Happy Day

Jake is up and at it this morning, his spirited self. Everything went fine over night, Kev stayed with Jake and I headed to my aunts after a long day. We will be heading home already as Jake is the fasted healier around. Keep us in your prayers and we need to be on the watch for infection over the next month. I added a few pictures of Jakes weekend at the lake!

Mel

A good day.

Jake's surgery went off with out a hitch. They put a new tubing from the valve at the back of his head into his ventricle. This tubing is much longer, to accomidate his growth for the last year. The great part is that its the same size as an adults, so it shouldn't need changing due to size again. Also they put a different valve in that is for "adults". It flows more consistantly when lying and standing now that his head is fully formed (no soft spot).

There was a small amount of bleeding when the old tube was being removed, so keep that in your prayers, its bad only because that little bit of blood can clog the new valve, which they would again have to replace. We're mostly in the clear after tonight.

Kev's asked to stay the night with him at the hospital, so im off to my aunts for the night.

In one month is the peak risk of developing an infection so keep us in your prayers.

Ill try to write tomorrow!

Love,
Mel & Kev
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Surgery

Jake will be having a shunt revision today at noon. It's not a huge surgery, but every one is big to a parent. After all the trouble he's been having with the shunt this month they feel its best to lengthen the tubing from his valve into his head to allow for more growth. It will be done by scope with just a small incision. One night in hospital if all goes as planned.

I'll update our blog after surgery to let everyone know that things went well. Wish i would have realized i can post from my cell-phone last July!

Melody

PS. We were able to see Jan this weekend. His is so amazing, and Gods hand in his life and on his heart was so évident. He even called the cabin the next day to say thanks, his trach was capped and he is now able to fully talk. God is so good.
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Mothers Day Fun

We enjoyed a relaxing day in the sun north of Fort Mac. Jake enjoyed playing in the dirt while mom dirt biked around. And what outing would be complete with out hotdogs?

Mel

Spring Days

A few photos of event over the last weeks... M

News about Jake

So we met with the neurosurgeon this afternoon and he feels that Jake will need a shunt revision. The question is just when. Right now theres no swelling in the ventricles, but it's leaking small amounts of fluid around the site in his head. So we are to be back in 2dmonton Thurs next week, unless he seems more affected earlier in the week.

Keep him in your prayers this week, as he is having periods of unrest.

All in all it's'good news, nothings happening thats damaging anything or causing immediate concern.

Melody
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A Jake Update

We've had a long couple of weeks with Jakes shunt. It developed mild fluid collection around the pump, and we've been concerned about increased pressure in his head. Yesterday we saw our pediatrician in Ft Mac. Jakes blood pressure was slightly high which falls inline with a problem with his shunt. So at 8pm last night we packed up and drove to Edmonton. We're meeting with a different pediatric neurosurgeon, since ours is away till Monday. I'll keep posting.
M

The long road to recovery...

There's a blog for Jan step on at the following address, this will allow notes of encouragement for the family. Please see it for more information.

http://ashleykascak.blogspot.com

M

Sad news

A quick update on Jan:

A few clarifications from yesterday to get everyone on the same page. Jan was hit head on while returning home on his mountain bike in the morning. It was a hit and run, however the police have located the van and have possible leads to the suspect. He was talking when the ambulance arrived at the hospital, however with the high risk of a head injury (brain swelling) and pain management the medical team choose to induce a coma, which requires the person be intubated (a breathing tube) and on “life support”. He was transferred from Pentiction (spl?) to Kelowna ICU yesterday night, and was “declared” stable in the evening. Ashley and Kim are at the bedside as well as Jan’s mother Ann. Amanda with her fiancé Neil Hilman flew out there yesterday afternoon. My mom called this morning (her and my dad went out to be with Kim and the girls). Jan is stable, and so far clear of brain damage, however that takes a few days to totally be in the clear. He has a collapsed lung that last night seemed to resolve with a chest tube. A broken femur and wrist, multiple fractured ribs, and his face is very damaged. There is a chance that a vertebra is displaced so he remains in a neck brace and their not moving him until the specialists have taken more x-rays today. His face is going to require much care and attention, a plastic surgeon will be visiting the family today. Both cheeks, his jaw and nose are the majority of the fractures. I imagine (knowing a little of the medical field) this will require multiple surgeries, a few plates and possibly wiring his jaw shut. He remains intubated (a breathing tube), also called ventilated, because of the severity of the facial damages. He will have a tracheotomy (aka trach) today, which is a small hole through the lower throat to insert a breathing tube. That will allow them to operate on his face without the tube in his mouth. While his face is healing the trach will allow Jan to talk with out needing to breath through his nose and all the swelling. This will be a long road to recovery. This list of injuries seems endless, however a quick glance at the positives…. God has already answered prayers. While bones take time to heal, brain damage has life long impact on a person and family. Praise to god that he has already had his hand on Jan’s head. To all those bikers (both motorized and unmotorized) Jan would not be alive today if he hadn’t been wearing his helmet. His lung seems to be re inflated and working better, and they think it might not have been punctured. All the family was able to be here loving and supporting him. Had this been weeks earlier Ashley would be alone on the other side of the world. I gave Amanda a quick pep talk yesterday before she flew out, and feel that it applies to everyone. We believe in an all powerful God, one that listens to the cries of our heart and never leaves our side. Don’t stop praying or believing that he will do miracles. Our son is a powerful testimony that God does miracles, answers prayers, and uses tragedy to touch the lives of people around us. Don’t loose faith, our God is an awesome God. All we can do is continue to pray. Alright it wasn’t quite that eloquent, but she got the point…. J

Moving forward...

I know its been months since I last posted. Things are going well. Jake is growing like a weed. Here is a clip of his newest accomplishment... I'll try to write soon.

Melody