An outline of the past two days

For the record, I want to clear up one issue. There has been a little bit of a stir about if mom can eat or drink solids and if all the tests she has been taking, the water is going into her lungs. That is false. About two weeks ago mom took a swallow evaluation and didn't pass, but all the tests she has been taking have been a success, and no blue die ink water has gotten into her lungs. So basically she can drink liquids, but her throat still needs to develop to what it used to be. Mom was off the ventilator for 7 hours today. Bobby and I have been learning how to suction out moms lungs properly. I tried my first time today with mom. It went well but I still have to have supervision for two more times. She was in the wheelchair yesterday for the first time. She is doing really good, she just is tired, and honestly I do not blame her. Mom will start rehabilation classes tomorrow and we are all extreamly excited. Sorry it took a couple of days but we have had an excited and draining time. Thank you all for the prayers! God bless and love you all!!

Sleeping beauty

Bobby, my great aunt Ruth, and I went to see mom today for a while. She was so relaxed that she was asleep for most of the time. Even tonight when Bobby and I showed up in Craig, we ended up leaving early because she was sleeping. It's almost as if this is the first time in two and a half weeks, she has been able to rest. We don't really want to wake her because she looks so peaceful. There is a snag in the Bood donating process. We might still use my blood or if we have to use some from the blood bank. For the first time, today, she was placed into a wheel chair. I don't know how that all went, but I know she is doing good and she is relaxed.

Craig

When I said that we were not for sure if mom was going to Craig hospital on Monday or not; I was right. Today mom was taken to Craig. The day was very long but informative. She loves it at Craig, it's more comfy, and it's not like she is a specimen to the public eye. Here is her address at Craig. My moms blood count is low and the doctor wanted to get blood from the blood bank. Honestly there are way too many desises out there and we desided not to do that. We are going to get her blood, from yours truely, me. I am going to overcome one of my biggest fears needles and blood, all in one day. I don't know when that day is going to be but I know soon. Hey it's the least I can do. The woman gave birth to me, and we both have the same blood type. Mom is doing pretty good, she has some compilcations, but she has a great attitude abouth the whole thing.

Rhonda Bates room 308
3425 south Clarkson street
Englewood, CO 80113

A little delay

My mom is able to write and kinda talk. She was going to go to the Craig rehabilation center, but her docter there is off till monday. Monday is suppost to be the lucky day, I just hope it goes through. Everything is going good. We all have been crazy busy with life in general.

The day Bobby and I return

I never thought that after a nice weekend would catapult a hard day. My mom is still doing good and she is still communicating with us. We all try to be so strong then all the sudden everything hits at once. I just hate seeing my mom in that hospital bed, helpless looking. I have a compulsion to want to see my mom better right now, instead of a few months from now. Today was created to be a hard day and tomorrow will be better.

The crazy things that happen.

Bobby, Zk, Jamie, Anthony, the rest of Jamie's family, and I were hanging out by the fire pit. I saw Jamie rushing over to all of us with the phone in her hand. My first thought was, "oh great what happened? Is mom worse then she was before we left?" A smile lit up Jamies face as she put the phone on speaker phone and placed it on the stone of the fire pit. (the fire was put out so don't think she put it on the fire) The nurse started speaking and all of us got a joy inside our hearts. The darkness was whithering away and a little light of hope shined down on us. The news the nurse gave us was awesome and I will explain what the nurse told us. My mom moved her legs up, move her left hand, and the rest of her limbs. She is not an E on the Asia spinal cord injury level, but I know in time she will be. An E level is the level that most of us are in; it just means we have no spinal injuries and one can move all of their body parts. Through this experience so far, I have realized how many things we take for granted. We always worry about the silly things, when someone out there is paralized and their life has completely changed. Just think about it how hard would it be to realize one day you could be a vegtable, or never walk again, or not even be able to use your arms, fingers, or wrists again? The miricle has just began and I have aways known that my mom was going to get through this. I felt it in my gut and I know my mom. She is a warrior and she will get through this.

