June 11-3 1515

Nothing need be said.


Tyler continues to maintain all the necessary numbers at their necessary levels. Throughout the course of the day he has had quite the procession of family visitors. Dad in the AM, Grammy and Marty in the late AM and early Afternoon, and his Mom and brother later in the afternoon. Ty cycles between consciousness and sleep as his body is still healing. He does love his ice chips.

I just got off the phone updating our Lakota friend Larry Fiddler in South Dakota. I told him about the sudden turn around Tyler had, and Larry wasn't surprised. The same night Tyler turned the corner, Larry had a sweat lodge ceremony especially designed for Ty's healing. This is the second time something wonderful like this has occurred, and Larry is a wondrous man whose care and concern for Tyler is uplifting. A special thanks to all our Lakota friends who are holding Tyler tightly in their hearts.

June 11-2 0945

Tyler continues to make small strides each day. Today he greeted me with a smile and later said Dad. However, calling my name was only so he could ask me to put the Discovery channel on TV. I'll take what I can get. He is also chewing ice chips, which have become his latest passion. The nose and throat MD said all is normal, and his voice will strengthen as he does over time.

NEWS FLASH....
The move to Gaylord rehab may be delayed until Thursday. The surgical team feels Tyler is strong and healthy enough to have the portion of his skull (which was removed during the initial surgery) replaced before transfer. This would eliminate another round trip back and forth to Hartford for the procedure.

Fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired that you wish your opponent would crack you one on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round - remembering that the man who always fights one more round is never whipped.
-James Corbett

June 11-1 0715

Temperature normal, all vitals consistent, and Ty had a good rest last night.
Last night the Lacrosse team had their banquet and Tyler was the topic of many discussions, and the underlying topic of the evening. This group of young men and parents are the purest example of what is good with our world. Coach Emery spoke beautifully of the season ending knee surgery Joshua had in February, and how that paled in comparison to the events of the recent past. Especially how, through all of this, Josh remained involved, focused and poised (many hugs, and very few dry eyes in the room). Coach then presented Josh with fantastic Granby sweatshirts, one for Josh, one for me, and an extra large for his brother Tyler's broad shoulders. All who know us are aware of how we k'vell (gush with pride) over our boys, but last night I was busting at the seams for all my boys, my Lacrosse family boys.


“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”
-Walter Winchell quotes

June 10-3 1700

Tyler continues to be responsive with all vitals maintaining their appropriate levels. The staff has had him sitting upright in a chair for the last few hours, and he cycles between responsiveness and napping.

June 10-2 1500

Tyler is aware, and tries to communicate which results in whispers. He also is attempting to do thing for himself, and has displayed some modesty, which are great signs. All his vitals are good, and the staff discontinued the antibiotics. The hope is he will remain fever free, and transition to the rehab hospital on Monday.

"I must be willing to give up what I am in order to become what I will be."
-Einstein

June 10-1 0630

Tyler had a very good night sleeping comfortably. He got a good washing this morning and was able to hold a conversation with the nurse. It seems we may be off and running at long last.

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”
-Unknown

June 9-4 2100

The staff says Tyler is sleeping comfy, all his vitals are good, and he continues to improve. We think Ty has turned a corner and will continue to take small steps to recovery. Tomorrow is a new day.

June 9-3 1830

Tyler's vitals continue to be within limits, and his awareness is beginning to stabilize. The nurse told Ty about the severe thunderstorms we are having this evening and Tyler said "wow". He does love nature and weather. Probably all part of trying to learn to shoot lightning from his hands (something he's been working on in his spare time).


“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”
-Gail Devers

June 9-2 1145

Tyler continues to show normal vitals, and exhibit awareness and understanding. He even asked his Mom to massage his left hand. If all continues as we hope, Ty may be moved to the rehab hospital as soon as tomorrow.

June 9-1 0800

Just when you think all the prayers and well wishes are just so much noise added to the confusion of the cosmos, G-d reaches down his hand and shows, just once and a while, he is listening. Tyler is awake and speaking in whispered tones. He knows where he is, the year, and Granby Memorial High School. His eyes are bright and alert, and his other vitals are within tolerance. If Ty maintains, we could be looking at the move to Gaylord rehab sooner rather than later.

June 8-3 1600

We LOVE this smile sooooooooooooooo much!

Just when the fear of possibly never getting Tyler back anywhere near the way he was, started to creep into our weary, prayer drained hearts, Ty returns at about 4:00 from his CT scan, opens his eyes, takes the nurses hand in his and squeezes. He then responded to some basic commands and acknowledged the question "if he wanted to watch TV". This is such a small event in the grand scheme of healing, but it feels monumental. Our deepest prayers is this is finally the first tiny step of many yet to come.

Thank you to all who have kept Tyler in your thoughts and prayers. You all continue to help and mean so much to us all.

