KARISSA'S CHRONOLOGY "LINKS" HAVE MOVED -
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Karissa's first birthday, 8/3/97, just 2 months after being discharged as "in a vegetative state."

(Karissa's guestbook and current photo have been moved to the bottom of the page for faster page loading.)

CHRONOLOGY 6/2/99 TO 3/7/00

UPDATE 3/7/00 - Karissa's progress continues - a little at a time, and it has been almost 3 years since she went into her coma - she is now learning to exercise her own muscles - she tells her mom in sign language when she wants to go to her crib to play and uses the slats in her crib to push and pull her muscles, sitting up, playing while she strengthens the torso and back and legs. (Space on page limited, more later.)

UPDATE 1/22/00 - KARISSA CONTINUES TO IMPROVE - MIRACLES AT WORK!

I spent several days with Karissa during the holidays - and my, what a delight! She can feed herself with a spoon (although as with most children makes a "special" mess). She recently pulled herself up to a standing position at therapy (quite an achievement since the limp rag doll that was discharged from the hospital some 2-1/2+ years ago). She enjoyed her Xmas presents, but seemed to especially enjoy looking through the hole in the cardboard that her dolly was attached to - i.e., "peek-a-boo, I see you" - again defying all of the medical prognosis. December also was a month of Karissa thinking it was fun to "pull out" her G-tube (still used for liquid feeding and hydration). A new type of "mickey" was ordered and hopefully her determination won't take over.

Most special to grandma is that Karissa now can sign when she wants to play in her crib - and she seems to love to not only play but also exercise her muscles - she pushes on the slats of her crib with her legs and now regularly pulls herself to a sitting position. One of the most fun things (to grandma anyway) is the fact Karissa has figured out how to turn on and off her crib toys (the ones that of course make noise), and when she wakes up and is bored, guess what gets turned on! To me, Karissa's progress is nothing short of a miracle, her slow but gradual recovery. We, of course, do not know the extent of Karissa's recovery, but each day, each week, each month, gives hope.

Bless each of you for caring, and I promise to give a more complete update when I do some revamping on Karissa's chronology. Remember to say prayers for those you love - we never know when we need an extra one.

UPDATE 12/6/99 - Karissa has a new food favorite - Jello brand pumpkin cheesecake - from Thanksgiving dinner, of course!

Karissa's schedule is being changed - for many months Karissa has been on a nighttime water drip into her g-tube to avoid dehydration - recently, though, Karissa has become very active in her crib (using more muscles) and sometimes she tangles herself up in her tube (she also has a moisture tube at night to keep moisture in her lungs). Since Karissa has learned to sip from a straw (and likes it) and drinks liquids on her own - which up until a few months ago she could not do - there is less worry about dehydration, so her liquid intake will be increased during the day and the nighttime drip will be stopped. Karissa is also sitting up on her own for longer periods of time. Her ability to use her muscles, and the fact the muscles even came back, is short of phenomenal! Karissa also had an ear infection last week - unlike most children, Karissa has a high tolerance for pain and is really unable to let you know if she hurts - we don't know if this is nerve ending damage, or just a high pain tolerance, time will tell.

Wishing you all the best during this very hectic time of the year. Take time for just yourself, take a few deep breaths - remember, if we lived 100 years ago - in the former decade, how would we have celebrated holidays - with love, with our families, with hugs and smiles - not from the stores! Bless each of you for caring and continue to say prayers for all your loved ones.

UPDATE 11/22/99 - Karissa is now able to feed herself with a spoon! And grandma Pam got to witness the event at her speech therapy. She also signed for "drink" "please" while eating and then "eat" "please" to return to her yogurt! Now to many this may not seem monumental, but this is 2-1/2 years down the road since her almost month long coma from bacterial spinal meningitis with a fatal prognosis by the medical team. Karissa's "diet" is now being expanded to more foods that the family eats, although Karissa is a very picky eater - she has found that she doesn't have to eat what she doesn't want to - and like most 3 year olds, she loves things like fried pork rinds, Ritz crackers, potato chips, arrowroot cookies, popsicles and the like. She drinks very well out of a straw also - another improvement in her muscle performance.

More later on Karissa's improvements and our entire family wishes you each a special Thanksgiving - and we all need to remember to be grateful for what we have, not what we have not! Bless each of you for caring.

UPDATE 10/18/99 - KARISSA PASSED HER SLEEP TEST WITH FLYING COLORS!

