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December 2009
Wow this year has flown by. So may things to be Thankful for.
Our Family had our Christmas early you could say. Kidd's Kids hosted by Kidd Kraddick and his morning show has been taken
terminally and chronically ill kids and their families to Disney world since 1991, five amazing days, an experience
of a lifetime. The most amazing part is seeing and meeting other families living with the similiar struggles in their everyday
lives. It was Amazing and it was a first for all 4 of us. Jesse enjoyed all the rides, especially house of Terrors and Mount
Everrest Roller Coaster. Jacob on the other hand says he never wants to go on the House or Terror again..surprising to say
the least I thought it would be the other way around with those two boys. And the beds at the Dolphin were incredible! I haven't
slept that good in years and haven't slept as well since we got back home from Disney, the sleep what little we got there
was heavenly...there actually called Heavenly beds- I asked- Oh how I want one of those.
We are so Blessed. I always knew that but its nice to be reminded.
We got back from Disney and Mike had surgery on his leg to get the Rod back out so Thanksgiving was quiet. We drove to my
sisters and had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Mike is now recovered and back to work..Yes..All is well and the boys are super
excitied about the Christmas Holidays their favorite time of year. And we got some amazing news, my sister Michelle is pregnant,
her and Kenny's first and Jesse and Jacob are so excitied. Keep her in your prayers! This is considered a high Risk
Pregnancy for her. I am praying for a healthy niece or nephew please say a quiet prayer for them please. We wish everyone
a Blessed Holiday Season and Remember Jesus is the Reason for this Season!
July 2009. Alot has happened. Jesse and I returned from Houston from an Intensive Therapy
Program on the 28th of June. We returned to a completed bathroom for Jesse, Roll in Shower, Handrails, room for Jesse to get
his Walker or Chair into..what a true blessing that gift was. So many people to Thank.
Jesse's Car Show at Taco Casa was a Complete Success! With all the donations from the Car Show, Variety
Kids Charity and then Mesquite Elks Lodge wrote the check for the remaining funds for the Seat...the Transfer Seat is Paid
in Full. Amazing how wonderful people can be with their hearts, we are so fortunate to have met such wonderful loving people.
Greg Fowler you sir we can never repay.... we love and cherish that Taco Casa Family of ours and so proud to be
considered part of it. Thank You to all of you! Lance you have the priviledge of helping and meeting so many wonderful kids
in your position and we are thankful for being part of Variety Kids. The Mesquite Lodge..what a huge help you made in this
all. Because of your part in this, I can sleep better ..not having to wonder where the rest of the money was coming from for
this seat. Thank You All for loving my son enough to help us. I pray it all comes back 10 fold to each of you. Sincerely
Thanks, Tina
May 2009...alot happening. Jesse gets out of school on the 4th then
He and I will be heading to Houston for a 3 week Intensive therapy program..we will be heading home on the weekend. Mark your
calenders Jesse's Car Show at Taco Casa is on June 21st..yeap it's Father's Day really wasn't planned that way but it's gonna
be a great day for Dad's to bring their kids by to eat a taco and see some cool cars and bikes. The week after we leave Home
Access funds will be coming in to start the work on the bathroom for Jesse. Mike's been digging like crazy with the work for
all the rough in plumbing. I'll put some pics of all the work omn here soon as I get Nat to do it for me..lol. the computer
and me doesn't get along..Talk soon.
April 2009; Big news! We have been recently Blessed with HOME ACCESS
FUND a Charitible Foundation here in the Dallas area to help us with retrofitting our bathroom into an accessible one for
Jesse. A company that works with the patients of Scottish Rites Hospital that financially cannot afford to financially
take on the projects themselves and to help individuals that are handicapped to make there lives more independent. Mike first
has the responsibility to demo the bathroom and to rough fit all of the plumbing coming into the bathroom which we are shooting
for June. Home Access Fund are going to come in then and install a roll in shower, a sink that can be accessible
for Jesse ..they are coming in to do all the work for free.. no cost to us..all of the sheet rock work, painting, fixtures...an
amazing wonderful gift to us. Home Access Fund Charitible Foundation does over 300 families in the metroplex a year. Just
found them and contacted them 2 months ago and wow June Jesse is going to be able to fit his wheelchair into our bathroom
and roll up and brush his teeth without us hanging onto him while we try to keep him standing over the sink...such a sweet
gift. Thank You!
