Breathing, Shots, and Painting

Hi Gracie and family So good to hear some good news of you. What a struggle you have every day! We are all praying for you daily. Fondly, Anne Weber

Painting is so good for the soul! Thank you for being a beacon of light and hope as you recover. Have a happy day. Kate

This is progress in such important areas. You and your family continue to be in my thoughts. Great news!

Hi Gracie!! Every bit of good news is a worth celebrating!! Yay!! We are praying and pulling for you!!! Love you!! The Indiana Keenans :)

Miss and love you Gracie!! Always thinking of you <3

You paint better than I do! (Although I have to tell you that's not a huge compliment...) Gracie, the best news, believe it or not, is that you can now feel those awful shots in your stomach. That seems to be not a nice thing to say, but you're getting some feeling back, and that's awesome! And to go on an outing with some new friends--I am so happy to hear that! You have become so very literate about all that is going on with you, probably more than you ever wanted to know. It is so special when you are the one sharing with us; it brings you closer to us, and us to you. Keep up that good, hard work. What an inspiration you are!

Dearest Gracie, Very Exciting news! I'll have you know that butterfly/flower picture you did with your mouth is way better than any picture I've ever painted with either hand! We sure miss your family in the neighborhood. It's been helpful seeing your sweet grandmother walking Brillo here lately. Your aunt came into my shop and told me how well Cody is doing at their home, such a relief. Of course, Otis is still missing him. We are all busy and excited about the Run With Grace event coming soon. Lots of people are signing up. Know it'll be a big success! Sending you all our love today and everyday, The Foxes

WOW! You go girl! : )

Gracie, Such good news. :-) praying for some fun times when the four of you go on your outing. Love the updates, and love you!

Gracie...all good news. Can't wait to celebrate graduation with you....the local paper said you were planning on coming back home for that. Look foreard to the visit! warmly, Elissa Ross (Aka Hannah's mom)

Brave New World for a courageous Explorer. I hope that you have a wonderful outing.

I think your artwork is pretty impressive! All great news! I'm sorryish, that the shots are painful, but who would have ever thought that would be good news...Sending good thoughts for you and your family. -- Jeri O'Mahoney (Daisy's mom)

Gracie, all good news. Love the painting.

Wonderful news that the nerve pacer not be needed. Along with the "feeling the shots" these things mean you are making progress. That is the important thing. A day at a time, a week at a time. I hear too that you will be going to a new doctor. All good news. Love, Virginia

hi Gracie Girl! I'm glad to see all your improvement! We continue to pray for you and our church has included you in their prayer groups! Keep fighting! We miss you. Barry

Dear Gracie. You are an inspiration. Such strength and positiveness you demonstrate. Keep up the hard work you are doing. We look forward to your return to SB. Joyce & Don

Good Morning Grace, Love your butterfly, flying free. We are keeping posted of your progress and celebrate each new gain. Keep up the good work. Love, Kathy Weiner, Tricounties physical therapist.

Thank you for sharing your good news with us! We are thrilled about your breathing, movement, and sensation progress!! Looking forward to reading about your outing...great idea! Last but not least, I am a huge fan of the theraputic power of art so kudos to the folks at Craig for providing you with that opportunity!!

I just shared your video with my oldest daughter Celeste and my workmates and we are all excited for you to be gaining more sensation in your body and breathing ability and loved seeing your painting. Keep up the amazing progress. The Shorts and our family and friends are all rooting for you!!!

HI Gracie! So great to hear things are progressing! you are always in our hearts! love, Sara Chimaway and Casmali

Hi Gracie, Bill and I are so glad to hear of your progress. Slow and steady wins the race and you are certainly steadily winning the race. I looked back to the time you began this journey and am really encouraged. Your courage and "grace" through it all is amazing. You are an inspiration to us all.. love, Connie and Bill Davis

Hi Gracie, thought I would say hello right now because I think you are amazing! It sounds like you are making a lot of progress. We are going to have Megan and Julia here next week and we plan to do a video for you. I am sure it will be a riot...they both are such hams😀. Now...I am going to look at that video. I am full of awe, truly. You have a lot of "starch" , you do. XxoooCarol

GRACIE! Wow.......WOW! I am REALLY impressed. I don't know what to say except you are beautiful, courageous and I LOVE your painting! Lots of love, Carol and Harvey. I showed him the post and video too.

Such great news Gracie!!!! Thanks for sharing, these posts are so uplifting to us all. We have been praying for everything surrounding your recovery, but most fervently for you to be able to wean form the ventilator, so that part is especially great news! Keep it up!

Beautiful - you, your progress, your artistic expression, the light in you. We love hearing about your progress so much and your adventures too. Thank you for writing about it all and sharing it with all of us. You're in everyone's thought and prayers. Love, Alison

Hi Gracie. We are thrilled at the progress you are making. The picture we saw you painting was better than many we have seen by professionals. You are an inspiration to so many. Anxious to hear about your outing with the three friends you have at Craig's. Our prayers are with you always. God Bless you now and forever. Donna & Ron Zehrung

Your strength, courage, and determination are amazing, Grace. We have never met, but I follow your journey like we're old friends. Sending you love and continued recovery :-)~Kathy

Better than Picasso!!!

