Update on Abelina 1/28

Today, I spoke with Abelina's brother Hector as well as her nurse. It seems she had a couple of hard days with her breathing and lungs, but they were back on track for, 18 hours off the ventilators tonight. Yes, progress is slow, but again this is to protect her lungs. They did another set of x-rays on her madobal (jaw) and another three weeks has been recommended. As well as another few week on the neck brace! Keep praying and sending her cards to let her know you are thinking of her!

Also, one of our blog readers kim is going to head up grant writing for Abelina, so if anyone is interested in helping please email me at maganakids@gmail.com.

Diana

Please send cards to...

Frank Howard Allen Real Estate
915 Diablo Avenue
Novato, Ca 94945

Abelina in her living room...

Wow, what a turnout of helpers last Sunday, what a gift to Abelina and the kids. Every hour volunteers put in, saves the family a great deal of money!

Thank You Ronna Sommers, Dominica and James, Laurie Bartley, Tiffany Kneff, Wendy, Berta, Marta, Linda and Zulma Magana, Nancy Hansen, Alicia Magana, Hector Magana, my husband John, Kyle and Joanna Frazier, Bill Verity (thanks for the new starter), The tall gentleman from Melissa Bradley (sorry), Jessica Tevis and about 10 more people I know I have forgotten to mention. It was amazing to see what a group of determined people can accomplish in one day. All of you are awesome!

Volunteers needed

Experienced painters

Grant writers

Claudia Birthday

Today was the big 13 for Claudia! She started out the day with a mickey mouse pancake from big John and ended it with a very full tummy. We went to an Italian Restaurant in Sonoma were she enjoyed Gnocchi and a lemon tart. Although the festivities really began yesterday with her Mom at the hospital. We arrived mid day and celebrated the big day in advance. I wrapped and presented her special present from her Mommy upon her arrival. It was a delicate hummingbird necklace on a long gold chain. Claudia loved her gift and was delighted to see her mom. Although mom was suffering a terrible headache. So between Claudia reminiscing about funny stories with my son Johnny, pain killers and a good head massage, she was back to her smiling self in no time.

I would also like to appeal to all of you out there with amazing fundraising and grant skills to please step forward. We are getting to a point were her executor is going to tap into the fundraising funds and they will go quickly. Please remember the needs of this family of survivors, much appreciation.

Also, we said goodbye to Abraham today, who went to live with his Uncle Jessie in Arizona, I am so happy for him to have such an amazing male role model. Keep him in your prayers!

Diana Tate

4 days until Claudia's 13th Birthday

Family...

Everyday Abelina agreed that she will look up at her plethora of hanging rosaries and that will be a reminder of what she is grateful for. You see Abelina is focusing on the good things in her life! Jessie, Abelina and I met with her team of doctors today and they seem to be pleased with her progress. They are carefully weening her off the ventilator this time around, due to a previous collapsed lung. She is so motivated and puts forth her best effort every day. As of now, due to the cost of airlifting her to Arizona, it appears she will either go to San Francisco or San Jose for her rehabilitation. She will remain there until she is completely secure in the pulmonary region as well as having the ability to remain in a wheelchair. The SF rehab facility is specifically for spinal cord injuries and they have experts in the pulmonary area. Also, they many young enthusiastic therapist that will respond well to Abelina's can do attitude. She looks forward to the day she gets out of ICU and thinks of her friends and family daily.

Today was a good day!

Diana

Update 1/15/07-7 days until Claudia Birthday!

Today I visited Abelina for a few hours. She was in good spirits and was working hard on her shoulder shrugs and other physical therapy. Also, she had a new arm brace on that stretched her arm out straight, in order to help her range of motion. She is so determined to get out of ICU, you can see it in her eyes!

She is surrounded by so many cards, rosaries, notes and photographs that she really feels loved. One of the nurses yesterday mentioned to me, "that in her 24 years of nursing she has never seen this level of dedication from family and friends, that she sees with Abelina." everyone in the ICU is so touched by Abelina's support!

She has been sitting in her chair for 3 and a half to 4 hours a day. She is remaining off her ventilator for 14 hours at a time. She is also now able to move her jaw more freely, she can even stick out her tongue as needed. Her sister and I were able to shave her legs in between therapies, I was frustrated Hilda did a much better job (ha, ha). Again ,the eyebrows were perfectly arched, her feet are as smooth as a baby's butt, she is well cared for! Oh and the Orgins face cream from Wendy is very appreciated, she was lathered in it today.

I will go back to see her on Friday! Her brother Jessie and I have called a meeting with her team of doctors to better understand, what her future entails!

Keep the notes coming!

