Saturday, December 31st, 2005 and Sunday, January 1st, 2006 were a continuum. Saturday started with everyone getting ready for the New Years Eve and 26th Anniversary Party in the Crystal Plaza Party Room. Mom and Dad got Tracy ready for PT with Jen at 1030. Tracy was stretched and spent 30 minutes straddling the peanut. She held her head up during the entire time with minimal help. The afternoon was filled with last minute shopping by Tiffany and Rick to get the decorations and final ingredients for all the food. Dad prepared some of his specialties, Jerk Chicken Wings, Shrimp Mosca and got all the mixings together for Margaritas and Pina Coladas. Emil and Kathryn brought a palm tree with a parrot, top hats, Hawaiian leis and several noise makers to add to the party. Everyone arrived by 10 pm and we brought in the New Year with a Champagne toast watching the ball drop in Times Squire. Tracy was right in the middle of the activities and greeted in the New Year with some laughter. We finally got everything cleaned up by 2 am and the lights were finally out at 3 am. We slept in until 1100 and Tracy seemed to enjoy not having to get ready for any therapies. Mom took it easy all day and Tiffany and Rick got two movies for everyone to enjoy. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements to Tracy.

Friday, December 30th, 2005 ~ Tracy was up until 3 AM! We are not sure why but she definitely kept Dad up right along with her! Mom, being such a sound sleeper, never heard a sound. This morning, Linda and Mom showered and shampooed Tracy and got her ready for another PT session with Jen at 10:30 AM. Jen is filling in for Duncan who is in Lake Tahoe snowboarding. We sure hope he doesn't break anything! We miss him a lot and are very grateful for Jen coming every day while he is away! During PT, Jen stretched and ranged Tracy and then sat her on the edge of the mat to practice head and trunk control. Then Mom, Linda, and Jen rolled Tracy onto her tummy to help stretch her hip, hamstring, and to work her shoulders. Tracy did a good job tolerating 30 minutes. This exercise really wipes Tracy out, so she slept on the mat for the rest of the day. Linda spent the majority of the afternoon massaging Tracy with the mini-massager while Tracy relaxed. She was too wiped out to try feeding her the nectar consistency Hydrolyte. We'll try again tomorrow. This evening, Mom, Dad, Tiffany and Tracy watched the Peach Bowl: LSU Tigers vs. UM Hurricanes! Tracy has on her green and orange Canes shirt and Tiffany and Dad have on their purple and gold LSU Fighting Tigers shirts! Mom has decided to give Tracy and the Canes some support! Either way, one of the Anzalone teams will win! Tomorrow, Tracy has PT again with Jen at 10:30 AM. Have a great weekend and a very blessed and healthy New Year! Lesson of the Day: Reversed Perceptions : Projecting!

Thursday, December 29th, 2005 ~ Tracy slept well again last night until around 4:30 AM when she woke Mom and Dad up LAUGHING! She was laughing and smiling for quite some time. Mom got Dad to video it! We are not sure what all this means, but it must be something good. This is the 5th or 6th episode of LAUGHTER we have witnessed. It seems like it happens at all different times of day and night, about once a week! We are very thankful that we are able to witness her beautiful smile again! Please pray that she continues to laugh and smile more and more each day! This morning, Mom and Linda showered and shampooed Tracy and got her ready for Physical Therapy with her PT Aide, Jen. During PT, Jen ranged and stretched Tracy, paying attention to her lower extremities. Tracy seemed more relaxed this morning. Jen was able to get her right leg down and stretched out well. We are hopeful that the Botox is working and that her serial casting experience will be successful. Please say a prayer that the serial casting works this time around. After stretching, Jen and Linda got Tracy seated straddled on the peanut ball. Tracy did a good job relaxing her right leg and balancing on the peanut ball with assistance. She tolerated 30 minutes! After PT, Melissa, Tracy's Speech Therapy Aide and master's student who worked with her last semester at George Washington University Speech and Hearing Clinic came to work with Tracy. This was Melissa's first time visiting Tracy at home and she was pleasantly surprised. She worked with many of the same multi-sensory aides that she uses at the clinic: different scents, textures, and the famous facial massager. Tracy did a good job responding to the many questions that Melissa asked, blinking twice for yes and shaking her head for no. She was a little sleepy however, and fought hard to keep her eyes open. The plan is for Jen to work with Tracy two to three times a week for an hour and a half if tolerated. Tracy rested for the majority of the afternoon on her mat, while Linda massaged her hands with raspberry scented lotion. Linda is doing such a wonderful job with Tracy and is a driving force in her recent progress. We are truly blessed to have her as Tracy's personal assistant. Lesson of the Day: A Gift Of The Heart : Letting People Know You Love Them!

Wednesday, December 28th, 2005: Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. This morning, Linda and Mom bathed Tracy and got her ready for Physical Therapy with Jen at 10:30 AM. It was a dreary, over cast day with temperatures in the upper 40s to low 50s; very unseasonal for the end of December. During PT, Jen spent her usual 45 minutes stretching and ranging Tracy and then got her seated at the edge of the mat. Tracy seemed tight this morning. Then, Linda and Jen got Tracy on her knees, prone over the peanut ball so that she can weight bear through her knees. Tracy relaxed in this position and tolerated about 30 minutes. This afternoon, Linda and Mom spent some time feeding Tracy small amounts of nectar consistency apple juice. Tracy had about 5 teaspoons full. We are going slow with feeding Tracy so that she can get reacclimated to swallowing. Tracy returns to Vital Stim therapy next Tuesday at Georgetown Hospital. She has four sessions left to complete, and then the plan is to do a repeat Modified Barium Swallow test to see if her swallowing has improved from the last one that was done in November. Please pray that she continues to improve and that her MBS shows significant improvement. This evening, Tracy sat up in her chair and watched Boston College play Boise State University in the Boise Bowl. Go BC Eagles! Tomorrow, Tracy has PT again with Jen at 10:30 AM and then Speech Therapy with Melissa at noon. We are excited for Melissa to begin working with Tracy at home over the semester break. She and Jenn worked with Tracy last semester at George Washington University Speech and Hearing Clinic. They both did an awesome job with Tracy! Lesson of the Day: Creative Cuts: Editing Your Life!

Tuesday, December 27th, 2005: Tracy slept well all last night. She still seemed exhausted this morning when Linda and Mom showered and shampooed her. Tracy had an 11:00 AM appointment at Georgetown Hospital to get her Baclofen pump refilled. Erika, her Nurse Practitioner, refilled Tracy's pump so fast that Tracy slept right through the procedure. Tracy did not have Physical Therapy today, however, she had a great massage by Emil. He spent several hours massaging Tracy, and noted that she seemed a lot more relaxed. Guess her vacation was a success! We also hope that the Botox is working its magic. Tracy is scheduled for her first serial casting next Wednesday, January 4th at 10:00 AM at Children's National Medical Center. Please pray that this time will be a huge success! This evening, Mom, Dad, and Tiffany spent the evening catching up and organizing the many cards and other mail that were delivered in their absence. Tomorrow, Tracy has Physical Therapy with Jen at 10:30 AM. She will be ready for a good workout after her long vacation. Lesson of the Day: Lessons of Discovery: Instruction Manuals for Living! Ongoing Events: Tuesday, December 13th, Tracy had a 1 PM appointment at Georgetown Hospital for Vital Stim. During Vital Stim, Tracy swallowed fifteen times. Mom brought a bottle of Starbucks frappacino to let Tracy smell and she started swallowing immediately. This is definitely more in line with her average swallows, which range between 9 and 12 swallows per session. We really think Tracy is averse to the subfreezing temperatures we are experiencing. There is a reason why Tracy chose to go to college in Miami for heaven's sake. She does not do well in cold weather. We will continue to practice swallowing over the holidays and resume her Vital Stim in the New Year! There are lots of good aromas in Mamaw's kitchen and plenty of motivation to SWALLOW! Friday, December 9th: Tracy had a 1 PM appointment with Dr. Pagan at Georgetown Hospital. Dr. Pagan injected a total of 600 units of Botox into Tracy's right medial and lateral hamstring, both her right and left anterior and posterior tibialis, soleus, and gastrocnemius muscles. Tracy was so relaxed and tolerated the injections very well. We are hopeful that in two or so weeks, we will see a significant improvement in Tracy's lower body tone. The plan is to begin serial casting once the Botox has taken effect. Tracy has an appointment at Children's National Medical Center on Wednesday, January 4th at 10:00 AM. This will include casting Tracy's feet each week, correcting her positioning incrementally until Tracy is able to put her foot in a plantar position. This will enable us to finally get Tracy into some AFOs (ankle-foot orthotics) to hold her feet in a normal position. This is a long-term goal which will take time and patience to attain. If the combination of Botox, serial casting, Baclofen adjustment, and physical therapy (tilt table) does not prove to be successful, the option of surgical intervention is still a possibility. Tuesday, December 6th: Tracy, Tiffany, Mom, Linda and Liz went to tour the White House. The theme for this year's tour: All Things Bright & Beautiful, was chosen to highlight the beauty to be found in nature. The White House Residence staff and floral designers from across the country did a magnificent job incorporating the natural beauty found in the many plants, trees, fruit and flowers created by our Designer In Chief: God! Tracy really seemed to enjoy the outing, especially the areas that are typically off limits to most guests (but on the way to the elevator) such as the kitchen, the President's doctor's office, and the private reception room. She seemed very interested in all the hustle and bustle going on in the kitchen with the many White House chefs preparing for a special party. 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. Tiffany graduated from LSU's Manship School of Mass Communications on December 19th. Mom, Dad, Tracy, Mamaw, Papaw, Uncle Mike, Aunt Cheryl, Kathryn Jean, Rick, and Tamar were there to cheer her on! She now has a Master's in Mass Communication (MMC) with a concentration in public relations. Several months ago we featured Ashley Higgin's web site on this page. Ashley suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury more than one year ago. To catch up on her story go to the link above.

