Higher Grounds Prom

Prom season is upon us once again! What that means to us is Higher Grounds Prom is coming up quickly. For the past 3 years we have put on a prom that rivals high school proms. The only difference is it's free.

Last year we were blessed to have many people from throughout the community donate time and money to make this a huge success. If you have never heard about our prom, we have makeup artists and hairdressers come in and do the the girls up. The transformation is truly amazing. We have a professional photographer donate his services to give each person a free professional photo. And then we have numerous people donate money and skills to make food and decorations over the top.

We rely on the help of volunteers to pull this event off. And so we are asking for your help. We need a number of things including money, food, help with decorations and any skills that you might have that would add to the event. We need you and so do the kids.

To get involved call us at 970.353.1231 or email us at prom@ncyfc.org Check out our website to learn more about our ministry!
www.ncyfc.org

More Progress

So Nathan is still making some progress in his lungs. The x-rays showed some improvement which means he probably isn't bleeding anymore and is starting to clear his lung. This is good news as it was the top priority for the Dr. This is mostly what is keeping him in the ICU. I don't know more about the small piece of colasped lung at this point, but it isn't any more of a concern.

As for his head, we don't know much. Yesterday they thought he was so sleepy and grogy from the pain medication, but they haven't given him anything except a small dose yesterday (side note--Nathan has only had two doses of pain meds through this entire thing. Pretty tough.) and he is still very grogy--only able to stay awake for a few minutes at a time and he has a hard time talking much. However, the time he is talking he seems very much like Nathan. They think this is due to the head injury then and not the pain meds, but they are still confident this isn't something permanent. He will possibly be displaying effects from the concusion for six months, but we don't really have details as to steps forward he will be making or what kind of effects that will be. He will get to be seen by a speech specialist today who will try to determine how much his speech and memory are actually being impacted right now.

We are looking forward to seeing him awake for somewhat of an extended time so you can pray for that please.

Thank you for all your concern and care and prayers.
-Jeff Neel
Check out our website to learn more about our ministry!
www.ncyfc.org

Update

More progress. I just left his room when he got to eat soup and jello and ice cream (2 helpings of the last) and he was awake the entire time. He has only been able to stay awake for 5 minutes or so each time, so it was nice to get some extended time with him. He was even able to pick up a cup and take a drink by himself at the end of the meal!!

They actually got him out of bed for the first time just a few minutes ago and into a recliner. He fell asleep right away, but at least he was able to be moved.

He seems to be able to remember a few things better, the most important is that he is almost always confident in realizing he will make a full recovery. He seems aware of all his injuries and recognizes they will all heal in time even though it will not be a short time. I'm just so glad to get to see his brain working well and being able to see progress in that area every time he wakes up. He is beginning to remember more conversations we have with him, but he forgets enough that he isn't liable for anything he says or that is said to him. Pretty convenient for Nate if you ask me.

Jeff Neel
The Farm Director
Nathan's Uncle
out our website to learn more about our ministry!
www.ncyfc.org

Snowboarding Accident

For the last 8 years Jeff Neel (The Farm Director) has been taking kids on a snowboarding trip and each time is a trip this year was no exception. I got the pleasure of going for the first time and it was a privilege to see how Eric (this year's trip planner along with Becka Neel) worked get with the kids. Everyone had a great time, unfortunately the trip was cut short. I had to head back early the second day with Becka while the rest of the group stayed up at Keystone to board the rest of the day. While snowboarding one of or kids, Nathan, was injured. The following is quoted from Nathan's mom's facebook page.
"Nathan was doing some jumps in the park. He had already been doing well on the jumps and decided to do a little bit larger jump that was about 30 feet from the top of the jump to where he could land. Unfortunately he went off the jump off balance and landed a little ways down the landing on his back and hit his head. All-in-all he traveled about 40 feet in the air before impact. The impact knocked him unconscious even though he was wearing a helmet. They got paramedics on the scene very quickly and they determined he needed immediate help. He was taken down the mountain on a sled while a paramedic road with him and helped him breath. They decided to sedate him in the mountain ER and take him to Denver via flight for life. At the hospital he had a CAT scan where they were able to ascertain the entire damage. Altogether he broke ribs 1 through 5 on his back which caused a little bit of fluid to gather on his right lung. They will be keeping a close eye on this in case of pneumonia. He also broke his collar bone but that looks okay. He does have a brain injury but doesn't look like anything permanent. He also has some minor fractures on his vertebrae but nothing close to his spinal cord and absolutely no paralysis--he has already moved all of his limbs."
We are grateful that Nathan seems to be doing well, but would ask you to pray for him as he is continuing to recover.
Check out our website to learn more about our ministry!
www.ncyfc.org