Thanksgiving week...

This has been an eventful week for John. He started of the week by being moved to a new "facility". The new place is called Mentis and they work specifically with folks who have brain injuries and/or head trauma. The focus now is to help John regain some more of his life skills and independence.

Since June, John has been to 4 different hospitals and facilities. One of the things that Holly and I both noticed about this move was just how much easier this transition and move was from a logisitical standpoint. When we moved from the hospital to Triumph, it took almost an hour just to disconnect John from all the tubes and wires running into his body and we were so nervous that something would go wrong. Then, in the move from Triumph to TIRR there was huge concern that John wouldn't receive adequate nursing because he was being moved from an acute care setting to one with shared nursing staff.

This recent move was simply a matter of loading John's personal stuff and him into Holly's truck and driving him from TIRR to Mentis. Needless to say, it wasn't lost on us just how far John has come over the past 6 months. There is always trepidation with change because we get comfortable at each place knowing that John is stable but so far we have been very blessed that John has consistently received top-knotch care and we have no reason to believe that this won't continue at Mentis. This is a small facility housing no more than 20 patients and each of them have their own room. Residents are encouraged to help with meal preparation and receive occupational and physical therapy throughout the day. The true focus is to enable residents to be able to live more independently so there is a bit of a pulling back of the constant family presence. While we are still very much involved, John is in the process of regaining who he is as a person and as an individual and he is allowed to do so while under the watchful eye of more objective professionals. This is simply the next step in John's magnificent journey!

On Thanksgiving day, John had a pass to leave Mentis and Holly and he spent the day visiting with family. The above pictures of farm animals are at the FHA barn where John and Holly's niece Sydney is raising a goat...(she named the goat JohnJohn!)

November 19...Raffle update

Softball/Raffle Slideshow

The above is a link to photos from the softball tournament and raffle drawing. Thanks so much to Samuel Karnes for putting the pictures together in such an artistic way!

This is a week which helps us to pause and reflect for things we are thankful for. In the course of my life I have seen generosity and been blessed with amazing friends and family members. I have never experienced the level of generosity or outpouring of support like I have seen for John and Holly. I consistently feel lucky to have John in my life and being able to meet people who work with him or know him is a constant reminder of how he has lived his life and a basis for comparison about what it means to live life with compassion and spirit.

Over the past couple of months, there has been a raffle to benefit and help defer John's medical costs. This raffle was spearheaded by Kate Stohl and the drawing was held today. For those of you who purchased tickets, thank you! Holly asked me to post the following on her behalf:
Mel, please post the following:
~ I AM BEYOND TOUCHED AND NO WORDS CAN EXPRESS HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO EVERYONE. I WISH I COULD THANK EVERYONE PERSONALLY. JUST THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT WENT INTO THE WHOLE EVENT AND HOW ASTOUNDING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY RAISED WAS. I ALSO WANT TO INCLUDE THAT THIS WILL HELP SO MUCH WITH HIS CARE. I AM STILL IN SHOCK AT THE AMOUNT THEY RAISED AND AM SOOO BEYOND GRATEFUL…..

I would like to mention that the amount raised was close to $11,000 dollars! We simply cannot tell you how shocked we are and want each of you to know that this money will go directly toward helping John through his coming months of medical care. We are in awe at how hard each person worked to help out John and Holly and words simply cannot express the level of gratitude in our hearts.

November 17 Softball updates!

John getting updates on tournament progress:

T!

SWING TODD, SWING!!!

Relaxing, dugout style!

Hudd's Red Raiders

The Melonballers:

Simply Maria...

Best cheerleaders ever!

Beth selling raffle tickets...

Todd Oliver and his Dad...Yes, his dad played!

Kate Stohl...raffle chairperson extraordinaire!

Guarding the Brackets!

Holly throwing out the first (and second) pitch!

Tina keeping the field in perfect playing condition!

Yay softball!


