Wednesday Morning

The sun is shining............................so we ARE really where we weren't sure we'd ever be again with the Big Cat!!!!!!!!!!! Monday Terre seemed tired from all the new gains in PT. But he is nodding more, squeezing more hands and showing more attentiveness all around,,,,,,,,,,all good things, GREAT things!!!!!!!!!!!

Jill said that amidst his tired spells, Big T perked up at her reading an Eastman's Hunting Journal magazine article about elk hunting.............. a sure sign our boy is ..........still our boy!!!!!!!!! Furthermore Terre is totally breathing on his own, receiving only oxygen through his trach and Tuesday had a voice facilitating mechanism installed. This will help him articulate better as he has been mouthing words lately, the first of which being "ouch"! Additionally later Tuesday afternoon Terre got to experience his first re-introduction OUTSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!! He sat in the shade with Jill and his parents for almost a half hour and although he was very tired, seemed invigorated by the exposure.

Perhaps the highlight of Tuesday came when Terre was sitting up in a fancy ergo-lazy-boy chair contraption and unprompted, began swinging his leg, resting it intermittently on his footstool. Totally he is saying something like "wonder what this will do.......okay....I can do THIS!!!!!!!" Totally RAD.............that's our Terr-Bear........pushin through!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers all, and thanks for tunin in

Monday Morning

The Great AWAKENING continues...................early yesterday morning Jill called me laughing. As usual I can tell by her tone how Terre's doing in about 2 seconds. During physical therapy on Saturday afternoon Terre's parents and I got to see Terre sitting (in between therapists) up on the edge of his bed with his feet on the floor, an unfamiliar sight compared to what we've seen in a while. Apparently we had just missed him slide his foot on the floor after being asked to, amazing. Therapists also asked Terre if he would shake my hand. I put my hand in his and a few seconds after they asked him to, he squeezed my hand...just astounding! But back to Jill.

This morning Jill was present during PT as they asked Terre to smile if he would like to stand up.......................he smiled........and then with assistance ... stood!!!!!!!!!!!! Afterwards when asked a question...........Terre nodded to say no.................just huge, huge HUGE progress!!!!!!!!

Although as always, we expect dips, if Terre's trend continues at this rate we could be seeing a whole lot here real soon. I'll holler! Cheers

Saturday Morning

So I was eating lunch about a week ago with a friend of mine who's an ER doctor in Jackson and he say's " .....you'll know he's making it when Terre starts to wake up and look around the room kind of trying to figure out what's going on.....".

Well it gives me GREAT JOY to report that that time is pretty much upon us. Yesterday in one of his moments of lucidity Terre smiled at Jill. He then FOLLOWED her command to squeeze her hand. Throughout the afternoon and evening, in between predominant phases of fatigue, Terre would look towards who's talking seemingly trying to attentively listen as well as muster up a response. I don't need to tell y'all that this is just the best news yet!!!!!!!!!!

He's really doing it!!!!!!!!!! I mean REALLY, this morning during a physical therapy session he was following commands to straighten out his legs and continues to follow Jill's requests to squeeze her hand. He may be responding slowly by our standards but he really is communicating......................amazing! I have found the book "My Stroke of Insight" by Jill Bolte Taylor, to be immensely helpful in empathizing with Terre and where his perceptual reality is right now. The nature of the author's injury may not have been the same, but her expertise in neuro-anatomy provides great opportunity for understanding of general principles of Terre's recuperation. I would welcome other recommended readings as well as encourage those closest to Jill and family to share y'alls research with us.

Brother Loren observed that since his arrival on Tuesday, Terre just seems to be making progress in leaps and bounds. Each day produces improved clarity in T's gaze, you can see facial muscles flexing as he attempts articulation and all agree that Terre seems to track the path and origin of those speaking to him around the room.

Thanks to all for continued support, concern and generosity..........Terre's really coming around and for now this potentially puts on hold any plans to relocate him far from here.

Cheers and a great big Tennessee Yeeeeeeeeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaaaw!!!!!!!!! for Terre's progress!

FRiday Afternoon

Coming along.............Terre's condition remains stable and progressing. He's still not awake but has improved enough to sort of 'outgrow' the ICU. Great news! T's also apparently improving enough for doctor's to begin preparations for moving him to a facility more suited to his needs. Specifically, neuro-rehab which unfortunately exists either in Salt Lake City or Denver.