Diana

Abelina Update 1/13/08

9 Days until Claudia's 13th Birthday

Today we arrived a little later to the hospital, around 3:30 in the afternoon. We were greeted with a huge, amorous smile and sparkling white teeth! She was sitting up in her chair with her perfectly arched eyebrows and delicately braided, long brown hair. Today she was off the ventilator for eight hours and aiming for fourteen hours. Yesterday, she remained off the ventilator for 12 hours, she is well on her way to breathing independently, again. Also, I remained in the room while the ever so pregnant nurse and her assistant, went through the tedious process of transfering her from bed, to chair. First, they have to straighten the chair into a bed like position, then they carefully try to maneuver around all of her ingoing tubes, without any pulling or tugging. Then they line up the chair to her bed and one of the nurses goes to the right side of her bed leans over, and with both nurses,tightly grasping sections of the sheet they lift simultaneously and quickly pull her to the right. My job when present is to also guide her feet onto the bed. The difference between today and every other day, is that she did not seem to be in agony. Usually the pain so intense, she immediately ask for pain medicine. Today, she waited at least 10 minutes. So, in my mind she is better able to tolerate her pain, Yeah!

Please keep the letters and words of encouragement coming, it means a lot!

Diana Tate

12 days to Claudia's b-day and she got a new pug puppy for her b-day!

With moms permission of course. I brought it home from Eureka today, she was so surprised, it was great! Pictures to come!

All of Abelina's brothers, I will give it a try!

From left Pascual, Jose, Lupe, Hector, Ernesto and on the bottom row the eldest brother Jessie!

Volunteers

Thank you for responding to my request for volunteering on the 20th! We need help at 9:30 a.m. in Novato. I still need more manpower if anyone else is available! Contact me at maganakids@gmail.com

Diana

14 Days until Claudia is the big 13!!

Update January 5th

Today Claudia, John and I went to spend the day with Abelina. It was a great day and by the time we left the hospital she was relaxed and happy. She was off the ventilator for six and a half hours when we left. So, slowly but gradually she is gaining more air. Also, there is talk of removing the jaw brace and screws by the end of this month. The neck brace might come off even sooner. Today, Allison (her nurse), Ernesto (Abelina's brother) and I all gave her a very relaxing hair wash. We were pretending she was in Tony and Guys (were she gets her hair done). Last September Abelina took me to her salon to get my hair done for my 20 year reunion. After we went to benefit to get a free make up the application, it was quite a day. Anyhow she really enjoyed, the feeling of having water poured on her head as well as a real shampoo. Normally, they have funky no rinse shampoo supplied by the hospital, that is not so relaxing. Also, I enjoyed watching her brother Ernesto braid her hair. I have to say all of her brothers can do a better braid than I could ever hope to. We spent about three hours in her room, it was a real luxury!

Leanne and Cole we were able to give her your Christmas gift, she was really touched.

Love and prayers...

Diana

Claudia's Birthday Countdown-January 22nd, 1995

14 days until she's a teenager!

I wanted to ask for a few volunteers to help with a small project, starting next week. If anyone is interested, please email me at maganakids@gmail.com .

Update-Janurary 3rd, 2008

Today we had a nice visit with Abelina, she was in good spirits and very glad to see us! Also, she had the opportunity to spend three days with Angel. Angel stayed at The Kiwanis Club with his teo Ernesto who arrived on December 31st, as I said before all her siblings are taking shifts. Can you believe she has not had one night alone, once her family became aware of her condition. They are all very remarkable! At some point, I would like to ask people to donate frequent flyer miles to assist her family, unfortunately I have never done this. So, if anyone has knowledge in this area, please share.

As far as her condition, she is staying off the ventilator for a few hours everyday. Also, she is sitting up in a special chair (strapped in) all the better to hug her and look her in the eyes.

I wanted to ask for a few volunteers to help with a small project, starting next week. If anyone is interested, please email me at maganakids@gmail.com .

Love and Prayers

Diana

Hello, Abelina.

My name is Meredith Church. I am 9. I want you to know that our family says prayers for you every night, and also sometimes extra prayers in the day. I hope you heal soon and I hope your lungs get stronger. On Sunday, when I go to Sunday School at my church, I am going to ask my whole class to pray for you. We just got a new dog named Violet. She can only do 2 tricks, which are sitting and standing on her back legs. She is a very strange dog, but we love her. In the picture, Violet is sitting with me and my brother Stephen. I just wanted to say hello and tell you that we think about you all day long!!! Happy New Year

From, Meredith

my thoughts

I am very happy we get to celebrate a new year. Last year was very confusing, and I learned tons of things (and not just in school) but also with my, family, and myself. But what I recently learned was that family is family and I can't change that, and what I mean by that is hold on your family even if you don't like them, as long as you can because they won't be here forever. Make as many memories as you can make. I love my family, even if they do get on my nerve sometimes. But so many people don't get that. people today are more into how they look, who's dating who, what car they driving, but to me that stuff doesn't mean anything. I'm tired of that, I want people to learn what family really is, and I'm glad I did.
sincerly,
Claudia Magana