Monday through Sunday, July 2nd through 8th

Good evening,

We have been focusing on keeping Tori as healthy as possible over the past week because on Tuesday she will have the tendon release surgery completed on her feet at the Shriner's Hospital in SLC. She has done well and hasn't been ill at all over the past seven days. She is also fully breathing on her own again during the day and night and typically maintains an 88-98% blood oxygen level. We are being sure NOT to mention anything about surgery or visiting a hospital while around Tori... My parents, Brendan and I have been taking good care of her lately as Maria and Whitney are still in NYC. From what I have heard Whitney has made the top 10 finalists for the Outstanding Dancer award of the competition and the various teams from The Dance Club have fared nicely as well. Considering the best dancers from all over the country are participating they all did a marvelous job!! Congratulations to them all but we are sure ready for them to come home.

Tori had a great 4th of July as she watched a fireworks show in our backyard. She liked the various lights and colors but wasn't as keen on the noisy fireworks... She has been spending more time in her wheelchair lately and I have held off feeding her as much as I should for fear of her aspirating and getting ill again before the surgery. She will be in foot casts for 6-8 weeks after the surgery so that should be interesting. They are also going to create splints for her feet and hands while she is under anesthesia. Tori's hands and fingers seem slightly less rigid after her baclofen pump adjustment. I'd like to see more improvement of course and I'm sure we will be increasing the amounts of the 'bursts' she is now getting every 4 hours.

Meredyth continues to work very well with Tori doing ST (speech therapy) every Tuesday and Thursday. She is working hard to get her to drink from a straw of course and now that Tori can actually blow air on command somewhat consistently we are hoping the inhaling action will begin to occur. Tori always can always indicate what she is tasting through flash cards at least. I'm in the process of calling all of the available PT (physical therapy) providers through Tori's new primary insurer. I hoping to have one or two selected this week and then we will probably be in a trial scenario until we find the right therapist.

There has been some great news on the stem cell research front lately with Embryonic Stem Cells created from eggs and Creating embryonic stem cells in mice without destroying embryos. Again, since stem cells are at the lowest biological level of the body they hold immense promise for treating or even curing diseases, ailments or injuries. Tori and many others are receiving adult stem cells for treatments now but this will change as advancements in research and clinical studies continue to move forward. I'm often asked if Tori has been helped by her SCT (stem cell treatments). I still believe she has improved in her swallowing and eating due to SCT but I always want and await more dramatic improvement and changes. I personally witnessed progress in patients while in China and I read of hundreds of other patients who have had positive improvements. People with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal injuries, ataxia and many others. It must be recognized that Tori's injury is extreme when compared to many of those. She suffered a severe, global anoxic brain injury and I just don't know how much SCT can help with the extent of her injury... It seems to me the less damage or injury to be treated with SCT the better the odds are for actually seeing improvements and progress. That is my observation at this point anyway. Take for instance our friend Travis Ashton from nearby American Fork, Utah. Travis is in Hang Zhou now and is coming home in a few days. You can read about his wonderful progress with SCT here. I can't wait to see him again upon his return from China.

In closing tonight I would like everyone to offer their thoughts and prayers to Jerall, Krystal, Amber and their family tonight for Debbie lost her courageous battle with a TBI and other injuries early this morning. I have followed Debbie's story for over two years now and Jerrall has followed Tori's as well. Reading his updates over the past few weeks has been heart wrenching to say the least and this is unfortunately a common ending for those with severe brain injuries... Of course it is very hard not to think how it may apply Tori someday. I'm not so sure I would have the strength to go through an ending like that though... And I'm certainly NOT ready to through an ending like that now and Tori isn't either.

Thanks again for the continued love, prayers and support,

Tim, Maria, Tori, Whitney and Brendan