WEDNESDAY UPDATE – HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM JULIA! (11/21, 5pm)
November 21, 2007
Julia has made more progress today. In the picture above she is enjoying quiet time watching the movie Cars. She took her first bath and her hair is looking nice again. Dr. Campion and his assistant Dr. Alexander visited us earlier this afternoon and they like her progress. She has been cleared to try real food now. She had her first bite of mashed potatoes and gravy at 4pm and ate about 5 spoonfuls. She followed this with 4 mini vanilla wafers (one of her favorite snacks).
Julia had some therapy mid-afternoon and she walked maybe 30 feet with assistance using a walker. Father Michael and Presbytera Varvarelis came to visit Julia at the same time, and they witnessed her walking. Father Michael and Presbytera joined Julia on a walk to the teen playroom and then we returned back to the room for Dr. Campion’s visit. Strength is coming back little by little. If she keeps making progress we hope that we can be in Charlotte by Monday. We will enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday here at the hospital. The hospital has a nice Thanksgiving meal for patients and their families. Our Thanksgiving has continued each day since last Wednesday.
Julia is looking forward to seeing how much spine correction she has from the surgery and how much height she may have picked up. We will have a followup visit with Dr. Campion in about 3 weeks to check on all of this.
Mom and the boys took a walk to Franklin Street right after 4 this afternoon for some Tarheel shopping for Julia and to allow Mom to eat her first non-hospital meal in a week. Mom has been vigilant and has not left Julia’s bedside since the surgery. Dad convinced Mom he could handle watching Julia on his own and that Mom needed to get outside and enjoy the warm weather. And you know Dad handled Julia’s digestive system waking up all by himself. This was good for Julia.
The boys are planning to watch a few movies this evening here at the hospital. Christina got a ride home from NC State and will be getting her wash caught up and spend Thanksgiving with Uncle Kevin and Aunt Lisa before catching a ride up to the hospital. Dad plans to put his new Zorba the Greek dvd on the TV in Julia’s room and dance along with Zorba for Julia’s entertainment.
We have much to be thankful for Julia’s recovery and continued progress and her many friends praying for her and cheering her on. This likely will be the only update today. We will update again tomorrow. If Julia is up to it she will post her own message. I believe she will have the strength to type something on the laptop. Cheers to all! DAD
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1.
Troy Briles | November 21, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and thank you for taking the time to let everyone know how Julia is getting along. It was so good to see the picture of her.
Julia, I miss you, and I know you miss Buddy. I can’t wait until you can come home and be reunited with him.
Keep getting better. Before you know it, you will have to do homework again!
Troy Briles
2.
Aunt Lisa and Uncle Kevin | November 21, 2007 at 6:55 pm
What a beauitful sight! This is a great time of Thanks. I just spoken with Christina get our plans set for tomorrow.
Have a great rest of the night.
Love you all. Lisa
3.
Louis and Tina Stoumbos from Florida | November 21, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Dear Julia,
We are very glad that you are progressing to get better and that your surgery was successful. Our prayers will always be with you for the lord to make you stronger. We pray for a speedy recovery and also a Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
God Bless,
Louis and Tina Stoumbos
4.
Ballas Family | November 21, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Your Thanksgiving blessings came early in a successful surgery and beginning recovery for Julia. You have ALL been blessed with one another. As we take time tomorrow to give thanks for the many things we have been blessed with, we will also include all of you in our prayers for a continued recovery and for continued love and joy for all of your family. We will also continue to pray for Micah and PJ. Enjoy each day, each moment for every breath we are given is truly a blessing; every day we see the sun rise or the stars shine in the evening is a blessing; every day we get to share in our love for one another is a blessing. Thank you Lord Jesus for the many blessings you have bestowed upon us all!
5.
Aunt Lisa and Uncle Kevin | November 21, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Wow Julia,
You look great! I can tell you are watching a movie, Chandler gets that same look (oblivious to her surroundings) when she is watching a movie. We will continue to pray for your recovery and for rehab to go smoothly. We can hardly wait to see you. Hugs and kisses.
Love Uncle Kevin
6.
Bakis Family | November 21, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Julia,
You look great! This will be a special Thanksgiving for you and your family. We will continue to keep all of your in our prayers and hope to see you back in Charlotte soon. Have a wonderful day tomorrow.
7.
Uncle Henry, Aunt Helen, Catherine & Elizabeth | November 21, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Julia,
It is so good to see a picture of the pretty girl we all know and love. So happy that you are out of ICU and are able to eat some food. What a special day tomorrow will be for you, your Mom, your Dad, Christina, John and Nicholas. I picked up Yiayia today and brought her to Blythewood – she says hello and she loves you very much. So do Catherine, Elizabeth, Henry and I. Have fun watching your movies!!. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and we look forward to seeing you soon. You are always in our thoughts and prayers. Sleep well and we wish you a very happy day tomorrow. I thought you would love to know who the new American Girl doll is for 2008 – her name is Mia, the ice skater and she has long, and pretty red hair. She is the sister of many brothers who are ice hockey players. We saw it on Oprah today.
We love you,
Yiayia, Helen, Henry, Catherine & Elizabeth
8.
