| Watch Stephen's Prayer Service 3/15/09 | www.PlayingforStephen.com |
If you would like one of these signs for your yard-Please email HERE. or call us at 592-1200. They are $10.00 each. Thank you to Vinyl Art by Shannon for doing these. |
Building for Stephen-THANKS!!! to all who contributed View photos and contributers |
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Cards can be sent to: Stephen Strickland 804 Country Club Dr Salemburg, NC 28385
You can also send messages to his family through email by clicking here. |
June 6, 2010 Wednesday-June 2 Stephen had out patient surgery at Duke. Caroline said that it went well. He isn't allowed to talk for a couple of days. As he practices the therapy he is doing now he will have a much louder voice! He stopped by the office the other day, we told him about an upcoming agent open house. He DID NOT forget it! Caroline called the office that morning to find out what time we were going that Stephen didn't want to miss it! He did make it. Enjoyed a couple of cookies and visiting! Please continue to keep them in your prayers!
May 19, 2010 Stephen, Caroline and Drew stopped by the office for a quick visit today. Stephen was suppose to have surgery at Duke today, but it has been rescheduled for June 2. They moved the surgery because he has bronchitis. Caroline said he had cabin fever. He was pretty happy to be out. He wanted an update on what was going on. I can't remember if I have ever posted this, but Stephen's favorite song is "I'm Alive" by Kenny Chasney & Dave Matthews. Next time you hear it think of Stephen. If you haven't heard it-here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLgLfD3wElQ THANK YOU for continuing to follow Stephen's progress. Please continue to pray for him and for his family.
May 2, 2010 Things continue to improve for Stephen. His feeding tube was removed Monday, April 26. The therapy has really paid off! He can eat most anything now. He will have another surgery in May to help with his speech. It's more complicated than I can explain-but the simple version is that they will take fat from his stomach and place around his vocal chords to help thicken that area. (I'm sure the doctors would cringe at this description!) He has made a lot of progress with his speech therapy since going to Duke. It is imperative for him to continue to PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Last week he was talking and Caroline told him to relax and repeat it and it was amazing to hear his voice! We were all so pleased to get a call last week at the office and it was STEPHEN! He was at his parents home and he called the office! His mother walked in and thought he had answered her phone but was surprised to learn that he had called on his own-AND REMEMBERED THE PHONE NUMBER! He said "come see me, I'm at mom & dad's". It was amazing! When Caroline got home we shared the story and she couldn't believe it! We've been able to see him approx once a week for the last several weeks. His dad also shared a story about Stephen's independence...a family friend, Danny Jones, gave Stephen an electric wheel chair. Mr. Jefferson was surprised to hear the door bell, when he opened the door-there was Stephen. He was able to go over to their home alone. Jefferson said it was a very proud moment for both of them! It's amazing to see the progress he is making, small steps have brought him a LONG WAY. Please continue to pray for his full recovery and for his wife, children, brothers and parents! Thanks for your continued support.
March 5 marked 1 year that Stephen suffered from his stroke. How quickly time passes and how quickly things can change for you and those around you. The world as the Stricklands and those close to them knew would never be the same. Within the last year Stephen has defied death and met goals that were believed could never be accomplished. I remember the call from Caroline that Thurs morning that Stephen didn't feel good and was at the hospital. In the background he is telling her things he wants me to handle until he got in. Ann got a call first thing that morning from Stephen's friend Dickie, an EMT member that he had taken Stephen by ambulance to the hospital and that Stephen gave him her cell #, to be sure to let her know why he wasn't going to be on time! The days to follow were scary and terrible, but slowly things improved, he came home, he improved more and is continuing to improve. (still has rehab in Dunn a couple of times a week) 1 year later we continue to get calls from folks who just want to know how he is doing and this page is one of the most visited on our site. We have buyers and sellers who stop in and tell us how much they enjoyed working with Stephen. We have seen him twice in the last week and he seems happy. He loves the updates on the real estate market and how "his" people are doing. Stephen hasn't forgotten any of you. A couple of weeks ago he asked about a little house in Salemburg, he wanted to know why the man was moving...it dawned on me, that was Stephen's first listing/sell since he had moved back to Sampson County. Thank you for your continued support for Stephen. Please continue to pray for a full recovery and for his family. Please take a minute to send him a card at 804 Country Club Drive, Salemburg, NC 28385.
Feb. 14, 2010 Stephen and Caroline stopped by Tuesday for about an hour. He is continuing his therapy sessions approx 3 times a week. He has therapy at Betsy Johnson in Dunn. He recently had a procedure at Duke that will hopefully help him with his speech. He has seen some improvement since this procedure. Caroline says she has noticed that he can say more words in a sentence than before. The doctors removed scar tissue from where he had his tracheotomy. While we enjoyed lunch together, we told Stephen about some of the recent listings, closings, etc. We joked about a couple of our "war stories". He laughed and reminded us of some of his old stories too! He'd ask us to tell Kelly and Rod some of the good ones! Stephen hasn't forgotten anything! We hope that you will continue to remember Stephen and his family in your prayers!
Merry Christmas! Friday, December 18- in lieu of our typical Christmas gathering we had a small party at the office with the Jolliest Man we know~Stephen! It was such a wonderful day. We invited some of the folks that worked with Stephen to drop by and visit. His favorite paralegal, the termite man, local agents and some office friends dropped by to celebrate. Stephen made some jokes about old times and enjoyed the fellowship. It was a good day for all of us! Stephen continues to have therapy a couple of days a week. Folks ask us this often-but Stephen does remember everyone and the fun times he had with them. It is hard for him to articulate himself but he is as sharp as ever. He was very quick to make a couple of jokes and pick with us Friday while we were visiting. He told me that his son Pate was on the Honor Roll/Principal's List. He is very proud! Friday he went to Grace Preschool to watch his youngest son Drew in his program. He is a proud dad. Caroline is doing a great job to keep everything going. She is a division manager with Lia Sophia jewelry and is now back to having some parties. Please continue to keep this entire family in your prayers as we embark on 2010 and the progress that we know Stephen will make. *If you know Stephen, you know how social he is. We want to help keep him updated-if you have a comment or update you'd like us to share with him please click on the link to the left and we will share those!
