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Monday, April 30th, 2007 ~ Happy Birthday Aunt Diane! ~ Tracy Goes To The Gastroenterologist ~ Tracy had a 2:45 PM appointment with Dr. Rosen at North Broward Medical Plaza. He recommended that we increase Tracy's daily dose of Domperidone from 40 mgs to 60 mgs per day. Tracy is also receiving 6 mgs of Zelnorm per day, which is three times her previous dosage. Dr. Rosen also added one Prevacid capsule in the morning to help protect her from developing an ulcer, which chronic vomiting could predispose her to. Tracy is also taking Ritalin, 10 mgs per day, as a stimulant to help with attention and awareness. This medication replaced the Amantadine as her stimulant. Hopefully, within two weeks, the Zelnorm will be back in her system and we can start to decrease some of these medications and return to Tracy's previous dosages. Dr. Rosen also recommended that we spread out Tracy's tube feedings throughout the day (e.g. one can at 8 AM, one at 9:30 AM, etc.) so that she will have less volume at one time in her stomach! Tracy And Dad Hang Out And Watch CSI Miami & NCIS Together ~ Aunt Diane and Mom went to Spinning while Tracy, Luca and Dad relax and watch CSI Miami and NCIS! Mom, Dad. Luca & Tracy Watch 24 Together ~ Mom, Dad. Luca and Tracy watch 24 together this evening! Daily OM: Cause, Effect & Transformation: Feeling Depleted!

Sunday, April 29th, 2007 ~ Tracy Gets A Cranial Sacral Therapy Session By Melanie ~ Melanie came by to give Tracy a Cranial Sacral Therapy Session. It had been about a month since Melanie worked with Tracy. Today, she felt like Tracy was having some stomach issues and that her energy was low. How true! Tracy was up all last night with an upset stomach! She looked like she felt much better after Melanie was finished with her massage/therapy session! Mom & Dad Get A Massage By Melanie ~ Mom and Dad got a much-needed massage from Melanie. They were really in need, especially after their intensive Bikram Yoga session yesterday and restless night with Tracy! Mom & Dad Cook Dinner In Celebration Of Aunt Diane's Birthday! ~ Nana, Uncle Johnny, Chip and Eileen came over for dinner in celebration of Aunt Diane's birthday! Mom and Dad cooked her favorite dish: baked stuffed lobster tails, steamed zucchini and yellow squash, garden salad, and carrot cake for dessert! It was really good and everyone had a nice time! Happy Birthday Aunt Diane! Tracy Vomits Again This Evening ~ Tracy vomited about 3 ounces around 7:30 PM this evening. We are so glad that Tracy has an appointment with Dr. Rosen, gastroenterologist tomorrow afternoon! Daily OM: Finding Unqualified Happiness : If Only!

Saturday, April 28th, 2007 ~ Happy B'Day Uncle Frank ~ Mom & Aunt Diane Go To Spinning ~ Mom and Aunt Diane went to 9 AM Spinning in Coral Springs while Dad and Felicia stretched and ranged Tracy. Jason sure does have a tough class. Dad & Mom Take A Private Bikram Yoga Session ~ Dad surprised Mom with a private Bikram Yoga session at noon. It was so hot in the studio that at the end of the 90-minute session all that was left of Mom and Dad were two puddles of water! Bikram yoga is such a great way to detoxify the body and to nourish the soul. Mom and Dad are definitely hooked! Mom, Dad, Luca & Tracy Relax Outside In The Sunshine ~ Mom, Dad, Luca and Tracy relaxed outside by the pool and caught up on their Vitamin D. We all know how solar powered Tracy is! Mom, Dad, Tracy and Luca Watch The DaVinci Code ~ Mom, Dad, Tracy and Luca watched The DaVinci Code this evening. Tracy Vomits 4 Ounces This Evening ~ Tracy vomited about 4 ounces around 9:30 PM this evening. She was just resting in her bed when she started to vomit! Dad emptied her stomach so that she would not continue to vomit throughout the night. Around 2:30 AM, Tracy woke up vomiting again! Argh! Daily OM: Eternally Present : Past Life Healing!

Friday, April 27th, 2007 ~ Tracy Gets A Pedicure ~ Felicia and Debbie gave Tracy a much-needed pedicure today. Tracy was LAUGHING hysterically when Debbie was massaging Tracy's feet with a minty exfoliating scrub. In fact, she has been laughing a lot all day today! Tracy Makes Lots Of New Sounds ~ Tracy has been very vocal today, making lots of new sounds, some even on command. Her breathing is also improving and her sounds are getting louder and stronger. Keep praying that she starts talking soon! Mom Goes To Bikram Yoga ~ Mom went to Bikram Yoga this morning! Hot yoga is the most humbling workout Mom has ever experienced! Whew! Mom Bakes Salmon For Dinner ~ Mom baked some salmon steaks for dinner with fresh green beans! It was really good! Daily OM: Flying Home : Free Of Gravity!

Thursday, April 26th, 2007 ~ Dee Gives Tracy A Massage And Does PT ~ Tania and Dee got Tracy on the therapy mat so that Dee could give Tracy a massage. He really stretches and ranges Tracy, especially her hips, shoulders back and chest. After Tracy's massage, Dee and Tania got Tracy on her knees over the peanut ball. Tracy tolerated 15 minutes in this position and did not appears to be uncomfortable weight bearing through her hips. Dee had Tracy propped up on her elbows to weight bear through her shoulders. Tracy did a good job lifting her head up. Then it was time to position Tracy straddled on the peanut to work on head and trunk control. She tolerated about twenty to thirty minutes in this position. Tracy Vomits About 6 Ounces ~ Tracy vomited about six ounces this afternoon after her PT session. We are not sure of the cause of her vomiting. Tracy started on Ritalin on March 31st and her Zelnorm was taken off the market on April 3rd. We resumed her Zelnorm on April 24th and increased her dose to 3 mg twice a day (from 1 mg twice a day). We also stopped her Amantadine on April 25th (100 mg in the morning). There are so many variables that it is difficult to determine which one or combination is contributing to her vomiting. Tracy has an appointment to see the gastroenterologist on Monday, April 30th at 2:45 PM at North Broward Medical Center. More later... Dad Goes To Bikram Yoga ~ Dad went to Bikram Yoga this evening! He is really loving the ninety minute intensive workout in the 107 degree room! This workout is great for burning lots of calories. Mom and Tracy hung out and watched Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader while Mom rode her Spin bike for one hour! Then Mom, Dad and Tracy watched Grey's Anatomy! Daily OM: The Breath Of The Universe : The Wind!

