Hi everyone,

The bracelets are a huge hit! Thank you all so much for showing your love and support for Corey.

Shelly was in visiting Corey today and we were talking about cheering memories. One of the superstitious rituals the girls did to prepare for the December competitions was “NO SHAVE NOVEMBER”. The senior girls wouldn’t shave their legs for the month of November. They then came to our house the night before the first competition to shave their legs. Now that you have that image, let’s give an even clearer visual. Corey and 5-7 of her closest girlfriends in a small bathroom; 3-4 on the edge of the tub and 2-3 leg up on the single sink. Music blaring, giggles, gossip, water and shaving cream everywhere! Then the clean up (they honestly did try)

Shelly posted an event on facebook to invite just a few friends to recreate that ritual in Corey’s honor. Well, in true facebook style, there’s now 90 people signed up. Shelly has decided to turn this into a fundraiser for Corey. I can hear the laughter already! We will keep you posted on the date but remember, if you want to attend…NO SHAVING!

Today was a quiet day for Corey but those days are needed too. She needs time to rest and let the healing continue. We also need days like this when friends show up to let us cry, talk, and give us the hugs we need that will strengthen us.
We really appreciate everything everyone is doing to help Corey. We can’t thank you enough!
Love the Beatties

Hi Everyone,

Mid-afternoon update…the neurosurgeon ordered another CAT scan today. Corey’s fluid had increased from yesterday. They’ve put her on the “add-on” schedule for tonight to put the shunt in. We don’t have a specific time, so lets just all pray together.

Everyone has been so encouraging and supportive. Let’s also say some prayers of gratitude, too.
Thank You for Corey’s Doctors, Nurses, and the staff at the hospital that is taking care of all of us. Thank You for all our friends and family. Thank you for the small signs that Corey is fighting her way back to us. She has been a stubborn, independent, strong willed woman since the day she was born. Thank You for giving her those traits!

We don’t know what “The Plan” is, so Just for Today; give us strength, hope and courage. Tomorrow will take care of itself!

Hi Everyone,

Corey’s CAT scan confirmed increased fluid in the ventricles. She will most likely have the shunt put in on Wednesday unless they decide differently tomorrow at rounds.
This procedure will be good for her for a number of reasons. It will release the fluid that’s building and (we hope) the brain swelling will begin to diminish, but it will also give her the best opportunity to succeed with her rehab program. Once she’s stable from the shunt procedure, we can begin to prepare her for the move.

Speaking of rehabs, we’ve decided on Bryn Mawr Rehab in Malvern. Their expertise and success with patients that have this type of global brain trauma comes highly recommended. We are praying that Corey will be counted among their greatest success stories!

The nurses have already begun preparing her for the rehab stay. She now has several moves from her bed to her recliner throughout the day. They also have regular stimulation sessions and nap/rest times. Her time here will be a vacation compared to what she’s about to do at rehab! She better rest now because that little girl will be going non-stop once she moves onto the next step.

We also want you to know that her girlfriends have begun a fundraiser for her. There is a “Corey” Bracelet that will make Lance very jealous. We’ve posted a picture for you to see in her gallery. If you would like to purchase a bracelet they are $5 or whatever you’d like to contribute. Lexi and her Mom, Nicole, are taking orders.
Blue goes with everything!!

Thanks again for all your love and support!
Good night…

Hi Everyone,

Corey is joining me as this is written. We are watching the Phillies together.
She is very impressed with my play by play…NOT!
She started out watching in her recliner but then we had to move her to the bed, bathe her, and now she’s tucked in. Throughout the process I’m calling the inning updates to her.
I know just enough to fake it and sound like I really now what’s going on. She, on the other hand, could tell you the statistics on each player for both teams! Oh well, if she doesn’t like the commentator, she can wake up and let me know!

It looks like rehab might be on hold. The MRI showed that the brain swelling has not come down yet. The craniotomy allowed the brain to swell to relieve the pressure but this also helped the ventricles to expand and fill with more fluid. This is not uncommon. A third of patients that have this procedure do this. Monday, the doctors will have another CAT scan and will most likely want to put in a shunt. The shunt acts like a valve that allows the fluid to be sent out of the brain down to the abdomen. The fluid is then absorbed by the body and the body gets rid of it. Completely amazing! We will confirm this Monday if this will be a necessary surgery. If it is, it will give her the best opportunity for the best potential in rehab.

She’s been fever free today. The cultures are still growing. She was a 7T today and opened both eyes a few times today!

And so our day closes. Corey looks beautiful (I French braided her hair) She’s tucked in with her Bears and princess blanket. She is resting comfortably. It’s time for our bedtime prayers. Good night all.

Hi Everyone,
It’s amazing to think it’s only been 2 weeks! So much has happened. Corey is an amazing young woman.