On November 7, the Spring Branch Health and Fitness Teachers Association held it's 3rd annual softball tournament. This was a tournament that John had been involved with the planning and organizing of and his fellow teachers really stepped up to continue the tradition even adding a bracket for so that John's friends and family could play. The tournament had a bracket for the more advanced players and another bracket for recreational teams and I can tell you that a fantastic time was had by all involved. I should tell you that if you haven't played softball in a few years, or ever, you should expect to be in pain for several days afterward! Most of our players in the recreational bracket reported needing a few days of recuperation but I want to personally thank everyone who participated. I simply cannot express how much fun the tournament was and we are still talking about what a great day it was. Holly threw out the first (and second) pitch at the Memorial field and later left to go to TIRR to see and update John about the days events. Our hope is that next year John will be able to attend and be an integral part of putting the tourney on once again!

Sometimes in life you do things that you think are going to be fun but there are unexpected turns of events which take it to another level. The day of softball was just such a day. There was a sea of red "coaches crew" t-shirts and the vibe at the field was indescribable. All day, I met folks who know John and heard stories about him and his years of teaching at Spring Branch Elementary. There were people there who have overcome similar hurdles in their lives and some of the stories I have heard make me realize that the human condition and resiliency we are given at birth can help us to overcome most anything thrown our way.

There are so many people to thank for making the tournament possible and I want to mention that each of the organizers put their heart and soul into it and made it a complete success. Samuel Karnes was the first to, "Step up to the plate", and put together teams, brackets and fields and his supporting cast of so many who took time out of their busy schedules to lend a helping hand where needed. We are currently in the process of compiling photos from the day from all three fields and I hope to be able to post some more of them soon but if you would like the complete photo catalog, shoot me an email and I will try to get it to you. If you have some pictures you would like included that you haven't forwarded to Samuel, you can do so by emailing him at: Samuel.Karns@springbranchisd.com

November 13...Happy 40th Birthday John!

Today is John's 40th birthday! He entered the world some four decades ago and the world is a better place because of it. John has spent his life bringing smiles to people's faces...family, friends, co-workers and strangers alike and continues to do so. John's co-workers Rebecca, Michelle and Maria came and brought with them some special deliveries...hand-made cards from all of John's students (they are in 6 different binders!), some of John's favorite treats including pop tarts and m&m's, and a Nintendo DS gaming system to help him pass the time. Thanks so much to them and to all of John's friends and co-workers!

I should mention that I am in the process of collecting photographs from the softball tournament and will tell you that it was a huge success and the most fun day of sports (and most painful!) that most of us had in a very long time. The one thing which would have made it perfect would have been for John to be there but we are hopeful that by his 41st birthday, he will.

40 years of life is a milestone and a time to look back and think about what you've done and think about some things that you might want to change about yourself. If statistical information is correct, it marks the approximate halfway point in the average male's life and is supposed to be the place where home, family and health all come together as one to provide a firm foundation for the rest of the years to be spent. But, this is not John's path. His path will require him to hone all skills and strength he has gained throughout his life to fight to complete the second half.

The thing is that he has done absolutely nothing wrong and, in fact, most things right, but for some reason he is left trying to grasp at the minutia in an effort to survive and thrive. There is no explanation as to why this had to happen to him. We think and search and dig but we cannot control it and we aren't driving. There is awe, surprise and at times even anger as we try to grasp for meaning for this unexplainable and horrifying event. Every single thing changed on June 2 for John and everyone connected to him. Each day presents challenges for John. Walking requires effort. Talking requires thought. Memory and sensory perception comes from a place within him...his core and necessitates effort to retrieve.

What seems to not require any effort whatsoever is his continued ability to love and to want others around him to be happy and laugh. When we are with him at mealtime, he always prays before eating and always tries to give us his food. He will offer his food to us many times throughout his meal and seems to feel bad about eating in front of us. He is most happy when we eat too! He constantly tells us thank you and at times tells us to be patient with him. He is at times exceptionally lucid and at other times he is confused...trying to place things in his mind back into their rightful place after the "earthquake" knocked everything off of his mental shelves. This process is laborious for him but you can see him working, and fighting every minute of every day to get back to where he was before the heart attack. If passion and perseverance are the keys to healing, there is little doubt that he will heal. John has always been a hard worker and driven and this situation has simply redirected his drive and focused it on getting better. He gets frustrated at times but seems to take the daily challenges in stride.

