Final Post

I ran out of memory on this post, please go to lolaspage2.blogspot.com
for the final post.

Austintatious Trip

The past month or so, Luisa has been in Austin with my family because they lost electricity for about 3 weeks with Ike and dad went out of town for a while. Coming here is the best therapy for her, the kids make her interact with them, throw balls and of course the best therapy of all, they make her happy. She shopped with me, washed every piece of clothing in our house (including my cell phone in my jeans), went to drop and pick the kids up at school and ordered me around like old times.

We had Andrew's birthday party last weekend and I was a little concerned how she would react in a social environment with a lot of people who wanted to talk to her about her accident and recovery of which she has very little or no memory of all of it. Well, she was a social butterfly talking to everyone and enjoying adult beverages:) I know I don't need to say it, but to have her there, I mean really there, is so overwhleming and beautiful to me-we are a lucky family.

Thursday, Lu had an appointment with her neuro-psychiatrist to take a battery of tests that she took when she was in TIRR in May. We have not gotten the results back, but when she saw the man who gave her the initial tests, he explained that while she was in the hospital he asked her what year it was. He said it took her about 15 minutes to come up with an answer, and that it was wrong-well he asked her the other day the day/month/year and without hesitation she answered-he responded with a HUGE smile-he was very impressed with how far she has come since May.

Hope each of you is having a great start to your fall season.
Geaux Tigers!

Running From Hurricane Season

Hi Friends
Luisa didn't get to have her 60th birthday in NOLA, but we did manage to have a few fun days before leaving because of Gustav. Now, she is sitting in my den watching tv because my parent's evacuated for Ike and are powerless for the time being.

She is doing great! Each time I see her I notice that she is improving with her conversation skills and initiating small things that you and I don't even realize we do every day. Walking is going fine, she is as slow as a turtle-but moving and that is what matters. Dad is going to try to enroll her in pilates to get her stretching more and moving more because she is very achy-I assume from not moving around a whole lot.

We are closing in on a year, I can't believe that, and on the anniversary I will close out this blog.

We hope all is well with you, especially anyone who has been effected by the crazy weather.
The Rip's and Pip's


Getting on the street car for the first time since the accident.

Ava and Lola riding the streetcar.

Andrew and Lola in Austin 9/7/08

Bop and Lola with Ava on her birthday at Chuck E Cheese

Andrew's 2 cheerleader's at his first soccer game. 9/17/08

Man Has This Summer Gone By Fast

I can't believe how fast time has gone by, both this summer and the fact that we are closing in on a year since my mom's accident. She is doing really well, we see improvements slowly, but surely as time goes on. When she walks she is putting her whole foot on the ground when she walks now, but her walking can only be compared to snail's pace:) There has not been any recalling of the accident (which will prob. never happen) nor most of the 6.5 months she stayed in the hospital. Her short term memory is in tact now, she forgets things every now and then, but don't we all?

In the last month and a half her and my dad have gone to NOLA, come to Austin again and had quite a few visitors in Houston (we thank each of you that has gone to see her).

Today she had her first appointment with her doctor since getting out of the hospital. She told me that the doctor was happy with her progress, but that she needs to move more-so work outs are going to start up again:)

Up next is a big birthday for her at the end of the month-so we'll all be going to the city of her birth to celebrate her life.

Overall, we are extremely blessed, she is a walking miracle (she just doesn't know it).

I Got A New Attitude!

Luisa has returned home all is one piece after spending 4 days with us in Austin. We had a wonderful time, I managed to squeeze out a nice dinner with just the two of us, Chaz and Claire went to dinner with her as well and the kids got to spend some one on one time with their Lola.

Today she had her hair done for the first time, I think she felt like a woman again.

Therapy Free

Well, I am not sure I understand this move, but Luisa is now done with all of her rehabilitation (PT, OT and ST). Although her foot is not back to normal, she is discharged from her daily therapy now. I think that dad is going to have a friend of Chaz and Claire's, who just finished PT school, work with her at their house b/c her walking gait is not where it needs to be, or where it can be.

