KARISSA'S BRIEF HISTORY

(See table of significant dates below.)

Karissa was stricken with spinal meningitis and rushed to the hospital on 4/29/97 at age of 9 months - her coma lasted almost one month (medically discharged "in a vegetative state") - this is a brief chronology (as presented by her grandmother) of her slow and gradual recovery. Don't miss "The Beginning" table of events at the bottom of this page, also a special Angel Webring.

(Links, photos and summary/history of her coma below - photograph links and photos scattered throughout the chronology)

KARISSA'S CHRONOLOGY "LINKS" HAVE MOVED -
CLICK HERE
Her most recent previous Chronology is HERE

Karissa's first birthday, 8/3/97, just 2 months after being discharged as "in a vegetative state."



This is a more recent picture (but still more than a year old).


(Karissa's guestbook and links to other pictures have been moved to the bottom of the page for faster page loading. Please stop and sign if you have time.)


Please click on the above to visit other special sites for special little ones.

CURRENT CHRONOLOGY

UPDATE 10/11/00 - Karissa continues to make daily progress. With her trach finally gone after more than 3 years, new worlds have opened up and she is very, very vocal! She loves singing and thinks if her mommy or daddy are on the phone, she should talk too. Great progress in therapy, too - her arched little feet are finally flattening out and she is able to stand on her own for several minutes at a time while playing - we have never given up hope that she may walk some day. Her medical coverage has also taken away the apnea sleep monitor - used for one month to make sure she will breathe normally without the trach at nighttime. (I am sure this was a bit scarey for the first few nights for her parents, but Karissa is doing just fine!) Grandma Pam loves, simply loves, living near her family, back in Las Vegas, and being able to see the daily progress of our little angel Karissa. I truly believe in miracles watching Karissa's progress. There are, of course, no guarantees of what the future holds, but each day is a true blessing. I am in the process of revamping most of my web pages and Karissa's chron will get a "facelift" too.

Thank each and every one of you for caring and checking on Karissa's progress. And, as always, remember to say prayers for those you love. We simply never know when an extra prayer will be needed.

UPDATE 9/8/00 - Miracles can really happen! Karissa's progress is proof!

Karissa ate Dinty Moore beef stew - carrots, veggies, meat and all - and really liked it! Up to this point, when she had her trach in, she refused to eat most foods except things like potato chips, Ritz crackers, some yogurts, and of course french fries and mashed potatoes, but not much that would really help her growth - she just would not eat them. (Well, with a piece of plastic in my throat, grandma probably wouldn't either!) Most of the time Karissa would throw food off of her highchair tray, she just didn't want any part of it, or she would shake her head no when food was offered. I was so excited when Karissa's mom called me last night with the exciting news - and I couldn't wait to share.

Grandma Pam loves living back close to Karissa because I can actually watch her progress, and since her trach was removed I have seen a very happy little girl. I love seeing her watch "Blues Clues" and singing and interacting. She "talks" continually and certain words are definitely clear since the trach is out. She still, of course, uses sign language, too. Last weekend we all went to a new Super Wal-Mart - Karissa loves touching anything in reach, and was quite content to play with and open a Cup of Noodles while we did our shopping. A special outging for grandma with her grandchildren!

Karissa had her first cold a week ago - and to me that is significant because she breathes through her nose/mouth only now. She can take regular children's cold medicines now, too. Without the trach in her throat she doesn't have to be suctioned (of course the machine had to accompany her wherever she went) and she also does not require the moisture treatments at night. There have definitely been significant changes in Karissa's life, including a cutback on nursing care hours allowed, but this appears to mean progress and an adjustment in her family's schedules.

Karissa's progress truly seems like miracles do happen - it has been a very long 3+ years since the terrible bacterial spinal meningitis put little Karissa in a coma - she was only 9 months of age and she just had her 4th birthday. As always, remember to pray for those you love, we never know when an extra pray will be needed.

For anyone with small children/infants reading Karissa's site for the first time, I urge you to contact your pediatrician about vaccinations NOW available to help prevent bacterial spinal meningitis. It is a disease frequently fatal to infants, and finally a vaccine is available. If I remember the news it is four shots at like two month intervals, but ask your doctor, and if he doesn't know, find a doctor who does know. Don't take the chance that this could happen to your little angel. We were very blessed that Karissa not only lived through the ordeal but is making progress.

