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Jerry's Story

For those of you who have seen our DVD, you may have seen that the DVD is dedicated to our friend, Jerry. This man has been a "once in a lifetime friend" to me through the years. If anyone could go through life and have a friend like this man, you can count yourself blessed!

In early September (Sept. 12,2011), Jerry was out in the fields cutting hay and apparently had an allergic reaction to the hay and began struggling to breathe. His son, Jeff, rushed him to the hospital. When they reached just outside the emergency room entrance, Jerry collapsed. The trauma team took him in and began CPR which lasted for an undetermined - debatable - period of time.

They were able to resuscitate Jerry, but he was then put on life support.

Shortly after Jerry's wife, Teri, arrived at the emergency room, the doctors told her that Jerry was as good as dead. He would never recover from this and she should "pull the plug."

Teri, a woman of devout faith in The Great Physician, Jesus, would not "pull the plug" on her husband. Day after day, the doctors told her the same thing, "Jerry will not recover, he will never be more than you see today. On life support, a vegetable, with NO HOPE of ever being anything different."

For the next eight days, Jerry was apparently kept alive by "life support."

Then, on the ninth day, Jerry began to breathe on his own. His heart was beating normally and the only thing keeping him alive at this point was a feeding tube. Yet, he was diagnosed as being in a coma, a vegetative state, with NO HOPE for recovery.

Daily, the doctors told Teri and her children, Heather and Jeff, there was NO HOPE. Jerry would never recover.

Yet, Teri persisted. Pleading to God for a miracle, Teri clinged to hope that The Great Physician would intervene and heal this wonderful man.

Through this battle, not only did people in the medical profession insist and encourage Teri to end this - but some people who claim to be followers of Christ told Teri it was okay to give up and let Jerry go.

Believing that God's people should always choose and walk after "life" and "life more abundantly" Teri would not give in and kept a round the clock vigil around Jerry's bed looking for any indication from Jerry that healing was taking place.

After several weeks in this condition, Jerry finally started to display some signs of life - beyond the obvious - breathing on his own, and a healthy, normal heart rate.

When Teresa and I started visiting Jerry in the hospital, he displayed signs to us that gave us the same hope that Teri and the kids had. When we spoke Jerry's name, he would open his eyes and turn towards the voice. Granted, it did not happen every time. When it did, it did not last long, and Jerry would fall back into a deep sleep. But to us, it was a sign that there was life in Jerry, there was brain activity, he was not dead.

The first time I arrived at the hospital, I was fully expecting to see Jerry barely hanging on to life - with death imminent at any minute. But when I walked into the hospital and told him I was there, he briefly opened his eyes and turned his head toward me. I was stunned.

I walked out of the room and asked the nurses if this was something new. They said that he had started doing that the day before I got there. I stood in amazement and said, "Well isn't this a sign that there's hope?" One nurse, instantly replied, "There's always hope." While another nurse, looked down, and said, "Well, they pretty much all do that." In other words, Jerry opening his eyes and apparently looking in my direction was not anything to get excited about.

I didn't accept that. I believe to this day, he heard me and knew I was there.

Over the next couple of weeks, his wakefulness seemed to last a little longer and it seemed as though we could wake him up by standing over him and talking to him.

Though the nurses there are mostly very kind, my impression is that they were just trying to be kind - all the while believing that Jerry would end up like the rest of the "patients" that are in his "state." Most who come to the hospital in the condition that Jerry is in - do not come out alive.

With each subsequent visit to see Jerry, I became more and more convinced that Jerry was alive and was aware of the people who were around him. When Jerry would open his eyes, they were very glassy and in his eyes - to be honest - did not appear to be very promising for a recovery. But still, his eyes were open - and he would turn his face to the voices speaking to him. We ALL took this as Hope - even though the doctors and nurses would tell us it was not anything different than anything else others do who are "in this state."

After going through this for almost three weeks, we all agreed that Jerry was desperately trying to wake up - but the drugs he was being given were keeping him from waking up.

When someone is in the condition Jerry is in, it is so hard to know what to do.

The emergency room / trauma doctors are fantastic. They save lives - there is not doubt about that - and we do not dispute that one bit. But when it comes to other forms of "treatment" that say drugs, drugs, drugs are what is needed - then it becomes even more of an uncertainty.