06-17-09

Mom had a trek put on her today to help her with her breathing. She also is on a pug or peg or however its pronounced, Which is a device that feeds her, into her stomach. My mom seemed happy the 10 minutes Bobby and I were in there for. We were shortly rushed out by 5 or 6 doctors. We said our goodbyes and we are both in Fruita now. We are both taking a couple of days off and getting some much needed rest. I will try to keep you all updated as best as I can.

06-17-09

Mom is still on the ventilator. The doctors are thinking about putting a trek into her neck, which goes into her lungs, to help her breath. She is still in good spirits but she is having a problem with pain in her throat. She told me, through a little expression in her eyes and communicating as we as she could in her movements, that she does not think she is going to make it through the pain of the ventilator. She hates that thing, and I do not blame her. Bobby, Kibbie, and I gave her encouraging words and told her to keep holding on. Mom also got another blessing tonight. I am getting impatient and want all this to go by faster but all I along with the rest of the family have to be passionate. The bigger the struggle the greater the victory.

Here is a message to everyone.

Thank you all so much for your support, love, and prayers! I know you all feel helpless some of you being so far away, but you all are a huge help. I truly believe we can all create a miracle with prayers and belief. If there is anything that comes up that my family and I need I will let you all know. The greatest thing anyone can do is pray; I know it is working. My mom has been given two preisthood blessings so far and she gets a little better after each one. I have a good feeling about my mom and I believe a miracle is in the making. Thank you all again!

Mercedes Bates

June-16-09

Today mom is back on the ventilator. The reason for this is because she has some liquid in her lungs. The doctors also have to turn her on her side and stick a tube into her lungs and suck the liquid out of her lungs. Last night she told me and Bobby that she was having a problem breathing and we told her it was probably the high altitude but it was because of the stuff in her lungs. Doctor Shu ran another test on her condition and she was a 100 times better then the first time he tested her. We are all stoked about the progress she has done so far. Time will heal her and she gets a little better everyday. This is going to be a slow process but its like the race of the turtle and the rabit alitimately she will win in the end.

06-15-09

Rhonda is doing a little better today. She is moving her legs, arms, wrists, and fingers. Her spirts are still high but she is still a little tired. Her knomonia is clearing up. She did fail the ditatation test, which means she cannot eat solid foods yet. She is being fed by a tub that is from her nose to her belly. She still has some stuff in her lungs and she is getting a lot of it out by coughing and having someone push on her belly as she coughs. She has a big smile on her face and has the same old motherly care she always had.