UPDATE 8/26/00 - Karissa continues to enjoy being without her trach - her smiles, singing, "chattering" and happiness make her delight obvious. She is, of course, on an apnea sleep monitor at night, complete with "stickies" and wires to monitor her heart and breathing during the nightime hours. As I mentioned before, though, Karissa is very determined and does not like anything attached to her body. So when she wakes up in the morning and sings and plays in her crib, she also wants to be unencumbered! At first she tried to remove the "stickies" and when that didn't work too well, she simply pulled out the wires - a very loud alarm of course goes off and mommy or daddy have to disarm the alarm at very early hours - Karissa is an early riser! More to come after I see her again this weekend. Grandma loves living nearby!

UPDATE 8/20/00 - KARISSA'S TRACH IS OUT!

At long last - Karissa is breathing normally through her nose and her mouth and the plastic trach is gone from her throat - it's been in since the beginning of May 1997 - when she was in her coma resulting from the bacterial spinal meningitis - and what a HAPPY LITTLE CAMPER KARISSA IS! - and stubborn too I might add - would not go to sleep after the removal procedure - I went at lunch, her little peepers were tired and sleepy but she was still awake when I went back to take her mommy dinner after I got off work - it was important for the hospital to monitor her first night of sleep after removal of the trach - for those faithful followers of Karissa's chronology, you may recall that last October she finally passed the "sleep test" - but the cold season and then the allergy season had to pass, plus Karissa had to have no infections, a bed had to be available at the hospital, and many other contributing factors, but when the time was right it happened! Karissa was singing to a musical toy the evening after surgery.

Of course our determined little angel also was most unhappy with a blood pressure monitor on her right arm which periodically squeezed at her - which of course made her get angry with it and it squeezed tighter! (If you recall, the muscle control and usage of the right side of her body returned faster than the left.) And then Karissa was not too keen on the "bandaging" of her right leg to keep the iv and monitoring tubes in place - and of course she tried to pull at her g-tube, too! (Grandma thinks Karissa is tired of added "contraptions" to her body!) The next day when I went to her home, would you believe she was unusually happy and cheerful and was "feeding a dolly" from her bottle - something she had not done before - it's like she's saying, I'm going to be okay now - but of course, she still tries to take out her g-tube and wants no part of the protective covering over where her trach had been. The hole where the trach was will be allowed to heal by itself, undoubtedly with minimal scar tissue.

Karissa's recovery is not out of the woods, but she's made many special strides - and hopefully this will give hope to all those who have little angels in similar situations. Bless you for caring and for following Karissa's story. And remember to keep your loved ones in your prayers. More later!

UPDATE 8/17/00 - FANTASTIC NEWS ABOUT KARISSA'S PROGRESS!!!

Karissa will be admitted to the hospital at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning for possibly having her trach removed! What a long 3-1/2 years this has been - please keep those prayers coming. Grandma Pam can give a better update later today after Karissa's mommy pre-registers her and speaks with the surgeon, Dr. Rayna - for those who have followed Karissa's progress from the beginning, he is the surgeon who put in the trach when she was in her coma (some 3-1/2 years ago), took time to ride up after surgery with her in the elevator and took time to talk to the grandparents on the way to tell us she came through the surgery just fine! (He's also one who draws on his scrubs - a great doctor!) There is a slight chance if there is scar tissue a bronchoscopy will be performed, and that may or may not have an effect on the removal of the trach - but the time has come for our little angel Karissa to survive without the trach! She will stay in the hospital for "23 hours" for "observation" after removal of the trach. Of course I will update her chronology right away to let you know the outcome.

Other exciting news came from yesterday's therapy - Karissa actually stood on both of her feet by herself for about a minute and a half playing with a toy! Her muscles then tired, of course, but what an accomplishment! What a long way from the little limp "rag doll" baby who came home from the hospital after her almost month long coma!