Karissa went in Friday night for her "sleep test" to see if she can breathe without her trach (the trach is covered during the several hour long test - 5 or so hours, I believe). They did not even suction her (a very necessary several times daily procedure to remove phlegm from her lungs - the "junk" that you and I blow our noses to remove, or are able to spit out)- she had no apnea (stopping breathing) during the test and as soon as the allergy season is gone, it is safe to remove her trach - she can breathe without it! Removal of the trach will have such an impact on not only Karissa's life, but the life of her family. The angels have been watching!

Again, bless each of you for caring, and remember those prayers for those you love.

(Karissa's most recent chronology links are http://www.oocities.org/~pamsway/karipray16.html and http://www.oocities.org/~pamsway/karipray15.html - covering 1999. Her entire chronology is located at http://www.oocities.org/~pamsway/karichron.html.) A picture of Karissa during one of her several prior "sleep tests" is Here.

UPDATE 10/15/99 - SPECIAL PROGRESS FOR KARISSA - NOT TO MENTION TONIGHT'S SLEEP TEST!

It has been 2 years and 5 months since our little Karissa was in her coma and was discharged "in a vegetative state" and her body totally limp, no muscle control whatsoever, the left arm tightly clenched and up to her body, the right arm having some limited movement, including the fingers. It has been a long uphill climb, but during Karissa's therapy session this week she sat alone, unassisted, for 25 minutes, using and turning her upper body torso, and reaching out to catch herself on the few times she appeared to lose balance!

Thinking about Karissa's achievement over something you and I tend to take for granted in life is nothing short of a miracle, especially given her prognosis by the medical authorities. Hopefully, this will be a reminder to each of us to compliment each and every child (special needs or not) on their accomplishments, that we have a better understanding of just what children who participate in the Special Olympics have really achieved. Just for fun, try sitting on the floor like Karissa has, try turning your body from one side to the other, and pretend that you don't have any muscle control, how quickly we can topple over, and how our instincts are to put out a hand to brace ourselves. Karissa was blessed by the miracle of having her mind intact (again, contrary to medical predictions) and is able to now instinctively reach out to keep from falling. Grandma Pam didn't mean to get wound up, it is just so wonderful to finally see some significant progress to report. Will there be more progress, do we know the extent of impairment? Those answers aren't available yet, but we can take each day as it comes and be grateful for each accomplishment.

As always, bless each of you for caring, pray for those you love, reach out to praise all children, and keep a special prayer in mind for Karissa tonight when she has her "sleep test." Also, you may enjoy reading The Value of Time. More later.

UPDATE 10/13/99 - EXCITING NEWS! Karissa is going in for a "sleep test" this coming Friday evening, the 15th. We will all be saying a little extra prayer that she "passes." The sleep test will determine if Karissa can sustain breathing without the trach. Phrased in grandma Pam's lay language, will her muscles know what to do? (I know it is much, much more complicated than that.) We are all hopeful and are saying special prayers. If she passes this test, many doors will open - the chance to try different foods, to better use her vocal cords, to be less susceptible to colds, pneumonia, and bronchitis, to not have to constantly be suctioned (if her own muscles are able to take over). Many, many other changes will enter her world and the world of her family. I will make a posting as soon as I talk to my daughter. To see a picture of Karissa taken at the time of one of her prior "sleep tests," click Here.

UPDATE 10/7/99 - Seeing Karissa last weekend, needless to say, made my weekend! (It's so hard for me not living in the same city and being to see her every weekend.) She always gets a big grin when she sees me and holds out her hand, closed and palm down, for what we call "princess kisses." And she loves having the back of her hand kissed! She uses sign language to say I love you, pointing to her eye, touching her heart, and then, depending on her mood, pointing at you or herself! (She definitely has a personality of her own, not that grandma is prejudiced!) Karissa also gives "high fives" (very fun to do with her). I got to see the stander mentioned below. Not nearly as cumbersome as I had originally thought. Karissa has been using one in weekly therapy since a year ago July and now having one at home makes us hopeful that someday she will be able to walk. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees, but we are still hopeful. One of the problems from bacterial spinal meningitis is that there are no "givens" as to just how far progress will go. Karissa, however, defied the medical prognosis of not living and then not coming out of her coma, so we keep on praying, watching and enjoying her progress and never giving up hope. Karissa is proof that miracles can and do happen!

On a humorous note, Karissa is also a very determined young lady and at a therapy session two weeks ago she decided she didn't want to sit up as requested and bit her therapist, drawing blood. And would you believe, blood tests were required before therapy could resume, which she, of course, passed with flying colors. (Actually, this requirement is a good and safe precaution regardless of who the patient is.) Karissa is now able to sit unassisted for approximately 10 minutes (before toppling to the side or the back).