We went to visit this weekend and she is doing amazing. We were talking about where we want to got eat and what street the restaurant was located on and dad said he thought it was such and such, and mom said, no Charles it is on this and that-and she was totally right. The kids love being around Bop and Lola, and they seem to be very good therapy for her because they make her interact with them. She is coming to stay with us for a week next week while dad goes out of town, should be very interesting for all of us.

Hope you are all having a good summer.
Rips and Pips

Speech Therapy Too!

Hi friends
Wanted to update you all on Luisa's continued progress... This week, she has graduated from speech therapy so now all she is doing is going to PT. Since mom is still having problems with her leg/foot the therapist decided they she wanted to see if a cast would help get some flexion back in her foot. She has had the cast on for about a week and she told me that her foot has gone from a -17 degree flexion to zero, which is great. Now, she only has the cast to wear at night-so hopefully mission is accomplished.

On the home front, she is doing really well. Chaz and Claire went to visit this weekend and he said that dad got confused with some directions and mom corrected him on how to get to the destination. She also went to the grocery with the lady that stays with her and selected a dinner that she prepared for she and dad to eat the other night.

We are so amazed and grateful for the amazing progress that Lu has made in such a short time. She keeps us constantly in awe of her will and spirit-each day for all of us is a gift.

On we go...

***Pic taken a year ago, Don's downtown Lafayette.

Check Neurosurgeon Off Of The List As Well

Last week Lu had a check up at her neurosurgeon's and dad said that he had a smile from ear to ear when he saw her. He said she looks and sounds amazing and as far as he is concerned she is discharged from his medical supervision.

This weekend some old friends were in town and went to visit Lu and Chuck and by all accounts had a great visit. Dad said that mom put out some crackers and dip and helped clean the house for the guests-sooooo amazing! She seems to get more sharp with each passing week-we are so thankful and blessed.

She also made time for another veggie burger at Houston's:)

Sending good vibes to each of you.
The Rip's and Pips

PS
I have gotten some requests for my parent's address-for security reasons I am not posting it, but if you would like to contact them, please just email me.

No More OT

Hello I hope all is going well for everyone that keeps up with Luisa's progress.

She is doing really, really great. If fact, she is doing so well that she does not have to have OT anymore, YEAH!!! Right now the kids and I are in Houston staying with their Lola while Bop is out of town. All things considered, I think she is happy to have us here-I do have a 3.5 year old ad a 1.5 year old:)

Thanks for your support.
Luisa and crew

Road Trip

Charlie and Luisa went on a road trip this weekend to Austin for a short, but great visit. They have not been here since Oct. 6 and it was wonderful to have them back again, a very surreal time considering all that has happened in the months since their last visit. We just hung out and enjoyed each other's company and managed to fit in a visit to Houston's for Lu's favorite veggie burger!

Happy Memorial Day!

But I want to cook a gumbo!

Therapies are going very well for Luisa. She is walking better every week, having to complete homework for speech therapy every night and is cooking something in occupational therapy today. So, yesterday her OT asked her what she wanted to cook and she told him "a gumbo", well she was upset to know that he didn't want to b/c it would take too long. A quick trip to Kroger's yielded a chicken and potatoes, Chef Lu will be preparing that for her OT, Steven, this afternoon.

Monday was the first day that her "nurse" started staying with Lu at home. Dad doesn't think that she will need someone at home with her for very long, pretty amazing considering that we thought they would need round the clock help just 2 months ago.

Love to each of you. Thank you for keeping up with our story.
The Ripoll's and Pippins

**Pic taken on Mother's Day.
***To those people outside of Louisiana reading this, yes, I know that gramatically "a gumbo" is not correct, but we have our own lingo in south La.