Wednesday, April 25th, 2007 ~ Mom Goes To Bikram Yoga ~ Mom went to Bikram Yoga (Session #7) this morning! It is by far the most difficult workout Mom has ever done! Tracy Gets A Manicure ~ Felicia and Debbie gave Tracy a manicure this morning. The color of the week is hot pink! Pretty! Tracy Eats Some Lemon Frosting & A Taste Of A Frozen Margarita Popsicle ~ Tracy ate about a quarter to a half teaspoon of lemon frosting this afternoon. She is moving her tongue much more and swallowing better! She also had a little bite of a frozen (virgin) margarita popsicle! MMMM! Tracy Vocalizes Sounds ~ Tracy made a lot of vocalizations, some even over the phone to Nana Lilly! She is making more sounds such as MMM and AHH, and mimicking sounds on cue. Tracy Gets A Facial & Eyebrow Waxing ~ Tania gave Tracy a facial and eyebrow waxing this afternoon. Ouch! It sure does hurt to be beautiful! Daily OM: Essential Authenticity : Revealing Your True Self!

Tuesday, April 24th, 2007 ~ Tracy Goes To Miami For Botox Injections ~ Tracy got her three-month Botox injections this afternoon. Dr. Rubin injected a total of 1,000 units of Botox into Tracy hands, wrists, forearms, upper arms, and jaw (to help with teeth grinding). He did not inject Tracy's neck (SCMs) or salivary glands this time, in hopes that Tracy will be able to swallow better and have more head control without it. Mom & Tracy Watch American Idol & Dancing With The Stars While Dad Goes To Bikram Yoga ~ Tracy and Mom watched Dancing With The Stars & American Idol while Dad went to 6:30 PM Bikram Yoga. Tracy Chills Out On The CPM ~ Tracy was pretty wiped out after her 40 injections of Botox and previous days of vomiting. The good news is she is not vomiting anymore, since we put her back on Zelnorm. Apparently there is a compassionate use waiver, which allows Tracy to continue on Zelnorm. She really needs this drug to help her gastrointestinal system to digest food. Otherwise, it pools in her stomach. Tracy has an appointment with a gastroenterologist next week for evaluation. Daily OM: Valuable Information : The Message Of Pain!

Monday, April 23rd, 2007 ~ Mom & Uncle Johnny Go To Bikram Yoga ~ Mom and Uncle Johnny went to Bikram Yoga this morning! This is the most intense workout Mom has ever experienced! She is definitely hooked. Tracy Vomits 5 to 7 Ozs ~ Tracy vomited about 5 to 7 ounces this morning around 11:30 AM. Mom, Tania, Felicia, Debbie and Uncle Johnny were all there to assist her. The problem seems to be the results of Zelnorm being removed from the market by the FDA. Tracy desperately needs this drug to help with her gastroparesis (slow emptying of her stomach). Without Zelnorm, Tracy's stomach does not empty and she vomits! She was only able to tolerate three cans of Jevity 1.2 today! (Her usual daily amount is 5 cans!) Tracy Gets The Day Off To Rest ~ After vomiting, Tracy got the day off to rest in her chair. Tania decided to give her a break from therapy and Felicia did not even want to bother her with a manicure and pedicure. Tania massaged and ranged Tracy's hands and wrists with scented lotion later in the day when she seemed to be feeling better. Mom Gives Luca A Much-needed Bath ~ Luca got a much-needed bath this afternoon! He looks so cute when he is clean and smells good too! He is much sweeter since his neuter surgery! (Look out Dad, you might be next!) Tracy, Mom and Tania Take Luca For A Walk ~ Tracy, Mom and Tania took Luca for a walk around the neighborhood this afternoon. She seemed to be feeling a lot better and even laughed a few times. Luca walked for 2 minutes and then wanted Mom to carry him! He is such a spoiled puppy! Mom, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Diane, and Nana Go To Monday Spinning ~ Mom, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Diane, and Nana went to 7:30 PM Spinning in Coral Springs this evening. It is such a fun class! Dad, Tania and Luca stayed with Tracy. She started to vomit again, but Dad emptied her stomach with a syringe before she vomited. (Thank goodness!) Mom, Dad, Uncle Johnny, and Luca Watch Dancing With The Stars! ~ Mom, Dad, Uncle Johnny and Luca watched Dancing With The Stars while Tracy rested in her bed. We are pulling for Apolo Anton Ohno and Laila Ali! Daily OM: Whole-Self Well-Being : How The Body Clears Energy!

Sunday, April 22nd, 2007 ~ Happy Earth Day! ~ Mom Goes To Bikram Yoga ~ Mom went to Bikram Yoga this morning while Dad and Joyce stayed with Tracy. She seemed to be feeling much better this morning. Nana And Aunt Diane Come Over For The Day ~ Nana and Aunt Diane came over to spend the day with us. Uncle Johnny joined us this evening for dinner. It is so nice to have family close by! We sure do miss the rest of the family! Dad And Mom Cook Steak And Tilapia For Dinner ~ Mom and Dad cooked broiled steak (Mamaw and Papaw sent to Dad for his b'day) and fresh tilapia for dinner. Everyone ate in the dining room and had a very nice visit! Daily OM: Your Most Vital Commitment : Finding Time For You!

Saturday, April 21st, 2007 ~ Mom And Aunt Diane Go To Spinning ~ Mom and Aunt Diane went to Spinning in Coral Springs. It had been two weeks since Mom and Aunt Diane had been to Jason's class. It was great! Dad Goes To Bikram Yoga ~ Dad went to Bikram Yoga while Felicia stayed with Tracy. Dad spent the morning doing much-needed maintenance on Tracy's wheel chair. Dad also connected Tracy's switch mount to her wheelchair and Tracy practiced hitting the switch to turn on the radio! Tracy Goes On The Tilt Table For An Hour And Fifteen Minutes ~ Mom, Dad and Felicia got Tracy on the tilt table for one hour and fifteen minutes. Tracy tolerated a 60-degree incline for 10 minutes with stable vital signs. Mom And Dad Take A Bike Ride ~ Mom and Dad took a bike ride around the neighborhood. It was a little too windy to go kayaking or out on the boat. Mom, Dad and Tracy Go To 5:30 PM Mass At St. Ambrose Church ~ Mom, Dad and Tracy went to 5:30 PM Mass at St. Ambrose Church in Deerfield Beach. It was a beautiful Mass! Tracy Vomits Again ~ Around 10:30 PM while sitting in bed, Tracy vomited 10 ounces! She then vomited a second time, resulting in an additional 8 ounces. Dad and Dr. Williams both agreed that the Zelnorm may be related to Tracy's vomiting. Zelnorm was taken off the market a week ago when studies showed a relationship between Zelnorm and cardiac issues. Daily OM: Avoiding Negative Vibrations : Taking On The Energy Of Others!

Friday, April 20th, 2007 ~ Tracy Goes To Baptist Miami To See Orthopedic Surgeon For Follow-up Appointment ~ Tracy had an appointment with Dr. Tidwell at Baptist Miami for 6 month follow-up. He was very pleased with her progress since her last appointment (December 23rd). He x-rayed her right hip and it looked good, although Tracy has some osteoarthritis in the joint. He recommended that we continue her CPM sessions and glucosamine/chondroitin supplements. The staff at Dr. Tidwell's office were looking for Luca and want Tracy to bring him to her next appointment in October! Mom And Dad Cook Salmon For Dinner ~ Mom and Dad cooked salmon and steamed veggies for dinner. Dad And Tracy Watch Stargate Together ~ Tracy and Dad hung out together and watched Stargate while Mom caught up on Grey's Anatomy. Dad is trying to convert Mom to Stargate and Stargate Atlantis! Daily OM: Redefining Your Priorities: Your Last Breath!