It is certainly encouraging that Terre is stable enough for a move of this nature and only initially stressful that he needs to be moved so far from home. It is also encouraging that Denver has a well renowned program for this type of rehabilitation which is probably the locale the family is leaning towards. Terre additionally continues to broaden his range of expressions and is sharpening his focus with each passing day. We all remain optimistic for the progress the Big Cat is making and are hopeful this path continues!!!!!!!!!! Cheers

Wednesday Mornin

Most things seem to remain stable and improving, as usual, but I did find it particularly interesting that Tuesday Terre began receiving medication that stimulates brain activity. As a member of the uneducated majority, in neurological terms I might categorize this as a proactive 'nudge'!!!! Well alright, alright , alright...................furthermore I neglected to report that on Monday a nurse tugged on a few arm hairs of Terr-Bear and he responded by jerkin back.

These are not ordained tests but to me and my country-ass..........I'd like to call them some sort of evidence of progress!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers

Tuesday Morning

I feel redundant.............so here we are, pretty much at the end of week 4 and I wish I had more exciting news to report. Things are pretty much as they have been for a while now.........stable, slowly but slightly improving for where we have been. It is a frustrating waiting game. Nurses, at times, offer optimistic (or not, in a recent case) guesses for Terre's course while neurologists still abstain entirely from any form of a prediction. So we wait.............

We should all be thankful for how far we've come, Terre really has been performing marvelously on every quantifiable measurement. Furthermore a recent MRI was assesses by an ICU doctor who said no irregularities in brain cell health were evident at all. Of course we'd all love for Big T to wake up today but, as from the git go, stories of recoveries abound from strangers and friends alike of folks who've been much worse with much less to go on then we have now.

Hopefully after yesterday's belated removal of Terre's throat tubes and successful execution of a tracheotomy, our slope towards recovery will continue to improve............we all try to stay positive,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I miss my friend

Thursday Evening

Really really encouraging stuff..............I just got to see Terre earlier this evening and WOW are we coming along!!!!!!!!!! We're definitely not totally out of the woods yet but big T is really adjusting well to being weaned off of pain killers, sedatives and paralytic meds. His diagnostics all seem to be doing really well, so much that doctor's have removed the drain tube and staples from his head.

I may be reading too deep into it but I was actually whispering to Terre, as I often have, and saw his eyelids, eyebrows and eyes twitch with my reports about my recent fishing ventures on Jenny Lake, a place we have fished often together in the past. Also as I was talking to Jill I saw him really open his eyes wide! He doesn't seem to be focusing yet or really coherent but I felt I could just see him in there........fighting through the fog......trying his hardest to get back to us all. I just can't say it any other way then I think he's really doing it!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow we hope doctors decide it's time to remove the tubes from his throat which have been breathing for him for weeks now. They also plan on performing a tracheotomy to retain capacity for assisted breathing but in a much less obtrusive manner.

If you are new to the blog or haven't read my early posts, I will continue to report new news as significant changes in Terre's condition occur but won't report if things stay pretty much the same. Judging from today's observations though we could be steepening our graph for Terre's recovery real soon!!!! Thanks to ALL out there in radio land praying, hoping, vibing and sending positive thoughts and generous contributions to help Terre's condition as he fights on like the Grizzly Bear we know him to be!!!!!!!! Take care.

Tuesday Nite

Sorry for the time lapse........................things have been pretty much "OK". Big T has been responding well thus far to all the subtle nudges by his caretakers not to wake up so much as maybe just to do what he feels like doing. Great news!

As we were told to expect with his body resuming control, there have been dips in his course. Today, after a steady run of optimistic diagnostics, Terre had challenges when nurses drained fluid from a lung. Apparently, another part of this particular lung temporarily collapsed and caused temporary concern until the situation was rectified later in the afternoon. This was a cause for concern but, as always, we are comforted by the close attention paid to Terr-Bear by the staff.

So far, all good news! He's hitting bumps but seems to be fighting through them all like we know he will. We all should be encouraged by the fight Terre possesses.............duh!

Sunday Evening

What a great weekend...........Terre has remained stable and improving for four or five days now! On Friday they took him off paralitics and Saturday they started easing big T off other powerful pain killers. Again a move more for his well being than to begin waking him up however, it is a step.

He looks good as swelling continues to settle down. I did find it disturbing that they shaved his head to help bandages adhere better, just not a look I'm familiar with save old pics of his high school flat-top. The nurses tell us to expect his numbers to fluctuate, not always in a good direction, as the drugs wear off and his body re-engages control. These are good signs and part of the process so we are greatful for where we find T's condition.

Jill is just completely overwhelmed by how generous and caring so many friends and family have been from coast to coast and asks me to send her most sincere thanks to everyone.

