Updates from Florida

Hi everyone,
> Today is my first day to sit and look at emails. We have had a busy
> week! Monday was busy at the hyperbaric oxygen center. Skip had a
> physical, SPECT scan, and did his first oxygen therapy. We were gone
> for 7 hours. The hyperbaric oxygen center is 45 minutes from here and of course, everything takes time.
> On Tuesday we saw the results from the Spect scan. You can see which
> brain cells are functioning well, and not as well. The goal is to get
> oxygen to the blue areas where the cells are dormant and get them to
> wake up and start working. The red areas on the scan are functioning
> properly and the yellow areas are in between. You can see where the stroke occured. The hope is to see blue areas turned to red/yellow after the therapy. Skip also had hissecond oxygen therapy.
> Wednesday we went to Healthsouth which is a therapy center. Skip had
> his evaluations by the three therapists that he is going to be seeing
> there--physical, speech and occupational. He spent 45 minutes with
> each one after the initial paperwork etc. We were all very impressed
> with the therapists and the center. (Someone I play tennis with used
> to work at Healthsouth and they come highly
> recommended.) They are goal driven and we came away from the center
> very excited about the therapys and Skip's possibilities. Then we drove to hyperbaric for his 3rd session.
> Thursday Skip did hyperbaric and then had his first occupational
> therapy session. They only take the patient during the therapy sessions so nobody watched. However, Skip came out psyched up.
> Evidently the therapist showed him some exercises and made him really
> understand the goal of each one and how it would help him. He said it
> made him look at his arm in a new way and she was positive. Additionally Skip and my mom met a man who had a kind of stroke where only 1% survive.
> He is doing so well, they could not tell which side had been
> paralyzed. He told them he had been to
> 5 therapy centers in the state of Florida and that this was the best one.
> So today is Friday and I am staying home. An aide started coming to
> help on Wed. His name is Hubert and he is from Jamaica. So far, he
> seems to do a very good job with Skip. He does the exercises with him and took him on a walk yesterday morning. Yesterday the shower went well also.
> Today they have physical and speech therapy in the morning and then
> the hyperbaric at noon. I am sure Skip will be tired as that is
> another long day. However, he does sleep in the hyperbaric chamber and comes out feeling good.
> Tomorrow Skip is seeing an accupuncturist that is in the same building
> as the hyperbaric. Evidently some accupunture points allow increased
> oxygen flow to the brain. The accupuncturist works closely with the
> hyperbaric center. Sunday they get to relax. As you can see the
> schedule is very busy, but the treatments have all been very exciting
> and are full of potential. He really wants to take a hot tub this
> weekend. So I turned on the heat and we will see if we can work it out. Obviously, Steve's muscles will come in handy for that! Also I told Skip maybe he can BBQ this weekend. Our BBQ is the right height for him. And it is supposed to be beautiful in the low 80's...
> Sorry is there are errors in this long email. I don't think I am
> going to proofread as I have to get on to my bills. Sunday is a good
> day to call as they will be around. Otherwise later in the afternoon.
> It was a great first week and things look good! Love to you all,
> Wendy

Updates... Sorry

So it's been quite some time and I apologize for the delay in getting an update out to you all! Let me start by saying Skip is doing outstanding! He's been encouraged, optimistic and patient. He's done much better emotionally than I would have expected.
Skip as we all know him, has always been a positive person, but he's also been a bit ancy! He's always got to be doing something and with the impact of a Stroke, I was unsure how he would deal with the lack of mobility and inability to be out and about. I haven't seen a bit of depression or frustration or discouragement about his situation. This is extremely good because one of the common things that occurs with recovering stroke patients, is "major depression".
Onto a different topic, let's talk about his physical improvements. He's no longer on a feeding tube and his cathater is gone! Yea!!!
His speech is very good and he's able to have a very good conversation! He's a bit mumbly at times but this usually occurs when he's trying to get too much out or if the speech is fairly complex. He's still in the wheelchair, which is of no suprise but almost 3 weeks ago he started to move his right leg and foot. Now he's fully able to move his right leg on command and the feeling there keeps getting better. As for his right arm, he's just recently beginning to get the feeling back, but there's not any movement yet. His overall body movement and improvements have been gradual but continuous, which is all that we can hope for. THe Doctors do believe that he will continue to improve and eventually walk again! So the road may be long but it's steady and good!
So, I would like to thank all of you for your time in checking up on Skip and into the site. I apologize it has been so long since you've got an update!
My mom and he are doing very well and cards and pictures are always welcome to their home...at:
Skip and Carolyn Crist
#6 Rumsen Trace
Carmel, CA 93923

Thank you again!
Love,

Jason Crist

A special thank you for the folks at Santa Lucia Preserve

As you may know, we lived at the Ranch for many years. My parents enjoyed everything they had out there, so when my mom and dad decided to buy a house out at the preserve, they weren't just buying a house. They were investing in a lifestyle, and the employees and team out at the Preserve have proven the lifestyle they were looking for has been fulfilled. They greatly enjoy everyone out there and we all really appreciate the support that you all are providing!
Thank you so very much for taking such good care of my mom and dad!

Jason

A very special weekend!

> Dear Family and Friends,
> My daughter, Ashley, and I arrived Friday afternoon from Ft. Lauderdale to visit Mom and Skip. It was a special, special trip. When we arrived Skip was doing physical therapy. He was standing at the table, practicing standing up and sitting down. He was so excited to see us and told us so in a clear voice. We had not seen Skip since the week of his stroke; his progress is amazing. His attitude is humbling.
> After therapy, we asked Skip if he wanted to go on his first ride around the Preserve. Of course he adamantly said yes. My Mom (with help) transferred him to the car. We drove around and admired the wildflowers. The colors were so vibrant. Skip loved it. Later that evening, Jason, Tricia, Savanna and Hudson arrived. We had a wonderful stew dinner.
> On Saturday morning, Skip and I beat Jason and Ashley at dominoes. It was so close: our last hand we were one point apart. Skip still plays like the pro that he is and he adds as fast or faster than I do. After lunch, we asked Skip if he wanted to go on a walk. He was thrilled. Jason pushed Skip and Tricia pushed Hudson. We walked to the fitness center and had a lemonade. Then Skip wanted to go to the hacienda. We went into the courtyard at the hacienda and he asked to sit at the corner table where we often have lunch. Since it was after lunch we ordered chips and salsa and drinks. Skip ordered a smoothie. Everyone at the hacienda was so happy to see Skip and give him a big hug. He remembered everyone's name. Then we walked home after a perfect outing.
> On Sunday, Skip asked to go on a walk as soon as he finished breakfast. It was one of those signature days. The sky was deep blue, and the air fresh and invigorating. We walked up the hill to the west and admired the oak trees and flowers. The walks are so peaceful and restive. One has time to remember that each day is truly a gift.
> Earlier on Sunday Skip had told my Mom that it would be nice to eat lunch at the hacienda. So around lunchtime, we took another walk down to the hacienda. We sat at the same table. The day was still so beautiful. It was wonderful to sit, visit with family, and enjoy a great lunch. Skip had fish, rice and beans, and 2 smoothies. (I had the best ahi sandwich I have ever had.) Later Scott, Lisa, Lauren, Chelsea and Spencer came to visit. As you can see, Skip is surrounded by love.
> We had wonderful days on Monday and Tuesday as well. We played some more dominoes, and walked down to the pool for lunch (where Skip enjoyed watching Ashley go down the slide). Ashley did several speech therapy sessions with Skip using the prompts in his binder. She was a great teacher and he a model student. What a memory to treasure.
> I felt movement in Skip's right hand. When I was moving his fingers, he moved his ring and pinky finger down onto my hand. I also felt resistance in his right forearm as I raised his arm. I asked him to do this twice so that I was sure. Connections are being made in his brain. More will come each day.
> My Mom is doing well and getting more proficient at transferring Skip. She is organizing the therapists and taking him to doctor's appointments. She poached us a wonderful Monterey Bay salmon which Skip loved! Above all she is happy and thankful that Skip's attitude is positive and that his glass is always half full. On Tuesday when Skip woke up early, my Mom told him that he would have to wait a few minutes while she finished getting dressed. Skip replied, "That's okay. I'm just going to lie here and think about all the wonderful things there are to do." There is no more to say.
> Love to you all, Wendy Brooks

Updates

Well, as you know, Skip is home and has been home for 2 weeks now. Things are going very well and I wanted to keep you abreast of his well being. This past weekend, Wendy and Ashley came from Florida and spent 5 days with Skip and my Mom. Wendy is going to be sending me an email with updates for this Blog. Please stay tuned but we will have a big updated by the end of the week.

