Car Wash/Raffle Fundraiser

Today was another sleepy day for Hannah although she did open her eyes a couple of times. They have her on Xanax (sp), an anti-anxiety drug, so she won't thrash around so much and it seems to work pretty well.

I think I've mentioned before the overwhelming support and love shown by so many people. Everywhere I go people stop me and inquire about Hannah, Billie and Dave. It's also so touching when kids ask about her. If I go to the school or a church event, there are always a few children who ask me how Hannah is doing. I think it's so awesome that so many kids are caring and compassionate and almost two weeks after the accident they haven't forgotten about her.

A car wash fundraiser will be held tomorrow (Sat) at the Taco Time parking lot from 11am -3pm. They will be raffling off some really great items like a Browning X-Bolt 300 Win Caliber rifle donated by Sportman's Corner, gas cards, Winger's gift cards, oil changes and much more. If you're in Price, please come down and get your car washed and pass the word along to all your friends! :)

Pinewood Derby

Hannah's surgery went well yesterday and they loaded her up with pain meds which have totally knocked her out. They decided to be nice today and just let her sleep. She's been sleeping so soundly that the physical therapists even decided to leave her alone.

That's about all there is to report on Hannah's condition for the day. So while she's been sleeping and healing, Jaxton's had a busy afternoon and evening. We invited his best friend over to play and wow, is it different having to keep track of two really busy boys! For those of you who don't know us, we have three girls and our neighborhood is 90% girls so that's all I really know. Jaxton and Jacob were in a different spot, playing a different game about every 3 minutes. I'm exhausted!

This evening we were able to take Jaxton to his Pinewood Derby race. Dave came down and really enjoyed being able to spend the evening with Jaxy and watch his awesome car race. Jaxton's car took 2nd place in his Bear group and won the prize for the Most Realistic. Dave did an great job making the car...it's one of the coolest cars I've ever seen. It wasn't totally finished when the accident happened last week, so his friend, Steve, finished Jaxy's car and a car for Hannah.






Hannah's car was reallycool. Purple and pink with flames on the hood...it beat the overall winner every time down the track!! We'll show her the pics and video when she's more coherent.

Hannah's 1st Surgery

Here are a few pictures from my visit with Hannah today with some pictures of items around Primary Children's Hospital.

When I arrived just after lunch, Hannah was being prepped for her first surgery. At first the doctors were planning on wiring her jaw shut to help the jaw heal, which is fractured; however after reviewing the procedures and risks of damaging her permanent teeth not yet in they decided to insert a metal plate. The metal plate acts like a bandaid bracing the fracture together and will be in place for about 6 weeks at which time the doctors will remove the plate.

Other than this major step, Hannah looked really good. Her swelling continues to decrease. Her bruise on her eye and check are healing (slowly). Because of the surgery she continues to have breathing assistance, but as she gets stronger she will rely less and less on the machine.

Another step taken today was the removal of the breathing tube in her throat and the implementation of a trach. The trach was inserted for safety and possible emergency situations that may arise in the future.

Overall Hannah continues to make positive baby steps...stay tuned for more...by Mark J.

Smile!

Since I don't think it's appropriate to post pics of Hannah in this state I've decided to post pics of her little world right now. This picture shows one corner of Hannah's ICU room. So many people have dropped by and expressed their love and concern and brought balloons, blankets, cards, pictures, stuffed animals and so much more. Here are just a few of the gifts that have been given to help bring comfort and encouragement to Hannah and her family.

Another gift, that's going to the hospital tomorrow, is this Radio Flyer wagon from our neighbor Sam, a veteran of Primary Children's Medical Center. He said a wagon is a must-have in that hospital for a couple of reasons: 1) to cart all the gifts and gear when she changes rooms or taking stuff to the car; and 2) taking Hannah for rides around the hospital as soon as she's ready. He also said to have all the doctors, nurses and specialists sign it so she will always know how many people cared for her at the hospital. What an awesome gift!! Thanks Sam!

Now for the update. Hannah gave us more reasons to be hopeful today. She has spent more and more time off the ventilator last night and today and they're hoping she'll be totally off tomorrow. The docs want to start fixing her jaw and are getting ready to wire her jaw shut so that can start healing. In order to do that she has to be off the ventilator and they've proposed doing a tracheotomy in case she needs help breathing. I'm not going to lie, it disturbs me that they would do that to a little girl but the doc has assured Hannah's parents that it's a minor procedure and it will heal very well. So, we trust the doctors know what they're doing and hope she continues to grow stronger and won't need to use the trach tube. But, with a jaw that's wired shut it sounds like it's time to learn sign language.

Hannah's been responding to pain like most people would...irritation, anger, agitation...and today she responded to be tickled by smiling! Billie said it was sooo cute. We love hearing news like that and hope to have little victories, little celebrations each day.

Hannah's New Buddy

This is Hannah's new companion at the hospital. When we checked in at the hospital last Tues night, the security guard gave this Care Bear to Jaxy to give to Hannah. It's been right next to her in her bed ever since. I wonder if she knows it's there? I wonder if it gives her the comfort we hope it does.

