Mark's Journey Back Home

What happend to Mark?

Wed, 07 Jul 2004 05:41:35 GMT

Many friends want to ask, but can't, many are afraid to know. But I will let you have the choice.

This link will take you to the news article about Mark's accident:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20040419-0946-bicycle.html

Bicyclist critically injured in La Jolla

SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES

9:46 a.m. April 19, 2004

SignOnSanDiego

A Toyota truck is parked in the intersection of La Jolla Village Drive and Genesee Avenue after being in an accident with a bicyclist.

LA JOLLA – A 43-year-old man suffered massive head injuries today when he was struck by a vehicle at a busy La Jolla intersection, San Diego police said.

The bicyclist rode through a red light as he headed north on Genesee Avenue and was hit by a Toyota traveling west on La Jolla Village Drive at about 7:30 a.m., Sgt. Rodney Vandiver said.

The man, whose name was not released, was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and treated for massive head injuries, San Diego police spokesman David Cohen said.

Traffic at the intersection was closed as police investigated the accident, Cohen said.

Oh! my 7 days without an update!!!

Fri, 23 Jul 2004 01:22:52 GMT

Sorry Folks!

But this week has been more than crazy. Vidia (Our kid) got sick down in Tijuana, Mexico.So I had to go up and down the International boarder several times.

Any way, I am happy to share that since we last posted, Mark has been "capped"or "Pluged"

decannulation plug/cap - Attaches to the outer cannula of a fenestrated tracheostomy tube when the inner cannula has been removed. Blocks airflow through the tracheostomy tube and directs breathing through the mouth and nose.

This is how it looks, only that he has a little red cap over the oppening. (I have taken pictures for Mark's journal of his own capping, but I need to get them to the photo place)

This is how it looks when connected to the oxygen and moisture dispenser.

This means that their getting him ready to have his traqueostomy tube out. It means that he has about a week breathing on his own, with good oxygen status.

It means moving on to a new face of recovery and maybe even now working on getting the G-tube (gastric tube) out and moving onto food!!!!

His hand tone has gotten better too. His right leg is moving and feeling stimulation like fingers rubbing the foot area and bending the knee or pulling away.

IT TOOK OVER A MONTH BUT DECCANULATION WAS ACHIEVED!!!!

Tue, 17 Aug 2004 15:23:12 GMT

Sorry, but these past days have been very full, starting with visits (Pia came from Victoria in BC, Canada), I am working on getting Mark's books in some kind of order to gain open space in our little apartment, to finally Mark having ACHIEVED DECCANULATION !!!!

Now we will focus on gaining oral control for eating, swalloing and talking (Thank you again Garret for getting the information to us so we can help Mark get there!).

It happend yesterday morning, he got the canula out from his neck and he did well all day long, we even had some time to go sit under the sun. Mark is using a "Geri Chair" (to know more go to: http://lifts.articleinsider.com/24318_geriatric_chair.html)

so we can take him safely around the facility. They look more or less like this:

So this kind of chair has a back support that can tilt-back this helps the person "gain" sitting control of spine and neck. It also can elevate his legs to avoid blood pooling in the feet.

Any way, he looked good and I hope today will be a good day to.

A great example of recovery!!

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 02:27:59 GMT

In Villa Las Palmas, we got the opportuny to meet a young man (only 18 years old) who like Mark suffered a brain injury. His recovery is recorded with much love in a website that his mom has dedicated to him.

Please share the joy of another BI troupper that is going back home, to regain his life and to show the world that their is life after an injury of this magnitud!

Here is the address to the site: ( This site is currently under construction, we are sending an e-mail to his parents Jan/15/2008)

http://ayersmedicalconsulting.com/index.htm

Mark in the News...

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 07:10:15 GMT

Hello everyone!.... Yes we are terrible updating this blog, but a full revamp is soon here!

For now we wanted to share this:

Challenge Center featured in Union Tribune Article

PEGGY PEATTIE / Union-Tribune
Every year, residents around the county pay tax dollars to four districts responsible for overseeing public hospitals.