There is a statue in front of TIRR which is of a man with arms stretched over his head and he has just broken the chain connecting handcuffs on his wrists. It is a graphic depiction of what John does every day. Each day is a file mark on the metal constraining him and each point of progress gets him closer to breaking the chains holding him back. It is a new favorite piece of art for me personally and when things seem particularly difficult I picture John's face on that statue!

Softball Update

We are still looking for a few men to play in the softball tournament on Saturday November 7. Please email me if you are available. The teams are going to consist of 5 girls and 5 guys and the girls are covered so we need guys!

Saturday October 31

John on his Harley Road King


John coming into the house for the first time since June 2


John and Holly in their living room


John and Paulette's Boston Terrier Chanel...couch time!


John and his neighbor Juan


Paulette and John


Russ, John and Jen, John's neighbors

Believe it or not...these photos were taken today! Over the weekend, John received a day pass from TIRR and was able to leave the facility for a few hours with Holly for the first time since June 2! Holly decided to take him home and hopefully spur his memory a bit about his house and some familiar surroundings. John enjoyed the ride and some much needed couch time and he and Holly got to relax a bit in their home and a couple of the neighbors who had seen them drive up came over to greet John. One of the things Holly has consistently said she misses is just that, "Being at home", feeling. Even if it's watching t.v. or cooking dinner, we can easily forget how that being taken from you would make you miss it. Maybe it's the normalcy or the mundane but since things have been so chaotic, it was a much needed break for both of them.

It is difficult loading and unloading the wheelchair into the truck but for the most part John is able to get in and out of the truck and buckle his seat belt unassisted. John doesn't need the wheelchair all of the time but it's good to have it just in case he gets tired. He is able to walk on his own but we always make sure to be nearby or hold his shirt. At times he seems to feel as if he is going to fall until you remind him to get his balance and try to relax. It's amazing that at this point he has to tell his brain to tell his legs to walk which is something that most of us simply do without any thought. There are times when he feels like he can't do something but usually when we remind him of all he has accomplished, he overcomes his feelings of insecurity.

One of the things which has not changed one iota with John is his friendliness and ability to be grateful. He has such an amazing attitude about this situation and he tells us constantly thank you and that he loves us and takes the time to pray before each meal. His unfaltering faith is beautiful to see and although at times he has bad days and is frustrated, these bad days are becoming less and less frequent. He asks about his situation and he sometimes tells us that he is sick but we remind him that although he has had a heart attack, he is in excellent physical condition and is healing. We tell him to be patient and that all of his emotions are normal. When he is upset or scared we let him know that that is okay and try to reassure him that he is in a place of healing but we also reiterate the need for him to keep on fighting which he seems to do inherently. His drive to get better comes from that inexplicable place deep within. Combine that with the nurturing he receives from the staff at TIRR and from those who love him will and there is little doubt that huge success looms nearby.

Monday October 26

I have recently gotten some questions about the t-shirts for the softball tournament so I decided to grab my two favorite models to give you an idea of how great they look! If you would like to buy a t-shirt or a raffle ticket, please check back to the blog from October 7...all the order information is there.

Over the weekend, John continued to work hard to increase his endurance. Lately, each day that passes marks seconds or minutes longer he is able to stand, walk or perform daily activities. John showered himself unassisted for the first time since June 2 today. As most of you know, John is a very clean person and has consistently enjoyed getting a shower but he seemed really happy to be able to do it on his own. Part of his progression involves him becoming more and more self-sufficient. John has been able to do things such as feed himself or let us know if he needs something or if he is in pain but up until today, showering has required some assistance from staff or more often, from Holly. He has also become less and less fearful of standing and walking on his own and although at times we remind him to keep his arms at his sides or to take a second to get his balance, he doesn't reach out to grab our hands and arms or nearby objects nearly as often and there is confidence in his gait.