If one is estranged from oneself,then one is estranged from others too.If one is out of touch with oneself,then one cannot touch others.~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

June 8-2 0900

Tyler's fever remains below 100 and his other numbers remain in limits as well. We are waiting for the final word on his blood culture so we can fight the bug once and for all.

I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday, and I love today.
-William Allen White

June 8-1 0200

Tyler and his buddy Brian

Ty's fever was finally below 100 and he was sleeping comfortably. Hopefully today he will begin to be responsive again. All other vitals were good.

Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.

~August Wilson

June 7-1 0900

Tyler is far more relaxed and comfortable in his new digs. The staff are still wrestling with a slight fever, and the BP issues. However things feel much better now, and a modicum of peace has settled over the situation.


Please forgive the lack of profundities, and pics. It doesn't work well from the hospital.

June 6-4 2100

Yeah... Tyler has his own room. Finally a chance to recover in peace. His fever is 101 and it's time for more Tylenol. Tyler's BP and heart rate are slightly elevated, but he's sleeping well.


Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.Life is a beauty, admire it.Life is a dream, realize it.Life is a challenge, meet it.Life is a duty, complete it.Life is a game, play it.Life is a promise, fulfill it.Life is sorrow, overcome it.Life is a song, sing it.Life is a struggle, accept it.Life is a tragedy, confront it.Life is an adventure, dare it.Life is luck, make it.Life is life, fight for it!
~Mother Teresa

June 6-3 1800

Tyler is sleeping, and his temp is down to 101.4. The staff is in the process of moving him to a private room. Maybe tomorrow we can start fresh and they can figure out what exactly to do to help Ty.

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on.
~Robert Frost

June 6-2 1500

Tyler continues to fight a fever now down to 102. We've been petitioning for a better environment away from the blaring PA system, and a terrified screaming young boy. He is on a broad spectrum antibiotic and tomorrow the culture should be complete so the staff can hopefully target the specific bug directly. This is a very trying time for all, especially Ty.



I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
-Unknown

May 6-3 1000

Tyler seems better with his vitals more under control. The MDs are still fighting a higher than normal white count with broad spectrum antibiotics. A follow on culture will be ready tomorrow and hopefully they will be able to specifically target the bug and kill it for good.

June 6-2 0800

Tyler is running a fever over 101, consequently his heart rate is elevated. He still isn't communicative, but we will be getting to the bottom of everything this AM.

June 6-1 0120

He just looks so natural and at peace on the water.

Tyler is resting comfortably, and it seems the staff has a handle on his BP and temp. The nurse said he definitely shows improvement. We don't want to go through too many days like yesterday.

I've learned that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.

-Unknown

June 5-3 2030

Tyler has always been the Captain of his own ship.

Well fans, it's been quite the day. We visited Ty this AM (he wasn't doing great), visited rehab hospitals, went back to see Ty (still wasn't doing so great), went home, grew concerned, and went back to see Ty (finally resting comfy and doing better). Throughout all this it was Puerto Rican Pride Day. Now I'm all in favor of every ethnicity having pride, but for G-d's sake...GET A CLUE. This was the most disorganized, unadulterated cluster f&%# I've ever been witness to (and I've seen a few). There were motorcycles, cars, drunks, and police barricades everywhere. Of course the city of Hartford promotes this, and the city police contribute to this unadulterated fur ball of activity.
Bottom line, at our insistence the entire neuro-trauma team is convening early tomorrow to design a comprehensive plan. About damn time.


I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.
~Author Unknown

June 5-2 1540

Busy day touring rehab facilities, we're fairly certain we've picked one, and as soon as we're sure, we'll make it known. Tyler is having a bit of a down day. He continues to run a low grade fever, and his BP is tough to pin down. On the plus side all cultures came back negative therefore it's believed his temp and BP are due to small storms in his brain which are very common to TBI patients and not a product of any new infections.



Rules for Being Human
1. YOU WILL RECEIVE A BODY
You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for
the entire period this time around.

2. YOU WILL LEARN LESSONS
You are enrolled in a full-time informal school
called Life. Each day in this school, you will have the
opportunity to learn lessons - you may like the
lesson or think them irrelevant and stupid.

3. THERE ARE NO MISTAKES, ONLY LESSONS.
There is a process of trial and error;
experimentation. The 'failed' experiments are as
much a part of the process as the experiment that
ultimately 'works'.

4. A LESSON IS REPEATED UNTIL IT IS LEARNED.
A lesson will be presented to you in various
forms until you have learned it. When you have
learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.

5. LEARNING LESSONS DOES NOT END.

-Unknown

June 5-1 0645

Tyler is still running a low grade fever, and his blood pressure is erratic. The staff are working on both problems. All the other numbers are good.



There is nothing I can tell you That you do not already know. There is no question that you can ask me That you Yourself cannot answer.You have just forgotten.
~David Littlewood