Monday, December 26th, 2005 ~ Tracy slept well last night and well into the morning while Mom, Dad and Tiffany packed up. Nothing like a few suit cases: 9 total! Dad and Mom got Tracy bathed and dressed and ready for the flight back to DC! Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Mike brought the poodle puppies over to visit with Tracy. She seemed to enjoy their playfulness! Aunt Kathy and Uncle Frank and the girls came over to spend our last day with us. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful caring family! After lunch, Mom, Dad, Tiffany and Tracy headed for the New Orleans airport. Mamaw and Papaw followed with the 9 suit cases! Everything went smoothly and the 6:30 PM flight left on time for Washington, DC. Tracy did exceptionally well on the return flight. We arrived home around 10 PM EST. Tracy seemed very happy to be back in her room and fell fast asleep. Mom, Dad, and Tiff spent the rest of the evening unpacking! It was a very late night! We thank all of our family who cooked meals and pitched in to make our visit in Independence FANTASTIC! We all enjoyed spending the Christmas holiday with our precious family and friends and look forward to our next visit! Lesson of the Day: What Matters: Getting Back To Holiday Basics!

Sunday, December 25th, 2005 ~ Merry Christmas!: Tracy slept well last night. This morning, Mom and Dad got Tracy bathed and ready for Christmas Day! I don't know about you, but this has been the longest month, and we all were wondering whether Christmas Day would ever get here! We all were unable to make it to 9 o'clock Mass. It was the only mass being said today in Independence. We thank God for giving us the opportunity to be together this Christmas, and, in spite of everything that has happened this year, we feel especially blessed! We all hung out around the fire place and waited for Uncle Miike and Aunt Cheryl to come home from the hospital. Uncle Mike is a nuclear medicine technologist and Aunt Cheryl is a Labor and Delivery nurse and they both were on duty today. Around 5 PM, everyone got together and opened their presents. Our good friends Lloyd and Baron came over to have dinner with everyone. Lloyd cooked a delicious Cajun turkey, Mom's favorite! He brought Tracy a very special gift, a Lenox cross that belonged to Charlotte. We all miss Charlotte very much and know that she is praying for Tracy! We will hang it on the wall at home which displays the collection of crosses that we have been collecting. Lesson of the Day: In The Open Air: Spending Time In Nature!

Saturday, December 24th, 2005: Tracy slept well again last night, except for her usual hour up between 4 and 5 AM. We are not sure what causes her to wake up at this time. Dad is looking into bladder spasms and will pick up some Pyridium which helps to relieve this. This morning, Linda and Mom gave Tracy a bath in Mamaw's big tub. She will definitely miss her baths once we return home. She really seems to relax and enjoy the warm water. After her bath, Linda stretched and ranged Tracy on the mat by the fire in the living room. Cousin Theresa, Aunt Tilly and Uncle Johnny came by to visit Tracy. It is so good to be close by family. Tiffany, Mamaw, and Papaw, stayed with Tracy while Mom and Dad took Linda to the airport in New Orleans. She is returning to Northern Virginia to spend Christmas with her mother. Before her flight, they drove through the French Quarter to see the results of Katrina and to pick up some French Market coffee and beignets. There seemed to be several stores open in the French Quarter: the Hard Rock Cafe, Chico's, and some of the local cafes and souvenir shops. Many of the large hotels, casinos, and hospitals were boarded up and large neighborhoods were abandoned and in darkness. In some areas, we were the only car on the street and there were still National Guardsmen patrolling in hummers. It was truly a sad sight to behold. This evening, our good friend's Craig and Tammy visited. Everyone enjoyed the fireplace while watching White Christmas! (We had to turn up the air conditioning to light the fireplace! Crazy New Orleans weather!) Lesson of the Day: Just For Fun: Remembering Childhood Joys!

Friday, December 23rd, 2005: Tracy slept well last night, except for a brief period between 4 and 5 AM. This morning, Linda and Mom bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tracy sat up in her wheel chair with Dad out by the pool to get some sun and fresh air. It was a pretty day, with temperatures ranging in the mid to upper sixties. Tracy really enjoyed being outside and in the beautiful sunshine. This afternoon, Cousin Kathryn, Tiffany, Mom and Linda headed to Hammond to explore some of the new upscale boutiques. Mom couldn't believe how much Hammond had grown and was surprised to see so many cute shops and boutiques. Linda treated everyone to lunch at Tommy's Pizza. It was really good. When we returned, Linda gave Tracy about 8 to 10 teaspoons of nectar consistency lemon water. Tracy did a good job swallowing with no coughing. We will continue to give her the hydrolyte every day so that she can get used to swallowing again. This evening, Jim came by to give Tracy her last massage until she returns home on Monday. He is a very special friend with a spiritual and healing touch. We truly appreciate his and his wife's Bonnie's prayers and positive healing. Lesson of the Day: The Day's Closing: Evenings!

Thursday, December 22nd, 2005 ~Tracy had another night where she was up from 2:45 to 4:00 AM. Dad tried again to get her to relax, but it just took time to get Tracy back to sleep. Everyone except Dad slept in to after 9:30. Mom and Linda gave Tracy another bath in the big tub. This will be missed when we return to DC.This afternoon, Cousins John, cousin Tilly and Theresa came to visit us again. Mr.Roy and Mrs. Carol brought us their famous banana pudding. It is so good to be around family and friends.Linda gave Tracy a manicure out by the pool in the sunshine this afternoon. Tracy loved being outside and got a little suntan. She stayed outside for several hours enjoying the sun. Jim, Tracy's massage therapist here in Independence, came to give Tracy another massage. She seemed to really enjoy it. He and his wife Bonnie joined us for dinner. Uncle Mike grilled his monster hamburgers for dinner. They were the best he has every made them and everyone eat too much again. Lesson of the Day: What Matters: Getting Back To Holiday Basics!

Wedesday, December 21st, 2005 ~ Tracy slept OK last night except from 2:45 to 4:00 when she was a little uncomfortable. Dad tried a little bit of everything to get Tracy back to sleep. After resting to 9 AM, Mom and Linda gave Tracy a bed bath and got her ready for another day at Mamaw and Papaw's house. After lunch, Mom, Linda and Kathryn went for another run around the neighborhood. This time they went 4 miles and really enjoyed the beautiful crisp day. Tracy relaxed in her chair in the kitchen with Mamaw and everyone while the girls ran. Dad, Mom and Linda positioned Tracy prone on the peanut ball for twenty five minutes. She did a good job weight bearing on her knees and Dad periodically propped Tracy on her elbows so that she could weight bear through her shoulders. This afternoon, Linda stretched and ranged Tracy on the mat. She is doing a really good job. Aunt Kathy made red beans and rice for everyone! It was really good. Everyone gathered around the fire and watched the college football bowl. Lesson of the Day: Finding Encouragement: Your True Inner Voice!

