e-mail today to wish her a Happy Birthday!

Love to you all!
Posted by McLarty Family at 05:40:37 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Deena's Continued Progress

Well - where do I begin....?

I picked up the phone to call Michael for an update and Deena answered the phone.  It's been a while since I've talked with her on the phone - so she caught me off guard and I was almost speachless....  It still is such a blessing and answered prayer that Deena has made the progress she has in such a short period of time that I find myself still amazed and in awe of the true testament Deena is to us all.  I even made the comment to her that for anyone who may have any doubt whatsoever of God's love and the healing and miracles that He is capable of just haven't witnessed Deena's miraculous recovery.

Deena is attending therapy daily at Denton Regional Medical from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  They challenge her daily with different memory skills and remedial math skills, etc. to assist with her daily recovery process.  I asked her if there was any one thing in particular that seems to be more challenging to her than another and she said 'not really' and that 'everything is moving right along'. 

She says that she's mastered sleeping on her side with her halo.  Although you can imagine that her head doesn't actually lay on the pillow - she says she starts on her back and ends up on her side.  I was teasing that she could probably actualy lay on her stomach face down and her face wouldn't be in the pillow either....she thought was quite humerous...not!  It was SO great to hear her laugh though!!!  What a sense of humor she has!  She's an amazing lady! 

Deena did get her new glasses today and the only challenge she has is that being the "age we are" and joining the "bi- or tri-focal club" has been met with challenges in trying to adjust her head or eyes with her halo in tact.  She said it's a challenge to get her head at the right angle to see in the right part of the glasses to focus.  For those of you who haven't experienced or become a member of the "club" - it is met with challenges without a halo - so you can just imagine....

I hear that Deena has been able to attend some of Greg's soccer games - and - before I go on - Congratulations to Greg for his goal tonight!  I hear Guyer beat Burkburnett 2-0!  Way to go Greg!  I'm sure mom and dad were both very proud of you - as we all are!  Deena even has her own special seat in the press box - although she says she has to "bring her own seat with her" - they allow her to sit up where it's warm(er) to watch Greg play. 

We'll continue to keep you updated with Deena's progress.  As you can see - we are only updating as we have news to share - so please continue to check back and we'll update at least a couple of times a week.  We do thank you for your continued support and prayers.  God Bless!
Posted by McLarty Family at 22:48:53 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Amazing Adventures of Deena's Recovery

Deena is continuing daily to show amazing progress.

Her Physical Therapy (P/T) has gotten under way now - with her first day being on Tuesday.  She is going to Denton Regional Med. Center daily for about 5 hours a day.   She has her new glasses ordered so she will be VERY happy to be able to see again.  (Some of us know more than others how attached we've become with our glasses after we hit the 4-0 mark in life - grin!)

We'll keep you updated as Deena continues to make daily recovery processes and show signs of God's continued blessings upon her and the entire family!

Thank you again for all of your continued prayers, visits, cards, well wishes and generally your support and friendship during this time.  Michael, Greg, Randy, Jeff and the entire McLarty Family cannot thank you enough for all you have done to keep the family uplifted both spiritually and emotionally for the past couple of months.  God Bless you all!

Posted by McLarty Family at 10:44:12 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Deena Goes To Church!

Deena cane home on Saturday and had a great first night back home.  I heard she even washed and styled her hair all by herself! 

Sunday morning proved to be an amazing day for Deena as she walked into both Sunday School and Church.  She sported her new halo and was met with open arms and her church family was truly amazed at the sight of their answered prayers!

I hear that Deena also went to a baby shower for one of her church friends.  I'm sure by the time she gets home today she'll be pretty exhausted from all of her activity on her first full day out of the hospital.

We'll continue to keep the blog updated for you all to see Deena's progress and witness first hand the answers to all of our pryaers.

Thank you again for your continued prayers.

Posted by McLarty Family at 18:27:37 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

Friday, January 04, 2008

DEENA's GOING HOME!!!

Tomorrow - Deena's going home from Baylor Hospital / Rehab!!!!  For all of you have been praying for Deena and the McLarty family - don't stop now - your prayers are working!!!!

Deena will be released from the hospital at around 10 a.m. tomorrow for her trip home and her road to continued recovery!

What miracles we have witnessed since Deena's accident!  Thank you God!  Thank you friends and family who have continued to keep Deena, the family and doctors in your constant prayers!

Deena still has a long road of recovery ahead of her - but again, with your prayer, we know that God's will can be seen in the progress that Deena makes daily as she continues to heal daily. 

