Update on Jack!

Jack's Progress

Jack continues his miraculous progress!!!

Highlights

• He is having physical and speech therapy several times a week
• His right side continues to improve - His grip in his hand shake is getting stronger and stronger!!
• His overall strength is improving each day
• His spirits, as always, are excellent!

Prayer

• Jack has come so far in just a brief few months. We thank the Lord for his progess.
• We continue to pray for Jack's complete recovery and that the Lord continues to work through him!
• Continue praying for Karen, Heather, Katie and Matthew for strength and encouragement.
• Pray for Michael Johnson, Katie's boyfriend, while he is going through boot camp in San Diego.

Sighting Over Riverside

Rumor - Jack has been sighted flying over Riverside in a helicopter??

Fact or fiction, can anyone confirm or deny this sighting?

Continue to correspond with Jack through the blog as we all encourage him each step of the way to 100% recovery!!!

Jack is Coming Home!!!!

Welcome Home!!!!

• Jack is coming home today!!!!! Jack has been released from St. Judes. He reached his goal of becoming the #1 patient at St. Judes. People applauded and complimented Jack on all of his outstanding achievements at St. Judes as he departed today.
• In true style, Jack stood up from his wheelchair and walked on his own power to his car. All of this after only 10 weeks.
• The Lord has truly blessed Jack and as we all know has even more wonderful things in store for his life.

We will continue to keep you updated on Jack's status from home. Keep praying and supporting Jack and his family as he comes home!!!!

Progress Report - August 10,2007

Visitation

Jack will not be available this Sunday, August 12, 2007, for visitors. He will be on an outing working on special skills to assist with his rehab.

Physical Therapy

He is working very hard on his walking. He is feeling encouraged by the feedback that he is getting from his therapist.

Family Update

Katie is doing well. As most of you know, she is out of the hospital and back to 100%. American Idol will have to wait until next year........

Blog Report

Keep the encouraging words coming in. Jack sure enjoys all of your words of support!!!!

Rehab Update 7/31/07

Rehab

Jack keeps progressing with his workouts. The exercises are becoming more difficult and demanding both mentally and physically as he keeps pushing himself to full recovery.

Doctor's Report

It is difficult to be sooooo popular! We all want to visit Jack and enjoy how much he has improved from week to week. But the Doctor's are concerned that we are visiting Jack so much that it is starting to reduce his energy for his rehab. We all want to see Jack released from the hospital as soon as possible so the Doctor's have recommended the following:

• Limit our visits 5 to 10 minutes (maximum)


• Visit only between 5:00 to 8:00 pm


• Limit how many people visit at a time

We will keep you posted when Jack is at full strength. During this time when our visitation times are limited, the best way to communicate with Jack is to write a note in this blog. He checks all of our blogs daily and this is the best way to encourage and support him. He loves to read all of your encouraging words and jokes, so keep 'em coming.

St. Judes has been fantastic so let's try to abide by these simple guidelines so we can see Jack recover sooner and have his full strength for rehab!!!

Family Report

Katie had her appendix removed this past Monday morning. She had the surgery and is recovering at St. Judes, also. Who would have ever thought they would both be in the same hospital at the same time??? She is doing well and should have a speedy recovery.

Karen is fighting a cold. She continues to be with Jack and needs our prayers for strength.

Jack continues to want everyone to know how thankful he is to God for healing him and to all of his friends for their continued support and prayers!

To God Be The Glory!

Message from Jack:

We visisted Jack at St. Jude's today. When we arrived, he was sitting in his wheelchair entertaining a group of his friends. We asked him what he wanted to say to everyone reading the blog, and he stated,"I thank everyone for all their love, support and prayers. I want to glorify the Lord through this situation more than anything else." We assured him he is doing just that!

Family report:

Karen also wants to thank everyone for their support, prayers and encouragement. She stated, "I just don't know how to express all my of thankfulness and gratitude to everyone!"

Overall update:

• Jack is laughing and telling jokes.
• He is craving hot dogs and hamburgers!
• He said that St. Jude's is a great place but he can't wait to get home!
• He is working very hard during speech therapy, and he was working on yelling today.
• Jack is constantly encouraging others around him at the hospital who are visiting loved ones.

We are all blessed to have Jack and the Hawkins family as friends. Continue to keep them in your prayers! God is healing him in miraculous ways!

Tracheostomy is History

Doctor's Report

The trach has been removed!!!!! This is a major step and we thank the Lord for this miracle!

Physical Therapy

Therapy is going great......Several highlights to report:

• Jack is moving his right leg much better. Doctor's may splint his right leg to assist him with his walking.
• Walking is coming along very well

Nutrition

Bring on the food.....Jack is eating now. Some of the latest: pasta, milkshakes, etc...

Family Report

Everyone is doing great!! Jack and Family are in great spirits, trusting and thanking the Lord in all things.

This was a great week. Many people visited Jack this past week and really boosted his spirits. Weekends are a slow time for Jack's therapy and he has time for all of us to come and visit him. Let's all try to make it out this weekend to show Jack and his family our support and love for them!!!

Jack Takes His First Steps

Physical Therapy Update

Jack has a "walking apparatus" that he is working out with. He is able to walk across the room with the aid of the therapist.

Just like USC University Hopital, the people that are working with Jack cannot believe how well he is doing. A few of the updates:

• Goes outside in a wheelchair on a regular basis


• Continues with improved movement on his right side (The Doctor stated that the movement in his extremeties (arms and legs) will come back last.)


• Stands up with help and then does "mini-squats"


• Continues speaking without the alphabet board

In summary, Jack wants to be the #1 patient at St. Judes just like he was at USC and as you can see, he is well on his way.

Nutrition

Jack is eating ice chips which is the first step in the process of getting back to eating liquids and solids. As you can imagine, on several (many)occasions he has stated that he is ready to eat.

Health Issues

As several of you indicated in your blogs, Jack caught a cold several days ago but it has gone away and he is feeling much better.

Trach - The Doctor's have been reducing the size of the trach periodically over the past few weeks. Jack is on the smallest size and Doctor's expect to have complete removal of the trach by the early part of next week.

Hospital Report

The visitation hours are still 5:00 to 8:00 pm but on weekends Jack's schedule is much lighter than during the week.

The family reports that Jack love's us to come visit him. If you are unable to visit him during the week, weekends are a great time to see him since he has more time.

In planning your trip to visit Jack, listed below is the phone number of Katie to find out if Jack is in physical therapy or when would be the best time that day to visit. Katie's number is:

951-323-6599 (Cell Phone)

Also, St. Jude can be called direct and there is a phone in Jack's room.

Family Report

As all of you know, this is an incredible family!!!! As many of you have shared, the Hawkin's family has been an inspiration to all of us. Just an example, a family member has stayed each and every night with Jack since his stay at USC and St. Jude. Their commitment is to not have Jack spend the night alone.

Please continue to pray that the Lord will bless the family and give them strength.

Blog Report

Jack has a laptop computer and is checking what all of us write to him each day. He has been encouraged by each and every entry that has been made. This blog has been an excellent way for us to keep you informed but also a way for you to encourage, support and show Jack and his family how much we love them. As of this writing, there have been over 2400 times that people have logged into this blog. Let's continue the support!