We are excited about the news. Glad you have met some friends...I am sure they are just amazed by you as we are!

LOVE the news! Yea for progress! Good job phrenic nerve! Keep up the hard work, we are all so proud of you Gracie and send huge Easter Baskets full of LOVE. XOXO

thank you for sharing your good news!

Awesome report on progress, Grace! Your painting is full of spring. Love it. I can't wait to hear about the teen girl's outing : ) xxooDoreen

Gracie you continue to inspire all of us! What a talented young lady you are. Thank you for your beautiful painting, it is like a breath of fresh air from a warm soul. Hugs💞

We love reading your updates, Grace. Thank you for sharing. You truly are an inspiration. Your painting looks great too! Kari Martindale

Gracie, Your news is wonderful. I know how difficult all your hard work must be, but how exciting that you are seeing positive results. I will pray everyday for your continuing improvement. Also, you are one talented painter, and that looks tough, but you're making it happen! Love and hugs your way, Cindy, Doug and Natalie

Yay, Gracie! Your painting is great - I love the colors! We continue to pray for you and your family. Keep up the fantastic progress. Youre an inspiration! 😘

Gracie - I just arrived home from my flight back to Santa Barbara. Thank you for letting me share part of your day today (Monday, April 6). I loved watching that guitar video - you are an amazing musician! I am so looking forward to you and your wonderful family heading back to Santa Barbara, when you all are ready to make that move. It's incredibly hard work, but you are achieving great things from all that effort, and every single thing you achieve is yours for keeps. Hang in there. . . My love to you all -

You are amazing Grace! I love your painting! I did one at the Painted Cabarnet here in SB and it doesn't come close to yours! ; )

Gracie, Such great news in all fronts! It is so great to hear these updates from you! I am so happy to hear that they are beginning to wean you off the ventilator! That is incredibly good news! I'm curious what your fvc and nif scores are today. Sorry to hear about the pain you are enduring from the shots, but hurrah that you are regaining sensation!!!! That is such incredibly good news! All of this is such great progress, we are all so encouraged by it all!! Keep up the amazing, hard work!! I am also so impressed with that painting! Seriously, that is incredible that you did that with the use of your mouth!! Can't wait to see you back home so much stronger than when you left! Sending love, The Pendergasts

WOW! Such good news! You're working so hard and now are seeing some benefits. Good for you! I've had those shots in the stomach and never thought that I'd hear that someone is glad to feel that pain, but wonderful news. Glad to hear you've met some kids around your own age going through some of the struggles you are. We celebrate all your courage and continue to pray that your recovery will get easier as time passes. Seeing love to you and your family.

Gracie, you talk like a medical pro! Loved seeing the painting. Actually it does look a bit like a Picasso! Wonderful to hear the positive news. I have been hearing carpentry next door. I'm imagining an indoor freeway for your new wheels. Hmmm...four teens out on an adventure. Sounds like a pretty good premise for a movie. Looking forward to the report. Cheers from the Grace next door.

Wow, Gracie, you really are amazing! It must be such incredibly hard work but it sounds like things are moving in a great direction. Thanks for taking the time to make these posts. You are an inspiration to all! Sending our love, the deBruynKops family

Gracie, I just read all of your posts starting from the beginning. What amazing progress you've made! My heart was up and down with the insurance struggles to get to Craig. We had a many week delay getting to Craig due to insurance as well. The love and support of so many gives me an even greater understanding of the wonderful woman you are. I'll continue to email photos of you working hard to regain mobility and strength. You have such determination! Sleep well. You've got some great things going on tomorrow and will want to feel rested! Mary Pat Harris (Jim's mom)

Hi Gracie, I am at my art class and I showed all the ladies here your video of you painting. They are amazed at how well you do! Truly, they are. They all send their love and best wishes and are praying for you too. You are, really, amazing! 😍 Carol

You are special to our family and the progress you are making is a blessing to all of your family.

You need to keep this painting forever...its symbolizes so much love and hope! Just beautiful, Gracie! Hugs Peggy

(from Marc and Jane Reisman) Grace, I think the painting is incredible. Picasso surely never worked as hard on, put so much effort into, and never appreciated his work as much as I am sure you have done with yours. Great art --- perhaps not. But truly fine and inspirational art. Grace, we understand that all of your victories, however large or small, are the result of a tremendous amount of work on your part, and I am sure none of sees how hard you and your family work to get to the point of those successes. You are so lucky to have Emily and your folks working with you as a team, and they are so lucky to have you toiling to gain independence. And there are thousands of people watching, following, and cheering for you. Our best, Marc and Jane Reisman

Hey Gracie! It has been so great to read these updates and hear about your amazing progress. It's so great to hear that you're able to move and breath a bit more! I wish I could visit you in person and just give you a giant hug, but until that's possible, just know that my family and I are all thinking, praying, and rooting for you! You are such a strong person and you've already come so far. Just keep pushing Gracie! And please let me know if there's anything I can do <3