We'll continue to keep everyone posted on Deena's progress - and please, continue your prayers and your visits to Michael, Greg and Deena now that they start on their next chapter in their journey.

Thank everyone so much for your continued prayers! 

Posted by McLarty Family at 22:08:13 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And yes - a Happy New Year's Day it was for Michael, Deena and Greg!

Deena was given a 6 hour pass today and was able to go home for New Year's Day today.  Michael said she did really well and although a little over confident in what she thinks she's capable of doing - all went well.

Deena was able to have New Year's lunch and dinner with her family and her animal friends - the 3 dogs.  They were a little rowdy when Deena got home and were glad to see her - but didn't take long and they settled down and were glad to have mom home.

If all goes well with Deena's therapy over the next few days - there is a very good chance that she will be able to go home soon however, as mentioned in the previous blog she will not be able to be left alone just yet.  She will have to have 24 hour supervision as well as outpatient therapy daily.


Please continue to pray for Deena's healing and pray that the beginning of 2008 will prove to be filled with more miracles for the McLarty family.

God bless you all and may you have a blessed New Year!
Posted by McLarty Family at 20:49:57 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Thursday, December 27, 2007

LOTS of Updates

Well - where do I even begin.....

I guess first I'll start by saying that we hope each of you and your families had a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas was a bit quiet this year - and the house somewhat empty without Deena's bright shiney face there with us.  She spent Christmas in rehab and had several visitors throughout the day and opened presents that the family sent with Michael and Greg.

Michael and Greg too were a bit quiet as they, of course, very much missed Deena being with the family this Christmas.  Michael said he just wasns't much in the "commercial" Christmas spirit this year - as well we could expect.  He did spend time with family and also with Deena at the hospital - it just wasn't the same as being home for Christmas.  Watch out next Christmas though - Deena I'm sure will make up for lost time if all keeps going the way it is right now....

With that said....now for some very exciting news - but I'm going to catch you up on a few things first since it's been a while since the last post....

As you know from previous post - Deena was moved to rehab last week.  She is going through her daily therapy and improving daily.  She is still having a bit of trouble with cognigtive skills - but only time will tell as she continues to heal. 

She's spent time doing daily skills like flash cards, walking, sitting, climbing stairs, computer generated skills, etc.  She was having trouble with the fact that she has simply lost track of days and times and as the days come together for her she is realizing slowly why she is in the hospital and in rehab.  Michael feels that she is starting to realize the seriousness of her injuries and has slowed down a bit on getting out of bed on her own, etc.  I think she got "grounded" by her nurse the other day because she decided to get up and explore and even found the linen closet next to her bed....guess she wanted to put on a new gown on her own - you who know Deena well would just be laughing because that's Deena!  She promised the nurse that she'd let the nurse help her next time....

Deena says that one of her challenges is finding something that fits over her new halo - and turning corners with her new halo.  She said if she cuts the corners too sharp she bangs her halo on the wall....of course when she was telling us about this she was fully animated as you can imagine.

Now - for some awesome new.....Michael met with the doctors today at 1:30 and was happy to report in that Deena will be given a 24 hour pass on New Year's day.  She has to go back after 24 hours and if all goes well she "could" be released from the hospital on January 5 with 24 hour supervision and 6 hours a day of outpatient rehab.  Is this an amazing answered prayer!!!!?

Please remember to keep the family in your prayers because although Deena is healing and improving daily - there are still a lot of simple tasks that are quite difficult to accomplish at this time.  Again, as mentioned above, only time - and may I add - prayer - will tell.

If you go visit Deena at rehab - be sure and identify yourself to her and make sure she remembers who you are and where she knows you from.  This is something that the doctors and nurses have asked of us to help in her healing process.

God bless you all and please keep the power of prayer going!  Deena is proof that God does answer prayer!





Posted by McLarty Family at 16:00:33 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Saturday / Sunday News

Another delay in posting - but the 'post host' has been a bit under the weather.

Nothing really new to report - Deena has been going to weekend therapy and is improving every day.  She is still having trouble remembering but each day small baby steps of improvements are seen.

She's getting her sense of humor back and, like Deena, is having trouble being still.  She is starting to recognize people more and more and the more visitors that she has the easier she will start piecing things back together.

Michael is anxious to meet with the doctors on Wednesday to see what the next steps are and get a better idea on how long Deena may need to be in rehab.

Please keep the family in your close thoughts and prayers as Christmas is upon us all and although our angel has her halo - she is still in need of our prayers for a full recovery.

God Bless you all for keeping up with the McLarty family during this busy season.   

Posted by McLarty Family at 23:03:28 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |