Keith

It is with incredible sadness that this will be our last post. Keith passed away suddenly without warning on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. His Dad, brothers Mark and Brian and his love Kristen along with his many friends and family are devastated. Keith had come so far and construction was to begin on a gym at his home this weekend. We have no doubt that Keith, given enough time, would have achieved his goals. There are no words to express everyone's pain. Keep Keith and his loved ones close in your heart. He will be forever in ours. We love you Keith, now and forever. 

KEITH UPDATE

It is now 20 months since Keith's accident. He just finished his second round (40 visits per round) of locomotor therapy. The great news is that he is still improving. They tested him Tuesday and Wednesday and he improved in all areas which is amazing. They felt he was getting voluntary twitching/movement in his thoracic area (back/ribs). Of course, not like you and me but these are areas where he was  told at AtlantiCare he would never have movement/feeling.

The bad news is he can't do locomotor or even get on the waiting list again for about 9 months. So Keith being Keith plans on making his own facility at home so he can use his quad gym year round, his eliptical type bike, his NeuroMove stim machine and he has his aunt who is like a pitbull with the insurance company looking into a stim bike for home use. He does not plan to sit around while waiting for locomotor. He will also have access to Magee's gym. If it was possible I wouldn't be surprised to see a zip line with a harness over a treadmill and Keith doing his own locomotor.

He is continuing his college coursework and living his life. Kristen supports him every step of the way in this journey. We are so very proud of what a wonderful young woman she is. We are proud of them both. It would be very easy for each of them to get swallowed up in this whole situation but they continue to live life and have hope for the future.

Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Let's hope 2013 is full of miraculous things for them.

Thank you all.

Keith Update

Keith has had a much better summer this year than last year. Keith, Kristen, Keith's brother Mark and friends Kristin and Jim went to the Outer Banks for a week the first week of August. This also celebrated Keith's 23rd birthday.

This time last year Keith was still in Jefferson Hospital recovering from much delayed surgery and preparing to go to Magee inpatient. This year Keith is working out at home on a handicapped accessible gym. He just got a phone call today that a spot finally opened up for locomotor therapy, the latest technique for trying to recover use of your legs by retraining them. In addition, Keith has been approved for a stim machine that he had much success with for his fingers and hands at Magee outpatient. Keith is one of the first to be approved for this device.

School is right around the corner and Keith is going to continue taking online classes while he does locomotor therapy and hopes to be able to take classes on campus in the near future. He also hopes to take his LSATs in the near future. Life moves forward and so does Keith.

So thanks to everyone for your support and prayers. Miracles big and small and Keith's hard work will get Keith back to a independent mobile paralysis free life. Keep the prayers and support coming. This is a marathon but the great news is Keith continues to make progress.

Keith Update

Well it has been awhile. Keith has made tremendous progress in rehab. For several months Keith was going twice a week and is much stronger. Being stronger he is more determined than ever to make this happen and regain his mobility and independence. He has movement in all five fingers of his right hand. Imagine what it would mean to get that hand back. What independence that would bring. This was achieved using a new stim machine called NeuroMove. It is expensive at $6,000 but the goal is to get a NeuroMove for home use. Keith has been discharged from therapy at this time and is on the waiting list for the latest locomotor therapy. He can't wait!!! Also on the wish list is a modern van that Keith would be able to drive himself to school. Keith did very well with his online classes but wants to get back to the land of the living and take classes on campus, finish his degree(s) and enter law school.
I have set up a fundraising campaign on indiegogo.com to try to raise funds to achieve these goals. If $300,000 can be raised for the bus aide lady then we might as well give it a shot. Please put the word out to friends, family, and anyone you think would like to invest in this terrific young man. Keith will pay all your kindness forward.
Here's hoping for a 2012 full of health, happiness and miracles.    

Keith's Evaluation

Just a quick update since Keith finally made it to Magee Rehab 
yesterday for an evaluation before starting his first outpatient rehab 
in a facility since he was discharged on 10/4.

Since the last time they evaluated him a couple of months ago he has 
substantially increased his arm strength and range. He increased his 
right side 5 degrees and his left side 10 degrees. He can pretty much 
put his arms over his head which is something the first doctor and that 
hell hole Atlanti-Care never thought he would be able to do. He also 
has increased movement a couple of fingers and his core area. Magee is 
very pleased with his progress especially taking into consideration it 
was all accomplished at home. He will be going twice a week for the 
next 8 weeks and then I guess it gets re-evaluated from there.

His standing glider has been approved so he will be able to do more at 
home.

Thank you all for your love and support and prayers. His miracle 
appears to be a very slow and steady one but as long as it gets him to 
the finish line we can live with that.

Keith Update

We are now approaching ten months since Keith's accident. Where has the 
time gone.

Some exciting things - Keith gets evaluated by Magee outpatient and 
hopefully schedules some appointments for outpatient rehab on 3/21. He 
also got approved for his own standing glider so he will be able to 
work out his legs at home. Still working the system on the outpatient 
surgery for his wound. He received his electric wheelchair and they are 
making some adjustments to it for positive reasons - they removed the 
support in the middle because his core is coming back and removed the 
heavily padded arm rests because he has good arm movement which is 
continuing to improve.