Tuesday, December 20th, 2005 ~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. Please let me know if you find an error. Thank you for visiting us and feel free to write Tracy a note in her Guest Book! Your emails mean so much to Tracy and the entire Anzalone family.Current Events: Tracy slept well again last night. Mom and Linda gave Tracy a bath in Mamaw and Papaw's huge tub. She really likes her baths. Before lunch, Mom, Linda and Kathryn went for a run around the neighborhood. It was a beautiful crisp day with the sun shining. Tracy relaxed in her chair in the kitchen with Mamaw and everyone while the girls ran. The Hucks, Mamaw's neighbors from across the street, brought us crayfish etouffe for lunch. It was really good! This afternoon, Cousins John and Theresa came to visit us. Theresa gave Tracy a makeover! She really looked cute. Linda stretched and ranged Tracy on the mat. She is doing a really good job.This evening, Jim, Tracy's massage therapist here in Independence, came to give Tracy a massage. She seemed to really enjoy it. Uncle Mike and Aunt Cheryl grilled Italian sausage and baked beans for dinner. It was delicious. Kathy Sue, Frank and the girls came over and visited with everyone. Cousin Kathryn and Mamaw decorated the tree while everyone was catching up on their shopping. Take a look at Today's Daily Om by clicking on the hyperlink below. Today's OM talks about those people who come into our lives when we least expect it with a purpose to help us in times of need. Lesson of the Day: Beings Of Light: Human Angels! Ongoing Events:Tuesday, December 13th, Tracy had a 1 PM appointment at Georgetown Hospital for Vital Stim. During Vital Stim, Tracy swallowed fifteen times. Mom brought a bottle of Starbucks frappacino to let Tracy smell and she started swallowing immediately. This is definitely more in line with her average swallows, which range between 9 and 12 swallows per session. We really think Tracy is averse to the subfreezing temperatures we are experiencing. There is a reason why Tracy chose to go to college in Miami for heaven's sake. She does not do well in cold weather. We will continue to practice swallowing over the holidays and resume her Vital Stim in the New Year! There are lots of good aromas in Mamaw's kitchen and plenty of motivation to SWALLOW! Friday, December 9th: Tracy had a 1 PM appointment with Dr. Pagan at Georgetown Hospital. Dr. Pagan injected a total of 600 units of Botox into Tracy's right medial and lateral hamstring, both her right and left anterior and posterior tibialis, soleus, and gastrocnemius muscles. Tracy was so relaxed and tolerated the injections very well. We are hopeful that in two or so weeks, we will see a significant improvement in Tracy's lower body tone. The plan is to begin serial casting once the Botox has taken effect. Tracy has an appointment at Children's National Medical Center on Wednesday, January 4th at 10:00 AM. This will include casting Tracy's feet each week, correcting her positioning incrementally until Tracy is able to put her foot in a plantar position. This will enable us to finally get Tracy into some AFOs (ankle-foot orthotics) to hold her feet in a normal position. This is a long-term goal which will take time and patience to attain. If the combination of Botox, serial casting, Baclofen adjustment, and physical therapy (tilt table) does not prove to be successful, the option of surgical intervention is still a possibility. Tuesday, December 6th: Tracy, Tiffany, Mom, Linda and Liz went to tour the White House . The theme for this year's tour: All Things Bright & Beautiful, was chosen to highlight the beauty to be found in nature. The White House Residence staff and floral designers from across the country did a magnificent job incorporating the natural beauty found in the many plants, trees, fruit and flowers created by our Designer In Chief: God! Tracy really seemed to enjoy the outing, especially the areas that are typically off limits to most guests (but on the way to the elevator) such as the kitchen, the President's doctor's office, and the private reception room. She seemed very interested in all the hustle and bustle going on in the kitchen with the many White House chefs preparing for a special party. Awesome news: At about 10:00 PM December 1st, Tracy started laughing and had the biggest smile on her face that Mom and Dad has seen for a very long time. This was a first (of many we hope)! She was sitting in her wheel chair in front of the television with Mom and Dad. Dad had just fed her the evening tube feeding. Tracy was "daydreaming" and all of a sudden started laughing. Mom and Dad were so surprised, shocked to be honest. Mom burst into tears and yelled, "Get the video camera." By the time Dad was able to load a new tape and the camera was ready for filming, Tracy had stopped laughing. Her smile was "angelic," and she looked so happy! She looked totally at peace. We don't know why Tracy was laughing, it looked like she may have been having a memory that struck her funny. She was awake when she started to laugh, but appeared to be in a dreamy state. Whatever happened and wherever she was, THIS WAS REALLY BIG! She had another brief laughing episode on Monday, December 5th around 7 PM. As Mom was writing this page, Tiffany was calling from the family room, stating that Tracy was making a "funny noise!" When Mom went to check it out, (she told Tiffany to get the video camera) Tracy was laughing again. Her face was much more animated, and she mimicked Mom when she said "Tracy say Ha, Ha, Ha." Tracy said "Ha, Ha, Ha!" immediately after Mom's command. We were able to video Tracy's laughing. Please keep your prayers coming because they really seem to be working! Monday, November 28, during Speech Therapy, Tracy was fighting to stay awake. Mom and Linda were also trying not to doze off. The room where Tracy's Speech Therapy is conducted is pretty dark and quiet. It can get a little stuffy in there, and Tracy gets really sleepy. Even with Jenn and Melissa tag teaming, making sure the pace is fast and stimulating, Tracy gets sleepy. It was that kind of day too, gray and overcast, with temperatures in the 60's. Jenn and Melissa continued with their multi-sensory approach. Tracy did a good job answering their questions with head shakes for No and two eye blinks for Yes. She looked at a few of the family photographs as well. When Melissa asked her if she could shake her head for No, Tracy responded with two eye blinks for Yes. This made everyone chuckle, because Melissa was looking for Tracy to shake her head! Tracy's attitude and personality is beginning to emerge. Sunday evening, November 27, everyone went to the Mt. Vernon by Candlelight Christmas Tour . It was a cool and clear night, so everyone bundled up. We were to imagine that we were friends and family of the Washington's visiting for the holidays. The grounds were decorated the way one would imagine back in 1787. We were escorted to the bonfire to stay warm until our escort arrived to take us to the mansion. Everyone enjoyed warm mulled cider and ginger snap cookies while waiting. When our escort arrived, Michael was assigned the task of courier, to bring the customary letter announcing our arrival to the Washington's home located at the head of the Potomac. The mansion was lit up with simple white candles and the path was lined with lanterns filled with white candles. We found Mrs. Washington in the kitchen where she was baking her famous Great Cake. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the tour. Tiffany's published article came out in the VAnguard Magazine, which goes out to all of the Veterans. Mom wants Tiffany to autograph her copy! (Click on the hyperlink to view her story: Straight From The Source.)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. Alternative Therapy Plan Update: Jen, a first year Physical Therapy student in the doctorate of physical therapy program at Marymount, has been coming by to do Physical Therapy with Tracy two to three times per week, on alternate days from Duncan, a third year PT student in the same program. Tracy will be getting physical therapy six days a week! Mom is still working on Occupational Therapy. Tracy is going to George Washington University Speech and Hearing Clinic twice a week for cognitive/speech therapy. She is working with Melissa and Jen, graduate students in the Speech Language Pathology program. Additionally, Tracy is receiving her third round of 12 sessions of Vital Stim Therapy (twice per week) at Georgetown Sports Medicine Clinic. Once these sessions are completed, Tracy will have another swallowing test to see what progress has been made. Mom is still looking for an Occupational Therapist to work with Tracy once or twice per week.If anyone knows of any grants available that would apply to Tracy's needs, please email us at drdebanz@aol.com. We would appreciate any recommendations you may have. Mom is also working closely with Brain Injury Services of Northern Virginia to augment Tracy's therapy needs. The goal is to get her to the next level, so that she can participate more in her therapy and have a better quality of life.Tiffany defended her thesis project and passed with flying colors! She is scheduled to graduate on December 19th. We are so proud of her! She returned to her internship with the USO for several more weeks.Several months ago we featured Ashley Higgin's web site on this page. Ashley suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury more than one year ago. To catch up on her story go to the link above.

Monday, December 19th, 2005~ Tiffany's graduation from LSU Manship School of Communications! ~ Tracy slept well last night, except for an hour between 3 and 4 AM when she was up and grinding her teeth. Mom and Linda got Tracy ready for the day and everyone was out the door by 7:15 AM on their way to LSU in Baton Rouge. Tiffany's graduation was really short and sweet, lasting 40 minutes! Tiffany looked beautiful in her cap and gown, and everyone was proud of her accomplishements! Tracy, Mamaw and Papaw, Aunt Cheryl, Uncle, Mike, Linda, Rick and Mom had front row seats! Uncle Mike videotaped the ceremony! After the graduation, everyone had lunch from Gina's: lasagna and veal. It was delicious! Mom finished up her Christmas gift wrapping, while everyone hung out by the fire. Dad and Tiffany took Rick to the airport. He had to return to DC for work this week. We miss him already. He was a big help! Linda worked with Tracy, stretching, ranging, and massaging her muscles. Them Mom, Dad and Linda put Tracy in Papaw's heated massage chair, which Tracy really seemed to enjoy. Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Mike made chicken and dumplings, cornbread and collard greens. It was really good. Take a look at Today's Daily Om by clicking on the hyperlink below. Today's OM brought chills up and down Mom's spine." We are powerful enough that what we do and say can reverberate through the lives of people we may never meet." This web site is a testimony to this very statement. Everyone who has come together through Tracy in some way, shape, or form has a meaning and a purpose. We are so very blessed by each and every one of you! Lesson of the Day: Intertwined Fates: We Are All Connected!

Sunday, December 18th, 2005~ Tracy slept well last night. This morning, we all woke up with the security alarm going off! Cousin Rene' was trying to sneak out to drive back to Pensacola without waking all of us and set off the alarm! It was just in time, because Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Mike arrived with home made cathead biscuits with milk sausage. They were so good with home grown mayhal jelly! Mom and Linda gave Tracy a bath in Mamaw and Papaw's big tub. Tracy really relaxed and enjoyed it. Mom accompanied Kathy Sue and Mamaw to a good friend of the family's bridal luncheon. It was really nice to see old friends. Later in the day, Mom wrapped Christmas presents and caught up on some unpacking. Tracy really seems to be enjoying being around family, especially at Christmas!

Saturday, December 17th, 2005 ~ We made it to Independence, Louisiana!~ Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. This morning, at o'dark 100, Mom, Dad, and Linda got Tracy dressed and ready for the plane ride to Independence, Louisiana. Mom and Linda had everything packed and ready to go. Rick and Linda helped get the luggage (all 9 of them) to the van, and Dad and Rick drove the bags and all of us to the airport for the 7 AM flight. Tracy did real well on the flight and we arrived around 9:20 AM CST. She sat up a lot better in the seat than last March when we flew to Palm Beach for Easter. Tiffany met us at the airport in New Orleans and it took two vans to get all five of us and the nine bags to Independence. We saw a lot of blue roofs around New Orleans and many of the commercial signs were down. Slowly but surely, New Oreans is on its way back from Katrina's demise! The street cars are due to be back on line next Monday! (Let the good times roll!)When we arrived in Independence, Mamaw, Papaw, Aunt Kathy, Aunt Cheryl, and Uncle Mike were there to greet us. Aunt Kathy cooked up a big pot of her famous spaghetti and meatballs for lunch. It was delicious! We were all hungry and ready for some good Italian food. Cousins Phyllis and Jeff were visiting from Houston. They came to see us. Everyone thought that Tracy looked really good and saw a huge improvement from the last time they saw her almost a year ago. Tracy had a brief rest while Mom, Dad, and Linda unpacked all of the suitcases. Rick was a huge help too. Later, Jim, Tracy's massage therapist in Louisiana, came over to give Tracy a massage. She really relaxed and enjoyed it. Cousin Rene' drove over from Pensacola to see us. After her massage, Mom and Linda got Tracy ready to go out to dinner at the Caboose to celebrate Tiffany's graduation. While Linda was putting Tracy's lip gloss on, she started to laugh! It was incredible! She laughed and laughed and smiled and smiled! Mom told Tracy some jokes (she should not quit her day job) and she continued to laugh! It was amazing. She laughed for almost an hour! Please pray that she will continue to laugh and be happy!

