Sorry No New Pics

Talked to Luisa today and all is going well. I didn't really share things we talked about and did at Easter so I will on this picture-less Wednesday. We did not take mom out of the hospital this weekend because of the casts on her feet, it would have been too hard to maneuver her around. So,we just hung out in the hospital until the kids wore their welcome out with the other patients. I called her to let her know that I was on my way to see her and give her a manicure and when I got there she busted out laughing at me. I asked her what was so funny and she told me, "that was quick." Their house is only about 15 minutes from TIRR-I was thrilled she remembered I called her. Her memory is funny though, sometimes she retains information (like her doctors name) and others she can't remember visiting with people, it seems as it is really hit or miss. Please continue to keep our LuBob in your hearts and prayers.

The Ripoll's and Pippins'
**Sorry no pic, my computer had to be sent away for a week to be repaired!!!

Humanity

The past six months have taugh me a lot
I have seen such a different culture than we have in our "everyday world" (at the hospitals)
Every face has a story- I see tears, I hear laughter
we are all in this life together

Happy Easter.
Charles, Luisa, Robin, Brad, Chaz, Claire, Andrew and Ava

All in One Piece

Just got back from a visit with LuBob-she is doing really well. She has therapy today so she is a busy bee again at TIRR. They have her legs casted right now to help her feet from turning in, well one was off today and I think they are just putting it on her when she sleeps now. Chaz and Andrew felt inclined to sign the cast, Andrew said he drew a big shark on it to protect her.

Mom seems to be good, she is so quiet it is hard to tell, but man will she laugh if you tell her funny stories. The woman can belly laugh like she has never before in her life.

We wish all of you a Happy Easter!

Love to each one of you!
The Ripoll's and Pippins'

**Pic taken this afternoon, what a beautiful head!

Holy Thursday

Luisa had her neurosurgeon's appointment today where the staples were removed and they set her next procedure for the 2nd of April. This is the procedure where they will put a shunt in her head and have a tube that drains the fluid build up in her head to her stomach for her body to absorb there.

Last night when I spoke with her I asked her if she remembered her doctor's name and she thought for about a second and said her name (which is foreign) so I (we) were very impressed that she could recall that. TIRR has her working hard again-we pray to make progress on the ground we lost in the last month.

We will be in Houston tomorrow so stay tuned for some updated pics.

Luisa's Family

**Pic taken last Easter, Austin.

Buenos Dias

Mom is at TIRR in Houston now and is having good progress already. The doctors seem to think that the fluid build up in her brain had helped to lead to her not being able to straighten her leg or put her foot down properly on the ground. She is now able to straighten it and also sounds really good. Yesterday I was talking to her when she was about to eat dinner and I asked her what she was eating, usually she knows what she is eating but it is hard for her to find the word, yesterday she told me "some not so good looking tacos." And that is exactly what my dad said he would have described it as-we were very impressed. Claire called her yesterday and told her that she sounded so much better, mom told her "oh really? I look better too!" So needless to say we are really anxious to see the progress made now.

The doctor is going to take her staples out at the end of the week and he wants to perform the shunt procedure in two weeks.

On we go....

Best to you,
Charles, Luisa, Robin, Brad, Chaz, Claire, Andrew and Ava

**Pic taken last Easter.

Good Change

I know I owe you all a much needed update on Luisa, so here you go....
It has been a rough month for us-mom was walking unassisted when she left TIRR in February and it seemed as though she would be fine physically. Well, in the past month we have seen her decline quite quickly from walking on her own, to not being able to stand or walk without us practically holding her up. A week before the surgery, my dad brought up to the people at the transitional center that we were concerned with her walking but would tackle it after she is done with the replacement. The reason that she has stayed in Houston so long after she was supposed to get out after only 2 nights is because she is now going to move back to TIRR in Houston! We are ecstatic that she is going to receive such intense therapy again-hopefully she will be up and walking in no time.

So, she is still at the hospital and will move to TIRR tomorrow! Lu is doing really well. Dad gave her a haircut to balance out her shaved head yesterday, I think I even heard her give him an order, which is great because we are finding that with her bone in she is a little more outspoken. She seems to be a less foggy, for lack of a better term, than she was without her bone flap.

