Let me start by saying I am deeply sorry for the lack of updates because this in no way reflects the amount of progress Uncle John has made these last few days. It is so easy to get caught up in our own lives, that I almost forgot what I was being called to do. So for all of you avid blog readers, I am sorry. I feel like God has given me such an amazing honor to be the one to deliver news about our quiet giant, and I certainly don't want to take that for granted. Now, onto what Uncle John has been up to these last few days.....
What do eating, drinking, breathing, walking, reading, and talking all have in common? Well, these are all things we have become masters at and now perform on a daily basis without a second thought. However, for Uncle John these simple tasks have become his days work. He works very intensly every day for about an hour to an hour and a half with speech, physical, and occupational therapy at relearning and 're-mastering' these seemingly simple tasks. I am so glad Uncle John has the strength and courage to work this hard day in and day out. I have heard first hand from both Uncle John and his family that he has made incredible strides in all of these areas. I am so pleased to report that the other day he not only walked further than the day before, but he also walked on his own. WOW! He still has quite a long way to go, but I am still so amazed that walking on his own is now a goal! The trauma to his body and brain can improve with time, but it is a lot of work! Uncle John also got his first haircut in almost two months. I think he was starting to dig his elvis do, but he knows it is about time to get back to his old self, so the 'do' had to go.
Every day John moves closer and closer to going home, but I hope we can all continue to carry the lessons that we have learned during this next phase. We have all been called to be a part of John's journey in some way, shape, and form. For whatever reason, God has chosen to use John to help heal so many broken hearts and restore so many people's faith in God. His story has inspired so many people across the country to believe that with God in your life, NOTHING is impossible.
Uncle John is starting to come to terms with all that he has been through, and has gained a new found peace in his own life and understanding that he is exactly where he is supposed to be. Uncle John has always been a believer, but his faith as been reaffirmed through this experience because it is so apparent that God truly is in control and He will provide just what we need....all we have to do is believe! Just as we have been so touched by Uncle John's steadfast faith and courage to trust in God's plan, he too has been touched and in awe of all of you. Aunt Maureen told me today that the part that makes her the happiest is seeing Uncle John recognize the amount of love that so many people have for him. He is such a humble man, and is truly in awe of the outpouring of love and kindness from all of you.
I want to leave you with a scene from a book that Uncle John is currently reading thanks to his amazing daughters. It is called The Shack, and this scene is Jesus' response to Mack when he talks about his fears for the future.
Mack: “Why do I have so much fear in my life?”
Jesus: “Because you don’t believe. You don’t know that we love you. The person who lives by their fears will not find freedom in my love… to the degree that those fears have a place in your life, you neither believe that I am good nor know deep in your heart that I love you. You sing about it; you talk about it, but you don’t know it”.......If you knew I was good, and that everything-the means, the ends, and all the processes of individual lives-is all covered by my goodness, then while you might not always understand what I am doing, you would trust me.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Step by Step
By God's good grace, Uncle John has made a great step forward, literally! He walked 40 feet the other day with the help of a walker and a physical therapist near by. WOW! What an amazing accomplishment for someone who experienced all that John has been through. He is also eating now completely on his own. So hopefully the feeding tube will be out soon.
As we have all witnessed, Uncle John has this incredible resilience that will not be broken. I still remember his face that evening this whole thing transpired, and even then you could tell he was fighting hard to stay a live... and he is still fighting. Each day brings more and more steps in the right direction but he still has a long road ahead. It is nice to finally hear the possibility of him going home is in the near future, whenever that may be.
As someone reminded me today, when things get bad, you just have to keep the faith. Well, this is exactly what the Hannan family and Uncle John have done. Actually we have all done this on John's behalf. As a Christian community, we have come together and helped to keep John and his family lifted up through our prayers and thoughtful actions. The title of this blog is called the power of prayer because I truly believe that God has heard every single breath of prayer since the beginning of this journey. He had a plan all along for Uncle John, but I like to think our prayers helped 'encourage' His plan.
God bless all of you for keeping this family in your daily prayers. Please keep it up! Have a great weekend!
As we have all witnessed, Uncle John has this incredible resilience that will not be broken. I still remember his face that evening this whole thing transpired, and even then you could tell he was fighting hard to stay a live... and he is still fighting. Each day brings more and more steps in the right direction but he still has a long road ahead. It is nice to finally hear the possibility of him going home is in the near future, whenever that may be.
As someone reminded me today, when things get bad, you just have to keep the faith. Well, this is exactly what the Hannan family and Uncle John have done. Actually we have all done this on John's behalf. As a Christian community, we have come together and helped to keep John and his family lifted up through our prayers and thoughtful actions. The title of this blog is called the power of prayer because I truly believe that God has heard every single breath of prayer since the beginning of this journey. He had a plan all along for Uncle John, but I like to think our prayers helped 'encourage' His plan.
God bless all of you for keeping this family in your daily prayers. Please keep it up! Have a great weekend!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Second Chances
I want to thank everyone once again for all of the prayers for Uncle John. He is able to fight so hard because of the amazing person he is, but also because of the many people supporting him through love and prayer on a daily basis.
Here is the latest update from Aunt Maureen sent yesterday:
Uncle John enjoyed a busy day today. Gavin spent the night at the hospital with John last night. Since Matt and Gavin were on spring break, they both spent a good amount of time filling in brackets preparing for March Madness.. If this had to happen, it was so considerate of the Lord to pick the time of March Madness and the Master's Golf tournament for John to have a front row seat with the T.V. John has joked that he might have a new career as a "bracketologist". Today there were also plenty of jokes about John's new Elvis Presley hairdo. (It's been two months since John had his last haircut.)
John has done very well since the trach was removed. Yesterday, he fatigued alittle easier after alot of conversation, but today he enjoyed visiting with old friends and family and Fr. Bryce. He seemed to really enjoy these visits. He sat up in a chair twice for an hour each time. His energy seems to be improving with each day. The highlight of today was John bending his left arm and working his biceps as he and Matt call it. This is the first time John has been able to pull his arm up toward his chest. Everyone in the room cheered ! John told me tonight, he is determined to work as hard as he can to get back as much as he can since his stroke.