There are a lot of nuances which exist when a loved one has a brain injury but since we see John daily, we sometimes forget just how much he has improved. Sometimes we are reminded of his vast progress in the most amazing ways. Over the weekend, Holly and John were walking down the hallway together and they ran into a wonderful lady named Yolanda. She works for TIRR and came to Triumph back in July to assess John for whether he would be appropriate for TIRR. At that time, John was on dialysis and still had some tubes going into his body. He had barely begun to talk and was unable to feed himself and even sitting up was difficult for him. Holly was overwhelmed with meeting with physicians that day so I met with Yolanda to plead John's case to her. Essentially, I begged her to make the move to TIRR happen and I promised her that John would be a success story. When she saw John this weekend she simply couldn't believe her eyes and kept saying..."He looks so great and he is walking!" I'm not sure what her true expectations were of John when she first met him but it seems that she had some doubt about what he might be able to do mixed with a glimmer of hope that TIRR was the right place for him to go next. I must say that we also had several other facilities come to evaluate John but the overall feeling was that at TIRR, John would be given the best opportunity to thrive so him being moved there was a huge relief.

Seeing Yolanda was a great reminder for us and Holly and I reminisced about the past almost five months and we really gained new appreciation for how far John has come. This has been a tumultuous time but as John's journey continues, and we remain sideline participants and spectators, words simply cannot express our gratitude. This is not a path that you expect in life or one that you can ever be prepared for but it is our path and we are thankful each day for John's strength and resiliency.

SOFTBALL TOURNEY RESCHEDULED!

I just wanted to get the word out that the softball tournament has been rescheduled for November 7. If you didn't get the chance to enter a team in the last go-round but would like to...please let me know ASAP so I can let Samuel know! Also, T-shirts and raffle tickets are still available and the information is exactly the same so feel free to let me know if you want either of these items!
Thanks again for all of your support.

Monday October 19

Over the past several weeks, John has begun showing even more signs of various areas of his brain waking up. He asks questions constantly about things around him and about where he is and why he is there and is also getting great at remembering staff names and being consistent. He is also more focused on tasks at hand which makes us hopeful that his medications are reaching balanced levels. We have been told that this is a really good sign and can be indicative of his brain trying to gap bridges that were damaged during periods when his brain was not receiving oxygen during his heart attack. There is no actual "damage" which can be seen on instruments which measure brain activity so this is truly a guessing game and since every single patient is different we can only defer to physicians expertise in what they have seen previously. John shows characteristics and patterns of success stories they have had in the past and we have absolutely no reason to believe John won't fit into that category as well.

Today, John got a real treat and was able to go on a field trip to Reliant Stadium which for those of you out-of-town or non-football folks is where our beloved (or not so beloved depending on the week) Texans play. Holly went on the field trip as well and they were given the royal treatment and access to areas normally not seen such as the training room (yes, Matt Schaub was actually in there working out!) and some of the really expensive suite areas. John did a lot of walking and seemed to be really excited to be near a football field again. We can't wait to see him back out there refereeing games again but until then, this was a great opportunity for him to be in a familiar environment outside of TIRR. Thanks to Stacy (John's Physical Therapist) for making this trip happen and for her unwavering support and expertise in working with John. Stacy has been in almost constant contact with Holly since John arrived at TIRR and she provides great insight into John's process and she also gives us solace when nothing else can. It is amazing to have advocates like Stacy in your corner when bad things happen and we are grateful she is in ours.

IMPORTANT...PLEASE READ

I just learned that the softball tournament has been canceled for this weekend because the softball fields are too wet. All that rain we have been getting is a blessing but it has caused the fields to be boggy! They are working to figure out a time to reschedule and as soon as that happens, I will post it here and also send an email.

As always, thanks so much for your support and we will look forward to an even bigger tournament when the time is right!

T-Shirts!! Raffle!!

The following is the link to order t-shirts. John's co-workers have done an amazing job of designing this shirt and making preparations for the softball tournament and November raffle.


T-Shirt Order Form

Also, raffle tickets are now on sale. Price is $10 per ticket or 3 tickets for $25. There are some great prizes up for grabs including:
4 great seats to a Rockets game
4 seats to the livestock and rodeo
Gift cards to restaurants/businesses

If you have an item you would like to donate to the raffle, let me know via email.