Friday Afternoon

So more good news.........Terre seems to be chugging along a pretty good course with all diagnostics leaning toward improvement. Today doctor's are experimenting easing off of his paralitics, the drugs that help keep him still/asleep, both to address concerns of too much medication and it seems kinda to see what the ole Grizzly Bear might do.

So it's not exactly the beggining of the great awakening but seems to me to be a step towards that direction. Again, we'll take it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not too much more so y'all take care and thanks for following along.

Wednesday Evening

Whew........whew.........whew........we're okay!!!!!!!!!!!!! So first of all.........things are okay!!!!!! The CT scan, interpreted by the neurologist, turns out to reveal something not new and not 'active'. Great news, turns out the problem with an abnormality in pressure deep in Terre's brain happened a few days ago and his numbers somehow managed to stay at acceptable levels through the ordeal. Doctor's reassured us that had they been aware of this abnormality, they're course of action would have stayed the course, which seems, again, somewhat reassuring.

That is VERY welcome news and, for now, it seems as though Terre's condition remains stable and on some sort of winding, up-and-down decent chance for a good recovery. We'll take it!

From a personal observation, I can report that Terre looks good. His skin seems to me to be a good color, which for me is reasonably indicative of oxygen getting to cells lower on the list of the human body's priority list. So thanks for all the prayers, vibes and positive thoughts, we seem to have crossed a really scarry point. GOOD JOB ROTCH!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday Morning

After several relatively 'good' days in a row we have been kinda lulled into a sense of safety. However this morning's call from Jill brought another story. Last night a nurse ran a CT scan on Terre and found what she believes to be signs of bleeding deep inside the brain. If it turns out to be what the nurse expects, the chances for operating are not good.

This seems to be the worst news we've had in a long time but Jill's meeting with doctors in a few minutes should give us a more accurate picture of what is actually happening.

Thanks everyone for the outpouring of generosity and support shown to Jill, Terre's family and even me, we all appreciate it and believe me ..........it helps! Hopefully I'll write soon with news of a miraculous turn-around but until then send out whatever you've got in prayer and positive energy, Big T needs us now more than ever.

Monday Morning

Sorry for the delay and thanks to Chris Tantau for covering for me over the weekend. Kim and I had a wedding shower to attend in Massachusetts and although Terre's condition was always on our minds, a little break was nice for us. Lots of people were similarly concerned with his status and some even made donations to his account, thanks Mr and Mrs Ham!

We are encouraged upon our return that Terre's condition over the last three days seems to be stable and somewhat still on the rise. The condition of his lungs, oxygen levels and pressure seems to be sustainable and improved slightly over last weeks rollercoaster ride.

I just talked to Jill and everyone seems to be understanding better, that this is still a long road and small blips on the screen do not a graph make. Caregivers seem comfortable with how well his lungs have cleared up and this should provide for stable improvements over the coming recovery. Doctor's are still hesitant to make timetable projections but the tone in Jill's voice tells me that there is plenty to be thankful for in the stability of Terre's condition.

Sunday June 7th am

Continued good news! Another uneventful day with signs of progression as doctors and staff would like to see. The fluid on the lungs issues have been stabilized over the last few days and that is giving Terre stress free days of healing. The Doctors are slowing weaning Terre off of addtional fluids and meds and working toward the "awakening phase" in the next few days. They requested the family to start bringing in photos and memorabilia for the big event. The theme of the next few days will be no no news is good news as Terre remains stress free and continued healing occurs from surgery with reduced swelling. O2 saturation is remaining at desired levels and everyone is remaining positive and looking forward the next steps. The Colorado contingent of Bryan Treu and Dan LeMoine have been in town all of this last week lending support and comfort to Jill and the Brooks family during the tough times and it has been helpful as I have been out of town. I heard they have been throwing tailgate barbeques in the parking lot of the hospital. I also heard that they might have been fishing too! Bryan said "Terre would want us to!" and I can whole-heartedly believe that! Stay tuned for more good news!

Saturday June 6th am

Good morning everyone. No news is good news! Friday afternoon and evening were all quiet with no pitfalls. Terre, still in ICU, is stable and resting and exeperienced no backwards progressions. Staff would like to see three or 4 days in a row of this kind of stability and then will be looking for some next baby steps forward. The non eventful day and night was good news for Jill and the Brooks family also. The daily rollercoaster ride over the last week of ups and downs has been emotional as we have all been hoping for a fast recovery. Your continued support and prayers for Terre and his family is appreciated during these hard times.