A Message From Our Leader

Thank You:

As Luisa and I begin this new exciting chapter in our lives we want to begin by sending our most sincere thanks to all our dear friends, our wonderful families and especially our children and their loving spouses. Without their support, love and prayers, I don't know how we would have made it through the last six months. Over the coming weeks we plan to reach out and thank everyone personally, as each and every act of support and love has contributed to this miracle taking place before our eyes.

We were all blessed to have our dedicated "Blog Author", preciously describing each step of Luisa's journey and even more blessed to have each of you as dedicated followers of this beautiful, evolving story of challenge, determination, perseverance and faith.

While we have never questioned why this happen to us, as we know it is God's will, we now know that God blessed us by placing each of you in our lives and for that we are eternally grateful.

Love,

Luisa and Charles

Ahhhhmazing!

Things we have learned about Luisa since she got back home:
1. She can bathe, dress and put her makeup on-all unassisted.

2. She still enjoys a mimosa!

3. She knows how to grocery shop. Claire brought her to the grocery yesterday and she picked out dinner (chicken and brocolli). When they got to the check out counter, Claire walked off for a second and when she came back mom had her visa out paying for the groceries.

4. She prepared the meal yesterday, in full! Claire said she removed the insides of the chicken, washed it off, seasoned it and then set the oven to the proper temperature.

OK I hope at this point you are saying to yourself, "What?" Basically, mom has just assumed her role at home as if she did not have any life changing event-we are trying to restrain how much we say "wow" to her b/c it is pretty much all of the time and she just thinks it is pretty normal. Once her bum leg gets back to normal, there will be no stopping her!

Monday was her first day of outpatient therapy. She is going to do PT, OT, Speech and have a group session 5 days a week right now, which will probably change to 3 in a few weeks.

So, I don't think things could be going more smoothly right now.

Cheers!
The Ripoll's and Pippins

**Pic is from Mother's Day.

193 Days

Yes, Luisa will be getting out of the hospital today!!! We all have feelings are of elation, gratitude, fear BUT most of all, we are filled with hope. Hope that mom will recover to live independently, hope that mom and dad will have the happiness in their retirement years they have worked together for 37 years to have, and hope that mom will one day understand the magnitude of the injury, love, recovery and miracle in the whole process she has been through.

I will continue to update the blog as we have news or exciting updates. WE thank each and every one of you for taking the journey up until this point with us. It has been through your prayers that we have sustained ourselves and through the grace of God that mom is emerging with a smile on her face and a will to overcome obstacles.

At some point we will be making a "Ripoll's Gratitude Journey" to Lafayette, Austin and New Orleans, stay tuned for more details. As I stated in my very first post, we still have a long road ahead of us-but the destination has been laid. Please continue to keep Luisa and Charlie in your prayers!

Until then, love each other and never loose hope.

Luisa, Charlie, Chaz, Claire, Robin, Brad, Andrew and Ava

"Making Up" For Lost Time

Day by day it seems that mom becomes more aware of herself and the world around her. Two days ago I got a phone call from my dad who I could tell was elated for some reason-he had just gotten his first phone call from Lu since Oct. 31. She doesn't grasp how awesome all of these little tasks that she is initiating on her own are. We, are so grateful and marvel each day at our miracle.

Yesterday, dad went for family training and when he got there Lu had on makeup. She told me that she was just sitting in her room waiting for therapy and "put her face on." Both of these actions are soooo hopeful because she is having the idea to do something and actually following through with it. A major part of left frontal lobe brain injuries is failure to initiate-slowly that little fireball is igniting again.

Best,
Luisa, Charlie and the kids

**Pic taken at Easter.

4 Days and Counting

Luisa only has 4 days left of therapy at TIRR and her extended hospital stay will come to a conclusion this Saturday. More musings on this to come later this week....