To purchase a t-shirt or raffle tickets, simply fill out the form at the above link and mail it along with a check to:
Melanie Moynahan
4025 Glenshire
Houston, Texas 77025
Make checks payable to: Spring Branch Health Fitness Teacher's Association

If you live out of town and would like me to mail your shirt to you, please enclose an additional $4.00 per shirt for shipping. If you order raffle tickets and would like me to mail them to you, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope and I will be happy to mail them to you. These shirts are a really great design and an inspirational tribute to John!

Saturday October 3

As of yet, I still haven't gotten any submissions of teams for the upcoming softball tournament! If you would like to enter a team in the non-SBISD bracket, please shoot me an email so I can put you down. I was hoping to fill the 16 team bracket but at this point, even if you don't have a team but want to play, please email me and I will start forming teams. Teams will consist of 5 women and 5 men and play will be a double elimination style format. As far as the t-shirts go, it was decided to change the color to a more flashy and "John suiting" red! Above is what it looks like and I will have the order form available soon! I was hoping that maybe we could start an email chain about this tournament to generate more awareness and interest in hopes of getting some more teams signed up to play. John's co-workers are working tirelessly to make this tournament a huge success and I want to do my part to make the extra bracket a reality. Please send an email to everyone you know that knows John or even if they don't to let them know about the tournament and maybe we can get some teams together. Remember the entry fee for a team is $150 ($15 per person!) which if you like to play softball is nominal.

I apologize for being so out-of-pocket these past few weeks. Work has taken me far and wide and while it has been an educational and exciting month, it is good to be back home!

John continues to progress and is walking and communicating better as each day passes. His brain is also healing and although we continue to wonder how things will be down the line, we are always quick to remain grateful and mindful of his progress. John is an astounding human being and a man I have admired over the years and even more so over these past few months. While he still has a very long journey ahead, he has shown us time and again just how much of a fighter he is and how much he loves life. Some have asked about seeing him and I just want to reiterate that at this point, John is limited to family visits. His physicians feel that overstimulating him could be detrimental but I promise that as soon as changes occur to this policy I will post it here first.




Over the past few months, John has had several roommate's and one of his most recent was Jerry. Holly and John really enjoyed the company of Jerry and his wife, Becky and they formed a fast friendship as only those who have been in similar circumstances could. Becky and Holly found support from each other and Holly asked me to thank them for being so compassionate toward John and her. As usual, John couldn't take a photograph without clowning around but at least he wasn't sticking his tongue out!

I wanted to mention that I will try really hard to be better about updating this blog. I know that many of you are reliant on it for the most up-to-date information about John's progress and I don't take the commitment to updating it lightly. As always, we simply cannot express our eternal gratitude for the continued support for John.

Saturday September 26

There have been some amazing changes in John's progress as of late. In the past couple of weeks, I mentioned that we switched John's physician in an effort to further his progress. Some recent tweaking of his medications has done wonders for his progress and I am so happy to report that John is now walking with no assistance. He needs some coaxing at times to help remind him to regain his balance or reposition his arms however his gait is really close to normal and he is in little or no pain as he stands and walks. His new physician, Dr. Ivanhoe, recognized that John's ankles were turning in a bit particularly on his left foot so she put a temporary cast on it (approximately 5 days) in an effort to correct the problem and she also put John on a medication which has helped with muscle rigidity. It worked! His ankles are more straight and seeing him walk now versus several weeks ago makes us realize the true progress John is making. He is also more communicative and as each day passes his memory improves and he is able to express himself better which helps us to keep him comfortable.

Staff continue to be impressed with John's progress and they have decided that John will remain at TIRR for at least another month. This is great news because it further reaffirms that he is making excellent progress in their eyes too. Their original goal for John was that he would walk unassisted for 100 feet but it appears that once again John has raised the bar and new goals will be set soon. John will also be having some tests this week to ensure that there are no medical issues which might be precluding him from reaching new heights in his progress. It may seem that some of these things should have happened sooner in terms of his treatment but I will tell you that we believe that his new physician is more proactive and focused on John's success. I suppose that the doctor patient relationship is like any other relationship in that it's important to "click". We believe that John's current physician does just that with John and with us. There is good communication and we look forward to the new solidarity approach to John's recovery.