9-28-2009 Stephen's brother shared this wonderful picture with us! What a blessing. The boys have made a trip to the beach with the family, but Caroline and Stephen went for the first time about 2 weeks ago. They had a great time. We had a very pleasant surprise last Monday. Stephen and Caroline stopped by the office for a visit. Stephen LOVES Ann's dog Gracie, so we put her in his lap and he petted her like he always did. We couldn't decide who looked the happiest-Stephen or Gracie! We joked and told some good stories...he laughed and smiled. He spoke a few words. His therapy is going great. He has made a lot of progress, but still has a long way to go, so PLEASE continue to pray for him and his entire family! August 25 We’re finally starting to find our “new normal” and get some sort of routine. Pate starts first grade tomorrow and Drew will start preschool next week, so that will help with our routine.
Stephen continues to improve and he is getting stronger each week. He is much stronger when using his walker and although he still requires help while using it, he doesn’t have to have as much help as he did just one month ago. He can now stand completely on his own….I mean go from the sitting to the standing position without help…..I put his wheelchair in front of the kitchen sink and he holds on to the edge of the sink for support….then he stands on his own. Of course he’s very shaky and I’m right there just in case, but it is truly amazing to watch.
His upper body is getting so much stronger and he has so much more control than when he came home in June. He can now sit, without support for 5-10 minutes. His balance, control, strength, endurance, and coordination are all continuing to improve.
He is interacting with the boys more and they with him, which is good for all of them. He still cannot talk, but he is mouthing words more and more and with a very strong whisper. He has actually just started a new therapy….in place of his traditional speech therapy…..he is doing vital stem therapy. It’s where the therapist puts electrodes on Stephen’s throat/neck to get those muscles working again. We’re very hopeful that this will help with his swallowing and talking. I take him to Dunn 2-3 times a week, through the middle of October. This is a huge obstacle for Stephen and I feel that if he could eat and talk, it would make a huge difference in his overall recovery. We need lots of prayers for thisJ
I know many of you have been waiting to come and visit Stephen and we do appreciate the time to get adjusted. Having company would be good for Stephen….you just have to bring a funny story or a good joke to make him laughJ I just ask that you please call first because our therapy schedule is different every day and it’s hard for me to say which day is good or not. I’ll let you know if it’s a good time or not and if it’s not, then we’ll find a good time.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Caroline
YARD SALE Saturday, August 8 Selling for Stephen! - We have been Praying for Stephen, Playing for Stephen, Building for Stephen and now Selling for Stephen!!!! Yard sale at Lakewood Country Club Community on August 8 from 7:30am to 12:30pm - They are also doing a bake sale - if you are interested in selling items or donating anything click here and we will forward your info to his friends in Lakewood who are coordinating!!! All proceeds will go to Stephen!!!! Thanks everybody!!!!
Update from Caroline-Monday, August 3 Good news from Charlotte…..I took Stephen back to Charlotte last week for his follow-up doctors’ appointments and we got some good reports.
We saw the neurosurgeon and his PA Wednesday….they were there with us the entire time at the hospital. We would anxiously await their arrival every morning at 7am to get their reports and hugs. We got very close to them and I think they got very attached to Stephen. There was some excitement in the air when we saw them Wednesday…like seeing old friends you haven’t seen in a while. They both hugged me and asked about the boys. They were amazed with Stephen. The PA even said, “I just want to sit here and stare at him because he looks so good.” They said they definitely had their doubts along the way and that there were times they didn’t think Stephen would make it. They were both amazed at how far he has come in such a short time and they are very positive and hopeful for his continued recovery. When I told them Stephen can walk with his walker and someone’s help, they were very surprised and said they did not expect him to be walking yet. The neurosurgeon has been in his field for 13 years and the PA for 6 years and they both said they have never seen a recovery like this. Friday’s appointment was with his Rehab doctor and she was also very impressed with Stephen’s progress. She was also surprised at what Stephen can already so with the walker. We will be returning to Charlotte again in October for more doctor visits. Who knows what Stephen will be doing by then. It’s hard to believe that August 5th marks 5 months since Stephen had his stroke. It was 3 ½ months ago that Stephen started moving his legs and then his arms…..and we were jumping with joy at those ever so slight movements because they were something. My point in saying that is to remind everyone, myself included, that Stephen has come a very long way in a short period of time. We all know he still has a very long way to go, but considering the distance he’s already come, gives us so much hope for the distance he still has to travel. As always, thank you for the continued thoughts and prayers. Please keep them coming. Much love, Caroline
Update from Caroline- Friday, July 24 “Hello Everyone! Things are moving along and Stephen is progressing very well. He is getting stronger everyday and continues to work very hard in therapy. He has been sick a couple of times since being home, so that has held him back a little, but he bounces right back and keeps moving forward. One of Stephen’s obstacles throughout all of this is that he cannot support himself through his trunk/torso, which means he cannot sit up on his own. Since the beginning of therapy, he has come a long way and can now sit up and support himself for several minutes without help. We have been so blessed with some amazing home health therapists and they are doing great things with and for Stephen. Another obstacle is walking. Because Stephen cannot sit up and support himself, he also cannot walk on his own. His legs are very strong, but the coordination and endurance are great challenges for him. Through therapy, he is retraining his muscles and his brain so that he can walk again. For those of you who have seen Stephen, you know that he has a “blank” look on his face much of the time. Several people have asked me, “Does he know people? Does he know what’s going on?” To answer those questions, “Yes.” Stephen remembers people…..he always amazed me how he would never forget a name….well that’s still the case. If he knew you before he got sick, then he knows you now. He is very aware of what’s going on around him. He is very sensitive to noise and will often let the boys know they need to quiet down. During the last few weeks, he has become more alert…staying awake more during the day and even smiling and laughing from time to time. It appears as though Stephen is slowly waking up and coming back….it is my hope that in time, the Stephen that we all know and love will be back….making us laugh and laughing with us. I’m sure most of you are aware of the “Building for Stephen” project that has taken place at our house. The outpouring of love and support has amazed me from the beginning of all of this. The blessings just keep coming for our family…..We had to add on to our house in order to have a bathroom that would accommodate Stephen’s needs. The addition is complete and it is beautiful!! The truly amazing part of this project is that almost all of the materials and labor were donated….much of it from people who don’t even know Stephen!! Once I get the complete list of those who donated supplies and labor, I will post it here for you all to read. I will be taking Stephen back to Charlotte next week for his follow-up appointments with his doctors there. I’m very anxious to see their reactions of how Stephen is doing and how they think things will play out from this point on. I will update you again next weekend and fill you in on our trip. As we get settled into our daily routine and Stephen gets stronger, I am making plans to get back to work. Many of you know that I am self employed, which has been one of the many blessings through all of this because it has allowed be to be with Stephen from Day 1. I am a Division Manager with lia sophia jewelry and I do in home jewelry shows. At the time that Stephen got sick, my calendar was full through April, and several of the advisors and managers in my group did my parties for me and kept my business going for several months. Now it’s time for me to step back in and get things going again. I’m looking for people who would like to have a jewelry show at your house or have a catalog show. We have a new catalog coming out in August….right around the corner….and we always have incredible specials. If you are interested in this, please contact me at carolinestrickland@hotmail.com. As always, thank you for your support and please continue to keep Stephen in your prayers.”
