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well i just got back from new york city.. as did we all.. and i just missed tori so much. we had so much fun. coulda been funner with tori. tori was the most excited to go out of all of us, she made us excited.. so it was weird not havin her with us. we did so good tho. and we did it for tori.. every dance.. before we went on we all said a prayer for tori so she would be with us. and i know she was.. somehow.. cuz.. we would not have gotten that far without our little tori. and seeing whitney dance is just like tori.. i mean.. whitney is like just as good as her.. shes amazing.. and i just love that little girl. she is out little tori. i miss tori so much. and i am sooooo happy shes doing so much better. soo so sosos so happy. aww i love it!

Good evening,

Tori had another great night of sleep through Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. Her sleep cycles seem to have returned to more normal hours and this is truly a benefit for us. Today she acted just as she has during the past couple of days. She was very awake, active, and alert and she interacted with many different people today. Smiles were once again abundant!! She was awake from 8:30am until 5:30pm, she then had a nap until 6:45pm and was still up when I left the hospital at 10:15pm.

Tori had a few of her dance friends visit her today. Kourtney, her mother Michelle and Nicole came in and gave Tori all of the juicy details of the NYC trip they just returned from. Tori was just glowing and smiling through the whole conversation!! We truly believe the stimuli provided by hearing and seeing various people throughout the day is greatly helping Tori. Tori even responds to the doctors and nurses who visit her and as Cory, one of our favorite nurses, pointed out - Tori seems to be more attentive and responsive to the guys... Lucky for me I guess... :-)

Tori demonstrated a few new tricks for us today. She no longer has the 'fish hook' type grip I mentioned in yesterdays update. She now has a full blown, grab your hand hard grip!! She uses it quite frequently especially if she coughs at all. She has also been using the newly found grip to get a hold of her breathing apparatus at times so she really has to be watched at this point. I still can't quite get it on command but I think it is close. We also noticed Tori several times today turning her head completely from one side to the other to look at something. Normally she will just roll her eyes to the sides as far as she can go. Another new observation is that she can completely lift her head and neck off of her pillow just prior to coughing or sneezing. That is her preparation for a cough which will propel mucus across the room so everyone typically takes cover or grabs a kleneex to cover the Trach as fast as possible. Her swallowing is also improving and whenever she gets a mouthful of saliva we have been telling her to just swallow and she seems to respond to it most of the time. I think that is because she absolutely hates when the suction wand goes down her throat...

Tim and Maria

Thanks for the website. You're wonderful to keep posting the up-dates about Tori and the daily progress she has been making. We know it takes lot of effort on your part, but this is our way of keeping in touch with the events as they happen. We check the website daily for any news about her condition.

We have been very concerned about Tori and the rest of the family. Living in California has been a handicap in this situation. Trying to reach relatives by telephone to find out how Tori was doing has been very difficult. Now we check the website two or three times a day. It's wonderful for us!

We're "Praying 4 Tori" and the rest of the family and will continue to do so until Tori recovers.

Lots of Love

Uncle Mark and Aunt Luree Harris

Tori's greatest gift to all of us is her strength. The move will come when the time is right. Thanks for the update. As always, we so much appreciate the time everyone takes to place messages for those of us so far away to read and ponder. Tim and Maria - take care! Love to Grandma and Grandpa Schmanski - they are a god-send. All our love Auntie Jill and Uncle Donny

All,

There was a great article posted in the Daily Herald newspaper today!! Here is the Article.

Here are some pictures for everyone to see as well: Front Page , Article Page

-Tim

Dear Tori, Tim, Schmanski family and friends:

Just two days ago I learned of this devastating news from a co-worker, and was directed to this web site, which is truly a gift to those of us who wish to keep updated on Tori's progress. I feel as though I know you now, Tori...I just don't have the words to express my deep sorrow that you have to go through this, but want you to know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers throughout each day. Based on what I've heard and seen at this site, there is an amazing amount of love surrounding your family. What a testament to you, Tori! With my prayers, I send you all the healing energy I can, and hope your recovery is swift.

Diane at Cisco.

WOW!!!!