HELLO EVERYONE!!

I just wanted to update you that so far I haven't gotten any takers for the softball tournament. Please get some folks together and lets fill up the 16 team bracket! I received these photos today...this is the t-shirt that will soon be for sale and it brought me to tears! I will post the price as soon as I have it. For those of you who don't know, I am in Dallas this week for work so my email response may be slow but I will continue to post updated information about John and this upcoming fundraiser. Thanks as always for your support and love for John and his family.

BIG BIG BIG NEWS!!! PLEASE READ AND PASS ALONG TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

The following was sent to me by Rebecca Fuchs, who works with John and has been an amazing divining rod of inspiration and overall loving and caring supporter of John and Holly...

I wanted to give you an update on what has been happening here in Spring Branch ISD as far as fund raising efforts for John and Holly.

1) The Health Ambassadors voted to open a division of the annual Softball Tournament to accept teams from the Harris family and friends. I mentioned this possibility to your earlier…so now comes the part for you…I need to get the word out to his fishing buddies, referee buddies, college buddies, high school buddies, Holly’s friends, church friends, Holly’s work associates, etc…anyone that wants to “play for John”…this softball tournament is his signature event…the cost for a team entry is $150 and their team will be placed in the Competition Bracket…a special bracket for outside teams…we have never done this before…it has always been a closed event to SBISD employees only…

There will be availability for 16 teams to be made up of non-employee supporters of John. This tournament has been John's trademark event and they have so graciously agreed to continue to honor him in including him. Rebecca mentioned that the tournament has always been played by "John's Rules" and although I don't have all of the specifics as of yet, I do know that teams must have 5 male and 5 female players. Teams will have ten players total and I will post more of the list of "John's Rules" when I get them. If you would like to enter a team for this tourney, please email me at melanie.moynahan@gmail.com. This will be a first come, first serve opportunity but we would love to have as many folks as possible play in support of them so if you are a single or a few, email me and I will try my best to form other teams.

2) There is a t-shirt being designed with “Coach” in mind…I will let you know when these shirts are ready for purchase and you can help me sell to others outside of SBISD.

At this point we don't have an idea of what the cost will be but if you think you might be interested in purchasing a t-shirt, just email me and give me a number with sizes, etc. and I will do my best to make them available at the tournament on October 17, 2009. I am also going to try to set up a way to make them available online to be shipped. I will try to get photos up of what they will look like but it would be great if we could show our support at the tournament and heck, every day by wearing our "Coaches Crew" t-shirts!

3) The Spring Branch Health Fitness Teachers Association voted to host a fund raiser for John and over 30 people from the association have met to plan this event. It is taking on the resemblance of a raffle…they have contacted the Rockets for a donation of an item and the Rockets have come through with a yes…tickets are being designed and printed and will be ready for purchase mid October with the drawing happening before Thanksgiving.

This is a biggie. We are hoping to get some sports-related or even some non-sports related items donated. The tickets for the raffle will be $10 for one or 3 for $25 and will be sold at the softball tournament but I am also trying to figure out how to do that through the blog. The drawing won't actually be until November so more details to come.

This softball tournament will take place on October 17, 2009. At this point, there are a few things that we need. If you have a team of ten players, and would like to enter the tourney, the $150 entry fee will be due by October 1, 2009. I realize this is soon but my thought is that if you have some friends or family who like to play, that's $15 dollars per player!

We feel so blessed and cannot thank the staff of SBISD enough for this wonderful opportunity. While Holly and John are extremely prideful people, it has become obvious that help from others is essential in John's recovery process. There will be availability for 16 teams to be made up of non-employee supporters of John. This tournament has been John's trademark event and they have so graciously agreed to continue to honor him in including him. Rebecca mentioned that the tournament has always been played by "John's Rules" and although I don't have all of the specifics as of yet, I do know that teams must have 5 male and 5 female players. Teams will have ten players total and I will post more of the list of "John's Rules" when I get them. One thing we might also need is a couple of seasoned softball umpires to call the games so if you have some experience please email me...

There are two key players that I am asking to email me...Samuel Karns and Kate Stoll...please email me so we can share contact information!!!