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This is the circle of events concerning Kodi
(As of September 19, 2006)
On July 17, 2006 My sister Jackie went to pick Kodi up from the YMCA about
a block from her house in St. Petersburg Florida. She left her house about 5:15
pm. On the way home she turned to go into her neighborhood and a speeding
driver hit her car. The teen driver is 17 years old. His name is Nicholas
Brunk. His vehicle skidded approximately 105 feet before impacting Jackie's car
on the passenger side. He then knocked her car another 65 feet into someone's
yard into a tree.
Jackie's friend Dale Frankenberg came upon the accident. He was devastated
to say the least. He knew the severity of the injuries. He phoned my brother
Rick and told him. My mom was at my house having dinner when I received the
call from Rick. I told him he should talk to mom because I was not able to tell
her. She has congestive heart failure and I was scared she might not be able to
take the news.
The accident happened at 5:36 pm. The Fire Department was the first to
arrive. They knew how severely Jackie had been injured as the trauma to her
head was very visible. So they took her on to Bay-front Trauma Center. The life
squad took Kodi to Bay-front also. They immediately prepped Jackie for surgery
as she had a punctured lung.
We were not able to get a flight as the last flight to Tampa was at 7:05 pm
So we opted to drive and try to make it. We stayed in touch with Nikki (my
daughter) as she was our liaison between the hospital. We were in Chattanooga
Tennessee when we received a phone call that Jackie had came through the surgery
however her heart had stopped two times during surgery, but the Dr.s were able
to bring her back. We then received a call from Nikki about 10:12 pm only to be
told that Jackie had passed away. We were devastated. They had then taken Kodi
to All Children's Hospital right next door.
Kodi was listed as very critical. She had a broken Pelvis, clavicle, right
femur and sever brain shearing. She lay in a coma from July 17, 2006 until the
end of August. About the last week of August she opened her eyes for the first
time. After a few days they moved her from Picu1 (pediatric ICU) to Picu2
where she was upgraded to stable condition. She remained in the Picu2 unit as we
had to make the decision where she should go from there. While she was in the
Picu1 unit Kodi needed a feeding tube.
About 1 week after they put the tube in it was time to make arrangements to
bring her home because our entire family lives in the Northern Ky. area. We
searched the Internet for an Air ambulance Service only to find out that it was
going to cost us between 13,000.00 and 20,000.00 depending on how many Dr's. and
Nurses were needed for the flight.
I stayed in Florida at the Ronald McDonald house while Ashley came home and
went to the Social worker at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati. She told them
our story and God gave us a miracle. Sheila Howard and Susan Bernan with
Children's Hospital made arrangements to Go to Florida and fly Kodi home for us
(FREE OF CHARGE)
This truly was a gift from God.
Kodi arrived at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati and began her therapy.
She remains there to date of this e-mail. She has therapy about 6 hours each
day. The Dr. say her range of motion with her arms and legs is improving. The
speech therapist is trying to teach her to control her tongue. She still has
not verbally responded to us yet but, any day she could speak. The swelling in
her Brain could take up to a year to subside. They will start her on a drug
called Amentadine (this is to jump start the brain) soon. She must first be
weaned from the Valium which is used to keep her comfortable. She is in Room 77
on the 4th floor in the children's rehabilitation. If there is no more
improvement on or about October 12th the Hospital will have to release her to
Ashley. Ashley is 21 years old and this is a huge task for her to take on. She
is working with my sister Tina as Tina has offered to care for Kodi in her
home. I will keep you updated and let you know what happens. Kodi may go to
the Drake Hospital for a few weeks or so after leaving Children's.
We have lost a dear member of our family. Jackie was my youngest sister.
She is one of the kindness people you would ever meet. She did a lot for the
homeless when she was alive. She would go to the local grocery stores and get
items and pass them out. She opened her home with no fear to anyone who needed
a place to rest. She followed Christ example when it came to feeding the hungry
and taking them in.
She never met a stranger and I really believe her mission on this earth was
to serve others as she did so every day of her adult life.
We must also remember the young man that was in the accident also. He
knows he has killed someone. He has to live with the fact the he left a 10 year
old little girl with no mother. He is also aware of Kodi's condition. We must
remember to pray for him. At this point these are the events that lead to where
we are now with Kodi. Please remember to continue praying for her I know it's
not the Lord's will for her to be in this condition she is currently in. We are
praying all the time and just waiting on our miracle.
I will keep you updated.