Jason

An update on The Main Man and he's going home

So I apologize that there's been a delay in getting you all updated but I've been swamped and traveling extensively. I'm in a Borders up in Seattle getting caught up on work. I fly home tomorrow and in Carmel this weekend with Mom and Skip. Next week it's off to Boise and Seattle, then Portland the following week.
Nonetheless, I'm happy to report that the Main Man is doing great! He's been in the Acute Rehab at Dominican for almost 4 weeks and on this Friday (tomorrow) he's going home. The "in home" rehab will still be intense, with 3 days per week and additional excersizes that he can do on his own.
His speech is great and we are able to comprehend almost 90% of what he's saying. When he gets anxious and trying to get too much out, it can get mumbly and he can get a little frustrated, but its pretty solid for the most part..
Skips eating has come back very well and I'm sure he'll be able to eat his Jalapenos before too long. He's able to chew quite well and eat the softer foods, but again we are having to watch him closely and make sure that he's taking his time with one bite at a time. He has enjoyed some Salmon from my Grandma (Nana) and I'm sure my mom and he will enjoy spending some time in the Kitchen creating some wonderful concoctions for his palate.
His right side is still paralyzed and supposedly the therapists are seeing some resistance in the muscles but there is a long road ahead for him. We hope and pray for a full recovery but the process just takes a long time... So a huge thanks is in order for Clyde Sailor, who got the house ready in no time, for Skip. He was able to get ramps and bars installed so Skip can more easily get around in his wheelchair. We are just going to see how things progress and take each step 1 at a time and get more gear to assist with Skips mobility as needed.
As for Skips emotional state, Skip at times can get a bit overwhelmed with the love and support of his friends and family. It's like a sponge that has been soaking up a bowl full of water. After the Sponge is plenty filled, it can't absorb anything else. Skip has definitely soaked up the love from everyone and at time's he can get very emotional, because he's so very happy and feels the overwhelming power of love and support. His spirit is so very strong and he completely acknowledges the importance of friends and family. It's a miracle he's even here with us and Skip of course is so grateful to be present!

Once we get him home, I'm sure there will be some adjustments in store for him. Skip is doing exceptionally well and very excited about taking some more steps.

We cant thank you enough for reading the site and sending your thoughts and prayers to Skip. The Family is very appreciative to have had all of you make such an impact on Skip and all of us! Love, Jason and Family

To send mail or packages, please send to:
Skip and Carolyn Crist
#6 Rumsen Trace
Carmel, CA 93923

From My Carolyn and Skip

Dear Family and Friends, I wanted to once again express our heartfelt "thank you" to all of our family and friends! The thoughts, prayers, food, flowers, cards and emotional support have kept us on a positive road, we can't thank you enough! We love all of you, it looks like we will be home soon and we look forward to many visits at Casa De los Abuelos. Love, Carolyn and Skip

Updates on the Main Main

Sorry for the delay in getting something posted. I see the traffic is still high so I apologize it's been a while. I have been swamped with work and travelling. I'm off to Austin next week for our Global Sales Conference. For those of you who don't know what I do, I'm responsible for the Sales of Tablet PC's throughout the Pacific Northwest. I work for a company named "Motion Computing" and we are small (120 employees) but our revenues are growing at a clip of 70% Year over year and quarter over quarter. Feel free to check out the website at www.motioncomputing.com the Tablet PC is like a laptop without a keyboard and they are predominately used within Hospitals for MD's and Nurses to input (via handwriting and pen) for Electronic Medical Records. It's an emerging technology but we are doing exceptionally well. Anyhow, enough about me now to the main man!
Skip is doing great! He's speaking and it's very good. It's a bit Mumbly at times but for the most part it's fairly easy to comprehend. He's excited to continue his rehab and make additional progress. Skip was telling me last night on the phone how he just wants to get better and get out of there and relax with my mom. I talked to him about him being given a second chance...and he said, "oh boy..." I told him he's so lucky to not be below ground but to be above ground and he said, "way above ground". This is so true. He's been reborn and he's so touched and happy. Many of us(including me)think about the situation, and him and what's happened and we are still thinking what a tragedy and we are so focused on his recovery. Then we speak to Skip and he's so high on life, he's thinking how lucky he is to be breathing and cognitive, and alive! Skips more alive now than he has been in a long time...! He could've easily been taken from us but it wasn't meant to be! When you speak to him and actively engage in your conversation, you will feel the love and the gift that he and we all were given.
Today I watched the Masters Tournament and was glued to the TV. What an exciting event it was...I was thinking about the comments that Phil Mickelson had made after smiling because of the cheers he heard on the course. He said he used to watch the tourney on TV when he was a kid and always loved the huge roars! Instead of being in the hunt for the Green Jacket, he was walking the course and enjoying the moment! As some of you know, Skip and my mom introduced me to the game of golf when I was 4 years old. Today when I was watching, I thought about the times when Skip and I have been on the course and had our little matches and chipping and putting contests. We've had such a great time, not playing the best of golf but enjoying the experience of playing together. I'm encouraged by his speech and hope his mobility comes around as much as his speech has. If not, then that's ok! I'm sure I along with all of us will enjoy the times we get to spend with Skip and I know he will do the same!
So, in summary...this is a long post covering lots of topics so I appreciate your listening to my rambling...but Skip is doing well and his strides of improvement are great! I love him very much as do all of you and thanks again for your support!

An update from Jamie Crist.... thank you!

Jason,

I just wanted to let you know how happy I am continually seeing dads progress at hand. I took Matt & Emily down to see Skip yesterday afternoon and was surprised to see him feeding himself when we arrived. He was so happy to see the kids that he stopped what he was doing and insisted that the kids give him a big hug before he began eating again. I gave him a hug and a high five and told him that I was impressed that he was sitting up eating solid foods and using his right arm to feed himself.



I asked how the food was. He gave me a sour look, stuck his hand out and gave us the “so-so” sign. I could tell he tell he didn’t like it, but who in their right mind enjoys the fine dining of hospital cuisine! I reassured him he’d be eating Juans’ enchiladas and fresh salsa in no time. He gave me the “thumbs up” and smiled.



We sat and talked with him while he finished his dinner. Emily showed Skip her coloring journal which was full of beautiful hand colored pictures of the family, flowers, and imaginative scenes she draws about. (Emily’s the artist in the family) I think she has a little of Grammys’ artisitic genes in her. As each page was turned, Skip reacted with great enthusiasm. He told Emily, “Emily, that’s so beautiful”, Emily had a grin from ear to ear. Skip also said “Look at those colors”. Emily was elated. I am so grateful to hear Skip speak in full sentences. Most importantly, we can understand most of what he is saying. We are still asking simple questions that require the “yes” and “no” answers, but Skip makes the effort to answer with an explanation or statement that we can understand.



After our fine art exhibit, Matt told No-No about his weekend of baseball, and what he was studying in school. As skip was listening, he smiled and gave Matt the thumbs up. Then he said to both Matt & Emily, “I love both of you very much”. Matt & Emily gave him big hugs & told him they loved him. My heart swelled up with emotions at that moment. Here’s a man who has touched so many people and enjoys making people laugh and feel comforted around him. I can see that Dad is growing spiritually and emotionally with hope and faith. His determination to improve his physical and mental condition has brought him to a level where the therapists have noticed and have commented on how much skip has improved each day. That’s my Dad, always accelerating to mach 1.



We took Dad out to the courtyard in his wheelchair, he used his left leg to motorize and maneuver his wheelchair, negotiating every corner like he’d done it 100 times. He would let me push him, but still used his leg for propulsion. We sat outside for a few minutes and chatted about the lack of flowers in the garden. We mentioned playing dominos, Skip perked up & wanted to play tiles, so we went back to the room ant played a few games. Matt & Emily helped us mix the tiles and draw the correct amount of tiles, Skip did the rest. I thought Id be easy on him, boy was that a mistake. The first round, Skip scored 10 points to my 2 and sent me to the bone yard. The next round we both struggled to score points, but he sent me into the bone yard twice, reading my tiles and blocking playable opportunities. The third round I got a little tougher, we both scored big, and skip came out ahead gaining 2 more points. He hasn’t lost a beat on his domino game. I was so excited to see that Dads’ mind is still as sharp as when he was before the stroke. This thought process is as good as it was before, we just need to “rejuvenate” some of the other working parts.



We played another game, by that time it was time for us to leave & let Skip rest. Carolyn called and spoke with dad for a few minutes. They held a conversation like they had been talking on the phone for hours. It was nice to see close interaction from Dad. It sounded like Carolyn picked up every word Skip spoke on the phone. I was amazed. By far, this was the best visit with regards to Dads’ progress. All the therapists told me that Skip is excelling rapidly and shows enthusiasm in doing it. Dad has a sense of peace inside of him, like he knows that everything is going to be alright. Before, I sensed a little anxiousness in this presence, now he has the confidence of a pro stepping up the final 18th ready to putt for the win. He’s sure, confident and serene.

