Prayer Request (& Updates) for Noelle

Airianna Valenshia · **Posted:** October 5th, 2012, 3:15 pm

*is so happy *

Calista Bethelle · **Joined:** February 10th, 2011, 9:15 pm **Posts:** 3095

I want to hug my sister! *Tearysmile*

RunningWolf · **Posted:** October 5th, 2012, 6:27 pm

Calista Beth Mimetes wrote:

I want to hug my sister! *Tearysmile*

I hope you get to soon! I'll be praying you do.

Kiev Shawn · **Posted:** October 5th, 2012, 9:50 pm

I'm praying, hard.

Riahjoy · **Joined:** November 3rd, 2011, 11:11 pm **Posts:** 176

I'm praying, for all involved...

Calista Bethelle · **Joined:** February 10th, 2011, 9:15 pm **Posts:** 3095

Just a note, please confine updates to those about Noelle, okay? I don't want to start any gossip in here.

Thank you!

Amy · **Joined:** May 22nd, 2012, 9:53 pm **Posts:** 645

Yes, dear...thanks for pointing that out.

So thankful to hear the good report on Noelle from yesterday. Praise the Lord for His grace!

Aleena Mimetes · **Posted:** October 6th, 2012, 4:34 pm

Praying for you all. This is terrible, but God is in control.

Kiev Shawn · **Posted:** October 6th, 2012, 8:53 pm

Lady Nicole Mimetes wrote:

Yes, dear...thanks for pointing that out.

So thankful to hear the good report on Noelle from yesterday. Praise the Lord for His grace!

* nods in agreement *

So excited that she was able to stand up!!

Calista Bethelle · **Joined:** February 10th, 2011, 9:15 pm **Posts:** 3095

Yes!

Lady Katharina · **Posted:** October 7th, 2012, 8:50 pm

Quote:

Noelle slept well last night. She had some speech therapy this morning. She tried pointing at "yes" & "no" to answer questions. It wasn't the easiest. She showed us that she could say "yes" and "no" in sign language instead!! =) Sometimes she doesn't answer - may be confused by the question. She held up fingers to count to 5 (doing 3 the way they do in sign language!). She moved her lips very slightly to try to say the numbers and the days of the week.
We looked at several pages of pictures from her picture album and talked about each one. She enjoyed that.
Later she kept reaching for me and furrowing her brow. I didn't know what she wanted. I asked if she wanted a hug and she reached her arm out for one. I gave her one and told her she would get better. She looked much happier after that.
This week should be a week of lots of progress! -Michelle

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

Amazing news! Hallelujah!

Thanks for helping us keep on top of this, Faith!

Lady Katharina · **Posted:** October 7th, 2012, 9:06 pm

No problem!

Lady Katharina · **Posted:** October 8th, 2012, 12:44 pm

Quote:

Noelle had a full morning. She practiced getting in and out of bed (with a lot of help) twice. She worked on inflating her lungs a bit. She had some range of motion work and some casting for stretching stiff joints. She also practiced swallowing little bits of applesauce and sucking little ice chunks! She can do a little wave of the hand now. She wanted to lean back in bed so she flopped her hand over where the controls are and looked at the nurses aid who was right there. It is nice to have her trying to communicate! Her face looks happy! =) We plan to have her out of bed in her wheelchair later this afternoon again.

This is such great news!

Novadar · **Posted:** October 9th, 2012, 3:47 pm

It is amazing to hear of the progress. I will continue to pray for a full and speedy recovery. God is great!

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

Quote:

I thought we were done with PT when I posted, but Noelle deceided that we weren't! We had her out of bed and in her wheel chair and she deceided to help push herself around with her good foot. The therapists happened to see her in the halls so she won't get by easy tomorrow I guess. She tried to reach out for the hand rails but missed each time. I think she may have double vision or some other trouble. She practiced taking her shoe off her left foot and putting it back on several times. She did try to make her right foot help push, but didn't do too well with that. She is one motivated girl! When we put her back in bed to rest she laid there with a happy look on her face.

Idril Aravis Mimetes · **Posted:** October 9th, 2012, 7:55 pm

I praise God as Noelle continues to heal! Thanks for the updates!

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

I was talking to Calista on chat when she got a call from her parents, who said that Noelle is very agitated tonight, and they don't know why. Please pray.

Lord Tarin · **Posted:** October 9th, 2012, 11:08 pm

Sure thing. It's great to hear all the progress updates.

Aragorn · **Joined:** September 23rd, 2010, 3:42 pm **Posts:** 9085

I'll keep praying.

Riahjoy · **Joined:** November 3rd, 2011, 11:11 pm **Posts:** 176

Sure thing!