One of my special treats on this visit was brushing her hair - it's long and very fine, a soft golden brown, and she actually enjoyed the brushing but wanted no part of me putting a barrett in or a rubber band. As always, though, my visit wasn't long enough but I do talk to her mommy almost nightly and will continue to make more frequent postings about her progress.

As always, my prayers are there for each of you and bless each of you for caring. Remember, you can never have too many prayers or too many smiles!

UPDATE 9/23/99 - KARISSA CONTINUES TO MAKE GRADUAL PROGRESS!

For those special supporters who have been waiting to see a progress report - I am finally able to make one and bless you for your patience and continued prayers for Karissa. As you may know, I am Karissa's grandmother, the mother of Karissa's very special mommy, Shannon. Some 9 months ago I moved some 5 hours away from our little angelic Karissa, a very hard move for me to make but necessitated by husband's employment transfer. And to add to my slowness on updates, my computer had a slight bit of indigestion, Geocities linked with Yahoo, and I took a job requiring considerable daily driving. No excuse, however, for not being a responsible webmistress. I promise I will not delay my updates like this again.

And now for information on our little Karissa who is now 3 years old - can you believe it, she was 9 months old when she lapsed into her almost month long coma from bacterial spinal meningitis, with a dooming prognosis. Prayers do count. Bless each of you for caring. I only get to visit face to face now every few months, but the most exciting thing on my visits is seeing that bright smiling face, obviously recognizing me and reaching out her arms and grinning at me, babbling and signing "I love you." Karissa continues with her therapy sessions three times a week, and finally, Medicaid has approved a stander for use at home - this will continue to strengthen her back and leg muscles and hopefully enable her to walk again. (Yes, at 9 months she was walking around the coffee table, into everything!) Karissa first used a stander in July of 1998. (Sometimes I wonder if her progress would have been faster had the red tape of our system been less complicated. Now that she is 3, Medicaid will also provide diapers, a considerable saving, obviously, to the family budget.) Other important news, with regular cathing it appears the valve replacement surgery will hopefully not be necessary. Karissa also is "willing" to sip on a bottle and also likes the little boxes with straws for sipping. She loves popsicles, Bugles, sour cream and onion potato chips, and Ritz crackers are her favorite (for the moment).

On my last visit about a month ago, we made a shopping trip - mommy Shannon, Karissa, and both of Karissa's brothers (almost 1 year and 8 years) and me - wow, did we have fun. A double stroller, Karissa loving the attention of passersby. Strange, also, almost everyone that stops to smile at Karissa says "what a little angel she is." We went to a Chiense restaurant and Karissa enjoyed the French fries. Karissa, like all children, wanted to reach and touch the hanging racks of clothes, and knew the items we picked that were for her WERE HERS. In the desert we always take water bottles with us and I had such fun pulling out the opening on my water bottle and dropping it in Karissa's mouth. Every time during my visit that I picked up my water bottle, she opened wide!

Another sleep test is anticipated as soon as Karissa's cold is gone. The sleep test will let us know if she is able to breathe without her trach. Once her trach is gone (and she has almost outgrown the one she has, too), many problems plaguing Karissa will go away, too - such as super susceptibility to colds, infections, etc.

And in closing for this update, the most exciting thing for me was to watch Karissa "dance" in her highchair with her upper torso to some "oldies" music - she is regaining use of the torso muscles - a far cry from the limp little body discharged in a vegetative state at 10 months of age. Karissa - you've come a long way baby!!!

Bless each of you for caring, for your prayers, and remember to pray for those you love - you never know when an extra prayer is needed.

UPDATE 6/2/99 - KARISSA continues to be stable and make some small progress. It has been two full years now - actually Karissa was discharged from the hospital on 6/4/97 in a "vegetative state." Believe it or not, I think she is still under that classification. She has made phenomenal progress as those brave enough to wander through grandma's many pages of her chronology will note. Karissa still has her G-tube (very necessary for hydration and liquid feeding), still has a trach (periodically she has a "sleep" test to see if she can sustain her own life by breathing without the trach, to date not for a long enough time period). Karissa has three therapy sessions a week (one hour each) - speech - where she is learning to try to talk around the trach (and she has mastered a few words, but progress is very slow right now), she is learning sign language and is doing probably as well as any average almost 3 year old- when she touches her face and then your face for gently it is soo sweet! She also has occupational and physical therapy - she is standing in a "stander" and hopefully through the slow machinery of paperwork, Medicaid will approve and provide a stander for use at home - her little legs have been in such a bowed position being in a crib for so very long, it is very essential (in grandma's view) that the stander be made available somewhat quickly - although grandma is not the medical authority!