An update from the weekend

Thanks again for everyone visiting with Skip during the week and the weekend. I enjoyed meeting Marcie and her husband Andy, in case you didn't know, Marcie is the right hand person to Skip and Dave Howarth. She's an avid reader of the blog and I enjoyed getting to meet her face to face. I also got to meet the Borda's. Dick and his wife came on Sunday and Dick grew up with Skip in the Bay Area. Not only were they High School rivals on the football field, they played ball together at Stanford and have remained good friends since their childhood.
So anyhow, I drove down to Santa Cruz this weekend and was able to spend a fair amount of time with Skip on Saturday and Sunday. Upon my arrival, I was impressed at how much he had improved since the Sunday prior. I walked in the door and said Hey Main Man, and he replied, how ya doing. His speech is making some great strides. We have noticed that when there are several or more people in the room, he's not quite as talkative. I think it's because he's trying to process to many things and when others are talking, he can get a bit confused. I have been fortunate enough to spend a bunch of 1on1 time and these are great. As he's talking more and it's fairly clear to understand. Keep in mind that when I say talking, he'll try to tell you a bunch of stuff, so you'll be able to understand the first few words then he starts to mumble as things get a little too much to process. He enjoys seeing everyone and this speech thing should only continue to improve.
On Friday, Skips bladder was at 700-800cc's, so he wasn't emptying it on his own. As a result, he began to ran a fever and the MD's immediately drained the bladder and got him on some prescriptions. They brought him into the hospital on Saturday morning to do a CT Scan to check for clots and everything came back negative. When something like this happens to a Stroke recovery patient, they don't mess around! They get on top of it immediately and this was clearly displayed with Skip. So we were very concerned at first but relieved when the fever went away and the tests came back negative.
On Sunday, they had again removed the cathater but he needed to have it drained again in the afternoon. So right now they are trying to get this issue resolved but it seems to be something they should be able to resolve.
When I arrived on Sunday morning, Skip had the newspaper open and was flipping through the pages. He was also already dressed and sitting in his wheelchair. I learned that he had wheeled himself on his own down to the gym for a morning workout; this was great as he's got so much internal drive! Skip looked great and was doing something he would've been doing if he was at home.
Skip will continue the therapy this week and his therapists love him. He's such a help and always wanting to give them thanks by a pat on the back, a high five or just shaking their hand. From my perspective, if I was a therapist, I would want to spend my time with the patients that are courteous, grateful and motivated to improve. As we all know, Skip treats people how he wants to be treated and I think this is very beneficial for him during his rehab.
Unfortunately, I am on a busy schedule for the next two weeks, I'm up to Bend, OR for a few days this week then Austin, TX all of next week. As a result it will be harder for me to do the posts, but I'll have someone keep us updated.
In Summary, we are still seeing improvement as each day goes by. Two hurdles that rehab is spending much of their time addressing are his speech and right side mobility. They are also trying to focus on his swallowing so he can eat on his own. At this time, he still needs a lot of help getting in and out of the bed and Wheelchair, so please do not try to do this if you are visting without the help of a nurse.
We thank you for all of your encouragement, cards, visits and love for the Main Man!

A great note from Kate Crist

Dear Friends and Family;
People come and go in our lives, sometimes too fast. However, the friends that last through our lives become more important to us as time rushes on. "Love is all we need" John Lennon.
I was so very touched to see and hear how many of Skip's friends have reached out and come to Skip and Carolyn's side in support of them both and individually.
I saw my Father for the first time today since he fell ill a couple weeks ago. At the time it happened I had a terrible cold and out of area. And Frankly, when I heard about his fall, I was frightened, worried and felt helpless. My "ROCK" had fallen and could not get back up. But, I always knew, his spirit would persevere.
I called down to get directions to the facility last Wednesday. They forwarded the call, and to my surprise, it was to his room and HE answered the phone!!! He knew it was me and I can't describe the elation of joy I expereinced in knowing then, how willful and happy he was to answer that "damn phone"!!
When I saw him for the first time, we talked, the best we could, I read him a few New Yorker Cartoons and gave him a massage.
At one time during my visits, there were at least 10 family and friends joining Jamie and myself with Skip in the room at one time. It was like a party! He smiled, laughed, barked and carried on with us all until it was time to take a rest.
I am so very grateful for everyone's friendship and outpouring to him and his recovery. It had enabled him greater strength and perseverance.
Apparently, he is the OT's favorite patient at Dominican, since he is so determined, jovial and willing. They love him. And the bond between these extraordinary women and he, is priceless. They are nurturing his discovery with dignity, care and professionalism.
My biggest frustration was my inability to always understand what he was trying to say- but several times he reassured me that he was determined not to get down, make it happen and he was in control. He wants to be "in the NOW" and his old self..NOW!!! and trying all his might.
He is strong, I knew that from the "get-go". But he will need all of us as much as he needs us today as time moves on. May I ask, please return a visit, write him a letter or note, send him a prayer to revel in his progress and recovery. Make him continue to smile. It is so wonderful to see him in the world of life..and he wants only to be with all of us.
He needs us as much as we all need him.

Thank you all, love you all.

Kate Crist

Excellent Read!!! Signs of a Stroke - Thank you Nancy Cardinet so much!!!

Subject: Symptoms of a stroke-a true story

Susie is recuperating at an incredible pace for someone with a massive stroke all because Sherry saw Susie stumble - -that is the key that isn't mentioned below - and then she asked Susie the 3 questions. This literally saved Susie's life - - Some angel sent it to Suzie's friend and she did just what it said to do. Suzie failed all three so 911 was called. Even though she had normal blood pressure readings and did not appear to be having a stroke, as she could converse to some extent with the Paramedics, they
took her to the hospital right away. Thank God for the sense to remember the 3 questions!

Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. *Ask the individual to SMILE.

2. *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

3. *Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE.

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
After discovering that a group of non medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people, you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

BE A FRIEND AND SHARE THIS ARTICLE WITH AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE.

an Update about Murph from Big Al Kirkland...

Just got through reading the latest Blog. What I said about Murph was that 99% of the things he says are true- or at least that's what I meant to say. Murph and I go back 55 years now- Frat brothers from the Zete House and assorted other ventures.

Thursday Updates

WOW...we have quite a crowd checking in on the Main Man. Thank you so much for your support!
So each Thursday is a rather large day as the MD's make their rounds as do the Therapists. Before I give you the feedback I thought you should learn of his progress. First of all, Skip went through some intense rehab therapy on Monday and Tuesday and they gave him roughly 5 hours each day of therapy. He did amazingly well but they decided to taper it down a little, as it was a bit much. So I left Carmel on Tuesday night and was in Fresno, Modesto, Hanford and Visalia on Wed and all day today. Prior to leaving, I stayed with the Main Man until 630 on Tuesday night. We had a great time together and actually I was able to spend time with Skip and Tom Wilson. Tom and Skip really enjoyed each other and I enjoyed being there with them as well! I had heard from the nurse that they are beginning to really focus in on his right side of the body. During that day, they had him moving his right hand and actually doing some excersizes. I however was unable to see him move his hand on command but I'm sure he couldve been tuckered out. On Monday and Tuesday and all days since then, they have Skip wheeling and pulling (with his left foot) himself to the rehab/excersize room in the wheelchair all by himself. This was and still is a lot of work but we are amazed at how quick this has come and his ability to do it on his own. So on Tuesday night, both Tom and I enjoyed hanging out and they actually had brought Skip some food, he was able to again feed himself on his own. This food, isn't what I would call the Gourmet style that you may be used to, especially if you have eaten what Skip can make. But it's actually blended and pureed(sp?) it doesn't smell bad but Skip is able to take it one bite at a time and do ok with it. Tuesday was also notable because Skip had his cathater removed...(woohoo!!! Yea...!) and I'm sure it's much more comforting for him and us to know he's working on his own! He probably kill me...for posting that in a blog but I feel you would be happy to hear that he's got feeling down there and the plumbing works!
Skip continued on Wednesday with more rehab and the Speech and Occupational therapists are impressed with his progression. On Wednesday night I called his room, and spoke with my mom, she actually held the phone up to Skip and he did much more than mumble..! Skip had said "hi Jason, how are you" then I told him how well the Blog was doing, then he said or it least it sounded like "you are so great (or gracious)" and he was referencing the site. So again, he's very cognizant of conversations and the content. It's really comforting to know that his mind is intact! It's even more comforting when your Dad can say hi and your own name...! The mumbles are still 100% present and will continue to be there but as he begins to build strength in the vocal areas, and his brain continues to rebuild...the speech and conversation will only continue to improve! So I was delighted and touched to talk with Skip. He kept slurring and mumbling for a bit as he must have a bunch of pent up conversation. I again told him to be patient as this will come and get easier in time. I couldn't understand much after the first 5-10 words. But that was completely OK because I enjoyed feeling his effort and hearing his attempt and drive to speak.
I know that there have been many visitors since Tuesday so I apologize I don't know of you all, but I'm very sure that Skip is enjoying the visits!
So to Thursday updates...The MD waited to meet with our family last, as he had a long day and had some unfortunate and difficult news to the patients prior to Skip. The MD told us that Skip is going to be there for another 3-4 weeks. This is really a good thing. As you may know, if they aren't seeing much improvement, then they get you out earlier but if they are seeing steady improvement, they want to keep you in as long as possible to maximize the return on therapy. So this 3-4 weeks is great because the MD says that Skip is truly improving and making some great strides. The Speech therapist is also going to graduate Skip from Baby food to Stroke food. I believe the consistency of the food isn't pureed but instead a bit chunky or requires a bit of chewing. The ST also said that his speech and language is on a great track of improvement. The Occupational Therapist said that today, she used an ace bandage and wrapped both of Skips hands together. She then tossed a ball to him and asked to bump it back with both hands. He did it fairly well, I wasn't there to watch but I can imagine his motor skills were tested and both sides of his body and brain were trying to work together. The OT believes there's some good or decent movement in the right side. This also goes back to the MD recommendation that they want to keep him and continue to work with him. As much as we want him back home and he wants back home, these steps of rehab are working and they'll continue to push the limits and watch the improvement process closely. So he's staying there and will continue excercises like these to further rehabilitate.
If you are able to visit Skip during the week, you will notice a binder in the room for providing updates and comments on things during your visit. Please feel free to make an entry with anything you learn. We have the log book to keep as informed as possible and find it helpful to see what things are going on during each visit.
As I mentioned earlier in this blog, I'm impressed with all of you visiting the site daily with your morning coffee for an update. I will continue to do my best and provide updates on the Main Man. As you can see from this update, it took me a few days for a progress report so I will do what I can but if you pay a visit to Skip and would like to send me the feedback, I'd be happy to post that as well. Simply send me an email and I'll update the gang.
I will definitely be doing updates each time I visit with him to keep us all informed, and I will also update you after the Thursday visit from the MD.
Again, we thank you so very much for keeping tabs on the Main Man. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers during this time of rehabilitation. Lots of love, The Crist Family!

