Hello Everyone-
Gary is doing the best he can do for being into his first 24 hours of what has turned out to be a pretty bad brain injury. The doctors are continuing to monitor the swelling in the brain. It has gone down significantly. The main focus is to make sure the brain stem is still in tact and to see which parts of Gary's brain is damaged. Gary's progress is going to be slow and information is going to be slow coming, but I will keep you posted as information comes in.
My main focus is keeping strong for Gary and being as supportive as I can be. Our good friend, Karen Doty, will be taking calls for me and letting everyone know of Gary's progress. Karen's cell number is (206) 387-8056.
You can send e-mails for Gary at either this blog or by going to http://www.harborview.org/ you click on "email a patient" on the right side of the screen. Gary is in room #270.1
I appreciate all the love and concern you our sending our way, we definitely feel it.
Gary is doing the best he can do for being into his first 24 hours of what has turned out to be a pretty bad brain injury. The doctors are continuing to monitor the swelling in the brain. It has gone down significantly. The main focus is to make sure the brain stem is still in tact and to see which parts of Gary's brain is damaged. Gary's progress is going to be slow and information is going to be slow coming, but I will keep you posted as information comes in.
My main focus is keeping strong for Gary and being as supportive as I can be. Our good friend, Karen Doty, will be taking calls for me and letting everyone know of Gary's progress. Karen's cell number is (206) 387-8056.
You can send e-mails for Gary at either this blog or by going to http://www.harborview.org/ you click on "email a patient" on the right side of the screen. Gary is in room #270.1
I appreciate all the love and concern you our sending our way, we definitely feel it.
25 comments:
Stay strong and have faith, no matter what the doctors may or may not say. Speaking from experience, no one really knows about the brain and everyone's injury is different. When this happened to Rob, we heard all sorts of things from the doctors including that he may never wake up, would never function, etc. They were all wrong. I don't know if you will hear such things, but you must have faith in what you see and have faith in Gary. He is so strong willed. We are praying nonstop. We love you and are here for you.
Jeannette & Rob
Gary and Morissa,
Number 1 niece here LOL!
Our prayers for you Gary are a quick recovery and for Morissa to be strong for you.
Hugs and Kisses and much love.
Kristy, Dave and Olivia
We, and many of our friends, are praying all thoughout the day for you both. We are also praying for the medical personnel caring for you, Gary. I've seen miracles in my nursing career and you are going to be one of them! Feel the love that surrounds you and rest in the warmth and security of it. God loves you and so do Uncle John and I. Take care of yourself, Morissa, and know how much we love you, too.
Hi Gary,
I'm thinking about you and praying for you. Fond memories of staying at your house and playing drums with you. I'm keeping that image in the forefront of my mind and sending you all the most positive energy.
Love,
Lindsay
Gary and Morissa,
I am thinking of you and wishing you both well. I pray for your courage and strength to fight and get well and whole.
Love, Lane.
Dear Gary and Morissa,
We want you to know that we are thinking of you and sending you all sorts of love and hugs and prayers.
OK Gary...here is a great memory for you. Remember the trip to the Pacific Ocean with Beverage in tow. It was the first time she had ever seen an ocean. All she could say was "I'm just saying it's HUGE, that's all!" LOL! The sun was shining all day and we three had such an awesome time!
Many more good times to come, my dear friend. Many more good times!
Love & Light to you both!
Julie & Dave
Yesterday I told Tommy that I was worried about Gary and Morissa, why, I didn't know, I was just worried. Then I got Morissa's email . .
Today I rode my motorcycle to the Grand Forest to pray for Gary. I pray best outside. I got to thinking about how TOTALLY kind, warm, magnificent and AWESOME Gary and Morissa have been to me . . . in SO MANY WAYS . . . when I was at my most vulnerable - first moving to Bainbridge where I didn't know a soul. And they have made me laugh a lot too! Gary, the "mutilator" taught me how to take care of my motorcycle and was SO helpful - when I was an idiot. I was SO FURIOUS this happened . . . I had tears, I was SO MAD. I knew it had to be an idiot driver because Gary is very careful.
After praying HARD for Gary - looking right up into the sun and saying "PLEASE let him be OK - PLEEZE" I continued walking through the woods. I turned on my ipod. This may sound crazy, but it seems that my ipod ALWAYS plays a song that answers any question I may have . . . strange, I know, but it is true. Some things we just can't explain. The song that played right after I prayed for Gary? "BRUISED BUT NOT BROKEN". A song about getting hurt, and being bruised, and sore, but the pain ends, and you get back on your feet again. The refrain is "I'm BRUISED but not BROKEN" and it gave me a deep feeling of FAITH, that Gary is just bruised, not broken, and he will be back on his feet again . . . A very clear message from above, I would say
So Gary, if you don't get better, I will have to come and MUTILATE you, and you don't want that!