Friday, December 16th, 2005 ~ We leave for Independence, Louisiana tomorrow morning! ~ Tracy slept well again last night. This morning, Mom gave Linda a two-hour delay due to black ice! It was really trecherous on the roads! Mom bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day! Jen came to do Tracy's Physical Therapy at around 11 AM. During PT, Jen ranged and stretched Tracy and really worked on extending her right hamstring to get a good stretch. Tracy seemed a little tight again today. Please say a prayer for the Botox to work in relaxing her tone in her legs so that we can begin serial casting on December 28th. We are hoping to have success with this approach and avoid more surgery. After her stretching routine, Jen and Mom got Tracy prone (on her tummy) to stretch her right hamstring and hip. Tracy did a good job relaxing in this position and tolerated 35 minutes. This afternoon, Linda stayed with Tracy while Mom went to her hair appointment. Dario did a great job with Mom's hair once again. Tracy rested most of the day in preparation for her long trip to Louisiana early tomorrow morning. This evening, Mom and Dad finished up the rest of the packing (what a production) and really excited about the trip to New Orleans. They are curious to see the remnants of Katrina and will give an update tomorrow evening. Rick and Linda are going with Tracy, Dad and Mom, and Tiffany will meet us at the airport to help caravan everyone and the luggage to Independence. Tiffany made it safely to Mamaw's and Papaw's this afternoon. We are so proud and excited for Tiff and looking forward to seeing her walk down that aisle to Pomp and Circumstance! Woohoo! Have a great week, keep warm, stay strong, and God bless! Take a look at Today's Daily Om by clicking on the hyperlink below. Today's OM brought chills up and down Mom's spine." We are powerful enough that what we do and say can reverberate through the lives of people we may never meet." This web site is a testimony to this very statement. Everyone who has come together through Tracy in some way, shape, or form has a meaning and a purpose. We are so very blessed by each and every one of you! Lesson of the Day: Intertwined Fates: We Are All Connected!

Thursday, December 15th, 2005 ~ 35 Months Since Tracy Was Hit By The Car in Florence! ~ Tracy had another great night's sleep last night. This morning, Linda and Mom showered and shampooed Tracy and got her ready for the day! Thank goodness, Tracy does not have any appointments out of the apartment again today. Today the weatherman predicted a wintery mix and schools in the local area are closed early due to inclement weather. Arlington actually got some snow flurries which turned to rain but were spared the snow this time. Areas south of DC got several inches of snow. Keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't freeze and turn to black ice this evening. Linda spent some time stretching and ranging Tracy since she did not have any Physical Therapy today. She also gave Tracy a pedicure and a facial. Mom and Linda did some more packing for their trip. This afternoon, Mom ran to do some errands while Linda stayed with Tracy. This evening, Emil came to give Tracy a much deserved massage. She seemed tight at first and then relaxed into it. Emil does such a great job with Tracy. He has been working with her since July 4th, 2003 and is a very special friend. Tomorrow, Tracy has Physical Therapy at 10:30 AM with Jen. She does not have any out patient therapy so we can stay warm inside the apartment by the Christmas tree. Tiffany finished her final exam and is now officially finished with her graduate program. She is catching up on her Christmas shopping with this evening with her good friend Tamar. Tamar and her family have been so supportive to Tiffany while she has been studying at LSU. They are wonderful people and we appreciate everything they have done for Tiffany. We are looking forward to seeing Tamar at Tiffany's graduation on Monday. We are so excited for Tiff and looking forward to seeing her walk down that aisle to Pomp and Circumstance! Woohoo! Have a great week, keep warm, stay strong, and God bless! Take a look at Today's Daily Om by clicking on the hyperlink below. It talks about finding encouragement through your true inner voice. Mom is a firm believer of listening to your inner voice, going with your gut, and following your heart. Lesson of the Day: Finding Encouragement: Your True Inner Voice!

Wednesday, December 14th, 2005 ~ Happy B'Day Cousin and Godchild Elizabeth! ~ Tracy slept well again last night. This cold morning, (temperature registered 25 degrees but it felt like 9!) Brr! Linda and Mom bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day! Thank goodness, Tracy does not have any appointments out of the apartment today. Tracy spent some time in her wheel chair listening to music. She seems to be sitting better in her chair, with her right leg relaxed down and resting on her foot rest. Mom and Liz left for the mall to do some last minute Christmas shopping, while Jen and Linda stretched Tracy and Jen did her Physical Therapy. During PT, Jen stretched and ranged Tracy, spending more time on her lower extremities after she received the 600 units of Botox last Friday. Tracy seemed very relaxed and Jen was able to get a good stretch in her right hamstring. After several rounds of stretching, Jen and Linda positioned Tracy in a weight-bearing position prone over the peanut ball. Tracy did a good job tolerating about 20 minutes in this position. She also was relaxed enough to wear her right leg cast for almost two hours and her purple neoprene hand splints for more than two hours. While Mom and Liz were gone, Linda worked with Tracy using many of the multisensory speech and cognitive tools that Mom has. Tracy did not seem interested in doing any of the activities that Linda tried with her such as blowing into a kazoo, vocalizing into a microphone, etc. Guess she was just not in the mood today! We will continue to work on these things with Tracy throughout the semester break from Speech Therapy. This afternoon, Gloria and the girls came over to visit and bring Christmas presents! It is always a lot of fun to visit with Gloria, Sam and Kat and we look forward to their visits! This evening, Sasha came over to make dinner for Mom and Dad. She made her Mom's special mashed potatoes. We sure do enjoy spending time with Sasha when she visits us. Tomorrow, Tracy does not have any therapy scheduled, however, Emil is planning on coming by to give Tracy a much-needed massage. Tiffany finished her final exam and is now officially finished with her graduate program. We are so excited for her and looking forward to seeing her walk down that aisle to Pomp and Circumstance! Woohoo! Have a great week, keep warm, stay strong, and God bless! Take a look at Today's Daily Om by clicking on the hyperlink below. It talks about how knowing too much about one's future can be a source of anxiety. Mom is a firm believer of taking one day at a time and leaving each day's details in God's hand. Dad has a great saying: "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans!" Lesson of the Day: Knowing Too Much: Ignorance Can Be Bliss!

Tuesday, December 13th, 2005 ~ Tracy swallowed 15 times during Vital Stim today! Thank you Starbucks frappacino! ~ Tracy had another great night's sleep. There is something to be said for cold nights and sleeping under warm blankets! No wonder bears hibernate! This cold morning, (temperature registered 24 degrees but it felt like 11!) Linda and Mom showered and shampooed Tracy and got her ready for the day! Tracy rested on the mat until it was time to brave the cold to go to Georgetown and 1 PM Vital Stim. While Tracy rested, Mom and Linda got all the laundry caught up and things organized and packed. During Vital Stim, Tracy swallowed fifteen times. Mom brought a bottle of Starbucks frappacino to let Tracy smell and she started swallowing immediately. This is definitely more in line with her average swallows, which range between 9 and 12 swallows per session. We really think Tracy is averse to the subfreezing temperatures we are experiencing. There is a reason why Tracy chose to go to college in Miami for heaven's sake. She does not do well in cold weather. We will continue to practice swallowing over the holidays and resume her Vital Stim in the New Year! There are lots of good aromas in Mamaw's kitchen and plenty of motivation to SWALLOW! This afternoon, when we returned from Vital Stim, Duncan arrived to do Physical Therapy with Tracy. She was pretty wiped out from her Vital Stim session. Duncan worked on stretching and ranging Tracy, warming up her muscles. After almost an hour, Mom and Duncan positioned Tracy on her tummy (prone) flat on the mat. Tracy relaxed a lot better today, and immediately appeared comfortable in this position. Duncan worked with her legs and hips, and Tracy tolerated over 30 minutes in this position. This evening, Nichole, our good friend and Tracy's volunteer, came over to see Tracy. We had a great visit. Tracy relaxed on the mat while Nichole, Mom and Dad chatted and caught up. It was great to see Nichole and spend some time together. Tomorrow, Tracy has Physical Therapy with Jen around 11 AM. She has no outpatient therapy and can stay in and hang out around the Christmas tree where it is warm and toasty! Thank you to the Hulings for the delicious goodies and also to Nicole for the awesome Cutco cheese knife! What a wonderful surprise! Good luck Tiffany on your final final exam! Study hard and knock them dead! You will soon be walking down that aisle to Pomp and Circumstance! Auguri! Have a great week, keep warm, stay strong, and God bless! Take a look at Today's Daily Om by clicking on the hyperlink below. It talks about creating a serene home. Mom has a name for this: her sanctuary~a safe haven where Tracy can feel peace, love, warmth, and serenity! Lesson of the Day: An Invitation To Comfort : Creating A Serene Home!

