Gracie Heads to Denver
In a decision is that is scary, exciting, and hopeful all at the same time, we have decided to take Gracie to Craig Hospital, in Denver. Craig specializes in spinal cord injuries, and is a great facility. A nurse traveled from Craig to access Gracie, and we really believe is the right place for Gracie to start her rehabilitation.
We will be leaving early next week. Gracie will be transported via air ambulance, and I will likely ride with her. Bill and Emily will follow shortly thereafter.
And so another chapter opens in our family's journey, and is a time when love is greater than fear. One of Gracie's questions was "what about Emily?" Emily couldn't tolerate the thought of not going with her sister.
While we knew that Grace's rehabilitation would be outside the area, it is still hard because it means leaving the incredible physical support of so many of our family and friends, if even only for a time. I know your prayers will continue to support us, and I look forward to continuing to share Gracie's progress.
Debbie
Comments (53)
Debbie - I know it must have been a tough decision to choose to leave this area, but good rehab is so important for Gracie right now. Probably that, and your family's love, give her best odds for optimal recovery. Just keep in your heart that she and you all have a community filled with love here waiting for you all when it is time for her to return.
I am glad you are all going together. Together you are stronger. We will still be supporting you every day even if you don't see us all. But I may just show up in Denver just to make sure you get out for a walk once in a while in that beautiful mountain air. Love to you all, Mary Ann
All our love, prayers and emotional and spiritual support will travel with you. Joyce and Don Margolin
Dear Fishers, The words to this classic country song came to mind. This is how I picture Gracie flying to Denver: On the wings of a snow-white dove He sends His pure sweet love A sign from above On the wings of a dove
What a difficult decision but an optimistic one. We send our love, thoughts and prayers with you as you take this next step towards recovery. Keep us posted if there is anything we can help with from afar. Dogs?
God Bless the Fisher family. As always, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I know you are moving Gracie to one of the best hospitals in the world. They will give her the best of care.
Please let me know how I can help you locally. That is a major step, and in the right direction. It is so difficult to understand how all this happened. Gracie was so beautiful and full of life at Thanksgiving. At the very end of the KEYT broadcast last night Beth Farnsworth showed a lovely tribute to Gracie and mentioned the upcoming fund-raiser at the Methodist church. The Fishers are a model family.
Wow, although scary that might be an adventure for Gracie! Her own private plane....such a jet setter! We'll be thinking of you and if I can help Emily and Bill get to Denver in anyway let me know...ANYONE have any air miles they'd like to donate?
God bless you all on your newest journey . Thoughts , prayers and love to all of you. May bless you and keep you. Linda Halpin
Debbie, this is incredible news. My thoughts and prayers go out to you all on this incredible journey. We are all hopeful and we are rallying for Gracie, giving her our admiration, strength, encouragement and love.
God Bless this next step in your "recovery" journey. The youth and folks from UMC Thousand Oaks are praying and rooting for you, Gracie....and your whole family! I love the story about your sister....it brought wonderful tears to my eyes. :-) Whatever prayers you need, just let me know and I will make sure they are heard and prayed over. I'm hoping that you will have access to see the beauty of Colorado while at the hospital. It will help your spirit!
We will miss you! All the best for Gracie's quick recovery.
Happy for you to make this step towards progress... 91% of Craig Hospital Patients return home with high levels of function. I like that stat! Tell Gracie there's a Jamba Juice close to the hospital: 901 West Hampden. Yes ma'am!
It is wonderful she will be receiving the best possible care. Gracie couldn't be in better hands. We are here for you to help in any way with Emily or Landino house. Prayers, love, and light to all of you.
Much love and hope for the best, Do you know anyone in Denver? I know someone, if you need a name.
Debbie, We'll continue to pray for you all as you transition to Denver. We really appreciate your continued updates as we pray for Gracie. So much love to you guys in this difficult journey.
Your many friends with roots in Iowa, applaud your courageous and wise decisions for Gracie and her road to recovery. We know that being together in Denver is the best way for all of you. We appreciate your updates. They help us to understand. We are always with you. We send love and hope for all things good and wonderful. Travel safe!
