Jitka is going to be forced to take this update over!  I have asked her aready, but you must know, she haven’t had the courage to even read into it.  She has not seen her own photos either. 

We had a short and sweet party on Saturday.  We were so happy to see  40-50 wonderful people.  Thank you for coming! I am going to upload a lot of photos very soon, just waiting for some more pictures from the party on Wolfe Island, Canada. 

We are so ready to move into the wheelchair accessible house!  It will be great.  Need a few more days to finish the floor and then we are in. 

This time I just wanted to say thanks to all of you!  (I will do it many more times!) Also, wanted to bring your attention to a wonderfully written article -or to at least the on-line version of it – that was in the Greenville paper:  It is under “homecoming” on Sunday’s  01/27/08 of www.reflector.com 

All the best to you!

Jani

Hello everyone!  I went to see Jitka, this weekend, and it was extraordinarily eventful!

First, I would like to thank Jitka’s dear friends Mandy and Lori on Wolfe Island who arranged a very successful party for Jitka’s birthday (Jan. 25th).  My parents went and were so so touched to see everyone there to support Jitka.  Thank you to the entire community on Wolfe Island!

Then, on Saturday, Jani threw a welcoming home party for Jitka at the new house.  It was heartwarming to meet all of the people from whom we have received e-mails of well wishes and support as well as those that have been helping out with the work on the new house.  I also had my first opportunity to meet Walker, the young man who arrived on the scene moments after the accident.  He stablized Jitkas spine and airway, and somehow managed to slow the bleeding from her gaping leg wound until EMS arrived.  Teresa had initially described him as a “trained paramedic”, as he had performed so calmly and skillfully under pressure-it seemed that he had done it a thousand times before.  We were all shocked to later discover that he is only 15 years old and was trained as a boyscout.  Fifteen going on 25.  He is a very mature young man.  I tried to thank him, but the words just don’t capture how deep our gratitude runs. 

Earlier that day, a very kind  reporter from “The Reflector” came by the house to interview Jitka.  She wrote a beautiful story that actually made the front page!  You can read it at www.reflector.com, and just search “Virag”.  The article is entitled “Homecoming”. 

Jitka is thrilled to be back home with her husband kids.  She watches them as though they were the first sunrise she had ever seen.  Jani lovingly carries her up the stairs and puts her in the bath tub, washes her hair and gets her dressed.  He helps her with her flexibility exercises.  That guy is a dynamo.  He embodies the vow “in sickness and in health”.  He is truly selfless. Jitka is moved to tears whenever we speak of what he has been through.

Finally, we went for a lovely walk on Sunday.  Jitka nearly made it down the street and back on her own.  Wasn’t lighting, but she did it.  She’s got grit.  As far as getting used to being at home-there were a couple of near misses.  When we got back home from the walk, she told me that the wheel on her chair was rubbing against her leg.  I held the side of her chair in one hand and tried to manipulate the wheel with my right.  To my surprise the d–n thing came off in my hand with one gentle tug!  It was hanging by a thread the entire time!  Fortunately I was able to knock it back on so that it was stable enough to hold her while I got her out of it!  Next, she decided to put her shoes on without putting her seatbelt on and nearly smooched the floor.  Managed to catch her that time too.  I can just see the people at Pitt County Memorial rolling their eye if she were to wind up back there again!

Ok.  Long-winded again!  But I will  sign off with one more expression of our sincere gratitude to each and every one of you for your prayers, helping-hands, cards, donations, e-mails…the list is endless.  God bless you, and goodnight.

Kal

3 months and 4 days after being hit on the road Jitka is finally home.  It has been and will be a time when remembering that she is alive despite the injuries she suffered, and knowing that how much you care helped and will keep helping us to live with a grateful and hopeful mindset.  The road home has been very long for her.  Thank you for cheering on!  Thank you for putting wind in our sail, and for the hope in our hearts.  I keep promising, but one day I will have enough time and will do it too: I will write here your names (and your phone numbers…:)) who touched us by your kindness.  I just need to feel the right way of expressing myself.  And while I am thinking about all that, please be reminded: We will have a party to appreciate you all and to mark Jitka’s homecoming toward which we all looked forward so much.   This will take place on Saturday, 26th.  Please come by!

