JOSIE KUHN UPDATE
To my dearest friends... I want to say THANK YOU for all your prayers and contributions... I don't believe I would have had a miraculus recovery if not for your prayers and the contributions much needed since I haven't been able to work.I am still in a rehab/nursing home facility but think I may be out of here in another few weeks... For those of you that were not aware of my condition,here goes...My car had not been driven for a year and a half and when I started it up it LURCHED .... the brakes and the steering weren't working and I crashed into a tree in my neighbors yard.I came to some time later in the hospital with multiple fractures... My right foot was crushed and if not for the great surgeon I had I would not have it.I broke my pelvis, my arm, 4 ribs one that punctured a lung. my neck, and a lot of bones in my face..... fortunately I had another great surgeon who gave me a new and better nose and Faye Dunaway cheekbones... What a way to get plastic surgery !!!!!........ So, I know my friend Jeune has emailed a lot of you for me and I am greatfull to her for that because I could'nt.There is also a lot of info on zihuarob website... go to the message board at zihuarob.... My friends in Nashville put on two wonderful shows at Douglas corner and Browns diner and many great musician friends of mine played to raise some money for me... Thank you to all you talented people and thank you to Vicki for all her hard work...and my friends for going to the show.....Jeune is also planning a show in Zihuatanejo, my OTHER home and I am hoping I will be able to be there for it.... Okay.... Thats all I can write now... pardon my bad spelling and typos please.... and once again.... THANK YOU from the bottem of my heart. LOVE ,Josie
--------------------------------
Josie's ordeal has been chronicled here for the last year. These are some past reports from her friend Jeanne
Josie continues to improve. She was moved to another facility as the one she was in was shut down. Unfortunately it was not a great place and she was not given the proper care and as a result an infection set in. She has since been moved to another facility that seems great. They are working with her closely, giving her good meals. A strong physical therapy program, along with check ups from an ear, nose, throat doctor (hoping to find some reason she can't reach the high registers with her voice) and getting checked out pretty much from head to toe. The hope is that she will be able to have the "boot" off by next week and hopefully be released in a month's time.
She is doing better with her foot, but the true test will be when the boot comes off to see how well she is able to support the weight. She wants to come back to Mexico so badly.
I am in Zihua now and will return to the states over Christmas. The plan is that I will bring Josie back with me to Zihua after the first of the year………..
Hi Everyone,
I just got back from Nashville where I spent almost an entire week with Josie. She looks great and is doing very well. Her mind is sharp, along with her sense of humor.
All casts, pins, and pelvic contraptions have been removed. Her jaw is unwired so she is able to speak very well now. She is still missing a couple teeth from her lower jaw, but that is easily remedied in comparison to everything else she has been through.
The one problem she is still dealing with is her right foot. She is very lucky to have it and were it not for the incredible Dr. who took an interest in her case, she most likely would have lost it. This particular Dr. is the same one that helped the little girl who had both feet severed while on an amusement park ride.
Currently, Josie is wearing a big “boot” on her right foot. As long as she is on even ground, she is able to walk with the aid of a walker. She can not do stairs right now without the aid of someone else. It is quite painful for her. She will be in the convalescent center for another month at least. Intensive rehab is being done on her foot in the hopes she will gain more mobility. The cold weather seems to really bother her so we are hoping we can get her out of Tennessee as soon as she is able.
She can play guitar, but had been concerned about the high register in her voice, which seemed to have been lost. We sang together while I was there and guess what? Her high register came back – so as far as singing and playing guitar I think she will be just fine.
One day while in the convalescent home she asked if I would play for some of the residents, which I said I would be more than happy to do. A Nashville friend of Josie’s’ happened to come by, so the 2 of us played for awhile to the residents and they seemed to really enjoy it.
There was a Benefit Concert on the 29th in Nashville and the lineup of musicians was amazing. Hopefully, we’ll be seeing some of them at the Guitar Festival. A bit of money was raised and Josie is incredibly grateful.