Great News! Stephen is home! The family is adjusting. We have Prayed for Stephen Played for Stephen and now Building for Stephen! Thanks to Howell Edwards, Quest Development for coordinating the addition to their home. Howell has been amazed at the generosity of vendors donating items toward the efforts! Attached is our Building for Stephen page with a list of the donors as well as items that are still needed. Stephen is loved! THANK YOU to everyone who has donated, prayed and been supportive! Please continue to pray for him and Caroline. See photos of the progress added July 2
Tuesday, June 9 Exciting news…..we’re going home!!!!!!!!!!!! Thursday, June 11th is the big day and we are very excited!! Stephen is ready to be in his environment…he’s had enough of hospital life. It’s hard to believe we’ve made it to this point, especially considering all of the ups and downs we had in the very beginning. There are lots of mixed emotions….I am so grateful for all of your thoughts and prayers during this journey, I’m so thankful to be at this point in the journey, I’m very hopeful of what the next few months in this journey have in store, and I’m absolutely terrified….I want him to be at home, but it is very scary. I remember when Pate was born, and we were on the way home from the hospital. Stephen was driving and I was sitting in the backseat right beside the car seat. Our conversation was about our sudden realization of this huge responsibility we had just taken on…we were completely responsible for this little life and he was completely dependent on us. That’s kind of what I’m feeling with Stephen….I’m completely responsible for him and at this point, he is completely dependent on me. The big difference now is that it’s not my newborn son, but my amazing husband….life is so fragile. Stephen is getting stronger and can do things with the help of someone…. today in therapy, he sat on the edge of the bed by himself for 10 seconds and he stood with a platform walker for almost a minute….these are great accomplishments for him. He can get his clothes on with a little help. I know as he builds up his endurance and gets stronger, his gains will be so much more. I know many of you will want to visit Stephen and I know he will want to see everyone… in time. Please remember that we have a new life to adjust to. Pate and Drew and so excited about their Daddy going home, but they have no idea how different things will be. We will need time to find a routine that works for us and try to find some sense of normalcy again. I will continue to update you for a while…maybe once a week. I know many of you have been following these updates almost religiously and I really appreciate that. Please pray that we have a safe trip home Thursday and that the transition is as smooth as possible. Love, Caroline
Wednesday, June 10 This post was made by Caroline last night – we are excited for this big step but need to keep them in our prayers! They continue to need strength and guidance during this tough transition - Thanks for all you have done! Ann
From Caroline: Sorry about the delay in posting. I went home over the weekend and got back to Charlotte last night. I was just too tired to type. Exciting news…..we’re going home!!!!!!!!!!!! Thursday, June 11th is the big day and we are very excited!! Stephen is ready to be in his environment…he’s had enough of hospital life. It’s hard to believe we’ve made it to this point, especially considering all of the ups and downs we had in the very beginning. There are lots of mixed emotions….I am so grateful for all of your thoughts and prayers during this journey, I’m so thankful to be at this point in the journey, I’m very hopeful of what the next few months in this journey have in store, and I’m absolutely terrified….I want him to be at home, but it is very scary. I remember when Pate was born, and we were on the way home from the hospital. Stephen was driving and I was sitting in the backseat right beside the car seat. Our conversation was about our sudden realization of this huge responsibility we had just taken on…we were completely responsible for this little life and he was completely dependent on us. That’s kind of what I’m feeling with Stephen….I’m completely responsible for him and at this point, he is completely dependent on me. The big difference now is that it’s not my newborn son, but my amazing husband….life is so fragile. Stephen is getting stronger and can do things with the help of someone…. today in therapy, he sat on the edge of the bed by himself for 10 seconds and he stood with a platform walker for almost a minute….these are great accomplishments for him. He can get his clothes on with a little help. I know as he builds up his endurance and gets stronger, his gains will be so much more. I know many of you will want to visit Stephen and I know he will want to see everyone… in time. Please remember that we have a new life to adjust to. Pate and Drew and so excited about their Daddy going home, but they have no idea how different things will be. We will need time to find a routine that works for us and try to find some sense of normalcy again. I will continue to update you for a while…maybe once a week. I know many of you have been following these updates almost religiously and I really appreciate that. Please pray that we have a safe trip home Thursday and that the transition is as smooth as possible. Love, Caroline Wednesday, June 3 Things are about the same here in Charlotte. Stephen has his good days and bad days. He did not feel well Monday or Tuesday of this week, but has felt better today. He did well in therapy today….slowly getting stronger and working as hard as he can. He did well with swallowing today….thickened coke was the choice and he handled it well. This, like everything else, is something we have to continuously work on so that those muscles will get stronger. Many of you probably already know that we had a wheelchair ramp built last weekend and it looks great! Thanks to Jack Bonner, Alan Jackson, Dan Heinz, Clark Honeycutt, Kyle Randleman, Mark Strickland, and Robbie James for taking on such a huge project! This is one of the projects we can check off the list in preparing for Stephen to go home. Stephen’s neuro-surgeon stopped in to see him this morning. He again said the he thinks Stephen will make a good recovery because the cerebellum was the part of the brain that took the hit from the stroke and the rest of the brain was preserved…his personality, cognitive abilities, etc. His brain is still healing and he still has a lot of “waking up” to do. He needs a lot of rest…he’s still sleeping a lot. I’ve heard several numbers from a few months to a couple of years for a recovery from his type of injury. Please pray that Stephen feels well enough for his remaining time in rehab, that he gets the full benefit of being here. Caroline Tuesday, May 19 What a weekend it was in Salemburg…the golf tournament was a huge success…a big THANKS to all of you who participated. Stephen and I had a fairly non-eventful weekend here in Charlotte. He did have some therapy on Saturday, but other than that, we’ve tried to get some rest…much easier said than done in a hospital setting. The exciting news for today is that they took out his trach this morning….YEA!!!!!!!!!! He has done great today so I think we’re going to be okay this go-round. He is breathing fine and he has a nice, strong cough..both very good signs. He still has not tried to use his voice, but I’m hoping it will be soon. He is mouthing words, so his communication is getting better, but it’s his sweet voice I want to hear. I’ll update again in a few days. Caroline
Thursday, May 7 We are moving to Rehab about 5:30 this afternoon…yea!!!!! He will be on the schedule tomorrow and we’ll get things going strong. I really hate that we’ve had this setback, but I do feel that Stephen is even healthier and stronger and more prepared for what’s to come.