Last Wed., Oct., 12, Teresa and I went back to Springfield to see Jerry. Teri was not in the room at the time so we spent some time with Jerry. When speaking to him, again, he would open his eyes, look my way, but then fall back off to sleep. After a while, I decided to go find Teri. I knew she was there because her things were in the room. I met her coming up the hallway, and poor Teri, for the first time in weeks, the battle was easily seen. She had been without sleep and was visibly upset. We went into the chapel and sat down. My heart started racing because I had a feeling some sort of "bad news" was coming.

I am going to tell you this - and though it should be extremely disturbing to ANYONE - not just believers - but ANY caring individual - I'm not going to sugar coat it.

Teri told us that the doctors had just told her she had basically only one choice to make. That choice was to cut off Jerry's food supply. Teri responded by telling the doctors she believed that if the drugs were removed, Jerry would improve. Their response was that removing the drugs would cause Jerry more brain damage. Well good grief!!!! What difference would that make? If they wanted Teri to kill Jerry by cutting off his food supply, what difference would it make if he had more brain damage by removing the drugs?????? Am I just a total idiot here, or does anyone else see the ridiculous choice the doctors wanted Teri to make?

Again, Teri told the doctors she would do nothing to end Jerry's "life." And at this point, she insisted that the drugs be removed. At Teri's insistence, and no doubt as an appeasement, the drugs were removed and the feeding tube left in.

Two days later, Teresa received a phone call from Teri - who was laughing, crying, and rejoicing all at once. Teri told Teresa that JERRY HAD SAT UP ON THE EDGE OF HIS BED, WAS EATING ICE CHIPS, HAD SPOKEN HIS NAME, AND WAS RESPONDING TO EVERY VERBAL COMMAND GIVEN TO HIM BY A SPEECH THERAPIST FROM THE HOSPITAL.

Jerry's son, Jeff and daughter, Heather were at Jerry's bedside witnessing all of this.

At one point, the speech therapist, overcome with emotion, began to cry as she told Jerry to move his left leg - to which he did. They watched as he moved his right leg and toes on her request. They continued as he moved his tongue to the left side of his cheek, then back to the right side. As she placed her hand over his trachea tube, she said, "Can you tell me your name?" TO WHICH HE REPLIED, "JERRY!" Yes, he spoke his name to the speech therapist. And then told her "Hello."

Upon hearing this news, Teresa and I rushed to the hospital as soon as we could.

When we got there, Teri told us Jerry had a little setback with his breathing and that an acupuncturist was coming in to help him.

I have to admit that I have never spent much time looking into acupuncture - but I have to tell you that after seeing Jerry respond to her treatment, I was amazed. Within minutes of this lady beginning to work on Jerry, his breathing improved dramatically and for the first time since I had seen him, his mouth was closed and he was breathing - maybe better than I've ever seen him breathe - even before all this happened.

I began to speak with Jerry. He looked straight into my eyes and his eyes were crystal clear. I asked Jerry if he knew who I was and he nodded Yes.

I can tell you that after seeing Jerry in this hospital for these weeks, I know every single movement he makes. I know what is involuntary and what is not. I know the reaction to loud noises. I know when he is struggling to breathe from a buildup of mucous.

BUT HIS NODDING TO ME WAS NOT INVOLUNTARY. HE WAS COMMUNICATING WITH ME.

Jerry had helped me with a water pump on my car about 3 or 4 months ago and I asked him if he remembered helping me. Without hesitation, he nodded his head Yes. A few minutes later, the nurses came in the room and I asked Jerry again about the water pump and he again shook his head Yes. I looked at the nurses to make sure they saw what I saw - and both nurses had seen it - and you could see the joy and amazement all over their faces!!!

I continued my conversation with Jerry regarding some other things Jerry and I had been tinkering with over the previous months before all this. He clearly nodded yes and no to our discussion.

At one point, I asked Jerry if he was tired, wanted to rest and wanted me to quit talking to him. He nodded NO.

Jerry was so WIDE AWAKE I did not want to leave his side. There is absolutely no doubt he knew who I was and what we were talking about. He had pink rosy cheeks, his eyes were bright and clear and except for the fact he was still just too weak to speak - EVERYTHING seemed like the good ole Jerry I have known.

