let's celebrate!

Let's all come together on Saturday OCTOBER 18TH at 3pm to celebrate Jim's success story and the incredible progress he has made in the last 2 years!! So many people came out to support our family at the benefit--so now lets all come together again- this time to celebrate with Jim!!  So come celebrate with food, drinks, lots of fun and live music from Face Down ( www.facedown.us or www.facebook.com/facedown )!! Feel free to spread the word!

If you are interested in coming or contributing food or beverages contact us (Jami, Kate, Ally, or  Gabrielle) via facebook or email at lets.go.jim11@gmail.com

how's he doing

"TREMENDOUS! I'm a new man."
The surgery was successful, it was good he had it when he did. It was really bad...he has pictures but its Jami here and I do not want to share unless you are interested in seeing discolored swiss cheese skull...so he would be glad to share if you ask him. Anyway, he is out of all the pain that he was in. It seems like it was way worse than he let on - he is now "a new man" that is pain free. So he is taking advantage of feeling good and taking on lots of projects.
He made shelves for my mom's kitchen window...

He fixed an old globe that was broken in half so that he could find the Malaysian plane that went missing in April...

He refinished an old, tired, painted table...

Fixed an old clock that he made many years ago...

Refinished an old chair for the desk...

 

There is a whole lot more but no pics.
He has also been gardening a lot. His gardens are so nice that they need their own post soon. He is super proud to show them off - all the ladies in the neighborhood love them so his stud status is way up.
Oh yeah, and he is allowed on his tractor again. He is happier that a pig in sh*t... If you see him driving down the street make sure you wave (and then let us know)!

surgery

Dad's surgery was on Thursday. Everything went really well and his skull flap was replaced with a piece of plastic. (I'm sure its more technical than just plastic but that's what it is.) By the looks of his actual piece that was replaced last year it was a good thing that they did the surgery now. Dad was in the ICU again which was weird for us all but he managed to keep everyone entertained with his singing. He came home on Friday and is resting a lot and doing well. So for now he is behaving. Keep the prayers coming for a speedy recovery.

prayers

Unfortunately there's a bump in the road to Dad's complete recovery. The piece of his skull that had to be removed to save him was replaced last January but is getting softer and will need to be replaced with either a titanium or plastic plate. "Resorption" of the piece of skull is very common in kids but not in adults.  As of now, it is not an emergency but come January it may be. Dad is pretty bummed out that he still can't just move on. So please send prayers and we will keep you posted.

bridge

My dad is simply amazing! He has been working on a surprise for all of us for a week now. He gave his "presentation" tonight and revealed the surprise! He built us a bridge with all of our names and all of his grandkid's names on it and sang/played "bridge over troubled water" for us! There were definitely lots of tears from everyone! You're so strong dad! You're the rock of our family and you taught us all how to be so tough and how important love is and that is what got us through the last 14 months!

famous

There's an article on Dad on the Magee website. Check it out!

“Little steps are big steps.”

That’s what Jim Eckert’s therapists at Magee told him every day for months. But to be perfectly frank, he didn’t quite believe them—not at first.

- See more at: http://blog.mageerehab.org/2013/10/24/catching-up-with-jim-eckert/#sthash.vYETPF1B.dpu

http://blog.mageerehab.org/2013/10/24/catching-up-with-jim-eckert/

Catching Up with Jim Eckert

“Little steps are big steps.”

That’s what Jim Eckert’s therapists at Magee told him every day for months. But to be perfectly frank, he didn’t quite believe them—not at first.

In September 2012, Jim had a stroke, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs and sustain a traumatic brain injury as well. Because of both traumas to the brain, his survival was a miracle – but after leaving acute care, he still had a long way to go.

When he arrived at Magee for rehabilitation, he couldn’t speak. He couldn’t walk. His progress was steady, but not fast enough for the man who had been a competitor his whole life.

“My therapists always said to me ‘little steps are big steps,’ and I fought that idea for a long time,” he said. “Sarah [speech therapist] would push me to read and work on my cognitive skills even when I was frustrated. Jackie [OT] and Erin [PT] push me to keep standing and walking. These were all little steps – but late in my rehabilitation when I saw videos of what I was like when I arrived [at Magee]… I finally got what they meant.”