Tomorrow is a big day! John is moving to the acute rehab center at Virginia Hospital Center! He will be doing 3 hours of therapy per day. Please continue to pray that John's will to fight through the challenges that lie ahead will remain strong. We are so grateful for his sense of humor and his acceptance of God's will. John told me this weekend, he believes that God looked in His book of John's life and said Your work is not finished and sent him back to us. Thank You God for second chances.
Here is the latest update from Aunt Maureen sent yesterday:
Uncle John enjoyed a busy day today. Gavin spent the night at the hospital with John last night. Since Matt and Gavin were on spring break, they both spent a good amount of time filling in brackets preparing for March Madness.. If this had to happen, it was so considerate of the Lord to pick the time of March Madness and the Master's Golf tournament for John to have a front row seat with the T.V. John has joked that he might have a new career as a "bracketologist". Today there were also plenty of jokes about John's new Elvis Presley hairdo. (It's been two months since John had his last haircut.)
John has done very well since the trach was removed. Yesterday, he fatigued alittle easier after alot of conversation, but today he enjoyed visiting with old friends and family and Fr. Bryce. He seemed to really enjoy these visits. He sat up in a chair twice for an hour each time. His energy seems to be improving with each day. The highlight of today was John bending his left arm and working his biceps as he and Matt call it. This is the first time John has been able to pull his arm up toward his chest. Everyone in the room cheered ! John told me tonight, he is determined to work as hard as he can to get back as much as he can since his stroke.
Tomorrow is a big day! John is moving to the acute rehab center at Virginia Hospital Center! He will be doing 3 hours of therapy per day. Please continue to pray that John's will to fight through the challenges that lie ahead will remain strong. We are so grateful for his sense of humor and his acceptance of God's will. John told me this weekend, he believes that God looked in His book of John's life and said Your work is not finished and sent him back to us. Thank You God for second chances.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
According to john
I just wanted everyone to know I heard from Uncle John's mouth that the tracheotomy is out, and he ' is doing better'. Thank God he was able to find the strength to overcome this obstacle! It was so surreal to hear Uncle John's voice on the phone after 5 weeks. It was by far the highlight of my day! I just feel so blessed to be a part of this great man's life, and I am sure we can all agree that it is such an honor to stand witness to the miracles God has shown us through John.
The plan is to move him to an acute rehab center tomorrow. We need to all say a prayer that the plans for rehab can continue without any complications. According to Uncle John, he has a new found appreciation for his own life and all of the small things it has to offer. What he doesn't know is that he has given all of us a new found appreciation and perspective on our lives. And for that we will be forever indebted to him, and we need to continue to walk along side of him as he moves forward on the path to complete recovery!
I wanted to remind everyone who is interested to click on the picture to the right and enter to win $7000 and help out our local hero along the way! Thanks again!!
The plan is to move him to an acute rehab center tomorrow. We need to all say a prayer that the plans for rehab can continue without any complications. According to Uncle John, he has a new found appreciation for his own life and all of the small things it has to offer. What he doesn't know is that he has given all of us a new found appreciation and perspective on our lives. And for that we will be forever indebted to him, and we need to continue to walk along side of him as he moves forward on the path to complete recovery!
I wanted to remind everyone who is interested to click on the picture to the right and enter to win $7000 and help out our local hero along the way! Thanks again!!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Better late than never....
The title of this blog refers to both me and Uncle John. I am sorry I am so late in updating the blog, but better late than never. And I know Uncle John wants to be back to his healthy and strong self a lot sooner than it is happening, but all I can say is BETTER LATE THAN NEVER! For those that don't know me, I currently work on a cardiac floor as a nurse, and this past week we had a gentleman lose his life from a similar complication that Uncle John experienced. He too was in his 60's. My purpose is sharing this news is simply to remind everyone that Uncle John's journey TRULY is a miracle by all accounts. According to medical knowledge and standards, he should not be here. However, thank heaven that God is above all human knowledge, because obviously He has a lot more work to be done with and through Uncle John.
Now for the update...well, Uncle John continues to make great strides each day. He is working VERY hard with occupational and physical therapy to regain strength. He continues to get more and more stronger everyday in his left side. As Aunt Maureen described, 'He is now lifting his leg and bending his knee and getting those muscles ready for his next tee time'. He is very lucky to have a future PT (his son Matt) in the family, which has been very beneficial in helping John with his daily exercises. The doctors have also started to downsize his tracheotomy since Tuesday, and the plan is to completely remove the trach today or tomorrow. What an amazing accomplishment on Uncle John's part. This is once again another example of what a tremendous fighter John is because this was no easy task. The next step is to move Uncle John in the next few days to an acute rehab facility. We need to pray that their are no further complications, and that he can continue on with this new phase in his recovery.
His spirits have been up this past week, and he has enjoyed spending every waking moment with his family. He is on less pain medication, so he is much more engaged these days. His boys are on spring break so they have been keeping him company and helping him with his March Madness bracket. I can't say it enough, how good it is to hear that Uncle JOhn really is back.
I will leave you with a kind message from Aunt Maureen to all of you:
We have learned to treasure John and one another. We have also learned to appreciate all of those who have helped us along
the way. There is no way we can ever repay you for all you have done to carry us through this, except to tell each of you we
love you and are forever grateful. There is no doubt in my mind that John is drawing much strength from knowing that so
many are praying for him and loving him through this journey.
Maureen
We love you Uncle John, and we too are forever grateful for the lessons you have taught us these past few weeks. You have touched our lives more than you will ever know. Keep fighting because there are a lot of people that need to see you outside the walls of a hospital with that famous smile on your face!