Today is Oct 21 and I have not been able to get back to this hospital since Oct 19 - but Teri tells me that he is still nodding and communicating - though he is sleeping more.

There is a battle that is raging and we are looking for some answers.

Jerry began having seizures as a result of the drugs being removed. We believe it probably would have been best to remove the drugs a little at a time as opposed to all at once. But nonetheless, something needs to be done about the seizures but with something other than drugs that will keep him from recovery.

I have been researching Anoxic Brain Injuries, which is what he was diagnosed with and very little is out there because the "doctors" rarely - if ever - give anyone hope for recovery.

We do NOT believe Jerry has ABI. Or, if he does, it is not severe.

If anyone knows any other treatments for seizures that will not hinder his recovery - please contact us asap.

cma@alternativepowervideo.com

Please forward this to as many people as you can. Time is of the essence, obviously.

Thank you. Charlie

UPDATE 10-22

Teresa and I spent the afternoon with Jerry, his wife and daughter yesterday. The doctor put Jerry back on the seizure medicine so Jerry was back "out" again. He slept the entire time. However, there is a significant occurrence to tell you about.

Before the doctor put him back on the seizure meds, he came in to the room to speak with Teri. He grabbed Jerry's hand and told him to squeeze his hand - to which Jerry did - instantly.

The doctor was not in the room when the speech therapist witnessed Jerry's first awakening. But of course, he was told about it. His response was less than positive, in that, he said "sometimes the stars are aligned and things like this happen." Anyway, that doesn't matter to any of us. What does matter is that we ALL KNOW - including his doctor - that Jerry is alive, and when the medications are limited or removed - he wakes up and communicates.

Yesterday, Teri leaned over and spoke some loving words to Jerry - and Jerry responded by mouthing the words, "I love you" back to Teri.

The doctor has now changed his mind about Jerry and is proceeding with treatment - instead of preparation for death.

I spoke with one of the nurses yesterday and asked her if she had witnessed Jerry's awakening the other day. She said she was not working at the time - but said her husband was. Her husband had walked into Jerry's room and as all the nurses do when they enter the room - he said, "Hey Jerry, how ya doing today?" But this time, Jerry shrugged his shoulders and gave the nurse an "Urrrr," as if to say "I've been better, get me out of here."

This nurse told his wife he nearly fell to the floor when he witnessed this.

The attitude from everyone that entered Jerry's room yesterday was totally different than anything we've seen since Jerry has been there. They were all very positive, very upbeat. All were speaking to Jerry as if he were awake, rather than just lying there waiting to die.

The doctor is now slowly removing the drugs and replacing them with "wakeup" medications.

Rehabilitation has been the goal for all of us for days now. We all know Jerry has to get out of that hospital and into a rehab center. We believe this week will be a huge week for Jerry. Teri is researching centers to take Jerry to and hopefully, before much longer, he'll be out of there.

PLEASE REMEMBER - this is a man who - FROM DAY ONE - the doctors said, "He is dead. If anything, he will only be a vegetable and will NEVER recover. Pull the plug and get on with it."

Yesterday (Oct. 22) was 40 days since this happened to Jerry. If the vast majority of people close to Jerry's situation had their way, there would have been a funeral weeks ago. Instead, there's a homecoming celebration being planned!!!!!!!!!

Please continue to pray for Jerry and his family. Their battle is but a small one compared to the WAR that has been declared on LIFE. When word of victories in these smaller battles spreads - the enemies of LIFE will suffer many setbacks.

Thank you to everyone who has sent emails for alternative methods to dealing with Jerry's recovery. Please keep spreading the word. Please keep Jerry and his family in your prayers.

"The effectual, frevent prayer of a righteous man, availeth much." Continue praying and continue asking God to lead us in the paths of righteousness. Both are required!

UPDATE OCT 24 (From Teri)

Update for Jerry is he is awake this morning and the doctors from rehab came and watched Jerry and do not believe he is having seizure activity. They believe it is muscle spasms and are researching a med to help him.

Respiratory is putting in a speaking valve for a minute today to see if I can communicate with him.

Keep praying. God is for Jerry Canino.

UPDATE OCT 25

We spoke with Heather last night and she said Jerry was wide awake. After Jerry squeezing the doctor's hand on command - he has changed his diagnosis to "profound weakness." This past Sun., was day 40. It is expected that one would have "profound weakness" after an ordeal such as this. Heather told the doctor, "No problem, God can handle this, too."

