Therasuit Therapy for Ellie

During this one month break from the HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Ellie is undergoing THERASUIT Therapy here in Mobile. We believe the Lord provided this opportunity because both Ellie's physical therapist in Athens and her HBOT doctor highly recommended that she get this kind of therapy while here, if possible. We had exactly the amount of money needed in our savings account, and the center had an opening during this 3-week slot (2 hours a day, 5 days a week). You can read more about this therapy and the center where it is offered at:

http://www.pptmobile.com/Therasuit.htm

Ellie and I will return to New Orleans on March 14th for the second round of HBOT.  Meanwhile, we are enjoying our time with my parents and with Vicki (who will return to Athens on March 5th). Additionally, I am getting a few speaking opportunities, which I always enjoy.

...and one more thing...

For all the people (INCLUDING ME) who were wondering at the beginning of this adventure what I would be doing with all my free time, I have to say, "What were we thinking?  What free time?!"

 

By-the-way, the various photos on this blog in recent weeks of Ellie sleeping do not indicate she sleeps much.  On the contrary, I am trying to capture the FEW times when she actually is NOT awake.

A few thoughts...

Ellie and I have been privileged to meet some really great people during our time in New Orleans.  These are people we have grown to love, respect, admire, and draw encouragement from.

We are so grateful for the people God has put in our life through the years who have loved and encouraged us.  Some have written in recent months to share with us their thoughts and perspectives, their opinions and conclusions, their observations and adulations...all of which are greatly appreciated, and most of which we feel very undeserving of.

We are just parents.  Like any functional parents we want to do what we believe is best for our children--all of our children.  Like most human parents, in spite of our unconditional love for our kids, there are also times of frustration, impatience, confusion, anger, irritation, exhaustion, and mistakes.

Ellie is not a "virtual stranger", but rather a full and real and complete daughter--as much a member of the family as any other of our "biological" children.  Every functional parent tries to do what is best for each of their kids and that is all we are doing.  We couldn't do it, though, without the help of God and the wonderful, generous, loving, caring, encouraging people He has placed in our lives.  We are grateful to Him and to you for walking with us on this journey.

After 1 Month...

After 1 month of HBOT treatments for Ellie, there HAVE been minimal signs of improvement.  Her hands are open more often and not as tight when they are closed.  She tends to have better use of her right arm than before when she clearly favored the left one.  Perhaps her eye contact and powers of observation are a bit better.  The doctor also believes her right leg has better movement and that her tone is generally better. 

We thank God for providing for this first round of treatments, and we trust that He will provide for us to continue a second and third round after a mandatory one-month break.  During this break, we will stay with my parents in Mobile, AL and pursue physical therapy, social security and medicaid benefits, help from some non-profits in getting assistive devices for Ellie, getting her visa situation (for Greece) worked out, and speaking at different churches about the ministry.

A physical therapist in New Orleans has loaned us a "stander" for Ellie to use while we are here, and we are very grateful for that.

Vicki has "stolen" some frequent flier miles from one of our kids and will be visiting me and Ellie for a couple of weeks!!  Needless-to-say, we are both really looking forward to that!

HBOT Chamber and the Ronald McDonald House

Our first two weeks in New Orleans have not been without their challenges (primarily in terms of difficulty sleeping--for Ellie, and therefore me as well; and extremely limited internet connection), but they have been two good weeks.  On Thursday, I solved the internet connection problem so I should be more available via skype and email.

I have found new heroes in my life in the people I have met at the Ronald McDonald House--especially, but not exclusively, in the single moms I have been privileged and honored to meet.  They are mostly women (and in some cases men) in extremely difficult circumstances, living courageously and committed to loving their children in the best possible way that they can.   The staff is also great, especially the Residential Manager Lyndon!

Though we have not seen any changes in Ellie since the HBOT therapy began, 2 weeks is really too early and we hope to see something by the end of the month.  We have met others at the clinic who have given testimony to the ways that it has changed their otherwise hopeless situations.  This encourages us to continue hoping in, and trusting, the Lord to use this time for bringing some measure of healing to Ellie's body.  You can read more about the clinic and this kind of therapy at:
www.hbot.com

Also, for those who don't know, the Lord solved our transportation dilemma by using Paul and Tammy Shorrosh to provide us with a Lexus for the time we are here! Other generous friends have also contributed to the gas fund!

