Kate Update - Monday and Tuesday November 20 & 21

Friends of Katie,   

Monday, day 10.0 of Katie’s ordeal.  Kim spent the night with her and said she rested well until 5 or 6 am.    

Katie looked great this morning after a good nights rest.   Bernadette is her nurse today, to whom Katie seems to respond well.  Katie got up and was able to sit in a chair for approximately 1 hour and then she stood up and with Kevin and did what looked like an awkward slow dance.  I think Dancing with the Stars is around the corner. 

Each of the labs that have come back is negative for infection. This is great news as Katie rolls forward to getting out of the ICU.   The took some pictures of her abdomen to ensure that they are hearing and feeling on the outside is actually happening on the inside.   At this point, they are looking to have her out of the ICU by the end of the day, which may or may not happen. 

Katie is so ready to get out of the bed and more importantly the hospital.   You can tell that her brain is just saying over and over to get up and get out.   We asked Katie what she needed and her reply was “to get out, I need to get out”.   The fighter is beginning to show up in her words and actions…

As we mentioned in the last blog we are inviting you to send pictures of you and your kiddo’s wearing your favorite helmet.  You can text the photos to Callie at 253 304 6741… She will come up with something creative to make up a poster(s) of each of Kates’ “Helmet Heads” as a way to give Kate encouragement as her journey continues.

As we approach Thanksgiving, we find ourselves acutely aware of many things to be thankful for…  Harborview Institution, doctors, nurses, skilled, trained, but more importantly the culture of caring at Harborview.... Is it all perfect??? of course not, but ……. what we have witnessed these past 10 days in the ICU is bright smiles, warm embraces, strong words of encouragement and environments where patient families can come together and share the highs and lows of the specific event that brought each family to this fascinating place. 

Our entire family continues to marvel at how each of you in Katie’s blessed community has responded by filling in the gaps created by Katie’s accident.  You have done so compassionately, graciously and with endurance.  Thank you!

We continue to be humbled, grateful, and encouraged along the way by each of your notes, texts and we know that Katie deeply appreciates and senses you walking with her.  Our good Lord tells us that we are not alone through difficult times.  Thank you for being a living demonstration of that for Katie!  

Tuesday, day 11.0 started very early with the neurosurgeon coming in at 2:30 to put a couple extra stitches in Katie’s scalp, as she was “leaking a little oil”.   Their rationale was that if fluid could make its way out, an infection could make its way in…  So the leak got fixed! 

By 8:30 the nurses had Katie out of bed and sitting in a chair waiting for her first cruise around the room with a walker… and a bit of help from her nursing friends.   Her eyes were clear, bright and she was very excited to be up and about.   After that 13.5 ft walk, she was exhausted!   The nurse said it was like running a marathon.  

Storming continues to be an issue for Kate, albeit a normal course for a patient with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).   They have now been able to give her an upgraded medicine for storming through her feeding tube. 

Kate also got up a second time in the afternoon for another stroll around the bed and once again exhausted from the now 15.3 feet of her journey.  

The medical care team continues to patiently wait for the series of events which promotes the movement of the mixture of gas, solids, and liquid that is “inside to move to the outside” if you know what we mean.  Once again, we ask each one of you to call on the powers above to allow this to happen!! 😊

While Katie is still in the ICU at the writing of this update, she has been officially transferred out and will be moving to the 3^rd floor West to what is called acute care.  We anticipate the move actually happening Tuesday night at some point. 

As we continue the run-up to Thanksgiving, we as a family are simply thankful for Katie!  Her sense of humor, Her ability to laugh at herself and be herself,  Her unique way of doing almost everything,  Her love for resting and being horizontal (this may be the first time she wishes she wasn’t horizontal) but most importantly, her depth of soul and abiding commitment to people.   Today we had the chance to show here pictures of the “Helmet Heads” shots that have started to come in and with each and everyone she flashed a big smile! 

Thank you for promoting smiles in Kates’ soul.