Josie is also amazed at the outpouring of friendship from so many people. Her entire room is covered in all the cards that people have sent to her. Thanks to all of you for being so supportive of her. It truly means the world to her.
Although Josie is doing incredibly well considering what she has been through, she still has a long road to travel. I went to the Dr. with her and was able to see her foot without bandages or anything on it. I also saw the x-rays. She has enough metal in that foot to open a hardware store. The skin is growing back though, which is really good news, so it looks like skin grafts won’t be necessary. I have heard that is a very painful process. It will be some time I think, before she will be able to walk without aid. To be quite honest, I’m not sure she will ever walk normally – but hey – we didn’t think she’d make it at all and she has proven us all wrong – so let’s hope I’m wrong here as well!!
God love our little Songbird – she takes a lickin and keeps on tickin……..
More as I hear it…
Jeanne
Hi Everyone -
Talked to Josie this morning and she is sounding better every time. Her spirits are good - attitude is good, but she is getting antsy sitting in bed all the time.......which I think is a great sign as it means she is improving in leaps and bounds.......
Her birthday is on the 14th of August and I have received several cards, etc. for her....Also some checks to help her out which is fantastic. Hopefully will have the account info ready to give to anyone interested in the next week or so.
Josie's nephew brought her a travel guitar to have in the hospital and
she has been playing it and she says with no problems at all.....YIPEE!!! The Drs. and nurses come in and they have a little singing fest together. Leave it to Josie. She's trying to get the callouses worked up again on her fingertips. She says her voice isn't quite what it was because of the tubes she had down her throat, but I think in time that may come around also. I am so happy to hear she is playing guitar again....wow - she has come such an incredibly long way!!!!
She still has a big collar around her neck for the fractured vertebraes there. But that should be off in a couple weeks time. The only other problem spot right now is her right foot. Apparently, that got stuck under the accelerator while trying to stop the car - she has to have a couple more surgeries on that and a skin graft. - Don't know if any of you heard about the girl who was in an amusement park in the states and something happened and both her feet were cut off.....well, the reason I'm telling that story is that the Dr. who saved one of this girl's feet is the same Dr. that has been working on Josie....doing all the surgery on her foot. He's a brilliant Dr. and Josie is so lucky to have had him. She most likely would have lost her foot otherwise.
Probably a couple more months in the hospital (actually she's in a convalescent center now) and she should be good to go.....I'll keep you posted as I hear.
Jeanne
----------------------
saw Josie today...she is doing much better!...got the fixator thing off her pelvis, and her jaws unwired...so now she can eat real food and hopefully will gain back the weight she lost....the service at the rehab center is much improved since the bad press it has gotten lately and she is still alone in the room...I am working on getting her a cell phone with unlimited minutes, she is ready to talk to all her friends who are pulling for her!...also there are several benefits in the works...1st one is August 9th...I thought a laptop would be great, but I am afraid it would get stolen.
Jeanne
Hi Again -
Today I was actually able to speak with Josie on the phone. Her jaw is still wired shut, but she is able to speak - and her sense of humor is still in tact. She was moved from intensive care today, but is going through an awful lot. Physical therapy, breathing therapy and many other things. She is very tired, still in a lot of pain and really can't handle having visitors at this time......but our girl is doing it and she's doing it great. She is totally aware of everything
and her thinking seems to be in perfect order. She has been through 7 surgeries now, but I think this may be it......she will have pins in her pelvis, and foot for several months yet, her left arm is still in a cast from wrist to shoulder. Her jaw will be wired for at least another 4 1/2 weeks, but considering what she has been through and all the injuries she sustained - this is truly a miracle.
She said the cause of the accident was that the accelerator on her car stuck. She was headed downhill and the car just took off and went into a tree. It was an old car and had been sitting for over a year and a half.
I have told her how many people from all over the world are pulling for her and sending her thoughts, prayers and good wishes. She was amazed and I told her how much she was loved by so many people.......
Anyway, wanted to pass on the good news and will keep you updated as I
know..........
Jeanne
---------------------------------------