 

  

 

 

 

New Orleans

Ellie and I are now in New Orleans for her HBOT treatments (www.hbot.com), staying at the Ronald McDonald House (http://www.rmhneworleans.com/) on weekdays, and staying with my parents in Mobile, AL on weekends.

Ellie started her treatments on Monday and is doing well.  I will try to post photos and more info within the next couple weeks.  Right now I have extremely limited internet access.

Also, Ellie got a nice customized (used) wheelchair donated to us by National Mobility and Seating.  I really like it and so does she.

Christmas 2009

Confirmation of Dates

                                     Ellie and her boyfriend Matt

First of all, if you want to see a video of Ellie being tickled by her cousin Chelsea (who we were recently privileged to have stay with us for 3 months), go to:


http://gallery.me.com/mccrackenscott/100024

If that doesn't work for you, try:

http://vimeo.com/8015900

And here is one of Ellie during and after a bath:


http://gallery.me.com/mccrackenscott#100026

Or if that one doesn't work for you, try:


http://vimeo.com/8018081

This week we made final DATE confirmations for Ellie starting the HBOT, and us staying at the Ronald McDonald House in New Orleans, beginning in January 2010.  The only major thing left is to work out our transportation while there.

Thank you!

Dear Friends,      

Thank you so much for helping my daddy and me go to America so that I can get some special therapy treatments.  I like my physical and occupational therapists here in Greece, but daddy says maybe the other ones can help even more. I hope so. We get to leave on the big airplane on January 8, 2010!

We are not 100% sure that it will help me but we won’t know until we try, so thank you for helping us try something that might help me learn to talk and walk and sit and hold things and feed myself.  Wow!  I am getting tired just thinking about the possibilities!

If you want to read more about the clinic and the therapy we plan to experience, you can find information at: www.hbot.com

I am very grateful for your help.  Mommy and daddy are very grateful too.  I heard them crying and thanking God for such loving and caring and generous friends.  They told me that I am blessed to be in a family that God has given so many good friends to.  I believe they are right!

I hope some day you can see me, or see a video of me, doing the things we hope God will help me to do.  Until then, thanks for your help with the therapy and for your prayers on our behalf.

Love and Thanks,

Ellie MingYun McCracken

Update on Ellie's Medical Fund...

Dear Praying Friends,

WOW!  Thanks for praying!   Here is what has happened since we sent out the Q & A last weekend...

1.  A Greek couple we know contacted us and said, "We would like to offer a "matching challenge" of up to $5,000 Euros (about $7,300 USD)."  In other words, for every dollar/Euro given by someone else, they will give a dollar/Euro, up to 5,000 Euros (about $7,300 USD).  

I honestly don't know how this couple is able to do this, but this is what they have offered, and we want to humbly and gratefully communicate it to you.   So if you would like to be a part of this effort for Ellie's therapy opportunity, now your contribution can work TWICE  as much!  For every dollar you give, our Greek friends will give another dollar!

Also, another couple from China and a couple from the States wrote to say they were planning to help in some way.  Additionally,  an American friend who lives in Afghanistan wrote to say he is donating some stock to I.T. on our behalf.  

 

It has truly been an international outpouring of love: people from Pakistan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Italy, Greece, America, Denmark, Finland, Dutch people living in France, an American living in Afghanistan, and China.

If you already sent something before receiving this, THANK YOU!  Your investment will count double as well.  I had originally forgotten to include food and local transportation costs in the initial estimate so I am sure God knew that before I realized it.  :) 

Also, my original email said that we will need a MINIMUM of $10,000 US dollars for the FIRST round of 40 treatments of HBOT, accommodations, and plane tickets.  ANYTHING COMING IN BEYOND this will go toward the second round of treatments if we go that route.

SERIOUSLY, we are STUNNED and OVERWHELMED by the quick, loving, caring, prayerful generosity that has gone above and beyond the usual amazing demonstrations of your partnership with us.  We thank God and we thank you (for letting God use you).  

2.  Although nobody's U.S. insurance will yet pay for HBOT, one positive result of our recent update was that a confusion about our insurance coverage for Ellie was cleared up (thanks, Dianne), and it will pay for some of the OTHER "normal" medical/therapy issues related to Ellie's CP.