This weekend Chaz and Claire took mom to her favorite restaurant for the first time since October-Houston's. She insisted that she walk in the restaurant, rather than ride in the wheelchair, and had her first veggie burger-she LOVES the veggie burgers at Houston's-which are quite good if I do say so myself. So, the family hung out on Saturday and Sunday and it sounds like by all accounts Sunday went by better for all than Sat. did, not that Sat. was bad, it just seemed as though Lu was a little more comfortable outside of her little contained hospital environment. She was even walking better on Sunday and she told me it is because her, "blue and white shoes hurt her feet, but her red and white ones are much better." Aunt Jan and Van were able to make it to Houston and had lunch at the house with everyone yesterday-mom had a good time, she said, she tends to still get confused about a lot, but we are trying to talk and explain the reasoning behind everything.

God Bless,
The Ripoll's and Pippins

**Pic taken last Mother's Day-Houston.

Climbing the Mountain

Good evening/morning
Well, mom has not had her leg casted this week and she is back to walking during PT. She is walking 15 minutes on the treadmill and practicing walking with a cane as well. Her PT says that she is doing really well-but Luisa thinks she has her old dancing feet back already. I called her today and she didn't answer, when I called a little while later she asked if I had called earlier and when I told her I had and asked where she was she said, "On my butt." Lu is trying to walk around unassisted and not getting very far. She is doing well, sounds great on the phone and will be walking the isles at her favorite shops soon if she has anything to say about it.

Peace!

**Pic taken last weekend.

Finally a Break from TIRR

Today we got to take mom to her new house and since she doesn't remember going there previously, she got to see if all over again for the first time. The kids showed her how they ride their bikes, draw on the cement and destroy the den-and that was all in the first 15 minutes. We wore her out pretty quickly with all of the excitement, but she did manage to get a message out to all of her friends and family.

Love to each of you, life is too short!
The Ripoll's and Pippins

I can not do a post and not take time to say that we lost one of our dear friends in Lafayette this weekend. She read this blog regularly and was fascinated by mom's progress. Terri-we will miss you, we are better people for having had you in our lives.

1 One Way Ticket For NYC Please!

Luisa went on a field trip today to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston from 8-3:30! The first time that she has been out of the hospital setting since the end of February. I was so excited when she told me that she got to get out-at that point she was so exhausted from her day there wasn't much pep. Anyway, she took a tour of a new plane that Continental is using in their fleet and told us it was bigger than the average plane and each seat has a t.v. Lunch was served for them in the CA meeting room-Pappadeaux's was the treat of the day. All in all, it was a good get away and she now wants to be a flight attendant (j/j).

Much Love
Luisa and family

**Pic taken last summer in NOLA.

Getting Antsy

Since Luisa has been in the hospital (5 in all) for over 6 months, the case worker advised against taking her out for the day on the weekends. Even though we have taken mom to her new house, to restaurants and church, she doesn't remember it b/c it was all pre-shunt (or p.s. as I refer to it). Now, she is cognitive and not able to leave the hospital which makes her pretty bored on weekends and really ready to get out the hospital-which is great but frustrating to her.

She and dad watched the Hornets basketball game on the big screen at TIRR and he brought steak and creamed spinach in an attempt to make her feel like she was out in the real world. What a saint (no pun intended)!!!

Wishing each of you a very good week ahead.
Luisa and crew

**Pic taken last weekend and TIRR, of course.

I'm In a New York State of Mind

I called Lu yesterday and if I didn't know that she had a brain injury I would have thought she was just hanging out at home on any Wednesday. Susan, mom's cousin, went by to visit again and was able to go with mom to her speech therapy (very handy since she is a speech therapist). She said that mom did really well, she got 7/10 each time, cognitively she is doing amazing-if that darn right leg would start working right she would be set. Mom's team met with her and Dad yesterday and told them she is doing really well. When she went to TIRR for the second time at her mental evaluation she was well below where she was when she had left the first time. Now, she is almost off of the charts in the other direction-can you say unbelievable!!! Now, she has years of therapy ahead of her, but man she is doing soooooo much better mentally post shunt, and we would rather a bum leg than a not all there Luisa.