Thursday, April 18th, 2007~ Tracy Goes To North Broward Medical Center For Tests ~ Tracy went to NBMC for blood and urine tests and an abdominal x-ray to explore the cause of her vomiting. All of her tests were normal. Dad and Dr. Williams think that she is vomiting because we had to discontinue her Zelnorm. The FDA took Zelnorm off the market several weeks ago because it was related to cardiac arrhythmnias. Tracy needed Zelnorm to help her digestion. There is currently no other drug on the market that provides the same results. Dr. Williams is going to consult with a gastroenterologist. Dee Gives Tracy A Massage and Physical Therapy Session ~ Tania and Dee worked with Tracy on the mat today. First, they put her on the peanut ball and worked with her balance and vestibular system. Tracy tolerated the peanut well. Then they massaged and stretched her in supine on the mat. After that, Dee and Tania got Tracy over the peanut on her knees! Tracy tolerated almost ten minutes in this position. This is the first time Tracy was able to tolerate kneeling over the peanut since her hip surgery! Mom Goes To Bikram Yoga ~ Mom went to 6:30 Bikram Yoga while Dad, Luca and Tracy relaxed and watched some T.V. Dad stretched and ranged Tracy while she was relaxing in the bed. Daily OM: Returning Home: Open Heart!

Wednesday, April 17th, 2007 ~ Mom Spent The Day Catching Up On Household Chores ~ Mom spent the day organizing and coordinating all of the necessary steps for Tracy's room modifications. We are about a week away from getting her french doors installed in her room and the outside pavers and ramps put in. We are hoping to move Tracy to her own room when all of the construction is finished. Tracy Vomits 8 to 10 Ounces ~ Tracy vomited several times again this evening. Dad contacted Dr. Williams, Tracy's internist, and we plan to take her to the hospital for tests tomorrow. Tracy, Luca, And Felicia Sit Outside On The Patio ~ Tracy, Luca and Felicia sit outside on the patio to get some rays. It was a beautiful sunny day with a light, cool breeze. Tracy was pretty sleepy and relaxed in her chair for most of the day. Dad Goes To Bikram Yoga ~ Tracy and Luca watched Dancing With The Stars while Mom rode her Spin bike for one hour! We still have our money on Apollo Anton Ono as the winner! He is so cute! Daily OM: Allowing Our Children To Be: Practicing Nonattachment!

Tuesday, April 17th, 2007~ Mom Returns From Visiting Tiffany In Las Vegas ~ Mom made it safely back from Las Vegas around 5 PM this evening. She and Tiffany had a great visit and were able to relax a little and enjoy beautiful Las Vegas. (She is already missing Tiffany!) Emil picked Mom up at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport while Dad and Tania took Tracy to her 4 PM Speech Therapy session with Kristin at FAU. It was Tracy's last Speech Therapy session for the semester! Tracy Goes On Tilt Table For One Hour ~ Dad, Tania and Felicia got Tracy on the tilt table for one hour, gradually increasing her to 30, 45 and 60 degrees. She maintained stable vital signs and tolerated 60 degrees for 6 minutes. This exercise assists Tracy with weight bearing through her hips and feet. Tracy Has Her Last Speech Session Of The Semester At FAU With Kristin ~ Dad and Tania brought Tracy to her last Speech Therapy session of the semester with Kristin at 4 PM at FAU. Tracy was very awake and engaged throughout the session. Kristin said it was Tracy's best session with her yet! Kristin worked on Tracy following one-step directions. For example, she asked Tracy to look to the right, look up, etc. Tracy did a good job following Kristins's directions. She also smiled at Kristin and vocalized on command, several times during the session. We are looking forward to Tracy returning to FAU next semester, where Tracy will have two, fifty minute sessions with Kristin a week (Tuesday and Thursday at 4 PM). Dad And Emil Cook Dinner ~ Mom unpacked while Dad and Emil cooked pork chops, steamed veggies and rice for dinner. It was really delicious. After dinner, everyone watched American Idol and Dancing With The Stars! Daily OM: Yellow Miracles: Daffodils!

Monday, April 16th, 2007 ~ Tracy, Felicia, Tania and Luca Go For A Walk Around The Neighborhood ~ Tracy, Felicia, Tania and Luca went for a walk around the neighborhood. It was a warm sunny day, and the wind finally died down. Tracy and Luca love going for long afternoon walks! Dad Takes Uncle Mike To The Airport In Miami ~ Dad took Uncle Mike to the Miami Airport so that he can catch his flight back to Louisiana. We are so glad that he was able to visit us and spend some time with Dad and Tracy! Tracy And Dad Watch Superman Returns ~ Dad and Tracy watched Superman Returns, a new DVD that Dad bought. Emil returned this evening to stay with Dad to help with Tracy while Mom is out of town. Daily OM: Hearing The One Voice: Taking Counsel In A Circle!

Sunday, April 15th, 2007 ~ Tracy, Dad, Uncle Mike, Luca And Joyce Hang Out Inside Due To Bad Weather ~ Tracy was supposed to have a Cranial Sacral Therapeutic Massage by Melanie today but she had to reschedule due to tornado warnings and bad weather. Everyone really missed her and look forward to her coming next week. Emil Gives Tracy A Massage ~ Emil gave Tracy a much-needed massage this afternoon. He and Dad got Tracy prone on the massage table so that he could work on her shoulders, neck and back. These areas are very tight and Emil was able to really work on getting the muscles loosened up. Emil also positioned Tracy on her right and then her left sides to work her hips and lower back. Dad Goes To Bikram Yoga ~Dad went to Bikram yoga this afternoon. He is really enjoying Bikram yoga and it is a great stress reliever and tough work out. Dad, Uncle Mike, and Tracy Watch Old Football Reruns And Eat Pizza ~ Looks like the Weekend of the Brother Gods is going well. The guys and Tracy ordered pizza and watched old NFL football reruns. Not exactly what makes a sister goddess go AHH! Daily OM: Leaving A Positive Footprint: Blessing Space!

Saturday, April 14th, 2007 ~ Out On The Patio ~ It was a beautiful sunny Florida day and everyone spent the day outside on the patio catching some rays. Tracy and Luca sure do love being outside in the fresh air! Brother Gods Go For A Short Boat Ride ~ Emil, Dad and Uncle Mike went for a short boat ride while Tracy and Felicia hung out on the patio listening to music. Dad Goes To A Reception At The Lighthouse Point Yacht and Racquet Club To Meet Senator John Thune (R-SD) ~ Dad went to a reception to meet Senator John Thune, Republican from South Dakota. He was speaking on behalf of Senator John McCain, promoting his presidential campaign. Emil and Uncle Mike stayed with Tracy. Ribs from Bonefish Macs On Patio ~ The Brother Gods ordered barbecue ribs from Bonefish Macs for dinner this evening. They have the best ribs in town! Daily OM: Seeing Your Perfection: Letting Your Light Shine!

