Posts from 2004

From: Dean Hellekson
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 1:02 PMSubject: Antonia Update
This is an update on Antonia.
Antonia has been doing fairly well at the rehabilitation center. There has been improvement with her left eye, the last couple of days we have seen a continual shrinking of her pupil. We have also seen her left arm and head relax from being in a continual state of flexion. Her head was continually turned towards the left, and her arm was in a pulled up position, but now both are relaxed and will stay in a neutral position. These are small but encouraging signs that God is doing some healing in her body.
We are so thankful that you all have labored in prayer for my precious wife. Please continue to seek the throne of grace with me, and beseech the Father for a miracle.
Also, continue to pray that the Lord would open up the appropriate doors for us to bring Antonia home.
Thankful, Dean Hellekson
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From: Swb4109@aol.comSent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 2:58 PMSubject: Antonia Update

Antonia was released from the hospital today (Tuesday DEC.7th). She is being moved to A rehabilitation and healthcare center (Address and facility name removed). She is stable and there wasn't anything further that the hospital could do to help her. This facility is about 10 miles from Dean and Antonia's home. Please pray that the care facility will take good care of Antonia. Dean will try and bring her home as soon as possible. He is looking at different living options and may have to move to have a place that will work for Antonia's care.
Dean did a great job with the message last Sunday, he spoke out of Psalm 34. Please continue to pray for Dean, Antonia and the children. We are still hopeful and trusting that God will heal Antonia.
http://helpantonia.org/
God BlessSteve Brown
Christ Covenant Church

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From: Swb4109@aol.comSent: Friday, December 03, 2004 8:46 AMSubject: Antonia update

Antonia is doing better and is out of ICU. Her lungs are clear and her other vitals are stable. She is not able to get enough air into her lungs when they close off the trach. The doctors said that they won't be able to remove the trach because when they do Antonia is not able to breath through her mouth. They are looking for a facility for Antonia to go to until Dean can make arrangements to bring her home. There are very few facilities that will take coma patients with a trach. Dean and Antonia's home is to small to effectively care for Antonia so he will have to find another house before he can bring her home.
Some specific prayer items:Complete healing for AntoniaA facility for Antonia close to homeThat they would be able to remove the trachFinancial issues resolvedContinued strength and grace for Dean
Also this Sunday will the first time that Dean will be back in the pulpit since the accident and he knows it will be difficult, so please pray that he will have the strength to deliver the message that God has given him.
Thanks to all for your prayer and support of Dean and Antonia. http://helpantonia.org/God BlessSteve BrownChrist Covenant Church
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From: Swb4109@aol.comSent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 5:36 PMSubject: Antonia Update

Greetings:Today the doctor capped Antonia's tracheotomy to see if she could swallow and breath on her own. This happened a few hours ago and she has handled it pretty well. They won't remove the tracheotomy until she is able to breath on her own for a couple of days. Her care would be much easier without the tracheotomy. The right side of her body is more relaxed than the left side and the doctors said it would be a good sign if her left side would also relax. Her right pupil has started to react to light but her left one is still fixed. An indicator that her brain is healing would be her ability to react to a command. This could be a command to squeeze your hand or move her toes. Dean is overwhelmed by the love and support you have all shown. Please continue to pray for Antonia's healing and also pray for Dean, he is exhausted and needs your prayer for strength and wisdom.
God BlessSteve Brown Christ Covenant Church
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From: Swb4109@aol.com [mailto:Swb4109@aol.com] Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 10:10 PMSubject: Antonia Update

Greetings
Antonia's pneumonia has improved and her lungs are clearing out. A couple of things that you could pray for are that God would provide a way for Dean to care for Antonia at home. This would be a huge undertaking but this is what he really desires for his wife. He wants her around the children and be a part of the home. Her care would be much easier if they could remove the tracheotomy, this is a possibility if she is able to swallow and clear her throat on her own. If you could pray that Dean's insurance would help with the cost of home care. Most companies won't do this. He will also need a hospital bed and other equipment, but I will let you know as we find out what her needs will be. There is still no sign of improvement in relationship to the injury to the brain, but we are continuing to pray that God will heal Antonia and return her to us all. Dean wanted me to thank you all for your prayer and support.

http://helpantonia.org/
God Bless
Steve Brown
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From: Elizabeth KirkmanSent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 12:22 PMSubject: Psalms for Antonia

Hello All!