I asked her if she had given any thought to what she wanted to do for her big birthday and she told me, "Yeah, I told dad that I want to go to New York." I said what are you going to do in NYC and she told me, "PLAY."

Many Blessing to you...
Lu and Chuck

**In your face pic taken this weekend. I am probably going to pay for this one!!

Talkative and Bossy

We had a great weekend with mom and dad. Mom has gone from barely talking to bossing me around in no time at all. Things are starting to feel normal again. She is really communicating well, she seems to be frustrated with her limitations and doesn't quite grasp them at this time.

Andrew told me that we "finally have our old Lola back." So things seem normal to him, which I know is so important to Lo. She is still wearing the leg cast at night and it does seem to cause her a lot of discomfort, but her PT says that it is coming along just fine.

Today when I spoke with her I was about to cook rice so I asked her how long you cook it for and she responded with a very confident 20 minutes. FYI that is right for all of you non-chef's out there.

Such a blessing!
Charlie, Luisa and the kids

**Pic of us walking down the hall, a spontaneous love bridge formed.

No Prompting Necessary

A video for your watching enjoyment!

Pretty impressive!!!
Lu's Crew

Time Extended

Yesterday dad and mom met with her "team" at TIRR. She was scheduled to be discharged on Tuesday and they have decided to extended that until the 1st of May. We were really happy that she is going to stay because she is getting 5 hours of therapy a day, and for the first time is probably really benefiting from all of the exercises. Regarding her physical status, she is still not able to straighten her leg all of the way, so the therapists are working hard on her range of motion in that right leg. She is standing up and did tell me yesterday that she walked a short distance, when I asked her how it was she told me, "not as easy as it used to be." Hopefully the the next few weeks she will just thrive in both her physical and mental status. She is going to her neurosurgeon today to get her stitches out from the shunt, I am sure he is going to be thrilled to finally meet Luisa.

We are going to Houston tomorrow, so stay tuned for a video. I can't wait to share that with each of you.

Fondly,
LuBob's Family

**Pic taken last summer.

Still in Awe

Just wanted to let everyone know that mom is still doing WONDERFUL! It feels so good to say that and mean it in a completely different way than we did just a week ago. Some thoughts she has shared with us...
*Today she told me she couldn't believe in was Tuesday already
*I asked her if it was confusing that it is April and she told me "VERY"
*She asked me if I saw the current situation with the polygamists and their children and then asked me where the city was located in Texas
*She asked Chaz if he was packing yet for a trip he is going on this weekend.
*When my dad called her Sunday, she asked him if he got to NOLA OK (he had left earlier that day.)

Again, I am really speechless. I can tell you that if you ask anyone that has spoken with her at any point before last Wednesday and then speaks to her now would probably tell you the change is a 360. Dad didn't want to go so far as to call it a miracle, but truly it is. Medicine has played a part, but the fact that she now has a memory (short and long term), she is talking to us and is the essence of herself is a blessing of medicine and faith. I told you a long time ago that when I walked into her room at Touro I could feel her spirit all around us, I am so glad that it has been set free!

Peace.
The Ripoll's and Pippins'

**Pic taken at Easter.

Medical Marvel

Where to start? I have been pretty cautious in posting our news, but I feel like it is safe to get really excited now. The following is an email that my sister-in-law, Claire, sent to me yesterday. I think you'll get the gist of how amazing this turnaround has been-

Hey,
She's back! What an amazing day. She is initiating, asking questions, and wanting to shop. There is still a little confusion, but i truely believe this is only the beginning to a fully recovered Lu. I attached the second pic because we were sitting outside and she said, "Do you want me to take yalls picture?" So I handed her the camera and this was the result. Pretty impressive.
Anyway, I just couldn't wait for you to see. Claire

