Email update from Denver
We received an email from Carol Hotchkiss-Eliot, mother and grandmother to all of us, with an update on each of the kids. She is still in Denver and plans to be there until she can bring these kids home. Please see below.
“Just a short update – we are all exhausted and suspended in worry and hope.
1. Amada is talking and eating and one of her smiles gets us all through a couple hours at least. The hardest moment of the day was when she learned about Cassandra’s death – we all sobbed long and hard.
2. Dante had a rough night, but began to stabilize during the day – his numbers (sorry, don’t know what they mean, only what we want) have been at 20 since he arrived and were down to 15 this evening – 5-8 is normal, so we are heading in the right direction. **This number fluctuates, the doctors have said that it will go up and down regularly**
3. Noah did have surgery at about 11:00 last night and there was damage to his intestines and they fixed that. That will significantly reduce the pain once he gets over the surgery. He was pretty miserable today and nobody has the heart to tell him it will be another 2-4 weeks before he can eat so that the surgery can heal. We have decided against a body cast and have scheduled back surgery for next Tuesday to fuse the broken bones at the base of his spine so they don’t jostle around and injure his spinal cord any further. Doctors are cautious about a prognosis, but Noah is working hard to heal and we need your prayers to help.
4. Alicia is being so helpful and loving to her brothers and sister though I know her heart is breaking – she has even promised not to yell at them anymore!
5. David has gleefully arranged all the animals at the Ronald MacDonald House where we are staying in a big pile (we are talking life sized zebras, donkeys, alligators, etc) in a big pile saying it is like Where the Wild Things Are – we are all sleeping in a pile – I wish you could have seen him jump right in there with them.”
In addition to this email, Rachel called this AM and said that Amada has been moved out of the PICU, which means she is on a different floor now, away from Noah and Dante–but this also means she is healing and moving in the right direction!!
Also included in this blog are pictures of Cassandra holding Dante at a BBQ two weeks ago with Alicia, and a picture of Noah and his cousin Graham at Sam and my wedding in June, and Amada with kitten, Magic. Please keep these faces in your hearts.
Sara said:
my heart is pouring out for you and your children.
Derek Wehner said:
From your family here at Faith Community Church of the Nazarene, ( Naz on the Res.). We feel your loss and our hearts pour out for you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
May the Sovereign Lord, The Great Father and Creator watch over and heal these children and comfort them as well as Jason who is being strong for the kids.
God Bless, protect, and show you His favor;
Derek
Clah Family said:
Jason and Family,
Our hearts are grieving with yours! God will bring you through all of this. He is our Lord and Healer. Trust in that. We are praying for all of you. God will supply you with strength to make it through this.Noa and Amada we send our love and prayers for healing. We love you all.
Dana Clah
Jynn Furnas said:
Jason and Kids
Our family is hear to pray and feel with you
you are in our hearts every minute and we are are opting for the glass half full theory while the kids recover. if you need anything please do not hesitate to contact me.
Hugs
CJ Alderton said:
Jason,
Our prayers remain with you and the children. Your words at the memorial service today were beautiful, artistic, poetic and from the heart. Thanks for being such a wonderful friend. Props to little brother as well. Sam has done a great job as well as your entire family. Cassandra is well loved and deeply honored by all that happened today.
The Peace of Christ Upon You,
Pastor C
Molly and Erick Morningstar said:
The faces of these children are beautiful. We have not and will not stop thinking of them and praying for their full recovery; just as God has intended for their lives.
In Christ,
Molly and Erick
Joanna Curran said:
I am Chad Hawkins’ cousin on his dad’s side. We are all praying for Dante and the other children. Dante is still in very critical condition and is still very much unstable. We need all your thoughts and prayers that he will make it through this! He now has pneumonia and his ICP continues to fluctuate rapidly and drastically.
I am sorry I was never able to meet Cassandra, it sounds like she had really become a wonderful woman and mother out of very difficult times in her life. My thoughts are with her family during their time of need.
Joanna
Shannon Brown said:
Brother:
Our thoughts and Prayers are with you, Noah, Dante, Alicia, Amada and David!
Shannon
Donna Kirby said:
Jason and Family,
I am Noah and David’s social studies teacher at Escalante. I just wanted you to know how much you have been in my thoughts and prayers. It was a tough week at school last week for all of us; the kids expressed how saddened they were. They are very anxious for the boys to return as are their teachers. I wish you strength and faith in this difficult time.
Donna Kirby
Leo & Sylvia Laney said:
Jason: We are SO sorry to hear the news about the death of your wife and the issuses with the children. Jason, I know you are asking ‘why’, and you may never have an answer, but this I do know, God cares about you and the kids. Ps 147:3 “HE heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (NIV). and Ps 34:18 “The LORD is CLOSE to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (NIV). You will be in our prayers CONTINUALLY!!! Call if you want to or need to, my phone # is 970-749-8461 Leo’s is 970-749-8288. (We kept our Durango Cell #’s). THANKS for this site to touch base and keep up on the news of the children. Love ya, Sylvia and Leo Laney