Karing 4 Kerri

The month of May was a very busy one for Kerri in terms of medical appointments and continued work toward recovery.  She has continued her pool physical therapy 2 to 3 times a week, learning to walk again and improve her endurance/strength in a heated salt water pool at Chester County Hospital.  This environment helps her to recover gradually with less risk for re-injury.  She is working with some remarkable therapists and meeting so many wonderful fellow patients.  Another 2 day series of low dose ketamine booster IV treatments took place with Dr. Schwartzman in Philadelphia.  If all goes well, she will not need another series of boosters until August.

The orthopedic doctor at Hahnemann Hospital saw Kerri regarding her persistent knee pain and recommended continuing the pool exercises to try and strengthen the muscles around the knee to hopefully decrease the pain and improve function.  He felt that so many years of having RSD took a toll there, but hopes she can continue to get better and will check her again at the end of June.  Kerri also had a special bite guard made by our family dentist to address some complications that developed in her jaw, possibly as a result of being on the ventilator for the coma.  Her jaw sometimes locks up as a result and becomes very sore.  The bite guard seems to be helping though, and we are hopeful that this too will get better with time.

Some wonderful “firsts” have taken place since our last update.  Kerri was recently able to go to the movies and see Ironman 2 with Jeff, her fiancé.  Before the coma, going to the movies had become much too painful and difficult given her physical condition.  She also recently went to a friend’s house for the first time since before going to Mexico in March.  She had a fun afternoon with her wonderful friend Jen.  It was beyond exciting to see her get out again!  Our whole family also had a first social trip out since before the coma, going to Kerri’s friend, Michelle’s graduation party. This was something that was unheard of before the trip to Mexico.  At that time, going anywhere crowded or the least bit noisy was unbearably painful and difficult for her.

We traveled to Florida in mid May for a follow-up visit to Dr. Kirkpatrick at the RSD/CRPS Treatment Center and Research Institute in Tampa.  The travel was difficult for Kerri but this was an important part of the research study involved with the coma procedure.  Dr. Kirkpatrick was very pleased at how far she has come.  The highlight of our trip was being able to take Kerri and Erin to the aquarium, enjoying a “behind the scenes”  visit with the penguins.  We are so blessed to be able to start making special memories again as a family.  Thank you all for helping to make this possible.