Monday, July 17, 2006

Since the last update, Amanda’s family has been hard at work, finishing up the basement project. It is almost complete! Soon, Amanda will be able to roll right in to the shower. Along with the new bathroom, the main room downstairs has been fixed up so Amanda can stay there when needed. It will also comfortably accommodate family when they visit from out of town. This is important because Amanda and her family can’t easily travel to visit relatives anymore.

Mid-April brought a new member to Amanda’s family-a dog! “Shadow” came from a situation where his family could no longer keep him and he needed a new home. He is a mixed breed, about five years old, and the sweetest, mellowest dog around! Luckily, “Tiger,” the cat, agrees!

Amanda has been relaxing over the summer break (thankfully not having to catch the bus at 6:40 am!). However, hanging around the house all day can get a little boring. Thank goodness for visitors! Along with friends, neighbors, and family, Amanda has had some special visitors from Calvary Baptist Church. Suzanne Passero, and her therapy dog, George, have stopped by recently. They have visited Amanda before and it is always nice to see them. George is a beautiful black Lab and he proudly struts his stuff! Jamie Castlebury also came to see Amanda this summer. Jamie comes by regularly and reads special stories to Amanda-which Amanda thoroughly enjoys!

The big news of late is Amanda’s upcoming surgery. She is scheduled to have spinal fusion surgery on Monday, July 24th. Due to her brain injury and the ensuing neuromuscular tone issues, Amanda has developed scoliosis-the muscles have pulled at her spine so fiercely that it has become curved in an unhealthy way. The surgery will involve attaching a straight rod to each side of her spine. Bone will then be grafted from her hips and fused to the spine, and this bone will eventually grow between her vertebrae. The rods will hold the spine straight while the bone grows in. This surgery should keep Amanda’s spine curvature from worsening and possibly jeopardizing her internal organs and it will definitely improve her posture and her ability to sit correctly in her wheelchair.

Amanda has proven over and over that she possesses a resilient spirit and we have every hope that she will come through this surgery with flying colors. Please keep Amanda and her family in your prayers as she undergoes this serious operation and the following recuperation. She will be in the hospital for approximately one week and then return home to continue healing.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.” --Philippians 4:13