Grandma Rita's Heartfelt Update

Hello Everyone,

It’s Mom, a.k.a. Grandma, a.k.a. Rita. It is my great privilege to update you on the happenings of late. On Friday, March 25, 2011 at 3:00 PM, Kelli was discharged from Craig Hospital having completed her journey as an inpatient at that marvelous facility. Kelli, Chauncy, Milli, Logan, Grandpa Brian and I then began the trip from Denver back home to Casper. Because they had accumulated a significant amount of STUFF during their time at Craig, we drove one truck, one SUV and one car loaded with STUFF. The trip was uneventful for the most part except for one stretch of interstate where it was sleeting and snowing quite heavily, but then that’s Wyoming in the spring, right?

Brian and I were apprehensive about our precious family’s return to their home in Casper knowing that this would be the first time Kelli had been there since December 24, 2010. We knew it would be tremendously difficult for both Kelli and Chauncy and of course it was, but the behavior Brian and I witnessed was the same quiet dignity and strength we had seen displayed by our children so many times before along this difficult journey. What an inspiration they are to all of us. Milli was ecstatic about being home. She ran straight upstairs to her room and pulled out all her toys. Even Logan seemed to know that he was home and was very happy to be there.

Although Kelli is tremendously improved and continues to improve daily, she is still in the healing stages of recovery from her traumatic brain injury and brachial plexus nerve injuries. Her right arm will require extensive outpatient physical therapy for which she will be returning to Craig Hospital three days each week, for the next four weeks at least. Then she and Chauncy hope to transition her therapy to a rehab hospital in Casper. We are all so thrilled to have our Kelli back, but she still needs lots of rest and quiet for her brain injury to fully heal.

I want you all to know what a wonderful, spiritual place of healing Craig Hospital is. The physicians, psychologists, therapists and technicians all work together to provide specialized healing tailored for each patient’s individual needs. We will be eternally grateful that not only Kelli but that Chauncy also received such excellent care at Craig, because not only the patient but the patient’s family is provided with whatever training and counseling they are in need of in adjusting to the tremendously difficult journey they are facing.

Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for all the prayers, thoughts, gifts and kindnesses that you have offered in behalf of Kelli, Chauncy, Milli, Logan and the Hoffmann and Johnson families.