Love in Jesus
Your friends, Myrna Sherman and Family
Meta, Peggy, Myrna, Tina and Rick
Note: Kodi is no longer in Children's Hospital. We will update you as to where cards & letters can be sent. |
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(As of January 19, 2008)
Hello everyone: This is an update on how Kodi is doing since she left Children's Hospital in November 2006. Kodi was sent to Brookside Extended Living Center as you all know. The first few months she was there Kodi did not really show any significant signs of improvement. I continued to go see her every single day and work with her trying to get her to remember who each person in the family was by showing her pictures. I also began giving her therapy by moving her arms and legs. Around June of 07, Kodi suddenly began recognizing things. When several family members would go into her room I would ask her to find certain ones and she would gaze in their direction. This was a tremendous breakthrough for her. She began smiling and actually laughing out loud at things. Even though she is in this condition, it is mandatory that she attend school. She was enrolled in Mason Intermediate School. Her teacher Ms. Ashley Ferguson saw that Kodi was (in there) mentally and she set up more therapy for her at school. Mason Intermediate School has done a wonderful job with her. She can pick numbers, colors, animals, and mentally do just about anything a normal 12 yr. old can do. She goes to the Children's Drake Center two times a week. On Tuesday she has PT with Shannon. She has taught Kodi how to roll from side to side, roll on her belly and then turn on her back again. On Wednesdays she has PT with Shannon again for 1 hour then OT with Michelle. Michelle is working with her on weight bearing and she has actually had Kodi in a stander two times with me there. This past week she stood for a total of 20 minutes, with assistance of a stander. I will tell all of you these ladies that work with Kodi are absolutely wonderful . Our Attorney is in the process of obtaining a court date so I can bring Kodi home permanently. We are hoping to have her home by the end of January 08 or at least first of February. I have moved to a new house in Florence that will supply Kodi with her own bedroom and is handicap accessible. There are two main items I am in need of. One is a Hoyer-Lift that will help get her from bed to her chair and also help lift her into the bath-tub. The other is a Beleuga bath seat. This is a seat that sits in the tub so she does not fall from side to side or slip down. The other items I need are an exercise mat, to continue her therapy at home and a positioning wedge. These items are not cheap. I am willing to get used ones if at all possible. The total cost for these items will run around $3,000.00. We will be having a benefit to help raise money for these items at a later date. I will keep you informed. Kodi will be going back into Children's Hospital possibly around the end of February, maybe sooner for approximately 3 months for complete rehabilitation. They will be working with her in every aspect. Michelle, her OT, is also setting her up with a speech therapist. She still has not spoken since the accident but I believe with all my heart that this child will walk and talk again. She still has her feeding tube inserted and she is eating from a spoon for me. I am amazed at her will to get better. Please continue to pray for her as she still has such a long road ahead of her. Please keep my entire family in your prayers. We all miss Jackie every single day. She was the sunshine of our lives. She will be forever loved. Thank you for visiting Kodi's website and if you are able to help financially you may contact Nikki Hyden (my daughter) by phone at 859-344-1288 (home) or mail 815 Dudley Road Edgewood, Ky 41018. She is in charge of any funds we receive and remember each donation is tax deductible. God Bless you all in 2008. Sincerely, Myrna Sherman |
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(As of February 25, 2008) On
February 19, 2008, I took Kodi to Children’s Hospital for serial
casting on her left arm. After this appointment we had an appointment
with the Orthopedic Surgeon DR. Do (pronounced Doe). She examined
Kodi’s little feet and ankles and said she is very hopeful about the
procedure she will be doing on Kodi on March 3, 2008. She will be
releasing the heel cords to straighten out her feet. Once she heals
from this surgery we will begin weight-bearing therapy and try to get
her standing and maybe not to far down the road walking. I can
tell you all this I am so grateful to what GOD has done in little
Kodi’s life. She has been struggling ever since the accident in July
2006. She is a fighter though. Before the accident she was the
most loving child I ever knew. She was also very smart and still is.
You have to be careful what is said in front of her because she is
aware of everything. After the appointment with the Ortho Dr. I
had to appear in Warren County for a hearing. This went very well. I
went before Magistrate Erik Peters and just told him Kodi wanted to
come home and be with her mom’s family. I was very grateful for the
support of Kodi’s father John and her sister Ashley. It was emotional
talking to him about her progress because I have been there with her
every day. I see where GOD has brought her from and where she is today
and this is just such a blessing to me. Magistrate Peters heard what I
had to say and he immediately released Kodi to come home for good.
PRAISE GOD IN HEAVEN KODI IS NOW HOME FOR GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am currently in the process of trying to locate the items for Kodi that I need at home to bathe and lift her. I am in dire need of a Hoyer lift and a bath seat that can be placed in the tub when I bathe her. These items are in no way cheap and there are many varieties to choose from, so therefore I must pick the ones that will be suitable for a long period of time as she is still growing. I am grateful for my friend Gary as he has put together a way for Kodi to use a small keyboard and communicate with us. This is a work in progress and Kodi seems to enjoy the time she spends on the computer. It will be easier for her to use now that her cast is off her arm, she will have more control of her hand. The planning of the benefit is still in progress so I will keep everyone updated. We are looking to have it sometime in March. Please continue praying for her, as I firmly believe that your prayers are what have brought her this far. I will keep everyone updated on her progress. Thank you all for signing her guest book. Sincerely, Myrna Sherman & family |