A wonderful post from Annie from the Easter Weekend

Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

If you are still reading Skips blog site, you are a committed friend. We take such encouragement from each card, call, posting and email. All of us thank you for your love and support!

Before I share of my visits with my dad, I want to take a moment and ask you to lift Carolyn up in your prayers. We all are so concerned for Skip, and we think first of him but for today, I ask that you pray that Carolyn is comforted, strengthened and encouraged. She drives to Santa Cruz each day, eager to work with him and watch his process first hand. And, probably spends time at night, thinking and trying to plan for what's ahead. So, please, keep her in your petitions. It is my desire that her faith and hope is encouraged as much as Skip's through this process of healing. And, that happens by your and my constant prayer. Thank you.

I had the privilege of visiting my dad both on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon. And, since Jason has done such a wonderful job of journaling the various details of each day, I'll simply share of a few moments that touched my heart. As I arrived at Dominican for the first time, I found myself needing to adjust to the different facility. His room at Salinas Valley was so small and quickly was filled with kid art, pictures, flowers and family members. Now, in contrast, he has a large private room, and I was all by myself. But, the warmth of his eyes when I walked in helped me to acclimate.

Within minutes, our routine began. I quickly found his CD player, started the classical music and sat myself down to his right foot. You see, each time I visit, he gets a long and luxurious foot massage. As I wrote in an earlier entry, each family member brings a wonderful and unique gift of his or herself to share with my dad. The guys get him laughing, the children keep him smiling, and the sisters & sister-in-laws keep him talking. My thing turns out to be a time of peacefulness. I know he loves it, because he so quickly pulls aside the sheet and lifts his foot for the sock to be removed! And, as I watch his head go back and eyes close in full relaxation, I think about what an amazing moment it is. I never before have had this opportunity to just serve my dad. Most of you know that Skip is always on the go, and he often is giving more than receiving. And, to be able to just give to him, and to see his peace in being able to enjoy my gift, is something I will always cherish. For this connection, I am so thankful.

Another wonderful detail I can share is something I mentioned above. As I am there with him, it is his warm eyes that truly let you know that he is doing okay. Each time, I come in close, he raises his head for that kiss. His warm eyes are looking at you, and he makes it so clear that he loves you. Really, there are many good things that can come from such a difficult event. And, the love that has poured in, and the love that he pours out is something I will never forget about this time in his life.

Milestone events that I was able to celebrate with him include hearing one of his outbursts of language. I shared with him how easy it was for me to get to the facility from my work in downtown San Jose, and he blurted out, "easier than the other." I was able to fully understand his words! And, the moment was more joyful than you can imagine. Also, I was able to sit with him at his first dinner of feeding himself. The process was all about learning, and I watched as he gingerly (and yet eagerly if those two can go together) dipped into his applesauce and creamed beef. I asked if he would recommend the fine food to any of you friends, and he smiled! But, truly, he gave me the so/so hand sign, so it wasn't horrible!

This brings me to another thought to share with you. Throughout this process, Skip has maintained an amazing peace and gentleness about himself. His patience with all that nurses and doctors do when you are in a hospital seems unwavering. Each day that I have been there, he simply looks up for how he can cooperate, and even help. It truly draws recognition and causes my heart to ponder even more the character of this man. I long for the day to hear of all that he has learned. My heart knows that he has so much to say to us. I know he'll speak to Carolyn of his deep love for her. He'll probably say something tender to each of his eight kids. Actually, he already has done these things through his eyes and timely hand squeezes. And, he need to say anything to his grand kids. He'll just play with them in a whole new way.

To end my visit, I always ask if I can pray for him. Each time, he nods and allows me to lay my hand on his head. Sunday, I was able to even read him a few scriptures from the book of Philippians. The scriptures speak of the Lord's nearness, and His encouragement that we be anxious for nothing. Then, nearing the end of the chapter comes such a wonderful Truth in verse 13:

Phi 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."

I know that if we all keep the faith and believe beyond the limitations of our own experiences, imaginations and skepticism, Skip will recover to the fullness of what God has in store for him. Truly, we can do all things through the Resurrected Lord Jesus! (With that, I hope you all enjoyed a Happy Easter!)
Annie

Updates to Mondays Blog

The stories that Murph tells are the best..if I was in an Acute Rehab Center...I'd pay Murph to stand at my bedside and just keep telling me more stories...

Monday updates

OK..Let me start by saying that my Belly Still aches from the Stories that Bob Murphy was telling! We had a great time yesterday...unfortunately, I'm going to update the site later tonight with yesterday's progress because I've got to go work...in short, yesterday brought more improvements. I brought Skips dog to see him and they both enjoyed that. I had a great time seeing Don and Ann Vermeil and Bob Murphy...that guy is a kick in the pants. Althought I got an email from Big Al this morning and he told me that about 99% of what Murphy says are lies...regardless I enjoyed speaking the Murph! i enjoy getting to know all of Skip's Cronies and I apologize i'm in a rush but the day was Strong and filled with fun.
On a separate note, I was told that Skip tried to drink someones water on his own yesterday and I need to re-assure you that he can't eat or drink anything on his own, without a nurse present. I'd love it if this were different but please nobody feed him or leave food, or drinks available for him to have on his own.
I'll update more later when I get some more time!

Easter Sunday

Can you Say... Michigan St. handing it to Kentucky in double overtime....yeaahhh baby!
Skip and Annie and I all got to hang out and watch some amazing basketball together. We enjoyed it greatly.
I had actually arrived about an hour before Annie did, and when I first arrived he was snoozing. So I went and grabbed his right hand and said the usual...and again, he squeezed my hand a few times. He wasn't able to move his hand any more and isn't able to do it on command, but he's obviously got something going on there. So i sat on his bed and had him write on my Tablet PC, he did a good job and I just couldn't figure out what he was writing. So we chatted for a bit, then Annie arrived and set up shop to give Skip her amazing foot massage. Skip absolutely loves the foot massage, he closes his eyes and relaxes.
So I realized that he had a TV in his room and asked if he wanted to watch some NCAA basketball. He nodded and we caught the Kentucky/Mich St. game mid 1st half...
Skip was very excited and didn't nod off once and was very focused on the game. It was an awesome game and we were all kinda glued to it.
The nice part of this which I told him, was that if he was at home we would have been doing the exact same thing. Skip is a sports fanatic and enjoys a good exciting football, basketball or a golf match...he enjoys the rush...!
The game was a close one and I kept getting his attention and confirming he was having a good time. He nodded and continued to watch.
The rain started to come on Sunday and after the game, I needing to go back home to have easter dinner with my mom and Tricia and the kids. I had a very nice time with Skip and enjoyed doing something together that we both enjoyed.
So the Easter Weekend came and went and the Main Man had shown some positive signs and is keeping his encouragement. It's very challenging for everyone and the situation is tough but Skip is a trooper. He's going to make his improvements and we need to take some of our own advice...we need to maintain our patience and accept the cards we've been dealt. We are hoping and praying for a full recovery and will be with him every single step of the way.
Please feel free to visit Skip when you are able, his visiting hours during the week are after 4:30 and he may be tired at that time due to a full day of rehab. If he's tired, just use your best judgement and wake him to say hello but if he's wiped out, he's wiped out. He appreciates all of your love and support, as do we all. Thanks again for reading and lots of love from The Crist family.