February 2009
The Taco man cookie is starting to take off. I've got to mention
that Greg the Owner of Taco Casa, the one at Beltline & I-30 in Garland Texas, is not taking one dime from the sale of
the Cookies, every penny is going to Jesse's Contribution account. I can't express enough how this man has blessed our
lifes. Jesse's trust account is set up for anything Jesse needs for therapy, durable medical equipment
and the co-pays, percentages that the Insurance Company won't pay for on equipment..and you would be suprised what the
Insurance Companies claim that are not medically necessary. So pass the word around we are asking
$2.00 for each cookie and they are fresh. We put some signs up and I am starting to get busy ..tired but happily busy these
cookies have alot of different colors on them so you have to let them dry about 15 minutes between switching to different
colors and sections after you outline them, kinda like painting by numbers. They are labor intensive cookies which I'm
sure you bakers out there know. I just finished about 60 of them and it took me about 7 hours. Hard to believe. But a labor
of love..so come an get'em, Tina
| The Taco man Cookie |
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January 2009
Happy New Year!. "Something New" cookies. Go by Taco
Casa. Be sure when you stop to get that Big cup of Sweet Tea ask for one of the Cookies for Jesse. They are baked
and decorated locally by me at Gaston Oaks Baptist Church- Thank You! they have a wonderful comercial kitchen there and
they have been kind enough to let me use the space to do them. We are trying to get funds together for Conductive
Education Session.
I-30 & Beltline across from the Walmart in Garland. I'll probably see you there.. Bless
You all!
December 2008
Well What an amazing Christmas
First we won a Wii....Taco Casa has been giving away carnival tickets
when you buy your food and drinks for probably a month. They give you half the ticket and they put the other half in a huge
bucket. They had the drawing, I think December 19th a lot of people showed up because you had to be present to win. Well we
get there and there were so many people there that me and Jacob my 4 year old get split up from Mike and Jesse. We finally
meet with Mike and he hands me about 7 tickets from some man driving away from the parking lot gives him the tickets as he
is walking across the parking lot to get in the restaurant. There were so many people that it wasn’t easy just getting
in the door but anyways the man said "hey are you staying for the drawing" and mike said yeah and the man hands him his tickets
and says good luck. So I take all my tickets and the man's tickets and went outside. There were so many people there we had
to go in the parking lot to do the drawing because not everybody could get in the building. So here we all are waiting and
I guess Greg knocks on the window for Jesse to come outside to do the drawing because they were just going to stay inside
and just me go out there. Hard to control the 4 year old and a 6 year old in that crowd and the excitement of it. Jesse picks
probably three tickets before someone winning the flat screen TV and 37 inch. (Nice) And then he goes to draw for the Wii
and that's the one we were wanting because we looked at in for doing some of Jesse's therapy with because you can exercise
with it using the wand and a lot of elderly people are using it for therapy. But we decided we couldn't get it this Christmas
financially-Mike was in a serious motorcycle accident in the summer and he is just getting back to work and well we can't
afford getting it like so many other people out there so we just dismissed it. Okay here comes the Christmas Magic. God’s
hand in things we believe. Jesse pulls out a couple more tickets and nobody present so far and then he pulls out another one
and YEAP we won it. Of all the people there and thousands of tickets have to be in that bucket he pulls out one of the tickets
that man driving away in a van gave Mike..unbelievable..who knew. Who knew Jesse was going to even be asked to pull the tickets
and it was the ticket some stranger gave us. Now all after that he pulls for the last prize $100 cash and after a couple of
a draws for that winner. Greg decides to raffle the playhouse he has in the store he bought for the Toy drive and some stranger
comes up and whispers something in his ear. Greg shakes his head and says "man I don't know how that would fly with everybody"
and you see the man turn around as he walks away from Greg and says well Ask you never know unless you ask...So Greg takes
the bullhorn and tells everybody the man asked if he could Auction off the playhouse and give that money to Jesse for his
therapy. So Grey says we are going to do a yeah and neigh vote. Everybody for it say Yeah and the whole crowd says Yeah and
then he says and those who say neigh and you hear three little kids yell neigh. So they Auction off the playhouse and a man
from the crowd wins it for $160.00 dollars and it gets better the man who wins it is in remission from Cancer and he said
I have been through a lot of therapy lately and I know how much that stuff cost. I definitely tired up that night when we
won.. when that man suggested the Auction for Jesse's therapy. I tried to find him afterwards to Thank him. Even if nobody
wanted to do it that stranger suggested it and I want to Thank all those customers. Nobody had to say Yeah and that was what
I believe A Christmas Story's Feels like when you see them on TV and you can feel the generosity of people in the air especially
this time of year. I felt it that night. Thousands of Tickets in a bucket and our son picks a winner the Wii we were wanting
to get but couldn't and the winning ticket was given to us by a Stranger leaving after he ate his dinner with his family and
then yet again another Stranger we don't know suggest auctioning off the playhouse to help with Jesse's therapy because maybe
he saw the box of donations for Jesse inside they keep on the counter. I don't know why he suggested it but he did. A wonderful
giving heart. We have pulled out almost $1000.00 dollars from the box since we put it up there from when Greg did the fundraiser
Car Show for Jesse in May 2008..Thanks for Reading. Awesome folk out there this time of year and everyday. Greg Fowler has
blessed this family just for knowing him and he brings with him all those wonderful customers of his! And we are using the
Wii for Jesse's therapy. Mike built a ladder we slide over the Wii fit board and Jesse hangs onto it doing balance games for
strengthening and hopefully gaining more balance. All is Good and Wishing everyone a Blessed New Year. And as times are harder
for everybody a prosperous one...also Update with Jesse - he went to see Dr. Engve and he said all was what he expected with
surgery and then some. Jesse is not walking with a perfect gait but he is walking- no scissoring at all and his heel cords
are still more than manageable since surgery he shouldn't have to see him again unless a huge growth spurt with puberty and
teens hit him harder than expected so he may not have to do the surgery again at all.
