Update from Karen

Hello everyone,

I'm sorry it has been so long since a posting. The year has flown by and we are back in a routine of school and work.

Daniel went back to Cincinnati Children's Hospital on August 21. He received a good report from Dr. Wood. I think Dr. Wood was itching to do a Bronch scope on Daniel but he wouldn't touch him since he looked and sounded so good. He did get to see Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Boesch. These are our miracle workers that will always have a special place in our lives!

Friends held a skeet shoot August 16th, at Gentry's Farm, for Daniel. It was wonderful seeing friends from high school, horse trainers, church friends, family and hunting buddies come together to support our family. This event helped pay mounting medical bills.

Daniel is looking forward to hunting season which opens Nov. 29th. His love of hunting or maybe I should say obsession of duck hunting carried him through his illness last year.

What about those Titans? We watch, cheer and yell at the TV each Sunday. Keep it going!!
It was good to hear from Brenda and Shannon, Daniel's RRT. WE continue to lavage every 3 hrs. He takes it well:)

Thank you for your prayers, they have worked miracles in our lives.
Sincerely,
Karen

Back to School and the County Fair

Hey everybody, I had my first home infusion yesterday. The nurse had to stick me 3 times but I liked being at home better than the hospital. Mom said it will get easier once she knows my skin and veins.

I'm headed back to school full time this year.

We went to the county fair last night, it was hot.
Gatlin rode all the rides and didn't get sick!
We just laughed at him yelling when he was upside down.

I think the clay shoot will be fun. Thanks for supporting us:)

-Daniel

The Daniel Jones Clays Shoot

Take a Shot at Hunter's Syndrome

Saturday, August 16, 2008
Gentry's Farm Gun Club - Franklin, TN

All shooters must bring gun, eye and ear protection.
Ammunition for clays shoot provided.

Morning shoot sign-in - 8:00AM
Morning shoot begins - 9:00AM
Lunch provided - Noon
Afternoon shoot sign-in - 12:30PM
Afternoon shoot begins - 1:00PM

Gun Raffle and Wobble Trap
Fun Games - Prizes Awarded!

All proceeds benefit Daniel Jones and the fight against Hunter's Syndrome.

Thanks go out to Scott and Melanie Gentry for organizing this event. For more information you can contact Scott at 566-7700.
Checks for donations should be made out to "PNBBOF Daniel Jones." Donations can be mailed to Greg Gunnells at 4220 Crowder Rd, Franklin, TN 37064 and he will see that they are forwarded to the Catastrophic Illness Trust which is handled through Pinnacle Financial Partners. Checks for participants in the shoot can be taken during sign in on August 16th. If you have any questions please call Greg at 615-337-4763.

"Daniel is a great kid who deserves a great day." - Greg Gunnells

Summertime!

Hey everybody, I'm having a good summer! Dad and I went fishing a few weeks ago and caught 180 brim. We only kept the large ones because he got tired of cleaning them. We've been going to the lake every weekend. We got a knee board so Gatlin is having fun with that and I laugh when he crashes:) We go to the pool in the afternoon each day.

Dr. E., I have an appointment with Dr. Wood on Aug. 21st at 3:20. I hope to see you then. Dad will be taking me because Mom is going back to work. Are you still running?

Take care and keep praying,
Daniel Man

Blog Makeover

Check out the new look of the blog. Hope everyone has a great day!

Gone Fishin

Hey everybody, I went to the Franklin rodeo this weekend. Mom and I worked for a charity called, This Horse Is Silent. You can read more about it at www.thiscares.org Mom said she is glad we are hunters and not bull riders! I only have one more day of school at Page and one day of homebound!! We are headed to the lake this weekend. Gone Fishin:)
Thanks for blogging and keep praying,
Daniel Man

Talkin bout a bunch of shift work ;-)

Hey everybody, I'm a working man. I worked 4 hours at a golf course today. It was beautiful outside, too nice for being inside!!!
Thanks for my birthday messages.

RUN, DR.E, RUN!! I am proud of you:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Today was Daniel's birthday everyone. Be sure to wish him a happy birthday in the next few days. I hope it was fabulous. I believe there was some Famous Dave's involved in the celebration.