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

Quote:

Let me try to use more words to describe what is happening here. Several of you know I'm not a real wordy person, but I'm thinking I need to give a more clear picture of what is going on here.
When she got here she was in a neck brace, had a tube in her throat for breathing and a machine that made sure she did and a tube in her stomach for feeding. She also had a major IV in her arm (pic line). She had a monitor attached to a finger or toe that kept track of her oxygen level and heart rate. She had to lay in bed and could wave her left leg around and move her left arm and hand some.
She has had her pic line taken out now, she still has the neck brace and monitor. Today she had the remains of her trach taken out of her neck, so she has a hole there that needs to heal up. Yea! She still gets fed thru her stomach but has gotten to practice swallowing little bites of pudding, ice-cream or sips of juice. It is kind of messy.
At first when they got her out of bed to put her in a wheel chair they had to use a machine called a VanderLift. They had to put a sling under her and hook it on the machine, push a button and it would lift her up in a somewhat sitting position. Then they would lower her into her chair and strap her in. She still can't hold her head up very well when upright. Next they started using a different machine that uses a sling/strap thing around her chest to lift her up into a standing position before lowering her into a chair. They can use this because she is able to use some of her own muscles to help stand up and hold her in that position. The therapists (who are allowed to lift heavier loads than the nurses) have been working with standing her up using a belt around her waist. She still leans pretty heavily on them, but in a couple days the nurses should be able to get her out of bed that way. That will really speed things up.
Noelle practiced standing up to a tall table (with help) for 3 minutes today. She also practiced reaching for things and picking them up. There is a lot of work to do on coordination, but she is trying hard. She is able to bend her right knee herself now and lift her right toes. THat side of her body has not been very useful to her until the last day or two. She tried to put that foot into her shoe (slip on).
She has not found her voice yet. She can clear her throat and that is all the noise she makes except for coughing.
We showed her a picture of her and Morgan today and the therapist asked her what her friend's name is. She signed an "M"! I know she didn't practice finger spelling with her left hand, so that was pretty good. We have to watch for her signs because they are not very clear (due to lack of control).
The last couple of days (nights!) she has woken up at 4am!!! That is too early. At 6am I asked the nurse to put her in her wheel chair (I'm not allowed to) so she could get tired again. We kept her up for an hour and then she went back to sleep for a couple of hours. I had to nap this afternoon when she did.
She seems to need lots of hugs, touch, expressions of love etc. She looked worried yesterday and was really staring at me. I asked if she needed a hug and she lifted her left arm for one. I gave her one and she was fine after that. I hold her hands a lot or rub her back, arm, foot etc. It probably helps with not being able to see too clearly as well as a sense of security.
I hope that gives everyone a picture of how far we have come and how very far we have to go. They estimate she will be an inpatient for 10 weeks and then will have to be an outpatient somewhere for some time. The estimate could change.

Lady Ness · **Joined:** May 19th, 2011, 11:30 am **Posts:** 241

Wow. Still praying.

Caeli · **Posted:** October 10th, 2012, 8:08 pm

Still praying for Noelle and her family and all her friends--she seems to have a lot of them, at least!

It's so wonderful to hear her progress so far. Thanks for the updates, everyone.

Calista Bethelle · **Joined:** February 10th, 2011, 9:15 pm **Posts:** 3095

Thank you all so very much for praying! It is so easy to look back on what she was before the wreck and feel depressed when comparing that to how she is now...but in reality, she has come a long, long way since the wreck. We are all trying to keep comparisons down to what she was after the wreck, so as not to get depressed, but when I realize that she may never be the same again....

Lady Elanor · **Posted:** October 11th, 2012, 4:51 pm

*Hugs Calista* Still praying for you guys.

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

*hugs Dragon tight* I'm praying for you, dear. Remember God has a plan through all this; no matter how much it hurts or how scary it is, God is in control. *hugs again*

RunningWolf · **Posted:** October 11th, 2012, 9:39 pm

I'm also praying, Milly. For you, for Noelle, for your family... I know that God will make it all work together for your good and that of Noelle and your family.

Lady Katharina · **Posted:** October 11th, 2012, 9:43 pm

Quote:

Noelle practiced walking today. She has to have help standing up and be supported on both sides. She did very well. Her neck is very weak and it tires her out to hold her head up. She is practicing controlling her good arm/hand in various exercises. Her right elbow in now in a cast to stretch the joint out. Her right ankle is doing so much better that we don't have to put it in a splint tonight. She did some more practicing swallowing little bites of pudding and also small ice chips today. She slept well last night. We hope to find a piano here to see what she thinks of that. Thanks for your prayers.

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

*sighs* That is good to hear. Thanks, Faith.