Heather put the phone up to Jerry's ear and I told him how excited we were to get back there - which we will do at some point today. I spoke with him about some things we needed "catching up on." Heather got back on the phone and told me Jerry was intently listening and responding by nodding his head. She said NO DOUBT Jerry knew who he was talking to - and what we were talking about.

For some reason, the speaking part of the trach tube was not completed yesterday. Maybe today.

WE ARE CLOSE TO FULL PLANNING STAGE FOR JERRY'S HOMECOMING PARTY!

Anyone that would like to send get well wishes and notes to Jerry, please send them to:

Charlie Steward
305 South Kyler #511
Monett, Missouri 65708

We will make sure he gets them!

UPDATE OCT 26

Yesterday, Teresa and I went back to Springfield to see Jerry. When I walked into the room, Jerry was wide awake. It was almost like visiting someone in a hospital who was there for something much more "routine." I was really excited to begin speaking with him. I noticed the trach tube still in, so I knew he wouldn't be talking back to me. Nonetheless, I began talking with Jerry.

I had the water pump with me again and held it up to his face and said, "Here it is, Jerry. Remember this?" HE INSTANTLY GRINNED FROM EAR TO EAR!!!! There is absolutely NO DOUBT he knew what he was looking at, knew the whole significance of the water pump and laughed when he saw it!

( The significance of the water pump is that for a good while, I had been fighting an overheating problem with one of our cars. I had spoken with several mechanics concerning the problem - and none of them told me to change the water pump. Jerry was adamant that if I changed the water pump, that would solve my problem. The other mechanics were just as adamant that my problem was NOT the water pump - because it wasn't leaking. Anyway, at Jerry's insistence, I changed the water pump and of course, that fixed my problem. The impellers on the water pump had rusted away. Jerry had asked me to save the pump for him so he could see it. This was several months before Jerry entered the hospital. )

I continued telling Jerry about our new batteries that had come in and how well they were performing. I'd ask him questions and he'd respond with head shakes - UNMISTAKABLE HEAD NODS - with the right answers and the right times.

Shortly after we arrived, Jeff was leaving to get Heather something to eat. Jeff told Jerry he was heading out but would return shortly. Jerry mouthed, "Okay," to Jeff.

Heather told us Jerry mouthed the words "I love you" to her yesterday morning. Jerry also sat up in his bed for 35 minutes yesterday with nearly no support at all.

Jerry had a big day of therapy yesterday and Heather told us at 3:30pm that by the time we would get there, he'd probably be sleeping. We arrived at 5:00pm and he was wide awake.

When he is awake, it is very difficult to leave his bedside. At one point, there was a "lull" in our conversation and I looked at Jerry and he we was looking at the television. I asked him, "Jerry, are you watching the Weather Channel?" He nodded his head, "Yes."

Jerry is a wealth of information. And he is always telling me "What you need to do....." Last night, I said to him, "Jerry, if I had a dollar for every time you've told me what to do, I'd be rich." He looked straight into my face and grinned from ear to ear.

Just before I left, I told him, "Jerry, you've always been real good at telling other people what they should do. But this time, I'm going to tell you something and want you to promise you'll do this. As much as you are going to want to get up out of this bed yourself, you need to give it some time and not try it yourself. You've helped so many people, it's time for you to let them help you a little. So, please, don't try to get up by yourself." He nodded his head Yes to me. He knew exactly what I was saying - and he knew exactly why I was saying it to him. He knows he's in the hospital. He knows he needs to recover. Only God and Jerry know if Jerry knows everything that has been said and done the last 43 days - but at least he is fully aware of what is going on right now.

Please continue to pray for Jerry and his family.

Anyone that would like to send get well wishes and notes to Jerry, please send them to:

Charlie Steward
305 South Kyler #511
Monett, Missouri 65708

We will make sure he gets them!

UPDATE OCT 30

I feel like I need to remind people that as recently as Oct. 12 - only 18 days ago - the doctors told Teri her only option was to remove Jerry's feeding tube and let him die. This, after daily telling her there is no hope, he will forever be a "vegetable, blah blah blah."

