Amy (Seger) Heggemann Benefit
Warrenton, MO 63383
gowenby
About Amy
Amy is 37 years old, a mother of three, devoted & loving wife and a lifelong resident of Warren County. She graduated from Warren County R-III High School in 1988 and went on to receive her degree in Physical Therapy and until the accident worked as a Chiropractor in Wentzville, MO. An exceptional athelte, Amy remained active with softball and other recreational sports.
Amy suffered a severe head injury and cracked vertabrae during the accident and was in a coma for approximately one month. She is now recovering from her injuries and is presently in a rehabilitation facility where she goes to various types of therapy daily. Amy continues to make progress with strength on her left side but has limited mobility on her right.
She has a tremedous and loving support system and has visits daily from family and friends.
PLEASE continue to pray for Amy and her family.
AUGUST 2, 2008 Update
Good morning, Prayer Warriors!
Can the days pass any FASTER!?!
I have been wanting, needing to get this email to you earlier this week and here it is Saturday already!
Thanks for waiting!
Amy continues to progress. Don't you LOVE the sound of that statement.
In particular, one day last week, our Miss Amy got herself into bed ALL BY HERSELF. Yup! It was a day that her parents were there..........they had come back from lunch or somewhere.......they were looking for Amy, couldn't find her in the living or kitchen area so they went back to her room where they found her chair next to the bed, bed rails down and AMY IN THE BED! They discovered that no one; staff or therapist, assisted Amy whatsoever. So, isn't that cool!
I think it was Terry that asked Amy on a later day something about how she heard that Amy got into bed on her own and so she asked Amy to show her how she did that. So, Amy did; said Nelson. Hopefully, Terry was impressed. Made me excited to hear the news. And you can imagine how it made Bobby feel - yippee!
So, the good news is that she is strong and getting stronger. The other side of that is that she needs to be watched closely now, almost more than ever before. :) Because she is more confident, stronger; she is doing more for herself and not relying on others and that is a good thing. But, for example, she tipped herself out of the wheelchair in just a split second! Per Nelson, apparently, Amy was in the therapy room; the therapist had been working with her and they turned their back for just a split second to do something and Amy, in the mean time, had dropped something and reached down to pick it up in front of her while sitting in the chair.....not buckled in, she toppled over and bumped her head on the floor. Whoops! No ones fault really.....Amy is just more active now in that way! And because she has that determined spirit she is going to want to "do it herself" I bet more and more. It's all good :)
Nelson referred to some of the other therapy that he observed while visiting Amy last week. He said they worked on a word puzzle as a group therapy activity. There were definitions on the board and the participants were to tell the word of the definition. Well, Nelson observed Amy answering all of them and not letting others take a turn :) Mark, another participant, said to the therapist; "somebody get Amy out of here" :) Amy would just laugh.
Amy has been working on her walking. Nelson said they have an electrode device, similar to the one they use on her right arm, that they put on her right leg that sends impulses to the muscle/brain/foot (whatever - I need more education on this one!). Basically, it helps Amy's foot or toes not to drag. It somehow helps her to pick up the foot or move the toes up when she takes a step. In a way, it is also sending a message to the brain to give the message to the foot/toes. Well anyway, it helps her a lot. Nelson said they went to a larger gym and they had Amy to push the grocery cart around the room and she took 100 steps! This worked on her balance as well. Way to go!
Nelson said that he has seen her right shoulder/arm move more than ever, too. She's moving her right arm across the body and back, too. Her shoulder will get stronger first, then down to the elbow, etc.
Speech therapy has been including a focus on eating and drinking; one bite or sip at a time. During eating they want Amy to take a bite, put the spoon down, chew and swallow before she gets the spoon back. She does well, when she is reminded to slow down. It's as if her brain is going faster than her body is one way to describe it all. I am sure all will get in sync as time moves forward.
But, this is another example of Amy needing the supervision, because she is doing better, so that she doesn't choke, etc.