Now for the update...well, Uncle John continues to make great strides each day. He is working VERY hard with occupational and physical therapy to regain strength. He continues to get more and more stronger everyday in his left side. As Aunt Maureen described, 'He is now lifting his leg and bending his knee and getting those muscles ready for his next tee time'. He is very lucky to have a future PT (his son Matt) in the family, which has been very beneficial in helping John with his daily exercises. The doctors have also started to downsize his tracheotomy since Tuesday, and the plan is to completely remove the trach today or tomorrow. What an amazing accomplishment on Uncle John's part. This is once again another example of what a tremendous fighter John is because this was no easy task. The next step is to move Uncle John in the next few days to an acute rehab facility. We need to pray that their are no further complications, and that he can continue on with this new phase in his recovery.
His spirits have been up this past week, and he has enjoyed spending every waking moment with his family. He is on less pain medication, so he is much more engaged these days. His boys are on spring break so they have been keeping him company and helping him with his March Madness bracket. I can't say it enough, how good it is to hear that Uncle JOhn really is back.
I will leave you with a kind message from Aunt Maureen to all of you:
We have learned to treasure John and one another. We have also learned to appreciate all of those who have helped us along
the way. There is no way we can ever repay you for all you have done to carry us through this, except to tell each of you we
love you and are forever grateful. There is no doubt in my mind that John is drawing much strength from knowing that so
many are praying for him and loving him through this journey.
Maureen
We love you Uncle John, and we too are forever grateful for the lessons you have taught us these past few weeks. You have touched our lives more than you will ever know. Keep fighting because there are a lot of people that need to see you outside the walls of a hospital with that famous smile on your face!
Monday, March 16, 2009
A new phase in recovery
Aunt Maureen has sent the following update regarding John's physical status. I want to ask everyone to continue to pray for his physical healing, but also that John can continue to gain mental strength to keep up the fight. With each step he takes, Uncle John is faced with the reality and magnitude of all that his body has been through. I pray that Uncle John will know that just as we all supported his family while his body and mind were 'resting', we will all walk beside him now that he is awake and help him in anyway we can. Please continue to leave words of encouragement. Uncle John could use some
From Aunt Maureen:
I can't believe all of the progress Uncle John has made throughout the last 48 to 72 hours. As you may recall when he left the ICU on Wednesday to be transferred to Virginia Hospital Center, he had been able to be off the ventilator for 12 hours. Well since Friday at 7:00 a.m., Uncle John is completely off the ventilator. He is still on what they call a trach mask which provides moisture and some oxygen support, but John is basically breathing on his own. Friday, Uncle John was able to drink Ice cold water for the first time since February 4th. As John described it, he felt like, " he had just left the Sahara desert". How easily we take for granted little things like drinking cold water. Yesterday morning, John was given his first soft diet. It was amazing to see that eating for the first time since this began was no small task. After a few bites of oatmeal, John started coughing and felt like something was stuck in his throat, but by yesterday evening( Saturday), the whole process went a lot smoother. This was helped along because the doctor decided it was time to downsize his tracheostomy. He returned today and took out the trach and replaced it with the next size down. This represents a huge step toward removing the trach all together. The doctor hopes that this task will be accomplished by the end of this week.
We were also told that John may have a small infection from a sample that was taken from John's lungs when he arrived on Wednesday. Though his White Blood Count looked good and there was no fever, it was decided to start an antibiotic to be on the safe side. If all goes well, John could be off the trach by the end of the week and off to acute rehab by the end of next week. Today, the trach was downsized and John suddenly became much more comfortable while eating.
Each of these small steps represent a new step toward regaining John's independence.
One of the highlights of today for both John and I were being able to receive the Eucharist together. We watched a Mass from the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and were able to receive communion together. It is amazing the things we take for granted. John has been visited many times over the past 5 weeks by Fr. Bryce, Fr. Valentine Keveny, Fr. Lee Fangmeyer, and Fr. Martin,. We are so appreciative of all of their prayers and support, but each time John was unable to receive communion because he couldn't swallow while on the Ventilator. Since John has been able to recover from the sedation of some of the medication, John has commented on how he missed going to Mass. We turned on the T.V. this morning and one of the first things we found was the Mass for the homebound and ill. Fifteen minutes later, a representative from St. Ann's church in Arlington came to John's room and offered him the Eucharist. For John and I, sharing the Eucharist has been a source of strength and grace in our marriage, so it seemed so fitting that we would have the opportunity to receive it together, so soon after John was able to begin swallowing and eating. Thank you, Lord. I couldn't help but think of how easily we take for granted being able to receive the Lord in the Eucharist until all of a sudden you can't. Then all of a sudden you realize what a gift it is truly is to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. One of the hardest parts of this whole experience for me has been not being able to attend Mass with John. Though my kids have been wonderful about attending Mass with me to pray for their dad's healing, I have dearly missed him. My prayer is that we never again take for granted what a gift the Eucharist is or the ability to receive it together.
One of the other realities that the last few days has brought is the new awareness on John's part of what has really happened to him. John was so ill through the first several weeks following his initial events that John really had no concept of what he had really been through and what a miracle it is that God provided the people and the skills to save his life that night. As John has continued to improve and advanced past the ICU, reality is starting to sink in. One of the things that has amazed him the most is that his body temperature was cooled to 18 Degrees during his initial surgery. He has affectionately been given the nickname, the "Iceman". In any event, John has a renewed appreciation for the fragility of his life and of all of our lives. He also has a renewed commitment to appreciate the moments and the people in his life. He also plans on enjoying life and avoiding stress. He would wish the same for each of you. As we enter this new phase of John's recovery, please pray that John will have the grace to see that each small step of accomplishment takes him one step closer to healing. I would also pray that each of us will continue to have the faith to continue to surrender this process to God's plan and continue to trust in His providence.
Amen.
