I was reminded yesterday that I had not sent out an update for two weeks old and it's time to send out a new one.

Here's the short scoop.  Everything's going well.  Prayer works.

Slightly longer scoop - she needs to rest or her speech skills decline (sometimes a lot).  This is due to continued slight swelling on the brain.  The slight swelling is due to the surgery, it will heal just like and at about the same rate as the IV bruises.

It's not all that obvious to other people, but she can really tell when her speech skills drop off.  Surprisingly, she decided that she wanted to take summer school, so every morning off she goes.  The MD and the speech therapist think social interaction with other teenagers is a perfect prescription, so as long as she takes a nap in the afternoon everything is ok.

Of course the next step is driving - we're holding off for a little while.  The MD said it would be ok in about one more week providing that for the first week or two after that it's back to "Permit" driving with either Mom or Dad in the car.

Ironic Details

On the day she was released from the hospital, I went the grocery store / pharmacy to get her prescription.  While waiting for the prescription I walked over and bought a Gatorade.  While standing in line, the woman next to me started cussing and swearing at her roughly 13 year old son for not packing the groceries in the bag correctly.  I started to give her the "my daughter was just in the ICU and you should thank God for every minute that you have with your kid yada yada yada" speech.  Then I realized I would probably go totally ballistic, and that being arrested would not be a good idea.

Fun Details

Tara was released from the hospital the week before Father's Day.  Our church was doing a service themed around fathers and the importance and significance of fatherhood.  The church's "pastor guy" called me late in the week and asked if I would be the "human interest" for the week.  I ended up speaking briefly at both services about how our faith helped during this time, plus about how many people had sent their wishes and offers of support.  My parents even attended!!

Sentimental Details. 

Speech Concerns.  I am unable to express the level of my terror and fear when Tara was having (and occasionally continues to have) speech and comprehension problems.  The ability of humans to communicate is amazing and to see a loved one lose that ability (even when everyone is saying it will be temporary) is terrifying.  I now sit and listen to her talk and just marvel.

Gory Details (Only for the really brave)

Mild Gory (Due to Gruesome Gory Below).  Tara had two stitches in her incision (see Gruesome below) and the stitches were removed yesterday.  The first stitch came out easily, but a scab had formed around the second stitch.  The first nurse said "hey, how are we going to get this off".  The second nurse (Ms. Ratched, I believe)  said "just pull it off, it will only hurt a little".  Yank, out went the stitch and off went the scab.  According to Tara, "a little" was an insufficient description. 

Gruesome Gory (not for the squeemish).  So why did Tara have a couple of extra stitches?  I mean, she already had 28 staples on her right side and twenty staples on the left side (discount day for right side). Multiple times on the Father's Day weekend she had bleeding from the incision point - and bleeding that just wouldn't stop.  Not large scale, not even nose bleed scale, just like a slow leaking.  I had the great privilege of taking her in on Monday to the MDs.  The MDs asked if the blood was crimson colored and very thin, which they then quickly diagnosed and said "no big deal, it's just blood from the surgery that didn't get absorbed".  Then Tara's main surgeon said "we'll just drain it" and then POPPED IT LIKE A ZIT!!!!   UUGGGHHH!!!  Tissue followed by tissue followed by tissue followed by tissue until finally it was all drained.  You could visibly see the swelling go down.  He then said "we'll put a couple stitches in" and that was when Tara panicked.  I'm of course calm as can be and helpful as can be.  First I tried "hey, after all the staples and IVs, a stitch needle is really small and this shouldn't be a big deal".  Didn't work.  Then I tried humor and picked up the new style reflex hammer which looks like a super gigantic nail and said "this is the size of the stitch needle".  Not only did that effort not work, Tara demonstrated that she knew some very strong Navy words and proceeded to call me some of them.  Even though she was worried, she was really pissed at me, and then she started laughing, so she got through the stitches ok.

As she is basically on the road to recovery, this will probably be the last update for awhile.  My boss has been pretty understanding, but I should probably pay attention to work for awhile.

Thank you all again for all the thoughts and prayers.  Everyone's support has been phenomenal.

Campbell (Tara's Dad)

Glad to hear everything is going well. I also marvel at how Tyler is doing. There are so many things we take for granted till a loved one can't do it.

Campbell, This is horrible to say, but your story reminds me of my daughter, Reagan.  Reagan is now 5 years old. Well, when she was about 2-3 years old, she was not talking much at all.  My husband and I took her to a speech pathologist and had her tested to see why.  She suggested that we put Reagan in speech for several days a week for about a year and a half.  Well, needless to say, Reagan has made up for lost time.  I can't get her to hush.  She talks in circles!!!  My husand and I laugh and ask each other if there is a speech pathologist that we can take her to that will take some of her speech away!!!  I hope you don't take this wrong, but I thought it might give you a chuckle.  Before you know it, Tara will be talking in circles again and you will look back at this time and be so grateful that she came out okay!!!  I have been wondering how everything has gone lately.  I'm so glad that you  updated us on her progress.  Her pictures on the " family picture page" are beautiful.  She is a pretty girl that I know you are very proud of.  We will continue to keep Tara in our prayers that she keeps doing well and the speech (minus the new words) continues to improve.
Laura from Louisiana