Monday, December 12th, 2005 ~ Tracy slept well again last night. Tiffany left at the crack of dawn this morning on a nonstop commuter flight to New Orleans. She arrived safely and is staying with her good friend Tamar until her final final exam Wednesday! She is really looking forward to reading all those novels and not text books assigned by her professors! This morning, Linda and Mom bathed Tracy and got her ready for 9:00 AM Physical Therapy with Jen. Wouldn't you know that the one morning that Mom and Linda actually had Tracy ready early (8:45 AM) Mom forgot that Jen had an exam and was planning on coming after Vital Stim at around 3 PM! It finally dawned on Mom at around 10 AM when Jen didn't come, that her schedule had changed. I guess old habits are hard to break. Linda spent some time this morning stretching and ranging Tracy before it was time to get ready for her 1 PM Vital Stim at Georgetown Hospital. Tracy seemed a little tight, so it was a good thing that Linda was getting her muscles warmed up before we headed out in the cold. Mom thinks that Tracy would fare much better in a warmer environment (Florida). The cold seems to add to her increased tone, making it worse. During Vital Stim, Tracy swallowed three times. This is not even close to her average swallows, which range between 9 and 12 swallows per session. We are not sure what the reason is for Tracy's low swallow frequency today. We will try again during her 1 PM appointment. She might be getting burned out, bored and ready for a vacation! We all are ready for a break! This afternoon, when we returned from Vital Stim, Jen arrived to do Physical Therapy with Tracy. She began her routine with stretching and ranging Tracy's extremities. She spends about an hour on her stretching routine. Then, Mom, Linda and Jen positioned Tracy prone on the mat so that Jen could work on stretching Tracy's hips and hamstrings. Mom always checks Tracy's spinal alignment while she is prone. Her spine looked straight on visual inspection. Tracy tolerated about 35 minutes in this position. Tomorrow, Tracy has Vital Stim at Georgetown at 1 PM and then Physical Therapy with Duncan at 5 PM. Have a great week, keep warm, stay strong, and God bless! Take a look at Today's Daily Om by clicking on the hyperlink below. It is about chanting, which reminds Mom of the sounds that she is working on with Tracy every day. These are the same sounds that are recommended for their meditative, calming and stress reducing benefits! No wonder the Speech Therapist is encouraging Tracy to use her voice in similar ways! Lesson of the Day: Divine Resonance: Chanting!

Sunday, December 11th, 2005 ~ Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. We let her sleep in a little later this morning too. Must be the late night out last night that caught up with her. This morning, Janneth and Mom showered and shampooed Tracy and got her ready for 12 Noon Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Sasha came over and surprised us all with lattes from Starbucks and even cooked up her specialty: cheese omeletts. They were delicious! After Mass, Tracy napped on the mat while everyone ran around doing their last minute Christmas shopping and getting things ready for the busy week. Tiffany has been packing and getting ready for her early morning flight to New Orleans. She has her final exam on Wednesday and graduates with her Masters in Mass Communications from the Manship School of Mass Communications on Monday, December 19th. We are really looking forward to her graduating and getting a full time job! (especially Dad! HAHA!) We are very proud of all that she has accomplished, in spite of everything that has happened in the past three years. She is very strong and we admire her courage and tenacity. This evening, Sasha came over for dinner and we watched our traditional Sunday night line up: "Grey's Anatomy." "Desperate Housewives" was not on and a special two hour "Extreme Makeover" was on in its place. Dad made his famous grilled pork chops and steamed veggies. It was really good. Then Sasha surprised us with Christmas presents for the whole family (a little early). Mom hopes Santa makes his delivery before we go to Independence next Saturday so she can distribute some gifts on this end to those who have been good all year! Tomorrow, Tracy has Physical Therapy with Jen at 9:00 AM and then Vital Stim at Georgetown at 1 PM. Have a great week, keep warm, stay strong, and God bless! Lesson of the Day: Body Wisdom: Kinesiology!

Saturday, December 10th, 2005 ~ Tracy slept well again last night. This morning, Dad and Mom bathed Tracy and got her ready for 12 Noon Physical Therapy with Duncan. During PT, Duncan worked on stretching and ranging the muscles in Tracy's feet, ankles, calves, thighs and hips to continue to work in the Botox that she received Friday. After her range of motion exercises, Duncan sat Tracy on the edge of the mat to practice head and trunk control. Tracy was very relaxed and sat well with minimum assistance. Over the next few weeks, we will be working really hard to stretch Tracy's extremities, to take full advantage of the Botox. In the past it has taken about ten days to two weeks to begin to see effects, which include relaxing the large muscles in Tracy's legs which help to relax and straighten her feet and ankles. This afternoon, Tiffany and Rick stayed with Tracy while Mom and Dad did some shopping. This evening, Mom, Dad, Tracy, Rick and Tiffany visited our good friends Liz and Steve in their new home. It was a great visit with friends and family. Tracy really seemed to enjoy being in the middle of all of the conversations. She enjoyed the brightly colored Christmas tree and all of the pretty decorations. Tomorrow, we plan to go to 12 noon Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church and then to finish Christmas shopping and start organizing and packing for our trip to Indpendence, Louisiana on Saturday, December 17th! Tiffany leaves tomorrow, December 12th for Baton Rouge and will take her final exam on December 14th. She plans to graduate on December 19th with a Masters in Mass Communications from the Manship School of Mass Communications. We are very proud of all that she has accomplished, in spite of everything that has happened in the past three years. She is very strong and we admire her courage and tenacity. Have a great weekend, keep warm, stay strong, and God bless! Lesson of the Day: An Honest Voice: The Fifth Chakra! Ongoing Events: Friday, December 9th: Tracy had a 1 PM appointment with Dr. Pagan at Georgetown Hospital. Dr. Pagan injected a total of 600 units of Botox into Tracy's right medial and lateral hamstring, both her right and left anterior and posterior tibialis, soleus, and gastrocnemius muscles. Tracy was so relaxed and tolerated the injections very well. We are hopeful that in two or so weeks, we will see a significant improvement in Tracy's lower body tone. The plan is to begin serial casting once the Botox has taken effect. This will include casting Tracy's feet each week, correcting her positioning incrementally until Tracy is able to put her foot in a plantar position. This will enable us to finally get Tracy into some AFOs (ankle-foot orthotics) to hold her feet in a normal position. This is a long-term goal which will take time and patience to attain. If the combination of Botox, serial casting, Baclofen adjustment, and physical therapy (tilt table) does not prove to be successful, the option of surgical intervention is still a possibility. Tuesday, December 6th: Tracy, Tiffany, Mom, Linda and Liz went to tour the White House . The theme for this year's tour: All Things Bright & Beautiful, was chosen to highlight the beauty to be found in nature. The White House Residence staff and floral designers from across the country did a magnificent job incorporating the natural beauty found in the many plants, trees, fruit and flowers created by our Designer In Chief: God! Tracy really seemed to enjoy the outing, especially the areas that are typically off limits to most guests (but on the way to the elevator) such as the kitchen, the President's doctor's office, and the private reception room. She seemed very interested in all the hustle and bustle going on in the kitchen with the many White House chefs preparing for a special party. Awesome news: At about 10:00 PM December 1st, Tracy started laughing and had the biggest smile on her face that Mom and Dad has seen for a very long time. This was a first (of many we hope)! She was sitting in her wheel chair in front of the television with Mom and Dad. Dad had just fed her the evening tube feeding. Tracy was "daydreaming" and all of a sudden started laughing. Mom and Dad were so surprised, shocked to be honest. Mom burst into tears and yelled, "Get the video camera." By the time Dad was able to load a new tape and the camera was ready for filming, Tracy had stopped laughing. Her smile was "angelic," and she looked so happy! She looked totally at peace. We don't know why Tracy was laughing, it looked like she may have been having a memory that struck her funny. She was awake when she started to laugh, but appeared to be in a dreamy state. Whatever happened and wherever she was, THIS WAS REALLY BIG! She had another brief laughing episode on Monday, December 5th around 7 PM. As Mom was writing this page, Tiffany was calling from the family room, stating that Tracy was making a "funny noise!" When Mom went to check it out, (she told Tiffany to get the video camera) Tracy was laughing again. Her face was much more animated, and she mimicked Mom when she said "Tracy say Ha, Ha, Ha." Tracy said "Ha, Ha, Ha!" immediately after Mom's command. We were able to video Tracy's laughing. Please keep your prayers coming because they really seem to be working! Monday, November 28, during Speech Therapy, Tracy was fighting to stay awake. Mom and Linda were also trying not to doze off. The room where Tracy's Speech Therapy is conducted is pretty dark and quiet. It can get a little stuffy in there, and Tracy gets really sleepy. Even with Jenn and Melissa tag teaming, making sure the pace is fast and stimulating, Tracy gets sleepy. It was that kind of day too, gray and overcast, with temperatures in the 60's. Jenn and Melissa continued with their multi-sensory approach. Tracy did a good job answering their questions with head shakes for No and two eye blinks for Yes. She looked at a few of the family photographs as well. When Melissa asked her if she could shake her head for No, Tracy responded with two eye blinks for Yes. This made everyone chuckle, because Melissa was looking for Tracy to shake her head! Tracy's attitude and personality is beginning to emerge. Sunday evening, November 27, everyone went to the Mt. Vernon by Candlelight Christmas Tour . It was a cool and clear night, so everyone bundled up. We were to imagine that we were friends and family of the Washington's visiting for the holidays. The grounds were decorated the way one would imagine back in 1787. We were escorted to the bonfire to stay warm until our escort arrived to take us to the mansion. Everyone enjoyed warm mulled cider and ginger snap cookies while waiting. When our escort arrived, Michael was assigned the task of courier, to bring the customary letter announcing our arrival to the Washington's home located at the head of the Potomac. The mansion was lit up with simple white candles and the path was lined with lanterns filled with white candles. We found Mrs. Washington in the kitchen where she was baking her famous Great Cake. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the tour. Tiffany's published article came out in the VAnguard Magazine, which goes out to all of the Veterans. Mom wants Tiffany to autograph her copy! (Click on the hyperlink to view her story: Straight From The Source.) 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. Alternative Therapy Plan Update: Jen, a first year Physical Therapy student in the doctorate of physical therapy program at Marymount, has been coming by to do Physical Therapy with Tracy two to three times per week, on alternate days from Duncan, a third year PT student in the same program. Tracy will be getting physical therapy six days a week! Mom is still working on Occupational Therapy. Tracy is going to George Washington University Speech and Hearing Clinic twice a week for cognitive/speech therapy. She is working with Melissa and Jen, graduate students in the Speech Language Pathology program. Additionally, Tracy is receiving her third round of 12 sessions of Vital Stim Therapy (twice per week) at Georgetown Sports Medicine Clinic. Once these sessions are completed, Tracy will have another swallowing test to see what progress has been made. Mom is still looking for an Occupational Therapist to work with Tracy once or twice per week. If anyone knows of any grants available that would apply to Tracy's needs, please email us at drdebanz@aol.com. We would appreciate any recommendations you may have. Mom is also working closely with Brain Injury Services of Northern Virginia to augment Tracy's therapy needs. The goal is to get her to the next level, so that she can participate more in her therapy and have a better quality of life. Tiffany defended her thesis project and passed with flying colors! She is scheduled to graduate on December 19th. We are so proud of her! She returned to her internship with the USO for several more weeks. Several months ago we featured Ashley Higgin's web site on this page. Ashley suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury more than one year ago. To catch up on her story go to the link above.

