Mon Feb 28 6 PM

Bev had a busy day today.  By the time I arrived the splints/casts on both her arms had been removed and replaced with bandages. This must have been very tiring and I couldn't get much response from her.  Around 12:30 a physiotherapist showed up for her first visit and gave Bev's arms and legs a real workout.  At times Bev was not pleased with the attention.  After that Bev had no time for me and immediately went to sleep. My sister and Mother arrived around 2:30.  Bev was awake for their visit and Mum got a smile from Bev. That pleased everyone including the nurse. The nurse said she hadn't seen Bev so alert for days.  Bev has acquired a nasty bug that is very resistant to anti-biotics. She will probably remain inisolation for at least 1 more week with visitors required to wear gowns and gloves.

It is now 3 weeks since Bev's accident.  During those 3 weeks Bev's progress seemed to be very very slow, at times she seemed to be going backwards.  During the first 24 hours after the accident I feared Bev wasn't going to make it.  Everyone from the paramedics at the scene to the doctors at the hospital said Bev's injuries were very grave and I should be prepared for the worst.  Now when I look at Bev I can't believe how far she has come.  To look at her now she looks like the Bev I knew before the accident. All of the bruising and swelling on her face is gone, all the tubes going into her body are gone. All the exotic drugs keeping her alive are gone, both Bev's eyes are open, she tries to communicate thru wiggling her toes and using facial expressions that fully convey what she thinks about what you are saying to her. Since her arrival at St. Mikes she seems to get better every day.

None of this would have been possible without everyones support, her family and Canadian friends plus the people we met in the US who helped me out and prayed for Bev.  People on the scene, people staying in the neighbouring cabins where we stayed, even the towtruck driver and his friends in the local Honda Goldwing club who were praying for Bev. The doctors and nursing staff at University Hospital were terrific with Bev and they also took the time to see that Kim, Sherri and I were taken care of.  The nurses on the aircraft flying Bev home did a great job working with Bev constantly during the flight to keep her stable and keep her chest clear so she could breathe until we could get her to St. Mikes.

There is one person who made Bev's trip home possible by arranging a bed for Bev at St. Mikes virtually overnight.   A friend of a friend, someone that Bev and I have never met. Someone who wishes to remain anonymous.  How can I thanks someone like that.

Many of Bev's friends and family have been offering help if we needed it. Some wanted to send flowers.  All of these offers are appreciated but right now I can't think of anything I need and Intensive Care doesn't allow flowers ( Bev's not that big on cut flowers anyway ) so one of Bev's family suggested we all get together, take the money we would have spent on flowers, pool it and donate it to St. Mikes as a way of thanking
person mentioned above.  I spoke with a lady at the hospital this morning to find out if St Mikes has a way to help set this up.  We now have a donations account at St. Mikes called " Best wishes for Beverley Owen". So now instead of flowers we can all send a little money to help out the hospital.

Donations can be mailed to:

St. Michael's Foundation
30 Bond Street
Toronto, On M5B 1W8

Donations can be made by phone: 416-864-5000

Donations can be made on line   www.stmichaelsfoundation.com

Just mention "Best wishes for Beverley Owen"

Questions can be addressed to Cynthia Collantes  416-864-5879

My sincere thanks to everyone for your support.

Dave