More good news at the end of this day. Hannah was off the ventilator all day long which was a great accomplishment. As soon as she can breath on her own and get enough oxygen she'll be moved out of ICU. She opened her eyes again today but she's pretty groggy so falls back asleep.

Jaxy also had a successful day going back to school. Although he was apprehensive at first, he fell quickly into the routine and even talked about Hannah and what it's like at the hospital. We appreciate all the help and support that is available to him from his teacher, the school counselor and the principal.

Two big days for a brother and sister who are so lucky to have each other.

Saturday Night

I was up in SL for the Young Women's General Meeting and ducked away to visit Dave and Hannah at the hospital. Dave was pretty tired and I interrupted his nap but we had a nice visit. Mr Averett (Hannah's teacher) had brought up two scrapbooks filled with get well cards that all the first graders had made. I read through a few of them and they brought me to tears. Okay, that's really not that hard to do...They were so sweet. One little girl had written, "Hannah, Remember the game we were playing? I miss you. Get well soon." Thanks for all the work you put into that Mr. Averett, Mrs Marchello, Mrs. Erramouspe, and Ms. Ritchie. Hannah's going to love reading those.

Our neighbors Sam and Annie also dropped in for a visit and brought lots of gifts. Sam has been a great help to us since he knows the ins and outs of PCMC.

Yesterday, they took her off the ventilator for an hour and she breathed on her own, although it was labored due to her bruised lung and broken ribs. Last night they took her off the sedation meds and she actually opened her eyes!!!! Yay Hannah! You can do it!! Keep fighting, girl!!!

Dave has read this blog and the comments and is very touched (to say the least). He is so surprised and overwhelmed at the generosity, prayers and well-wishes that have been expressed for his family and wants to tell everyone "Thank you, thank you, thank you".

Fast for Hannah

Our family will be dedicating tomorrow's fast to Hannah and would like to invite any of you fasting types who are able and willing to do that to join us.

Please fast and pray for Hannah.

Neurosurgeon Encouraged

After a long worrisome day we got good news this evening from the neurosurgeon. He said he was encouraged by all the moving and thrashing around she's doing...even under the amount of Morphine she's on. He was encouraged by what he saw on the MRI but wants to give her 36 more hours before they decide to do anything like put a pressure monitor into her skull or take her off the ventilator. The MRI showed that her ligaments are strong and tight around the vertebrate that is broken which is the first one at the base of her skull. They won't have to fuse that. Any surgery that she can avoid is good. The swelling on her brain hasn't increased today. She's crying and making faces like she's in pain. It's sad that those kinds of things are a good sign and celebrated but we'll take what we can get.

We appreciate everyone's prayers for Hannah and her family and I would like to ask that prayers also go out in behalf of the woman who hit her. I can't imagine what she is going through. It was an accident and I'm sure she is suffering also.

If you want to help....

Ok. So in the past I've been a huge skeptic of donation accounts so this is very awkward for me. So many of you want to know how you can help. I don't know what the insurance is going to cover yet but Dave and Billie could use help with everyday expenses like food, gas and rent/mortgage while they're spending all day every day at the hospital and not able to work. An account has been opened in Hannah's name at Eastern Utah Community Credit Union and one in Billie's name at Utah Power Credit Union (both in Price). Any kind of help is so hugely appreciated. We love you all.

"Hurricane" Hannah Knott

I'll be using my blog to update everyone of my niece's condition and recovery from her accident. I just want to start by saying thank you to all of you who have expressed your love and concern for Hannah, Jaxton, Billie and Dave and for our families. It's really quite overwhelming to know of all the people in this community who are willing to help us during this time.

Hannah is a tough little girl with a hard head and we're hoping that will serve her well as her head took most of the impact from hit. She has multiple skull fractures, one that is running down behind her ear, right along the carotid artery. Her orbital is broken as well as her jaw, some ribs, her spine and her pelvis, all on the left side. Oh, and two fingers on her right hand. Surprisingly, the only scrapes are some road rash on her forehead and scratches on her left hand. One of her lungs is also bruised.

The breaks are the least of our concerns though. She has swelling on her brain and her left eye which could cause permanent damage. She is sedated to keep her asleep to let her body heal and get the swelling to go down. The doctors won't give us any forecasts until 72-96 hours after the accident. They expect the swelling to peak in the next couple of days and then start going down, but that could take weeks. She can't open her eyes and isn't responding to commands but does respond to pain. She doesn't like it when they mess with her and kicks her right leg and tries to pull out her IV.

She does have a tube down her throat so they can help her breath. Her organs are all fine, her vitals are good. They help her breath just to make sure she's getting enough oxygen. She's had multiple CT scans which have shown the swelling hasn't increased since Wed afternoon. Her MRI from yesterday showed that they won't need to fuse that skull fracture to protect the carotid artery.

Dave and Billie should be getting a morning update soon. I'll write more later.