Thanks.....

Thanks for reading this post. Chances are if you've clicked on this link and taken the time to read this, you are already in our hearts, and an integral part of our lives -- but also, know that none of what we've achieved so far would have happened without You, and nothing we hope to achieve can happen without You. Whether you were somone who visited JC when he was in the Hospital or Rehab Center, someone who prayed with him, someone who prayed for him, someone who raised money, ran in the 5K, attended a fundraiser, stopped by the house, offered words of advice, shared stories of encouragement, or just listened to his story (or plans on doing the same) -- his successes are also Yours.

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Thanks!!

Thanks for reading this post. Chances are if you've clicked on this link and taken the time to read this, you are already in our hearts, and an integral part of our lives -- but also, know that none of what we've achieved so far would have happened without You, and nothing we hope to achieve can happen without You. Whether you were somone who visited JC when he was in the Hospital or Rehab Center, someone who prayed with him, someone who prayed for him, someone who raised money, ran in the 5K, attended a fundraiser, stopped by the house, offered words of advice, shared stories of encouragement, or just listened to his story (or plans on doing the same) -- his successes are also Yours.

**Click here or go to the events tab to check out pictures from the shoot for a cause event held at spotlie cafe.

The Fundraiser

So there have been a lot of questions about the fundraising that we are doing. We are currently fundraising for the Testaverde Fund for Spinal Cord Injury's 5K Race as well as for our trip back to Project Walk! So when you donate you can decide what you want to donate to. Both are worthy causes!

-Team JC

What are we blogging here!

Hello Everyone,
This blog is being created to inform all of you on whats going on with JC! His successes, triumphs, and progress towards his goal of walking again one day! This also has been created so that people who are going through similar situations can read our story and know that nothing is impossible. We were so blessed to read many other stories that helped us through the rough days and we hope that this does the same! 

Great News!!

Hey everyone! Here's an update to sustain your energy and perhaps even augment it: JC had his physical with his primary care physician (PCP) today. Since the injury JC's left lower lobe of his lungs had alot of atelectasis (basically, a collapse of part or all of the lung tissue). This is really hard to clear or do anything about. When we first heard this news last year, we were so disheartened by the fact that the ateclectasis was still present. Rosie, the driving force behind JC's road to recovery, said the condition was ok because he still has 3 good functioning lobes! Well, today's X-Ray showed that the left lower lobe is completely clear and inflating all the way now! This is not something any one was expecting at all! But by God's grace and all of JC's hard work we have been blessed by another miracle! His PCP said "You have a goal keep working towards it. Keep doing what you are doing and there is no reason why you shouldn't achieve your goal!"

Our Story

The day was September 1,2008. A family still elated from a wedding that took place just two days before, still singing the songs from the night before -- an impromptu gathering after the wedding to welcome a bride home and invite a new son into the family, a gathering to give thanks, and enjoy the peace and serenity of each other. In the early hours of that day, four people, two fathers and their two daughters, embarked on a journey to drop off their children to college. After helping the girls get settled, the two began their return journey. Eager to get home. A birthday celebration for their niece awaited them. A family awaited them. In some ways, they are still waiting.

In the afternoon hours --the haze of happiness that engulfed an entire family dissipated -- with an accident. An accident, a series of unknowns, a family in desperate search for answers, for help... for hope. Two men, two men who are fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons, left. Only one came back. The other, our guardian angel in every aspect of the word, a man of faith, a man of honor, a pious man, a loving man, a man in whom everyone sought respite, was called to heaven. With that loss, darkness consumed this family. In that darkness was a glowing ember that was JC. In the days following the accident, JC was the light that the entire family gathered around, he was the flame that we kept fanning to become stronger and stronger, in him lay the happiness that we lost. He became our Superhero.

Here is our story:

John Kuttiyara (a.k.a. Johnson, John chachen, JC, our Superhero) suffered a spinal cord injury at C5-C6, which initially left him with no sensory or motor function from the neck down… he could not move his hands, waist or legs, he could not feel someone’s touch, he could not speak, he could not even breathe on his own. As so often the body belies the spirit, JC’s paralyzed body spoke nothing of his exuberant spirit bouncing around the room ready to sprint forward onto the difficult path to recovery that lay ahead. With this phenomenal drive, JC embarked on an incredible journey filled with love, laughter, tears, prayer, miracles, and inspiring individuals. And always beside him on this windy, sometimes bumpy, road was a dedicated team of friends and family… and our guardian angel, forever bestowing blessings and reminders of faith along our way.

I. THE FIRST DAY:

JC was brought to Westchester Medical Center (WMC) via medivac helicopter. He was in respiratory failure when he arrived and was quickly intubated. The trauma team found that he had vertebral fractures at C4 – C7, a burst fracture at C6, and intracranial bleeding. JC had emergency spinal stabilization surgery, and a gastrostomy tube to allow nutritional intake was also placed. After the surgery, the neurosurgeons informed us that they visualized an incomplete injury to the spinal cord. With some preservation of the spinal cord we could, thus, expect some level of recovery. JC remained at WMC in the trauma ICU and received excellent care from the doctors, ancillary staff, especially our nurse, Andrew. Andrew taught us to not only hope but work for better. We have been doing that ever since.