Jim was an inpatient at Magee for 3 months, and an outpatient for three months. Throughout his time here, his therapists continued to remind him that those little steps were in fact big steps – and now he’s a believer.

“It was unbelievable how I healed,” he said. “When Sarah, Jackie and Erin would congratulate me on my progress, I would always say, ‘Maybe I did the work, but you steered the ship.’”

After leaving Magee, Jim was happy to return to his wife, children and grandchildren – but he was a little nervous about the family trip they had planned to Ocean City, New Jersey. For most of the trip, he stayed near the family’s shore house, not venturing out with the rest of his family.

But on one of the last days of his trip, Jim made a decision – he was going to walk his grandchildren down the famous boardwalk. This would be the first time Jim walked without assistance after his stroke and brain injury. Was he nervous?

“Yeah, I was nervous!” he said. “But my family was so excited – they couldn’t wait to get me on that boardwalk.”

And, together with his grandchildren, Jim made the monumental walk. How did it feel?

“Amazing,” he said. “I had been making little steps… but this… this was a huge step.”

“Little steps are big steps.”

That’s what Jim Eckert’s therapists at Magee told him every day for months. But to be perfectly frank, he didn’t quite believe them—not at first.

In September 2012, Jim had a stroke, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs and sustain a traumatic brain injury as well. Because of both traumas to the brain, his survival was a miracle – but after leaving acute care, he still had a long way to go.

When he arrived at Magee for rehabilitation, he couldn’t speak. He couldn’t walk. His progress was steady, but not fast enough for the man who had been a competitor his whole life.

“My therapists always said to me ‘little steps are big steps,’ and I fought that idea for a long time,” he said. “Sarah [speech therapist] would push me to read and work on my cognitive skills even when I was frustrated. Jackie [OT] and Erin [PT] push me to keep standing and walking. These were all little steps – but late in my rehabilitation when I saw videos of what I was like when I arrived [at Magee]… I finally got what they meant.”

- See more at: http://blog.mageerehab.org/2013/10/24/catching-up-with-jim-eckert/#sthash.vYETPF1B.dpuf

“Little steps are big steps.”

That’s what Jim Eckert’s therapists at Magee told him every day for months. But to be perfectly frank, he didn’t quite believe them—not at first.

In September 2012, Jim had a stroke, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs and sustain a traumatic brain injury as well. Because of both traumas to the brain, his survival was a miracle – but after leaving acute care, he still had a long way to go.

When he arrived at Magee for rehabilitation, he couldn’t speak. He couldn’t walk. His progress was steady, but not fast enough for the man who had been a competitor his whole life.

“My therapists always said to me ‘little steps are big steps,’ and I fought that idea for a long time,” he said. “Sarah [speech therapist] would push me to read and work on my cognitive skills even when I was frustrated. Jackie [OT] and Erin [PT] push me to keep standing and walking. These were all little steps – but late in my rehabilitation when I saw videos of what I was like when I arrived [at Magee]… I finally got what they meant.”

Jim was an inpatient at Magee for 3 months, and an outpatient for three months. Throughout his time here, his therapists continued to remind him that those little steps were in fact big steps – and now he’s a believer.

“It was unbelievable how I healed,” he said. “When Sarah, Jackie and Erin would congratulate me on my progress, I would always say, ‘Maybe I did the work, but you steered the ship.’”

After leaving Magee, Jim was happy to return to his wife, children and grandchildren – but he was a little nervous about the family trip they had planned to Ocean City, New Jersey. For most of the trip, he stayed near the family’s shore house, not venturing out with the rest of his family.

But on one of the last days of his trip, Jim made a decision – he was going to walk his grandchildren down the famous boardwalk. This would be the first time Jim walked without assistance after his stroke and brain injury. Was he nervous?

“Yeah, I was nervous!” he said. “But my family was so excited – they couldn’t wait to get me on that boardwalk.”

- See more at: http://blog.mageerehab.org/2013/10/24/catching-up-with-jim-eckert/#sthash.vYETPF1B.dpuf

“Little steps are big steps.”

That’s what Jim Eckert’s therapists at Magee told him every day for months. But to be perfectly frank, he didn’t quite believe them—not at first.

In September 2012, Jim had a stroke, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs and sustain a traumatic brain injury as well. Because of both traumas to the brain, his survival was a miracle – but after leaving acute care, he still had a long way to go.