Easter Weekend - Saturday Update

So I don't know how many of you noticed but I put a counter on the blog site, on the lower left hand side. I put it up there on Sunday morning and as of that time, 31 people have visited the site. So you are all probably tired of reading the last update. I guess I was a bit tired and slacking off, but due to the traffic, I'm all fired up again. Its great to see how many people are checking in on the "Main Man" during the Easter Weekend.Tricia and I drove separately, I arrived at Dominican at 12ish, and was amazed at how simple it is to get to the facility. Basically, you exit Morrissey Blvd off of HWY 1, go towards the Ocean, make a left on Soquel and a Rt on Frederick, it's 610 Frederick. You'll check in with the Security desk and he's in room 101. It was pain free for me and the room was very spacious, he's got many pictures and drawings on the wall from the grandkids, the aroma of flowers permeates the room and it's a complete rehab facility. I was sure of what to expect of a rehab facility but this met and exceeded my expectations. Each Thursday, the therapists and MD's, make their rounds to discuss the progress, assessments and improvements with the patient and their family. Thursday's will definitely be big days.So on Saturday when I arrived, Skip was snoozing, my mom and I went into his room and I went around to his right side and grabbed his right hand. I squeezed it and said "Hey, Main Man...how are you and he didn't quite wake up all the way but instead he squeezed my hand ever so slightly with his right hand. He hasn't shown much movement in his right side but he definitely attempted to squeeze my hand. We kept trying to wake him up but he was tiiiirreed! So I took my mom to lunch at a new place in Santa Cruz with the most amazing ambiance...Jaques de la boxa, also known as Jack in the Box. It was the first time in many years my mom had eaten fast food, so I encouraged her to go with a Grilled Chicked sandwich, it was worth a good laugh to watch someone like my mom eat "Fast food". So we bolted after eating and went to wake up the Main Pappy. He finally awoke and we started conversing with him. He wasn't too into showing me how he can speak but instead, I brought out the paper for him to write. He wrote a bunch of stuff and I was challenged to read it. his letters are all very clear (for a lawyer) but they are out of order so you can't determine what he's trying to communicate. So it looked like this "In do saganda bong", I took it as how is Savanna doing (my daughter) and he was so very delighted to see that I understood! I hugged him dearly, and said she and Hudson are doing well and love him very much.So we kept writing for a bit and it was very tough to understand. He's trying to get everything out, but I don't want him to get too frustrated. So I said to him that i'm sorry I don't understand all that he's trying to write, but told him I appreciate him trying and these things will come in time. I also asked him if he was getting frustrated with these things and he shook his head "no", and I told him that if he does get frustrated, that that's OK. I said that sometimes you'll have your periods of frustration but you need to be patient and accept the Highs and the lows. I told him that we would all be here for him and with him to help pull him through the lows. Just like a salesman's job, there are highs that are really high, then there are lows that are really low. Because he shook his head no, I felt fairly happy, but I just hope he keeps the positive attitude. I also asked him to squeeze my hand with his left hand, to show me if he was encouraged and he gave it a big squeeze and shake. That was a great feeling!On Saturday it was a nice day, Skip was in an upbeat mood, so I asked if he wanted to go outside for a stroll, and he nodded and was up for some fresh air. So the nurse, helped me get him into the wheelchair and next thing ya know, we are rolling through the parking lot and enjoy the fresh air together. He had my hat on and we just enjoyed the breeze and sunshine on our backs. Then I got creative and decided we would go on a "wildflower walk" just like he and Annie do at the Preserve. So we toured the parking lot picking all the different kinds of flowers and trying to find the one with the best smell. We picked everything except the California Poppy, but it was tempting. The walk was great and something creative and lighthearted for both of us. Then Scott and Lisa and their kids arrived and Skip was very happy to see them..we bumped into them in the parking lot at the close of our walk. We then took Skip inside and went to the Koi and turtle pond. We hung out there for a bit and then one of Skips friends from College and Stanford football came by, as he and his wife live in Santa Cruz. He was a very nice man, and I apologize i'm not recalling the name, I wanna say it's Les or Len or Wes?? Again sorry about that, but the reason I'm having a hard time remembering is because Skip was pointing for me to take him somewhere shortly after his friend got there. he was pointing to the bridge by the pond so I was wheeling him over there, then he points inside and continues to take me to the Mens Restroom. He needed to go to the bathroom, but there's no way I could get him there on my own. I took him to his his room and the Nurses helped me out and assisted. So anyhow, the point of this is to let you know he's able to feel himself and know when he needs to go. So I think this is positive news.So I hung out for a little longer but I felt it was a good day. It was fun, and we both enjoyed ourselves.

New..Skipism Contest...

So I had a great conversation with my Sister Annie on her way home from seeing Skip and we thought about creating a way for everyone to share something with Skip and each other. The most common way we communicate with someone in the hospital is via a card. The card is always heartfelt, and a way to express our emotions, and Skip definitely enjoys all of the cards, but why not do something that gets a good chuckle out of Skip.
So here's the deal: Please take a few minutes and email me at jcrist@motioncomputing.com, email me a story or memory (a Skipism) that you have involving the Main Man. I will compile all of the letters and get them posted on Skip's wall at Dominican. We'll be sure to read him all of them and let you know of his reaction. I'll also post them all on the site (if it's ok) and we will all be a little less stressed about him being in rehab, instead we'll be laughing our tails off at the funny things that we've been through with him. I'm sure that everyone has a few good laughs that they could share! I know that this would put a smile on Skips face and something we can all enjoy doing. Thanks again!

Friday, March 25th

Friday was a good day for Skip. The staff dressed him in his own clothes and he had a Hawaiin shirt on and a new hat my brother in law brought him, he's an F18 fighter pilot instructor, so I'm sure it got Skip motivated. He again had a lengthy day with the therapists but from what I hear, it went well.
Annie visited with him in the evening and he was lively compared to the evening before, when he was with Jamie.
As we count the days since the stroke we are trying to find a physical sign or something clear that we can "notch up" as a sign of improvement. I think we will still see the signs but because we are watching him so closely, it's hard to see the clear signals that we can check off as improvement. He didn't have any backwards steps today but it was a busy day of therapy for sure. Some of the highlights included some walks with Mom, Dawn and Brian in the WHeelchair outside, and more therapy and Skip sporting his new hat. My mom let me know that he did something pretty funny. WHen the Therapist asked for Skip to write his name he did the following: First he wrote Frank Lee Crist, then under that he wrote Skip Crist, then under that he wrote Bonzo...
So we definitely got a kick out of that. In closing for today, my mom said that Skip again has been wearing off on the staff...which I knew wouldn't take long. All of the Staff love him and say that he helps them with everthing, from them coming into his room and having to do something, to helping them get him into the wheelchair...
As I'm sure you've all seen and learned from Skip, he's always very polite and ultra cautious about others and making sure he's considerate, helpful and keeping others in mind. We can rest easy at night knowing that the care at Dominican cares about such a caring man...
Thanks again for your love and support!
The Crist Family

Updates to Come...

Hello all, I wanted to send you a note letting you know to keep track of the site over the upcoming days and weeks! I have been in touch with Nancy Cardinet, Nancy and her husband are close friends with Skip and my mom. Nancy is actually a former Speech Therapist and had some great ideas and thoughts for things we can post. Some of the topics will include, the 3 S's - signs and things you can do to determine if someone is having a stroke, links to helpful information about stroke patients, and things we can to with Skip during our visits. The ideas we shared were broad but I wanted you to know that there's going to be some helpful stuff on the site moving forward and I greatly appreciate Nancy and her help.
On a side note, if you come across an article or would like for me to post something for you, please let me know or simply send me an email. I'm all about feedback and support so be sure to let me know if there's something I can do to help "the Main Man" out!
Jason

Thursday, March 24th

Skip had his first full day at the Dominican rehab facility. He was a bit tired and I'm sure it was because of the move and getting adjusted to the new environment. He did do a bunch of therapy and all of the therapists told my mom that his case is very unique. Skip is left handed and usually the lefties store the speech on the left and 50% store it on the right. The same is true with his cognitive abilities. Skips stroke is puzzling and we are still learning what's there and what needs to be rehabilitated. The Speech therapist said that everything is there, it's just filed and out of order. We are glad he's settled in at his new location and I'll be heading down there on Friday.
Thanks again for everything and your support!
The Crist Family!

