Update from 8/13/2010

Hello Family & Friends


Sorry I haven't done an update since we have been home, but I haven't had much time to email.
It has been 6 weeks after Michael's surgery & stroke. Michael has been getting stronger everyday. He had home health coming in to do therapy for the first 2 weeks we had gotten home and then he went to outpatient at the hospital for therapy. When he first got home someone needed to walk with him at all times and in the last 2 weeks he has gotten so much stronger that he is doing really well on his own. He even has been going up & down the 3 stairs into our house and he went up the garage stairs when I wasn't home, naughty boy! He had to become a little more independent in the last 2 weeks also, as I went back to work. He has been doing good at home by himself and is figuring it out. We have been having friends taking and picking him up at therapy as he still hasn't gotten an ok to drive, even though I let him drive around the block in his truck to help me move it. His left side of his body shows improvement with strength and mobility. The left arm & hand still haven't shown much movement yet, but he can feel and has pins & needle sensation which is good. It is warmer to the touch and he is becoming more ticklish again. He can shrug his shoulder on the left side too. And, as of later this afternoon 8/12, because this will take me 2 days to write this email, he told me he had moved his arm and hand a little today when he was with our dear friend & Rolfer, Jani! This is awesome news, nerves are waking up! Also with Jani, he has been working on walking without his cane with her assistance in moving his left arm and learning how to really walk again and feel it. He has been doing lots of different therapy's, like acupuncture, eye therapy, physical, occupational, rolfing, massage, visualization, and recreational therapy. I am including a couple pictures of Michael since we have been home. We have taken him down the river twice and to the swimming pool, & the beach at the lake, yoga, & the farmers market! He has been enjoying visitors and getting out. I took him to the art gallery Friday night as he wanted to go & mingle. Kahne has had to try to make some adjustments and begin helping out a little more & doing different activities that include Michael. He has been a momma's boy too, which is making it more of a challenge for me, but it seems to be getting better. Michael has still been working on staying positive and his line he always says is, "It is what it is" and keeps smiling and pushing forward. Of course we have our bad days too, with new challenges and feelings. We get through them with support from all of you! Michael can still feel everyone's energy and love. We have a long healing road ahead of us & for now have some life changes. We are grateful to have an amazing support group from all our family & friends and couldn't do it without all of you! The town we live in, Gunnison is amazing too, all the wonderful people bringing over food and fresh veggies, milk. And the restaurants have been bringing us food too, we are so lucky to have all of you, Thank You! I am sure I am missing something, but if I don't send this today I will never get it out.



We want to thank everyone for the love, energy, support, cards, donations, yummy meals, visits, veggies, food, rides to therapy, hand rubs, foot rubs, babysitting, adventures down the river, stationary bikes, ideas, solutions, dog watching, cat catching, you name it!

Thank You!
Love,

Jenny, Michael, Kahne & Luna

I have include the bank information for the fund that has been set up for Michael.

We want to thank everyone for their heartfelt & generous donations.
Please make checks payable to The Michael Chiappini Benefit Fund.

Mail to:
Gunnison Bank and Trust Company
Attn: Michael Chiappini Benefit Fund
PO Box 119
232 W. Tomichi Ave.
Gunnison, CO 81230
www.gunnisonbank.com


(970) 641-0320
And our address
Michael Chiappini
419 N. 14th St.
Gunnison, CO 81230
970-641-1620

Update from 7/17/2010

We just spent our 15th night in the hospital and we have 2 more to go! we will be coming home late Monday afternoon, thats the plan for now! And we are ready to come home and be with Kahne & let the real healing begin. We have also been away from Kahne for that long and can't wait to see him! Thank you to Ken & Patti and Marilyn & David for taking care of him for us, we couldn't of done this without them.

Michael is improving daily and he really is getting stronger on his legs. We saw some more movement in his arm & hand with the electric stimulation machine yesterday and we are aware that it will take time to see more movement. And of course some hard work. The first 4 weeks are for healing and they say the first 1-6 months are when they want to see movement so we are going to try hard to get that hand and arm to work again. We have had some emotional days and we know that it is normal to feel this way. Michael's biggest challenge has been dealing with his back pain which he always had. It just has gotten worse with the left side being so weak, so he is working on getting stronger in those back & leg muscles. Michael will be doing a lot of rehab when we get home and will need constant care. He is slowing getting around with his cane, but sometimes loses his balance, so someone needs to be with him when he walks. We are fortunate that our house is one level and small and easy to get around.

We are in need of a stationary bike. Preferably one that is a sit down one or at least that is easy to get on & off and is safe. So if anyone has one that we can borrow, please let us know.

We want to thank everyone for all the love & support and we look forward to seeing people when we get home. Michael can't wait to go to yoga and soon get on the river with some strong guys next to him! I am not sure when I will get to do another update, it will probably be sometime after we get home and settled in. At this point we are really looking forward to getting some real rest in our own bed together! Between a stroke & brain surgery, Michael has a lot of healing to do and looks forward to doing it at home surrounded with all the loving energy & support from friends & family!

Again, thank you all for everything!

Love, Michael, Jenny & Kahne

P.S. Luna & Lola thanks everyone for taking care of them, especially Shannon.