Friday, December 9th, 2005 ~ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! ~ Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. This morning, Linda and Mom showered and shampooed Tracy and got her ready for 10:30 AM Physical Therapy with Jen. During PT, Jen really worked on stretching and ranging the muscles in Tracy's feet, ankles, calves, thighs and hips in preparation for Tracy's Botox injections to the large muscles of her lower extremities. After her range of motion exercises, Jen sat Tracy on the edge of the mat to practice head and trunk control. Then Mom, Linda and Jen positioned Tracy straddled on the peanut ball to practice sitting on a horse. We are still working towards the goal of getting Tracy on a horse so that she can participate in the Lift Me Up! therapeutic riding program in Great Falls. Tracy tolerated sitting on the peanut for about 30 minutes. After, PT, it was off to Tracy's 1 PM appointment with Dr. Pagan at Georgetown Hospital. Dr. Pagan injected a total of 600 units of Botox into Tracy's right medial and lateral hamstring, both her right and left anterior and posterior tibialis, soleus, and gastrocnemius muscles. Tracy was so relaxed and tolerated the injections very well. We are hopeful that in two or so weeks, we will see a significant improvement in Tracy's lower body tone. The plan is to begin serial casting once the Botox has taken effect. This will include casting Tracy's feet each week, correcting her positioning incrementally until Tracy is able to put her foot in a plantar position. This will enable us to finally get Tracy into some AFOs (ankle-foot orthotics) to hold her feet in a normal position. This is a long-term goal which will take time and patience to attain. If the combination of Botox, serial casting, Baclofen adjustment, and physical therapy (tilt table) does not prove to be successful, the option of surgical intervention is still a possibility. This afternoon, Linda gave Tracy a facial and filed her nails. Then Emil came to give Tracy a much-needed massage. It is recommended to massage the muscles where the Botox is injected to improve absorption and distribution of the Botox. Tomorrow, Tracy has Physical Therapy with Duncan at 11:45 AM. We are truly looking forward to the weekend to catch up on Christmas shopping and start packing for our trip to Louisiana on December 17th. It looks like the subfreezing weather will continue throughout the weekend with snow predicted for Monday. Tiffany leaves on Monday, December 12th for Baton Rouge and will take her final exam on December 14th. She plans to graduate on December 19th with a Masters in Mass Communications from the Manship School of Mass Communications. We are very proud of all that she has accomplished, in spite of everything that has happened in the past three years. She is very strong and we admire her courage and tenacity. Have a great weekend, keep warm, stay strong, and God bless! Lesson of the Day: Light of the Party: Confidence In Social Situations!

Thursday, December 8th, 2005 ~ Feast of the Immaculate Conception! More snow and sleet predicted for tonight and through the early morning. ~ Tracy slept well again last night. Maybe it is the bitter cold weather we are having that is helping everyone hibernate! This morning, Linda and Mom bathed Tracy and got her ready for a 10:00 AM appointment at Georgetown Hospital for Vital Stim session #6. Tracy seemed sleepy and was off to a slow start with swallowing. Linda and Tracy's Speech Therapist used Tracy's facial massager to warm up her muscles. Mom used the Nuk brush to massage Tracy's gums which helped Tracy to move her tongue and initiate a chewing motion. With all that activity to stimulate Tracy, she was able to swallow nine times for the remaining 20 minutes of the session. Tracy will have two more Vital Stim sessions next Monday and Tuesday at 1 PM. This afternoon, Linda gave Tracy a manicure and spent some time ranging and stretching Tracy's hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, ankles, and feet. Then it was time for Physical Therapy with Duncan. Duncan spent some time ranging Tracy as well, and then Mom and Duncan positioned Tracy in side lying to stretch her torso. Tracy spent about fifteen minutes on each side. Tomorrow, Tracy has Physical Therapy with Jen at 11:00 AM and then it is off to Georgetown Hospital for a 1:00 PM appointment with Dr. Pagan for her Botox injections. Tracy is going to get Botox in her major muscles of her lower body, primarily bilateral posterior tibialis, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius. The plan is to start serial casting in about two to three weeks to work on straightening Tracy's right hamstring and to get her feet plantar where she can bear weight with assistance. This is so important to maintain Tracy's bone health and to prevent osteoporosis. It looks like the subfreezing weather will continue throughout the week with snow predicted for Thursday evening. Keep your fingers crossed that Tracy makes it to Georgetown Hospital to get her much needed Botox on Friday and that we won't be snowed in! Tiffany finished her last day of her internship at the USO and then will return to Baton Rouge on December 12 for her final exam on December 14th. She plans to graduate on December 19th with a Masters in Mass Communications from the Manship School of Mass Communications. We are very proud of all that she has accomplished, in spite of everything that has happened in the past three years. She is very strong and we admire her courage and tenacity. Have a great week, keep warm, stay strong, and God bless! Lesson of the Day: Inner Guides: Seeking Advice From Yourself!