Friday, April 13th, 2007: Happy Friday the Thirteenth ~ Tania Reads Letters To Sam To Tracy ~ Tania read some more from Letters To Sam to Tracy while she relaxed on the CPM machine this afternoon. She is really enjoying the story about a grandfather's loving letters to his autistic grandson. Tania, Felicia And Tracy Take A Walk Around The Neighborhood ~ Tania, Felicia and Tracy went for a walk around the neighborhood this afternoon. Tracy really likes to be outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine. It is already starting to feel like summer in south Florida! HOT! HOT! HOT! Mom Takes Luca To Get His Stitches Out ~ Mom took Luca to the vet at 8:30 AM to get his stitches out. His incision is completely healed and he was very happy to have the stitches removed! After his appointment, Mom took Luca to Lake Worth with her for her hair appointment. He was a good puppy and sat very still in her lap the entire time! Uncle Mike Arrives For The Weekend ~ Uncle Mike arrived this afternoon for a weekend visit. He, Emil, and Dad are going to hold down the fort this weekend while Mom meets Tiffany in Las Vegas for a long weekend! Tiffany is attending the American Red Cross Conference in Las Vegas for the week! Mom and Tiffany are looking forward to spending a Sister Goddess weekend together in Las Vegas! You know what they say: "Whatever happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas!" Dinner With The Family At The Club ~ This evening, the family had dinner at the Lighthouse Point Yacht and Racquet Club. It was great for everyone to visit with Uncle Mike and Emil, our current guests at Villa Gioia. It is Uncle Mike's first visit to Lighthouse Point and we are really glad that he is here! Tracy Vomited 12 to 14 ozs. This Evening ~ Tracy vomited three times this evening, a total volume of 12 to 14 ozs! Thank goodness Tracy was sitting up in her chair and Tania was right next to her. She yelled Help Mom and Dad responded in a split second. Daily OM: Connecting With The Divine: Puja!

Thursday, April 12th, 2007 ~ Tracy Gets A Hand And Wrist Massage ~ Felicia gave Tracy a hand and wrist massage with scented lotion this morning to keep her fingers and wrists supple. Her fingers are getting a little tight, as the Botox wears off. She is scheduled to get another round of Botox on Tuesday, April 24th by Dr. Bruce Rubin. Dee Gives Tracy A Much-needed Massage ~ Dee came by this evening to give Tracy a much-needed massage. He really massaged her joints, especially her hips and feet, shoulders, and neck. Tracy really enjoys her massages. She was actually laughing and smiling at various points during her massage. After her massage, Mom and Dad put Tracy on her CPM to range her hips and knees. Tracy's right hamstring range of motion has improved since her surgery last October. Tracy has an appointment with Dr. Tidwell next Friday, October 20th at 11:45 AM Mom Rides Her Spin Bike While Tracy Gets A Massage ~ Mom rode her Spin bike for one hour while Dee gave Tracy a massage. It really felt good! Daily OM: Weaving Your Life: Spider Energy!

Wednesday, April 11th, 2007: Tania Reads Letters To Sam To Tracy On The Patio ~ Tania read some more from Letters To Sam on the patio this afternoon. Tracy is really enjoying the story about a grandfather's loving letters to his grandson. Tania Worked With Tracy's Oral Motor Skills ~ Tania spent some time working with Tracy's oral motor skills today to strengthen Tracy's facial muscles; promoting lip closure and tongue movement. Tracy is trying hard to stick out her tongue. She made some sounds too: MMM and Ahhh on command, except when Tania asked Tracy to say MMM she said Ahhh and vice versa! Tania and Felicia Worked With Tracy On The Peanut Ball ~ Tracy straddled the peanut ball with Tania supporting her from behind today for an hour and 25 minutes to work on head and trunk control and balance. Tracy did a good job holding her head up for about 2 seconds. While she was in straddle position, Tania stretched Tracy's scapulas and shoulders, massaging under her scapulas. She was able to stretch Tracy's pecs, which are very tight, while in this position. Mom And Dad Went To Bikram Yoga ~ Mom went to the 4:30 PM Yoga class and Dad went to the 6:30 PM class. It is a gruling workout, in a room heated to 120 degrees! This class develops patience (as if Mom and Dad need to develop more patience!) and discipline. Did I say flexibility? Mom Reads Tracy Her Webpage ~ This evening, Mom spent some time reading Tracy her webpage. Mom described the various links on Tracy's Home page as well as the weekly quote, song of the week, and the Daily Om. This is the first time that Mom shared the webpage with Tracy. Usually we read her emails to her from her guest book! Tracy seemed very interested, especially when Mom read her the excerpt from The Invitation. Daily OM: Honoring Passing Spaces: Saying Good-bye To A Home!

Tuesday, April 10th, 2007: Tania Reads Letters To Sam To Tracy On The Patio ~ Tania read some more from Letters To Sam on the patio this afternoon. Tracy is really enjoying the story about a grandfather's loving letters to his grandson. Tracy Goes To FAU for Speech Therapy With Kristin ~ Tracy had Speech Therapy with Kristin at 4 PM at FAU's Communication Disorders Clinic. She was very awake and alert throughout the session. Kristin spent the first part of the session working on Tracy's visual tracking. She held up a card of a cute guy and asked Tracy to look at it. Then she moved the card to Tracy's left and asked Tracy to look at it on her left. Tracy struggled a bit and then turned her eyes and her head to the left. She held her head to the left and seemed to focus on the picture of the cute guy for several seconds before turning it back to the right. Kristin then asked Tracy to listen carefully and follow her requests. She asked Tracy to blink her eyes once and she followed her command. Then Kristin asked Tracy to close her eyes...Tracy was able to close her eyes for a few seconds. She is trying very hard to folloe Kristin's commands.Next, Kristin worked on oral motor skills, using refreezable ice cubes to stimulate Tracy's lips. Tracy really responded to the cold, moving her head away from the stimulus. Then Kristin applied some grape flavored lip balm to Tracy's lips and asked her to stick her tongue out to taste it. Tracy tried real hard to stick out her tongue but is not able to yet. Last, Kristin worked with Tracy's new switch, and recorded "I would like to listen to music," and "I changed my mind and would like to look at pictures of cute guys!" What do you think our girl picked? She wanted to listen to music! Kristin took out the microphone and tried to get Tracy to sing along with the song! Tracy did not seem to want to vocalize into the microphone. She did, however, vocalize some at the beginning and the end of the session. Daily OM: Asking For What You Want: Cocreating With The Universe!