So just a few things that she came up with this weekend:
*I asked her today what the first thing she was going to do when she gets out is and she told me "get a wig."
*Some of her ideas about time is pretty interesting, she thinks she drives a 626 (she did in 89) and dad asked her the name of her dog and she told him Chris (he died when I was 2).
*She told Claire that she was trying to figure out which shoes to where to the next LSU game (geaux tigers!)
*She completely remembers yesterday, and the day before that too!!!!!!! Shunts for everyone!!!
*Yesterday in PT, she complained about the contraption that her wonderful PT, Jen put her leg in. Jen told her she has been waiting for her to complain about it.
*The nurse came in yesterday and asked mom who Chaz was and she told the nurse, "I don't know, but he sure looks a lot like me (she was joking)"

So, hopefully you are getting the idea. Our wife, mom, grandmother, sister, daughter and and friend seems to have woken up after a long 6 month nap. We are so blessed and happy, words are hard to put on this one (and I am a Ripoll, we never have a hard time coming up with words).

Love,
The Ripoll's and Pippins

**Pic of Lola and Bop yesterday.

Smiles All Around

Well friends, Luisa sounds AMAZING since the shunt has been put in!!!! I think it is safe to say we are all so full of hope today, she is talking MUCH more than she has in the last 6 months, seems to be much more aware of her world around her and is even recalling a few things that happened yesterday (which she could not do). This morning I asked her if she talked to Aunt Jan recently and she told me that she talked to her after she spoke with me last night. That is pretty significant in terms of her short term, that she was able to remember the previous day. Oh, and something that made Chaz very happy is that mom told him when his birthday was last night. We have been asking her when his birthday is for months now and she would just look at us and shake her head, last night she told him the right day in February!!!!

She will be going back to TIRR today, where hopefully she will be able to straighten her leg out so she can start walking again.

Yeah!!!
Charlie, Luisa, Robin, Chaz, Brad, Claire, Andrew and Ava

**OK, since she seems to be coming into a greater sense of cognition, I am pretty sure she is going to be upset with all of these pictures I have posted of her in the last six months. Strangely enough, I look forward to that argument!! Pic taken on Easter.

Don't Forget Your Coat!

Mom is doing well a day after her surgery. This morning I spoke with her and she sounded more positive in her answers, rather than sounding a little unsure (confused). When my dad arrived this morning he had a sport coat on, he took it off and put it in the closet. He stayed for about 1.5 hours and when he was going to leave mom told him, "don't forget your sport coat." He was all impressed that she reminded him about it, me too! She does have her rash, but will probably be released tomorrow if it doesn't get any worse over the course of the day.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support.
The Rips and Pips

**Video is of mom on Easter- I am telling her a story of one of the humorous things she did during her first stay at TIRR. Laughter is really contagious!

Shunt Update

The shunt is in place as of 2:30 and the doctor said that it "should" provide some relief to mom both physically and mentally. Will update later on.
Peace

Family Visits

Last weekend my mom's mom, brother and wife went to Houston to see Lu. They all felt like she looked better than they were expecting and that she was pretty pleasant the whole time they were there. My dad wanted to take her out of the hospital but when they got there Friday evening mom had a cast on her right leg all the way up to almost her hip so the weekend was spent in the hospital again. The cast was removed yesterday in preparation for her surgery tomorrow morning. Dad said that she was so happy to be visiting with the family, she laughed almost the whole day on Saturday watching my dad and uncle give each other a hard time.

So, the surgery is a go for tomorrow, and if all goes as planned she will be back at TIRR on Friday. Now, we all know by know that the plan has not happened yet, so log on here and I will be keeping updates coming as I get them. HOPEFULLY there will be no rash, but Luisa has got a lot of allergies we have come to find out-we'll see.

Best to each of you.
The Ripoll's and Pippins'

**computer still in hospital:(