What a complete and exciting day for Tori!! Tori continued to deliver ALL DAY after my very positive mid-day update today. She was all so vibrant and lively and she offered up smiles to everyone visiting her including various doctors and nurses who stopped by throughout the day!! She seemed especially happy to see Whitney again and the feeling was very mutual between the two. Tori's activity today was very encouraging to us all to say the least and I hope she can just keep it up!!

KEEP FIGHTING TORI!!

Tori was thoroughly exhausted when Maria and I finally left the hospital at 9:15pm tonight. Again, she NEVER slept today so I'm positive she will sleep soundly tonight. Tori gave us three great big yawns just as we left her room. She offered us one last entertaining moment just prior to us leaving. One of the nurses had just finished braiding her hair and she remarked that it would be easier to manage if Tori had a haircut. I then stated "Maybe we should just give her spiked crew cut like her brother Brendan?!?" and Tori responded with a huge smile. But the smile then turned quickly into one of Tori's anguished looks and we were left wondering if she thought the comment was serious!! We quickly calmed her down by repeatedly saying "We're just kidding Tor!! We promise we would never do that to you!!" :-)

Tori also went a full six hours without the respirator today and she performed wonderfully. Her temperature also remained right around 37 degrees Celsius all day. She continues to provide us with some great coughs and the mucus is now clear just like standard saliva. It is no longer yellow and all of the cultures taken on her have returned negative for any 'bugs'.

We received a little bit of bad news concerning her next landing spot as it appears the Utah Valley Medical Center cannot take her in yet... Tori must be able to respond to basic commands before they can take her and provide adequate therapy. She's not quite there yet unfortunately. So we are now going to seriously consider the Health South Hospital in Sandy which is still 35-40 minutes away. The other option is to find some home health care help and bring her home. The nurses tonight told us that the physical therapists CAN just come to our home and perform their magic. We were originally terrified of the home option when it was initially presented to us a couple of weeks ago but we have obviously learned a lot since then. If we could find just the right help this option may become a reality. Our Discharge Planner will begin investigating for us on this front tomorrow. It looks we will be in the PICU until at least next Tuesday now.

Boy I don't know where to start- I'm Tori's aunt and this has sure been an experience for all involved. I was at the hospital today and Tori was so amazing. She was very alert and full of smiles today. It makes my whole day when I see her like this. I have seen smiles earlier, but today her whole face lit up- it makes you emotional just to see it.

When I think back on that first night waiting for her to arrive on life flight, it amazes me how far she has come and what a little fighter she is.

Tim and Maria have been incredible through all of this. I don't know of any parents who could have done more for her. They have been at the hospital day in and day out from the beginning. I know Tori feels their genuine unconditional love for her. Maria takes such good care of her (paints her finger nails, washes and braids her hair, pedicures, etc.) along with any other thing she can possibly think of to keep her comfortable. Tim is so dedicated to doing whatever it takes to help her progress. I'll never forget one night early on when Tori was upset, Tim leaned down and wrapped Tori in a blanet with him and she immediately calmed down. I know she finds great comfort in them.)

We pray for her constantly, and hope she continues to do so well on her journey to recovery.

Love,

Aunt Laurie

we just got back from new york city dance alliance nationals!! we had so much fun even though we all missed tori so much! we did soo good in all of our numbers and i think thats because all of our dances were for you tori! you are our inspiration to dance and we love you soo much! i know you can get through this tori, so be strong and keep on fighting! you are still in all of our prayers and i hope i can come see you soon! well i love you and miss you very much tori!!

~Amber Snow~

We all know we have them -- I just think it isn't fair that Tori and her family have to have any more of them. However, Tim and Guy have taken a liking to the medical terminology and the thought had occurred to me several days ago that this could be the start of some kind of medical team! You have learned so much through your tribulations. I wish you the best and so much admire your strength and tenacity. All of you -- Tim, Maria, Guy but most of all TORI. Thank you so much for your updates on this website. It certainly does give us comfort, even hearing of the bad days. We need to know that as well because Tim is SO positive in all of this and has helped us in more ways than he will every know. Sorry I have missed a few days. Next posting will be shorter -- I promise. Love and hugs to all of you. Auntie Jill and Uncle Donny