Ritch Dowrey - 3rdDown in dire condition

[Ravi]

That's great news D.

To others, I was able to see Ritch on tuesday. I had about the same experience sans wheelchair!.. No doubt he is responding and trying to communicate at least on the inside... I was able to talk to his surgeon and he's sure he will recover and leave the hospital (lets assume that there are no assurances on anything), with the usual caveats especially short term memory.

It is truly incredible that he is making progress when things seemed so bleak right after this horrific incident occurred. Keep it up, Ritch!

[Blue In BC]

The news certainly does seem more positive than it did initially. Let him know how much are of us are rooting for him to get well soon.

The off season isn't the same without him posting on all the websites. His Turd ( ism's ) make the time before TC more bearable.

Get well soon Ritch. We know you can do it.

Dale & Beth

[OrangeShoes99]

I visited Ritch yesterday, and after not seeing him for a week it was a very encouraging visit. As usual, I'll share my observations here.

There are some things I am certain of. Ritch knows his name, and he when you say his name, he looks at you. Most of the time once he looks at you the eyebrows go up and you get a smile. Ritch smiled at me several times yesterday and is very interactive with the nurses. Every time they come in he gets energy and gets excited. He became quite interactive with me and really enjoyed the Buono chant, which I do every time I go. I have no doubt he understands it and recognizes it...he REALLY enjoyed that yesterday.

I heard Ritch's voice yesterday for the first time. There were groaning noises, but no speech, but this was a first. His trach tube is a lot smaller than the one he had last time he was in. there were times when he tried to talk.

When I last saw him, he only moved his right ankle. Yesterday he was moving his whole leg. His right arm was strapped to the bed. I didn't get to find out why, but I assume he may have been moving it and they don't want to pull out any wires or tubes. There has been no movement on the left side of his body.

He drifts from interactive to zoned out. There are times he looks like he's in pain.

I told Ritch that him and Gumby were hard to bring down, and that everyone was just amazed with his progress and thrilled.

All in all a great visit, and Ritch keeps making progress.

[Rammer]

http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/news ... 1fc4c08cda

More support for a tougher charge against the attacker.

[Lionut]

Brian, thanks for the report. It sounds like Ritch is making some strides in his recovery, which is encouraging. It will, however, be a very long road back for him, as it is for so many brain injury patients. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the next report brings a new round of progress...

[Lions4ever]

That is encouraging news. Right now I am in Texas. I was in Austin for a few days and the other night a young guy got punched outside Coyote Ugly on 6th Street. I'm sure some of you are familiar with 6th St. His head hit the pavement. He died yesterday. The police are now looking for the culprit and when found he will be charged with murder. Very very sad and tragic.

It could have been so much worse.

[OrangeShoes99]

Went and saw Ritch yesterday, and WOW what a visit!

Ritch was extremely interactive with me yesterday. When I arrived, he was sleeping, but gave me a huge smile when he woke up. Rithc wil smile when anyone comes in the room. I think he likes the company.

The real positive experience of this visit was Ritch initiating the interactions. His trach tube has been removed, and he was "talking" to me the the whole visit. I now have no doubt that he understands things. He kept saying "wow" and "oh man" and "umm". I said to Ritch "You have two months to get better until football starts Ritch". He smiled, and I said you'll be there, he shook his head no....I said "Don't give me that crap Ritch, you'll be there and I'm getting you a seat on the field right behind Bwaaaanaaaaa!" He laughed!!!! Hard! He understood that, otherwise why would he laugh?

I told Ritch he was even a bigger celebrity than he was before. He seemed amused by that. I told him people across the country were asking about him daily. Brian and Linda, Paul and Janna, Reider, Hoof, Joshua, MFOT and on an on. Everytime I said a name he nodded. I got more laughs when I told him there was a move to get Gumby out to see him. He said "I know!"

There are times when he gets confused. I asked him if he knew who I was. He nodded yes. I asked if my name was Brian, he wasn't sure about that. I asked him do you know who Orangeshoes is, he smiled and nodded. Then he got out the words "I'm not sure"....I just told him to keep trying that it wss all coming back...he smiled and nodded some more.

I showed him his Lions jersey and told him the Lions brought it for him, their number one fan. That again brought out a "wow". He seems geuninely moved by the attention he's getting. He lights right up when nurses come in the room. (Ritch knows how to throw on the charm).

From seeing Ritch when he was in a coma, to when he came out of the coma to now, I can tell you the improvements have been almost daily. There is still no movement on his left side, but he moves his right arm and leg often.

The whole time I was there, he talked. Near the end of the visit I asked if he was tired, and wanted to sleep. He nodded. I grabbed his hand and told him we were all proud of him, and to keep resting and getting better. He smiled, and nodded again.

And that was the end of the best visit yet!

[D]

Awesome News Brian and thanks very much for the update!

Is he still in ICU?

[David]

This is fantasic news, Brian. Thank you for the update.

Keep up the great progress, Ritch. We're pulling for you!

DH

[OrangeShoes99]

Yes he's still in ICU.

[Gerry]

Here's another update by Brian, as posted at the Zone:

Re: Please read - re: our friend Ritch (3rd Down)

Postby Orangeshoes99 on Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:40 pm
Hey zoner's,

I saw Ritch tonight, and I am happy to be able to report more progress. Ritch is now moving all four limbs. We watched some hockey tonight, and he was talkative. Often times forming strings of words, or answering basic questions. I told him to squeeze my hand and he did. He has good colour, his hair has grown back. He's starting to be a little bit of a brat with the nurses. His hands and one leg are tied down, he keeps pulling out his feeding tube. The leg is tied to trip and keep it from rubbing on the other one where he has developed a sore from doing so.

He seems to ask a lot of questions. Most of them you can't understand, but you can tell by his facial expressions that he is asking one. There are many things he doesn't understand. If you ask him a question he may say yes, no, no not really, he may pause and think about it. The nurse said his mom came in today, I asked him if his mom was in today he said "no, yesterday".

Ritch is starting to get his spunk back. He dropped an F-bomb, gave the nurses a little grief. He doesn't like being tied down, but right now it's for his own good.

He still has problems swallowing, thus the feeding tube is still in. Other than that he's free of IV's and other tubes now.

Ritch is now out of ICU. There is still a restriction on visitors and a no information order at the request of the family.

So combined with the moving of the other two limbs, and more talking, more interaction, it seems Ritch is still improving, and it was a good visit!

[MacNews]

Thanks for the update Gerry, it's great to hear all 4-limbs are moving!!

[Bleddyn]

Good to hear he is improving. Thanks for the updates.

[Blue In BC]

Bump. What's new with Ritch's progress? We haven't heard any news for awhile now. Are more of us allowed to go see him and who do we have to speak with for permission?

[smphantom]

Pleased to hear he is improving.