Monday, April 9th, 2007: Mom And Uncle Johnny Go To 9:15 AM Bikram Yoga ~ Mom and Uncle Johnny went to Bikram Yoga at 9:15 AM. It is such a good workout! Mom is hooked! Tracy Spends An Hour On The Peanut Ball With Tania and Felicia ~ Tracy spent an hour on the patio on the peanut ball with Tania seated behind her. They worked on head and trunk control, and then Tania gave Tracy a neck and shoulder massage. Next, Tania and Felicia got Tracy positioned prone on the wedge so that she could weight bear through her shoulders. Tania took advantage of Tracy being on her tummy to massage her neck, shoulders and back more deeply. Tracy tolerated about thirty minutes in this position. Then Tania and Felicia rolled Tracy over on her back (supine) and she relaxed for a while on the mat while Tania and Mom massaged her hands and wrists with massage cream. Tania Reads Tracy Letters To Sam On The Patio ~ This evening, Tania read Tracy some more from Letters To Sam. Tracy really seems to enjoy this book. Mom wants to read it when they are finished.Nana And Uncle Johnny Come Over For A Visit ~ This evening, Nana and Uncle Johnny came over for a visit. They watched Dancing With The Stars together. Tracy watched it while relaxing in her bed while on the CPM machine. Emil, Charity, Zion, their friends Paul and Morag Visit Tracy ~ Later this evening, Emil, his daughter Charity, her son Zion, and friends and fellow artists Paul and Marne came over to see Tracy. It was great to see them. Zion has gotten so big! He is adorable and full of energy! Tracy slept right through their visit! Emil plans to come back later this week. Daily OM: Pausing To Drink: Beauty Day!

Sunday, April 8th, 2007: Tracy, Mom, Dad, Linda, Aunt Diane, and Nana Go To Easter Mass at St. Mary's Church in Pahokee ~ This morning, Dad, Mom and Linda got Tracy ready for 12 noon Mass in Pahokee. Then it was time to pick up Nana and Aunt Diane for the one hour ride to Pahokee. The Mass was incredible, with a surprise pageant of the Passion, complete with costumes! The entire service was absolutely beautiful! After Mass, we had a light lunch prepared for us by two friends of Uncle Johnny. It was delicious! Tracy, Mom, Aunt Diane, Nana and Anita Color Easter Eggs ~ The girls colored and decorated Easter eggs! It was so much fun. It had been a long time since we had colored Easter eggs. They even tasted good! Easter Dinner ~ This evening, Mom, Dad and Aunt Diane cooked eggplant parmesan, lasagna, and pork loin for Easter dinner. Anita, our good friend (and practically family) joined us. Everyone had a great time. Mom, Dad and Tracy Watch Brothers And Sisters ~ After everyone went home, Mom, Dad and Tracy watched Brothers And Sisters! It was fun to relax after a very busy weekend. Daily OM: One Of A Kind: The Black Sheep!

Saturday, April 7th, 2007: Tracy Gets A Hand And Foot Massage In Her Chair On The Patio ~ Felicia gave Tracy a hand and foot massage in her chair on the patio this afternoon. The BoTox is wearing off (she is due for another round in two weeks) and her hands and wrists are getting tight. The massage therapy really helps Tracy's joints to remain flexible. Mom and Aunt Diane Go To Spinning ~ This morning, Mom and Aunt Diane went to Spinning class in Coral Springs. It was another great class! Mom is really getting the itch to teach Spinning again! Dad and Mom Go For A Ride On The Harley ~ This afternoon, Mom and Dad went for a short ride on the Harley! They found the perfect beach to take Tracy that has wheel chair access and handicapped parking. Mom and Tracy Prepare Easter Eggs For Coloring ~ Mom and Tracy boiled eggs for coloring. They plan to color them tomorrow with Nana, Aunt Diane, Anita, and Dad! Linda Surprises Us With A Visit ~ This evening, Linda, Tracy's personal assistant from a year ago, surprised us with a visit. It was great to catch up on the events of the past year! She was really pleased with Tracy's progress since the last time she saw her a year ago! She was really happy to see that Tracy is now able to wear shoes! Daily OM: The Reciprocal Flow Of Abundance: Giving Without Expectations!

Friday, April 6th, 2007: Tracy Goes On The Tilt Table ~ Today was the first time that Tracy went on the tilt table since March 16th! Dad, Tania and Felicia transferred Tracy to the tilt table. Dad put on Tracy's right dynasplint to increase her right hamstring stretch and alignment. Then they cranked her up to 30 degrees where she remained for about 30 minutes. Tracy's vital signs remained stable during the hour she was on the tilt table. For the next ten minutes, Dad cranked Tracy up to 45 degrees where she remained for 10 minutes. We are getting Tracy gradually back to where she is comfortable on the tilt table before we increase her angle of incline. For the remaining 20 minutes, Tracy was at a 30 degree incline. She did a good job tolerating an hour on the tilt table. Dad and Mom Go To A Yoga Class ~ Mom and Dad started the morning at 9:15 AM Bikram yoga class. It was the first time either of them had done Bikram yoga which is performed in a very hot room (temperature between 110 and 120 degrees!) It was a very intense workout and by the end of the class, Mom and Dad were like two wet noodles. They really enjoyed it and plan to return next week. Tania Reads Tracy From The Book: Letters for Sam! ~ Tania read Tracy from the book: Letters to Sam, which was given to Tracy by Tania's cousin. They sat out on the patio while Mom and Dad went to Costco to shop for Easter dinner. Daily OM: Allowing Spirit In: Clearing Your Mind!

Thursday, April 5th, 2007: Tracy Goes On The Peanut Ball On The Patio For Therapy ~ Tania and Felicia put Tracy straddled on the peanut ball on the patio for therapy this afternoon. She tolerated an hour and a half with Tania seated behind her. Tania massaged Tracy's neck, shoulders and back while in this position. She really seemed to enjoy her massage, especially since her neck is always so tight! Sitting on the ball with assistance is good for strengthening Tracy's trunk and head control, as well as developing vestibular control and balance. Mom Spins For An Hour And A Half On The Patio ~ This afternoon, Mom rode her spin bike for an hour and a half on the patio! It was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and a cool breeze! She had the best ride she has had in a long time, listening to music from the Live at Fenway Park (Dave Matthews Band) CD! Mom, Dad and Tracy Go To Mass At St. Paul The Apostle Church In Lighthouse Point ~ Mom, Dad and Tracy went to Mass in celebration of Holy Thursday. Mass was really beautiful, with a procession into and out of the main church to the chapel where the blessed sacrament was being held in adoration. During Mass, Tracy made some new sounds which were pretty loud! She is moving her tongue over her teeth more frequently and is trying so hard to talk to us. Daily OM: The Reciprocal Flow Of Abundance: Giving Without Expectations!