Calista Bethelle · **Joined:** February 10th, 2011, 9:15 pm **Posts:** 3095

Thank you, everyone.

You have no idea how comforting it is to know you are praying for us. :')

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

Quote:

Today Noelle practiced reaching with her left arm/hand and also squeezing some very strong "clothes pins" and attaching them to a bar. Her fingers are strong from all the goat milking she has done! She practiced finger spelling her sister's name and also made her very first tiny mmmm sound! She walked on the tread mill for the first time today. That isn't quite what it sounds like though. First they put a harness on her "like a parachute harness without the parachute". Then they clip it to a contraption above her that is attached to a pully so that if she were to fall she couldn't. They had one person stand behind her and hold onto her around the waist to make sure she was standing right. Two other people sat by her feet, each holding onto one of them making them walk properly. Another person ran the computer that controlled the speed and recorded distance and time. She did 5 walk/rest sessions within an hours time totalling 13 minutes of walking and a distance of .174 miles! I found out that she walked 74 feet yesterday.
Mitch and Camille came up this afternoon. She was very glad to see them and gave them hugs. She insisted on standing up and hugging them and then showing off her walking skills! She is quite pleased with herself. Mitch and other kids recorded some church songs together for her and brought them along. She was listening to them very carefully and waving her arm around in time to the music for one of them. She keeps sitting up in bed and hugging Mitch. She is a very happy girl right now! =)

Amy · **Joined:** May 22nd, 2012, 9:53 pm **Posts:** 645

Thanks to all who are keeping this thread updated! Your efforts are appreciated.

Still praying!

Lord Tarin · **Posted:** October 12th, 2012, 10:57 pm

That's great news, and thanks for the continuous updates. I'll keep praying.

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

Quote:

I guess I (Camille) get the job of updating facebook for the week. Mommy said if I didn't, I was sure to get lots of calls from people wanting to know what was going on. So here goes.

Today (Saturday) Noelle did not have therapy. However, she did work on building up her stamina by sitting in her wheelchair for 2 hrs at a time. Almost. She didn't last quite 2 hrs either time. She wanted to get back in bed so bad that she was trying to talk. She fingerspelled several letters which didn't seem to make any words, and it seemed like she was trying to say the word "want". She was gettting very worked up over it. Finally I told her to point to what she wanted, and she pointed towards the bed.

Maybe she'll be talking soon!
- Camille

P.S. She also was pointing to a cross on the wall, and signing the letter 'J'.

Aemi · **Posted:** October 14th, 2012, 9:26 pm

Wow, she seems to be making steady progress. Thank you so much for the updates, and I'll keep praying.

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

Quote:

Here is revealed the contents of Sunday at Madonna in room L65.

*Ahem*
Noelle slept a lot this morning.
I rubbed her stiff hand and stretched it out.
Noelle listened to music.
I took Noelle on two (2) wheelchair rides to see the fishes.
Noelle slept some more.
Aunt Jo and Uncle Brent and cousin T.J. came to visit.
Noelle looked pleased and gave them all hugs.
Noelle smiled when Uncle Brent tickled her toes.
Noelle waved "no" at the door to get us to close it.
So we did.

The End.

Camille

Caeli · **Posted:** October 15th, 2012, 11:43 am

I'm not sure if this question has an answer, but I've been wondering: do the doctors know when it might be that Noelle might start regaining her voice?

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

She was talking today! Camille asked her what CD she wanted to listen to, and she whispered "Either." And she's been saying the names of her sisters, her cat and her goat.

Lady Elanor · **Posted:** October 15th, 2012, 1:20 pm

NotThatShort Mimetes wrote:

She was talking today! Camille asked her what CD she wanted to listen to, and she whispered "Either." And she's been saying the names of her sisters, her cat and her goat.

Aw, that's wonderful!

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

Yes!!!

*can't stop smiling*

Calista Bethelle · **Joined:** February 10th, 2011, 9:15 pm **Posts:** 3095

I think you got your answer, Caeli.

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

Yeah, that was ironic...

Lord Tarin · **Posted:** October 15th, 2012, 10:54 pm

That's great news! Will pray for steady progress.

Caeli · **Posted:** October 16th, 2012, 8:51 am

Calista Beth Mimetes wrote:

I think you got your answer, Caeli.

NotThatShort Mimetes wrote:

Yeah, that was ironic...

LOL Well, I'm certainly glad I asked. Praise God!

Elijah McGowan · **Posted:** October 16th, 2012, 3:10 pm

“How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart, you begin to understand, there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep...that have taken hold."
~Frodo

Brothers and sisters... I thank you so much for the prayers you've poured out for Noelle, myself, and our families for over three weeks now.

