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Update #218

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 12:42:43 -0700

Ive taking a lot of heat over my lack of updates. Sorry to everyone we have been so busy trying to get the new shop finished. Trav has been spending time out there with us. Its so great to have him out there with me although l can tell theres so much he wants to do. One of the reasons for the shop was to keep him motivated and it looks like its working. Trav continues to work hard everyday for his therapists and were still inching along day by day. His left arm continues to get stronger as do his legs. It's so nice to stand him and remember how tall he really is. It's now an easy 2 person move to get him to stand. His speech is coming well with his new speech therapist Jenna Richmond. We know the Richmond family has the gift of gab so figured who would be better and it is working really good. For those of you who spent a lot of time around Trav you can imagine the words that are coming back first. It's funny how the words most said before continue to be the same. The brain doesn't forget at least Trav's doesn't.
 I promise I will do better with updates, it's time for Trav to start writing too. We are just so thankful that people still want to read them. You are all an amazing support for Trav and as the therapy gets harder, his brain better but the body a little slower in keeping up, we can see the frustration he has. Its knowing that you are still reading this and asking that helps to keep him going and we use it all the time.

To all of you Happy Easter, Happy Spring and a really safe start to the racing season. Love Trav, Kenny, Kathy and Doug

Update #217

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:11:41 -0800

Best day around here in a long time. First let me say with all the privacy concerns today l cant name names but lets just say this therapist from Ponoka who was always my go to girl. We will call her Leah put us in contact with a doctor who is doing cutting edge E E G brain scans and today a group of very smart people showed up here and did some research on Trav. First let me take you back to Indianapolis when the doctors told us he didn't have a chance and he would never know who he was let alone who we are. Then after we got home from Indy we took Trav to Surrey hospital for a E E G scan and there was a glimmer of hope cause there was some activity but not a lot. Two and half years later brings us to today and lm not sure what any of us expected including the doctor but the results were nothing short of a miracle cause the doctor told me in his own words that Travs brain was working as good as his. They even ran the test twice to back it up. This doesn't mean that our troubles are over by any means because Trav has a ton of obstacles to overcome but at least the brain which is the most important part of the puzzle is working just fine. We also learned that he has some hearing problems which may be affecting his speech but we will continue to work hard and he will get better. There are so many people to thank for today and l cant say who they are but l hope they know what this means to all of us. This will be a great jumpstart for all of us. Travis has a fantastic team that we have put together for him for rehab and we all need to push a little harder. Trav wants to walk again someday and theres no doubt he will cause he just wont give up. So again thank you everyone for today it was just what we needed...Doug

Update #216

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:07:59 -0800

Snowed in here still and all froze up. All construction has been put on hold for a while until things warm up which totally sucks. We missed pouring concrete by one day but on a high note we had a visit from Lornie Coates the other night. Her husband Doug and the Lordco group put on the West Coast Classic Invitational Golf Tournament and again this year Travis was one of the lucky people they have decided to help. Lordco has been a long time sponsors of Travis and for them to continue to support him is nothing short of amazing. Trav was lucky enough to go to school with Jen Coates and got to know the whole family. In fact Lornie was telling us the other night how Trav was nice enough to do donuts all over there yard while there was a party there and the parents were away a few years back. hmm that doesn't sound like Trav..oh wait yes it does..sorry...Anyway l want to thank all the contributors and players that support the golf tourney but most of all the whole Coates family. We have been looking into taking Trav for a new therapy called the Loco mat it is basically a computer controlled walking machine that is capable of telling how much input the person has in his legs while hanging in the standing position. Its very cool and expensive to go to and like so many things that actually work its not covered by medical so this money will go along way to making this happen. Again thanks everyone ....Doug

Update #215

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:23:14 -0800

Trav still moving forward and were lucky with the help we now have coming to the house. Its hard to keep it from getting boring for Trav because a lot of his therapy is so repetitive but we do our best. Looking forward to xmas at home this year although really missing my Alberta friends. Hopefully race season will start early and we can get back there soon. Want to thank everyone for keeping Trav in your thoughts and also want to wish everyone and there families a merry christmas and a happy new year....Doug

Update #214

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:10:03 -0800

Things are actually starting to happen . We have a new girl that has started today and she will be here 5 days a week for a few hours a day. Hopefully her and Trav will have some kind of bond and he will work hard for her. We also received arm pulleys so Trav can do more exercising and make his arms stronger. Miriam and Sonya have been coming a lot and have had Trav up in the standing position. He needs a lot of support but he gets stronger everyday. We can see it in his eyes how proud he is of himself doing this he wants to walk so bad and l have no doubt that he will. Starting in January we are going to start building a new shop. Once again it will be the Hazelwood gang taking the lead only thing different is this time l will be here to ask dumb questions and get in the way. I think Trav is as excited as l am about the shop and were hoping to use it as another tool for motivation. It will be handicap friendly and our hope is for Trav to spent as much time out in the shop with me as possible. Being around racecars will be good for all of us. l know this might sound strange to want to be around racing and racecars but this is what we do....Doug

Update #213

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:58:00 -0800

Was just reading Dylan Hales caring bridge and his dad Chris said sorry for not doing updates and l realized how overdue l am. Dylan is a young man like Trav who had his life changed in a matter of seconds also. His family is much like ours and refuse to give up and just like Trav , Dylan will get better also. Now that were home we are finally getting everything up to speed for Trav and its slowly shows in his progress. Trav gets frustrated at times cause theres so much he wants to do and say but its not happening fast enough for him. Its hard to keep him up beat about things cause he knows whats going on. After over 2 years his left arm is moving more each day so thats exciting for all of us. One of Travs teachers named Liz from Ponoka came for a visit a few weeks ago . Its was so nice to see her and to know that the people from there care enough to come by for a visit. Trav and l both miss the people from Ponoka. Still waiting on more rehab equipment but its on the way so lm told. We thought we had our act together before we brought Trav home but we were wrong. Dealing with the ministry is very slow and were lucky to have some great people pulling for us but anyone that knows me can tell you how impatient l can be especially when it comes to Trav but it will all work out. Trav is now swimming twice a week as well as all the other things we have on the go but it would be nice to get more physio for him as Jen only gets here twice a week. We have been so lucky to have Mirian and Sonya coming also . They work at Kathys hospital and come on there own time to help Trav . To say these two are special would be a complete understatement. Still a little home sick for Alberta. Miss the people there a lot. Hope to get back for a visit soon....Doug