Update on TOM CRAWFORD

[ana]

Great news Jenn. I know how tired they must be. Watching and waiting for each and every little improvement. Prayers and blessings continue to his family and friends.. Missed you yesterday.

[shortcircuit]

It sounds like things are looking better for him, he will continue to be in my prayers.

[jennifersmith]

Hey everyone sorry I have not been on here in awhile alot. When things change I will come and post. I plan on seeing Tom this sunday. here is the latest..

Hi family & friends,

Here is the latest update. This is what we know.

A coma being on a scale from 1 to 4, Tom is a 1.2. He is still considered to be a coma until he can follow commands. One is following you around the room with his eyes, another is being able to a few things yourself and other tests that a doctor would do.. Hope that explains this. We all have learned much from this.

Also he is suppose to have his wires removed from his jaw this week maybe. He looks like he wants to say things.

If you have seen Tom you might remember that he doesn't move his left side (arm, hand, leg). The doctors told the family that he had a stroke, probably trauma induced. His left side of head and face is where most of the trauma was. The doctors long term outcome has not changed but Tom has been making great progress. He will have rehabilitation and physical therapy after he leaves the hospital. I can't tell you where and when right now, we don't know, all that is being worked out. It's almost been 2 months since the accident (June 27th). It's been a bad summer for family, friends and all effected. It prayer and hope that is getting us through this. I'll have another update Sunday night. Thanks for your prayers, gifts, love and concern

[jennifersmith]

went and saw Tom today and when I walked into the room what a GREAT surprise I got!!! I last saw Tom 3 weeks ago and praise GOD for all the changes he has made just since I last saw him. . They took the wires out of his jaw this past Tuesday. Both his eyes were open and he can focus on you. He was kicking his leg and moving his RIGHT leg and foot all around. He is ready to get up and go. He is still not moving his left side very much but He does have feeling MAMMY told you why that is in the update before this one. .. When his sister said Jenn is here he grabbed my hand to hold it. He even said my name when Paige said can you say Jennifer. I told him I wanted his first words to be FAVORITE COUSIN.. HA HA I kept teasing him.He has a very itchy nose and he uses a pillow case and wipes it at one point he grabbed it and through it at me , I said Don’t you through that at me buddy. He has been teasing his sisters and throwing things at them alot.

Leno has been singing Amazing grace and I’ll fly away to him and he when she got to a certain part of I’ll fly away she stopped and he mumbled “ in the morning“.

He looked WONDERFUL. The burn on his leg is healing well and his sister said he can hold himself up when they sit him up in the bed. His sister Paige and I stood at the head of his bed on opposite sides and my husband and leno stood at the foot of the bed and Tom threw the football to each one of us when Paige told him to throw it to. He knew where we each were standing. It was AMAZING. He was looking very tired from our visit so I said I’m going to go so you can sleep. I said I love you and He grabbed my hand and would not let go. I hugged him and when I let go he fell asleep. We had another GREAT visit. I was thrilled to see how wonderful he is doing. The family says with ALOT of intense theropy he will be up and going smiling and talking before we know it. You can tell he is very tired of laying in that bed. Thanks to ALL who are helping and PRAYING. GOD IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

Jennifer

[jennifersmith]

Here is the latest on Tom,


It's been over 2 months now since his accident.

His jaw wires were cut off last week. He is starting to swallow liquids, very little though. He utters sounds, sometimes you can understand him, he was been saying names if you ask him too but still hard to understand. We are very excited about this. He still is not tracking things with his eyes........yet. He is still classified as being in a coma. Still not moving his left side due to the stroke. Remember your brain controls everything, we still don't know what extent the damage was and is. He'll have to learn how to do some things all over again, hopefully he'll regain everything.

He is being moved to a rehabilitation center in Asheville tomorrow to start therapy.

Thanks for your continued support and prayers,

[ana]

Jen that is great news! Hopefully he will progress at a much quicker pace now. As they begin to push him during therapy neural re-activation will begin and his progress will be easier to mark.

Let the family know that our thoughts and prayers continue with them.

[jennifersmith]

10 Sep 2008

Family and friends,

I hung out with Tom on Sunday. He can read, write and say things. We have a long way to go. He is making progress everyday. It's a learning progress for all of us. Thanks for your support and prayers.

Kenny

[jennifersmith]

Family and friends

Here is the latest:

Tom has been undergoing various types of therapy over the last week. Yesterday a speech therapist worked with Tom, she asked him numerous questions. Questions: Who his family members are? Who's married to who? Girl friend name (s)? What is your son's name? What he would like to eat? His answer to that was a ribeye steak. He answered them all, and he even added more details. Obviously he remembers certain things before the accident, and learns things again since he's been in rahab. He started drinking ice tea today through a straw, he's swallowing now. He should be able to go to a liquid diet now then progress to a soft then solid diet. Several family and close friends have visited Tom this week. Everything is appreciated. This is good news, still have a long way too go.

That's all for now.

[ana]

Great news Jen! We are so happy to hear this progress. I'm sure Tom will be home before long.