I have been blessed by God with incredible friends. I thank him every day for all of you.

Before the original tragedy was multiplied by being sent away, before I learned the world is not so simple, and some people can't accept love for what it is, I had already started counting.

Counting God's blessings. And I continue to do that now.

God has been glorified through his healing work.

God has brought me closer to Noelle.

God has brought me closer to my parents - I'd been so rebellious in my youth, and even this summer our relationship was strained - but they both sacrificed everything for Noelle in support of me - Dad funding our two week trip, and leaving his important job as the executive officer of an Army battalion. Mom leaving her precious kids behind and driving with me, offering me support, and literally spending every night all night with Noelle, looking after her, and helping her limbs. I adore my family more than ever before. They can't afford to drive to church for the rest of the month, or anywhere, because they spent every dime they had on supporting me and Noelle.

God has given all of us an incredible testimony. I have been able to witness to a dozen or more people through this.

God has given us empathy for others with similar struggles. I bless, oh I bless His name for every new chance to empathize. He is the God who can empathize with us in all things, having taken the form of Man, became 100% man while still 100% God, and even died and suffered His own wrath.

God has blessed me with many tears. With compassion. With a heart that aye, might be broken, but it is not hard.

God has brought so many new people into my life, strengthened my relationship with so many old friends.

God has done so much good, been so merciful. I will bless His name forever.

R.C. Sproul once said, that instead of asking why bad things happen to good people, we should ask why good things happen to bad people.

I am a bad person. And God has been so faithful to me and Noelle and our families.

When He gives, and when He takes away, He is still faithful, and I will praise Him.

Mr. Holmes was upset with some of the theology my posts were reflecting - specifically saying that God allowed or approved the wreck to happen. He asked me to not say this.

But I will say this. Nothing happens outside of God's direct approval. Satan Himself must ask permission before touching one hair on our heads (see Job). What God wants happens, otherwise He is not God. God's plan is being carried out, always, and we cannot thwart it. God is writing a story, a story with a lot of tragedy, including this wreck, but because He is God, and He loves us so much, we know this story has an ending in victory.

Pray for healing for all involved - our emotional healing. Every day I worry about Noelle, what she'll feel when she learns what has happened to me.

I have nightmares every night about being sent away.

I'm struggling to catch up in school. I'm reeling.

But you all, you here, you warm my two hearts. :'D This thread was hard to read. So many memories. But I am sooooo thankful for all of you. I owe Holy Worlds a great debt.

Brendan, Nicole, Calista, Elizabeth, and Airi - you five I will thank by name, because you had an incredible impact on everything. I bless God every day for you.

Thanks so much for the prayers, and continue to pray for healing. God is so good, and merciful, and He is writing a wonderful story, even if it's one I would never have chosen for myself.

Also pray I grow close to Him during this time of singleness.

I've triple-checked this post to make sure it is not slanderous, that it does not contain gossip. It's only the truth, or the truth as I know it. If you have a problem with it, delete the whole thing, don't edit it, and I'll redistribute it to HWers elsewhere. It's what I'd like to say, and I won't say it any other way. I believe I deserve to have my say, even if it's only a fraction of what could be said. And I'll rest now. Thank you my brothers and sisters.

Praise the God who made us, justified us, sanctifies us, and will one day glorify us.

May I get to be with Him soon,

Eli

Lady Katharina · **Posted:** October 16th, 2012, 4:58 pm

Wow! Thank you, Eli, for sharing your heart. It was saddening and yet uplifting. Frodo's quote is so applicable.

BushMaid · **Posted:** October 16th, 2012, 5:31 pm

Thankyou for your post, Eli. I understand in part how you are feeling due to a circumstances in my own life right now, and I feel for you... But I am so thankful that through everything, God's goodness is steady, and He always has plans to bring light out of the darkness. Praying for you, there.

NotThatShort · **Joined:** March 7th, 2012, 2:08 pm **Posts:** 2809

*reads and cries* Oh Eli, you know we only wish we could do more.
Indeed, God is using this whole situation in His greater plan. It hurts now, but in the future, we'll look back and see, "Oh, what happened in fall 2012 had this impact on my life and my faith," and thank God for it. In fact, we should thank God for it even now, even with the broken hearts, even while we're in shock from all the bad things that are happening. He knows the way. We just have to trust in Him.
I'll keep praying for everyone involved. You know where to find me if you need me.

Idril Aravis Mimetes · **Posted:** October 16th, 2012, 7:33 pm

Thank you for that, Eli! You've been a blessing to all of us by your words and your actions through all of this. Know that I'm praying for you, your family, and Noelle and her family.

Prayer Request (& Updates) for Noelle

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