Reading the Classics...

Hey everybody,
I made it to school Tues and Thur. last week. I stayed 3 hours and suctioned myself.
Dr. Elizabeth, I have been reading the classics, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Jungle Book, White Fang and now starting Treasure Island. My teacher makes me write 3 sentences about each chapter.
Gatlin and I have been turkey hunting. Dad cooked one and it was so dry he threw it out.
Gatlin's ball team is doing pretty good.
I hope you have a good week.
Keep praying,
Daniel Man

Spring Time Update

Hey everybody, sorry I haven't blogged in so long. We went to the lake for spring break. The weather was warm but it was windy. Gatlin was fishing in the cove early one morning, trying to pull up the anchor and he fell in the lake. The water was around 53 degrees:) His head never went under he got back in the canoe so fast. His baseball team won their first game. They have 4 games this week and a tournament this coming weekend.
I am going back to school this Tuesday for a couple of hours. I'm not really excited about it.
I've gotten really good at bowling on the Wii. My highest score is 220!!
Stay in touch..
Thanks for blogging and for your prayers,
Daniel Man

Dr. Wood says I'm looking good

Hey everybody, Mom, Dad and I went to Cincinnati for a check-up last Tuesday. Dr. Wood said everything looked and sounded good so I don't have to go back until summer!! I'm sorry I missed seeing a lot of the nurses.
We had Gatlin's 13th birthday dinner last night. He is trying out for baseball this week. My little cousins were here.
Duck hunting season is over so now we are looking forward to crappie fishing.
City Tara, we wanted both teams to win. It is cool that brothers won the Super bowl.
We have a meeting with my teachers at Page High this week. I may go back after spring break.
Take care and stay in touch.

Thanks for blogging and keep praying,
Daniel Man

Motivation for Marathon

Take a look at this inspiring story. Click the pictures to read the full letter.

Hey everybody!!

Hey everybody, I'm feeling better! I've gained 12 pounds, the wound on my bottom has healed and the blood clots are gone so I don't have to take Coumidin anymore. I made it through church today without being suctioned:)
My teacher is coming on Wednesday and Friday this week. She leaves me a lot of work during the week.
I went duck hunting on Saturday. We killed 26 ducks. I shot 3 of them!
Can you believe Eli is still in the playoffs and Peyton lost? I hope New England goes undefeated.
I'm going to sit with my 98 year old great grandmother tomorrow. She is staying at Jean-Jean's house.
I hope you have a nice week.
Thanks for blogging and keep praying,
Daniel Man

Happy New Year!

Hey everybody, Happy New Year!! I am eating and sleeping better. I still have to be suctioned a lot. I have gained 12 lbs. Gatlin and I got a Wii for Christmas. I am pretty good at beating Mom and Dad bowling. Baseball and golf are harder. Mom enjoys the tennis but has yet to win:)
I will be going back to Cincinnati on Feb. 5th for an appointment with Dr. Wood. I hope my stay is short.
I haven't been hunting lately because it is so cold here, that stinks:(
Dr. Elizabeth, tell everyone in your office hi for me. I will see you soon.
I start homebound school Monday. My teacher will come on Mon. and Wed. for 1 1/2 hours each day.
I hope you had a nice holiday.
Thanks for blogging and keep praying,
Daniel

THANK YOU!

Dear Friends and Family,

THANK YOU for your prayers, cards, emails, calls and visits. We didn't open any of Daniel's cards while he was in the ICU. As he became alert, he would open a few each day. The first few he opened like birthday cards expecting money to fall out. I told him they were filled with prayers not money. Your words describing Daniel's smile and hugs were ingrained in his mind. While at school, in the hospital, he had to write a bio-poem. In this poem he had to write two words that described him and he wrote, SMILES and HUGS. He heard your words and took them to heart. Your words of encouragement gave us strength to get through each day!

The last four months have tested our faith and been an opportunity to gain wisdom. It is a shame that both are strengthened and gained through adversity. My favorite prayer throughout my life has been "The Serenity Prayer", God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change: courage to change those things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Little did I know that this prayer would be my breath prayer and help me determine my path.