The Kleto Family | November 22, 2007 at 12:40 am
Dear Julia and Family,
How wonderful it is to see your beautiful face. We are thrilled to hear you are up and moving around some and you finally got to eat mash potatoes.
This is truly a special Thanksgiving. We both have a lot to be thankful for when it comes to the health of our families. We pray that Julia will continue to improve and come home quickly. There are a lot of us who can’t wait to see her.
We thank God for keeping Julia in his care and pray that He continues to bless all of you. Happy Thanksgiving!
With all our love,
Johnny, Maria, Nicholas and Charlie
9.
Brandon | November 22, 2007 at 7:49 am
Dear Julia,
Happy Thanksgiving! I’m glad that I got to see a picture of you. I know that your parents are taking good care of you. I’m glad that you can now open your eyes watch movies in bed.
Is Nicholas checking in on you?
Love,
Brandon
10.
David & Angie Gay | November 22, 2007 at 7:58 am
Dear Julia,
Happy Thanksgiving. We’re so glad to see and read how you’re doing. We look forward to seeing you dance again at the Greek Festival next year. Keep getting better and keep your mom & dad out of trouble.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving
David, Angie, Ryan & Justin Gay
11.
Cheryl | November 22, 2007 at 8:00 am
HAPPY THANKSGIVING JULIA !!! I’m so thankful that you are doing so much better. I continue to pray for you each day and hope that you can go home soon. I hope you have a good day today. Love you, Aunt Cheryl
12.
Aspen Copsis | November 22, 2007 at 8:17 am
I just want to say Happy Thanksgiving!!!!! I hope that you recover fast, so stay STRONG JULIA. Thanksgiving may not be the same to you in the hospital, but you can still be thankful for many things.
Love,
Aspen Copsis
13.
Shawn Johnston | November 22, 2007 at 9:50 am
Happy Thanksgiving Julia and your family! I wanted you to know that I’m still thinking about you daily and am marveled by your amazing recovery! You are one strong girl. Just a quick update on Nicholas’ soccer team tournament this past weekend…we lost every game…not so good so when you see Nicholas again, please tell him his team missed him.
I’m hoping that you will be back in Charlotte very soon, but I also know that you are being taken care of by a wonderful group of people. Oh, one more thing…just remember that when you feel up to spending your day down in the teen playroom, just come back to your room from time to time to say hello to Mom and Dad! You will be dancing soon! 
14.
Gampy & Gamy | November 22, 2007 at 10:42 am
On this Thanksgiving we are so pleased to see those sparkling eyes and the wonderful progress in your recovery.You are an amazing lady who gives a new definition to the word “courage”. Hope you and the family enjoy your Thanksgiving feast. We all have a special reason to say “thanks” this year as we celebrate your recovery.We look forward to seeing you back home next week. We love you very much. GAMPY & GAMY
15.
Kastanas Family | November 22, 2007 at 11:23 am
Julia, Harry, Regina, Christina, John & Nicholas
Happy Thansgiving Day.
We understand that everyday is Thanksgiving in your home. We understand that your family has a very strong faith in the Lord Jesus and that you give thanks to Him daily.
This Thanksgiving day is special because not only has He helped Julia through her toughest surgery, but He has helped her recover enough to join your family in celebration of this day.
Remember that even though you will be eating hospital food and your extended family may not be there with you, this will be the greatest and most memorable Thanksgiving ever.
Celebrate the love that your family has for one another, and remember there are lots of others who also love and care for you.
May the Lord continue to Bless your family.
Pete, Georgia, Nicholas & Erinne
16.
Fr. Michael Varvarelis | November 22, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Dear Julia,
It was a special blessing for both of us to see you yesterday along with your Dad and Mom, John and Nicholas. It was special because we were expecting to maybe see you in your own room and perhaps you would be able to speak and say a word or two. Instead we found you walking and making more than 30 steps. That was a superb step and the most pleasing surprise. Congratulations. I, also, saw how proud you made your parents and brothers who were all trying to see how they could help and encourage you more. We all know what a big fighter you are and what a special blessing you have been to your family and to all of us here at Holy Trinity. As we are cheering for you especially today, we offer our hearfelt Thanksgiving to the Lord for His protection and healing process He is blessing you with and we pray to Him to continue to provide you with a speedy recovery. We are also witnessing the nessesary srengh, patience, endurance and effort that you are motivated with. I hope you had today your mash potatoes and gravy! Happy and blessed Thangsgiving to you and to your wonderful family. You all are in our prayers and looking to see you come back home. With love in Christ Fr. Micael Presvytera and Yiannoula Varvarelis
17.
kaperonis Family | November 22, 2007 at 1:31 pm
We are very happy that Julia’s progress is going very well. The basketball team wishes all the well to Julia. We wish Julia and the family a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Sarantos, and the Kaperonis Family
18.
Fr. Stathi and family | November 22, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Dear Julia,
It is wonderful to see and read about your progress! I had my daughter Maria on my lap and showed her your picture that was posted yesterday. We told her to say hi to you and she said “Hi dulia” (to our surprise!). We are praying for God to have you under His protection and to give to you and your whole family strength! Happy Thanksgiving from everyone here!
Fr. Stathi, presv. Paraskevi, Maria and Katerina