Our class reunion was great last Saturday! Amy arrived, pretty as a picture! And smiling from ear to ear with eyes bright! Sister-in-Law Lisa helped her to get ready - thank you Lisa, I am sure Amy (and Bobby!) appreciated it. Many greeted Amy as she arrived. As I got to her, I asked if I could get her a drink, some water or soda. Bobby said, "tell her what you want, Amy." Amy says to me, " A beer, a beer, a beer, a BEER!" So, I said, "ok!, ok!, OK!......what kind of beer?" as we all giggling with her. She says, "Miller Lite, Miller Lite, Miller Lite!" O.K.! Have no worries, I don't she had much of it........Bobby was very cautious. :) He kept in control of the straw. :)
Everyone was glad to see her. I think those that have not been close to the situation were more uncomfortable around her......not knowing what to say or do. It is awkward for people, I know that. Especially if the last time you saw her she was walking, running, talking, etc,......and now she is not (YET). She doesn't necessarily look different. If it weren't for her right eye and the slowness of her right arm and leg.........nothing would look different. Those of us there that have been around Amy, encouraged people to go and talk to her, sit by her; she understands everything even though the communication back is not always there..........YET. SHE IS IN THERE. :)
She did get to have her very favorite sandwich, a Brewski's Special. Bobby said she ate every last little piece of it.
We took pictures throughout the night..........it was fun. Amy and Bobby stayed til 11:30pm. He said he would stay as long as she wanted to stay. He knows she had a great time being there and seeing everyone.
The house is progressing, too. The foundation went in and up last weekend. They moved their furniture and belongings out of the basement home last Sunday. Some wonderful next door neighbors :)are storing their "stuff" until the house is complete :) Despite the downpour of rain this week; yesterday they almost completed the floor with plywood. Today, the walls go up and hopefully trusses either tonight or tomorrow. Bobby's goal is to have it under roof by tomorrow (Sunday) evening. (A wonderful blessing is that Nick and Tiffany have Justin and Sam this weekend/upcoming week, so that will free up Bobby to focus on house stuff. Yea, Tiffany!)
If you remember yesterday, it was unbelievably HOT. John said they took many breaks to cool down, flooded themselves with water almost to wear he was so full of water that when it was time to eat there was no room in the belly! Wow - that's unheard of for John. Everyone that knows John, knows that he has a huge stomach and two hollow legs! He said it all went pretty good, eventhough it was so hot.
I am sure today will go well, too. Lots of help, hopefully a "chief" or two and many Indians. I think John was already planning to fight for a job under the shade tree :) Apparently he thinks he has "clout" since he was in the heat yesterday. Ha! I can't wait to hear how it all worked out! :)
Jamie F. and a Meyer person? (sorry, I am not sure exactly who) went to get Amy last night. I don't know all the details, but John got word that it must have been a fun trip for all. Something about a Winery on the way back :) :) Amy will hang out with family this weekend while her house goes up :) Bobby told John that he had called Amy yesterday and told her that he was working on the house and her response to everything he said was " Yea, yea, yea". YOU KNOW she is excited to come home to be with her family. That has to be encouraging for her to work hard this last month at the Tucker House.
I am THRILLED about Amy, Bobby and the boys to have a new HOME ("space") to live in. THRILLED. They were being very patient in their "space"... in life before the accident. I'm not sure I would have survived with three young boys in their "space". I think Amy was the saint if you were to ask me. But for all of us, our "homes", eventhough, full of "stuff"; whether they are big or small; they are our HOMEs........filled with memories, good and not so good sometimes; but, they are comforting eventhough our space is not always as we would dream it to be. No matter what, we can appreciate where we are at in our lives, respect one another's feelings, being grateful for those around us whether we like them or not, working and believing for more. God wants us to be happy and successful. That doesn't always mean life won't have curve balls thrown at us, but we can keep a positive attitude, stay hopeful for the future and we have the freedom to make the choices we need to make for ourselves and our family. Thank God for that. What choice can you make today for a positive difference for YOU or YOUR FAMILY? Go hug someone. Love will fix a lot.
God won't let me quit. I have a new BIG idea. I will email you about it next; before Wednesday. I bet you could help, too. I'll keep you posted. :)
By the way, Tootie had her last therapy session and is getting around pretty good, says Nelson. She gets around at home pretty good and uses a cane outside of the house. Nelson said she is doing good.
The big election is next Tuesday. Be sure to exercise your right to vote. Can't complain if you don't VOTE. If you live in Warren County, you may want to check out www.bradseger.com .
Thank you for keeping Amy in your prayers. The further along she can get with her physical strength and speech will make all the difference for her transition being home. And I know that Bobby appreciates any prayer regarding the house building. He has massive goals in getting it done before Amy gets back. He is definitely "on a mission with a passion and a vision".
Warrenton, MO 63383
gowenby
