Jordan with Shasta
🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯 The end of the four day weekend for Thanksgiving and there was oh so many reasons to give Thanks.... First and foremost, the fact that we were able to celebrate as a COMPLETE family . Never was I so happy , content and grateful to look across the dinner table at the faces of my children chattering about nothing in particular with their cousin , Jake. My favorite holiday since coming to the States - a day to do nothing but enjoy good company of family and friends , a wonderful meal, a day of rest .. Life's simple joys. Except now I am so much more aware those things are not so simple, not to be taken for granted and ALWAYS to be savored.... Jordan continues to take small steps towards where we aim for him to be. A little more stability through his upper body , a little more strength in his left arm, and even a little more spring in his jump!! It is a lot of 2 steps forward & 1 step back- as we focus on one thing another peeters off ...... John & I acknowledge there is still a very long way to go til we'll see the Finish Line but in the spirit of this past weekend , we give Thanks that we have been given the opportunity to travel along the path and we shall continue to guide Jordan to the best of our ability... THANK YOU, too, to all of you who choose to travel with us 💜💜 🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯 Recorded November 17 & Jordan shows just how far he's come . Edit ( therapist) is not holding him just spotting .. A few weeks ago this would not have been an option!!! 😃 😃😃 🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯 Here we are just about 24 hours from the 6 month point of when all this began. Time has flown & yet inches along at the same time. Jordan has made incredible progress from his initial surgery when we were truly not sure if he would make it through.... However, the one thing we can count on is not to get too comfortable in our routine and sure enough this past week - after the contrast of a relaxing long weekend away- we were reminded of just that.... We had a slight complication which sent us through a series of Doctors' appointments & various tests over a period of 2 days causing John & I that all too familiar " pit - in- the- stomach " feeling ,& Jordan's first absent day from school , much to his disappointment ... " I was going for perfect attendance this year , Mom"!!!! THANKFULLY, all turned out for the best & it was a false alarm but I don't think John or I took a full breath during those 48 hours ...... As usual, Jordan was a trooper & continues to remind me just how strong the human spirit can be & as for Tara , she has handled all this much better than I could have at her age. She really is a remarkable young lady whom we are ever proud to call our daughter. Full week of school ahead & , hopefully, no added surprises ..... Unless our lotto numbers come up.... That would be acceptable!!!! Here's to a week of smooth sailing for all of you & please keep Jordan in your Prayers if you would. We have witnessed first hand their power & although he has come far we still have a long road ahead to navigate.... 🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯 Several actually!! This past weekend the family headed down to Carlsbad , California for some long overdue R& R!! The kids always love the adventure of staying in a hotel & this one was quite delightful. Lovely view overlooking the pool& beach, nice outdoor seating area with fire pit and awesome valet guys- so helpful & accommodating . The best part of the weekend was not having to run to a strict timetable , waking to the natural morning glow ,discovering some delightful local activities & enjoying the slightly cooler temperatures while being blessed with near perfect days of blue skies , fluffy clouds & just the right amount of breeze. 😊 We started with a festive Halloween Trick or Treat in one of the local neighborhoods of a longtime friend. Everyone went all out& we , too , made a family effort .... While there was no typical OT , PT or other treatments while away, Jordan did get some hands on experience on various instruments at the Museum of Making Music& was delighted to purchase a miniature hand cranked music box that plays " Yesterday" - his new favorite pastime to listen to it over & over . Tara also enjoyed learning about the various eras & artists represented there. A short visit to the beach to use the sand to help strengthen the plantar ( sole) side of Jordan's foot . He wasn't able to last too long but it gave us a new base line to go from for future trips , to last longer than 30 minutes.... And the waves brought out squeals of delight from little sis!! Legoland was fun & not too crowded & John & I were thrilled to see Jordan have a go at the rope wall in the Fort playground - not once but twice - with minimal help from moi the second run thru. He even tried his hand at " piloting" one of the boats in the harbor at the mini Lego village by remote control. If I had to speak for Jordan , I think he would say his favorite part of the vacation ( apart from the extra sleep we snuck in) was drifting around the pool on Dads back , feeling weightless and completely relaxed - followed by a session in the jacuzzi!!! Pretty hard to argue with that , huh?? Back to school tomorrow but , hopefully, with a renewed energy& a good amount of reduced stress. And , Hey, not too long to wait til their next long weekend. Special Thanks to our friend Amy for suggesting we make a trip down to visit in the first place . It was just what the Doctor ordered!! It was great to catch up & we look forward to our next family adventure- mini or extended..... This was our first clue it was going to be a great weekend Halloween Box Trolls & Monster High Museum of Making Music Aquarium at Legoland |
