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July 19, 2006
Patrick is continuing to make steady progress at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Although he is still in the phase emerging from the coma he is awake for most of the day; which means his eyes are open, he can hear, and he is moving more frequently and with better control. Each day he is responding more consistently to commands. The trachea tube has been removed and he is able to make many different sounds. He has said a few words including saying hi to Megan and no several times when asked questions. During physical therapy he is moving his left leg consistently as if he were walking. The doctors and therapists are very pleased with his progress especially in the past two weeks.
Due to insurance restrictions the Killelea's are now facing the very real possibility that Pat may be forced to leave Spaulding and moved to a nursing home. At this point in Patrick's recovery the family feels it is critical that Pat remain at Spaulding so that he can achieve the highest level of recovery. Today they lost their appeal to keep him there past the insurance company's deadline. Even though he has made a lot of progress since he arrived he doesn't have enough cognitive function for the insurance company to allow him to stay at Spaulding. If anyone has any knowledge or experience, ideas or suggestions, or if you know anyone they can contact to help them find a way to keep Pat at Spaulding they would be forever grateful.
The family is also looking for anyone who would be willing to go into Spaulding and stay with Pat during the hours of 7 pm - 10 pm. They have someone staying with him around the clock and right now they don't have enough people to cover those hours.
If anyone is able to help with either of these requests please feel free to call Marianne. If you have trouble reaching her you please e-mail me and I will contact her.
If anyone would like to visit Pat the doctors have said extra stimulation at this time could be very beneficial. He is awake for longer periods of time now, therefore he is hearing and processing a lot more of his surroundings.
Again, all of your support and help has been greatly appreciated.
Thank you! Cara Brewin
If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me. fletchercbrewin@comcast.net
Visiting Hours are 1pm - 8pm. Room # 812 Patrick Killelea Room # 812 Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital 125 Nashua St. Boston, MA 02114 |
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July 25, 2006
Patrick was transferred to MGH last Thursday in respiratory distress caused by pneumonia. He was having trouble breathing so they had to put the trach back in. He's doing much better and this interruption doesn't seem to have impeded all the progress he had made at Spaulding. He is expected to be back at Spaulding sometime this week.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
Cara Brewin.
If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me. fletchercbrewin@comcast.net
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July 31, 2006
Patrick was transferred back to Spaulding Rehab Hospital at the end of last week. The pneumonia is better and they have capped off the trach. Over the weekend, Brady visited again and Marianne and her aunt took Pat outside for awhile.
This week Pat is suppose to be moved to a nursing home. Everyone involved is working feverishly to try and keep him at Spaulding. We are all hoping and praying that something positive will happen. Marianne, John, Megan, & Kevin would like to thank everyone for all your suggestions and help to keep Pat at Spaulding.
We hope the soccer clinic goes well and everyone has a great time.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support,
Cara Brewin
If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me. |
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August 15, 2006
Patrick is still at Spaulding Rehab. Tufts Health Insurance has agreed to extend his coverage at Spaulding through September 4th.
Pat is continuing to improve. He is moving around a lot more and is saying more words. Last night Kevin and a few of Pat's friends were in visiting him and they said he was really trying to talk, his mouth and lips were moving as if he were talking. They have been putting soft foods on his lips and he has been eating and swallowing; another very big step, a month ago he wasn't able to swallow. Marianne brought in a laptop dvd player and they have been playing movies for him. He does seem to be focusing and listening. The therapists have tried blocking the screen a few different ways and he shifts his head and body to try and see the screen again. Again, the doctors have said that any extra stimulation can be beneficial so visitors are encouraged.
We would like to thank Justin Geibel and everyone involved in the Soccer Clinic Fundraiser. Jay and Lauren were helped by Matt Wolz, Joey Martinho, Jay McKeen and a few of the current Masco players. It was a great afternoon and the clinic raised over $500.00 to add the to Friends of Pat fund. Thank you for another successful fundraiser!
For anyone who has seen the Fox25 news video with Marianne and Patrick, the hospital photos of Patrick were taken in Denver. He looks much healthier and a lot more like himself now.
Thank you to everyone for all the support and help you're continuing to give the Killelea family. I'm looking forward to seeing and meeting everyone at the auction in 10 days!