YESTERDAY, JERRY TOLD TERI "I'M ALL HERE!!!!!!"

Teresa and I just returned from seeing Jerry this evening. Jerry is SPEAKING!!! It was so awesome to hear his voice, to see him smile, to carry on a 2 way vocal conversation. I don't mean to say that he is speaking full sentences and is talking totally normal - but I am saying that once he regains his strength - he will be. His words are few - but they are clear, coherent, and meaningful.

Jerry was moving his hands around. The swelling in his hands and feet is nearly gone.

You know how sometimes you talk to someone and the answer you are expecting is a 50/50? And sometimes the individual gives you a motion with their hand by shaking it, as if to respond yes or no, maybe, it could "go either way?" I told Jerry that I had really gotten to know Teri a lot better since this has happened. I said, "I don't know who's tougher, you or Teri." He laughed and shook his hand to me in the manner I described above.

Remember, Jerry has been in the hospital now going on nearly 50 days. The speaking apparatus was just put in yesterday - but I'll assure you this is the same ole Jerry and now it is just a matter of time before he goes home.

There is not really any reason why Jerry is still in ICU and we're sure he'll be moved in the next couple of days.

The next step for Jerry is - guess what? - REMOVAL OF HIS FEEDING TUBE!

Jerry is scheduled to start eating his own food beginning tomorrow. In the next day or so, his trach tube is going to be removed. This will pave the way for his leaving ICU. We are all confident that once he is eating good food again - he will continue to improve - and probably at a speedier pace.

Heather told us tonight she thinks he will be heading home by the end of next week. We are certainly praying to that end.

This is a story that needs to continue circling the globe! As soon as Jerry is able, I'm going to ask him to let me video tape him and I'll have the video on this site.

We are probably not going to be able to get back to the hospital until Thurs., of this week. But I'll continue to post updates as I receive them.

Please continue to pray for Jerry and his family.

Anyone that would like to send get well wishes and notes to Jerry, please send them to:

Charlie Steward
305 South Kyler #511
Monett, Missouri 65708

We will make sure he gets them!

UPDATE OCT 30

Recently, we were on The Information Corner telling Jerry's Story. Click below to hear the radio interviews:

Hour One | Hour Two

UPDATE NOV 1

I just spoke with Jeff to get an update on Jerry.

Jerry has now begun eating some of his own food again. The details are still a little sketchy for me, but I do know that Jerry is eating food from his mouth. He is sitting up more and unassisted.

Jerry was assisted somewhat with raising his hand so he could scratch his nose!

As more details come in, I'll continue to have them posted here.

UPDATE NOV 3

I went up to visit Jerry this afternoon and was there to see some of his Physical Therapy. Jerry is getting his strength back. He performed all the resistance, push, pulls with each request from his therapist. His left side is a little weaker than his right side, but still he did everything he was asked. At one point, the therapist asked Jerry to pull his right toes BACK 10 times. We sat there and watched as Jerry pulled his toes back TEN TIMES!

This reaffirmed to me that I believe Jerry's diagnosis of Anoxic Brain Injury was misdiagnosed. I'm not criticizing anyone or blaming anyone - I'm just saying my opinion.

Heather asked Jerry if he wanted some ice chips and he told her yes. So she started giving him the ice. With no hesitation, no struggle, Jerry sat there and ate the ice chips. After a while, it was time for Heather to head home to take care of some things. Teri took over the ice chips and said, "Well, I'll give you more ice chips, but I need a kiss first." Jerry instantly raised his head off the pillow, puckered up and gave Teri a kiss.

Jerry is ALL THERE MENTALLY and now his focus is on getting back physically. Knowing all that he has been through for over 50 days now shows just how tough this guy really is.

Jerry's son-in-law sent me an email yesterday telling me that he had just finished visiting with Jerry. He asked Jerry if "he needed anything." Jerry responded by saying, "A Million dollars." That's Jerry!

Last night before we were leaving, I told Jerry it was time for me to go. He responded, "Where ya' headed?" Jerry has asked me that same question in the same manner "Where ya headed?" a hundred times. It's the same Jerry!

My youngest son, Jason, came in to visit Jerry last night also. He saw Jerry there talking, communicating, sitting in a chair watching TV, etc. As we were leaving, I walked Jason into the Chapel room where - barely more than 3 weeks ago - Teri told Teresa and I the doctors had just told her to "pull Jerry's feeding tube" and starve him to death. I asked Jason if it looked to him like there was "No Hope" for Jerry. He instantly shook his head in disbelief.