Today was a long day. There is nothing new to report clinically, just an improvement on what we’ve been seeing. She is opening her left eye wider and trying to peak through the right eye. Soon she’ll be winking I’m sure! Her neuro tests are still at a 6T. She’s started to yawn. That could be a sign that she’s tired of us hangin’ around and bored with our conversations!

Neurology took her for a second MRI to make sure the films were clear and they could read well. She had a fever this morning and tonight, so more blood work and cultures to make sure she isn’t fighting a new bacterial virus. If the tests come back negative, the fever could be a normal side affect from the Brain Trauma. Your brain regulates your body temperature and when it’s injured, the body sometimes has erratic fevers.

On a lighter note, we’ve started playing her “Happy” collection of music from her IPod which is a nice addition to the room. It’s comforting to have familiar music in the back round. It’s fun to see the nurses come in and start to sing along. We can’t wait for Corey to join them and maybe even do a little dance! Her friends will tell you that the singing is more likely than the dance steps. Just ask her choreographer from cheering!

Please keep the prayers coming. She’s fighting to come back to us!

Hi Everyone,

We’re now thinking that we are living an episode of Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
Corey is moving right along…

The physical therapists were in to fit Corey for a helmet that will protect her head as they work with her and move her. They had two sizes to choose from. One was too big and one was too small. She’s now Goldilocks! Maybe when we get to rehab they’ll have one that fits just right!

Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy all worked with Corey today. PT and OT began by getting Corey out of bed and into a recliner! Her heart rate and vitals handled the transition well. She kept her left eye open the whole time. We think she was looking for the nearest exit.

The therapists chose the larger helmet so they could stuff it with padding trying to make it fit. When they put it on her, we were thrown back in time. Looking at this little face in the big helmet reminded us of when she was 3 yrs old wearing her first Barbie bike helmet. We were kidding with the nurses to be careful because Corey is going to be ready for the wheelchair races before they know it!

Once Corey was settled in her recliner, we began to notice that, ever so slowly, her helmet was moving forward covering her eyebrows, and then the eyes until it rested on the bridge of her nose. Now she really looked 3yrs old! We called the nurse in. To resolve this creeping issue she attached nursing tape from the front of the helmet and stretched it to the back of chair handle. That kept the helmet in place. The nurse looked at us and said, ‘there’s nothing nurses tape can’t fix; just like duct tape!’ PS – Corey rocked the helmet look!

Clinically she is doing very well. It’s amazing to think that her body is healing so quickly. The last piece to heal is the Brain Trauma.

We are now in the “wait and see” stage of recovery. We know how hard this is on all of you wondering how long this stage will last and the questions we all have trying to get some gauge of what’s to come.
In true “Corey Style” she will continue to keep us guessing and keep us on our toes never knowing what to expect from her next. In many ways it’s exciting!

This stage is where the rehab comes in. She is clinically ready for the Big Move! The sooner we get Corey to an inpatient rehab the sooner we will begin to witness her achievements. We’ve begun the rehab interview process. We haven’t made our decision yet, but will keep you informed as we continue to watch this magnificent healing process.

Thank you all for being apart of her journey!

Happy Birthday Corey!

We all know that this is not exactly the way Corey wanted to celebrate her special day but none the less it was a very special day.
For those of you who joined us in spirit, here are some details we hope will help you visualize the event. We hope you will feel like you were with us.

Corey’s girlfriends from Avon Grove and Cheering, as well as parents, teachers and coaches came to the Christiana Hospital cafeteria.
We had a small area with round tables and chairs that are enclosed with glass walls they call the fishbowl. My neighbor picked up a Costco cake that was decorated with the Hungry Hungry Caterpillar (one of Corey’s favorite childhood books) and some of the girl’s baked cupcakes. Pink plates, napkins and cups accented the cake table. Happy birthday balloons, picture collages and presents filled the adjacent tables.

About 7:30, we lit the candles and sang Happy Birthday. The entire room took a moment to make a wish together before the candles were blown out.

One of our friends came with a video camera to document the event. This video will be wonderful to show Corey and help with her rehab. Caitlin, Corey’s older sister, came up with the perfect party game. All the girls moved the chairs to a large circle. Their task, each person had 1 minute to share their favorite “Corey Story”…yes; it is now on video tape! So many wonderful memories were shared as well as a few confessions that were very revealing! TMI for a parent! What a blessing to hear each story. Laughter, giggles, and so much friendship filled the room.

Clinically, we’re moving right along.
Corey had the surgery on the femur tonight (in fact, she was in surgery as the party was going on). Everything went well. She will be much more comfortable now that it is repaired.
She was still at a 6T today but the Doctors are pleased overall. Keep in mind, the brain is the slowest organ to heal.
She has been breathing on her own for almost 48 hours. Chest x-rays look good, CT scans are stable and vitals look strong. Tomorrow she will have her MRI.