Thank you, Cara Brewin
Visiting Hours 1pm - 8 pm Patrick Killelea Room #805 Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital 125 Nashua Street Boston, MA 02114 |
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September 4, 2006
Pat is continuing to improve little by little, Marianne and John are feeling pretty good about the strides he's made in the past couple of weeks. He has added "mom" to the list of words he's been saying. Megan and Kevin are back at school, Kevin left for Ireland last week to study in Galway for a semester. Megan is back at Suffolk, living pretty close to Spaulding.
Below is an article from the local paper about the auction. Many friends did a superb job spending countless hours planning and organizing this event; because of all their efforts and hard work the auction was a tremendous success. The Killelea family is extremely grateful and overwhelmed with the phenomenal response the auction generated. They feel they are truly blessed to have so many people supporting them in such a way at this time.
An enormous Thank You to the auction committee and all those who made donations and participated in the auction.
Thank you again for all your support, Cara Brewin
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September 20, 2006
Patrick is still at Spaulding Rehab. Tufts is no longer covering him; he has been picked up by Medicaid. As long as he is having respiratory issues Medicaid will pay for him to stay at Spaulding. Once those issues have been cleared up John and Marianne will start the same battle with Medicaid to keep him at Spaulding.
He is voicing more sounds and is working really hard to use his left side to move around. If they sit him on the edge of the bed he can hold himself up with a little assistance.
Marianne has a couple of ideas to try and help stimulate Pat. She is putting pictures on a cd and showing them to him on the laptop. If anyone has any pictures of him, family, friends, soccer, ect. that you can put on a cd and drop off at the house or send that would be great. Also, she found a couple of recent messages on his cell phone and had him listen to them. He listened intently and she felt there was enough of a reaction from him to try and have more family and friends leave him messages. If anyone would like to leave him a message on his cell phone the number is: 978-360-6361.
Thank you again for all your help and support. You know it is all greatly appreciated. Cara Brewin |
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November 10 , 2006
Patrick is still at Spaulding Rehab. Although he is still in a coma he is continuing to make strong improvements. He has had many good days in recent weeks. He's making more sounds and he's moving around with more and more control.
The trach was removed about 3 weeks ago and so far so good. He has not had any respiratory issues or infections since it was removed. Medically speaking, he is doing very well. His weight had dropped to 105 pounds, he is now up to 130 (his normal weight is about 160). Since he hasn't had to fight any infections or pneumonia recently it seems as though he is on the verge of having a breakthrough. Marianne and John have been feeling pretty hopeful.
Mass Health is getting closer to a date to send Pat to a skilled nursing facility. John and Marianne have been looking at other facilities and have found one they like in Greenfield, NH, Crotched Mountain Rehab Center. They are hoping he can be transferred there in the next couple of weeks.
Below is a link to their website if anyone would like to read about it or: if anyone has any information about Crotched Mountain or knows anyone who's been there please contact me at my e-mail address.
Thank you again for all your help and support in the past eight months.
Thank you, Cara Brewin
http://www.crotchedmountain.org/crotchedmountain/html/home.htm |
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If anyone would like to leave Pat a message on his cell phone the number is: 978-360-6361
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December 13, 2006
Patrick was transferred on November 30th to Crotched Mountain Rehab Center in Greenfield, NH. The ride in the ambulance to NH went smoothly. However, the change has been a bit stressful for everyone. Becoming familiar with so many new people, a different routine, and a different environment has been a big adjustment . As far as Pat's progress is concerned, there's not much change or improvement as he is still trying to adapt to all the changes.
The doctors at Crotched have told Marianne & John they'd like a 6 month commitment from them. The doctors agree Pat is making progress but because it has been slow they feel 6 months is more realistic for any dramatic improvements. However, if he does wake up during that time and becomes interactive he could qualify to go back to Spaulding.
Marianne went back to work on Nov 13th. She's doing her best juggling work and hospital visits. They found a couple who were looking for a house sitter for a few months so they have a place to stay when they are with Pat. Fortunately, she can do a lot of her work from her computer so she has set up a little work station at the house and is planning to stay up there as much as possible.
Although the transition hasn't been as easy for Pat as they had hoped overall this seems to be the right place for him at this time. The staff and the facility both seem to be excellent so I expect once Pat is settled we'll see some big improvements with him.
Thank you again for all you interest and support.
Cara Brewin
http://www.crotchedmountain.org/crotchedmountain/html/home.htm |
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