Friday June 5th am

Sorry for the delay in posting I have been out of the area. We seem to be having more of the same with some progress being made in Terre's condition. Terre had more problems with fluid on the lungs and the staff has treated him for that and he is progressing again. Terre's condition is stable but it is anticipated to experience more ups and downs as he moves forward in the recovery process. Patience is going to be the key ingredient for us all as we monitor Terre's condition. Slow and steady will be the recipe to follow and progress seems to be on that pace. I know many of you are actively following this blog and I will try to update more often as important information arises. Thank you again for all of your support for Terre, Jill and the Brooks family.

Donation Update

Things are really coming together and Jill sends her heartfelt thanks to all doing so much in such short time. If anyone didn't see, we posted the mailing address for the First Interstate Bank, 'Benefit Account for Terre Brooks' in an earlier post. If you can't find it or would just prefer, checks can be sent to my mailing address at Patrick 'Poot' McFarlin, PO Box 6878, Jackson, WY 83002. I will gladly deposit them promptly.

I also plan to publish a list early next week of all contributers that I have record of. I will try to remember cash contributors but just so all the out of towner's know, last night more than 20 people gave $100!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much!

Wednesday Morning

Well maybe.............yesterday after I entered the update, Terre's condition worsened. In the words of Jill diagnostic numbers were almost at their worst. Doctors were frustrated, trying different approaches to improve Terre's numbers and having little luck. With the buildup of fluid in Terre's lungs becoming a growing concern, Doctor's opted for a risky move and rolled Terre over on his stomach. This maneuver has a history of really helping some and making others worse but it was time to go for it. Well well well, what do you know? Of course our Big T responded splendidly, removal of fluid off of the lungs became much easier and consequently his oxygen levels shot up to nearly 20, the highest they've been since the first night.......hoooray!

The great report of Terre's Tuesday Turnaround could not have come at a better time. Jill's belief that " we really seem to be rounding a corner" came as welcome news from which to lead into our fundraiser. With the generosity of Pete Muldoon of Cutty's Grill, KMTN local radio, Cara Froedge of the Jackson Hole Daily, Tucker Smith and Steam Powered Airplane, and numerous other friends and concerned Jackson citizens ,some of whom didn't even know Terre or Jill, we raised almost $6500 for the 'Benefit Account for Terre Brooks'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is just really awesome and attests to the many people who've experienced the positive effect Terre has on his world. Thanks also to Hayes, Will, Denny, Arty, Erin, Kim, Mary, Brooke, Jamie, Zach and so many others, you know who y'all are, for helping so much to make this first fundraiser a great success!

The latest report about Terre is that there still seems to be cause for concern as things are a little up and down but for the most part we are all encouraged by what we've seen him do of late. I find it particularly promising that, although Doctor's are still reticent to make predictions, caregivers have begun to allow Jill and family to talk more to him and have asked them to begin preparing music, photos, etc for 'when he wakes up'. The point at which they anticipate waking him still seems to be several days out but for now that seems like really really good news! We'll take it!!!!!!!!!! Thanks everyone for ALL the contributions of every kind!

Tuesday Afternoon

The roller coaster continues.................after several "good" days we had a litttle scare last night with a dip in some of Terre's diagnostics. Pressure was up and oxygen was down but with the watchful eyes of his caregivers, changes were made and after a few hours things returned to sort of where they had been. Fluid in the lungs, as expected with folks lying in his position for such extended periods, is something the staff are now addressing with an array of methods.

So overall we are still stable and sort of okay for now but last nights events are a sobering reminder that eventhough stability persists, dips have and will continue to be part of Terre's recovery. Lots of folks have been coming together to help with the fundraiser tonight and we are expecting a great turnout despite the rain. The pay-pal account seems to be functioning properly and my fiance' Kim Wynn has successfully upgraded our account in order to get a better rate and have a greater percentage of the generosity of Terre's friends and family go where we think they'll need it most. Keep the prayers, vibes, positive thoughts and generous donations coming as all are greatly needed and appreciated. Thanks so much everyone!!!!!!!

Monday Afternoon

Still holding................sorry for the belated post but we are still in a holding pattern which at this point isn't such a bad place to be. Terre's diagnostic numbers all seem to be holding their ground and some have actually gained a little more ground.

Through the predicted tough times Friday night and Saturday morning Terre's blood oxygen levels dipped down to the 7-8 range. We were encouraged Saturday night and Sunday when they climbed to the 12-14 range. Well this morning and around midday they got up to 16 and even 18, with the 18-20 range being the ideal for healing and recuperation, I'd say Big T's in the trenches fighting like we know he can so that's good.

I'll try and write a little more later if I have time but there's much to be done for this fundraiser tomorrow night at Cutty's in Jackson from 7-9 pm. Special thanks to Andy Schwertefeger and Pete Muldoon for providing the bar and the radio station's help with the event. Cheers