Bill, Debbie, Gracie and Emily, we are sending you so much love and support right now. I know all these changes are so incredibly big right now, but I know you are getting Gracie the best possible care and you are an amazing family for staying together and putting Gracie's well-being before all of yours. I am also so impressed by Emily's incredible strength and courage to move with you all at this juncture in her life. Love, hope and prayer can transcend so much!! I know you will all come out of this on the other side so much stronger, more united and surrounded by more love than you may have ever thought possible!! We are all so inspired by your dedication and love to each other!! Sending so much love, light, hope and healing thoughts! John, Claire, Mae and Quinn Pendergast
This is a great move! Let us know how she is doing! Blessings to all of you!
Our love and prayers will reach Gracie and your family. We send you off with great hopes, visualizing the best positive outcomes! Love to all!
Debbie, Bill, Grace ,and Emily...we are holding you in our thoughts and prayers every step of the way. Love conquers all!
It looks like a wonderful place with all of the specialists that will help you in this next phase Gracie. I am excited for you, and happy that your family can go with you. What a special team you have on your side. Those of us you leave behind will be praying day and night, and will be ready to jump back in to help in all the ways we can when you return. XO Alison
I am super happy to hear you are on this promising road of rehab and recovery. I will miss being physically close to Gracie, Deb, Bill, and Emily but I will be closer than ever in my emotional and spiritual support for all of you. I will keep doing my homework, researching all I can find. I am long overdue for a visit with Donna so I will see you in Denver!!! XOXOXO
Dear Fisher family - love and healing thoughts go with you. We have another prayer group starting in Laguna Beach and Irvine for Gracie's full recovery. Diane and John
Prayers go out to Gracie and her family i hope everything goes well!
Dear Debbie, Bill, Gracie and Emily, we wish you safe travels to Denver. I wish we were still in Fort Collins to provide you some local support. Craig hospital will be a wonderful place for Gracie's rehab....I have always heard tremendously positive stories about Craig. Keeping you all in our thoughts as you take this next step. Love, Michelle and Chris Grippo
We will always be with you in our hearts with prayers and love!!! Sara, Chimaway and Casmali
Debbie, I will continue to pray nonstop for Gracie and your family as you make this transition to Denver. May God bless your travels, and make his presence felt even more as you leave the familiar surroundings of Santa Barbara. May he guide Gracie's rehab team in Denver! You are all so loved! Taisa
No matter where you guys are - near or far- Gracie, Emily, Debbie and Bill, you are never out of our thoughts and prayers. Thinking of you all the time and looking forward to seeing all your beautiful faces (and another recital!) in the near future. Love to you all. XOXO
To the Whole Fisher Crew, Please know that your friends and family will be praying and hoping and wishing like never before that Gracie and all of you/us are blessed with her complete recovery. It sounds like the Denver move is the one that needed to happen to make this recovery a reality. We love you all very much and you will not be out of our thoughts and prayers for even a day. Also know we are all here to help and support you in any way we possibly can and we will continue to do so. Lastly, please do not hesitate to ask for anything in the way of help. We truly feel Gracie's and your fight for her recovery is our fight too. Thank you so much for keeping us in the loop and for letting us be a part of your extended family. Love, The Foxes
When I started reading today's first post, indicating you were headed to Denver, Harrison immediately said "they're going to Craig! And it's an excellent rehab center for someone in Gracie's situation." His practice was in Colorado, and he thinks you'll be in the very best place. Debbie, we are holding your whole family in our thoughts and prayers and sending you healing light and strength.
Change always comes bearing gifts Good Luck Gracie! Hang strong - SB Strong! - Fishers! With love Emma-Jane Huerta Once An Upstart always an Upstarr!
So much love follows along with you. Grace's beautiful light is obvious to everyone. So glad she has you all as family.
Debbie, please let us know how we can help you with this step toward recovery. Craig Hospital is only about 20 minutes from our house. Glenna will give you our phone number and my email. Prayers have gotten you to this next step. We'll continue to pray until Gracie is fully recovered. Jo
I have heard great things about Craig. Glad you will all be around professionals and other families who spend all their time dealing with and thinking about these issues. Sounds like a very positive step!
