January 2007 & a Poem from Dean's mom Shirly.

January, 2007

Greeting‘s from the Hellekson household! We trust each one of you had a very merry Christmas and are delighting in a New Year.

We apologize that there has not been an update for awhile, and want you to know that we still are very needful of your prayers support.

There has been a tremendous amount to be thankful for. Antonia has had a wonderful Christmas; her mood was delightful, her strength increasing and her speech clearer. We also continue to see improvements in her short short-term memory

In November Dean took Antonia to the University to see if she would be a candidate for a prosthesis which would fit in her mouth and lift her soft palate. This would allow more air into her lung’s and would help her to speak louder and clearer. This will greatly increase her speech. We are waiting to hear back from the doctor regarding this.

We made a trip to Moscow in November with Antonia (it was her first trip back there since the accident). She kept on asking if she could go to Bucers a couple of week prior to our going and she was so excited when we arrived. When we pulled up to Bucers she said, “Hey, I know that place. It’s Bucers.” Pat Greenfield had arranged a open house, and if Antonia didn’t remember who the people were visually, she did as soon as they spoke to her and told her their name.

Kim Hatcher comes on Tuesdays and Thursdays for physiotherapy and said she has noticed great improvement since she started with Antonia in September. Just the other day Kim had her chop up veggies to make a salad, and put them in a bowl (We considered this as a very special salad and enjoyed it with our dinner). We have noticed a great improvement in Antonia’s strength since Kim has been working with her. Thank you so much Kim for all your cheerful and effective labors. Kim has been so kind to volunteer her services to Antonia—what a gem!

Another thing we have been doing lately is call Dean almost daily at his office and have Antonia talk to him, this is always a joy to Dean and gives encouragement to both of them. Antonia usually says to Dean after a few short pleasantries, “Come home NOW!”

Antonia surprised Dean the other day when he came home. We asked Dean to stand in front of her wheel chair; she grabbed him by the waist and stood up. Everyone was very teary eyed!

We want to thank each and everyone for you prayer support, your sacrificial giving, and you’re extreme kindness shown to our family over the past two year’s—we cannot express our gratitude enough.

Please continue to pray with us that God would continue to be kind to us, and grant Antonia complete healing. Our prayer would be that she would regain more consciousness of her surroundings, increased use of her left side and further advancement of her short term memory. God is so good and he blesses us every day with small miracles which we are grateful.

Here is a poem Dean’s mom has recently written, reflecting back over the last two years on the events which have transpired.

Reflections

Two years have past since that fateful day,
When hopes and dreams were swept away.
Our beloved Antonia took a fall,
It changed the course of life for all!
When I look back through many tears,
I realize how God helped us face our fears!
Antonia, you had defied the odds,
And with God’s help surprised us all!
The things they said you’d never do,
God proved them wrong, it’s just not true!
You’re blessed to have a family that cares
That helps so much and willingly shares.
We love you Antonia with all of our heart,
Keep fighting the fight, this is just the start.

Love,
Mom

God’s blessing on you all,
Dean (and family)
(We hope to have new pictures out with this update)