From Aunt Maureen:
I can't believe all of the progress Uncle John has made throughout the last 48 to 72 hours. As you may recall when he left the ICU on Wednesday to be transferred to Virginia Hospital Center, he had been able to be off the ventilator for 12 hours. Well since Friday at 7:00 a.m., Uncle John is completely off the ventilator. He is still on what they call a trach mask which provides moisture and some oxygen support, but John is basically breathing on his own. Friday, Uncle John was able to drink Ice cold water for the first time since February 4th. As John described it, he felt like, " he had just left the Sahara desert". How easily we take for granted little things like drinking cold water. Yesterday morning, John was given his first soft diet. It was amazing to see that eating for the first time since this began was no small task. After a few bites of oatmeal, John started coughing and felt like something was stuck in his throat, but by yesterday evening( Saturday), the whole process went a lot smoother. This was helped along because the doctor decided it was time to downsize his tracheostomy. He returned today and took out the trach and replaced it with the next size down. This represents a huge step toward removing the trach all together. The doctor hopes that this task will be accomplished by the end of this week.
We were also told that John may have a small infection from a sample that was taken from John's lungs when he arrived on Wednesday. Though his White Blood Count looked good and there was no fever, it was decided to start an antibiotic to be on the safe side. If all goes well, John could be off the trach by the end of the week and off to acute rehab by the end of next week. Today, the trach was downsized and John suddenly became much more comfortable while eating.
Each of these small steps represent a new step toward regaining John's independence.
One of the highlights of today for both John and I were being able to receive the Eucharist together. We watched a Mass from the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and were able to receive communion together. It is amazing the things we take for granted. John has been visited many times over the past 5 weeks by Fr. Bryce, Fr. Valentine Keveny, Fr. Lee Fangmeyer, and Fr. Martin,. We are so appreciative of all of their prayers and support, but each time John was unable to receive communion because he couldn't swallow while on the Ventilator. Since John has been able to recover from the sedation of some of the medication, John has commented on how he missed going to Mass. We turned on the T.V. this morning and one of the first things we found was the Mass for the homebound and ill. Fifteen minutes later, a representative from St. Ann's church in Arlington came to John's room and offered him the Eucharist. For John and I, sharing the Eucharist has been a source of strength and grace in our marriage, so it seemed so fitting that we would have the opportunity to receive it together, so soon after John was able to begin swallowing and eating. Thank you, Lord. I couldn't help but think of how easily we take for granted being able to receive the Lord in the Eucharist until all of a sudden you can't. Then all of a sudden you realize what a gift it is truly is to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. One of the hardest parts of this whole experience for me has been not being able to attend Mass with John. Though my kids have been wonderful about attending Mass with me to pray for their dad's healing, I have dearly missed him. My prayer is that we never again take for granted what a gift the Eucharist is or the ability to receive it together.
One of the other realities that the last few days has brought is the new awareness on John's part of what has really happened to him. John was so ill through the first several weeks following his initial events that John really had no concept of what he had really been through and what a miracle it is that God provided the people and the skills to save his life that night. As John has continued to improve and advanced past the ICU, reality is starting to sink in. One of the things that has amazed him the most is that his body temperature was cooled to 18 Degrees during his initial surgery. He has affectionately been given the nickname, the "Iceman". In any event, John has a renewed appreciation for the fragility of his life and of all of our lives. He also has a renewed commitment to appreciate the moments and the people in his life. He also plans on enjoying life and avoiding stress. He would wish the same for each of you. As we enter this new phase of John's recovery, please pray that John will have the grace to see that each small step of accomplishment takes him one step closer to healing. I would also pray that each of us will continue to have the faith to continue to surrender this process to God's plan and continue to trust in His providence.
Amen.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Let God's Work Shine
First and foremost, thank you to all who have already contributed to the Hannan's in their time of need. Your generosity is overwhelming to say the least. As we have all seen, Uncle John has undeniably been the miracle many of us have been searching for. He is living proof of the amazing power God can have in our life when we just believe. I know now is a time for trial for a lot of people, especially financially these days. I am asking each of you to reach deep into your heart and be able to give back something big or small to this wonderful man. It is now our time to be the miracle that this family needs right now. We have the power to continue to let God shine, and through your help we can let God work through us to meet the needs of the Hannan family.
The family and friends of John Hannan have set up a raffle and the proceeds will help with mounting medical costs for Uncle John. If you want to buy a chance to win three cash prizes (1st prize - $7000, 2nd prize - $2500, 3rd prize - $500) and help the Hannans, you can go to the link www.hannanfund.org. This link will bring you to a secure site so you can purchase raffle tickets by credit card. If anyone wants a raffle ticket but prefers to pay by check, contact one of the following people.
Margaret Guilday - margaret.guilday@adams-burch.com
Mike Guilday - mike.guilday@adams-burch.com
Mike Harper - michael.harper@summitmarketing
Andy Hamilton - andrew.hamilton@us.pwc.com
Joene Gessner - jgessner@gingery.net
Dorrie Gleason - djgleason04@msn.com
Shannon Elie - shannone6@verizon.net
Bob & Kelly Corbey - starsigns@comcast.net
The winning ticket will be drawn on April 18th. We will sell only 750 tickets, so hurry an buy one today!
The family and friends of John Hannan have set up a raffle and the proceeds will help with mounting medical costs for Uncle John. If you want to buy a chance to win three cash prizes (1st prize - $7000, 2nd prize - $2500, 3rd prize - $500) and help the Hannans, you can go to the link www.hannanfund.org. This link will bring you to a secure site so you can purchase raffle tickets by credit card. If anyone wants a raffle ticket but prefers to pay by check, contact one of the following people.
Margaret Guilday - margaret.guilday@adams-burch.com
Mike Guilday - mike.guilday@adams-burch.com
Mike Harper - michael.harper@summitmarketing
Andy Hamilton - andrew.hamilton@us.pwc.com
Joene Gessner - jgessner@gingery.net
Dorrie Gleason - djgleason04@msn.com
Shannon Elie - shannone6@verizon.net
Bob & Kelly Corbey - starsigns@comcast.net
The winning ticket will be drawn on April 18th. We will sell only 750 tickets, so hurry an buy one today!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Another Milestone has been Passed!
Uncle John has turned another page in this chapter of his journey. He passed his swallowing test today so he was able to drink some water for the first time in over 5 weeks. Once again, its amazing the things we take for granted. He is now able to slowly progress his diet, starting with soft foods and liquid. Not quite ready for a PB & J, but he is working his way up to that!