That gloomy day in June

Life is a mysterious merry go round, full of twists and turns, detours and confusion. We all deal with pain, sorrow, heartache, loss, stress, and life changing circumstances. We must all remember the happy things in life like flowers a bloom on a spring day, smiles that beam out like the sun with joy, the memories that are more precious than gold, and true, heartbreaking, love. It is easy to hate someone but it’s far harder to love someone; for when something happens to the ones we love we lose a part of ourselves.
It was a sunny day in June and my mom and I remembered the flowers in bloom. The white flowers so perfectly displayed themselves like snow balls on tree branches. The pink flowers like deep cotton candy, the purple deep like the accents on the Rockies, and the yellows joyful and bright. My mom, Dan, and I got into the car anxious for the adventure that lies ahead. We were heading to Louisville Kentucky, for a Team Mona Vie convention. On the way there my mom lost her wallet on the freeway and we had to go back 60 miles to get it. An honest couple calls all the people my mom knew in the Birch society. One got a hold of my mom and we were all so thankful that honest people still live in the world. When we met them we thanked them several times with huge smiles of relief.
When we got to Louisville my mom and I picked up Bobby from the airport. We all were so happy to be around each other and ready to start achieving our dreams through Mona Vie and Team. The whole weekend was full of inspiration and our hearts and souls exuberated with hope and joy. Chris Brady made us all laugh with the lizard lady, the grumpy old man, and the cautious husband. Some of the speakers talked about how bad of shape our county was in and what was about to come. My mom’s heart was full and she felt sorrow for our countries condition, but she was ready to fight.
Bobby decided to help me and my mom drive back to Colorado. We said our goodbyes to Mike, Matt, Greg, and Dan, and started on our journey back to Colorado. The days where long and we were getting sleepy and anxious after a while, but we were determined to meet our goal of two days to get to Colorado. I was driving outside of Kansas City then told my mom I was too tired to drive any longer so she took the wheel.
I had fallen in a deep sleep for a couple of minutes, before I knew it I woke up to screaming and yelling. The car jolted from the left then to the right, and then all went black for a couple of moments. I felt the bashing of the pressure on the car and when the violent moving came to a cease I opened my eyes again. What I saw was my mom bleeding tremendously from her head and I felt no pain at this point. I was on a mission and Bobby told me to call for help. I pushed the heavy door open and rushed around seeing if everyone was ok. I wanted to panic but I couldn’t my heart wouldn’t let me. My mom kept asking me if I was ok and if Bobby was ok. I admire how much she cares about others before herself. A man parked on the side of the road came rushing down the hill to see if we were ok. I said in shock “No my mom is bleeding and my brother is complaining about his back hurting!” The ambulance is on its way.” The man said to me concerned. Another person came to ask me if we had a sheltie and I said yes. Winnie the dog was running scared down the highway a mile down the road.
The minutes seemed like hours as I waited for help to come. I comforted my mom with words and kisses and asked Bobby if he was doing ok. The fire department came first and rushed over to the scene. My brother Bobby asked that they take care of mom before him and told mom to not move. My mom complained about not being able to move her legs. The firemen worked frantically to get mom out of the car and got her out with the Jaws of Life. As that was going on I was being comforted by people who lived in Goodland Kansas and thanked one man for retrieving Winnie. I honestly wanted to stay away from the scene for a while till mom and Bobby were out of the car. My heart raced fast in my chest I could barely seem to even breathe but I told myself to be strong.
The ambulance came and the ambulance team placed mom on a stretcher and placed her inside of the ambulance. They asked me who I was and if I was family. I said “Yes.” They asked me to get inside of the ambulance and I did as I was told. Bobby was still in the car. I watched my mom with my heart hanging on a tread and my stomach felt like it was in my throat. People all around me started asking questions about where we lived how old she was and so on. My mom started answering questions along with me and was very coherent with me and the others. The whole day was a blur a crazy complicated whirlwind. I had people buzzing around me all over the place asking if I was ok. I asked plenty of questions every five minutes I would ask the nurses, “What’s wrong with my mom, what’s wrong with Bobby?”
I walked down the halls impatiently waiting for the nurses to get done with my mom so we could be shipped to Denver. I saw my shadow in the window of a huge green metal door. “God is trying to make me strong. I am thankful that I can still love and hold and care for my mom and brother. They are here and so am I, I should feel blessed but I am so worried and confused. I don’t think I can get through this.” I thought to myself. My mom and I were driven to the jet and before I knew it I was high in the sky watching the clouds go by. My mom was knocked out from the drugs and I had only a fourth of the feeling my mom did when I had a spinal disease as a baby. I felt helpless, I had no control, I wanted to cry, I wanted to turn back time, but I knew this was the result. I had to deal with it and watch over my mom. I numbed myself hoping for the best and crawling forward with my emotional wounds.


We landed in Denver and were escorted to the ambulance. My mind was racing a million miles an hour silence surrounded me as I sat in the front seat. The only break in the silence was the frantic movements in the back of the ambulance. I started a conversation with the ambulance driver and found out that he used to be a musician and traveled all over the world. He was not paid very much but he told me the memories were priceless. We stopped at the hospital and after a blurring day the world finally stopped spinning around. I sat in a room as mom situation was being analized. From the corner of my eye I saw a familiar figure. It was Ruth and she held me tenderly with her hands and arms. Tears swelled in her eyes.

Bobby was still in Kansas and ZK and Jamie were on there way. Kibbie and Bryson arrived at the hospital later on in the afternoon. The whole experience was a challenge, I felt as if I wanted to give up so many times, but we must all hold on tight and keep moving forward. My mom's injuries were far more worse then I expected and I found out the seriousness of it later on in the week, but she is here and that is all that matters.My mom may never walk again, but we will all love her no matter what. Right now is too early to tell what will happen. We must all have trust in the Lord and keep pulling forward. Angels were umungst us in that early morning of darkness. It is moments like these that prove that there is a God and he is always there. He knows what he is doing and we must all have trust in him.