Update Tuesday 11/14 7:30pm

Friends of Katie,

We continue to be grateful and humbled by the amount of support and prayer that have surround Katie. We also again are so thankful for the skilled staff that have cared for her during this 3.5 day journey.    

Katie had a rough night last night as she was having difficulty urinating. The staff ended up having to put a catheter back in. She had been receiving protein and other nutrients through a feeding tube throughout the day, and there was concern of a possible bowel obstruction causing her to experience a significantly distended belly. They took her downstairs for a CAT scan and it confirmed the obstruction.   They ended up pulling the feeding tube out and putting in a line that sucked all of the “food” back out that she’d been fed previously. In her discomfort she was actively moving all extremities (although less pronounced on the left side). She was very uncomfortable and deeply agitated, but thankfully all of that activity finally wound down around 3:30 am.  

The medical team came through for morning rounds at 6:15 am and developed a new strategy for the day. This included physically moving her from side to side in her bed, to help facilitate her bowels to wake up. Around 8:30am she began to stir after a short night and was definitely more verbal and expressive. She was responding to questions in short but full sentences for the first time. She said ‘thank you’ for little acts of touch and pillow movement. It was great to see her smile and even laugh at the state of things in her life. We talked to her about what had happened, and how long she has been in the hospital.

Over the past day we’ve gotten new insight as to who the owner is of the car Katie made contact, a gentleman by the name of Fred. He was also the person who called 911, and was able to offer her prayer & a blanket at the scene before the first responders arrived. It is so very encouraging to know that people like Fred were with Katie from the very beginning of this journey.

We gave her a long run down of all the people who have called, texted and stopped by (a very long list that Callie has been keeping track of) and she very clearly stated…. “I feel so loved,” and “I can’t wait to say thank you to everyone.” 

At around 9:30 the nursing team decided it was time for Katie to “dangle.”  What this means is that they sit her up and dangle her legs over the side of the bed.  Katie was clearly ready to “dangle” and take a break from being horizontal! During this process, whenever someone would come into the room Katie asked if they were ready to DANGLE! Our sense is that there will be a dance move called the dangle in the near term!  

They got her up on the side of the bed and began to give her an early sense of what it will mean for her to be upright and getting her equilibrium back.  After a few minutes, she told the doctor that she “needed to take a nap,” and laid back down to rest.  The balance of the morning found Katie drifting back to a sense of agitation, discomfort and some episodic sleep.  

We have learned that this is a very typical pattern…. Some moments of real clarity and the “fog lifting” and then seemingly moving back to the fog. 

The plan was to allow her to rest this afternoon, allowing for her brain to rest!

We were deeply encouraged as we had about 45 minutes today with the Kate that we all love.  Joyful, thankful, funny and then suddenly tired and needing to get horizontal. 

Again, we invite your deep and abiding prayers for Katie.  She needs them, wants them, and is deeply thankful for them. We are convinced that your prayers and presence are a profound and mysterious part of God’s healing process for Katie. 

Thank you again for all your support.