I’ll update tomorrow night (Friday) and let you know about his day tomorrow.
Until then…Caroline Sunday, May 3 This weekend has been very restful for Stephen. He has rested well and is comfortable. We should be moving back to Rehab either tomorrow or Tuesday…won’t know for sure until tomorrow. The doctors have all signed off that he is ready, but we are waiting on a room. It’s hard to believe that this weekend marks a full 8 weeks that we have been here in Charlotte. It is so hard to believe it has been that long. Being away from home is getting harder and harder. I’m so ready to go home and I’m missing the boys so much. I’ve said from the beginning, that I’ll go home when Stephen can go with me and I know that every day here is a day closer to that goal. I’m so proud of Stephen and how hard he has worked to get where he is. That definitely keeps me going as well as all of your messages. When I start feeling down, I read the latest messages and I feel renewed…thank you all for that. I’ll update you again either tomorrow night or Tuesday night. Caroline Monday, April 27, 2009 Stephen has had a restful weekend. After a rather restless night Friday night, he slept a lot Saturday, slept very well Saturday night and slept a lot today. He should be rested and ready to go tomorrow. He did have an hour of therapy on Saturday and he did well. His schedule is pretty full tomorrow and will continue throughout the week. I will have a hard time posting everyday because I am involved in Stephen’s care 24/7….I will try to post at least every other day to keep you all updated on Stephen’s progress.
Much love…Caroline
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Oh Boy – Game On! Stephen is beginning to ‘do tricks’ as we all know he’s capable of. Read Caroline’s post below…impressive! Keep the prayers coming, spread the word – we all believe that the prayers ARE working. Thanks!
Stephen continues to amaze us and yes, we’ve had another amazing day!! Stephen got in the chair again today…this time a real wheel chair with head support and I pushed him down the hall….it felt great!! (The chair we used before was a stretcher chair and we stayed in the room with it.) The physical therapist worked with Stephen in the chair and let me just say, “WOW”!! He is moving everything…legs, arms, hands, head/neck, and he was even moving his torso a little while in the chair….and everything continues to get stronger and stronger. I told Sue today that I am so excited about what he is physically doing, but I’m even more excited about the fact that he is working so hard to make it happen. He is pushing himself even when we aren’t pushing him. In the early days of this terrible journey, I made a deal with Stephen….I made him promise me that he would not give up and that he would keep fighting this…and that I would be right there fighting with him and for him. I knew I would hold up my end of the deal and I knew he would do the same, but there were days when I wondered how much more his body could take….and I wondered if this day would come….I thank God for today and for every day that I have with Stephen and I look forward to the days to come and what they have in store. Stephen is going to Rehab tomorrow morning…everything is finalized and his room is waiting. What an excited time!!! I am so excited to get to the next step in this journey and yet a little sad to leave the security of the nurses and doctors with whom we’ve come to trust and depend on and who have become our friends over the last 6 ½ weeks. Many of his caretakers have become very invested in his case and they are just as excited as we are to see what the next few weeks have in store for Stephen. Continuous thanks for everything!! Caroline Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Today has been another wonderful day! Stephen has been rather sleepy today…I think I wore him out this weekendJ He also had his fair share of awake moments and during those moments, he continued to do great things. He is doing everything that I mentioned in the last post, but better and stronger. While lying in bed, Stephen is often moving his legs around…you can tell he is really working and pushing himself…trying to stretch them and move more and more. He is also doing really well with his head….his neck is also getting stronger and stronger.
Things are looking good for Rehab. He has one more test tomorrow and assuming that is okay, he will hopefully move either Wednesday or Thursday. I know he is ready for that…the timing is just perfect…with what he is already doing….I just know great things are going to happen while we are there.
Thanks for all the great messages today!! I read them to Stephen tonight and he was listeningJ
Love to all,
Caroline
Link sent today to the Strickland's to "brighten their Monday" http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741 Enjoy! Monday, April 20, 2009 Hello –
This post is a great way to start your week! Let’s keep Stephen and Company in our prayers – he’s got his momentum going! Way to Go, Stephen!
From Caroline: I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend….we have had an amazing weekend here in Charlotte!!! Stephen is finally coming around….he’s getting stronger everyday and doing something new every day. I’ll catch you up on everything he is doing now….he is moving both legs. They are getting stronger and stronger and he is moving them more and more every day. He is squeezing hands with both of his hands and he is moving his left arm. His left hand is stronger than his right hand, which follows the same pattern as his legs…he started moving his left leg first and it became stronger faster. He also signed with his left hand the “I love you” sign a couple of times today. He was able to do that right after his first surgery, but hasn’t been able to do it since then until today. He is also moving his head…he can move it from side to side, turn it a little bit, and hold it up for a short time. He is smiling more…it seems to be so much easier. He is also moving his mouth more….sticking out his tongue and swallowing more too. I am amazed at the control he has with all of these movements. Stephen has definitely proved that he is a fighter and without a doubt…he is AMAZING!!!!! We’re hoping to move to Rehab in the next couple of days. Stephen has to have a couple of more tests run tomorrow and Tuesday and if all of those test results are good, then he’ll be ready for the next step in this journey. Thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers and your wonderful messages. I have a hard time getting through each one with a dry eye…they are so sweet. I will update you again tomorrow night. Caroline Friday, April 17, 2009 Sounds like Stephen has the whole hospital staff charmed! Keep up the prayers – don’t forget that a GOLF TOURNAMENT, 16 MAY 09, benefitting Stephen and his family is being organized. More info later as I get details.
