Kelly’s eyes have started to follow people in her room a good deal of the time when she is awake. There are also times when she responds to requests to look at people/things although she is not yet responding all of the time. She is also looking at the pictures on her wall of Laila and other family members. She continues to protest when things are not as she wishes, on occasion sticking out her tongue to show her displeasure with the therapists. She seems to enjoy music and can be startled by loud noises – ask her brother and John about that. We hope that since it is a little cooler we can go back outside again – she does seem to enjoy the sun and breezes outside.

Her body continues to recover its balance. The burns on her legs have healed except some areas on her ankles. However, she is not yet fully or always responsive and we don’t have a guidebook, chart or idea on when that will occur. What we, as the family, do know is that Kelly is a strong individual and we believe that she will fully recover.  She has come a long way since July 8^th, supported by all of you. Kelly’s recovery will be a marathon and we will celebrate each milestone that is reached. Starting to respond to requests is an important step forward and one of the milestones she has reached.

We want to let you know that we do not have any information on the individuals, families or groups who contribute to the Kelly Funk Recovery Fund. The bank does not provide us with that information, so we cannot thank each of you as we would like to do. Please know that we do appreciate your contributions, whether to the recovery fund, SFI dinner, prayers and thoughts or every time you think about Kelly and how she is doing. Your kindness, prayers and healing thoughts are greatly appreciated and felt by all of us. We tell Kelly regularly about everyone who cares and their thoughts for her recovery. Thank you.

It is easy when we visit Kelly every day to see small improvements but think they are so small that we do not let everyone know. In trying to spend quality time with Kelly as well as continue with work, we are sometimes not as communicative as we could be and hope you all understand.

Since the last update (July 31), Kelly has shown positive responses to music and sounds. At times, she will look at you and turn her head toward you when you ask. She is not responding consistently to our requests, although she is having more periods when she responds than before. Her physical and occupational therapists have been great – even arranging a trip to the gardens at the facility so she could have some time outdoors late last week. Kelly seemed to really enjoy being outside again and we plan to go out again when it is not so darned hot.  Physically she continues to do well and her burns are nearly healed except around the ankles. This is a journey measured in small gains, but we rejoice in each gain.

The support of everyone is greatly appreciated. Your prayers and support are felt by all of us, including Kelly. Please know that we thank each of you and include you in our prayers as well.

Thanks to everyone for your interest in Kelly’s recovery. Kelly is now at a long term acute care facility in Indianapolis, where they can focus on helping her recover. She is making small steps toward becoming more aware although she is not yet responding to requests from the doctors, therapists or family on what she should do. (Those of you who know Kelly well realize that Kelly has never been one to immediately respond to these types of requests.) As we have known, this process will be slow, marked by small steps forward.  We are encouraged by her progress to date and believe she will do new things over time. We will continue to update the blog as she moves forward on this journey. We appreciate your continued prayers and thoughts for Kelly’s recovery.

Greetings, Friends:

Thanks to all who came to give their time and energy on John and Kelly’s farm last Sunday. We had about 60 folks between the two shifts—nice mix of local farmers and food producers, family friends, CSA clients/market customers of John’s, members of Slow Food Indy, and even my 2 brothers, visiting from out of town (thanks, Frank ‘n Hank). Crates were built from old pallets by a good crew of you with carpentry skills. The rest of us got all the onions and shallots harvested, sorted, and stacked in the crates for curing. Quite a bit of weeding and straw mulching got done as well in the various vegetable beds. We had a celebrity appearance from little Laila, still sporting that cute head of spikey red hair, transported in the arms of Grandma ( John’s mom Pam).  Finally, many thanks to Neil Brown, owner of Pizzology in Carmel, who donated the excellent pizzas and salads for supper.

For this Sunday, John has a number of work needs, so I have made a suggested schedule as follows:

Work shifts will be 9 AM to noon and 1-5 PM.  Lunch will be served at noon for the morning shift, and pizza provided at 5 for the afternoon shift. I will again need 2-3 folks to make sandwiches starting at 11:30, and someone willing to pick up carryout pizzas around 4:30.

As always, come prepared with sunhats, bandanas, ice water, sunscreen/insect repellant and work gloves. Weather should be dry, with a high of 90 but humidity dropping throughout the afternoon.

Work needs in order of priority:

1. Potato harvesting. Bring a potato fork if you own one.

2.  Block hoeing the broccoli and related veggies. Bring a hoe if you own one.
3.  Stringing up tomato vines
4.  Thinning beets, and depending on the condition of the thinned plants, transplanting them to a new spot
5.  Possible tractor work for someone experienced with running one

6.  Pulling up plastic sheeting and drip hose in the onion field

7.  Compost turning

8.  Mowing

If you can come, please respond by mid-day on Saturday so we can plan for food and work assignments.

Maria and Bill

Earlier this week Kelly was moved from intensive care to a progressive care floor in Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. The various organs/systems affected by the lightning strike are, for the most part, recovering well. She is still not conscious although we have seen increased movement over the last several days. It is likely she will be moved to another facility in the next week or so, one that can focus on her continued physical recovery and that has the staff and programs to help with the “insults to the brain” caused by the lightning strike. We ask for your prayers, healing thoughts and support for Kelly’s recovery, knowing this will probably be a long road to recovery for her.