Run the Course : the Recovery of Jason Wichman

      Since the MRI reading, everyone agreed that Jason's best hope was to be able to be accepted at the Craig Institute in Denver, CO.  http://www.craighospital.org/  According to their website, "Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado is a long term acute care and rehabilitation hospital that exclusively specializes in the neuro-rehabilitation and research of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI)."    
     So many things have been up in the air concerning whether or not Jason would be able to got to Denver, CO to the Craig Institute. Lots of 'potential' information and speculation, but nothing concrete.  Last week, a representative from Craig came to evaluate Jason.  Still, no one was really sure if he would be able to go or not.  Lots of time spent waiting.  Then, we finally got a preliminary "maybe" over the weekend.
      Today, Tuesday May 7th,  Jason has gotten confirmed passage on a learjet plane from Anchorage, AK to Denver, CO!!! Jason is to be admitted as a patient at Craig Institute and he will be there in the morning! Praise God For Answered Prayers!
      Lots of his friends and co-workers have been by to wish Jason well and to tell him good-bye.  There have been lots of hugs and tears shared among everyone.
      Thank you everyone for your continued prayers for him and our family.
      I don't even know what to think anymore...there have been so many obstacles...and now my brother will be flying 'over head' tonight as I sleep.  I miss him so much and hope for his complete healing and restoration with all the measure of Faith that has been given to me!

Thank you for your continued prayers and many Blessings to you Returned!

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Saturday April 20th, 2013

Jason just got THE MRI this past week.  Family is awaiting the results on pins and needles.  It has been nearly 60 days since the last pictures were taken, and lots has changed since then.  This will be the first look the medical staff has had to see and measure the healing that has taken place.

Jason has been communicating daily with family and friends through hand signals, moving his fingers up for yes and down for no.  Also, he has given thumbs up to people and some of the things they say.  Even today, Jason gave his neurologist a fingers up to acknowledge that he knew he was there checking on him!

While we were at Providence Hospital, during the first few weeks of Jason's recovery there, Dr. Bernard, neurologist, said that he would be very happy to see Jason give a thumbs up!  That that's what he was waiting for.  Showing dexterity in his fingers was precisely the kind of positive movement he was looking for in his recovery.  Jason continues to meet or exceed the medical expectations daily...no matter how small the steps!

Jason we believe in God Our Father In Heaven for your complete healing! Amen, and we know it is all in His Hands and His Time.  Brother, what a journey you must be on with Him....I can only imagine.  I can't wait to hear all about it when you wake up.

Love, your sister, Lisa

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This website for Jason was created during the midnight hours at Jason's bedside in the Adult Critical Care Unit of Providence Hospital in Anchorage.  It was during those hours that I stayed with him, watched over him, and prayed with him.  Many hours of quality time together with my brother during my stay in Alaska.  That was nearly a month ago now, but it doesn't seem like it has been that long ago.
     By trade, I am an artist and designer and have had opportunity to build several websites as part of my portfolio.  This one, was entirely different.  Different in purpose and in my relation to the cause, I have never been so deeply involved before.  A learning curve, to say the least.
      I wanted to share some statistics with all of you. 
The Jason Wichman Recovery website launched ten days after the accident and within the first 48 hours of the first launch of the website, there were 1481 visits to the site!! Almost 50% of the visitors were from Alaska, followed by Arizona and then Montana.  There were visits from people in 45 of the 50 states from New York to D.C., Texas to Florida, Colorado to Hawaii, Utah to Pennsylvania!! 
     The numbers are overwhelming, and very real.  Thank all of you for your continued support and prayers for Jason.  It is what will get him through this season of healing in his life. 
May God Bless You,
Lisa Cox

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My husband Matt Kenney sustained a TBI (traumatic brain injury) during the Mt Marathon race this summer. My thoughts and prayers are with Jason's family as you sit and wait and hope at his bedside each day.
I have had a tough 8 months with Matt's recovery and I am here to provide some form of hope. Each injury is unique but there is hope as we were told Matt would not live. We leave in 7 days to travel to Omaha to bring him home. He still has a long road ahead but he has beaten the odds so far and continues to forge forward.
I am available to you if you need suggestions for facilities for Jason(Craig Hospital in Denver, CO rocks), someone to listen during those stressful moments and especially here with prayers.

Gretchen Kenney

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Saturday March 02, 2013
The family is very excited this weekend as the buzz of Jason being able to move out of the Adult Critical Care Unit at Providence Hospital begins to grow.  His numbers have remained stable and he has adapted well to the tracheotomy.  Everything seems like a go for a big move Monday morning!  So good to have encouraging news.  All of these little indicators of his healing, small, albeit strong, strides! 
The new facility has been toured and everyone seems to think it will be a great new environment.  The staff is friendly and the regime is more geared towards physical therapy.  It is still a hospital, but the rooms are a little bit bigger and much more 'homey' in design.  Something to look forward to!
 

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