Update, May 15 - Progress, slow but steady....

Wanted to pass on a message sent on Kelleys yahoo support group from
oneof the support group members recently. I also got a similar report
today from Sue C. and Hilde who helped out with Kelleys PT on Tuesday.
Everyone who has helped with her PT is very impressed with her progress
and how hard she is working. The PT therapist told Sue C. that Kelley has
progressed from a 0 to a 1 , on a 5 point scale in terms of her
motor function in her lower body. Just 4 more steps to go. Please
include in your prayers for Kelley, gratitude for Kelleys support group
that are helping her on this journey.

" HI everyone,
Just wanted to let you know how Kelley did at PT last Friday. Kelley
is getting stronger and has better balance. Kel is making some real
good progress. Kelley is working out in the gym and in the pool. In
the pool Kelley is beginning to have some control of her legs. Some of
her muscle groups were really trying to fire (gluts, hams, quads
etc...). The movements are subtle but they are there. The nerve pain
is still taking her breath away at times (@#&$)(#*$)#*)$(*#), but is
does pass.

Please continue to send Kelley your love and healing thoughts. Kelley
is able to surf your energy when she is running low.
Take care. In healing,
Tori"

Back on the Water

Thought you might enjoy this photo taken this past weekend. Me, Kelley, and the boys got out on both Sunday and Monday this past weekend . This has been a great experience for both of us. Its still hard to see how tough Kelleys mornings and afternoons are, when she has to deal with her tough pain cycles. But this couple of hours in the middle of the day has been a definite high to counteract those lows. Kelley is still not really ready to manage the blog yet, so I will continue to be her voice for alittle while longer. Both her and Kurt are still pretty overwhelmed managing this all, and its not likely to change any time soon. But please do call or email Kelley and reach out to her personally. She definitely wants to interact with folks, the blog is just alittle to broad and impersonal for her. And definitely call for a visit if you are going to be in the area. Kelley is alone a fair bit some days, and evenings as well, when Kurt is at work. So company is often welcome. Just call ahead a time to schedule to make sure you can come by at a good time . Thanks, Sue

On the Water today!

You will be hearing from Kelley soon, but I wore her out today, so am doing the Blog tonight. We went out in my double sea kayak today in Lake Natoma (with our pups Wilbur and Roscoe of course). We were out for about an hour. After getting through some initial trepidation dealing with the logistics of entry, we were on our way. Kelley got stronger and stronger throughout the hour, and by the time we were heading back we were cruisin! It felt really good to Kelley to be on the water, and I am leaving the boat down so she can start going out regularly. More later, but it was a GREAT DAY! Sue

April 23 Update

Well just had a good conversation today with Kelley, we had a bit of catching up to do since I had been gone on vacation for a week. Not to much has changed, she still has intense nerve pain (particularly between 3 to about 5 pm), but is staying on top of PT before that kicks in. She is particularly enjoying her pool PT, and says her balance and ability to move her legs in the pool continue to improve by small degrees. She also thinks she may have found a good acupunturist, this is #3 right now. It is frustrating how many not so good acupuncturists and chiropractors there are out there, because when you find a good one you really "get" the magic they can accomplish when they really know their stuff. ....So we got some plans for this weekend, since I haven't seen her for a few weeks. We are going to try to paddle this weekend at lake Natoma, (in some sort of lake kayak), and I am going to show her how to post on this blog so she can start telling her own story....

Many of you know her friend Spencer who is fighting his own battle with cancer right now, and have been following his blog. Kelley has incredible admiration for his unique ability to tell his story through his own difficult challenge. I will continue to help Kelley with her blog,and she will tell her story differently then Spencer, but you can expect to hear from her directly more in the future.

I have also been reading Spencers blog regularly. As sad as it is that these two special people are facing such trials right now, being part of this experience has been incredibly powerful. Spencers wisdom and heart, Kelleys strength and perseverence, and for both, the courage and grace that keeps breaking through as they face there individual challenges has profoundly affected many of us. I know my life and perspective has been forever changed. So with the sadness and fear about what lies ahead, there is also hope and inspiration. The next blog will be from Kelley, so stay tuned.... Sue

April 5, Update

No big news to report since the last blog. Kelleys condition is about the same, and she is continuing to push herself more to get out and do things despite the nerve pain discomfort and the effects of the drugs. Last weekend we had a fairly lengthy outing at a local park, to check out the vernal pools and let the dogs cavort at the dog park. Its still a tough go though, and the drugs make her very tired sometimes.

We are continuing to schedule fundraising efforts to make sure money does not become an issue. So far things are stable relative to that. Her insurance is awsome, and her NTAF account balance currently adequate to pick up what insurance doesn't cover. However her physical therapy and accupunture insurance limits are likely to run out well before the calendar year is over, and they are critical to keep going.

So thinking ahead, there are a few things coming up. The Yampa trip donated by OARS over Memorial Day weekend is almost full. George (the owner) is going to donate all the profit from the trip to Kelley. A special bonus for that trip is Julie Munger and her partner Abby are going to come, and are working on getting permission from the Park Service to bring riverboards for the customers to use with them as guides/instructors on the trip.

We also are going to show the 3 women, 3 hundred miles DVD at the Louden Nelson Auditorium in Santa Cruz, on Saturday June 7. Will send a reminder as that gets closer. I also have gotten 100 copies of this DVD to sell. See details for that to the left side of the page if you want to purchase, 90% of the proceeds go to kelley from the DVD sales. Thats all for now, Sue

March 21 Update

Sorry for the long time between updates, but here is the latest. Kelley and Kurt just went through a stressful time because Kurt developed an injury in his shoulder from a hard paddling workout that somehow turned into a serious staff infection. Dealing with that was pretty intense for awhile. Thank goodness for Leona (Kelleys Mom) who took care of both of them until Kurt was through the worst of it, and other friends who brought by food and helped drive them to doctors appts. He is on the mend now, although his shoulder is definitely going to need some rehab. So they will both be doing physical therapy for awhile. Kelley is still dealing with nerve pain and her drugs and because of that it is often hard for her to focus and maintain her energy. But in the past week or so she has really forced herself to push through and stay steady on her physical therapy. She has also gotten a couple of acupuncture treatments. She continues to feel more and more sensation in her lower extremities, and can "feel" touch on her skin in areas that she couldn't feel before. In addition to still being able to move some toes on her left foot, she also was just able to move a toe on the right foot in the last couple of days. So the flow continues... still a trickle but flow none the less... I also had the opportunity to show the "3 women, 3 hundred miles" DVD at the F.O.R. conference last weekend. Had a very enthusiastic audience of about 60 to 70 people, ,sold 11 copies of the DVD, and got a couple of donations, which will go to Kelleys NTAF account. I don't have to tell you how emotional it is to watch this DVD, and how much I look forward to the day when we can once again share adventure in the rivers and oceans again with our friend. Until next time, keep Kelley, Kurt, and Leona in your thoughts and prayers. Sue

February 26 Update

Had a good conversation with Kelley this past weekend, and she shared some encouraging news. She was able to move a couple of her toes, while concentrating on it. I know it isn't much but we are hopeful it is just the start of a trickle of sand that will continue to gain momentum. This week she is also scheduled to start her first water therapy session, first at the physical therapy clinic, and then later in the week, with a couple of friends at 24 hour fitness. The pain is still her regular unwanted companion, but she does feel it is reducing in intensity. At any rate she is encouraged by these positive events and looking forward to moving to another level in her physical therapy. Sue