When he arrived at Magee for rehabilitation, he couldn’t speak. He couldn’t walk. His progress was steady, but not fast enough for the man who had been a competitor his whole life.

“My therapists always said to me ‘little steps are big steps,’ and I fought that idea for a long time,” he said. “Sarah [speech therapist] would push me to read and work on my cognitive skills even when I was frustrated. Jackie [OT] and Erin [PT] push me to keep standing and walking. These were all little steps – but late in my rehabilitation when I saw videos of what I was like when I arrived [at Magee]… I finally got what they meant.”

Jim was an inpatient at Magee for 3 months, and an outpatient for three months. Throughout his time here, his therapists continued to remind him that those little steps were in fact big steps – and now he’s a believer.

“It was unbelievable how I healed,” he said. “When Sarah, Jackie and Erin would congratulate me on my progress, I would always say, ‘Maybe I did the work, but you steered the ship.’”

After leaving Magee, Jim was happy to return to his wife, children and grandchildren – but he was a little nervous about the family trip they had planned to Ocean City, New Jersey. For most of the trip, he stayed near the family’s shore house, not venturing out with the rest of his family.

But on one of the last days of his trip, Jim made a decision – he was going to walk his grandchildren down the famous boardwalk. This would be the first time Jim walked without assistance after his stroke and brain injury. Was he nervous?

“Yeah, I was nervous!” he said. “But my family was so excited – they couldn’t wait to get me on that boardwalk.”

- See more at: http://blog.mageerehab.org/2013/10/24/catching-up-with-jim-eckert/#sthash.vYETPF1B.dpuf

“Little steps are big steps.”

That’s what Jim Eckert’s therapists at Magee told him every day for months. But to be perfectly frank, he didn’t quite believe them—not at first.

In September 2012, Jim had a stroke, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs and sustain a traumatic brain injury as well. Because of both traumas to the brain, his survival was a miracle – but after leaving acute care, he still had a long way to go.

When he arrived at Magee for rehabilitation, he couldn’t speak. He couldn’t walk. His progress was steady, but not fast enough for the man who had been a competitor his whole life.

“My therapists always said to me ‘little steps are big steps,’ and I fought that idea for a long time,” he said. “Sarah [speech therapist] would push me to read and work on my cognitive skills even when I was frustrated. Jackie [OT] and Erin [PT] push me to keep standing and walking. These were all little steps – but late in my rehabilitation when I saw videos of what I was like when I arrived [at Magee]… I finally got what they meant.”

Jim was an inpatient at Magee for 3 months, and an outpatient for three months. Throughout his time here, his therapists continued to remind him that those little steps were in fact big steps – and now he’s a believer.

“It was unbelievable how I healed,” he said. “When Sarah, Jackie and Erin would congratulate me on my progress, I would always say, ‘Maybe I did the work, but you steered the ship.’”

After leaving Magee, Jim was happy to return to his wife, children and grandchildren – but he was a little nervous about the family trip they had planned to Ocean City, New Jersey. For most of the trip, he stayed near the family’s shore house, not venturing out with the rest of his family.

But on one of the last days of his trip, Jim made a decision – he was going to walk his grandchildren down the famous boardwalk. This would be the first time Jim walked without assistance after his stroke and brain injury. Was he nervous?

“Yeah, I was nervous!” he said. “But my family was so excited – they couldn’t wait to get me on that boardwalk.”

- See more at: http://blog.mageerehab.org/2013/10/24/catching-up-with-jim-eckert/#sthash.vYETPF1B.dpu

 

Catching Up with Jim Eckert

Posted by Kimberly Shrack on 24 Oct 2013 / 0 Comment

1

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“Little steps are big steps.”

That’s what Jim Eckert’s therapists at Magee told him every day for months. But to be perfectly frank, he didn’t quite believe them—not at first.

In September 2012, Jim had a stroke, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs and sustain a traumatic brain injury as well. Because of both traumas to the brain, his survival was a miracle – but after leaving acute care, he still had a long way to go.

When he arrived at Magee for rehabilitation, he couldn’t speak. He couldn’t walk. His progress was steady, but not fast enough for the man who had been a competitor his whole life.