There are some pictures without comments bellow. there will be many more to come, but for now, this is what I have managed to upload here.  Some are from the house repair, and others are from Shepherd Center.  You can also see Jitka’s arrival home, and visiting her new home.  As I said, I will put on many more of them later!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jani

And just one quick posting from Lori Woodman:

Hi all .. just thought I would send a reminder to all who were invited about the Benefit Night for Jitka this Friday, January 25, 2008 at Saint Margaret’s Hall, Wolfe Island with the schedule of events to be as follows:

Wine & Cheese 6:30 – 8:30
Silent Auction 6:30 – 9:00
Dance starts at 9:00 with RWI
Cash Bar opens at 8:30

Entry is by donation only!

This event promises to be a great event with great food, unique and lovely auction items and great music.

The items for the silent auction include gift certificates to restaurants, clothing stores, hair salons/spa, the Cineplex Odeon, for fishing charter, horseback riding, etc. plus we have an assortment of artwork, jewellery, gift baskets and other wonderful items to auction off!

Look forward to seeing everyone there to send well wishes to Jitka on her road to recovery as well as wish her a Happy Happy Birthday!

Thanks a bunch.

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Hi everyone, this is Kal again.  Haven’t written  in some time, but I got a phone call this morning that overwhelmed me with happiness.  Jitka called me from Jani’s cell phone from the car!!  On the way home!!  She was so thrilled that I cannot even explain it.  She is so excited to see everyone back in Greenville.  We also want to thank everyone who worked so hard fixing and painting the house.  God bless you all.  Jani tells me that it is coming along beautifully and he promised to update the blog with photos of the fruits of everyone’s labor as soon as they get home.  Meanwhile, Jitka is savoring the fresh air as though it were a silky Cabernet.  If only I could describe the tone of her voice when she said “I’m just so happy to be alive.”  And live she shall, reunited with her family after over three months in the hospital.  Thank God she is home.

 Thank you again and again, all of you.  I look forward to seeing many of you soon on my next trip to Greenville.  Have a great night!!

Thank you for the great help today!  We started working on the house.  There were 16 of us working today and had little Roro assisting all he could as well.  My friend Nina was looking after Encsi all day.  Thanks Nina!

Conductors Eris and Teresa got us into motion.  It was wonderful to see how clean the kitchen got, as masking tape was flying onto the walls, paint snaking after the brush and rollers.  Started repairing some plumbing problems as well.  Really trying hard to get ready by Monday evening as much as possible before the flooring guys need the space.  I did take some pictures, but I don’t have the energy to download them.  Sorry.   Will do tomorrow.

Jitka told me her skin graft got scraped again and is looking a little bit worse.  I guess she needs some good rest and attention.  She is really ready to come home.  It is hard to be separated, especially on the weekend when we could have time together.  But this house issue needs to be done.  We will try to get to Atlanta tomorrow. 

Hello!  It is time for me to write again – I promised I won’t write until I have good news, or something better to say than complains. 

Finally, today the paperwork for the purchase of a wheelchair accessible home got approved.  It has been a very difficult process to obtain a loan at this time.  The banks are being very careful…..  Hopefully we can close on it on Friday.  Mr. Brown the real estate attorney, David Lever, and Joey Barrows worked very hard to get us to this point.  Thank you gentlemen!  When we are ready with the repairs I will upload pictures of the work and house. 

Jitka’s birthday will be the date for a very nice event on Wolfe Island, Ontario that you can read about on Facebook, but here is an appetizer:

Everyone is invited to attend the Benefit Night for

Jitka Virag

Friday, January 25, 2008

at Saint Margaret’s Hall

Wine & Cheese 6:30 – 8:30

Silent Auction 6:30 – 9:00

Dance starts at 9:00 with RWI

In case you don’t remember, or haven’t had the opportunity to get to know Jitka, she moved to Wolfe Island with her brother Kalid and parents, Mustafa and Eliska Ismail when she was beginning high school. She lived with her family and worked for her grandparents, Miro and Hanna Zborovosky at the General Wolfe Hotel throughout high school and university. During those years, Jitka made many friends on the Island and in Kingston and those friendships have passed the test of time. We have put together a benefit night on Jitka’s birthday, January 25^th!  All proceeds and donations will go to the “Jitka Virag Recovery Fund” to help cover hospital, home, and family expenses. Please plan on stopping by Saint Margaret’s Hall to show your support and send your best wishes. If you would like to contribute something to the silent auction, please contact us, as we would really appreciate it! 