Wednesday, December 7th, 2005 ~ Remembering Pearl Harbor! ~ 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. Please let me know if you find an error. Thank you for visiting us and feel free to write Tracy a note in her Guest Book! Your emails mean so much to Tracy and the entire Anzalone family. Tracy had another good night's sleep. All the fresh cold air and excitement from touring the White House must have tired her out. It tired out Mom, Tiffany and Liz too. Everyone hit the hay early and were out like a light. (Check out the White House website to see pictures of this year's Christmas tour: All Things Bright and Beautiful.) This morning, Mom and Linda showered and shampooed Tracy and got her ready for a 1:00 PM appointment at the Dental Clinic at National Naval Medical Center for a routine cleaning and check up. Dr. Alexander did an awesome job cleaning and checking Tracy's teeth and she got an A+. Then it was on to the General Surgery Clinic to see Dr. Liston to change Tracy's g-tube. Since it had been about five months since it was last changed, Dr. Liston put in a new one in no time at all. Tracy tolerated both of her appointments very well. When we returned from Bethesda, Tracy took a nap on the mat. She does not have any Physical Therapy today, so it is up to Mom and Dad to stretch and range her this evening. Tomorrow, Tracy has a 10:00 AM Vital Stim session at Georgetown Hospital and Physical Therapy at 5 PM with Duncan. We are hoping that Emil will come by and give Tracy a massage. Friday, Tracy will get her much needed Botox injections to her lower extremities. It looks like the subfreezing weather will continue throughout the week with snow predicted for Thursday evening. Keep your fingers crossed that Tracy makes it to Georgetown Hospital to get her much needed Botox on Friday and that we won't be snowed in! Tiffany has one more day left of her internship at the USO and then will return to Baton Rouge on December 12 for her final exam on December 14th. She plans to graduate on December 19th with a Masters in Mass Communications from the Manship School of Mass Communications. We are very proud of all that she has accomplished, in spite of everything that has happened in the past three years. She is very strong and we admire her courage and tenacity. Have a great week, keep warm, stay strong, and God bless! Lesson of the Day: Power of Union: Entering Into Partnership! Ongoing Events: Tuesday, December 6th: Tracy, Tiffany, Mom, Linda and Liz went to tour the White House. The theme for this year's tour: All Things Bright & Beautiful, was chosen to highlight the beauty to be found in nature. The White House Residence staff and floral designers from across the country did a magnificent job incorporating the natural beauty found in the many plants, trees, fruit and flowers created by our Designer In Chief: God! Tracy really seemed to enjoy the outing, especially the areas that are typically off limits to most guests (but on the way to the elevator) such as the kitchen, the President's doctor's office, and the private reception room. She seemed very interested in all the hustle and bustle going on in the kitchen with the many White House chefs preparing for a special party. Awesome news: At about 10:00 PM December 1st, Tracy started laughing and had the biggest smile on her face that Mom and Dad has seen for a very long time. This was a first (of many we hope)! She was sitting in her wheel chair in front of the television with Mom and Dad. Dad had just fed her the evening tube feeding. Tracy was "daydreaming" and all of a sudden started laughing. Mom and Dad were so surprised, shocked to be honest. Mom burst into tears and yelled, "Get the video camera." By the time Dad was able to load a new tape and the camera was ready for filming, Tracy had stopped laughing. Her smile was "angelic," and she looked so happy! She looked totally at peace. We don't know why Tracy was laughing, it looked like she may have been having a memory that struck her funny. She was awake when she started to laugh, but appeared to be in a dreamy state. Whatever happened and wherever she was, THIS WAS REALLY BIG! She had another brief laughing episode on Monday, December 5th around 7 PM. As Mom was writing this page, Tiffany was calling from the family room, stating that Tracy was making a "funny noise!" When Mom went to check it out, (she told Tiffany to get the video camera) Tracy was laughing again. Her face was much more animated, and she mimicked Mom when she said "Tracy say Ha, Ha, Ha." Tracy said "Ha, Ha, Ha!" immediately after Mom's command. We were able to video Tracy's laughing. Please keep your prayers coming because they really seem to be working! Monday, November 28, during Speech Therapy, Tracy was fighting to stay awake. Mom and Linda were also trying not to doze off. The room where Tracy's Speech Therapy is conducted is pretty dark and quiet. It can get a little stuffy in there, and Tracy gets really sleepy. Even with Jenn and Melissa tag teaming, making sure the pace is fast and stimulating, Tracy gets sleepy. It was that kind of day too, gray and overcast, with temperatures in the 60's. Jenn and Melissa continued with their multi-sensory approach. Tracy did a good job answering their questions with head shakes for No and two eye blinks for Yes. She looked at a few of the family photographs as well. When Melissa asked her if she could shake her head for No, Tracy responded with two eye blinks for Yes. This made everyone chuckle, because Melissa was looking for Tracy to shake her head! Tracy's attitude and personality is beginning to emerge. Sunday evening, November 27, everyone went to the Mt. Vernon by Candlelight Christmas Tour . It was a cool and clear night, so everyone bundled up. We were to imagine that we were friends and family of the Washington's visiting for the holidays. The grounds were decorated the way one would imagine back in 1787. We were escorted to the bonfire to stay warm until our escort arrived to take us to the mansion. Everyone enjoyed warm mulled cider and ginger snap cookies while waiting. When our escort arrived, Michael was assigned the task of courier, to bring the customary letter announcing our arrival to the Washington's home located at the head of the Potomac. The mansion was lit up with simple white candles and the path was lined with lanterns filled with white candles. We found Mrs. Washington in the kitchen where she was baking her famous Great Cake. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the tour. Tiffany's published article came out in the VAnguard Magazine, which goes out to all of the Veterans. Mom wants Tiffany to autograph her copy! (Click on the hyperlink to view her story: Straight From The Source.) 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. Alternative Therapy Plan Update: Jen, a first year Physical Therapy student in the doctorate of physical therapy program at Marymount, has been coming by to do Physical Therapy with Tracy two to three times per week, on alternate days from Duncan, a third year PT student in the same program. Tracy will be getting physical therapy six days a week! Mom is still working on Occupational Therapy. Tracy is going to George Washington University Speech and Hearing Clinic twice a week for cognitive/speech therapy. She is working with Melissa and Jen, graduate students in the Speech Language Pathology program. Additionally, Tracy is receiving her third round of 12 sessions of Vital Stim Therapy (twice per week) at Georgetown Sports Medicine Clinic. Once these sessions are completed, Tracy will have another swallowing test to see what progress has been made. Mom is still looking for an Occupational Therapist to work with Tracy once or twice per week. If anyone knows of any grants available that would apply to Tracy's needs, please email us at drdebanz@aol.com. We would appreciate any recommendations you may have. Mom is also working closely with Brain Injury Services of Northern Virginia to augment Tracy's therapy needs. The goal is to get her to the next level, so that she can participate more in her therapy and have a better quality of life. Tiffany defended her thesis project and passed with flying colors! She is scheduled to graduate on December 19th. We are so proud of her! She returned to her internship with the USO for several more weeks. Several months ago we featured Ashley Higgin's web site on this page. Ashley suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury more than one year ago. To catch up on her story go to the link above.

Tuesday, December 6th, 2005 ~ Tracy, Tiffany, Mom, Linda and Liz went on a tour of the White House today. The theme was "All Things Bright & Beautiful!" Many thanks to the Oakleaf Club of Greater Washington, DC for organizing this beautiful tour. ~ Tracy slept well last night. It was good to have Dad back from his brief trip to Norfolk. This morning, Mom and Linda bathed Tracy and got her ready for the special White House Christmas Tour. Liz arrived early and it was out the door to Georgetown Hospital to get Tracy's Baclofen pump refilled. Erika, Dr. Tornatore's nurse practitioner refilled her pump in no time and then it was off to the White House. The theme for this year's tour: All Things Bright & Beautiful, was chosen to highlight the beauty to be found in nature. The White House Residence staff and floral designers from across the country did a magnificent job incorporating the natural beauty found in the many plants, trees, fruit and flowers created by our Designer In Chief: God! Tracy really seemed to enjoy the outing, especially the areas that are typically off limits to most guests (but on the way to the elevator) such as the kitchen, the President's doctor's office, and the private reception room. She seemed very interested in all the hustle and bustle going on in the kitchen with the many White House chefs preparing for a special party. After the tour, Tracy rested on the mat with Linda while Liz treated Mom and Tiffany to lunch at the Corner Bakery. It was really delicious. Around 4:30 PM, Tracy had Physical Therapy with Duncan. First, Duncan stretched and ranged Tracy and stretched her right hamstring with a 10 pound wrap weight. Her range of motion has really improved with the current Baclofen dosing schedule and all of the stretching performed during therapy. Next, Duncan, Dad and Mom got Tracy prone over the peanut ball to weight bear through her knees. Tracy tolerated almost 30 minutes in this position, with minimal teeth grinding. This exercise is so important to keep Tracy's bones strong and to minimize osteoporosis that often accompanies immobility. This evening, Tracy seems pretty tired from her busy day. Tomorrow, Tracy has a dental appointment at 1 PM at National Naval Medical Center to get her teeth cleaned. Thursday, Tracy has a 10:00 AM Vital Stim session at Georgetown Hospital. Friday, Tracy will get her much needed Botox injections to her lower extremities. Tiffany has two more days left of her internship at the USO and then will return to Baton Rouge on December 12 for her final exam on December 14th. She plans to graduate on December 19th with a Masters in Mass Communications from the Manship School of Mass Communications. We are very proud of all that she has accomplished, in spite of everything that has happened in the past three years. She is very strong and we admire her courage and tenacity. Have a great week, stay warm, strong, and blessed! Lesson of the Day: Peeling Away The Layers : Trees Shedding Their Bark!

Monday, December 5th, 2005 ~ It is snowing! The weather man is predicting 3 to 4 inches in Northern Virginia and the Greater DC area! Tracy laughed again this evening. Maybe she is laughing at the contenders for the Peach Bowl: LSU Tigers vs. U of Miami 'Canes! Imagine Dad and Tiffany's LSU vs. Tracy's and Sasha's UM! Who will Mom be pulling for?????? ~ Tracy had a good night's sleep last night, even with Dad away on business in Norfolk. Mom and Tiffany were in charge. This morning, Mom and Linda showered and shampooed Tracy and got her ready (10 minutes late) for Physical Therapy with Jen. It was a typical manic Monday! During PT, Jen stretched and ranged Tracy and then sat her on the edge of the mat to practice head and trunk control. Then, Mom, Linda and Jen got Tracy weight bearing on her knees over the peanut ball. She did such a good job in this position and tolerated more than 20 minutes (It would have been longer, but Jen had to get to class!) After PT, Mom ran out to run some errands and then went to work out for an hour at the Sports and Health Club across the street. It felt great to get out of the apartment and into the sauna on such a cold day! Just what the doctor ordered! Gloria and the girls came over to stay with Linda and to help with Tracy while Mom was gone. Linda gave Tracy a pedicure and worked on stretching and massaging her neck, since she tends to hold her neck in one position on the mat. Tracy really seemed to relax and enjoy her neck massage and stretch. Later in the evening, Mom worked with Tracy on her breathing and saying "Ah!" She got several "Ahs" out and Mom taped them. She did a good job following two step commands with Mom. For example, Mom would say: "Tracy take a deep breath in and out and then one more in and say "Ah" when you breathe out. She did such a good job breathing in and out and several times said "Ah!" She seems to understand what she needs to do, it is the actual motor coordination and execution that can be difficult for her. As Mom was writing this page, Tiffany was calling from the family room, stating that Tracy was making a "funny noise!" When Mom went to check it out, (she told Tiffany to get the video camera) Tracy was laughing again. Her face was much more animated, and she mimicked Mom when she said "Tracy say Ha, Ha, Ha." Tracy said "Ha, Ha, Ha!" immediately after Mom's command. We were able to video Tracy's laughing. Please keep your prayers coming because they really seem to be working! This evening, we plan to hang out by the Christmas tree. Tiffany and Rick surprised us yesterday with a real wreath for the door. It smells so good. Mom and Tiffany decorated it with tiny little teddy bears. It really looks cute and smells even better. We hung it up inside to enjoy it all day long. Tomorrow, Mom, Tracy, Tiffany, Linda and Liz are going to the White House Christmas tour after Tracy's appointment to get her pump refilled. This year's theme is "All Things Bright and Beautiful." We are really looking forward to it. Tiffany has one more day left of her internship at the USO and then will return to Baton Rouge on December 12 for her final exam on December 14th. She plans to graduate on December 19th with a Masters in Mass Communications from the Manship School of Mass Communications. We are very proud of all that she has accomplished, in spite of everything that has happened in the past three years. She is very strong and we admire her courage and tenacity. Lesson of the Day: Small Wonders: Little Things That Make You Happy!