Note from Caroline:
In the last posting, I told you about Stephen getting in the chair Tuesday and what a great day he had. Stephen moved into his new room late Tuesday night and all has been going well. Wednesday was a very sleepy day, which I expected after his big day Tuesday. Yesterday (Thursday) was another big day. Stephen was awake almost the entire day!!! He took a few cat naps here and there but other than that, he was awake. He got in the chair again and amazed us again. He continues to move his legs, both in the chair and in the bed. While in the chair, he followed the Physical Therapist’s commands with moving his legs and with moving his head. He was able to hold his head up without support for over 2 minutes…what an accomplishment!! He could also look up at the ceiling (while turning his head up) and then he brought it back down. He was completely in control and he was not leaning on anything…had no help at all. He did several reps of that…very impressive!! After all of that and everyone left, Stephen was still sitting in the chair and I was stretching his arms. A young guy, who works with housekeeping, stopped at Stephen’s room and asked if Stephen was the guy who had been in ICU…the one with the IPOD? Of course I told him that we had been over there for over 5 weeks and that we had just moved to this room. He was amazed at how good Stephen looks. He has seen Stephen from the beginning of all of this and even he was impressed with how far Stephen has come. After he left, I told Stephen again what the guy was saying and I said to Stephen, “See, everybody here knows you and likes you, just like at home.” He just looked at me and smiled…it was so sweet. Thanks to all of you again for the continued prayers and support. Your prayers are working…I look at a miracle everyday when I look at Stephen. Much love, Caroline Wednesday, April 15, 2009 Tuesday was an amazing day....Stephen sat in the chair for 4 hours yesterday and he stayed awake the whole time. He actually stayed awake for 6 hours straight…an accomplishment in and of itself. While in the chair, Stephen was constantly moving his legs. He was able to hold his head up for a few seconds on his own….he then looked up at the ceiling and then brought it back down…I was amazed!! He was pouring sweat the whole time…just as if he were at the gym working out…very obvious that he was really focused and working the whole time he was in the chair. We finally got him moved into a new room last night about 10:00. He’s doing fine…has been asleep whole time….I think he’s really worn out from his big day. I will be spending some time with the boys again this afternoon and tonight so I probably won’t get to post again until tomorrow night. Thank you for the continued prayers…they are working!!! Caroline
Monday, April 13, 2009 I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. It was eventful here in Charlotte. Stephen has not moved to another room yet….for several reasons….the main one being there wasn’t a room available. It actually worked out great because we were lucky enough to have one of my favorite nurses, who has also been a wonderful friend to me for the last few weeks. She was with Stephen Saturday and Sunday. She was Stephen’s nurse last weekend as well and I talked with her then about bringing the boys to see Stephen and all of my concerns about that. It was great to have her this weekend, because she really helped me in preparation for the boys to see Stephen. She helped me get Stephen ready and she was a huge help with the boys….she showed them all around, showed them the monitors etc., and she got them a drink and some ice cream. Saturday was the big day…..I had arranged for someone from the Child Life department in the hospital, to help me talk to the boys and prepare them for what to expect so there wouldn’t be any surprises. She was great!!! She had a teddy bear with a trach and a feeding tube, so we were able to show those to Pate and Drew while explaining why Daddy has those. Drew was very excited about seeing Daddy and went back without hesitation. He tickled him, hugged him, and kissed him and Stephen was awake during that time and he smiled for Drew. Pate, on the other hand, was not comfortable with the whole idea and I certainly did not push him. He did walk back and he looked at some rooms, but he just wasn’t ready to see Stephen yet. Saturday night was my first night to leave the hospital….I went to my sister’s house, which is about 30 minutes away. I slept with the boys and I made sure the Easter Bunny came to see them….they were so excited that I was staying and I was too. Stephen had another MRI done yesterday….just to double check everything before we move him. The boys came to the hospital again and Pate decided this time he would go in Stephen’s room. At first he was very unsure, but he quickly warmed up to the idea. I explained the tubes and monitors and he seemed fine with that. We set up the food tray and a chair in front of the window and he drew Stephen a picture. He was proud of the fact that he stayed in the room longer than Drew did. Will post again tonight or in the morning to update you on today. Caroline
Friday April 10, 2009 Today has been a good day. Stephen started the blood thinner today and he’ll have a CAT scan tonight. If that looks good, then they’ll move him into a regular room sometime tomorrow. Stephen slept a lot today. I think getting in the chair yesterday really wore him out. I finally got him to wake up for a little while this afternoon and during that time, he moved his leg several times. He did it when I asked him to and he did it on his own. I encouraged him to keep moving it so he could work those muscles and I really think that is what he was doing. Looking forward to another good day tomorrow with more baby steps. Caroline
Thursday, April 9, 2009 Good Morning Everyone! Some great news from Stephen - keep up the prayers! There’s still time to get an Easter Card in the mail for him, if you’d like. Thanks, Ann
I actually typed this last night, but didn’t have internet connection until this morning…sorry. Today has been rather eventful… It started with another positive report from the Stephen’s doctor. They did a CAT scan last night…it looks good and since it has now been 4 weeks since the last surgery, they are going to start him on a blood thinner to help with the blood clots. Because of that, they are going to keep him in his Progressive room for a couple more days to make sure that goes smoothly. Once we get the all clear on that, he will move to a regular room for a couple of days and then on to Rehab. The doctor also said Stephen moved his left arm in response to pain…a very good sign and the doctor was very encouraged by that The next big event was getting Stephen into a wheel chair…keep in mind that he has been in a bed for 5 weeks, so this was a big moment. It was a special wheelchair with head and leg support. When the physical therapist came in and said, “we’re going to get him in a chair today”…I was shocked, excited, and wondering…”how are we going to make that happen?” We put a harness under and around him and a lift machine lifted him out of bed and into the chair…wow. We put the chair in front of the window…thank goodness it was a bright and sunny day….and he sat there for almost 2 hours. After that, I knew he would sleep most of the day. He did wake up for a little while this afternoon and smiled for Sue and me. He stayed awake for about 1 ½ hours tonight. During that time we just talked to him and we did get one smile out of him. The very exciting news for the night is that he moved his left leg…not just once, but several times….I saw it while Jeff, Sue, and Mark were talking to him…then I saw it again. Then we asked him to do it and he did…that time they saw it too. Then the nurse came in and he did it again for her…..what a great way to end a great day! Love to all, Caroline
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 This message from Caroline – sounds like Stephen is making his move! We will continue to pray for strength, healing, patience and understanding.