Some other big steps were that he sat in the chair for about an hour, and stood on the side of the bed for 2 minutes (which is quite a lot for someone who has been in bed for so long). The next hurdle to get over is to completely breathe on his own. He is making incredible strides in this area, so we need to pray that he can continue to build strength in his breathing muscles. The doctors are very hopeful that this will happen in the near future. Thank the Lord!
On behalf of the Hannan family, thank-you so much for lifting our guy up in your prayers. Please Keep them coming...
Some other big steps were that he sat in the chair for about an hour, and stood on the side of the bed for 2 minutes (which is quite a lot for someone who has been in bed for so long). The next hurdle to get over is to completely breathe on his own. He is making incredible strides in this area, so we need to pray that he can continue to build strength in his breathing muscles. The doctors are very hopeful that this will happen in the near future. Thank the Lord!
On behalf of the Hannan family, thank-you so much for lifting our guy up in your prayers. Please Keep them coming...
Thursday, March 12, 2009
How about some PB&J
According to Uncle John's family, he really seems to be more comfortable and more relaxed at this rehab facility. The wing he is on includes himself and only a few other patients, so he gets plenty of attention. As Shawn stated "He is getting the VIP that he deserves". I couldn't agree more! Since I can't be there to witness all the small, but HUGE steps my uncle is taking during this time, I thought it would be most appropriate to share a story from someone who is there with him; so here is a pretty cute story from his oldest daughter:
I wanted to share with you my favorite part of the morning. So the speech therapist came in today to assess my dad's mental capabilities and really see how much the stroke has affected him. She had a series of questions and then tasks for him to do. He was able to answer them all (with just a little help) from me cheating in the corner...oops. The she asked him how to make a peanut butter & jelly sandwich. So my dad says...."First you get 2 pieces of bread, then you get the peanut butter and spread it on the bread. BUT you must make sure NOT to use the kind of peanut butter with salmonella in it...Did you know a few people died from that!! Terrible, terrible thing. And then you put the jelly on the bread, put the two piece together, cut the it in half and put the sandwich in a plastic bag". So he passed with flying colors and then the speech therapist said....Do you have to cut the sandwich in half & put it in a bag? And my dad says, " Well that is how I do it. See I've been making lunches for my kids and wife for 25 years...I'm the Lunch Maker. I think a good, healthy lunch is very important to help you get through the day!" I couldn't love my dad any more than that moment. One, I could not stop laughing and either could the speech therapist..he has always had such a good sense of humor! Two, it was just one more example of how great of a man my dad is. He would get up every morning to make all of our lunches...even when I was in high school...and he still continues to do it now for my mom. He has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know!!
Gotta love this guy!!
I wanted to share with you my favorite part of the morning. So the speech therapist came in today to assess my dad's mental capabilities and really see how much the stroke has affected him. She had a series of questions and then tasks for him to do. He was able to answer them all (with just a little help) from me cheating in the corner...oops. The she asked him how to make a peanut butter & jelly sandwich. So my dad says...."First you get 2 pieces of bread, then you get the peanut butter and spread it on the bread. BUT you must make sure NOT to use the kind of peanut butter with salmonella in it...Did you know a few people died from that!! Terrible, terrible thing. And then you put the jelly on the bread, put the two piece together, cut the it in half and put the sandwich in a plastic bag". So he passed with flying colors and then the speech therapist said....Do you have to cut the sandwich in half & put it in a bag? And my dad says, " Well that is how I do it. See I've been making lunches for my kids and wife for 25 years...I'm the Lunch Maker. I think a good, healthy lunch is very important to help you get through the day!" I couldn't love my dad any more than that moment. One, I could not stop laughing and either could the speech therapist..he has always had such a good sense of humor! Two, it was just one more example of how great of a man my dad is. He would get up every morning to make all of our lunches...even when I was in high school...and he still continues to do it now for my mom. He has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know!!
Gotta love this guy!!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The road to recovery
Uncle John has moved out of the ICU!!! God is so good, and He has answered each and everyone of our prayers. Over a month ago, we weren't sure whether Uncle John would even make it through the night, and now he is stable enough to focus on things we thought he may never do, like walk, talk, and all the other activities of daily living. As Aunt Maureen said to me today, a huge burden has been lifted from all of their shoulders. While we have been praying for recovery since day one, his family has been worried sick and praying that he would just be 'ok', whatever that meant! Now that he is in rehab, not fighting infection after infection, they are able to truly focus on the road to recovery.
It was so nice to hear a sense of peace that has been missing for so long. I empathize with many of you who can't physically be with John and his family through this time. So to hear that they can finally breathe easier and are now able to look forward to many days to come with their dad, is so relieving! Aunt Maureen said the facility to awesome. They love the staff, and Uncle John seems to be settling in quite well. The best part is that his room has a window to look outside. This may not seem like much to you and I, but to Uncle John, this is HUGE; he has not seen outside for over a month. Wow! It truly puts into perspective all the things that we take for granted on a daily basis.
As I said before, we need to continue to walk along side my Uncle and his family. There is still a long road ahead, but that road finally has a bright end in sight (and no, it is not a light at the end of a tunnel.....;),I hope some of you can smile at this inside joke now). I am so proud of all that Uncle John has accomplished, and like many of you I can't wait to see him outside the walls of a hospital to give him a huge hug and to thank him for all that he has taught me through this journey. Thank-you, God for holding our guy so close, and for allowing all of us to witness Your wonderous ways!
It was so nice to hear a sense of peace that has been missing for so long. I empathize with many of you who can't physically be with John and his family through this time. So to hear that they can finally breathe easier and are now able to look forward to many days to come with their dad, is so relieving! Aunt Maureen said the facility to awesome. They love the staff, and Uncle John seems to be settling in quite well. The best part is that his room has a window to look outside. This may not seem like much to you and I, but to Uncle John, this is HUGE; he has not seen outside for over a month. Wow! It truly puts into perspective all the things that we take for granted on a daily basis.