I so very much appreciate my Mom and Dad being with us every step of the way. They were always there offering support and encouragement. Mom and I would laugh as one would say exactly what the other was thinking. Daniel was quick to tell others that Jean-Jean got him in the clinical trial at UNC. Aunt Kim stayed with us offering Mom a break to return home and get some much needed rest. Kim took care of Shotgun, Daniel's fish, spoiled Daniel and helped me with leg work. He knows their steadfast love never wavers.

I'm sending a huge THANK YOU to my dear friend, Jessica Blackburn, for keeping each of you informed in the most poetic way. Jessica has a gift of putting thoughts into words. I've told her more than once she sure made me sound smart:) Tommy and I appreciate her daily devotion to delivering you the news on Daniel.

THANK YOU, also, to friends and my brother and sister-in-law, Greg and Connnie, for keeping Gatlin's life and routine as normal as possible. They picked him up from football practice, fed him delicious food and helped him study for tests. Your help gave us a peace of mind. Gatlin is a great brother, wonderful son and a lot of fun!

We are creating a new normal in our home. Each day is getting a little easier and more comfortable. Daniel thinks I have to be at his side every minute yet he has the knowledge to train the nurses on his care:) He told the home health care nurse to suction going in and out, he reminds her of the length on the suction catheter and gets supplies for her when needed. Aunt Angela, Tommy's sister, comes by each day to offer help and moral support.

Daniel's fight to survive has amazed many people. He left the ICU nurses and doctors in awe as he was rolled to the trach floor the doctors said, "There goes our mascot." His spirit impressed his care givers as they continued to visit and watch his recovery.

Daniel will begin homebound school next week. It was recommended that he stay out of school during the flu season. He will miss his friends but this time allows him to gain strength and rest when needed.

Please come by when you have a minute to visit. Daniel's days get long and a new face is always welcome. You can continue to blog Daniel, he enjoys hearing from each of you. Once again, thank you for your unconditional love shown to our family. We are truly blessed!

Hugs and smiles,
Karen

Daniel and Gatlin

Birthday Extravaganza

Hey everybody, we had a celebration tonight!! I missed 7 birthdays while in the hospital. Uncle Greg turned 51, Aunt Angela 50, Aunt Kim 43, cousin Jarratt 25, his wife Lindsey 25, cousin Clint 23 and baby Japeth 1 year old. We had a lot of food and a really good time being together.
My 98 year old great-grandmother was there, too.
Dad, Gatlin and I went hunting this weekend and mom went shopping. Gatlin and I checked out the wrapped gifts under the tree but none of them were for us.
Tara, we did get your Christmas card and I show everybody my photo album where you were the patient:)
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas.
Thanks for blogging and keep praying.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Hey everybody, I hope you are in the Christmas spirit. We decorated the Christmas tree last night. Mom bought a pre-lit tree and Dad said he needed sunglasses it is so bright. Gatlin and I liked our red-neck tree with white blinking lights, colored lights and shot gun shell lights.
I had a low fever two nights ago but feel a lot better now. I rented movies today to fill my time. I start homebound school next week. The nurses were afraid of the germs, viruses and staff that is going around. So I will be out of school until Spring break or the end of the year. Mom isn't going back to work either.
Come visit me if you get a chance.
Thanks for blogging and keep praying,
Daniel Man

New Pictures...

Out shopping...

Hey everybody, I went to Academy Sports today and bought shotgun shells with my gift certificate. I bought Gatlin a couple of boxes, too. Dad cooks the duck like roast with carrots and potatoes and serves it over wild rice. It is really good.
We give a lot of the ducks away and freeze some.
Dr. Elizabeth, believe it or not, I didn't have to be suctioned from 9am-1pm in the blind. I was lavaged and went back out until dark. But during the day at home I still have to be suctioned a lot. Apria only sent 100 catheters and Mom had to call and get more.
We miss the great people in Cincinnati but don't miss the hospital.
Come visit when you can.
Thanks for blogging and keep praying,
Daniel Man