“Hi Everyone…things are going well here in Charlotte. Stephen has definitely formed a pattern of sleeping a lot one day and then being awake a lot the next day. Yesterday (Sunday) was a pretty “awake” day….we had a few visitors and while we were talking, I asked Stephen a question and he nodded his head “no”….something he hasn’t done in several weeks. He also smiled several times yesterday on request. Last night during visiting hours, I was talking to him and I asked him to smile…he did. I continued talking to him and he smiled again….without me asking him to….yea!!! Today (Monday) started on a positive note….a good report from his doctor…the neuro-surgeon who did both of Stephen’s surgeries and has been with him from day one. Dr. Deshmukh has not seen Stephen in almost a week because he has been at conferences and he was very pleased with the baby steps Stephen took last week. He thought Stephen looked very good…his coloring is good…and he said he thinks it’s just a matter of time until Stephen really wakes up and starts showing more signs of improvement and recovery. He really seems to think that Stephen’s lack of responsiveness and coma state over the past couple of weeks is just due to everything he has been through. Dr. Deshmukh said that his brain is still healing and that just takes time. Of course, they’ve said from the beginning, that it could be a full year before we know the extent of Stephen’s recovery, but every baby step gets us that much closer. As far as rehab goes….that will be a few more days. He will be moved back into a regular room in the next day or two, be there for a couple of days, and then go to rehab. So it looks like we will move to rehab either the end of this week or the beginning of next week. Today has been a pretty “sleepy” day. He has had a few awake moments today, but for the most part, he slept. During his awake times I asked him to smile and he did….the difference in today’s smiles is that he smiled as soon as I asked him to whereas before, I had to ask him several times and it took him a couple of minutes to make it happen. Tonight he blinked 3 very strong and deliberate blinks for “I love you”….my heart melted. Thank you again for all of the prayers and messages…I’m still reading the messages to Stephen so please keep them coming….Thanks!!! Caroline”
Friday, April 3, 2009 Good Morning to All!
I am updating with the post made by Caroline this morning. The Stephen we know and love is starting to emerge – what a great blessing! Please continue to keep him, Caroline and ALL the family in your prayers. Most of us cannot begin to imagine how stressful that can be! Thanks, Ann
From Caroline:
‘I apologize again for the delay in posting. I actually typed this last night, but couldn’t get on line, which is why I’m just now posting it this morning. I think I’m going to start posting at night rather than in the morning. That just seems to be easier for me…so I’m going to catch you up on the last 2 days… Wednesday April 1, 2009 Today was a really good day…filled with signs of those baby steps happening that we’ve all been waiting for. First of all, Stephen was awake much of the day. He had his eyes opened more than any other day so far and for longer periods of time. While I was brushing his teeth this morning, I told him to stick out his tongue so I could brush it and he did! That was very exciting his doctor has asked him to do that several times when he was not responding and he did not do it. Tonight he moved his fingers and toes on his right side on command….another very exciting moment!! Thursday April 2, 2009 This morning we learned that Stephen has blood clots in both legs. While I was doing his physical therapy leg exercises with him yesterday, I noticed one leg was bigger than the other…it definitely did not look right so I showed the nurse. They did an ultrasound on his legs last night and confirmed the blood clots. This is pretty common in patients who are in bed for an extended period of time. This whole nightmare started 4 weeks ago today, so for 4 weeks, he has been in bed. The good news is that he had an IVC filter put in a couple of weeks ago…this is a preventive measure for blood clots. Basically it is a filter…like a small basket…that catches the blood clots before they get to the heart or lungs. We are not sure if we are going to take the blood thinner route at this point because of the risk associated with that, considering the 2 surgeries he has had. The doctors will watch this closely over the next few days and then decide on a plan of action. His doctor came in this morning to let us know that Stephen had a very good exam with him. He said Stephen was very clearly following commands and communicating with his eyes. He was blinking…once for “yes” and twice for “no”…he was very consistent and deliberate in his answers…confirming with the doctor what we already knew….that Stephen is definitely in there…..what a blessing!!!! Stephen has slept a lot more today….I think he was tired from being awake so much yesterday. Tonight Stephen did finally wake up for a little while and he was wide eyed. I told him I’d really like to see his smile again….and I asked him to try to smile just a little bit….HE DID!!!!!!!!!!!! He did it a couple more times after that and then again for his parents…..YEA!!!!!!!!!!! Will post more tomorrow (Friday) nightJ Love, Caroline Wednesday, April 1, 2009 “I apologize for not getting a post out yesterday. I was waiting for the doctor to come and he didn’t come until late yesterday afternoon. After that, we were busy getting Stephen moved into another room…this time we moved him to a Progressive Room, which is step down from the ICU. He was originally moved to a regular room and he just wasn’t ready for that….neither were we. In the ICU there are 2 patients to 1 nurse and he was getting such great care there…so much attention and even though I was glad to know he was getting better and would be leaving the ICU, I was sad he was leaving at the same time. The nurses have become my friends and family….they are so good to me, always checking on me and encouraging me to get rest. The care they have given Stephen….well there just are not words to describe how grateful and thankful we are that Stephen is here. His new room is on the same wing as the ICU, even though he is not considered an ICU patient anymore. In his Progressive Room, there are 2 patients to 1 nurse and I feel so much better about that. All of his old nurses came to check on him when he was moved into his new room….his new nurse even said, “Evidently I’m the only one who doesn’t know him.” What a great feeling and to think, these people haven’t even had the awesome privilege to know Stephen like we have, and they are really attached to him…there’s just something about Stephen. My goal is to bring him back here in a year and let him meet all the people who are playing a part in his recovery. Today has gotten off to a good start…Stephen is keeping his eyes open a lot more and for longer periods of time. The Physical Therapist and the Occupational Therapist have already been to see him. They are teaching me exercises to do with Stephen’s arms and legs so when Stephen gets ready to start moving again…his muscles and joints will be ready too. He will most likely go to rehab within the next week. As always, your thoughts and prayers are so appreciated and still very much needed. Thank you all again for everything!! Caroline” Let’s Keep Praying!! He’s moving in slow motion but that’s OK! He’s moving…and for that, we are grateful. Thanks for all the prayers and support! Ann