Bless each of you for caring - I promise to update Karissa's chronology more often as I have moved back to Las Vegas and live about 8 blocks from Karissa and her family. I simply delight in seeing that sweet little face grin at me when I walk through the door. I see firsthand her determination to improve her muscle control while she "plays" - it's like she knows what she has to do to strengthen her muscles. Karissa also celebrated her FOURTH BIRTHDAY on August 3rd - a day we thought would never come when they gave her last rights her second day into her coma.

Prayers do count and miracles can happen. Remember to say prayers for ones you love and care about - we never know when we may need an extra prayer. I will update as soon as I know more.

UPDATE 6/17/00 - At long last! Space on the page to tell you of Karissa's special wonderful but slow progress!

This week was to have been extremely special - another MRI and another EEG, and contemplation of being able to remove the trach as she passed the somewhat recent "sleep" test - unfortunately, our little Karissa contracted bacterial pneumonia - but, she is doing fine as she usually does - she has remarkable stamina and determination. Karissa also loves to pull out her "g tube" (the tube into her stomach where she receives a great deal of her liquid intake, very important in her hot climate to avoid dehydration). Normally this is no problem unless she has pulled it out while playing in her crib and an hour or so passes - she is in no danger at this point, but the little hole closes up very rapidly - most of the time her mommy is able to reinsert it, but on one of my recent visits it meant a trip to the ER room and I was glad to be able to be there for Karissa's mommy. It was a very hot evening in Las Vegas and many, many babies were in the ER room - several there due to dehydration and heat exhaustion. (And of course, Grandma Pam has to "preach" to watch for the danger signs in your children/babies in extreme heat, keep them hydrated, especially with little ones, they can't tell you how they are feeling.) Just prior to going to the ER, Karissa was in her crib and pulled down my shorts, poking at my tummy near where her g-tube is on her tummy and making her little laughing sounds - was she trying to tell me "ha, ha, mine is out!" (Because Karissa likes to "play" with her g-tube, favorite apparel is a one piece sun-suit, preferably something she can't get her little hands down inside of to pull the g-tube out - and she can be very creative and determined!) The short-pulling down brings back a memory of some many months ago her grabbing my throat where her trach is and pinching and saying "ooowww" - If Karissa has her way, she will make sure all of the "extras" (trach and g-tube) are gone as soon as possible!

My visits are extremely special - it was different when I lived across town, now I am four hours away so I cherish and savor each moment!

Karissa loves Blues Clues! If it is on and a channel is changed, she fusses until it is changed back! I took time to watch with her and her brother and it is a very clever program.

When visiting I sleep in her room - and she wakes up early in the morning, plays in her crib, sings, and peeks through the slats to see if I am awake - when I do wake up she gets a giant smile and says "aah" - and we play peek-a-boo for a time.

Karissa seems to know which muscles to exercise. I am amazed watching her crawl/stretch, pull and push muscles in her crib, remembering the limp rag-mop limbs when they discharged her after her coma - some 3 years ago. The prognosis was a vegetative state at time of discharge and Karissa is anything but that! We have no idea the extent of her permanent, life-time impairment, there are no guarantees, nothing is set in stone. But we cherish each moment, we are truly blessed by the presence of our "angelic" little Karissa (who can throw a temper tantrum with the best of any 3 year olds if she is told no or something is taken away!)

Grandma promises not to take so long to update Karissa's chronology. E-mails I receive from people who are given strength and hope from Karissa's triumphs and successes, reminds me of the power of prayer, the angels are watching, and miracles do happen! Don't forget to say prayers for all you know, we never know when an extra prayer may really be needed. And cherish each day, each moment with those you love. Bless you for caring.


UPDATE 3/7/00 - Karissa's progress continues - a little at a time, and it has been almost 3 years since she went into her coma - she is now learning to exercise her own muscles - she tells her mom in sign language when she wants to go to her crib to play and uses the slats in her crib to push and pull her muscles, sitting up, playing while she strengthens the torso and back and legs. (Space on page limited, more later.)

UPDATE 1/22/00 - KARISSA CONTINUES TO IMPROVE - MIRACLES AT WORK!