Wednesday, April 4th, 2007: Tracy Gets A Manicure and a Pedicure ~ Today was Spa Day for Tracy and she got a manicure and pedicure! Easter egg purple was the color she chose! Very pretty! Felicia and Tania took Tracy outside on the patio while her nails dried. While on the patio, Tania waxed her eyebrows! Tracy really enjoys her Spa Days! What girl wouldn't? Mom Takes Luca Shopping With Her: Mom had to run errands and took Luca shopping with her. He seems to be feeling much better and was a big hit in the stores. Everyone thinks he is sooooo cute! When Mom returned, Tania had recorded the cutest script for Tracy to say using her sequential switch. She said she missed Mom and wanted to know if Luca behaved! Mom Finds a Frame for the Monkeyshines Puzzle ~ Mom found a frame and some Puzzle Saver and Tania worked on getting the cute monkey puzzle ready to frame. It will look so cute in the Bohemian room! Tania, Mom and Tracy Take Luca for a Walk ~ Mom, Tania and Tracy took Luca for an hour walk around the neighborhood! Mom Spins Under the Stars! ~ Mom road her Spin bike for almost an hour outside on the patio under the stars! It was such a beautiful night with a light breeze! Tiffany Is In New Orleans with the American Red Cross Hurricane Conference ~ Tiffany has been in New Orleans with her job as Communications Associate with the American Red Cross. She organized the Media Luncheon which was a tremendous success! Bravo Tiffany! She will spend Easter with Mamaw and Papaw and the family in Independence! Daily OM: Centering And Expressing: Communication!

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007: Luca Recovers From Surgery ~ Luca is recovering well from his surgery Monday. He is literally bouncing around the house and Mom has to slow him down so he won't reinjure anything! He is such a good puppy! Luca accompanied Tracy, Mom, and Tania to Speech Therapy at FAU for her 4 PM session. He hung out with Mom and Tania in the observation room so he wouldn't be a distraction. Imagine, Luca a distraction! He is such a ham! Tracy Has A Massage With Dee ~ This morning Tracy got a much needed massage with Dee. His massages are much different from Melanie's. Dee does more swedish massage and passive stretching and range of motion, while Melanie's massages are Cranial Sacral, which involves light touch, heat and energy transfer. Tracy seems to do well with both approaches, which seem to complement each other well. Tracy Goes To FAU for Speech Therapy With Kristin ~ Tracy was awake and alert during her entire Speech Therapy session with Kristin. Mom recorded some pretty corny jokes on Tracy's new Step by Step switch and Tracy hit it to tell Kristin the series of jokes. She even laughed appropriately at the corny jokes, especially the part Mom recorded about getting the corny jokes from Uncle Johnny! Tracy surprised Kristin with some delicious grapefruit scented lotion from Bath and Body Works for Easter! Kristin worked with Tracy's Yes/No responses for a while. We are now using two eye blinks for YES and vocalization for NO, so that Tracy can use her head control for other things such as turning on the radio, scripted conversations, etc. Kristin spent some time practicing visual tracking with Tracy, using a bright colored pom pom for her to focus on. Tracy tried real hard to follow the pom pom but still needs a lot of practice with visual tracking. She is doing better with head control now that her Baclofen dosage has been reduced to 393 mcgs per day! Next, Kristin worked with Tracy's oral motor skills, applying some of Tracy's flavored lip gloss to her lips. The goal was for Tracy to close her mouth to blot her lip gloss. Tracy did a good job closing hr mouth with Kristin's tactile assistance. Kristin asked Tracy to taste the flavored lip gloss with her tongue. Tracy is moving her tongue, although not consistently or always on command. We will continue to work on this. Last, Kristin worked with Tracy's vocalization, using her little microphone. Tracy did a good job making some sounds into the microphone. We will continue to practice vocalizations. Mom and Tracy Watch Dancing With The Stars ~This evening, Mom, Tracy and Luca watched Dancing With The Stars while Dad watched NCIS. This is the first season that Mom and Tracy have watched it, and they are definitely "hooked". They are pulling for Apolo Anton Ohno! He is such a hottie! Daily OM: Redefining Your Priorities: Your Last Breath!

Monday, April 2nd, 2007: Luca Has Surgery ~ Luca survived his (neuter) surgery today! While he was asleep, the vet also gave him his rabies immunization and microchipped him. He was really happy to see Mom and Uncle Johnny when they picked him up! Mom gave him some pain medicine, antibiotics, and an anti-inflammatory and he seemed a little more comfortable. He laid in Mom's lap all evening for TLC and didn't feel much like playing! He is scheduled to get his stitches out April 13th. Tracy Chills Out in Her Chair On The Patio ~ Tracy had another sleepy Monday, catching up after a busy weekend. She chilled out in her chair out on the patio for most of the morning. Tania massaged her hands, fingers and wrists with lavender scented massage cream. Her fingers and wrists are getting a little tight, as the BoTox wears off. She is scheduled for another round of BoTox April 21st at the University of Miami. Tracy Works With Tania On Her Switches ~ Tracy and Mom showed Tania how Tracy can use her new sequential switch to ask Tania a riddle. The Step by Step switch is really amazing in the way it engages others in conversation. Tania enjoyed the jokes! Nana and Uncle Johnny Come Over for Pizza: Nana and Uncle Johnny came over for pizza and to watch Dancing With The Stars with Tracy and everyone. Then it was time to watch the NCAA Basketball Championship Game. Everyone was pulling for the Florida Gators! (Don't faint!) They have such an awesome team and deserved to win! Mom Is Reading: In An Instant, by Bob and Lee Woodruff ~ Mom is reading the bestseller In An Instant, by Bob and Lee Woodruff, which Liz gave her. It is a story about a family's struggle to overcome Traumatic Brain Injury (Tracy suffers from anoxic brain injury which is similar but not the same!) Much of the story takes place in Landstuhl, Germany and Bethesda, Maryland where Tracy spent her first days post-injury. It is an amazing book which Mom's highly recommends. Daily OM: Allowing Spirit In: Clearing Your Mind!

Sunday, April 1st, 2007:Tracy Gets A Cranial Sacral Therapeutic Massage by Melanie ~ Melanie gave Tracy a Cranial Sacral Therapeutic massage this afternoon. Tracy responded very well to her massage. Melanie could feel a difference in Tracy's energy level and was very pleased with her muscle tone and flexibility. (See Today's Daily Om on Chakra Energy Centers!) She said that she worked quite a bit with Tracy's white and yellow chakras. She mentioned that Tracy's energy is presently focused on internal healing which could explain why Tracy has been sleepy over the past week or so. Dad, Mom and cousin Michelle also got well-deserved massages. Ahhh! How do you spell relief! Dad Finishes the Monkeyshines Puzzle ~ Dad put the finishing touches on the Monkeyshines puzzle that cousin Judy gave us. It looks so cute! Now we are hooked! Who wants to send us the next puzzle? Tracy Tries Out Her New Switch ~ Mom worked with Tracy's new Step By Step switch, recording several conversation scripts. One script discussed the Women's Sony Ericcson Tennis finals, held yesterday in Miami. The conversation highlighted Tracy's idol, tennis pro Serena Williams. It was great to see Tracy using her switch to converse a little with Nana. (Mom recorded the script which is meant to engage others in conversation with Tracy!) Mom, Luca and Uncle Johnny Go Out On The Kayaks ~ Mom, Uncle Johnny and Luca went in the kayaks and explored the panhandle area of Lighthouse Point. Luca got wet from the paddle and was shivering! Mom needs to get him a wet suit if the water doesn't warm up soon! Mom, Tracy, Dad, Luca, Nana and Uncle Johnny Watched the Movie: Holiday ~ It was so cute! Tracy stayed awake in her chair through the entire movie. Tracy Vomited Before Bedtime ~ Tracy vomited about 4 to 6 ounces at 11:45 PM last night. We do not understand why she vomits about two or three times a month, mostly on Sunday evenings. Daily OM: Intersection Of Energy And Spirit: Chakra Energy Centers!