Monday, March 30, 2009 from Caroline: Sorry for the delay in posting today….I’ve been getting Stephen moved and situated in his new room….yea!!! Stephen had a very stable weekend, but no real changes. We are still waiting for him to wake up…could be days, weeks, or months. Stephen’s doctor did say that based on the test results and his progress, they do not see any reason why he won’t recover…but as I’ve said before…only time will tell. Friday, March 27, 2009 11:00 am
Thursday, March 26, 2009 11:00 am OK everyone – we have an assignment! Please read Caroline’s message below, keep praying and send something over to stimulate Stephen. I know he’s sent tons of jokes and news to lots of you in the past. Post it to his Caring Bridge site. You can also send anything you have to Caroline or me SoldByAnn@NaylorRealty.com. We are passing the info we get to him – and we need to keep pushing him until he makes up his mind to get well. Ann
“Good Morning! It’s so hard to believe that all of this began 3 weeks ago today…. Things are about the same here. The MRI and CT scan both look good and show no change. We were wondering if the MRI would show more damage than the initial stroke, which might explain his lack of responsiveness, but that is not the case. The MRI shows that there is no more damage other than from the initial stroke, which is certainly good news. The really frustrating part at this point is trying to figure out why he is not responding, especially since he has been responding. The doctors don’t have an answer…they are waiting just like we are. The doctor did say that we are out of the woods as far as any life-threatening issues go, unless, of course we are thrown a curve ball. The doctor also said, “Considering Stephen has been on death’s door step multiple times, he’s come a long way.” We are now looking and focusing on the next steps for Stephen in his recovery. We are all still waiting for him to really wake up. It could be days or months. The doctor said Stephen’s full recovery could be anywhere on the spectrum of completely dependent to completely independent….as with everything else, only time will tell. As we all know, God has been listening to our prayers and it is because of his miracles that Stephen is still with us. We all have to continue to pray that God still has a lot of work to do with Stephen. We are all praying and hoping for the best, but at the same time not losing touch with the reality of this situation and the fact that this is a very complicated case. The doctors did say that we do need to focus on stimulating Stephen….he said reading the messages was a great idea. Of course we are talking to him and updating him on the “latest news” from home. We thought another great idea would be to read/tell him jokes, since that is his thing. Some of you have been posting lots of messages and they are greatly appreciated. I know it’s hard to think of something different to say each time, but if you could just update us on anything happening around home…you know Stephen always knows everything about everybody. Also, if you could post some jokes I could read to him…maybe some he’s sent to you that you’ve saved. If you don’t want to post it for everyone to see, then you could email it to me at carolinestrickland@hotmail.com . Thanks again…will update you tomorrow.” Wednesday, March 25, 2009 3:30 pm Thank you for all waiting so patiently for today's update! The doctors were late coming around today. There is no change-nothing new to report today. His family will work harder and harder with him to help bring him out of this. Please continue to send your messages of encouragement and continue to pray! Tuesday, March 24, 2009 Good Morning. Yesterday was a harder day for Stephen. After responding well over the weekend, he did not respond to commands yesterday. We don’t know the exact reason why…could be that he is exhausted….after 2 brain surgeries, brain swelling, brain seizures, and infections, I would be pretty exhausted too. Of course, we hope that is the reason. It could also be that the infections have slowed him down….as with everything else, only time will tell. He is more responsive to pain today and he is opening his eyes, but he is not responding to commands.
Today is a big day because Stephen is having a Tracheotomy today….he’ll finally get the tubes out of his mouth….YEA!!! He has been breathing with the help of a ventilator since he’s been in Charlotte. He is breathing mostly on his own, with support from the ventilator. The Tracheotomy is only a precautionary measure and we’re hopeful that it will be very temporary. After the procedure, he will be asleep the rest of the day, so there won’t be anything else to report today.
Thanks again for the thoughts, prayers, and messages…please keep them coming. Please pray for Stephen that God will give him the strength and will to keep fighting and to keep taking those baby steps. Monday, March 23, 2009 10:00 AM
Good Morning to all. Stephen continues to be stable and his CT Scan shows no change, which is good. His last infection is almost cleared up, which is another good thing. As far as his responsiveness goes, the doctor feels that what Stephen is doing are all steps in the right direction. He was however, hoping for more by this point so I'm going to work hard with Stephen today. Please pray that God will wrap his arms around Stephen and give him the strength to keep fighting and to keep moving forward.
Much Love, Caroline
Friday, March 20, 2009 9:00 AM “Good morning folks:
OK, so this is Great News!! Our positive attitude and his fight for life is pushing him forward. Let’s keep it up! I will pass more news, updates, info as I get it. Thanks, again, to all of you for your prayers! Have a fun weekend!
Thursday, March 19, 2009 1:51 PM This is directly from the family:
NOTE FROM ANN-Thurday 10:00 AM Today makes two weeks! WOW…
Today is the first day of the rest of Stephen's life!! He's a fighter, he's strong. Yes, he's been beat up but HE WILL WIN!
...and Keep praying!
Tuesday, March 17, 5:30 pm Stephen was scheduled for an MRI to see what is going on...there's lot going on but in Mark's words (Stephen's brother), I can't explain it and won't try... Tuesday, March 17, 11:48 am Mark just called back and said they will be able to get him back for the MRI much sooner than expected. They will perform this around 12:30 today and it will last about an hour and a half. Tuesday, March 17, 11:30 am Just spoke with Mark. CT scan does not show any new damage. He is a small bit better than last night. The fever is down. They will perform a MRI it might be 12 hrs or so. We will assume that he was just TIRED last night and worn out from the fight! But it's a new day and how appropriate that on St Patrick's day his luck turned around. Please continue to pray for him that he will keep his strength to beat this!
