Thank You!

Hello everyone.  It's Chauncy sending out an update tonight.  Kelli and I want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for the great effort on the benefit in Sheridan over the weekend.  We are truly overwhelmed at the generosity and efforts of so many businesses, families, and individuals from Sheridan and other parts of the country that participated in our behalf.  Thank you is not enough but we want you to know that we appreciate it more than words can describe.  We would also like to thank everyone who has helped since the start of our ordeal.  Every positive thought, prayer, card, or financial gift has helped lift our burden which has been immense.  We will be transitioning back to Casper on a more permanent basis in the coming week and we're excited to be able to provide more stability for the kids and continue with Kelli's therapy from home.  Craig Hospital has been amazing and we feel it's time to work on our family's healing from home.  I am doing well...a few friends mentioned on my email that I hadn't posted in a long time.  I've been trying to let Kelli do it as part of her therapy but I'm doing well and excited to transition home.  Love you all, we'll update more soon. 

Johnson Family Benefit Fundraiser Reminder!!

The Johnson and Hoffmann Families are extremely excited about the upcoming "Johnson Family Benefit Fundraiser" taking place in Sheridan, WY, this Saturday, April 2nd.  We are truly grateful for the time, hard work, inspiration, and love that is continually shown to our family.  

Please check out the flyer for more information pertaining to this evening of entertainment and friendship at http://www.melaniearaas.com/benefit/JohnsonFundraiser-flyer-FINAL.pdf

THANK YOU to everyone involved in planning this event and to those who will attend and participate on Saturday evening.  Your support and encouragement mean more to us than you may ever know.  We all look forward to the opportunity to thank you in person and express our appreciation. 

  

Grandma Rita's Heartfelt Update

Hello Everyone,

It’s Mom, a.k.a. Grandma, a.k.a. Rita. It is my great privilege to update you on the happenings of late. On Friday, March 25, 2011 at 3:00 PM, Kelli was discharged from Craig Hospital having completed her journey as an inpatient at that marvelous facility. Kelli, Chauncy, Milli, Logan, Grandpa Brian and I then began the trip from Denver back home to Casper. Because they had accumulated a significant amount of STUFF during their time at Craig, we drove one truck, one SUV and one car loaded with STUFF. The trip was uneventful for the most part except for one stretch of interstate where it was sleeting and snowing quite heavily, but then that’s Wyoming in the spring, right?

Brian and I were apprehensive about our precious family’s return to their home in Casper knowing that this would be the first time Kelli had been there since December 24, 2010. We knew it would be tremendously difficult for both Kelli and Chauncy and of course it was, but the behavior Brian and I witnessed was the same quiet dignity and strength we had seen displayed by our children so many times before along this difficult journey. What an inspiration they are to all of us. Milli was ecstatic about being home. She ran straight upstairs to her room and pulled out all her toys. Even Logan seemed to know that he was home and was very happy to be there.

Although Kelli is tremendously improved and continues to improve daily, she is still in the healing stages of recovery from her traumatic brain injury and brachial plexus nerve injuries. Her right arm will require extensive outpatient physical therapy for which she will be returning to Craig Hospital three days each week, for the next four weeks at least. Then she and Chauncy hope to transition her therapy to a rehab hospital in Casper. We are all so thrilled to have our Kelli back, but she still needs lots of rest and quiet for her brain injury to fully heal.

I want you all to know what a wonderful, spiritual place of healing Craig Hospital is. The physicians, psychologists, therapists and technicians all work together to provide specialized healing tailored for each patient’s individual needs. We will be eternally grateful that not only Kelli but that Chauncy also received such excellent care at Craig, because not only the patient but the patient’s family is provided with whatever training and counseling they are in need of in adjusting to the tremendously difficult journey they are facing.

Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for all the prayers, thoughts, gifts and kindnesses that you have offered in behalf of Kelli, Chauncy, Milli, Logan and the Hoffmann and Johnson families.

Neck Brace Be Gone!!

Good Morning everyone! I didnt have time yesterday to post but IT'S OFF!!!!! my neck brace is off!!!! my doctor heard we were looking for him and came to my room yesterday morning and took it off himself! I was like a (young) school girl with a huge smile on my face all day after that!! and to quote Milli "mommy you look like Kelli again"!!!!!!! :)

So I hope this news can brighten your day as much as it has helped  mine!!! I will post again soon, love, Kelli

Neck Brace . . .

I am sure you all have been waiting to hear about my neck brace! And I hate to report that I still have it! I got the test done today that I have been waiting for but I still don't have the ok from my doctor...... not because the test showed anything negative (that I know) but because I couldn't track him down and begg him to look at the results! He is a busy guy who is taking good care of me, but who obviously hasn't been in this brace for 3 months :) 

Ok so stayed tuned til tomorrow! I will let you know! Love, Kelli

Hopeful!!

Good Morning everyone!! I just wanted to add a quick update on my neck! I still have the neck brace and it looks like I will have it until Monday at the earliest. So I am pretty bummed but hopeful for Monday! I hope you all have a good weekend! love you, Kelli

More Positive Progress!

Hello again everyone!

It has been awhile since my last post but I want you all to know that I am doing good! I am hoping to get my neck brace off this week!!! That would be really nice, but I will let you know if it happens or not.

Thank you once again for all of your thoughts and prayers. They are all helping! I'll write again soon! Love, Kelli