As I said before, we need to continue to walk along side my Uncle and his family. There is still a long road ahead, but that road finally has a bright end in sight (and no, it is not a light at the end of a tunnel.....;),I hope some of you can smile at this inside joke now). I am so proud of all that Uncle John has accomplished, and like many of you I can't wait to see him outside the walls of a hospital to give him a huge hug and to thank him for all that he has taught me through this journey. Thank-you, God for holding our guy so close, and for allowing all of us to witness Your wonderous ways!
A new chapter
Uncle John is, in the words of one of his friends..."One tough dude'. I am so happy to let everyone know Uncle John is onto his next step in recovery. The plan is to transfer him to a rehab center in Virginia today. We need to pray that there are no complications, and he can safely continue on with his recovery. He is still on his ventliator, but the doctors are confident that he will be able to wean off of this over in rehab. There is a higher risk for infection if he stays in the hospital, so this is a positive step.
I am sure we can all agree that Uncle John has touched our lives since we first met him. However, he touched our lives yet again in a different light on February 4th, when he and his family's lives were changed forever. And he continues to amaze us as he fights to get well and surpasses all medical expectations every day. As family and friends, we need to continue to hold on to hope that he will fully recover. As Christians, we need to continually pray that God will help guide John in his recovery. We need to walk along side the Hannan family during this hard and long road ahead. He is getting better and stronger each day, but he is not completely healed. He has many battles ahead, but as I have said all along he is in good hands. Uncle John still very much needs are prayers, and the Hannan's need our support. Thank-you to everyone who has kept the family in your prayers, and I hope these updates will continue to bring good news as Uncle John enters a new chapter.
I am sure we can all agree that Uncle John has touched our lives since we first met him. However, he touched our lives yet again in a different light on February 4th, when he and his family's lives were changed forever. And he continues to amaze us as he fights to get well and surpasses all medical expectations every day. As family and friends, we need to continue to hold on to hope that he will fully recover. As Christians, we need to continually pray that God will help guide John in his recovery. We need to walk along side the Hannan family during this hard and long road ahead. He is getting better and stronger each day, but he is not completely healed. He has many battles ahead, but as I have said all along he is in good hands. Uncle John still very much needs are prayers, and the Hannan's need our support. Thank-you to everyone who has kept the family in your prayers, and I hope these updates will continue to bring good news as Uncle John enters a new chapter.
Monday, March 9, 2009
John's words
I have the most INCREDIBLE news to share! As Aunt Maureen said in the previous post, up until now Uncle john has only been able to communicate by mouthing his words. Because John was doing so well on the CPAP machine, the doctors decided to cap off his trachea for a little while today. The end result was that for the first time since February 4, UNcle John was able to speak so his family could actually hear his voice. WOW! Can you imagine hearing your loved ones voice for the first time in 5 weeks. What an incredible time for the Hannan family, and what an amazing accomplishment for Uncle John. The best news of all, is finally after all of the ups and down the doctors are starting to talk about the next step in his recovery. The possibility of moving to a rehab facility is finally within reach for John. Amongst the many words he said today was 'I love my wife'.....now we know the essence of John is still very much with us!
Keep praying...
Keep praying...
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Remain Steadfast
I am sorry for the lack of updates this past weekend. Aunt Maureen wrote an email which better depicts the past few days and where Uncle John is today:
Yesterday Uncle John was able to breathe mostly on his own for 6 1/2 hours on the CPAP setting. That means that the ventilator is only providing some pressure to help expand the alveoli of his lungs, but no oxygen and John is doing all of the effort of breathing on his own. He had a good day yesterday and is day by day regaining more of his sense of humor and his ability to communicate with his family and friends. That of course is dependent on our ability to read his lips. He has learned to be a very patient man. He enjoyed his visit with our old friend Joy Solow from Pennsylvania. Joy was relieved to see that John hasn't lost his sense of humor or his personality. Today, John continued to get stronger. He was able to breathe on CPAP for 7 1/2 hours and sat in a chair for 2 hours. Matt came to visit from Towson and John was giving him knuckles and learning some new handshakes. Matt was able to witness John moving his left leg and hand even more. The doctors told us on Saturday that the fluid that had been tapped off of John's left pleural effusion had returned, and on Sunday they put in a chest tube and were able to remove 1300 cc's of fluid. The doctor's have explained that the fluid that keeps recollecting is not an uncommon side effect from the type of open heart surgery John underwent a month ago. They may also treat him with a short course of steroids or other medication to resolve the inflammation that they feel is causing the fluid collection. John understands that the fluid needs to be drained and is hopeful that this course of action will finally resolve this issue. The doctors believe this may be preventing him from getting off the ventilator completely. John's progress over the last month is no less than miraculous and we are acutely aware that God has in his mercy given us all a second chance to enjoy the gift of John's life. For this we are truly grateful. This past week, John has regained a bit more of his independence by standing on the side of his bed, drinking a few sips of water for the first time in a month and enjoyed a few brief visits from friends. He is daily showing us his determination to keep fighting and working hard to recover. We are eternally grateful for his will to fight through all of this and his patience with the slow and sometimes frustrating process of healing. Our continued prayer is for his lungs to be completely healed and for him to continue to progress and regain his strength and function through the daily sessions of physical therapy. We need to pray that he can remain free from infection and continue to strengthen his breathing muscles so that he can breathe on his on and move on with his recovery.
I think Aunt Maureen said it all perfectly. I wanted to share quickly that throughout everything John has been through, he remained a whole hearted follow of God. Even when things didn't go his way ( before and after the initial event), he remained steadfast in his belief and love for God. This is such a powerful lesson that we must really hold onto especilly as Uncle JOhn continues to face these hurdles to get off the ventilator. We cannot believe and honor God half heartedly only when things go our way. We have to continue to trust and pray that God will walk with John as he fights this latest battle. It seems like Uncle John keeps having to face problem after problem, but if he can remain faithful so must we! Let's continue to pray through the good times and bad!