Sunday, December 4th, 2005 ~ The weather man is predicting SNOW for Northern Virginia and the Greater DC area! ~ Tracy slept well last night. Around 3 AM, everyone was awakened by the sound of a blaring fire alarm. Believe me, it is loud enough to wake the dead! Dad and Mom hurriedly got dressed and got Tracy out of her warm bed and into her wheel chair. They wrapped blankets around her, and headed out the door. It was freezing cold outside, with temperatures in the 20's. When they got to the lobby of the apartment complex, there were many fire men standing in the lobby. Mom asked one of them if we needed to get Tracy down the small set of steps to the lobby. The fireman instructed Mom to stay put on the landing with Tracy. Thank goodness, because the wheel chair left was out of service. Mom and Dad would have had to lift Tracy and her 125 lb wheel chair down the six steps to the ramp and lobby area. After a thorough assessment by the Arlington County Fire Department, it appeared safe to return to our apartments. Whew! What a night! Janneth and Mom bathed Tracy this morning and got her ready for 12 noon Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on 23rd Street. Tiffany and Rick met us there. It was a great sermon about HEAVEN! After Mass, Mom, Dad, and Tracy headed to Starbucks for some lattes. Then it was time for Dad to pack his bag and head to the airport for a flight to Norfolk for a meeting. He will return late Monday evening. We are sure going to miss him. Tomorrow, Tracy has Physical Therapy with Jen at 9:00 AM. She does not have Speech Therapy until after the holidays. We are looking forward to Melissa coming to work on Speech with Tracy over her semester break until classes resume at George Washington University at the end of January. Tiffany has two more days left of her internship at the USO and then will return to Baton Rouge on December 12 for her final exam on December 14th. She plans to graduate on December 19th with a Masters in Mass Communications from the Manship School of Mass Communications. We are very proud of all that she has accomplished, in spite of everything that has happened in the past three years. She is very strong and we admire her courage and tenacity. Lesson of the Day: Breathing For Health: Deep Belly Breaths!

Saturday, December 3rd, 2005 ~ Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. Mom and Janneth showered and shampooed Tracy and got her ready for 11:30 AM Physical Therapy with Duncan. During PT, Duncan stretched and ranged Tracy's extremities, emphasizing her feet, ankles, and hamstrings. Duncan attached a 10 lb weight to Tracy's right thigh to achieve a better stretch of her hamstring. Tracy's tone has greatly improved since Dr. Tornatore has been adjusting her Baclofen bolus doses throughout the day. Next, Mom, Duncan, and Janneth rolled Tracy onto her tummy to stretch her right hamstring and hip. This is the best position to stretch out her right hamstring and hip. It is also ideal for maintaining clear lungs, so Tracy is able to breathe deeper and clear her lungs. Mom did some chest PT while Duncan worked on Tracy feet. Janneth worked on stretching Tracy's arms over her head while Mom massaged her shoulders. Tracy tolerated about 35 minutes in this position. Duncan and Jen are doing a great job with Tracy's Physical Therapy. We are very blessed to have them working with her. Sasha came over to spend the day with Tracy and us. She really likes her new apartment. Dad helped her move out the last of her stuff and got to visit her apartment. Later in the day, everyone hung out, ate pizza and watched FOOTBALL! What happened to #3 ranked LSU Tigers? Argh! They looked terrible. They got pummeled by the Georgia Bull Dogs and lost their chance at the SEC Championship Title and a BCS bowl. Looks like they will end up going to either the Peach or the Cotton Bowl. Looks like we need to hope for better luck next year for the LSU Tigers, the UM Hurricanes, and the Boston College Eagles!!

Friday, December 2nd, 2005 ~ TGIF (double)! What a week! Oh the frustrations of dealing with insurance companies! Mom has been on the phone all week trying to get Tracy's wheel chair modifications and Botox injections authorized and implemented. Argh! ~ Tracy slept well again last night, waking several times grinding her teeth. Awesome news: At about 10:00 PM last night, Tracy started laughing and had the biggest smile on her face that Mom and Dad has seen for a very long time. This was a first (of many we hope)! She was sitting in her wheel chair in front of the television with Mom and Dad. Dad had just fed her the evening tube feeding. Tracy was "daydreaming" and all of a sudden starting laughing. Mom and Dad were so surprised, shocked to be honest. Mom burst into tears and yelled, "Get the video camera." By the time Dad was able to load a new tape and the camera was ready for filming, Tracy had stopped laughing. Her smile was "angelic," and she looked so happy! She looked totally at peace. We don't know why Tracy was laughing, it looked like she may have been having a memory that struck her funny. She was awake when she started to laugh, but appeared to be in a dreamy state. Whatever happened and wherever she was, THIS WAS REALLY BIG! We hope she does it again real soon. Mom and Linda bathed Tracy this morning and got her ready for a restful day at home. The only appointment she had today was Physical Therapy with Jen at 11:00 AM. During PT, Jen ranged and stretched all of Tracy's joints and then worked with her neck. Tracy's neck and shoulder muscles are really tight. Jen worked on stretching Tracy's neck and massaging her shoulders. Then, Mom, Linda, Jen and Gloria helped to roll Tracy on her tummy (prone) on the mat. Tracy relaxed well into this position while Jen worked with Tracy hip, hamstrings and feet. This is one of the best positions for stretching Tracy's hip. She tolerated about 35 minutes in this position. Gloria visited with us for a while. It is always good to have Gloria come over. The temperature outside was in the 30's, a good day to stay in and hang out around the Christmas tree. Linda gave Tracy a pedicure. Tracy really enjoys her spa days. Tiffany chilled out and read a novel, which is a first since she returned to graduate school. She has a final exam in two weeks and then it is smooth sailing until graduation. Woohoo! She mailed her final thesis paper yesterday to her committee chair and to the Dean. What a relief! She will graduate on December 19th from LSU Manship School of Mass Communications with a Masters in Mass Communications. We are so proud of her! Sasha officially moved into her new apartment last evening and we miss her already. It was wonderful having her live with us over the last six months. We shared many good times and good memories. She plans to visit Tracy Saturday! We are all looking forward to seeing her. Have a great weekend, stay safe and God bless! Lesson of the Day: Going Away To Go Within: Retreat!

Thursday, December 1st, 2005 ~ Tracy had a good night's sleep last night. At about 11:30 last night, Tracy started calling "Ahhh" and making a lot of sounds. Dad went to check on her and Tracy continued to make a lot of loud "Ahhhs". Mom went in to see what all the noise was about, and Tracy did a good job mimicking Mom's "Ahhhs". She showed a lot of emotion and frustration, while trying to talk. Mom ran to get the tape recorder and recorded several minutes of Tracy vocalizing. Mom played it for Jenn and Melissa at Speech Therapy today. They were so excited! Melissa said that hearing Tracy's voice would be the best Christmas present she could every hope for. Tracy's first appointment was at Georgetown Hospital for Vital Stim. This is Tracy's fifth session out of a total of 12 sessions, which will be followed by another Modified Barium Swallow test. This time, her Speech Therapist wants to conduct the test with Tracy in her wheel chair, once it has been modified with the new seating system and other positioning components. During Vital Stim, Tracy swallowed 14 times, with several swallows being in conjunction with coughing. Tracy tries so hard in Vital Stim, and is showing some signs of frustration when she is unable to swallow. After Vital Stim, Tracy had Speech Therapy at George Washington University Speech and Hearing Clinic. Today was Tracy's last session with Jenn and Melissa. They have done an outstanding job with Tracy and we are all going to miss them a lot! Mom played the taped sounds that Tracy made last night and they were both so excited to hear Tracy's voice. During the session, Tracy made some more sounds for Jenn and Melissa. She also did a good job blinking twice for Yes and shaking her head for No. Several times, Tracy tried really hard to nod her head Yes! We are excited that Melissa has agreed to work with Tracy over the semester break until it is time to return to GWU at the end of January. We are looking forward to more positive experiences for Tracy in the months ahead. After Speech Therapy, Tracy had some time to rest on her mat until Duncan came to do Physical Therapy. During PT, Duncan spent some time stretching and ranging Tracy's extremities. She was really relaxed. Then, Mom and Duncan got Tracy straddled on the peanut ball to practice balance, head and trunk control. Mom and Duncan tried to get Tracy to turn her head to the right to look at the lighted Christmas tree. Tracy tried really hard and was able to cross midline, and almost got her head all the way to the right. This evening, Mom, Dad, and Tracy finished decorating the Christmas tree with her many teddy bears and colorful ornaments. Have a great week, stay safe and God bless! Lesson of the Day: Unfolding To Others: The Journey of Finding A Relationship!