Please continue to pray for Jerry's continued recovery. He is still having the "tremors" and they are keeping him worn-out.

UPDATE NOV 4

Guess who's OUT of ICU?

I ran into Teri as I was entering the hospital today. She said, "Oh, good. We were just calling you. Jerry's been moved to a different room." Instantly, I knew who was OUT of ICU. She told me the new room number and I hurried to it. We are joking with Jerry about it - the room is the closest one to the entrance / exit! Jerry is now scheduled to leave this hospital Wed., Nov. 9.

When I entered the room, the nurses were making some final adjustments to the latest transitional trach tube which is just a few days away from being totally removed. There are no "machines" at all in Jerry's new room. He still has a connection for the feeding tube, but Heather said she was going to ask for it be completely removed. I didn't see any of the "food" the hospital has been giving Jerry.

Heather said Jerry had just finished eating Chicken Fried Steak and gravy.

Jerry and I spoke again before the physical therapist came in and worked with him. When Jerry was awake, he was wide awake. I was able to understand his speaking better today, it was a little stronger.

From my viewpoint, Jerry is exhausted. The "tremors" are wearing him out - at least in my opinion. I believe that when the "tremors" stop - Jerry is going to get his strength back quicker.

There is NO hesitation in any response Jerry gives. If you ask him something, you get an immediate vocal response. If the physical therapist asks him to move something or push or pull, it's immediate. The only issue that I see is a lack of strength (and the tremors).

We are into 50 days of Jerry lying in a bed. The lack of strength goes without saying.

Please pray that God will give Teri the wisdom to make the right choices. At this point, the doctors seem to be giving way to all of Teri's decisions. Pray that God will show Teri how or what needs to be done for the tremors to stop - without drugs. Jerry's biggest battle right now is that he is in a place that believes drugs are the only answer. I'm not being critical - I'm just making an observation. The staff at this hospital all seem to be focused now on Jerry's recovery and they seem to be doing all they know to do for him.

UPDATE NOV 5

I was only able to visit with Jerry for a few minutes this morning. (Our boys played their final game of the National Homeschool Tip Off Basketball Tournament in Springfield.) Teri told me again that Jerry will be leaving the hospital this coming Wed., and will be going to rehab for 20 days. She said they were going to try to see if Jerry could stand up this afternoon! I haven't heard back yet if they did, but whether they did yesterday or not, the time is getting closer when they will try.

Teri hasn't told Jerry many details as to what has been going on with him last 50 or so days - but I told him he has an awesome story to tell! He looked at me, smiled and shook his head. I told him I had to go, and he instantly responded, "See ya later."

UPDATE NOV 10

Jerry's scheduled date to leave has been postponed.

UPDATE NOV 20

Due to means beyond our control, we've not been able to get back to the hospital since our last update. But we finally made it back yesterday. When I walked into the room, I immediately saw that Jerry had improved tremendously since we last saw him. Physically, Jerry is doing excellent. He is regularly moving his arms and legs, drinks from his own cup by himself, points to things he is talking about, reaches out to shake hands and hold on, and many other things besides.

There is no doubt the "drugs" they have him on are continuing to hinder his recovery. Teri had the valporate acid stopped and the results were "not good" (Teri's words). This is the whole crisis that Teri is trying to sort through. How to get Jerry off the drugs, without causing damage that removing the drugs causes. Please continue to pray for Teri that God will reveal the necessary information she needs to make the right decisions. This is just not as easy as some might think.

Personally, I believe they have him addicted to the drugs and he's not physically strong enough yet to fight the kind of battle he'd be in with a withdrawal type of situation. Day after day he lay there with "doctors" saying "No help, let him go...." Then, after he wakes up, now he's been drugged up for so long, how do you get him off the drugs without the side effects of that hurting him more?

You can sit right there and have a perfectly normal conversation with him. In many ways, it's the SAME JERRY that's always been there. He says the same things he used to do. His hand gestures and other movements are the same as always. Then, out of the blue, he makes a comment that lets you know something just isn't totally right.