I figured I'd save time with one general email, so for those of you for whom this is a repeat, please forgive, but read on for details you may have missed...

Most of you receiving this email already know Antonia, but some of you do not. If this is new to you, go to: http://helpantonia.org/ to learn about Antonia Helleckson and her wonderful family. Those who know her, know that she looooves singing the Psalms! As I've been studying this thing called "coma recovery therapy" and discovered music as a vital part of it, that little light bulb went off, and this idea was born. We are putting together a CD of Antonia's favorite psalms, by many of her favorite people, and hopefully many more! A wonderful and very busy guy named Joel Brown from Mars Hill Church is also very generous and willing to record us! Our goal is to get this done fast so we can have these Psalms blaring through her headphones A.S.A.P. !!!!

Practice will be on Sunday nights at the Kirkmans House, and dinner (or at least some sort of food) will be provided. This will not be a long term commitments on Sunday nights. It all deps on how many we can round up and how quickly we can prepare.

Please let me know what part you sing, and don't worry if you can't read music...we will be recording individual part tapes as soon as we can. I hope you can all make it!!! We would LOVE to have you! Please pass the word on and hopefully we'll end up with a good sized group!

And of course, please keep Antonia and her family in your prayers. We know that the God who "knit her together in her mother's womb" is perfectly able to easily "re-knit" anything that He created in the first place! He is a God of miracles, and He is working mightily in the midst of this. And so we wait, and pray....and sing! And Antonia would love the thought of that!!!

God Bless you all. Hope to see you soon!
Please respond as soon as you can.

Thankyou!

~Liz Kirkman
home~(425)776-8094
cell~(425)213-4135
e_kirkman@msn.com

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From: Swb4109@aol.com [mailto:Swb4109@aol.com] Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2004 5:41 PMSubject: Update on Antonia
I just spoke with Dean and he asked that we would pray for an infection that Antonia has in her lungs. It is pneumonia and they are treating it with antibiotics. If they get this under control she can be moved out of the critical care unit to a regular room. Dean'd mom arrived from Canada today and plans on staying with Dean and the kids for the next few months to help out. Antonia is still in a coma and there is no improvement as far as the injury to the brain Please continue to pray for her healing. I have included a link for more info on Antonia.

http://helpantonia.org/

God Bless
Steve Brown
206-999-7571

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From: Swb4109@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 10:44 Subject: Antonia Update
Friends and Family:
Yesterday they performed a tracheotomy on Antonia to replace the breathing tube. Today they have inserted a feeding tube directly into her abdomen. They also have been able to reduce the amount of oxygen that they have been administering to her. The doctors have said that this is an indication that she is becoming stronger physically but is not an indication that the damage to her brain has improved. If she remains stable they will be moving her out of the critical care unit. They have told Dean that it is not possible for him to care for her at home. Please continue to pray for Antonia's healing and strength and wisdom for Dean. Dean is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support you have all shown. Many of you have asked how you can help and we have decided to set up a web site that people can make a contribution for expenses that Dean will incur. When this is set up I will include the link on future emails.
God BlessSteve Brown (removed)Christ Covenant Church
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From: Swb4109@aol.com [mailto:Swb4109@aol.com] Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 8:10 AMSubject: Update on Antonia