Karissa takes her baths on a special chair where she reclines in the bath - and she loves the water. (One of grandma's wishes is that she someday be able to experience the joy of being pushed around in a swimming pool in a little inflatable tube!) Karissa creates games with her toys - actually has since she first came home from the hospital - by throwing toys out of the crib and watching the grownups pick them up. She still enjoys this little game! She turns her plastic toy box on its side, and one by one places a toy on the side, taps it until it gently slides off the back - very creative for a little angel that was discharged in a vegetative state.

Since grandma (me of course *G*) moved 5 hours away, it's been hard update as much as I would like. My beloved daughter, Shannon (Karissa's mom) has requested that I keep some of their private life private, and I have tried very hard to honor her wishes. Last November Karissa's brother was born, as the chronology reflects. This is very special now, and without any ire from my daughter by violating the privacy pact I agreed to, I must say they hold hands, play together and I believe this is an extreme positive for Karissa's growth and learning - we all know children learn so much from each other.

In closing, we don't know the total extent of Karissa's impairment from the bacterial spinal meningitis, or how fast or how complete her recovery will be, but the angels are watching and her sweet little fun person is still with us. (And she can throw a tantrum like any other 2-3 year old when told no - the pout and teary face is so wonderful for grandma to see.) If I had but one wish, it would be that she be able to experience the normal things in life that we tend to take for granted - i.e., the taste of peanut butter, playing in a swimming pool, walking in the park, having a dog or cat (can't happen because of the trach). More later!

Karissa shortly after her second birthday, taken the first part of September 1998, proof that miracles do happen.

Please sign Karissa's guestbook if you have time. And a special thanks to those who have. Someday our little Karissa will enjoy reading these.

A moment I waited for - Karissa's First Birthday! (And she's now almost 4!!!! You've come a long way BABY!

She's come such a long ways for the little baby they told us would not live! HE did grant a miracle. (She's even pointing at me taking the picture!)

Click HERE to view the full picture of the above.
And to see both proud grandparents and Karissa, click HERE.
A few fun pictures of our little angel Karissa - Here - this one shows Karissa fully outstretched - you can see why she doesn't fit the little bouncy chairs! Here. - This one shows her with her hand in her mouth - one of my favorites - she loves to remind you she is cutting teeth.
Karissa in her crib with her finger on her incoming teeth - Here.
Karissa and her brother and a neighbor, laying on Justen's bed - Here. (The aura Karissa gives in so many pictures is almost unreal).
Karissa in her halloween costume.

For those not familiar with trach tubes, please visit Types of Tracheostomy Tubes and the links on that site. You will be amazed by this wonderfully educational presentation by a very special nurse and mother.

An information site on spinal meningitis
And stories about Derek and Johnny, children who are both about 7 years old and who have made wonderful progress. (Sorrow came in little Johnny's life and his very special mother, Terry, passed in March. But the angels have been watching and Johnny is living with his mother's brother and is doing well.)
Derek's story by Angela
Johnny's story by Terry

KARISSA ANNE MARIE HANIUK

(Born 8/3/96)

THE BEGINNING On April 29, 1997, Karissa (then only 9 months old), had been taking a nap on her daddy's tummy, gave a sudden gasp and lapsed into a coma - which lasted for almost a month - the diagnosis being bacterial spinal meningitis. During Karissa's hospitalization (for over a month) and for more than a month thereafter, I had an extensive chronology on Karissa's progress. Prayers poured in, and with those prayers and the guidance of HIS loving hand, Karissa is alive and making progress daily. Karissa still has a long ways to go, but she has come a very long way, also. SPECIAL SIGNIFICANT FACTS AND DATES 4/29/97, entered Columbia Sunrise Hospital, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, in coma, diagnosis unknown; 4/30/97 - prognosis - not expected to survive, baptism on 5/1/97; 5/16/97 - still in coma, surgery for trach breathing tube and g-tube for feeding - not expected to revive from coma; 5/17/97 - breathing on her own - a miracle, still in coma; 5/23/97 - halfway awake, opened her eyes; 5/31/97 - AWAKE (at least mostly); 6/4/97 - discharged from the hospital, listed as permanently in a vegetable state Believe me, in no way does Karissa fall in that category. (HE is far more knowledgeable than the medical authorities, as borne out by Karissa's chronology) - In reality, EACH day has been significant to us for Karissa.

Bless you for caring and I hope I can be there for you if the need ever arises.

Please feel free to e-mail me periodically about her progress or just to say hello.

Sincerely,
Pamela Pauley-Perreault

Oh Lord, help me to remember all the kindness extended to me and to forget the small faults of those around me. Amen

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(Karissa before the coma)

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