Chris Swanberg's Daughter Needs your prayers and support

Steve Siegel · March 21st, 2010, 08:16 PM

Chris,
Now that you mentioned it, the N. meningitidis vaccine is readily available and effective. We give it to just about all of our patients going off to college (the infection is most often seen in college dorms and army barracks). It is safe with almost no side effects.
It's wonderful that she is coming out of this. You have a real fighter. Be sure that any other young folks in your family get the vaccine.

Chris Swanberg · March 22nd, 2010, 08:45 PM

I want to thank you all for your caring support and encouragement.

My daughter's kidneys fired up over the weekend and dialysis is now a thing of the past. She is getting stronger and may be off her trach tube (placed in lieu of the breathing tube) within a week or less. They are readying her for transition to a rehab facility, and her daily progress is remarkable. She appears to have beaten long odds.

Your words of support, love and encouragement truly were helpful for me through a very dark period in my life. The light is shining in now and I feel immensely better. I appreciate my DVInfo family.

To Chris Hurd, I say thank you for allowing me to use this site for that, and encourage and support you taking this thread down if you like... it is, after all, a little odd for this site, and I am anxious to getting back to posting more appropriate things !

God bless you all.

Chris Swanberg

ps. Steve, thanks for weighing in on the significance of the vaccine. My 22 year old will be getting it. I STRONGLY recommend that anyone with a child meeting the CDC guidelines get it!!

Chris Barcellos · March 31st, 2010, 08:52 PM

I hadn't heard from Chris Swanberg for about a week, and called him tonight to see how Katie was doing. When he answered the phone, he said just a minute, he would let me talk to someone who knew a bit more... It was Katie herself. We spoke for a few minutes. She is anxious to get back on her feet, and a bit frustrated about having to relearn things like walk, and all...... but you can tell she is going to come back with a vengence.... you got to admire how tough that young woman is. I felt like I was talking to a miracle...

I think everyone who has been rooting for her has had an effect on her.

Bruce Foreman · March 31st, 2010, 09:58 PM

Gosh, that is good news!

At her age, with the fight she has shown, even if the rehab process is long and frustrating I look for her to make the fullest recovery possible for her to attain. Someone please keep us posted.

Bruce Foreman

Shaun Roemich · April 1st, 2010, 12:07 AM

GREAT NEWS! And thanks to both Chris's for keeping us "in the loop".

Kell Smith · April 3rd, 2010, 11:13 PM

Just saw this thread - sending out prayers for health and recovery.

Chris Swanberg · April 12th, 2010, 07:25 PM

I was surprised to see this still up, but since it is, an update.

My daughter is going to be released Thursday to come home with me for a few weeks as she continues to gain strength.

She is poised to make a full recovery, except for a few scars and all, but is going to be her old self in no time. She is getting stronger x2 every day.

She is even back to posting her own blog at GardenPunks™.

Thank you all for your support.

Chris B and i are back to making movies ! (finally) And I will be back to working on my documentary as well I trust !

Chris Swanberg

Mike Sims · April 13th, 2010, 04:26 PM

Way to go Katie! I'm sure Chris and Chris will have you up and around and helping with productions in no time!...

Shaun Roemich · April 17th, 2010, 12:16 AM

Great news Chris and thanks for posting the link to Katie's blog - it was great to read about some of the ordeal in HER words.

And remind her that we all have scars - the ones that carry them on the INSIDE are the unfortunate ones; no one knows what they went through to make them the people they are today.

All the very best to your family and may Katie's recovery be faster and more complete than she could ever hope for.

Trond Saetre · April 18th, 2010, 06:38 AM

Hi Chris,
It's good to hear Katie is recovering well. Nice blog she has.
All the best to Katie, you and your family!

Dale Guthormsen · April 21st, 2010, 10:28 AM

Chris,

Fantastic news!

When I went to gardenpink and read her blog, I just about shed tears of joy, an emotional read for me.

One thing is for sure, this kind of thing does draw ones family much closer, and that is a good thing, even if from a bad thing.

May you all enjoy the future.

Oh yea, and uwol 16 too?

dale guthormsen

Chris Swanberg · May 25th, 2010, 08:05 PM

Chris Barcellos did a short film about Katie and me and I think it is a fitting end to this thread. It is here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/uwol-cha...enge-16-a.html

Thank you my fellow UWOL'ers for your outpouring of caring and support, and thank you Chris Barcellos.

(ps. the pic of her in bed was taken during week 6..... I did not take pics in the early tough goings, and almost could not have gotten close enough to the ICU bed due to machines and IV trees, etc. Those are memories best forgotten.)