When I got there yesterday, he asked me if I'd help him get his things together and out to the truck so he could get out of there. I wish it was that easy. He wants to go home. He wants to leave.

He can stand up. He's getting much stronger. But then a tremor hits, and he falls. "Tremors" are side effects of the valporate acid. Yet, if he comes completely off it, they get worse.

I'm aggravated because I feel he was misdiagnosed from day one. His "treatment" has been based on an incorrect diagnosis and now he's addicted to drugs that are used on people with ABI's. That's just my opinion and I'm sure the "doctors" would say I was an idiot. But that's the way I see it, and that's my opinion.

I am optimistic though because as I said above, from the 2 weeks that I have not been able to get up there - through yesterday - his improvement was incredible.

I failed to mention also that Jerry was trying to tell Heather something about the weight of whatever it was he was trying to convey to her. He was talking about something weighing 26 tons. Heather gave him a pen and some paper and he wrote 26 on the paper.

Please keep praying for Jerry and for Teri and Jeff. Teri is so tired. Remember, she's taking care of her 88 year old mother, also. With Jerry being down for so long, the financial burden is now hitting Teri hard. In addition to cards and letters, if anyone feels impressed to send Teri some money, that is needed also.

UPDATE Jan 11, 2012

The month of December was a tumultuous month of ups and downs for Jerry. But the new year has brought some lasting changes - finally - and it appears Jerry is finally heading home.

Teri has been trapped in the political quagmire of insurance, Medicare, etc., and this disaster of rules and regulations nearly cost Jerry his life a couple of times during the month of December.

Jerry was continuing to improve greatly while he was under the care of Select. The problems were that the "paperwork" would not let him stay at Select any longer because he was doing too well. But he couldn't transfer to "rehab" because he wasn't doing well enough. The details would make anyone crazy. But to make a long story short - Jerry did get moved from Select to another hospital. Within a day or two of his transfer - Jerry nearly died because of human error. This "episode" meant that Jerry once again qualified for a return to Select.

There are many many details that I just can't include right now. Suffice it to say, the political rules and regulations that guide "insurance" and Medicare had greatly hindered Jerry's recovery.

My visit with Jerry on 1-11-12 was the most exciting visit I have had with him to date. He is 100% totally awake and conversations with Jerry are in many ways, just like the old Jerry before this all started back in Sept.

He is confused about some things. He has been on mind altering drugs for over 120 days and is now finally coming off them.

When I walked into the room, Teri was beaming with excitement. Teri is more convinced than ever that Jerry will make it through all this and be 100% whole again. The plan is now to take Jerry home on the 19th. He can stay until the 29th, but it looks like that will not be necessary.

Keep praying. We have all seen the Lord's handiwork and will see the victory in the end.

UPDATE JAN 27, 2012; 12:01pm

I just received the phone call from Teri. Jerry is on his way home - NOW! He is off all medications. We are now hoping that Jerry can begin to return to 100% normal. I am planning on going to see him this weekend.

UPDATE FEB 1

We were disappointed that we didn't make it to see Jerry over the weekend, but we were able to get there today. Teresa made chicken tetrazini, green beans and carrots and we took it over to Jerry's home. As soon as we walked in, Jerry said, "Hey, Charlie!" It was great seeing Jerry away from the hospital for the first time since Sept - 137 days in the hospital - mostly in Intensive Care.

Jerry is improving very rapidly. He still has a ways to go, but he's going to get there. In so many ways, you can see the same Jerry that's always been - but he has gone through unbelievable, indescribable trauma over these many months.

The fight that Jerry and his family has been through is a great testimony of love and hope. Tonight was Jerry and Teri's 43rd wedding anniversary. It was great being there to be a part of that night.

Jerry's "tremors" were at times really bad and it was hard to watch. Especially since Heather had told us that Jerry had two days prior with hardly any "tremors" at all. The shaking seemed to get worse the longer we were there. The doctors have said all along the "tremors" are a result of brain damage. I have NEVER believed that and I still don't. I think they are result of mind altering drugs and being in a state where virtually no one gave him any chance of living, let alone recovering. I told Teresa that if ANYONE had gone through what Jerry has gone through, there's no telling what their bodies would be doing.