Wednesday, March 23rd

Skip again showed improvement for Wednesday. They didn't do as much Therapy because he was moved to Dominican. Thank you for all of your love and support, I'm sure he knows how many people are behind him and his will to improve and get better allowed for the move. He will be at Dominican for a while where the rehab process is pretty aggressive. After speaking with my mom, it seems that the visiting hours start at 4:30pm, this is because they have a total of 3 hours of rehab spread out until that time. It seems exhaustive but definitely something he would want. His schedule pre-stroke included 2-3 days of working out, 2-3 days of golf or hitting balls and a bunch of computer time and working the deals each week. We are all encouraged still and the MD at Dominican said he thought he felt some pressure or slight movement yesterday. Today at Domincan they will go through a thorough assessment. I haven't been to the room but I understand it's much larger than the room at SVMH and it has a board for documenting everything that they are working on. I have never actually been to an acute rehab center but definitely believe this is going to be the place where we get him back to as close to normal as possible.
I know yesterday prior to the move, he was a bit anxious but Scott and my mom were speaking to him and calmed his nerves and told him more about what Dominican will be doing. He was ready to go. On the evening of Tuesday, Skip had said a few words to the nurse, he said: red, and Skip go...! It's nice to see some of his vocab coming around and I'm sure we will get his fiesty self back. Maybe we should have the staff teach him all words except Democrat, Liberal, John Kerry, Hilary Clinton...haha!
ANyhow, we are pleased so far on his progress and rapid improvement and I appreciate everyone's feedback, encouragement and emails! Lots of love to all of you!
Love, The Crist Family

A note from Manuel Lozano

Dear Skip,
Sounds like you are making good progress. I understand the ride on
the wheel chair was exciting. I wish I could have been there with
you, but the next ride you and I take together will be on a golf cart.
I'll drive! When we were kids you were never a good driver.
Remember all the telephone poles you hit?
I had lunch at the Palo Club the other day and drew quite a crowd from those who were there. Everyone knows that you and I are such good friends and wanted an update on your
progress . They were pleased to know you are doing so well.
All of Palo Alto is all thinking of you and wishing you a speedy
recovery. Linda and I are thinking of you constantly and Linda is
sending the angels to watch over you.
XOXOXO Manuel

Day 7

So it seems the Docs and websites and RN's are correct...the improvement continues for Skip. Today was my first day away and I wish I could've been there for his milestones..
Both Scott and my Mom were there to take Skip out of his bed and on his first wheelchair ride...he enjoyed it and was able to look out the window and see the world from a different view, other than his bed.
So the therapy was also stepped up and he rose to the occasion. Most notable was his tongue movement and his ability to begin mumbling, making noise and yes...he was able to say Hi and Bye! We are so happy that he's beginning to get a few words out. These are simple things to most, but to the family and the one's who have spent much time with Skip...these truly are great beginnings. The speech therapist simply put, "ROCKS"! Sandra has done some wonderful work with Skip and you can see she's extremely good! The timing is getting close to having Skip moved to Dominican and we think it may be before the weekend or around the weekend.
From what I understand, he is getting his nutrition thru the feeding tube and there aren't any complications. Because of his nourishment, I believe he's got more energy and the rehab process will continue to be strong. I don't know that he had any more movement with his right side, but hopefully this will come with a bit more time. Because we are seeing some promising signs that his speech is coming back, we are very relieved because the lack of being able to communicate is very tolling on him and others.
So a special little thing that I did when I left Skip, was that I told him I would call each evening at 730 and would do so while I'm away. I wanted to call and let the phone ring to let him hear the phone and know that I was thinking about him. I told him I would do this when away and would continue to do it until he was able to get up on his own and answer the phone. So tonight I called and it was ringing for a bit, then my sister Annie picked up the phone. Annie had randomly just arrived to the hospital from her drive from San Jose. She said that Skip was looking at the clock and holding his head back towards the phone and listening to the ringer. I was tickled and touched when Annie told me this and it's something very important to me. So anyhow, Annie handed the phone to Skip and I began speaking to him and telling him how happy I was and I asked for him to say "hi", indeed he tried to say hello but he also tried speaking and was trying so hard...! I was so happy to hear him attempt to speak and was very encouraged and feel that he's going to accomplish the task. So after speaking to Skip, I told him to hand the phone back to Annie. She said he had a grin on his face, it filled me with optimism and confidence!
I know that I could go on and on but I wanted to share with you how I myself along with the entire family are so encouraged by his progress. Thank you Annie, Scott and Mom and others for being there today...I wish I could have taken part in such a special day filled with milestones. I know there will be many more so I look forward to getting back down there!
Thank you all for keeping Skip in your prayers and thoughts! Lots of love to you all! The Crist Family!

From Manuel and Linda Lozano

Dear Skip,
We are thinking of you and praying for your complete recovery. You are never out of our thoughts. Skip, we have been friends for 60 plus years and not
a moment goes by that I don't have flashbacks of our past together. Playing football, double dating at the drive-in theater, skiing in Aspen, dove hunting in
Arizona, duck hunting in Los Banos and all the great gatherings at the Crist home. The list goes on........ So..... make sure you fight like hell! We have many
good years ahead.
We love love love you!!!! Manuel and Linda

Day 7

Skip had another strong day! He was assessed by the Speech therapist and is able to chew and swallow ice. He's not that accomplished at it and it takes some time, as a result of this he is having a feeding tube inserted on Monday evening, so he can begin getting some nutrition. As a joke, we told Skip, we will bring some blended Jalapeno's and put them in the tube for some food...as we know he love's his hot food...he had a good smile and was amused.
Skip also had a good full day of Physical THerapy, Occupational and Speech therapy. The recommendation has been very consistent that Dominican in Santa Cruz is the best place to go from SVMH.
Normally when transferring from the Hospital to an acute care facility, there are a few options. There are Hospital's with a rehab facility within them like Dominican and Natividad or you can go to a Nursing Home facility (which we didn't want to do). At some of the Acute Care facilities they are interested in interviewing the patient to confirm if they can have 3 hours or more of rehab per day. They are also looking to see if the Patient is fairly responsive and whether it is possible to get them rehabilitated. Because Dominican is so strong, they will send a RN out to interview. So anyhow, we met with the case manager at SVMH on Monday and she's confident they are willing to admit him without the interview. They are confident in his skills and he's already doing or able to do 3 hours of rehab. I told this to Skip and informed him that we will be going there within a week. Skip is excited and looked wide eyed about moving and beginning the rehab process.
Yesterday was also my Mom's birthday, so we coordinated getting her an outfit and a blank card from SKip. I had skip fill out the card and envelope. He did really well!
Just so you know, his motor skills when he is writing are still very challenged. He can write his name and some very basic things but everything isn't coming together quite yet. We were hoping for a miracle that his writing would be the way he can communicate as he can't speak right now. He's able to communicate a little bit with his writing but he's challenged and can get easily frustrated when trying to get out what he's trying to say.
Unfortunately I had to leave Carmel and head back to Sacramento on Monday for the week. I'm going to be heading back down on Friday and through the Easter Weekend.
It seems that SKip will be moving out of the SVMH facility within a week and headed to Domincan for the Acute Care, this should range from 3-4 weeks or beyond. My Grandma and Grandpa, Moms mom, live in Santa Cruz so this will be extremely convenient.
We thank all of you again for your time, love and support with keeping up on how Skip is doing!
If you'd like to have me post a letter or story or just a few paragraphs on some memories that you have of Skip, send me an email at jcrist@motioncomputing.com and I'll post it for others to view.

A Miracle from Annie...

 

John 3:16
    "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. "

 

There have been so many miracles each day, and I want to write about one specifically to encourage each of you who are sacrificing time in your day to pray for my dad and family.   At about 8:00pm Sunday night, I found myself driving north on 101 toward Belmont with a tired and weary soul.  It had been a long six days, and I was struggling with thoughts of not being able to see and pray with my dad on Monday.  (I had found a wonderful routine of praying with and for him at the end of each day - leaving him with great peace as I turned out the light and assured him we'd all be back the next day).   I hadn't eaten, so I pulled off in Gilroy for an In-and-Out burger.  When I turned in, the line for drive thu was a good 8 or 9 cars.  I sighed, as I thought parking and going in.  It was late, and I was thinking about having to work in the morning.  I went in, ordered my food and remembered that I had my Bible in my purse.  I figured that I'd read some scripture as I waited, hoping to find a word of encouragement to feed my heart.  Soon, the man sitting next to me got up for something, and I noticed that he had the scripture John 3:16 (written above) on his t-shirt.  Obviously, he was one to read the Bible.  As he came back, I said, "Nice shirt."   And, he looked down at my Bible, and we began to share about God and His Word.  His wife, Marilee, was a nurse, and she had had experiences with a loved one suffering a stroke.   Their compassion immediately comforted my heart, and the husband (David) quickly remind me of the faithfulness and hugeness of God.  My heart took peace, as I was reminded that each one of these days and all of my family are safely in the Hands of the Almighty God.   Soon enough, they both offered to pray.  And, there at In-and-Out, we bowed our heads and lifted up my dad to the Lord.  We huged, and I went on my way - completely changed from when I walked in.  My heart was filled with amazement of how God will orchestrate our lives to meet us and show us that He loves us.  He loves my family and that He is in complete control.   With that, I want to thank you for praying.  God is  answering your prayers!  He is more than able to arrange Divine Appointments for all of His children to come to an understanding of His deep and eternal love. 

 

John 3:16
    "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. "

 

He loved us so much that He sent His son, Jesus, to hang on the cross.  I do not know of any deeper love than that.  Yet, we all know what happened after the cross.  He conquered death and rose again!   It's no accident that next Sunday is Easter Sunday.  Just before us on the calendar, we ALL have the hope and reminder of God's power and faithfulness.  

 

In closing, I would like to ask you to keep Carolyn in your prayers.  She has been wonderfully surrounded by the kids, but as we come and go, she is the one who needs daily strength, encouragement and a constant and always renewing hope.   Thank you. 