Donations can be made by going into any Wells Fargo Bank and depositing into the Jordan Juliano Benefit Donate Fund
Jordan's StoryFrom John, Melissa & Tara Juliano
Hello everyone, We wanted to include all of our friends in this trying time for our family. Last night, Saturday May 17th at about 5:40pm Jordan fell and received a severe head injury. All three of us heard it happen but none of us saw it. As best as we can summize Jordan was running into the bathroom and went to stop on the tile and his feet slipped out from under him which caused his head to hit very hard on the tile floor. He was responsive at first but after some questioning we realized he needed more advanced care and called 911. HFD arrived within 2 to 3 minutes and we were on our way to St. Rose after 7 total minutes from the call. It seemed painfully longer. Soon after we set of in the ambulance the Paramedic diverted out destination to Sunrise Hospital Childrens Center. If jordan had any hope of a return to the normal boy we know and love that decision was the best decision in a string of great care thet Jordan has received. On the way Jordan's condition gradually became worse. We arrived at Sunrise Hospital Trauma and they wheeled him right in with me following. I answered as many question as I could as they worked on him. They soon asked me to step out to the waiting room. Soon after that the Neurosurgon found us and gave us the situation plainly and clearly. Jordan was very sick and they needed to work aggressively to save his life. The hardest part was hearing that he might not make it through the surgery. . . .We signed te papers and walked with beside his bed to the O.R. We were all allowed tt give him a kiss and then we were walked to the waiting lounge. That was the longest and worst 3 hours of our lives. Tara had many questions and because she had been witness to all the events leading up to now we decided to talk plainly and openly as to the possible results. The Doctor finally came out and said Jordan was doing as fine as he could. His vitals were strong throughout the surgery and when she visualized his brain it looked good but that was only seeing it. there is much more within the brain. We were finally allowed back into the room and saw that Jordan was heavily sedated and was being give blood preaure meds, antibiotics, sedatives, Saline, on a ventilator to breath for him, etc. He has a long road ahead of him. We soon found out children were not allowed to stay over night so Melissa took Tara home and I stayed with Jordan for the first night. All was fine through the first night. In the morning he started to show a higher brain pressure and started to get rid of more fluid (urine) than normal. They took him for another CAT scan and when the doctor came back she was ver pleased with how it looks. We're not quite out of the woods yet, we have another hurdle to overcome. They need to take another CAT scan tomorrow (Monday) morning because the signs of a stroke do not show up until after 24 hours has passed. His reaction to stimulus is positive. When they rub his chest he responds as they feel he should. When they wiggle the IV in his arm he moves that arm slightly. He has gaged at the airtube helping him breath. These are all small but positive signs. This is where we are at currently. I will try and update this as soon as we have any new info to add. The hospital Jordan is staying in is on lower right but we are not in the system yet because we are still listed as a trauma. As soon as we get a real room and not an ICU bed I will update the info. Lastly, If you have received the invatation to this site we consider you firends who even though we may not see you all the time we think of you often. Could you please send out the biggest amount of positive thoughts and/or prayers for Jordan. I know he feels it. We sure do. Love John, Melissa, JORDAN & Tara. Help JordanPlease help us help Jordan and his family after Jordan suffered a terrible brain injury after a fall in his home.On Saturday, May 17th, Jordan Juliano suffered a terrible brain injury after an accidental fall in his home. Jordan is an amazing young man who is in great need of our community's generosity. Jordan is a competitive gymnast, terrific student, and all around amazing young man. His family is faced with the mounting medical bills associated with his treatment. Their insurance will cover some of it but not all it. Jordan will require specialized treatment at an out-of-state facility. The costs of this treatment are staggering and any help and assistance is deeply appreciated.
Brian Gabrielson Team Captain & Friend Archives
August 2016
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