You said it...scary to make such a big change, exciting to see what it offers. Home is where your heart is, which in your case, is in family. Stick together and know that your Santa Barbara community will be with you all the way. Gracie, sending you on your journey with love to fill your heart, hope to inspire your mind, and of course music to nourish your soul.
I wish you safe travel and a great recovery for Grace!
Craig Hospital is an answer to our prayers! There is such hope and optimism for Gracie! May God give you a safe journey and strength to face the days ahead. You are in my prayers! Love to your sweet family.
Denver ~Tough decision oh geez but whatever is best for Gracie at this point is what you have to do. I pray that going to Denver will be exactly what she needs. Gracie's sister keeps coming up in my mind and heart even before the post about Denver so I'm gonna say an extra prayer for her. Gracie isn't alone and neither is she. None of you are. I know this is hard though for everyone. My heart goes out to you and your family Debbie. I just wish I had a magic way to comfort you or had the perfect pick me up or perfect gift or perfect words but I know that her healing and recovery are the magic. Our prayers will keep going out to you all. Martin Family
Gracie, Emily, Debbie and Bill - We are sending our love with you on your journey and we will be with you everyday in our thoughts and prayers for Gracies recovery! If there is anything we can do here for you, please let us know. Love, Michael, Lexi, Ben and Dominic
We support you guys 110% and we will keep the love coming to buoy you up through the uncertainties! xoxo
Dear Fishers, we send our love and good wishes with you to Denver. Your family's courage is extraordinary, and Grace is such an amazing girl. You will continue to be in our prayers as Gracie progresses with the help of your love and support. - Meredith, Henry, Ted and Carissa Urschel
Many blessings as you embark on this next step. It sounds like Gracie will have wonderful care in Denver. We continue to pray for her, and send our love to you all. xo the DBKs
Caplan Family wishes you well on this new journey Gracie. We will be praying that you will get the support and care you need. XO to all of the Fishers.
Hi grace. I am at the blood bank right now giving Blood. Feeling grateful that there people here giving plasma that will help you and others. Our prayers know no distance. All our love to you and your family.
You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. I'm specifically praying for full upper body recovery, so Grace can play the cello and guitar. Many blessings to you on this journey. May the Holy Spirit fill you with the kind of peace that you know is only from Him. Please continue to post updates so we can know how to pray and support you all.
Fisher Family: You continue to be in our thoughts and our hearts everyday, and everywhere you go. Our prayers and love to you all. (GDBE-Santa Barbara . . . xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo . . . GDBE-Denver) the Poirier Family . . . SPNA
Dear Fisher family, I am Lisa and Martha's cousin Katie and want you to know our offer to help in any way we can while you are in Denver is truly heartfelt and sincere. A place to stay, a car, a church home away from home or just a shoulder to lean on. We are only 15 minutes away from Craig. What a wonderful healing place it is. Continued prayers for you all
It sounds like this incredible (friend support) may continue in Denver. That is what may happen in a true miracle. . . . . . . . We are all praying for one.
The Santa Barbara community is a beautiful thing. To be loved by so many will continue to give you the support/prayers you'll need to get Gracie to a full recovery. The Chandler's send their love!
Dear Bill, Debbie, Gracie and Emily, We just got the news and are broken hearted to learn of your difficult trial. May God's spirit strengthen you during this challenging time. We are praying!!! You are in our thoughts, love and prayers!! .... in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. Therefore I ask you not to lose heart ... For this reason I bow my knees before the Father... that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:11-21
We are praying for you all in this next stage for Grace. We continue to also pray for the specialists in CO to find the secret to help Grace recover and gain as much back as possible. Stay strong Fisher family and NC is supporting you from a far. Sending lots of love, prayers and strength!!
We love all of you sooo much! Our hearts and prayers are with you constantly! We have all our Bible studies, friends and groups praying for you and Gracie at this time! Praying for a miracle, strength, wisdom, patience and all that God can provide!!!