Antonia's condition remains the same. She is still in the intensive care unit at (removed). Dean is normally at the hospital from (removed). He then goes home to get the kids down. The children have been able to go in and see Antonia a number of times and realize that something is wrong with mommy and are praying that she will wake up. We are setting up a calendar to have someone praying and fasting each day for Antonia during the month of November. If you would like to participate please contact Ron Coverdale as he is setting up the dates. His email address is roncoverdale@yahoo.com. Dean is holding up but as you can image he is exhausted. Dean and his family attended church yesterday and Dean was encouraged to be able to worship with everyone. Please continue to pray for Antonia's healing and strength for Dean. Dean wanted me to thank you all for all your love and support. If you have any questions you can call me at (removed). Feel free to forward this to anyone that you think may be interested.
God BlessSteve BrownChrist Covenant Church
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From: Swb4109@aol.com [mailto:Swb4109@aol.com] Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 10:43 AMSubject: Update on Antonia

Update on Antonia Hellekson.There is no change in Antonia's condition. The doctors believe that because of the severity of the injury to the brain stem that she will never awake from the coma. The only life support that she is receiving is assistance with her breathing. Dean and Antonia's families have all arrived at this time. Dean will be taking the children to the hospital to see Antonia today. Please continue to pray that the Lord will raise her up. If you have any questions please call me at (removed).
Steve BrownChrist Covenant Church
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From: Swb4109@aol.com [mailto:Swb4109@aol.com] Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 9:46 AMSubject: Food for Family

FolksSome of you will get multiple emails, sorry but better than none at all. Linda Coverdale will be calling everyone and letting you know specifics about food for the family members that are from out of town. If you don't get a call or received this first you can call Linda at (removed). Dean and Antonia's family will be eating together at Dean and Antonia's Thursday and Friday evening, if you could prepare something that they could eat without having to do a lot of prep work that would be great. Soup-Salad-Finger foods-casseroles--cookies-- ????? The sliding door off of the deck will be unlocked so that you can just take it in if no one is home. Leave the door unlocked so that the next person can get in. The ladies will also be meeting after church on Sunday as by then we will have a better idea of what Dean's needs will be with the kids and Antonia. Dean is taking the kids up to see Antonia today so please pray for them that it will go well. Lunch will be provided at the hospital for today and tomorrow for the family. Covey and I want to thank you all for your outpouring of love and support for Dean and Antonia, Dean is overwhelmed and extremely thankful for you all. You have all rallied and have done just a wonderful job. As needs arise we will let you know. There is no change in Antonia at this time. Again thanks.God BlessSteve & Covey
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From: Ben Schultz Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 12:42 PMTSubject: Antonia UpdateImportance: High
The doctor said it couldn't be much worse - she may be in a coma for months. He said people could look it up on the internet and it would explain what happened to her. The injury is called "Diffuse Axonal Injury," traumatic brain injury.
Please continue to pray for her and Dean. Dean said we would welcome visitors.
Steve_____________________________________
From: Swb4109@aol.com [mailto:Swb4109@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 8:44 AMSubject: Re: URGENT PRAYER REQUEST
I just want to give you all an update on Antonia. As of this morning there is no change. She is still unconscience at this time.There will be a time of prayer this evening at Christ Covenenat Church at 7:00, all are welcome. Dean's family and Antonia's parents will be arriving today. We will also be fasting today. Dean would welcome anyone who would like to stop by the hospital. She is in (removed) Medical Center (9 ave & Jefferson St.) 2nd floor west Hospital Wing, in the neuro intensive care unit. Dean wants to thank everyone for your prayer and support. You can call my phone if you have any questions, (removed). Please forward this email to anyone that you think would like to know about the situation. God BlessSteve BrownChrist Covenant Church
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From: Swb4109@aol.com [mailto:Swb4109@aol.com] Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004 1:36 PMSubject: URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

FolksAntonia was riding a horse that they have on the property and we are not sure what happen but it must have fallen and Antonia was found unconscious and is at (removed) and still hasn't regained conciseness. She is undergoing test. I am on my way to (removed) and will try and sent out an email to give you all an update later today. Dean ask that we all pray.God BlessSteve