I feel like I need to remind people that if anyone would view the Terry Schiavo videos on the Internet, knowing that the doctors "diagnosed" Jerry the same way as Terry Schiavo - if you would expect to see Jerry look and act the same way as Terry Schiavo - you'd be blown away. There is NO comparison at all.

If the doctors would have had it their way, we would have buried Jerry months ago. Instead, Jerry is back on his way to a productive, healthy life. I said a long time ago that Jerry has way too much "left in the tank" to give up on.

Knowing that most people who would have seen their loved ones in Jerry's condition back in Sept would have given in to the doctors instructions on "pull the plug," "no one would want to live this way," etc., and would have gone on and allowed their loved ones to die need to know about Jerry's story. This man is alive - when NO "doctor" wanted to give him a chance. Now, not only is he alive, but he is on his way back and WILL BE totally back - sooner than later.

UPDATE FEB 5

All I can say after tonight is AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME. Good food, good rest and no drugs has seen just a crazy improvement since we were there the other night. If he continues this kind of rapid improvement, he's going to be 100% sooner than later.

He still has some moments of "fogginess and confusion." He has issues with time. For instance, at times he still thinks he lives somewhere else and he does not believe that he was in the hospital for as long as he was. But except for an occasional "blip" in the conversation, you almost forget the road he's been on for so long now.

Jerry looks great. His skin color is great. He looks like the same Jerry "pre-Sept 12."

We pulled the table into the room where Jerry's bed is setup, rather than have Jerry go into the dining room. He insisted on going to the dining room, but in the end, Teri talked him into staying there. Jeff and Teri helped Jerry sit up on the side of the bed and we pulled the table to him and set the chairs around the table. We all sat around the table and Teri asked Jerry to say the blessing. It was beautiful, perfectly clear and coherent. Jerry broke down a little as he thanked God for health and for all the things He has done for their family.

I sat next to Jerry and we had normal conversations that anyone would have around the dinner table. Someone asked about the time and Jerry looked up at the clock and said it was 6:40. It was 6:40 - and he didn't even have his glasses on, either.

In past visits, it always seemed appropriate to talk privately with Teri about what was going on with Jerry's treatment, etc. Tonight, it just didn't even seem like there was any need to talk about anything other than just helping him get stronger, taking him for rides in the car, looking for property to purchase for their new home and just discussions to help him remember things.

Teri talked to Jerry about a house purchase they made in 1986. Jerry filled in the details with hardly any help from Teri. He even remembered the lady's name that showed them the property.

Jerry and I talked about different things that he's helped me with. I talked to him about the water pump again and he remembered it and laughed. He didn't remember me bringing it to the hospital but he said he wanted to see it.

Jerry needs rehab now to help him get stronger. He wants to get up and walk around and do whatever he wants to do, but he is still weak - as anyone would be after being in Intensive Care for the better part of 130 days.

Please continue to pray for Jerry. Pass his story on. People need to know about this. It should spare people needless untimely funerals for loved ones.

Educate yourself and your loved ones. Rethink the thoughts "no one would want to live like this." I reject the whole concept of "pulling the plug" because a "doctor" has said there is "no hope." God should be the One Who decides who lives or dies.

I wish everyone could see Jerry today. I wish everyone could have seen Jerry in the month of Sept - then see him today. Don't misunderstand me. I hate what Jerry and his family have gone through. No one should have to go what they've gone through - but everyone should know about this story of a man who the "doctors" said would never be more than a "vegetable." I have to wonder how many others they've said the same thing about and how many families have "pulled the plug" on their loved ones.

I realize this case is very different than the case of an individual who maybe has been suffering from years of cancer or some other disease afflicting someone late in their lives.

But Jerry was a strong, brilliant, vibrant 69 year old man who had much to live for and many great years left. He has a loving family, many friends who love him. He is a huge blessing to everyone whose life he touches.

He entered the emergency room because of a sudden illness - not because of terminal cancer or some other disease. Within hours of being in the emergency room, the "diagnosis" was irreparable brain damage, no hope, "pull the plug."

I'm anxious to get back in a couple days to see more improvement. Keep your prayers for Jerry, Teri, Heather and Jeff. There is still much work to do. But the end is going to be great!

Anyone that would like to send get well wishes and notes to Jerry, please send them to:

Charlie Steward
305 South Kyler #511
Monett, Missouri 65708

We will make sure he gets them!