Keep the faith . . . I know you will.
I've been trying to think of something inspirational and encouraging to say and instead, I find myself holding back the tears...
Know that I'm wrapping my arms around you both and holding you tightly. The boys and I are praying and focusing our positive energy to you both. Morissa you are a strong and genuinely beautiful woman, know that your friends are here for you and lean on all of us!
Gary... I could go on and on about how terrific you are, instead I will leave you with this one thought. Do you remember when you and Morissa came out to the house when my mom was staying with us. She heard your voice and had to see who this man was. My mom talked about what a gentle, kind and hilarious man you are. I thank you for this, she only lived a few more months after that. We love you both, Bronwyn and family.
Hi Gary and Morissa,
My prayers are with you for healing and strength. We have friends from Wadsworth praying too. Gary, you were a cool one from Ohio and always a good friend. You get better so you can take me for another ride.
lots of love,
Beverly
Gary and Morissa,
Our Prayers are with you. Payton and I said a prayer this morning for you Gary. For God to Give Morissa the strength to help you get throught this..which you will. And we prayed that God will use his SPECIAL healing powers and you will have a fast recovery! We have a prayer group at church, so many, many of us who love you both will have you in our thoughts and prayers throughout each day. LOVE YOU!! Scott, Lori and Payton
Gary & Morissa,
My name is Georgie you both might remember me and I am friend of Julie E. and Beverly(Beverage as Gary & Julie called her in Wadsworth).
I live in St.Louis and Julie called and told me what happen yesterday.
Gary we share the same last name and I have a brother also name Gary so that makes you a pretty good guy.
I am sending blessings and warm vibes to both of you. Heal Well!!
Love & Peace,
Georgie Smith Zang
Hey Gary and Morissa-
We Love you!!!!!! We have been praying for you guys and will continue to do so. Tell Gary we love him and he needs to hurry up and get better so we can come out and visit!!!!!!!!!
Love Brock and Meghan
I am Mark Brumbaugh and your father in law was sent by God to help my mother and us brothers to find a resting place for my Dad. I love motorcycles and waited for dad to pass before I got one. 56 years. I try so hard to be careful so as to not hurt my loved ones. Gary was doing all the right things and maybe has been called by our Saviour.
Gary & Morissa, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Please let us know if we can help in anyway.
Art, JoAnn & Payton Madson
(fellow BNSF hoghead)
artmadson@msn.com
Hey Gary;
She's a lone bitch biker with a skull tattoo, rides a mean black Harley, carries buck knife too.. That's right it's Outlaw Sheila in her leather vest! Na It's just me yo cuz lil She. Hey Dude hang in there. I've ranting and chanting to the powers that be to get your soul and being to start the healing process and get you back out there doin what you do. Don't freak, but I'm gonna come up and visit you here in about 2 weeks. So get out your Sunday best!;)
Morissa; Hang in there woman. I know you've got a lot of good people there for you and Gary. I one of them!!Count me in!!I will see you in a couple weeks. If I can do anything you name it..... I'll be reading the blog daily....
Love you bunches....
~lil She
Hey Morissa;
Hang in there. The body is an amazing orgainic machine. Don't give up hope yet...... I do hope that if he does recover it's whole. I do beleive also that he would hate to have all the life support on if he doesn't have a hope to be himself. I'm still hoping and praying and rant/chanting all in Gary's name with all my heart!!Powers that be love his soul...
Love you bunhes Morissa.....
~lil She
Morissa,
I thought something light and funny is what the doctor has ordered so read on and enjoy..
Hey Ma There is something under my bed
By B. Rhodes
I hear it at night when I turn out the light it is the creature whose under my bed.
He won't go away he is determined to stay but I wish he would beat it instead.
I told him to go, but he shook his head no.
He is worst than an unwelcome guest I gave him a nudge but he still wouldn't budge.
It was hard to get rid of the pest.
So I fired one hundred round cannon balls plundered by pirate ships sailing the seas.
But he caught them barehanded and quickly grandstanded by juggling them as nice as you please.
That creature was slick
He was clever and quick.
This called for drastic maneuver.
So I lifted my spread and charged under my bed with the roar of my mothers new Hoover.
But he snorted his nose and sucked in the long hose , the canister, cord, and the plug, and vacuumed the dust till I thought he would bust. And blew it all over the rug.