Today's Update

Luca Update: Luca now weighs 4.6 lbs and was five months old on March 22nd! He loves kayaking and going on outings with Tracy, especially the beach! He is scheduled for minor surgery (neutered to make him a nicer man) on Monday, April 2nd. (New photos coming soon!)

Check out the photo of LUCA SKYWALKER ANZALONE , Tracy's puppy! He's named that because he looks like an Ewok from Star Wars! Tracy always wanted a son named Luca, so now she has one! Only thing, he is the furry, barking kind! Much better since he does not need a college education! He's nine weeks in this picture, taken on January 2nd, 2007. He was born on Mawmaw's birthday, October 22nd, 2006!!!

Quote of the Week: "Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your objective. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Word of the Week: Enthusiasm ~ Originally an enthusiast is a person possessed by a God. Applied by the Greeks to manifestations of divine possession, by Apollo, as in the case of the Pythia, or by Dionysus, as in the case of the Bacchantes and Maenads, the term enthusiasm was also used in a transferred or figurative sense. Thus Socrates speaks of the inspiration of poets as a form of enthusiasm. Its uses, in a religious sense, are confined to a belief in religious inspiration, or to intense religious fervour or emotion. Thus a Syrian sect of the 4th century was known as the Enthusiasts. They believed that by perpetual prayer, ascetic practices and contemplation, man could become inspired by the Holy Spirit, in spite of the ruling evil spirit, which the fall had given to him. From their belief in the efficacy of prayer, they were also known as Euchites. Several Protestant sects of the 16th and 17th centuries were called enthusiastic. During the years immediately following the Glorious Revolution, "enthusiasm" was a British pejorative term for advocacy of any political or religious cause in public. Such "enthusiasm" was seen in the time around 1700 as the cause of the previous century's English Civil War and its attendant atrocities, and thus it was an absolute social sin to remind others of the war by engaging in enthusiasm. The Royal Society bylaws stipulated that any person discussing religion or politics at a Society meeting was to be summarily ejected for being an "enthusiast." During the 18th century, popular Methodists such as John Wesley or George Whitefield were accused of blind enthusiasm (i.e. fanaticism).

Welcome to Tracy's web site! We update this site as frequently as possible in hopes to keep you all posted on Tracy's continued progress. Thank you for visiting us and feel free to write Tracy a note in her Guest Book! We look forward to hearing from you often. Your emails mean so much to Tracy and the entire Anzalone family. We are all very hopeful that 2007 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way!

Tracy's day begins with Dad giving her morning medications at 6 AM! She usually goes back to sleep for a few more winks before Felicia arrives at 8 AM, when Tracy has her breakfast. Then it is time for morning stretches and range of motion exercises which take about thirty minutes. Around 8:30 AM, Tracy gets either a bed bath or a shower, which are alternated throughout the week. Tracy selects from two outfits using her Yes/No switches and then it is time to get Tracy in her chair to practice her switch training and sensory/oral motor stimulation exercises. On Tuesday mornings, Tracy has a massage and Physical Therapy with Dee and on Tuesday afternoons, Tracy has Speech Therapy with Kristin at FAU at 4 PM. Some days Tracy goes for walks around the neighborhood, hangs out on the patio by the pool to catch some rays, on outings to Butterfly World, shopping at the mall, to doctor's appointments, out to lunch, to the park, etc. Every day at 11 AM and 4 PM, Tracy gets a smoothie (in her G-tube) full of nutrients such as Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Glucosamine, Vitamins, Antioxidants, Glyconutrients, and Phytonutients. Three times a day, Tracy gets Jevity 1.2 (5 cans in her G-tube) at 8 AM (2 cans), 1 PM (3 cans), and 8 PM (1 can). This is a nutritional supplement loaded with protein, vitamins and calories. She also receives medication at 12 noon, 6 PM and 11 PM, mostly to help control her gi reflux. Every evening, Tracy spends about an hour and a half on each leg on the CPM machine to range and stretch her hamstrings and hips. She seems to relax and enjoy the motion, and enjoys listening to music or television during her sessions. The alternate ankle is dorsiflexed using a Dynasplint while she is CPM-ing. Every night, Tracy sleeps with a Dynasplint on her right leg to give her hamstring a prolonged static stretch. She also sleeps with bilateral hand/wrist splints (also dynamic splints) and multi-podus boots to keep her feet dorsi-flexed. Tracy also sleeps with a pulse oximiter on her ear which monitors her Oxygen saturation and her heart rate. Tracy usually goes to sleep around 11 PM and sleeps through most nights.

Dad Finishes the Monkeyshines Puzzle ~ Dad put the finishing touches on the Monkeyshines puzzle that cousin Judy gave us. It looks so cute! Now we are hooked! Who wants to send us the next puzzle?

Tracy Tries Out Her New Switch ~ Mom worked with Tracy's new Step By Step switch, recording several conversation scripts. One script discussed the Women's Sony Ericcson Tennis finals, held yesterday in Miami. The conversation highlighted Tracy's idol, tennis pro Serena Williams. It was great to see Tracy using her switch to converse a little with Nana. (Mom recorded the script which is meant to engage others in conversation with Tracy!)

Mom, Luca and Uncle Johnny Go Out On The Kayaks ~ Mom, Uncle Johnny and Luca went in the kayaks and explored the panhandle area of Lighthouse Point. Luca got wet from the paddle and was shivering! Mom needs to get him a wet suit if the water doesn't warm up soon!

Mom, Tracy, Dad, Luca, Nana and Uncle Johnny Watched the Movie: Holiday ~ It was so cute! Tracy stayed awake in her chair through the entire movie.

Tracy Vomited Before Bedtime ~ Tracy vomited about 4 to 6 ounces at 11:45 PM last night. We do not understand why she vomits about two or three times a month, mostly on Sunday evenings.

NEWSLASH! NEWSFLASH! NEWSFLASH! NEWSFLASH! NEWSFLASH! NEWSFLASH! NEWSFLASH! NEWSFLASH!

Tracy and Luca Complete Their First 4.2 mile Walk for the Broward Children's Center ~ Mom, Dad, Aunt Diane, Felicia, Tracy and Luca joined cousins Chip and Eileen and friends for their first Miles for Smiles Walk to support the Broward Children's Center. Luca wore his new burbury plaid polo shirt and matching visor that Aunt Candy sent him. He looked so cute and was a huge hit! All of the kids really loved meeting him. Tracy did awesome in her jogger and everyone finished the walk! It was a great way to start the weekend!