Yesterday Uncle John was able to breathe mostly on his own for 6 1/2 hours on the CPAP setting. That means that the ventilator is only providing some pressure to help expand the alveoli of his lungs, but no oxygen and John is doing all of the effort of breathing on his own. He had a good day yesterday and is day by day regaining more of his sense of humor and his ability to communicate with his family and friends. That of course is dependent on our ability to read his lips. He has learned to be a very patient man. He enjoyed his visit with our old friend Joy Solow from Pennsylvania. Joy was relieved to see that John hasn't lost his sense of humor or his personality. Today, John continued to get stronger. He was able to breathe on CPAP for 7 1/2 hours and sat in a chair for 2 hours. Matt came to visit from Towson and John was giving him knuckles and learning some new handshakes. Matt was able to witness John moving his left leg and hand even more. The doctors told us on Saturday that the fluid that had been tapped off of John's left pleural effusion had returned, and on Sunday they put in a chest tube and were able to remove 1300 cc's of fluid. The doctor's have explained that the fluid that keeps recollecting is not an uncommon side effect from the type of open heart surgery John underwent a month ago. They may also treat him with a short course of steroids or other medication to resolve the inflammation that they feel is causing the fluid collection. John understands that the fluid needs to be drained and is hopeful that this course of action will finally resolve this issue. The doctors believe this may be preventing him from getting off the ventilator completely. John's progress over the last month is no less than miraculous and we are acutely aware that God has in his mercy given us all a second chance to enjoy the gift of John's life. For this we are truly grateful. This past week, John has regained a bit more of his independence by standing on the side of his bed, drinking a few sips of water for the first time in a month and enjoyed a few brief visits from friends. He is daily showing us his determination to keep fighting and working hard to recover. We are eternally grateful for his will to fight through all of this and his patience with the slow and sometimes frustrating process of healing. Our continued prayer is for his lungs to be completely healed and for him to continue to progress and regain his strength and function through the daily sessions of physical therapy. We need to pray that he can remain free from infection and continue to strengthen his breathing muscles so that he can breathe on his on and move on with his recovery.
I think Aunt Maureen said it all perfectly. I wanted to share quickly that throughout everything John has been through, he remained a whole hearted follow of God. Even when things didn't go his way ( before and after the initial event), he remained steadfast in his belief and love for God. This is such a powerful lesson that we must really hold onto especilly as Uncle JOhn continues to face these hurdles to get off the ventilator. We cannot believe and honor God half heartedly only when things go our way. We have to continue to trust and pray that God will walk with John as he fights this latest battle. It seems like Uncle John keeps having to face problem after problem, but if he can remain faithful so must we! Let's continue to pray through the good times and bad!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
And so it continues...
And the good news keeps coming....today he was able to tolerate FIVE hours on the CPAP machine. And the best news yet, he was able to stand up on the side of the bed today. He had a lot of help, but he was able to use his hips to help. The physical therapist was very pleased and hopeful that this is the beginning of a health-filled recovery! Keep it up Uncle John. We are all so proud of your accomplishments so far, and we too are hopeful for a full recovery!
* I want to remind everyone who reads this to continue leaving encouraging comments. Aunt Maureen and the girls often read them to John and it gives him a sense of peace and strength to keep fighting.
* I want to remind everyone who reads this to continue leaving encouraging comments. Aunt Maureen and the girls often read them to John and it gives him a sense of peace and strength to keep fighting.
The All Amazing
Aunt Maureen called last night, and I have to admit I was expecting bad news. Shows how much trust I have, but it turns out 'all is good'. An x-ray showed that he did not have pneumothorax after all, but there was still some pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs). However, the doctors did not feel it was necessary to put in a chest tube because the amount of fluid was not that severe. Hooray!!! Uncle John's fever also broke the other night, which is so amazing. Well, he (John) has managed to scare us all again, but HE (God) has managed to amaze us once again!
Uncle John also was able to tolerate 3 hours on a CPAP, which is the lowest 'gauge', so to speak, on his ventilator. THANK THE LORD! God promises good things to those who believe, and he never fails to deliver. We should all be so pleased with the results that took place on Uncle John's one month anniversary! Let's continue to lift his spirit up in prayers and support his family through each step along this long road to recovery!!!!!
Uncle John also was able to tolerate 3 hours on a CPAP, which is the lowest 'gauge', so to speak, on his ventilator. THANK THE LORD! God promises good things to those who believe, and he never fails to deliver. We should all be so pleased with the results that took place on Uncle John's one month anniversary! Let's continue to lift his spirit up in prayers and support his family through each step along this long road to recovery!!!!!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Lives Changed
Well, the doctors were right and they were able to remove about the same amount of fluid from Uncle John's right lung. This is GREAT news! The bad part is that his fever is back, and so is the fluid. One of the complications that I was talking about in the previous post include something called a pneumothorax because of the chance of puncturing the lung during the procedure. Well, it looks like this is what happened, which has caused the fluid to come back and continue to surround the lungs. This may also be the cause of a possible infection, but that is unknown right now. Unfortunately because of this extra fluid, UNcle John may have to get a chest tube put in today. We need to pray that this is not the case, but if it is let's pray that it will work in helping to permanently remove this fluid from his lungs. We need to pray that God can continue to amaze us through UNcle John.
I was just talking to one of his daughters the other day, and we were talking about how crazy this past month has truly been. You always hear stories about how other people's lives have been changed in an instant, but you never think it will happen to you. Well exactly one month ago today, it did! In literally a matter of seconds the Hannan Family's world was turned upside down as their hero has had to fight for his life every day since the incident. Through this journey, hundreds of people across the country have also experienced a change in their life. We were discussing how much our faith has deepened through this journey with her dad. I know so many of you can relate to this new perspective on your faith in God and on your own life.
The bottom line is that life happens, and we will all experience times of trial. All we can do is lean on those around us and put our complete trust in God. I hope that through this journey, we have all learned that with God in our life, NOTHING is impossible. We need to remember to cherish every day with our loved ones, and to remember that we are not guaranteed anything. Our life truly is a gift from God, so we need to spend our lives, like Uncle John so humbly does, praising and following Him. Our only hope for a full recovery for John is that God will continue to let His hand show through and guide Uncle John to complete healing. I for one, am confident enough in this hope, and just pray that Uncle John can continue to fight through this latest hurdle.
