Callie is Awake!

Just to clarify for any of you wondering (a couple of people asked this week).
Callie IS AWAKE from her COMA. The inability to open her eyelids all the way at this time, is due to "partial 3rd nerve damage". She also currently has a palsy to the left side of her face.
These are things that can heal over time, but the only way to know, is to wait & watch.
The opthamologist has let us know that there is a (reversible) surgery that can be done to "tack" her eyelids open, but he feels that it is too soon to be doing it yet.
She is progressing so quickly that only time will tell of any other issues she may or may not have down the road!
Her caregivers are absolutely in AWE of her progress. I think that this story ( I will tell you) is the perfect indicator of how fast she has progressed! Her speech therapist told Jeff & I yesterday, that one of the "goals" that she had set for Callie this past week was to say one word, at least 3 times. She said, "she has FAR surpassed that just with 'UH-OH!'" She has said that, at least 50 times a day for the past several days!
I hope this gives a clear picture of where she is right now!
Our family will fast again for her this Sunday for anyone that would like to join us! A big part of our fast will be an outpouring of GRATITUDE for her LIFE & her Progress & that it will continue!
We thank you ALL & Love you TOO!
The Butler's

Banana for Breakfast!

Today is a very big day! Callie came off of all her medication this week & then today they officially dropped her tube feeding for good! She also has graduated from pureed food diet, to a soft food diet. (she skipped the "mashed" food diet) Also, she has gone from thickened liquids to thin (milk consistency). (the only ones we have to thicken a little, are "ultra-thin" ie. water, juice, gatorade etc.)

As you can see, Callie had a banana with her breakfast. She fed it to herself & when she got down to where I had peeled it, she pulled all the rest of the peel off herself!

Yesterday she had her first Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich, which she LOVED! She practically dove into it! She even smiled & laughed when she heard me telling the nurse about it.

This weekend was her first weekend therapy! She did very good working on being up on her legs!

Again, we are so grateful to all of you for every little thing & BIG!!! We have been so blessed & pray that you all will & that we will all continue to be blessed!

All Our Love,

Dana, Callie & Family

Yummy Gummie!

One more ~ so you can see Callie was playing too!

Cute Pics of the Day!

Not in order, but here they are! Enjoy! :)

Today they taped Callie during Therapy. She was a show stealer!
Callie has been pulling up to her feet on occasion & she even stood on her own for 30-40 seconds!!!We were all amazed. She has been clapping, smiling vocalizing alot, saying Uh-Oh!, more Screams & cries, giggling & just generally exercising her own will.
We were asked a little about Callie's progress. It caused be to look back again at how far Callie has come & SO quickly!
We have been so blessed. We have met some truly amazing people & we ask at this time for continued prayers for 'our little friend & her family'. They need all the support & love they can get at this time. Their family lives out of state, although they have a great circle of support in their community. Please pray that she may continue to have a good quality of life & for the comfort & support of her family.
Thank you again for your love & support of our Callie & family,
Jeff, Dana, Callie & family

Sorry for the picture shortage. . .

. . . we are still trying to get the memory managed.
WOW! Callie is progressing so fast, that each session of therapy, she does more than the time before. She is staying awake more & initiating more play.
We saw our little friend after Callie's last therapy today. They are really hoping that they can go home soon.

Tomorrow they will be taping Callie during her morning OT. One of the therapists (actually, the one in charge) made a special request for Callie's Apple Bottoms outfit that Amber got for her.We'll see how that goes. Callie has been asserting her own will more frequently these days & she's really
tuning up the pipes for that 'high C'.

Callie will be evaluated for a chair all her own to go home in, 5 days from now. Also, people are working on lining up therapy for Callie when she is able to go home.

Callie has been initiating one foot in front of the other when she is held in a standing position, but tires quickly.

In music therapy today, Callie held an egg shaker in one hand & a chime in the other & shook one to the music when asked & then both when asked.

One of her therapists stopped in our room to have me sign a paper & Callie sat up when she heard she was there so she could see her. She also waves more frequently at her therapists when we part ways with them.

Well, I need to go! We need to wash the outfit for her big day tomorrow, get our showers & get things ready.

Lots of Love & Gratitude,
The Butler's