November 2008
Jesse is going through
some growths spurts so he is tightening up again but still doing great, Jesse goes to see the Surgeon in Galveston first
of December, Dr. Yngve for his one year check up since his surgery, looking forward to seeing what he says... We just got
Jesse's Cookbooks back so we can start selling them ..We still have $750.00 in Jesse's Contribution fund in his trust
at the bank which is going toward the next Therapy Session but we need about $2000.00 more, also working on some equipment
purchases. The Mesquite Elks Lodge is going to help out with some of the funds but are not able to come up with the total
so working toward that. We wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving and safe travel on the holidays.
August 2008
Jesse is doing amazing;
he is using his walker more and more. Jesse’s Dad Mike just got in a serious motorcycle accident coming from work. He
did a Superman over a car on the HOV lane on 635... over the hill near the Abrams exit. There is an incline around there and
when you are driving in the HOV lane guess you don't expect a car on top of the other side of the hill to be stopped
when your going 65-70....The Man upstairs is definitely watching over him because going at that speed and flying over
a car into the wall. Mike shouldn't be breathing. A lucky man, thank God for that. Lucky us... Docs say it will be a
slow recovery about 6 months but he will be fine. Thanking God! Meanwhile Tina is working as a Temp at Southwest Airlines
while Mike is mending and she is enjoying it, but the family needs your prayers through this struggling time...
5/15/08
AWESOME!!! We made our goal and enough for the next deposit....
Goal for this June session was $2640.00 and we received almost $3000.00 ... I believe it was $2947.21...Thanking
God for all blessings and such wonderful people. Greg, owner of Taca Casa gave us 20% of sales which was $750.00 but
then he gave so much more in the cash donations box and his time, space, everything. Can't thank that man enough...
and Mouse the car show anouncer was fabulous that man could get change from a bum on a corner. What a blessing he and his
wife and that whole Carsroadshow Car Show Team Christy & Jim Fritts and the Band the Crusiers were Super, and prayers
go out to them for their lead singer Lynn. Which is fighting for her own life in the hospital right now from a brain tumer
removal last week she definitely needs prayers she is still unconsious and they are just waiting and seeing and bless her
daughter and the whole family. Her daughter came up to the fundraiser after seeing her at the hospital, just to tell
me her mom was wanting to meet Jesse.
The Garland Police Officers gave us a check for 500.00,
The WOLF 99.5 was there with Justin and with live broadcasting.
They also gave a silent auction for a suite at the Mesquite Rodeo and gave Jesse the cash it brought in... Thank You.
Our Church definitely made their presence known "New Liberty Baptist"
in the lobby there wasn't a seat available... And though nobody seen him Brother Ken and the Mrs was there before everybody
started showing up to give us there blessings and cash.
Tammi thank you for doing the flyer it has definitely been seen:),
A Very Special Thank You to all the employees at Taca Casa because
without them pushing all the flyers out the door I kept dropping off, putting on those smiling faces and telling everybody
about Jesse and with the crowd that was there they were extrordinary. Thank YOU! Family and friends Thank You for coming and
showing your support.
Now on to get money for the July's Session... lol anybody got any
ideas of how and where to go about doing a Pancake Breakfast. My next goal..
Love all of you and My Family and Jesse Appreciate Everyone of you
and all that all you have done for us.
Sincerely! Tina, Mike, Jesse & Jacob Shedd
And keep checking up on Jesse at www.jesseshedd.com alot of people mentioned they would like to buy Jesse's t-shirt that
a co-worker of Mikes made for us---going to look into trying to do just that..love ya
04/07/08
Well Jesse did great in therapy, weak but good. We decided not to
put him back into the therapy until the summer program due to mostly Jesse's weakness in his leg muscles, mainly the abductors
don't seam to be firing. Jesse just needs some serious intense physical therapy which I'm actively looking for right now.
