Hello all,
I'm in Pismo now and just got back from ICU in San Luis. Our boy is doing well, but is screwed up - it's like a very bad case of amnesia...the lights are on, somone's home (he seems pretty normal), but he doesn't seem to have any short term memory.
He is finally remembering his girlfriend's name, and knows where he is, where he lives, where he grew up, and his family member's names. When I went in, he smiled at me like he recognized me, and when I asked him if he knew who I was, it was obvious he was just tossing names out to try and make something stick. Then again, he hasn't recognized Heather Selwitz either (a VERY long term friend)...You can see the frustration on his face, and the wheels turning in his head, so he's really trying hard to remember stuff. Part of the time he does...so that's good - I think it will come back to him, but it's going to take some time.
I was somewhat happy when I told him "JoJo, I'm Lisa, but you call me LiLi.....sometimes I bake you brownies" to which he replied "NICE!" with a big grin, thumbs up and that twinkle in his eye we all know and love Joe for. I asked him if he wanted a warm Red Bull and Vokda..and he sai "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! That sounds good!" LOL!
He's exceptionally tired, but the doctor's have told us to keep him stimulated as much as possible during the daylight hours. This is supposed to help arouse his memory as well as get him back on a normal sleep cycle (he's currently up all night, sleeping all day).
The good news is they are supposed to move him out of ICU today to a semi-private room with round-the-clock supervision (he's at high risk for falls as he's still really unstable on his feet). So more of his friends will be able to visit. I still wouldn't call him at this time as I doubt he'd know who anyone is on the phone, but things are beginning to look up.
It's still too early to tell what his long term prognosis is, and at this time, Joe's confused when you ask him about jet skis (he was rather impressed with the SkatTrak poster of himself at the end of his bed....said "Wow - I must be pretty good!") but he looks terrific, and is making big gains daily.
I'm headed back in about an hour to visit him with Taylor Curtis, his girl, Heather Selwitz, Joe's girlfriend Alix, and a few other friends (if they'll let us all in) and then we're going to brainstorm over dinner for a couple of fundraisers to assist Joe further with his medical expences.
Please set aside the weekend of February 3rd for a casual freeride in Joe's honor here in Pismo Beach. Taylor Curtis and I will be contacting Joe's sponsor's, and varius vendors for donations - we'd like to have a big BBQ & raffle with all proceeds going to Joe's medical care fund.
Also, I'm going to put Evan Kilkus on the spot and see if we can do another larger scale fund raiser at the sanctioned Pismo race the last weekend in April - Joe's going to need all the help he can get. Perhaps I can even get Mike Follmer to let us do something at the Mark Hahn for Joe too???
Anyway, I'll let you guys know how things are going - just please keep Joe in your thoughts and prayers....
Thanks,
LP