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007: Tracy Goes To Nova Southeastern University for Augmentative Assistive Communication Technology Evaluation Part II: Tracy had her second evaluation at Nova Southeastern University Speech, Language and Communications Clinic this afternoon. She seemed very excited when she met Dr. Mary Ann Lowe, and the two masters students, Maiete and Lauren, who visited Tracy last week at our home. Kristine, Tracy's masters speech therapy student from FAU was also there! Dr. Lowe began by explaining to Tracy the purpose of today's evaluation: to find a convenient way for Tracy to communicate with the use of the latest technology. Dr. Lowe quickly observed Tracy's amazing head control and tried several types of switches. Tracy really liked being able to turn on the radio with her right switch! The Power Link connecter was programmed to turn the radio off after 30 seconds of listening time. Tracy realized this and turned the radio back on each time it went off! She responded to the therapy students requests: "Let's listen to the rest of that song!" by turning the radio back on! In fact, she hit the right switch so many times to listen to the music that Maiete and Lauren stopped taking the data (excess of 50 times during the 1 hour evaluation). Next, Maiete gave Tracy a Memory Mini Photo Album with pictures of Tracy's favorite things from her website. Dr. Lowe showed us a sequential switch called Step By Step on which she recorded several conversation statements: "Come look at my pictures in my photo album!" "Would you like to add a picture to my album?" and "I love to look at pictures with my firiends when they visit me!" This special switch was connected to Tracy's left switch. She really got excited when she saw that she now has a means to carry on a conversation! She did a great job hitting the switch to talk more about her new photo album! Mom plans to purchase some of the new equipment that Dr. Lowe shared with her so that we can continue with some of the great communication ideas at home. Once Tracy masters the new switches she can progress to a more intricate communication system such as the Tango! Mom is also looking into bringing Tracy to Nova Southeastern for augmentative assistive communication therapy in May when the new semester begins!

Wednesday, March 13th, 2007: Tania and Mom took Tracy for her 2 PM appointment at the Dizziness and Balance Center at NBMC. Two Physical Therapists who specialize in vertigo (that's dizziness) evaluated Tracy. They put special goggles on Tracy and then spun her around in different directions and watched her eyes which were magnified through the goggles. They were looking for upward or downward beating. Tracy's eyes showed a downward beating after she was moved in different directions. The PTs, after careful observation, believe that Tracy does not have Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Instead, they think she has central vertigal resulting from her anoxic injury. The goal is for them to develop a plan for Tracy to improve her dizziness.

Sunday, March 4th, 2007: This morning, Mom, Dad, Betty, Tracy, Nana, Aunt Diane, and Rose Marie, attended a healing Mass in honor of St. Padre Pio at Uncle Johnny's church, St. Mary's of Pahokee. It was a beautiful celebration with lots and lots of kids of all ages. The hall was packed with people attending the healing Mass in honor of Padre Pio. A very devote follower of St. Padre Pio, Jacomo, brought first order relics of St. Padre Pio, a piece of his robe, beard, and glove. Ruth, a healer, prayed over Tracy and laid hands on her, Mom and Dad. There was so much energy in the room, with everyone praying for Tracy! It was an inspirational experience!

Saturday, March 3rd, 2007: Celebration of the Full Moom and Lunar Eclipse: This evening Mom, Dad, Tracy, and Betty went to the Transformational Studies Institute in Jupiter, where we met Melanie, Tracy's Cranial Sacral Therapist to participate in a Drum Circle. This is an ancient tradition to celebrate the full moon. This evening was also a lunar eclipse so it was doubly powerful. It was an amazing experience filled with lots of spiritual, physical and mental energy! Tracy really seemed tuned in and into the rhythm of the drumming. We are looking forward to the next Drum Circle on April 7th, which is the next full moon!

Wednesday, January 10th, 2007: Genevieve, Mom, Felicia, Tania and Tiffany (rehab assistant) got Tracy suited up to try a new piece of rehab equipment: the Lite Gait. (Click on the link to learn more about the Lite Gait). The Lite Gait suspends Tracy and provides her some partial weight bearing. Tracy did really well standing with maximum assistance. This is a big step for Tracy and we hope she will be able to contiue to progress on this equipment. The goal is to get her comfortable in a standing position and then begin simulating walking, with the premise that muscle has memory. Tracy was so happy to be standing on her own two feet (with maximum assistance) that she laughed and smiled when Mom called Mawmaw and Nana to tell them. Mom put the cell phone up to Tracy ear so that she could hear how proud they were of her accomplishments.

IMPORTANT: PRAY THE ROSARY! (Click on the link to learn how to pray the rosary!) The day that Tracy was injured, family members received rosary beads in the mail that she had bought for them while visiting the sacred place where the Blessed Mother has been known to appear to children in Medjugorje . On Mother's Day in 2004, Mom found a beautiful pair of rosary beads on the wall outside Jackson Memorial Hospital with a holy card of the Blessed Mother! Mom believes this to be a gift from Our Lady on Mother's Day! She found these beautiful blue beads after she prayed to the Blessed Mother for a sign! Mom received a pair of rosary beads from Fr. McDuffy from Mater Dolorosa Church which were given to him from the late Pope John Paul II, who is in need of two miracles to become a Saint! Tracy is making lots of sounds and trying very hard to talk to us! During her study abroad program with Gonzaga University in Florence, Tracy had visited the birthplace of the Blessed Mother in Ephesus. She was also very close to Our Lady during her early years and well into her adult life. We ask that you please pray the rosary as often as possible with the specific intention that Tracy will speak to us soon.

"Miracles From Mary" is a heartwarming story about Tracy's uncle, who is a simple priest at St. Mary's Church in Pahokee, Florida and the miracles that occur through faith, hard work and prayer to a 16th century Russian Icon of Mary created by a monk. (Please click on the link above to view.) To view the brief documentary "Miracles From Mary" aired recently on Boston's WGBH network click the preceding link.

Check out our good friend and Tracy's massage therapist's website: EmilArt He has some very beautiful paintings and sculptures to share. Emil painted a beautiful portrait of Tracy that truly captures her spirit and beauty! You can see it on his website!

Dad brought a very special gift to Tracy from his hometown parish pastor, Fr. McDuffy: rosaries personally given to him when he had a private audience at the Vatican with Pope John Paul II. These rosaries are very special because they are considered a secondary relic, something that the prospective saint has personally touched.

Thank you cousin Frank Arthur for the beautiful St. Theresa medal. She is Tracy's patron saint.

Pope Benedict XVI has approved an expedited process for Beatification and ultimate Sanctification of Pope John Paul II. Please pray to Pope John Paul II specifically requesting that he make Tracy one of the two miracles needed for his Sainthood! Here is his prayer: "Prayer for John Paul II's Intercession". We found Tracy's old files and want to share her last AP English Essay and a paper for her Biology Class from Gulf Breeze High School. This will give you some insight into how special she is and why she will come back to us. Here they are: BLESSED and Euthanasia: Filling God's Shoes.

Pictured: Tracy on Spring Break in Jamaica in 2002.This page was created with love on Sunday, February 8th, 2003 by Tiffany Anzalone. It was re-launched at www.prayersfortracy.com on November 11th, 2003.

Since February 8th, 2003, Prayers for Tracy has been hit:

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