We are going to focus on getting the muscles in his legs stronger and work on his overall core strength while we raise some
funds for the next therapy June/July 2008 summer program. The total for the summer program is $2640.00 for the 4
week session in the June/July program. We already have a couple hundred dollars for the summer program. We are going to try
to get Jesse in both summer sessions, but our goal is for at least one session. We already have one of the $250.00 deposit
down for the summer sessions.
***Okay Bigger News, Tuesday May 13th 2008 at
Taco Casa on Beltline & 30 from 6pm to 9pm will be hosting a Big Car Show. 10% of all sales from that event
will go to benefit Jesse in the summer sessions at "A Child Can Do All Things". Please tell everyone you know. The owner at
Taco Casa is awesome... He approached us a few months ago and wanted to do this for Jesse, we certainly appreicate him for
doing this for Jesse. We can not express just how much this means to us. So tell everyone to mark their calendars
and close their kitchens. Come out and enjoy some great mexican food and cars. Love you all, God Bless...
2/15/2008
Jesse's first week was great... tiring, a bit fussy and stubborn
but all expected with all the hard work we are asking of him.
I was wrong about the March Program I thought it was only going
to be for three weeks and if wanted they had a one week session for kids that were out of school for spring break. Apparantly
I was confused... it's going to be for 4 weeks and it is $1980.00 for the three weeks plus another $660.00 for the other one.
So all together I need $2640.00 for the March session.We have some money already for March, our goal is $1990.00 for the March
Program.
2/6/2008
Jesse's fundraiser dinner was a success. Almost $1500.00 was
raised at the event. Jesse will be able to attend the February session of A Child Can Do All Things. Thank you so much to
eveyone who came out and supported Jesse. We so appreciate each and everyone of you. A really big thank you to Kelly, Helen
and their families. Check out the pictures from the event. Jesse's Fundraiser Dinner 2/2/2008
1/22/2008
We
have decided to take smaller steps to our goal and make it a lot simpler obviously we need money but let’s go for mini
goals. The first is to get Jesse up bearing weight with a walker and see what wonderful results we have from the surgery.
So let’s start small that big number is stressing me out.... We need to raise $2040.00 more dollars for Jesse by February
7th to get in the Feb. 11- March 7 therapy program at "A Child Can Do All Things". We have $600.00 at "A Child Can Do
All Things" that was sent directly to them by two Wonderful Families and we so appreciate them and everybody else that has
helped us by sending money and ordering cookies from A Cookie Journey. This first session in February is $2640. The March
program is $1980.00.
We
need $1840.00 by February 7th.
1/3/2008
Well, it's been two weeks since Jesse's surgery. He is doing super
with the exception of having bronchitis.
12/29/2007
Jesse
had surgery in Galveston, Texas on Wednesday Dec. 19Th by Dr. Yngve. He
performed what is called PERCS procedure which involves releasing tight bands of tendon. This is done where muscle and tendon
overlap. These areas of overlap are areas where a tendon starts to blend into a muscle. He did the back of Jesse's ankle for
calf/heel cord tightness and spasticity, behind the knees for his hamstrings and in the groin for scissoring and gait and
groin spasticity. He also did an alcohol nerve block by dissolving the fatty coating, called the myelin sheath which is wrapped
around the nerve. The nerve remains intact and this can decrease spasticity in the legs when it is associated with groin tightness.
The alcohol block will last about 3 years before growing back.
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| Jesse after his PERCS procedure |
Dr. Yngve was taught this
procedure by Dr. Nuzzo which started this and has been performing it over 20+ years in New Jersey. I had heard about a doctor
who he taught the method to lived somewhere in Texas but only found out his name and whereabouts last
month at a birthday party Jesse attended from a little girl he attended therapy with. Amazing how things can happen when
the mother of the birthday girl was talking about him with some of the other guest and I turned around and butted in when
I heard Dr. Nuzzo's name. I had research him about 2 years ago but Jesse was still to young in my opinion and wasn't sure
yet if he would need it and of course Dr. Nuzzo being in New Jersey couldn't just run up there from Dallas on a whim and dealing
with Insurance. So got the number and called... ran down and he had a cancellation and here we are.
Jesse is doing well but
isn't up on his feet. We started trying to get him on his feet by the weekend after surgery but he is being very stubborn
and complaining when standing up with a lot of pain crying and panics a little. He does a little better each day but definitely
a lot slower than anticipated and a lot slower than what the doctor wants him to be doing as far as getting on his feet...more
me caving in when he hurts, but amazing already that he can sit with his legs straight in front of him for only a few minutes
but WOW.
Looking forward to seeing
what he will be able to do when we get him back to Conductive Education. We are going to call Dr. Yngve tomorrow because the
bruising has spread from what the pictures looked like when I took them on the back of his legs and gotten a lot deeper purple....So
please keep him in your prayers and I will keep you updated. Bless you all for you interest in my Angel and your prayers,
Tina
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