And every year, part of their money goes to causes that have little to do with the hospitals, such as a struggling fire district, a rehabilitation center or a senior citizens club.

Brain-injury patient Mark Israel took a few steps...

(click here to read full article)

Standing Frame!!!

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 04:37:20 GMT

Well this day has been busy and full as always, but it had a little extra:

Mark was put on the Standing Frame for the first time!!

It was hard and painful, but he did it. But he wants another go at it. He did need assitance from three rehab ladies (we love ya' all), plus one overachiving wife.

This is what a standing frame looks like:

I want to take a picture of Mark in it I will try tomorrow. If he lets me...

The frame is good for:

Natural sit-to-stand transition allows user to stop at any position.

User is fully supported from sitting to standing.

It works well with people who have limited range of motion.

Ease of use increases compliance with standing programs.

Helps with adnormal tone

Before this he was using a Tilting table. It did all the work for him, but helped with balance issues. It look a like this:

Wow almost two years with no postings!!!

Tue, 29 May 2007 02:48:52 GMT

Hello and thanks for all the comments and e-mails!

It has beem almost two years since our last post. Mark had just graduated from the Sharp Intensive Rehab Clinic and home was, well home again.

To my surprised today when Mark wanted to start working with the Alt.usage web site, we found a link to our own journal!

Oy! what a trip down memory lane for me. For Mark it was good as he said it help him see himself before he had more control of his body.

It was hard to read about how he could not even move a leg or how he was not able to follow me with his eyes.

Right now after celebrating his third year since the accident, Mark is still home with us, still going every day to a wonderful rehab gym call Challenge Center, in La Mesa here in the San Diego area.

Last post we told you Mark was eating out for the first time, since then we have enjoyed many, many outings, overcome the fact that he could not drink thin liquids (which he can now), he slowly but steady is regaining his magnificent voice, and is actively getting Gait training.

That's right folks, the guy who three years ago was recomendent for disconecting of life support systems, is now relearning to walk, argues with me constantly (and corrects my spelling) and tells me all the right stuff to keep me going!

For all those who are new to brain injuries, don't give up.... It's a long road, a hard road, and I would take it again for him in a heart beat.

I LOVE YOU MARK, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK......

Mark's first cinema visit after hospital

Thu, 07 Jul 2005 08:07:34 GMT

Here are some pictures of Mark's first visit to the movies, plus eating some greek food (mainly a gyro).

Mark is home!!!

Wed, 29 Jun 2005 01:11:47 GMT

We have two months of pictures to share from Mark's acute rehab at sharp. We have many ideas to share too, but right now we are still just enjoying the fact that he is home. After one year and four months, he is here.

We still have many more challenges to overcome, more gains to have, but the fact that our life is not dictated by a hospital policy, a nursing home or someone else, is just incredible.

Acute rehab!!!!

Tue, 19 Apr 2005 03:49:57 GMT

Well after months of stimulation, tears and pain, Mark is ready to go to acute rehab. After that is home. We could be talking about as soon as 6 to 8 weeks. Tomorrow is the one year aniversay of his accident, we desided not to call him victim or survivor.... He is a dedicated, hardheaded (in more ways then one), but most of all he is simply our Mark. He is a fighter! This is his comeback!

I love you Mark, I will always hold your hand...

Now for some updates:

Mark no longer has a feeding tube. He is almost eating like his old self.

Mark can read very good now, so please let the e-mails rain on him : )

He has started to regain use of his right hand (about three days ago he started to slowly take food with it).

His right leg has almost reach the abilities of the left one.

His voice is still lost, but we try every day to find it. He is working very hard to make it possible for me to fall in love with that voice one more time! Not that I am not in love with the "big-log" in general. : )

He kisses and hugs me and Vidia, he enjoys the little things we were hopping he could still have. He still gets very pround of our kid's merits. He is here, just alittle crack here and there. For us this is our personal miracle.