I was just talking to one of his daughters the other day, and we were talking about how crazy this past month has truly been. You always hear stories about how other people's lives have been changed in an instant, but you never think it will happen to you. Well exactly one month ago today, it did! In literally a matter of seconds the Hannan Family's world was turned upside down as their hero has had to fight for his life every day since the incident. Through this journey, hundreds of people across the country have also experienced a change in their life. We were discussing how much our faith has deepened through this journey with her dad. I know so many of you can relate to this new perspective on your faith in God and on your own life.
The bottom line is that life happens, and we will all experience times of trial. All we can do is lean on those around us and put our complete trust in God. I hope that through this journey, we have all learned that with God in our life, NOTHING is impossible. We need to remember to cherish every day with our loved ones, and to remember that we are not guaranteed anything. Our life truly is a gift from God, so we need to spend our lives, like Uncle John so humbly does, praising and following Him. Our only hope for a full recovery for John is that God will continue to let His hand show through and guide Uncle John to complete healing. I for one, am confident enough in this hope, and just pray that Uncle John can continue to fight through this latest hurdle.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Positive Changes
I am so proud to report that Uncle John is continuing on his road to recovery. The doctors are very proud of his progress. Today the doctors 'tapped' his left lung and removed 1100 cc's of fluid. WOW! This has allowed him to relax more and breathe easier....at least on that side. The doctors plan to tap the right lung tomorrow, and are pretty sure that they will remove a similar amount. Let's pray that this procedure occurs free of complications. Hopefully, after the right lung is 'tapped', he will be on his way to breathing on his own.....it's not that simple, but it will be a good start!
He was more awake, and noticeably more comfortable today since his thoracentesis. Now that he is more alert, the doctors aren't wasting any time and they are putting Uncle John to work. They are going to start taking him off the ventilator for 30 minutes a few times a day to start retraining his breathing muscles. They are also starting to decreasing his tube feeding to intermittent feedings, instead of continuous. This is a sign of improvement on Uncle John's part. We need to pray that his body can tolerate these new changes, and he can start moving towards getting rid of the remaining tubes.
He was much more interactive today. He even gave Aunt Maureen three 'real' hugs today. Aunt Maureen has been waiting almost a month for a real hug, so for that simple gift I am so happy for her. Our prayers are being heard, so keep them coming!
He was more awake, and noticeably more comfortable today since his thoracentesis. Now that he is more alert, the doctors aren't wasting any time and they are putting Uncle John to work. They are going to start taking him off the ventilator for 30 minutes a few times a day to start retraining his breathing muscles. They are also starting to decreasing his tube feeding to intermittent feedings, instead of continuous. This is a sign of improvement on Uncle John's part. We need to pray that his body can tolerate these new changes, and he can start moving towards getting rid of the remaining tubes.
He was much more interactive today. He even gave Aunt Maureen three 'real' hugs today. Aunt Maureen has been waiting almost a month for a real hug, so for that simple gift I am so happy for her. Our prayers are being heard, so keep them coming!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Sunday's Challenge
Sorry for the lack of updates this weekend, but as I have said before in John's case no news is certainly good news. Uncle John has continued to make baby steps through the weekend. His white count has come down (meaning no more infection), and his blood pressure has stabilized. A huge step for Uncle John was that he was able to tolerate a two and a half hour breathing trial. Although his emotional self did get a little agitated and tired, his body stayed strong. He is also back to interacting with his family. His favorite thing to do these days is to kiss his lovely wife on the hands....awe!
I think some of us are hesitant to trust that John's baby steps will last because a week ago today it seemed like his tiny progress was crushed in a matter of seconds as he was headed back to the operating room for his third surgery. If we have learned anything from this journey it should be that our trust should not lie his John alone or his positive steps towards recovery. If our trust lies in any one of these factors than we will surely be disappointed at some point during this journey. Our trust must lie in God. If we can truly lay our fears and hopes regarding John's recovery at His feet than we will all be lifted of a huge burden. We, John's family and friends, will no longer go through our day with constant anxiety that Uncle John's progress might be pushed back. If we keep our trust in God's plan for John than both small steps forward or backward will be seen simply as 'part of the bigger plan'. This is a hard concept to follow. I know I struggle with trusting God completely especially when something goes 'wrong' or goes differently than I had wanted. However, I also know the feeling of complete freedom of worry and fear when I am able to trust in Him.
I think some of us are hesitant to trust that John's baby steps will last because a week ago today it seemed like his tiny progress was crushed in a matter of seconds as he was headed back to the operating room for his third surgery. If we have learned anything from this journey it should be that our trust should not lie his John alone or his positive steps towards recovery. If our trust lies in any one of these factors than we will surely be disappointed at some point during this journey. Our trust must lie in God. If we can truly lay our fears and hopes regarding John's recovery at His feet than we will all be lifted of a huge burden. We, John's family and friends, will no longer go through our day with constant anxiety that Uncle John's progress might be pushed back. If we keep our trust in God's plan for John than both small steps forward or backward will be seen simply as 'part of the bigger plan'. This is a hard concept to follow. I know I struggle with trusting God completely especially when something goes 'wrong' or goes differently than I had wanted. However, I also know the feeling of complete freedom of worry and fear when I am able to trust in Him.
So today, I challenge all of you to place all of your fears regarding the long road that lies ahead for this wonderful man and family at God's feet. I also challenge all of you to lift your worries about your own future up to God. I strongly believe everything will work out in the end; whatever that may entail for this family, I know they are in good hands. Our prayers and our support are still very much needed, but our faith that God will walk beside Uncle John is more important. Our prayers will be heard even more when they are not covered in anxiety and lack of trust in the unknown. Let's continue to lift this family up in prayers and hope for a full recovery.
I hope everyone enjoys their Sunday with their loved ones!
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