 

ps:  Next time you are at In-and-Out, flip over a medium sized soda cup, and you will find "John 3:16" written on the edge of the bottom.  That is no accident, either. :)  May God receive all the glory and praise!

 

Blessings to you all,

Annie

 

A note from my Mom

I wanted to take a moment to thank our children for their incredible love and support during this time! I couldn't do it without you! To our wonderful friends; your thoughts and prayers mean so much to Skip and I. We are facing a huge challenge that with Gods help we will try to meet.

Day 6

So I ended up going a little later in the morning but my mom and other family members were there nice and early. The day showed many signs of improvement and it seems we are now getting close to being out of the woods. We spoke with Dr. Carver and he layed out a pretty good plan...
Skip will remain at SVMH in the Level II care area of the hospital for a few more days. They are trying to get him a little more rehabilitated, with the Speech Therapist (for swallowing), the Physical and Occupational therapists. Once he is stabilized and able to swallow enough to begin eating and able to nourish himself, they will transfer him to the internal rehab at SVMH. He will go through 2 weeks of rehab and then he will most likely be admitted at Dominican in Santa Cruz. The facility is an acute care and rehab center but it's also a Hospital environment. From the research we have done, many signs indicate that this facility is one of the best! My Grandmother lives in Santa Cruz and this will be very convenient for my mom.
So Skip physically appeared very well yesterday. He was attentive for much of the day, his eyes were both wide and he was writing up a storm. Skip was able to write his name, the names of the grandchildren and some other items as well. We were initially concerned that the writing would be too frustrating but he's wanting to do it.
Skip is also indicating that he wants to eat and drink. The Speech therapist who did the swallow test, said that he's close but not quite there.. It looks that we will have an alternative source for nutrition, until he's able to swallow...then we can start with the food. The therapist indicated that his swallowing should come back very soon...
Later in the afternoon, Jamie and Katie and their 2 children Matt and Emily arrived. They added some artwork to the walls, that Ashley, Austin and Savanna had colored some pictures for Skip. Emily had painted an adorable picture and Matt had his Pop Warner football picture. Skip was very touched by the pictures and he was very impressed (as was I) with Emily's artisitic ability.
Jamie brought Skip a book of stories/poems and read one that I wasn't aware at first would be so touching. The poem came to an end and it was very touching. Skip was very moved by the poem and was overwhelmed with emotions...the room became a tropical rain forest as there wasn't a dry eye. Jamie asked Skip if he's going to fight...and Skip looked him in the eye and nodded.
I don't recall the poem being so touching but the moment was precious and something I won't ever forget. Skip is a fighter and someone whom we all know will overcome this. But he's down right now and he knows it. He's very scared and unsure of what he'll gain back and how close to 100% he'll get...(as we all are) so I think the moment and the event really caught up to him and the poem triggered some very powerful emotions.
I know that lot's of things are going on but there are a few things that I keep focusing on. First, Skip's brain is intact and he's cognitive of everything. Second, his spirit and soul is larger than life so he's got a strong chance for a successful recovery, Third is his family and friends. His support system is incredible and something he will draw upon to gain energy and strength.
Thank you all again for your time, energy and support for Skip and the family!

Day 5

Today was another day of improvement! A few things are standing out in my mind! First of all,on the evening of Day 4 Skip was doing something that surprised us all! When Annie and Michelle were with him, Skip somehow was asking for a pen and paper! Skip started writing at first in a Vertical, Top to bottom fashion, then he started doing it correctly! He started making a list of things to do...then he wrote his name and a few other things. These things ranged from Jack Kerry (whom we thought he was trying to write John Kerry), to calling people, etc. Nonetheless we were encouraged that his mind and brain are as intact as they are! We spoke to the nurse and she said he's trying to get things out of his mind, they just aren't coming out as he intends them to! As a result of this, we spoke to another Neurologist who mentioned that it may be best to stick with yes and no questions because he wont get frustrated.
So again on the morning of Day 5 Skip was asking for a pen and paper and we got him writing again but stopped shortly after he became a bit frustrated! Later in the morning the speech therapist had come by to assess Skips' ability to swallow, unfortunately he was very tired and we were unable to perform the test. We are hopeful that he will be able to swallow so that we can begin to have him start eating and to avoid a feeding tube. So he will be having another swallow test on Saturday.
Some other highlights of the day were when Dave Howarth, Skips longtime partner and associate came by for a visit. Skip truly enjoyed seeing Dave and Dave was very excited to visit with Skip! Dave is welcomed into our family as a member and also views Skip as a second father!
We learned more about the type of Stroke that Skip had, and now know it occurred in the Basal Ganglia portion of the brain! The assessment of Recovery is tough to say, as we are still in the critical stages but will learn more when the bleeding and Swelling stop and go away!
We are constantly working with Skip and making sure he remains patient and positive! During the later time of the day, Skip was very awake and attentive to everyone! It was too bad that they didn't do the swallow test as I'm sure he would've done well! Skip opened his mouth very well and was able to stich out his tongue much better than any attempt so far! I'm needing to go but ill finish up on the day shortly! As an FYI....the day went really good around the time that Lisa and Annie were there!!! More to come...

An email from Annie Crist...enjoy!

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Phil 1:3
I just picked up a small book of promises, asking God to give me a scripture to help convey to each of you how much your prayers mean to me. I want to type almost the whole book! Phil 1:3 continues into verse 4 & 5, as it says,"In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now."

It is your partnership, your love, that has sustained me this week as I seek to serve my family and pray for my father. I cannot type with enough sincerity my gratefulness for you and your prayers.

As for an update, my dad is making astounding progress. My younger step-brother (Jason) is a technology-nut and has created a website for my dad. If you are interested, he has typing a daily journal of events. http://skipcrist.blogspot.com/

What I can share is more of the incredible grace and mercy being poured out on my dad and on my family. First let me share that God impressed Psalm 37:4 on my heart Tuesday. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." My heart was/is assured that all of this will be for good, and that my dad will experience the fulfilment of his heart's desires. To me, this is about his children coming into peace with one another, restoration and love that will be the fruit of this trial. And, prayerfully salvation for my dad and others, as time continues.

A dear friend reminded me that my dad has had wealth to buy most all of his flesh desires, but only GOD can bring about the fulfillment of his heart desires. When I shared this with my dad on Tuesday, he nodded his head and squeezed my hand. I believe God has and is continuing to reveal Himself to my dad.

Each day, I lay hands on his head and pray for the hemorage to lessen. I also pray other things for his heart and peace, but he squeezes my hand the tightest when I pray for the hemorage to clear. He also squeezes when I ask him if he knows that God is there with him. Beside my knowledge of all of you and your prayers, THIS is my daily bread, the very thing that causes my heart to understand the ministry of Jesus. When I get that moment to be and pray with my dad, all the insecurities I felt for the day - all the antagonism of the enemy - is forgotten. I believe my dad has a testimony that is being created each day, and I can't wait to hear it!

Also, I am watching miracles each day in the dynamics of my family! Often when there is a "combined" family, there are unresolved issues. My first petition was for all of this to be put aside for the honor and service to my step mother. Instantly, I saw humility and gentleness pour forth from both my two brothers. Hearts of service and encouragment has been streaming from all my sister-in-laws. My young step brother, Jason, rising up to comfort his mom and bring us all together. The timing of who can be where seems to be a perfect orchestration of God. The beauty of watching God bring forth the treasure & uniqueness of each family member as they interact with my dad. My list goes on.

In only four days, I can say that I believe (at the very least) both my dad and I have been transformed. The spiritual battle has felt intense, especially yesterday (Thursday). But, by the day's end, when I was able to watch my dad lift his head to smell a daisy, assurance that our Lord IS the victor over death flooded my heart. The overwhelming joy at my dad's desire to write his name, know the time, and see the pictures of his grandchildren assured me that God has moved over my dad's soul.

Finally, in closing, I want to share that when I told him about all of you praying by the advances of email, he whinsed. At first, I worried that the news caused him pain. But, instead, what I think now is that God is allowing him to feel the love of Christ, the love that you - who don't even know him - are praying for his life, for his ability to get up again, smell the flowers and enjoy the goodness of life. I am assured he feels the indebtedness of love to you.

The Body of Christ is a miracle itself. The power of love moves more than mountains! Again, thank you for taking time to pray. For I can tell you that you ARE changing both of our lives!

With all my heart,
Annie

Day 4

Wow….what a great day!  I think one of the best days for Skip from an emotionally supportive aspect!  He had many signs of improvement…the morning started off with Skip being in his new room which was a little more accommodating for guests.  The flood gates opened…Skip’s brother Roger flew in from Ketchum Idaho and one of Skips closest friends who picked up Roger from the airport, Roxy Rapp arrived.