On October 19^th our dear friend, Jitka Virag was bicycling home from work, when a car travelling 50 mph near her home in Greenville, North Carolina hit her from behind.  Her extensive injuries included serious head and lung injuries and various broken bones and worst of all, numerous fractured vertebrae with a spinal cord injury at T4-5, which has caused her to be paraplegic. Jitka spent three weeks in ICU then a few more in intermediate care where she endured stomach tubes, ventilators, pneumonia, skin grafts, etc.  Her loving husband, Jani has been a pillar of strength, tending to Jitka as well as caring for their children: Rowan (4) and Ensci (1).  Jitka has astonished us and made us all proud with her bravery and strong will to recover. In December she was transferred to Shepherd Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta, Georgia for intense rehabilitation. She is expected to return home to Greenville in late January.  

Their current home, which Jani had just recently renovated is a two story and no longer suitable. They have purchased another house that has been vacant for a few years and has had much water damage BUT this house is already wheel chair accessible and close to their current home! Renovating this house will be expensive as will the cost of a vehicle with a wheel chair lift. 

Jitka was able to leave the hospital for a half day on Christmas. She spent it with her family at a friend’s home in Atlanta. Being out of hospital and surrounded by her loving family was overwhelming for Jitka, making her immensely more home sick if that is possible! If all goes well, Jitka will be able to go home in a few weeks, when she will begin the final challenge of adjusting to daily life with the reality of never using her legs. Jitka counts her blessings but it is difficult to imagine what this family has gone through and will continue to endure. It makes us stop and appreciate what we have, and cherish our loved ones. 

We hope to see you on the 25th!

Mandy Clark   Lori Woodman

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         613-549-8541           613-385-8545 

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Everyone is invited to attend the Benefit Night for

Jitka Virag

Friday, January 25, 2008

Saint Margaret’s Hall 

Wine & Cheese 6:30 – 8:30

Silent Auction 6:30 – 9:00

Dance starts at 9:00 with RWI

Cash Bar opens at 8:30

This event promises to be a great event with great food, unique and lovely auction items and great music. 

Thanks to the following folks who have contributed so far

      Active Orthopedic Solutions  Fargo’s General Store

      Agent 99     Frank’s Garage

      Atomica     Henry Saxe

      Blue Print     James Brett Salon

      Mosier’s Groceries & Convenience  Bruce Mellon

      Cathy Colwell & Joe McAllister   PC+NET Solutions

      at Corner Stone Farm, Kingston

      Chien Noir     Pyke Farms Landscaping

      Dennis and Corliss Piasetzki  Pyke View Meadows

      Wolfe Island Riverfront Golf Course RWI

      Brown’s Bay Inn    Cathy Greenlees

      Merry Family Foot Clinic   David Dossett

      Cineplex Odeon Theatre Kingston Woodman Machine

      Telus Communications

      and many more …

If you live in that area please go buy and have a good time!  It is organized by Mandy Clark, her mom, and Lori Woodman.  Thank you very much for every-one’s help there!  Please take lots of pictures!

Also, next week Wednesday I will be driving her home from Atlanta.  I still need to do some training in order to get the blessing of the hospital for her departure, but one thing is certain: Us too will celebrate here at our house on 26th of January, Saturday.  I think from 4:30PM till 7PM I will be thanking everyone who can come for ALL THAT WONDERFUL KINDNESS that has been given to us during this horrible time!  Please come, and let me thank you!  You ladies and gentlemen at PCMH ICU and rehab, employees and students at Brody School of Med., our attorneys and their secretaries, neighbors, friends, the State Troopers, the Fire Department, RBC employees, Susan A + fam, Keller Williams folks, KidzTown ladies, Eric Maas’ friends, all Jitka’s friends,and many more of you plus your families who live close enough to come by: PLEASE come and see us.  (1231 Forest Acres Dr.)  I hope we won’t fit in the house!!!   

Jitka was taken to the Atalanta airport today to experience the way boarding an aircraft is for a paraplegic.  She actually set on a Moscow bound Delta flight at the gate.  I think she had a good time.  I still need to hear about it from her. 

