Cassie had a successful tracheostomy surgery yesterday evening. This morning she has been awake and very aware, even smirking at a few of the boys witty one-liners. She was even able to muster up her first words to the family saying “I love you too”. She is still too weak to have a speaking valve retrofitted, but she is beginning Occupational Therapy to increase her strength. They are getting her arms and head moving through a number of different exercises.
This morning she was also tilted upwards, where her hospital bed is able to move her entire body all the way up to a 60 degree angle to help stimulate the sensation of standing and move the fluid throughout her body. Both her left leg and right legs have pulses today, which the ICU team was unable to find earlier in the week. They are unsure what this means for her future functionality but will wait for her to be able to speak to the team to assess pain and movement. The goals of the team are to continue encouraging her to move her body and breathe on her own as she is looking to take significant steps in her recovery.
Additionally, Cassie has loved to receive videos and audio messages from her support group. If you have anything you would like to pass along to her, please send these directly to the family members so we can pass on your thoughts, motivation and prayers to her.

Comments
9 responses to “Cassie’s Journey – May 3rd”
Oh, Cassie! I could just picture that smirk of yours at your boys! My heart smiled reading that!
It sounds to me that today should be a celebration! Just having your family hear you say “I love you too” must have been like a miracle!!
You all are such a strong family! We think of you often and continue to pray for you and the staff caring for you.
You are all loved so very much!
Smirking is a good thing! We celebrate with today’s positive report and continue to send prayers. ♥️🙏
God is truly good & Cassie is strong & determined to do what she can to
Get back to a normal life. Continued prayers for the entire family.🙏🙏
So happy to hear these positive updates! We’ve been thinking of you all constantly and look forward to spending some time on one of our patios or around a fire down the road. Continued prayers to you all!
Dearest Cassie: Members of the Vidalia High School Class of 1966 (your Mom’s Alma Mater and Louisiana roots) send their thoughts and prayers. The congregations of Our Lady of Lourdes in Vidalia, LA and of St. Mary Basilica in Natchez, MS join me in lifting you and your beautiful family up to Our Heavenly Father who is the Greatest of Healers.
Continuing to pray for you all daily. Praising God for the communication! Praying for continued and miraculous healing. Cassie you have a huge team of prayer warriors. We are all praying for you. You’ve got this!
New Hope United Methodist Church plus many of our family and friends are keeping you all in prayer. You’re doing great, Cassie!
Sending hugs!! 💜
Dearest Cassie,
Our Sunday school class prays for you each Sunday morning, and our choir prays for you on Wednesday nights. Donn and I pray for you, the docs, and your whole family continually. We pray you find good and victories in each day. God bless you! -Becky and Donn