I spent several days with Karissa during the holidays - and my, what a delight! She can feed herself with a spoon (although as with most children makes a "special" mess). She recently pulled herself up to a standing position at therapy (quite an achievement since the limp rag doll that was discharged from the hospital some 2-1/2+ years ago). She enjoyed her Xmas presents, but seemed to especially enjoy looking through the hole in the cardboard that her dolly was attached to - i.e., "peek-a-boo, I see you" - again defying all of the medical prognosis. December also was a month of Karissa thinking it was fun to "pull out" her G-tube (still used for liquid feeding and hydration). A new type of "mickey" was ordered and hopefully her determination won't take over.

Most special to grandma is that Karissa now can sign when she wants to play in her crib - and she seems to love to not only play but also exercise her muscles - she pushes on the slats of her crib with her legs and now regularly pulls herself to a sitting position. One of the most fun things (to grandma anyway) is the fact Karissa has figured out how to turn on and off her crib toys (the ones that of course make noise), and when she wakes up and is bored, guess what gets turned on! To me, Karissa's progress is nothing short of a miracle, her slow but gradual recovery. We, of course, do not know the extent of Karissa's recovery, but each day, each week, each month, gives hope.

Bless each of you for caring, and I promise to give a more complete update when I do some revamping on Karissa's chronology. Remember to say prayers for those you love - we never know when we need an extra one.

Karissa shortly after her second birthday, taken the first part of September 1998, proof that miracles do happen.

Please sign Karissa's guestbook if you have time. And a special thanks to those who have. Someday our little Karissa will enjoy reading these.

A moment I've waited for - Karissa's First Birthday!

She's come such a long ways for the little baby they told us would not live! HE did grant a miracle. (She's even pointing at me taking the picture!)

Click HERE to view the full picture of the above.
And to see both proud grandparents and Karissa, click HERE.
A few fun pictures of our little angel Karissa - Here - this one shows Karissa fully outstretched - you can see why she doesn't fit the little bouncy chairs! Here. - This one shows her with her hand in her mouth - one of my favorites - she loves to remind you she is cutting teeth.
Karissa in her crib with her finger on her incoming teeth - Here.
Karissa and her brother and a neighbor, laying on Justen's bed - Here. (The aura Karissa gives in so many pictures is almost unreal).
Karissa in her halloween costume.

For those not familiar with trach tubes, please visit Types of Tracheostomy Tubes and the links on that site. You will be amazed by this wonderfully educational presentation by a very special nurse and mother.

An information site on spinal meningitis
And stories about Derek and Johnny, children who are both about 7 years old and who have made wonderful progress. (Sorrow came in little Johnny's life and his very special mother, Terry, passed in March. But the angels have been watching and Johnny is living with his mother's brother and is doing well.)
Derek's story by Angela
Johnny's story by Terry

KARISSA ANNE MARIE HANIUK

(Born 8/3/96)

THE BEGINNING On April 29, 1997, Karissa (then only 9 months old), had been taking a nap on her daddy's tummy, gave a sudden gasp and lapsed into a coma - which lasted for almost a month - the diagnosis being bacterial spinal meningitis. During Karissa's hospitalization (for over a month) and for more than a month thereafter, I had an extensive chronology on Karissa's progress. Prayers poured in, and with those prayers and the guidance of HIS loving hand, Karissa is alive and making progress daily. Karissa still has a long ways to go, but she has come a very long way, also. SPECIAL SIGNIFICANT FACTS AND DATES 4/29/97, entered Columbia Sunrise Hospital, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, in coma, diagnosis unknown; 4/30/97 - prognosis - not expected to survive, baptism on 5/1/97; 5/16/97 - still in coma, surgery for trach breathing tube and g-tube for feeding - not expected to revive from coma; 5/17/97 - breathing on her own - a miracle, still in coma; 5/23/97 - halfway awake, opened her eyes; 5/31/97 - AWAKE (at least mostly); 6/4/97 - discharged from the hospital, listed as permanently in a vegetable state Believe me, in no way does Karissa fall in that category. (HE is far more knowledgeable than the medical authorities, as borne out by Karissa's chronology) - In reality, EACH day has been significant to us for Karissa.

Bless you for caring and I hope I can be there for you if the need ever arises.

Please feel free to e-mail me periodically about her progress or just to say hello.

Sincerely,
Pamela Pauley-Perreault

Oh Lord, help me to remember all the kindness extended to me and to forget the small faults of those around me. Amen

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(Karissa before the coma)

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