Tuesday, March 17, 7:30 am Please continue to pray for Stephen and his family. Last night was a difficult night - Stephen has been fighting this but needs to keep going to win this battle! He's come too far to give up. . .Especially remember his family - they need prayers for guidance today! Monday, March 16, 8:00am News is positive!! The CAT scan looks the best it has since they have been in Charlotte!! The doctors are encouraged. There is some concern about infection, so right now, Caroline is the only one actually going in the room to visit. The rest of the gang hang out at the door and talk to Stephen. Stephen is still very critical, but this was a major hurdle! PLEASE continue to pray. Stephen needs to know we are praying and cheering for him. We believe the prayers are working. Please post comments so Caroline can read them to Stephen. We need to keep him positive so we can continue this fight!! If anyone ever doubted the presence of God in this world, this should prove we are in his hands and doing His work!! Thank you, and continue to pray!! Sunday, March 15 Prayer service was a great success! The church was full! Standing room only! Approx 180 people in attendance. Mark spoke to the group on behalf of the family. He said they have run out of words to explain how THANKFUL they are-all they can say is THANK YOU. He said that Stephen has really amazed the doctors and he has given them the will to continue to fight for him. He said the doctors have continued to use words like-amazing, incredible & miraculous. They asked Stephen Saturday night if he could feel the love from Sampson Co. and he nodded yes. They also told him how much his boys loved being at their aunts home and did he just want to stay there and he nodded no. Saturday, March 14, 2:30 pm Stephen had a restful, peaceful night. Caroline said that was the one of the most restful nights so far. He is stable, which is good. His vital signs are strong and good. He is still sedated to give the body a chance to heal. He is continuing to respond to voice commands. He is still critical, and needs our prayers. The prayers have gotten us this far...please continue!! Friday, March 13, 10:11 am Neurologist has been in this morning, vitals are stable. During the night the he reponded to the nurses and Caroline (Squeezing her hands, nodding his head, thumbs up sign, etc) They will continue to sedate Stephen. The rest is very important for him right now. The doctors said they will not allow any visitors other than immediate family for the next couple of days. Continue to pray! Friday, March 13, 8:11 am Stephen had a restful night. He did respond to some commands during the night, like opening his eyes, squeezing a hand...keep praying. We are waiting on the doctors this morning....be back soon with an update. Thursday, March 12 4:20 pm YEAH! Stephen came through the surgery and is "hanging in there". The doctor was pleased. They will do another CAT scan tonight and will have results tomorrow morning.
Thursday, March 12 1:05 pm Caroline just called Ann and said they are taking him back for surgery now. Not because of him, just had the opening and are going to start earlier. Pray that God will heal him and that he will guide the surgeons and doctors in their efforts. Thursday, March 12 8:14 am Just spoke with Caroline (Stephen's wife) and she is asking that you PLEASE double up on your prayers - Stephen is having more swelling that cannot seem to be resolved without more surgery. That procedure is scheduled for 3:00pm today (Thursday). Although we are all hopeful for the best, it is also fair to say that the Drs. have said that this is risky at best and in his condition is quite serious. We all need Stephen to hang in there and get through this procedure. He has been fighting his way through this and amazed the doctors - pray for his continued strength.
Wednesday, March 11, 10:45 am Neal just called and said they just met with the surgeon and neurologist. The doctors say there is no change today-but THAT IS OK! They are continuing to sedate him. Today the doctors will put a device in an artery to break up any clots that may form. This is a very common thing. The doctor said he "is still hanging in there". He is still doing the movements that the doctors ask him to. His boys will be going to Charlotte today to see Caroline (they will not be seeing Stephen today). Wednesday, March 11, 9:00 am Per Mark (brother)- Doctors said he was a "tad" better yesterday. They are still saying that he is not out of the woods. Please continue to pray for him. Rest is important at this time. The family is encouraged. Will update with more info hopefully soon! Tuesday March 10, 10:00 am Neal says that Stephen has opened his eyes this morning and looking around. He is resting peacefully. A CAT scan was performed this morning with no changes-which is great news. Still playing his IPod. Monday March 9, 11:00 pm Neal and Mark called (his brothers) after their last visit with him and said that Stephen looked great. The day of rest was what he really needed. They have his IPod in the room and if you know Stephen you know how much he loves his music! They will update us again after Tuesday morning visit. The family has access to internet while there and there is a page on Facebook "Praying for Stephen Strickland" Caroline has been reading this and reading it to Stephen. Neal said the funny stories and thoughts of Stephen are keeping her going. If you have a funny story and would like to send a note, or thought about Stephen please click here and we will add to Facebook so they can enjoy! THINGS ABOUT STEPHEN THAT MAKE YOU LAUGH Monday, March 9, 3:00 pm A note from Caroline-Stephen's wife I can never begin to express how much your thoughts and prayers mean to us. It has been a miracle that has gotten Stephen this far...this morning the surgeon said he is "walking on a tightrope and it could still easily go either way". There is no doubt that God has his arms wrapped around Stephen...the doctors are amazed at where Stephen is and what he is doing, but they have made it very clear that we are by no means out of the woods yet. Stephen has proved that he is a fighter and I know he'll keep fighting, but we need all the prayers we can get to get him through the next few days.
Monday, March 9, 12:30 pm Stephen's brother, Neal called and said that things are still progressing. The doctors have decided to sedate him to begin aggressive treatment. They performed a CAT scan-it showed more swelling, but at this point was expected. They are limiting his visitors to immediate family and 2 at a time. The family appreciates your continued prayers and concerns.
Monday, March 9, 2009 11:00 am Stephen had a massive stroke Thursday. Since then he has been moved from Clinton, to Cape Fear and Friday night airlifted to Charlotte. The doctors performed surgery early Saturday morning. He has repsonded to the doctors request of squeezing their hands, moving his toes, following the light with his eyes, etc. In addition he signed to his family that he loved them. The doctors say that he is a miracle. His progress is more than the doctors expect. However, he is still in a 72 hour window that is very critical. He is in the ICU. He isn't out of the woods yet and desperately needs your prayers. We will continue to update his condition on this page. Also, you can join the group Praying for Stephen Strickland on Facebook. |
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