Popsicles and Oreos!

Almost to our 6 month marker....
For all of you waiting for Jacoby to eat her 1st food item BY HERSELF....wait no longer! Jacoby ate a popsicle with "flying colors".  It brought tears to my eyes to realize she was doing something that months ago would have seemed impossible. (she placed it in the brace) Yes, we probably could have made this happen awhile ago, but we have found that having her younger brothers and sisters feeding her makes them feel apart and is a GREAT way to teach them sacrifice as well.
 
Jacoby's physical training is showing positive results. Chris, her trainer, just took measurements of her muscle and found she had gained a 1/4 to 1/2 inch in all her major muscle groups in her legs. But, before Jacoby tries ANY exercise equipment, little Vincie tries it out FIRST...just to make sure its safe! ( Just like his Papa Frank) 

Her friends and family continue to be her inspiration. Her gym buddies, youth group friends and neighborhood clan continually keep her hope alive with their presence and sense of humor! Jacoby has a social life that puts ANYONE to shame...thanks to Instagram, texting and Facebook!(she makes ME look anti-social) If you would like to know all the crazy places and people she hangs out with, follow her @ jsmchampion. 

 Finally, PLEASE KEEP PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE! We serve a God who is fully able to heal, yet knows what is ultimatley best for her. Our hearts are best expressed in the new song by Sidewalk Prophets, "Help Me Find It". (look it up..it's awesome!)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understandings...in all your ways acknowledge Him, He will make your paths  straight."--Proverbs 3:5&6  
 

ps.  Jacoby wants to wish her friends Mary and Morgan "good luck" at Nationals this weekend.  GO ROACH AND GO EMERALD CITY GYMNASTICS!!! DO A FLIP FOR JACOBY!

 

Thanks for Ballou!

We are now back in the swing of school again; Jacoby is absolutely loving the idea of "ditching" her parents for part of the day. (I don't blame her at all) She has an amazing aide, Kelly, that takes her notes, gives her drinks..waits for her arrival each day;we love her! Ballou Junior High has made Jacoby feel completely welcome again....We can never thank you enough for the extra effort. GO BRUINS!

One step closer........

"Patience is a Virtue"

To All of the People Who Follow Jacoby's Recovery.... " Patience is TRULY a Virtue." 
 My "hat is off"  to all of you who have experienced an injury that leaves you waiting for the moment when the tiniest bit of change occurs; this is enough to make the toughest person lose their mind! 
In addition, "thank you" to all of you who have waited and waited AND WAITED for Jacoby's mother to write another blog. You see, it's not that easy; change happens slowly and the days are compiled of events "only a mother" could find value in...or not? Recently, I was urged to not just write when a "big change/event" happens, but even the dumb stuff. Therefore, I assume no responsibility when it comes to the excitement level of Jacoby's blogs; your wish is my command!
Since our last blog, here are some "new happenings" for Jacoby and our family:

1.  Palm Sunday was our FIRST WEEK BACK AT CHURCH since the accident...it was an emotional reunion. We were so happy to be back....to be home!

2.  Jacoby has started intense physical therapy with "Vertical Therapy". Her trainer, Chris Hegge, comes to our home every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 2 hr sessions.  She has been working out on the stim bike and is working on rebuilding muscle. She has had no new movement since her left wrist, but she grows in strength daily. We remain hopeful!

3.  Jacoby goes back to school TOMORROW!!!! She will go Monday-Friday,  for the last two classes of the day. She will be able to finish out her 9th grade year with her class AND her twin brother. (this was IMPORTANT..lol) GO BRUINS!!!

4.  Jacoby went back to Roach Gymnastics for the first time last Friday.  She had a GREAT time with her buds.  She was SO PROUD of her teammates....THEY ROCKED THE HOUSE that day!

FINALLY...THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT....THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING WITH US FOR A MIRACLE..WE LOVE YOU!

