Scooter Relief Fund

The Tampa Two Strokes Scooter Club had their annual rally this past weekend. Weather seemed to effect attendence, but there was still a great crowd. Mike was on everybody’s mind with much talk and many questions.
This year, the scooter club built a really nice Vespa scooter to raffle off for Mike’s benefit, and Charlie (of Lucky’s Paint & Body shop) finished the scoot very nicely! Lots of people bought tickets but the winner of the drawing was Jesse, who had done a lot of work on the bike, and who has his own hot-rod Vespa.
Immediately after winning the scoot everybody wanted, Jesse adressed the crowd and announced that he would take a reasonable price for the bike, and give all to Mike & Sarah!
Mike has many friends who care. The generosity & concern shown towards Mike has been touching and encouraging. I try to keep him informed of the warmth and well wishes of the community that cares about Michael J. Formato.

Thank You
- Andy

Andy and I went to Orlando yesterday morning and had a really good visit with Mike for a few hours.
Before we entered his room we were met by a nurse who said that they may be moving Mike to a new facility. He didn’t know if it is going to be in Orlando or in Tampa.

Mike was sleeping when we got there and the first thing that struck me was that his arm and leg restraints had been removed and Mike was sleeping peacefully. There was also a woman there who, we learned, was there to keep an eye on Mike to make sure that he doesn’t get too anxious and start kicking or pulling at any bandages or anything.

We talked with her briefly and they brought in his breakfast. Last week Mike was just getting pureed foods and he wasn’t eating well, but in this one week of time Mike has gone from that to eating regular foods and the doctors have been able to remove all of the tubes they used to feed him when he couldn’t or wouldn’t eat on his own. Mike tried to eat some apple sauce on his own and did a pretty good job. He was getting the spoon up to his mouth but he has some work to do on fine motor coordination. Andy and I stepped out while Mike was eating so he could focus without talking to us. When we got back we found that Mike’s communication has vastly improved since last week too!

Although his annunciation is still very iffy, he was forming full thoughts and sentences and he was addressing things other than asking for a doctor and medicine, which constituted about 80% of last week’s communication. He was clear that his back is killing him… a problem he has had since WAY before his wreck, and that he was very thirsty. Mike’s liquids have to be thickened up so he swallows them instead of inhaling them so I’d imagine that they are not very quenching. He asked for some jello, which he slurped down like a camel at an oasis.

Mike and I tossed the ball for a little while too. Mike’s pitch was about as good as you can imagine! He threw the ball straight to me, at the foot of his bed, perfectly several times. Catching, on the other hand wasn’t so hot. Part of that is coordination, and I think that another major factor is that Mike still doesn’t have his glasses. Hopefully he can get those soon so he can see. It is clear that he is straining to clearly see people and things in his surroundings, but he was able to read some of the larger words on television commercials.

Mike’s therapist came in and we had to take off so he could get his session. On the way back to Tampa Sarah returned Andy’s call and let us know that Mike was being transferred to a rehab facility in Orlando. I called later yesterday afternoon to verify that he had been successfully relocated but they were not able to give me any information on his status without being on a list that Sarah has to provide.

I’m excited that Mike is going to be in a different situation with more therapy, and I’m sure his progress will be enhanced by this change.
More to come!

-Scott

Not too much to add to what Andy already posted.  I missed seeing Mike last week so this week was a pretty big change from two weeks ago.  I asked Mike if he is seeing both a physical therapist and a speech therapist and he said just a physical therapist for now.  Hopefully he can get a speech therapist soon.

Like Andy said, Mike isn’t eating as much as he should and we both tried to drive that home to him… The sooner he starts to eat on his own the sooner they can get rid of some of that plumbing they have to use to feed him and give him meds and hopefully they can untether his arms.  What Andy and I couldn’t figure out is why they are not tethering down that cast and boot… he is dangerous with that thing!  He has already broken a footbard on the bed, and I’m worried that he will smash his left foot with it if it isn’t tied down. I asked the nurse about it and she said that there is nothing they can do. I’ll ask again next week when I go out on Friday.

Mike seemed to be fairly conversational, at least till he got the medication he requested, at which point he pretty much seemed to go into la-la land and was in and out of dozing off.

 When Andy asked him what he wanted us to tell everyone he was very clear in saying that he misses his friends a lot. Hopefully he gets more visitors to help him through all of this.

-Scott

Scott Broward and I made the trip to Orlando yesterday to see Mike. Chris Duano was already there when we arrived, and told us that the hospital staff was cleaning Mike & changing the linens. After a short wait we went in to see Mike, wearing the recommended gowns and gloves provided.
Mike was up and alert, moving around as much as possible- he is back in restraints & gloves to prevent him from pulling out the few tubes which are still in his body. One nurse told me that he is moving so much that he broke the foot board of his hospital bed a couple of nights before.
Mike is still eating his pureed diet, but not frequently enough. The feeding tube in Mike’s belly is still in place to ensure his nutrition. When he is eating enough to sustain himself, that will come out.
Scott and I spoke w/ Mike alot, mostly trying to decipher what Mike was attempting to say. Mostly he was asking for medication, so we communicated that to the nurses and Mike was given pain meds and sedative to calm him.
Not much change from last week- a little more clarity, a little more conversational talk, not only Q & A type exchanges.
Again, when I asked Mike what I can tell friends who ask or check the website for information, he said “I miss them”, and wants to get back to Tampa soon.

-Andy

Mike was finishing his physical therapy when I arrived. The therapists & nurses were getting him to sit up and try to hold himself up. His muscles are quite atrophied and his coordination is way off, but getting better.

After P.T., Mike’s stepmother Eileen continued feeding him and encouraging him to feed himself. Mike is eating solid food now for the 2nd day, although pureed, and his liquids are thickened a bit to help him swallow.

 Eileen also brought some toys & items to exercise Mike’s coordination and articulate motor movement. Had a little trouble with picking up & counting small items (popsicle sticks), but hairy plastic balls were great for Mike’s tactile stimulation as well as his hand-eye coordination, We all played catch, with Mike’s throwing being much better than his catching, but even that improved w/ practise. There are a few toys & things left in his room, on the windowsill. If anyone reads this, then visits Mike, please try to engage him with coordination games.  Also, it seems he was favoring his left shoulder today- we kept trying to get him to exercise that arm by using his whole arm & shoulder.

 Mike is talking a blue streak, but is very difficult to understand. We have, and others should maybe, get Mike to consentrate on speaking clearly.  He can with some effort, and we all really want to know what he has to say!  Mike did say to tell everyone that he misses his friends, and wants to get back to Tampa soon.

-Andy