Everyone was so touched when Roger walked in the door and said hello to Skip.  The facial expression that skip showed was something so precious and timeless!  He squinted his left eye and his left side of his face and it was just an overwhelming feeling of love and emotion.  The expression on Skips face was saying..“oh Roger, I’m in a mess, I’m so sorry for you to see me like this, I’m scared and want to get better…But I’m so very very happy you are here”!  Roger hugged Skip for quite some time and it was priceless!  I’m definitely not an author but I don’t think there’s an author that could put down in words the moment that was captured when the brothers hugged and were face to face!

I could leave the post at that…it was so very touching and I was overwhelmed with emotions…but the day continued to be a strong one filled with people who Skip loves so much.

Right after Roger walked in, Michelle who had flown in from Colorado walked in..and again, Skip was sooo happy to see her!  Michelle and Skip had some very special moments and it was great to watch…

And it didn’t stop after Michelle, Roxy Rapp, one of Skips closest friends was able to spend some quality time with him sharing the moment together.

So as said earlier, the day was strong both emotionally and physically!  We are able to meet the Occupational therapist and Physical therapist.  Around 2pm the Nurse provided some medication to Skip per Dr. Shen’s request that is supposed to help with the Brain Hemorrhage.  It seems that Dr. Shen is a fairly progressive DR. and likes to mix things up and be a bit different than some traditional MD’s.   We like creativity and out of the box thinking, anything that’s going to help get the Main Man on his feet again.

Around 230pm, the PT, came in and was going to do some exercises.  He started by holding skip up while sitting on the bed.  The goal is to have skip sit on the bed and hold his balance.  At first he struggled but after 5-10 minutes he seemed to be doing better.  Then the PT put a belt around Skip and picked him up and had him standing.  Yep..you are reading this correctly!  Skip was unable to stand on his own but the PT had him up and once he was up he had Skip lift up his head!  He was great…he picked up his head with much effort and was looking at the PT.  We were all very pleased but definitely want to make sure we take things slow.  The PT said that this amount of exercise was a lot for him, although it didn’t look like too much…it was very emotional but encouraging.

The work was a bit rough on him but I think it was probably the right amount.  His blood pressure climbed to 173, and his heart rate came down a bit lower than they’d like but it seems it was a good balance. 

So…I am writing this now from the coffee shop in downtown Salinas, Michelle and Annie are with him and enjoying some of the early evening together.  I’m going to see him around 6pm and will tuck him in for the evening.

We are really happy and pleased with the day and hopefully it continues without any backwards slides…  Thank you all for the love and support!  Please feel free to provide your support in the comments section and let me know if you’d like to learn anything more

The family is discussing when an appropriate time is for more visitors and I’ll be sure to let you know what the timing looks like.  The first 3-5 days are critical so we thank you again for your time, support and love! 

As you know, Skip is one of the most wonderful people in this world and he has touched all of us in special ways…so thanks again for keeping him in your prayers!

Love, The Crist Family

 

Day 3

Day 3, Wednesday

Most of the kids were present, including Dawn, Jamie and Annie, Scott and Lisa and Lauren and Chelsea.  We weren’t too sure of what kind of positive improvements may be in store.  Up until Day 3 we had physical and mental signs of improvement and what else should we expect.  So we kept in mind that no slips backwards would be signs of improvement.

So we were pleased to say the least, that Skip opened his right eye just as wide as his left.  He was paying pretty good attention to all of us and answered all of the Nurses questions.  Again, he was showing some of his feisty self, by trying to get the IV’s and other stuff off of him, along with trying to kick his leg over the bed and get out of there!  Who can blame him though…

By days end, the family assessment was that it was another positive day.  Skip had some small signs of physical improvement, a bit more movement with the left side of his body, like his foot and his hand.  His right side of his face seemed to not be droopy and his color was great.  He seemed to be a bit lethargic and tired but we were still happy and encouraged.  We were especially encouraged when, the MD’s recommendation was to move him from the ICU to a “Monitor room” where the ratio is roughly 1 nurse to 4-5 patients.  By the evening time, both Lisa, Annie and Dawn were at the hospital with kids and Skip seemed to be doingwell and was wide eyed for a while around mid evening.  Again, an encouraging evening.

The day closed great!  Both Lauren and Chelsea were updating Skip on the American Idol TV Show and because he and my mom love the show, it was some lighthearted and well needed support and love from the Grandkids!

 

 

Day 2

So after a long evening and going to bed around 130am, my mom and I woke at 5am and continued to talk and got up around 6am.  We had some coffee, tea, OJ and toast.  Jim and Ann were awesome, they were there for anything we needed.  We got to the hospital around 930am and the main man was awake and starting to show some signs of improvement.

Skip was very cognizant of my mom and I being there and was squeezing our hands.  We told him how much we loved him and he shook our hands and again (silently) told us how much he loved us too!  By 945am, Scott, Jamie and Annie were there as well and Skip was delighted to see them.

For those of you who don’t know, Skip has the most ticklesh feet in the whole world.  Around 11am, the attending nurse touched the bottom of his right foot and he twitched it;  which was very encouraging!

Around the same time, my mom and I went back into the room and he pulled my mom close with his left arm and tried hard and was able to mumble, “I love you”, which was again very encouraging and extremely touching.

Skip was well aware who was present and was squeezing all of our hands and kissing both our hands and cheeks.

The nurse was very impressed at how well Skip was doing and amazed at the physical shape he is in.  Skip kept trying to get out of bed and continued to take off his gown.  We calmed him and told him how important it is to be the patient and be patient.

By the end of the day we were all so happy because he was making some strong strides.  He was slightly moving his right leg, a tiny bit of movement with his right arm but most importantly he was responding with nods and squeezes to the questions and commands of the ICU staff.  The CT Scan was showing positive results that the hemorrhage was not expanding and the brain was not swelling.

We all went to lunch and had a nice time, talking, laughing and telling some “Skipism’s”.  I know we all have some good ones but they ranged from his spilling of wine, to breaking glasses to all of his comical little things…

We went back to the hospital where again, he was keeping on track and not sliding backwards.

The ICU informed us the first 3-5 days are critical and we can hope to see steady improvement each day.  Even if a new day doesn’t bring a “new sign” of improvement, as long as things do regress we can consider the day an improvement.

We asked the Nurse about if it’s possible to overstimulate him and he asked what kind of a person my dad is…and I don’t need to further elaborate on this topic but he’s very gregarious, optimistic and loves his family.  I think the day was outstanding but I continued to remain “cautiously optimistic” and was not going to let my guard down.

We could hope for the future days to bring such improvements but this was really the day after and we were all so happy to know how much he was able to accomplish. 

Please feel free to comment…

Thanks again for your thoughts and support!

Day 1

OK, so it was Monday and Skip was going to go show some properties to some clients.  Then he went to hit some golf balls and on his way home he was going to pick up some soup from the Hacienda for he and my mom.  He went to the Hacienda and the staff noticed he was slightly glazed and drove him home.  My mom was at home on the phone with my sister Dawn and noticed that Skip was at home with some people and asked to call her back.  She went outside and Skip was very glazed over and he tripped on the Stairs.  He didn’t recognize my mom and couldn’t speak.  My mom phoned the EMT who is onsite at the Preserve and they were here within minutes.  They immediately started working on him and had also phoned for the “MediVac”.  Within 15 minutes, Skip was on the helicopter en route to the hospital.

 

Skip made it to the hospital where his Blood pressure was at 220.

 

So if you may recall, roughly 5 or 6 years ago he had a “TIA” which is considered a Minor Stroke.  So the Reality Check we had really not wanted to have was happening.

 

They immediately provided Skip some drugs that brought his BP down to a calmer and better range.

 

My mom arrived at the hospital roughly 45 minutes after he arrived, thanks to Jim and Ann Willis for driving from Pebble Beach to The Preserve and out to the Hospital.

 

The status with Skip was that he had had a Massive Stroke, which was a 2 inch clot or Hemorrhage.  His right side of his body was paralyzed and he wasn’t speaking.  The hospital staff was tasked to ensure his hemorrhage didn’t worsen and that he didn’t have any additional swelling of the brain.  The task was achieved and by Monday night he was considered “Stable”!

 

I arrived at the Hospital at 11:45 on Monday night and by the time I arrived he recognized who I was and squeezed my hand.  I told him how much I loved him and he shook my hand with his left hand and acknowledged what I was saying and silently told me how much he loved me too!  I stayed with him for about 30 minutes then gave him some more love and encouragement, then said goodnight.

 

I went to Pebble Beach and comforted my Mom at the home of Jim and Ann.  We had some time to talk and took comfort of being there together and further bond.  We finally dozed off at around 1:30 knowing we were in for another very long day….

 

I’d like to say a special thanks to the Hacienda crew and EMT, they were simply outstanding and couldn’t have done a better job in getting Skip taken care of and getting him to the ER.  If Skip had been living anywhere else, he wouldn’t have gotten to the hospital so quickly.  The Hacienda Crew was key in helping save Skip’s life!  We thank you so very much!

 

Also, I’d like to say thank you so much to Jim and Ann Willis for taking care of my mom!

 

Lastly, I’d like to thank all of you for reaching out to each other and keeping each other abreast of the situation.  Skip loves you all so much and we appreciate your prayers, support and love!