"AND THE GOD OF ALL GRACE,WHO CALLED YOU TO HIS ETERNAL GLORY IN CHRIST, AFTER YOU HAVE SUFFERED A LITTLE WHILE, WILL HIMSELF RESTORE YOU AND MAKE YOU STRONG, FIRM AND STEADFAST."--1 PETER 5:10

www.goteamjacoby.com
Jacoby is now on instagram: jsmchampion

Braces are off! Yay!

     Jacoby is excited to finally have the braces off her teeth!  Seems like she had braces or spacers for the last 6 or 7 years.  
     Her left wrist continues to get stronger and she is no longer wearing the brace on that hand during the day.  It's still pretty weak as only one muscle is really firing.  After it first came back and would fatigue after lifting it a couple times, Jacoby asked, "is EVERY muscle going to be like this?!".  Man, it's very hard and patient work, but she is doing well.
    Jacoby has laid low the last few weeks trying not to get sick to give the transplanted cells the best shot of surviving and hopefully help her with more healing.  She'll be ramping up the rehab next week with outpatient therapy and some visits to Pushing Boundaries up in Redmond.   
    Thanks again to everyone for your continued prayers on her behalf as we know her future truly lies in the Lords hands. 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

WRIST EXTENSION!

We've been waiting for this day since the night of the accident...NEW MOVEMENT OF ANY KIND! 
Jacoby has regained some wrist extension in her left arm....excuse our excitement, but THIS IS HUGE!!!  So far, it's just one new muscle firing, but WE'LL TAKE IT....

Jacoby has been spending a great amount of time reading on her kindle fire and has pretty much mastered it's touchscreen.  So much so, that we decided to upgrade her cell phone to an i-phone.  Talk about one excited girl!  Little smaller screen, but she is figuring it out as well.

Thanks again to all of you that continue to lift her recovery in prayer and for continued encouragement.

PS...PRAISE THE LORD!



 

Our Stem Cell Journey...

Some trips are forever "etched" into our memory...this was one of those trips. Stem cell treatment.....here we come!
After community, state, and national financial efforts were made on our Jacoby's behalf, we boarded a plane to California on February 12, 2013. We stayed the first night in San Diego, California. The following morning, we made the amazingly quick trip into Tiajuana, Mexico where we began our stem cell treatment. We continued the treatment in California--putting the trip at 19 days total. California was wonderful in many ways, but as Dorthy says to Toto......"there's no place like home." 
During the trip, there were many inspirational moments....the following are a few we wanted to share with all of you:

1. Jacoby's First Plane Ride in a Wheelchair--We were so proud of Jacoby as she boarded the plane.  Of course, "all eyes" were on her and as they were placing her in her seat they accidentely let her slip down in front of her seat. Jacoby took it like a champ and gained the respect of everyone sitting by her.
2. Huntington Beach and "Ruby's"-- Jacoby loved going to the beach and watching all the surfers.  We have many family memories from the past at Huntington Beach; playing in the ocean, playing Ultimate Frisbee in the sand, and drinking milk-shakes from Ruby's, of course!
3. The Hobbit! We were so excited to go see The Hobbit. It felt like we had waited forever. It made it all worth it when the theater workers gave us the best seats in the house. 
4. Meeting Jacoby's doctors-- The doctors working with Jacoby were brilliant and gave us a new sense of hope for her recovery.
5. GOOFY-- Yes... we said "Goofy." We knew our trip would have to include Disneyland, and Goofy won our hearts this trip! While we were waiting for Morgan to get through the long Goofy line, Goofy looked over and saw Jacoby off to the side. He motioned to the other children to wait for him and came over and hugged Jacoby. Our new favorite Disney character FOR LIFE.   

That pretty much wraps it up......

Philippians 4:13

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me"

  

   
  

Yes! The Neck Brace Is Officially Off!!!

Nice to have that "pain in the neck" gone!  Jacoby is starting to gain a lot of strength and mobility back in her neck now and it makes sleeping, etc. much more comfortable.  She continues to ping pong between good days and bad days as far as her back pain goes.  Hopefully, the pain will stop for good one of these days!