March 31st, 2010, 08:52 PM	#48
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	I hadn't heard from Chris Swanberg for about a week, and called him tonight to see how Katie was doing. When he answered the phone, he said just a minute, he would let me talk to someone who knew a bit more... It was Katie herself. We spoke for a few minutes. She is anxious to get back on her feet, and a bit frustrated about having to relearn things like walk, and all...... but you can tell she is going to come back with a vengence.... you got to admire how tough that young woman is. I felt like I was talking to a miracle... I think everyone who has been rooting for her has had an effect on her. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

April 1st, 2010, 12:07 AM	#50
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	GREAT NEWS! And thanks to both Chris's for keeping us "in the loop". __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

April 3rd, 2010, 11:13 PM	#51
Kell Smith Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: USA Posts: 436	prayers Just saw this thread - sending out prayers for health and recovery.

April 17th, 2010, 12:16 AM	#54
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Great news Chris and thanks for posting the link to Katie's blog - it was great to read about some of the ordeal in HER words. And remind her that we all have scars - the ones that carry them on the INSIDE are the unfortunate ones; no one knows what they went through to make them the people they are today. All the very best to your family and may Katie's recovery be faster and more complete than she could ever hope for. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

April 21st, 2010, 10:28 AM	#56
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Chris, Fantastic news! When I went to gardenpink and read her blog, I just about shed tears of joy, an emotional read for me. One thing is for sure, this kind of thing does draw ones family much closer, and that is a good thing, even if from a bad thing. May you all enjoy the future. Oh yea, and uwol 16 too? dale guthormsen __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

March 21st, 2010, 08:16 PM	#46
Steve Siegel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Posts: 840	Chris, Now that you mentioned it, the N. meningitidis vaccine is readily available and effective. We give it to just about all of our patients going off to college (the infection is most often seen in college dorms and army barracks). It is safe with almost no side effects. It's wonderful that she is coming out of this. You have a real fighter. Be sure that any other young folks in your family get the vaccine.

March 22nd, 2010, 08:45 PM	#47
Chris Swanberg Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 904	I want to thank you all for your caring support and encouragement. My daughter's kidneys fired up over the weekend and dialysis is now a thing of the past. She is getting stronger and may be off her trach tube (placed in lieu of the breathing tube) within a week or less. They are readying her for transition to a rehab facility, and her daily progress is remarkable. She appears to have beaten long odds. Your words of support, love and encouragement truly were helpful for me through a very dark period in my life. The light is shining in now and I feel immensely better. I appreciate my DVInfo family. To Chris Hurd, I say thank you for allowing me to use this site for that, and encourage and support you taking this thread down if you like... it is, after all, a little odd for this site, and I am anxious to getting back to posting more appropriate things ! God bless you all. Chris Swanberg ps. Steve, thanks for weighing in on the significance of the vaccine. My 22 year old will be getting it. I STRONGLY recommend that anyone with a child meeting the CDC guidelines get it!!

March 31st, 2010, 09:58 PM	#49
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	Gosh, that is good news! At her age, with the fight she has shown, even if the rehab process is long and frustrating I look for her to make the fullest recovery possible for her to attain. Someone please keep us posted. Bruce Foreman

April 12th, 2010, 07:25 PM	#52
Chris Swanberg Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 904	I was surprised to see this still up, but since it is, an update. My daughter is going to be released Thursday to come home with me for a few weeks as she continues to gain strength. She is poised to make a full recovery, except for a few scars and all, but is going to be her old self in no time. She is getting stronger x2 every day. She is even back to posting her own blog at GardenPunks™. Thank you all for your support. Chris B and i are back to making movies ! (finally) And I will be back to working on my documentary as well I trust ! Chris Swanberg

April 13th, 2010, 04:26 PM	#53
Mike Sims Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 880	Way to go Katie! I'm sure Chris and Chris will have you up and around and helping with productions in no time!...

April 18th, 2010, 06:38 AM	#55
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	Hi Chris, It's good to hear Katie is recovering well. Nice blog she has. All the best to Katie, you and your family!

May 25th, 2010, 08:05 PM	#57
Chris Swanberg Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 904	Chris Barcellos did a short film about Katie and me and I think it is a fitting end to this thread. It is here: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/uwol-cha...enge-16-a.html Thank you my fellow UWOL'ers for your outpouring of caring and support, and thank you Chris Barcellos. (ps. the pic of her in bed was taken during week 6..... I did not take pics in the early tough goings, and almost could not have gotten close enough to the ICU bed due to machines and IV trees, etc. Those are memories best forgotten.)