We are really hopeful that this is the direction that we (she) needs to be going in right now, and for the first time in a few weeks are seeing really positive signs. We are so grateful!

The Rip's and Pips'
**Pic taken in Jan. 08 at TIRR

Still in H-Town

Just a short update tonight to let you know that mom is still in Houston. She developed a rash as a result of the antibiotics and the doctors wanted to just keep an eye on her since TLC is not a medical facility.

Blessings,
Lu's Crew

**Pic taken 2/08

Oh Rob!

I can just hear those words now as she sees the picture that I am posting of her for all of you to look at-but really I think she looks beautiful. When you consider all that this woman has been through, all she needs is a haircut and some makeup-I swear she has better color than I have.

So.. I owe you all an update. Yesterday, the surgery went as planned, but I didn't post last night because 1. we felt like we had gone through the surgery at the end of the night and 2. mom was very groggy yesterday and didn't respond to too much so there was not much to say.

Today, mom was awake and looked great when we went in her room this morning-we were prepared for massive swelling, like the last time, but she was barely swollen at all. She talked to us a little bit and managed to smile at Andrew-even laughed at a story I told her about my grandpa having his wheelchair stolen at the casino (see kids, gambling IS dangerous). Her doctor came in this afternoon and said he was happy with how she was responding and decided to move her to a regular floor, if all goes well, she will be out tomorrow afternoon. He did mention that if her body accepts her bone that he would like to perform another procedure on her in a month or so. Mom has developed hydrocephalus (basically fluid on her brain that her body is not absorbing like ours would), it would result and has resulted already in her loosing her balance etc... SO... she has to have a, for lack of a better term, a drain put in her head and a tube down her body that would carry the fluid to her stomach so her body can absorb it (tube will be inside her body). The doctor feels like having her bone put back in and having the next surgery will really improve mom's overall function.

In two weeks she will go back to see her neurosurgeon and they will discuss the next step at that time.

Thank you for all of your prayers, kind words and calls of concern-they really make this a little easier on all of us.
Charles, Luisa and the kids

Surgery A Success

Just wanted to post and let you know that the bone has been returned to it's owner. The doctor said that all went well, I'll post tonight to give a full update.

With Love,
Lola's Crew

1 Day

Well, the big day is upon us. Dad and I will be driving to Galveston later today to go get mom for her surgery tomorrow morning. We have to be there for 5:30 (yeah) and the surgery is supposed to begin around 7:30, but you know that never happens when they say it will.

We hung out yesterday and she was a little more conversational than she has been in the last few weeks. Chaz's wife, Claire, is in NYC and she asked Chaz when she was getting back from her trip, so she had remembered that Claire was gone from the night before.

Anyway, we are all just praying and crossing our fingers for tomorrow. I'll post when I can to let you all know how things went.

Best,
The Ripoll's and Pippins'

Counting Down the Days

Well, we are at less than a week now before mom's surgery and we are just patiently waiting to get her to Houston for the big event. She is doing well, this week she seems to be a little more interactive when we speak to her on the phone asking a few questions rather than just giving yes and no answers. The good Lord willing, all will go smoothly on Tuesday and she will be back in Galveston by Friday or Saturday sporting another buzz cut!

Blessings-
Lola's Crew

**Pic taken last March-Austin

Date Set

Well, we were hoping for this week, but at least we have a date set for the replacement surgery. Lu will be having surgery next Tuesday in Houston at Hermann Memorial in the medical area. The rest of the details are still being worked out, more to come on this issue.

Mom is doing well, she seems to be pretty much the same mentally and physically, as far as we can tell. Since she does not initiate (one of her big side effects of the injury) it is really hard to get a feeling from her because she won't just come out and say this is bothering me.

I ask that you keep both she and my dad in your prayers. Dad is a man of unspeakable strength, he is juggling about 30 different things at once and could really use some positive energy sent his way. I am in awe of both of the people who I am proud to call my parents.

Best!
Luisa's Family