Her skin graft from two months ago still has to complete its healing.  It was ripped open by accident shortly after arriving to Atlanta.  However, she said finally today it seems like having the proper bandage on it for the last couple of days allowed it to start healing. 

Oh, I need to mention one more thing: Please don’t form too strong of an opinion when I express mine about whatever subject.  There are some truly wonderful nurses and people in other profession at Shepherd Center who are really caring about Jitka.  For example there is Jeanette and Erica who trained me a few times.  They are absolutely amazing.  And I know Jitka is very impressed by her PT.  I will get all the names right next time I am there and will have an e-toast to them!   Some of the issues that make her stay difficult come from having a room-mate who require an ICU type of care.  It is just really hard to get a few hours of sleep when people always talk laud next to her in the middle of the night.  Still, it would be unfair to take the praise from those very hard working individuals who have respect for my wife and truly care for her and for all their other patients.  It is a very busy place that needs more employees.  This is my business analysis for the night. 

Hi all!  Hope you are well!  Unfortunately we are a bit delayed in the closing on the house and so the repairs are cancelled for this weekend.  Sorry for the late notice!  Thank you again for everyones’ willingness to contribute their time to help us out.  We truly appreciate it!  Once things come through, we’ll let eveyone know.  Thanks again and have a great weekend!

http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/ucla-scientists-show-nervous-system-42656.aspx

Visitors Mandy and Lori

Surely, I will come across to some as a person that complains too much.  That is the way my coconut is these days. Doesn’t matter…..I promised I provide the most accurate info here, and when I don’t have better to report I need to report the bad news – CNN does it without a reason, and it is Atlanta based too:) Jitka’s infection #3 is the same as #1 was.  I really don’t know what to say. I just don’t.  I am just mad! For now, I FedEx a case of EasyOff to use around the toilet in her room, it seems to need it.

Jit had the opportunity to use an equipment that helps her to be up-right.  That sure made her happy.   She didn’t experience any dizziness.  Her blood pressure is still close to what it used to be.   I am going to try to find a few equipment for her to help with exercising after she comes home.  I am so determined to organize a little rehab on our own that is going to help her to stay healthy.  It is another three weeks from today when she is scheduled to leave that hospital, and I haven’t even been able to secure our new home.  I still hope it will be all ready to move in.  Some fast work will have to be done to it.  I am going to ask for all those wonderful offers to help painting, cleaning, moving, etc.  Her birthday is the 25th, and I am inviting all of you to come and celebrate with us. Will pick a day right around that date, most likely the Friday or Saturday of the same week.  I would like that party to be an appreciation to all of you for your help and kindness!   Neighbours, friends, coworkers, nurses, doctors, relatives are all invited! It is going to be a big one!  So write it in your calendars, and hope the house is ready!  Will finalize it and send you the address, date, and time. 

Tomorrow morning I will be driving back to Greenville again.  It is nice to go back in a way, but it is hard for all of us to part again. 

Jitka’s had an easy day.  One PT session for today only.  I gave her a little leg and foot rub.  I think a highly recommended place like the Shepherd Center should have someone on staff to provide massage to those who need it and benefit from it.  Don’t you agree?  I need a vote on this.

I am not happy with another thing – and I might get into trouble for this – but I feel like mentioning that she just finished the antibiotics yesterday for her second urinary tract infection.  Now, it seems she is getting her third one…..  In my own opinion, either she needs to be monitored how she takes care of herself, or she has to be taken care of.  It is just absolutely annoying.  I have more to say about it than Jitka has, but the spellcheck won’t know those words….  Is it like this in every hospital? I really don’t know and need a vote on this too.  Skin -, bladder -, and bowel care are possibly the most important to pay attention to at this time.  Also, patients can easily transmit bacteria/virus with the wheels of their chairs.  It runs on the floor and powers by the hand.  It won’t get any easier than that.  Well, I won’t go on about it, I am sure there are plenty I don’t know, and there are many wonderful, caring people whom I don’t want to hurt.

There are 365 days left in the year!  Make them count! Happy new year to you dear reader.

365 nap van hatra az evbol.  Szamitson minden nap!  Bodog Uj Evet!