Things are moving so well, we were asked to start interviewing Rehabs! It’s been an incredible 12 days. Corey is still not conscious, but her body is getting stronger. The sooner we get her to Rehab, the sooner she can begin to make the strides we are all praying for!

God, please continue to Bless Corey and thank you for all the people You have brought into our lives because of her. Words cannot express our appreciation!

Tomorrow is Corey’s 18th birthday! She was actually born here at Christiana Hospital…we’ve come full circle. The Hospital Chaplin asked us if Corey’s friends and family were planning on coming into celebrate her birthday. That thought panicked us because our little waiting room isn’t that big! So the hospital has found us room in the cafeteria to have a birthday party for her. Our neighbor is bringing in a Costco sheet cake. If you’d like a slice, we will be down there between 7-8pm.

Corey obviously will not be able to join us. We will video tape the party and would love to have friends and families say a few words because we can use the video as part of her therapy when we get to rehab. For those of you that can’t make it, you can bet that when she can attend her own party, we’ll be renting the biggest hall we can find! Now THAT will be a party!

Clinically she had a big day!
They took Corey off the ventilator and she has been breathing through the trach by herself all day. This is very good progress. She was not taken down for the femur surgery but we hope that will happen tomorrow. Once that is complete, she will have an MRI to look at the interior of the brain.

Corey is still considered critical, but is out of the acute stage…another big move.
We were concerned that she hasn’t “moved” much in the last few days. As soon as that conversation was over, she has been spontaneously moving all her limbs. At this point we believe they are still reflexes and not sure if its cognitive responses. It’s difficult to tell when she can’t verbalize. She does appear to recognize voices and touch. This was evident when Shelly came to visit today. Shelly was in the accident with Corey and they are like sisters. When Shelly began talking to Corey, she was moving every limb, trying to open her eye and opened her mouth like she wanted to start gossiping with her girlfriend. It was an exciting and tearful reunion!
PS – your prayers have been working for Shelly too. She looks as beautiful as always and is getting around on crutches…she is now affectionately referred to as “Hop-Along”

Overall it’s been a good day.

Hi everyone,

We’ve shared with you that Corey’s nurses have been amazing. They rotate every 6 days working 12 hour shifts each day. The entire floor checks in on Corey even though she is not assigned to most of them! Many of the staff are now coming off and will miss Corey’s 18th birthday on Wednesday. This morning, we came into her room and it was decorated with purple, lime green and princess streamers. They also hung a Happy “Almost” Birthday Banner on the wall. They didn’t want to miss celebrating with her!

Her little cubicle is beginning to take on life and personality just like Corey. We have picture collages from her girlfriends hanging on both walls (which by the way, the staff LOVES the crazy photo’s) She has teddy bears, balloons, cards, her princess blanket/pillow and her assortment of scarves that the nurses fight over which will best compliment either her senior shirt or Phillies shirt that they drape over her. I swear they love playing dress up with her. It’s wonderful!

Clinically, she had a big day. PS – we are now enrolled in Parent Pre-Med. Vocabulary is still a little tricky so we may phonetically spell some of what we share, but what do you expect from a 1st year?

Corey still has the flu and pneumonia. Her fever still spikes through the day/night but it appears that the antibiotics are working because the chest x-rays are looking much better and her lungs are beginning to sound clear.

Corey has had a breathing tube and feeding tube in her mouth since she was admitted. Today they relocated the breathing tube to a trach (sounds like Trake)
They also placed the feeding tube at the abdomen. This is very good. It secures her airway and is much more comfortable for her. It is also safer for her to go into the other surgeries she needs to have. Now she looks like Sleeping Beauty with a neck brace!

Speaking of her other surgeries, she’s been cleared for the femur surgery tomorrow. We don’t have a time yet. Good news is, she’s not a priority and could get bumped from the OR if there is another trauma. How great is that, she’s NOT a priority!

Thank you all for your notes on this page. We can’t begin to tell you the strength we gain from reading your messages. Soon we will be able to bring the laptop into her and begin to read to her. Your prayers, love and support mean so much!
All our love,
The Beattie’s

Hi everyone,

Every athlete will tell you that they need a day of rest when they are training for a marathon. Today was Corey’s day. She had a lot of tests that wore the poor little thing out. She got quite a workout and was wiped out. In between tests, he was very quiet. Temperature is still low grade but she scored a 7T today.

Although there is little to report tonight, we thought it very important to let you all know that Corey “looks” beautiful. It is completely amazing that she was in a severe accident yet she doesn’t have one scratch or one bruise on her face. The Corey you all remember looks like she’s lying in her bed sleeping peacefully. And let’s not forget what’s really important…”it’s not how you feel dah-ling, its how you look; and she loooks MAHVELOUS”!

We pray that we all rest well tonight.
Our little fighter needs to rest for tomorrow’s workout.