Seems to me that it's been a while since I wrote.  Was just looking at my past journal entries; I haven't written since JULY!

This is Margaret Richey.  My now nineteen-year-old daughter, Suzanne, was left brain damaged and bedridden after suffering a devastating brain aneurysm nearly a year and a half ago; however, I see small signs that she's starting to come back, and it pleases me to no end.  It's been nothing short of miraculous as to how far she's come since her illness; it still causes tears of joy to come to my eyes!

Suzanne is starting to communicate; she knows at least a dozen simple commands to let me know if she's hungry, wet, poopy, sad, happy, and she can say "I love you, Mama".  She can laugh, cry, talk (a little), yell, get angry.  She is very good at expressing her needs to me and to her nurses who still come to help out whenever it gets too overwhelming for me to handle.

Suzanne is not walking yet, but maybe she will, one day.  She's spending more time in her wheelchair; she enjoys sitting by the large picture window in the livingroom and looking at the birds frequenting the feeder outside, and the sight of the snow blanketing the ground. 

She enjoys the Christmas lights; she loves Christmas, and she can't wait until Santa comes to see her!  (She's nineteen now, but now has the mind of a young two-year-old baby.)

Compared to where sha'd been, Suzanne has come a long way.  She's home now with Jim and myself, and her two brothers, Michael and Tyler, who are now nine and eleven.  She's starting to enjoy her board books,  her favorite teddy bear, playing simple handgames with her brothers.  She loves being hugged and kissed by Jim and myself; we are becoming like the family of old before she got sick.

I do hope that Suzanne continue so make progress in her recovery.  It's been a long, hard road full of frustration, uncertainty, but we know our God is much bigger, and He can still provide the miracles that we seek.  He's already provided some in letting our duaghter live through the aneurysm and the fact that she's back home, out of that terrible nursing home!

She's nineteen; a young woman her age shouldn't be lying in a bed in a home for senior citizens, unable to do anything but blink her eyes or groan!

Luckily, she's past that stage; she can now talk at least a little, and she can express herself; she's not totally helpless.  Physically, yes, but her mind still works, such as it is.  Another reason to praise God for His goodness upon her (and our) life (lives). 

Suzanne is still tube fed by a tube in her belly, but doctors are thinking of taking that out in the spring; she is able to take some liquid nourishment by mouth.  We still have to watch out, make sure she doesn't choke, or throw up.  If she does, we clean her up, and we comfort her, tell her it's okay.  If she chokes, we quickly tend to her and take it slower, so it doesn't happen again.  We have suction equipment to further help her if she has another choking spell.

Because of her inability to swallow more effectively, Suzanne's prone to pneumonia or any other respiratory illness.  This is why we don't really go anywhere when it's cold except perhaps to doctor's visits or ongoing physical, speech, occupational therapies. 

We don't know what the future holds for our girl, but it's starting to look a lot brighter than it was last year at this time.  Seeing that it's Christmas, it is a meaningful year because Suzanne's now talking, communicating.  It's pretty rudimentary right now, but it's a start, a step in the right direction, and we're very grateful. 

Well, I will write in here again.  Suzanne's calling; think she needs a change.  Take care, and may God bless you this holiday season!  May you have a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend, Margaret Richey, Suzanne's mother.  :)