Now this made me sore so I cried This is war! and sent a contingent of fleas, an army of ants dressed in camouflage pants followed closely by big killer bees.
He welcomed them with a sly grin and ate them with crackers and cheese.
I screamed that's enough it is time to get tough .
You asked for it, Creature I said. As I picked up and threw with aim sure and true, my gym sneaker under the bed.
With each whiff of the sneaker the creature grew weaker. He staggered out gasping for air. He coughed, and sneezed, and collapsed with a wheeze and accused me of not playing fair.
Then holding his nose with his twelve hairy toes the creature curled up in a ball, rolled' cross the floor smashing right through the door. I was rid of him once and for all.
The very next night as I turned out my light and was ready to lay down my head. I heard my kid brother shout out to my mother, Hey Ma there is something under my bed.
___________________________________
Lots of prayer and love
Neil and Stacey Janis
Gary,
That is one of my favorite poems and I share it with you today in hopes you will share a smile with the world upon hearing it.
Neil and Stacey Janis
Dear Morissa,
I am so sorry to hear about the accident. Am keeping you in my thought and prayers. Taylor is very concerned about you both as well and is praying for both of you.
I have both of you on prayer lists so over 300 people are keeping you in prayer.
Blessings and Love
Sarah Harrison
(Marc's mom)
Morissa... I am with you and am sad to hear that Gary has to go. I will miss him very much. I too will hold every memory that I have of him dear in the pocket of my heart. Love you bunches.
~lil She
Dear Morissa,
I just returned from a trip up North to see my brothers but have been in touch with shannon and Claire.
I have been in constant prayer for Gary and for you and all who love him.... my prayer continues to be that you to feel Gods peace and strength as you move through this place. I believe God is in control.
My prayer;
May God wrap you in His strong arms and be your strenght. May you truley feel his love and concern for you and Gary and be at rest. May He keep you at peace.
I believe He has Gary where there is no pain, sorrow, or need of any kind.
May your weeping return to joy as you remember the life you shared with Gary.
I concider it a privelage to have known Gary and have not met many people who live life so fully and with such enthusiasum. He made me laugh!
You are constantly in my heart,
Love, Laura
I'll see you next week
You don't know me, but I remember Gary. I am one of the drivers who take the rails to the Vancouver yard from the hotel when he stays in Portland, Oregon. The hotel is called the Portlander Inn when he was working the South end. I want you to know he spoke very fondly of you and the one story that stuck in my mind was when he mentions the worse time in his life, when he was alone and then one day he met you. He never thought there would ever be another person in his life until you came along and he couldn't believe he would be so happy to find love in a person again. But you proved him wrong and he was so happy to have found you. He loved you so much; he couldn't believe it could happen to him. I think the whole topic started when I told him about my ex and said I won't ever find a good man again and I was giving up. We were comparing tragic ex's stories and he topped mine. He than went on about never giving up, because you don't know when someone will walk in and knock you off your feet, like he got knocked off his the day he met you. I want you to know that he loved you so very much and he talked lovingly about you. You were his world and I think he thought of you every minute. Mr. Gary Smith was always happy and ready to get on the train for home.
I wish there was some way to help you and to ease the hurt. I know we will all miss him.
With deepest sympathy,
Pat Ichinoe
Portlander Inn
Shuttle driver
I hope (hell, I KNOW) that you all are having a party that Gary would be proud of right now... Adrian, Lulu and I have been very subdued and are sobered thinking of the finality and fragility of Gary's life and light. Such a star. He was such a dude. You rarely meet a natural like Gary.
I find words comforting and I did find something very illuminating about this:
"What, then is the right way of living? Life must be lived as play, playing certain games, making sacrifices, singing and dancing, and then a man will be able to please the gods, and defend himself against his enemies, and win the contest." -Plato
Of course it is painful to lose him, but we all can celebrte that Gary won the contest a long time ago.
Love to you all,
Mike, Lulu and Adrian
I hope (hell, I KNOW) that you all are having a party that Gary would be proud of right now... Adrian, Lulu and I have been very subdued and are sobered thinking of the finality and fragility of Gary's life and light. Such a star. He was such a dude. You rarely meet a natural like Gary.
I find words comforting and I did find something very illuminating about this:
"What, then is the right way of living? Life must be lived as play, playing certain games, making sacrifices, singing and dancing, and then a man will be able to please the gods, and defend himself against his enemies, and win the contest." -Plato
Of course it is painful to lose him, but we all can celebrte that Gary won the contest a long time ago.
Love to you all,
Mike, Lulu and Adrian
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