“My therapists always said to me ‘little steps are big steps,’ and I fought that idea for a long time,” he said. “Sarah [speech therapist] would push me to read and work on my cognitive skills even when I was frustrated. Jackie [OT] and Erin [PT] push me to keep standing and walking. These were all little steps – but late in my rehabilitation when I saw videos of what I was like when I arrived [at Magee]… I finally got what they meant.”

Jim was an inpatient at Magee for 3 months, and an outpatient for three months. Throughout his time here, his therapists continued to remind him that those little steps were in fact big steps – and now he’s a believer.

“It was unbelievable how I healed,” he said. “When Sarah, Jackie and Erin would congratulate me on my progress, I would always say, ‘Maybe I did the work, but you steered the ship.’”

After leaving Magee, Jim was happy to return to his wife, children and grandchildren – but he was a little nervous about the family trip they had planned to Ocean City, New Jersey. For most of the trip, he stayed near the family’s shore house, not venturing out with the rest of his family.

But on one of the last days of his trip, Jim made a decision – he was going to walk his grandchildren down the famous boardwalk. This would be the first time Jim walked without assistance after his stroke and brain injury. Was he nervous?

“Yeah, I was nervous!” he said. “But my family was so excited – they couldn’t wait to get me on that boardwalk.”

And, together with his grandchildren, Jim made the monumental walk. How did it feel?

“Amazing,” he said. “I had been making little steps… but this… this was a huge step.”

- See more at: http://blog.mageerehab.org/2013/10/24/catching-up-with-jim-eckert/#sthash.0o2H4aDG.dpuf

Catching Up with Jim Eckert

Posted by Kimberly Shrack on 24 Oct 2013 / 0 Comment

1

---

“Little steps are big steps.”

That’s what Jim Eckert’s therapists at Magee told him every day for months. But to be perfectly frank, he didn’t quite believe them—not at first.

In September 2012, Jim had a stroke, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs and sustain a traumatic brain injury as well. Because of both traumas to the brain, his survival was a miracle – but after leaving acute care, he still had a long way to go.

When he arrived at Magee for rehabilitation, he couldn’t speak. He couldn’t walk. His progress was steady, but not fast enough for the man who had been a competitor his whole life.

“My therapists always said to me ‘little steps are big steps,’ and I fought that idea for a long time,” he said. “Sarah [speech therapist] would push me to read and work on my cognitive skills even when I was frustrated. Jackie [OT] and Erin [PT] push me to keep standing and walking. These were all little steps – but late in my rehabilitation when I saw videos of what I was like when I arrived [at Magee]… I finally got what they meant.”

Jim was an inpatient at Magee for 3 months, and an outpatient for three months. Throughout his time here, his therapists continued to remind him that those little steps were in fact big steps – and now he’s a believer.

“It was unbelievable how I healed,” he said. “When Sarah, Jackie and Erin would congratulate me on my progress, I would always say, ‘Maybe I did the work, but you steered the ship.’”

After leaving Magee, Jim was happy to return to his wife, children and grandchildren – but he was a little nervous about the family trip they had planned to Ocean City, New Jersey. For most of the trip, he stayed near the family’s shore house, not venturing out with the rest of his family.

But on one of the last days of his trip, Jim made a decision – he was going to walk his grandchildren down the famous boardwalk. This would be the first time Jim walked without assistance after his stroke and brain injury. Was he nervous?

“Yeah, I was nervous!” he said. “But my family was so excited – they couldn’t wait to get me on that boardwalk.”

And, together with his grandchildren, Jim made the monumental walk. How did it feel?

“Amazing,” he said. “I had been making little steps… but this… this was a huge step.”

- See more at: http://blog.mageerehab.org/2013/10/24/catching-up-with-jim-eckert/#sthash.0o2H4aDG.dpuf

letter to Paul Simon

Paul,

I am a 61 year old man and a career long fan of yours. 

On September 19, 2012 I suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury and a stroke.  I was unconscious for quite some time.  When I awoke I used my imagination to create brain activity. I believe this activity saved my life.

During my therapy my Neuro Psychologist had me use a computer for brain therapy; I used Google for the first time in my life.  I googled  Elcondor. This is the imaginary character I created in my head at that time.  To my surprise I heard a song that I enjoyed for a very long time but never knew the name of it. 

I thank you for Elcondor Pasa.  Listening to Elcondor is the way I lived my life, creating Elcondor saved my life.

I am very glad to feel the earth beneath my feet.

                              Thank you very much,