Kristen said Keith's arms and hands are continuing to improve. The 
progress is slow but steady. He has some movement in his thumb and 
index finger in his right hand and that continues to improve slowly and 
the hope is more stim at Magee will move that progress along.

Thanks for all your hopes and prayers. Keep them coming.

Keith and Kristen on NBC10 news

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/A-Love-That-Hasnt-Lost-Its-Feeling/139326468

Above is a link to a story about Keith and Kristen for Valentine's Day.

tomorrow Keith goes to a new wound care doc - special prayers he gets released for rehab.

Keith Update

We hope everyone had a great and healthy holiday season.

Keith is coming along. Unfortunately, he has yet to be released from the wound care doctor. He does, however, go next week for a second opinion in the hopes of getting to Magee for some more intensive physical therapy.

However, the ever inventive Dunnigan family has set up a system to help him exercise his arms while stretching his legs. He works on his own to exercise and strengthen his muscles and does have in home physical therapy.

Also on the upside, Keith has returned to school. It wasn't easy to cut through the red tape but he is taking three classes online and exercising that massive brain of his.

Hopefully, we can update next week with some good news about  therapy. Until then keep the prayers coming.

Keith Update

Just a brief Keith update.

 

Keith got his trake out today. Finally. He also has increased mobility in his core area. He can turn it like you are cracking your back as Kristen puts it. Unfortunately, there is concern for a sore on his butt so the wound care doctor has him on bedrest on an air mattress, which is driving him nuts. It has also delayed his outpatient therapy. He finally was approved for Magee. So one step at a time, one day at a time, he is working towards his goal.

 

Keith's mom's birthday is Christmas day so we are still hoping for the ultimate birthday gift of all, a Christmas miracle.

 

At this time of year we want to thank everyone for their support. We are well aware that we are not the only family who is dealing with adversity, which makes your support of Keith all the more special. Life isn't easy sometimes. There are days it is really really hard but we are thankful for all of you in our lives and you and your family are in our prayers as well.

 

Best wishes for a joyous holiday season and for a wonderful 2012. (It has to be better than 2011!!!!)

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who has given us so much support over the last six months.

Keith had a milestone this week. He was able to move his right index finger. The occupational therapist said she could feel all of the muscles in Keith's right arm (that doesn't include his hand) doing what they are supposed to do, they are just weak. His left arm is a bit behind but that is to be expected. He continues to make small but steady progress. With spinal cord injuries that's the way it goes. Keith plans to go back to school in January probably online but you can bet by next fall he will be on campus. 

Keith unfortunately is spending Thanksgiving in the hospital. Kristen is with him and his family will be joining him soon. He had an infection that they needed to treat and he has to be fever free for 24 hours before they will release him. That would be a day late for thanksgiving. He is considering a jailbreak.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and you will be in our prayers this holiday season. Please continue to keep Keith in yours and pray for that Christmas miracle.

November Update on Keith's Progress

 Five and a half months after his accident Keith continues to improve.

Here he is just hanging out on a Saturday afternoon in his motorcycle jacket and helmet. Never losing his sense of humor

 His stomach muscles are coming along and his triceps are getting stronger. He does not have to wear his abdominal binder or the support stockings he was wearing on his legs. His blood pressure has stabilized. He recently had xrays of his injury and if they are ok he will have his trake removed. He starts outpatient therapy soon. On November 3 he had his most recent appointment at Magee. They were pleased with his progress and the stomach muscles moving. In the case of a spinal cord injury, you celebrate each milestone but they unfortunately can't tell you if it means things will keep progressing. Rest assured Keith will keep at this until he regains his mobility.

 Keith's living space was recently completed and Kristen is having a grand old time decorating it.

 As the holidays approach, if everyone could pray for a Christmas miracle it would be wonderful. Keith's mom's birthday was Christmas Day and I know she would like nothing more than a gift for her son.

 Thanks to all for your love and support.

Keith Semi-Monthly Update

Keith has been receiving physical therapy and occupational therapy at home. They have been working on strengthening his core and he can move his stomach muscles. He can't suck them in like you and me but he gets a little stronger with them every day. They are working on having him sit up - maintaining a sitting position without support. So many things we do without even thinking he has to take great pains in teaching his muscles all over again.

The Dunnigans were able to find a van. Thank you to those of you who put feelers out there. The van has hand controls so while it may not be the corvette he has his sights on, it is transportation and when he is stronger he plans on driving it. 

Senses Fail started mailing out the t-shirts and the pope apparently blessed one of his wristbands for him and a relic is on its way from the newly canonized Don Guanella. We aren't leaving any stone unturned in our fight to get Keith the help he needs - literally moving heaven and earth.

Keith plans to return to school in January in some form. Hopefully, in person but at the very least online. Any information anyone may have on grants, scholarships, etc. pass them on. We are in the infancy stages of learning what is available out there so every little piece of information helps.

Thanks for all the prayers and support through everything whether it be a t-shirt, a wristband, a prayer, mentioning Keith's situation to someone who might be able to be of assistance, anything and everything that everyone has done and continues to do is greatly appreciated. 

Have a great weekend, be careful in the SNOW - can't even believe I just typed that on 10/28.