LISA TODAY...

January 08, 2010

Northwest Medical Center

Oro Valley, Arizona

Lisa Anne Wintory died Friday January 8th, 2010 at the age of 43 from a brain injury caused by a cardiac arrest suffered in 2006 just two weeks after her son Michael was born. A career prosecutor, Lisa brought justice to violent sex offenders, murderers and, as chief of the multi-county grand jury for the Oklahoma Attorney General, to corrupt politicians and “ghost employees.” In 2003, Lisa joined Richard in Tucson; in 2004, Lisa joined Richard in marriage, and in 2006, parenthood when Michael Gene was born whose Godparents, Jack and Napua Davis have been a constant blessing in our lives. With the help of their friends the Vetranos, they built a beautiful home surrounded by mountains and had a wonderful time doing it.

Lisa continued her career of protecting the public as Assistant Chief Counsel to U.S, Immigration and Customs enforcement in the Department of Homeland Security. Lisa deported convicted sexual predators, drug traffickers and other foreign born criminals from our communities and neighborhoods. Lisa was a “strong advocate for the Department” who won special recognition for taking tough cases of significance to the Department. Her supervisor described Lisa as among, “our most talented and devoted employees” who had “performed with distinction”.

Born in Norman, Oklahoma to Jerry Bob and Carmen Goodspeed, Lisa spent part of her childhood in El Paso where she learned to love the desert southwest and attended the elite Radford school for girls, she later followed a famous alumna of Radford, Sandra Day O’Connor, to work at the United States Supreme Court. Firmly bit by the law bug, Lisa followed Justice O’ Connors’s encouragement and after graduating from the University of Oklahoma attended Oklahoma City University Law School where she earned her Juris doctor. Lisa enjoyed lifelong friendships from her sisters of delta gamma sorority to her colleagues in law enforcement and prosecution. This was shown by the outpouring of support for Lisa after she fell ill. Sick leave was donated by fellow federal prosecutors, Border Patrol agents, other federal law enforcement officers and employees from across America who rallied to her cause. This time allowed her to keep her home to which she was able to return after more than a year of hospitalization and attempts at rehabilitation. Lisa was also supported by doctors, nurses, aides and therapists who took Lisa to their hearts and gave her wonderful compassionate care. They also provided impromptu childcare for Lisa’s son, Michael who became a favorite in every unit Lisa was treated in. Lisa was with Michael whose first birthday, Christmas and baptism were all at St. Joe’s in phoenix with Lisa at his side. While Lisa was never able to regain the ability to communicate with us, we hope she was able to perceive how wonderful her boy is and how much she is loved. After all the treatment and therapy man can provide failed to return Lisa to her life, and after she had returned back to her home with her loving husband, son and her amazing caregiver Patrice, God finally granted the prayers to do what man could not. This meant He had to bring her to Him, which leaves us profoundly saddened despite the relief that Lisa no longer must suffer, that she has been healed and can fully experience God’s Love with her father , Richard’s mother, Beverly and her beloved sheltie, Maggie who all preceded her in death. Lisa has left behind her husband Richard and their son, Michael. Mother Carmen Goodspeed and her husband Karl Sinclair, her brother and sister –in-law-David and Suzanne Goodspeed, their children, her niece and nephew Rylee Goodspeed and Collin Power. Rex and Shaggy Young, Uncle and Aunt, and Stephen and Larissa, cousins

A Memorial Service will be held 3:00 p.m. Wednesday January 13, 2009 at Vistoso Funeral Home, 2285 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd, Oro Valley. A Memorial Service will also be in Oklahoma City at 2:00 p.m. Friday January 22, 2010 at the Crossings Community Church. In lieu of flowers, donations to Michael’s Education Fund may be made to EdVest, c/o Wells Fargo (acct#0002727-2501065303), PO Box 55244, Boston, MA 02205. ("EdVest is for Education Investment.) Your gift to Michael must be mailed to Well Fargo; as your local Well Fargo Bank is unable to process it. I sincerely regret this inconvenience, but hope it will not deter your effort on behalf of Michael.

This will be my last posting to Lisa Today. Please accept my thanks for your interest, prayers, well wishes and concern for Lisa and her Family, not only here in Arizona but in Oklahoma as well.

Sincerely,

Michael Wintory

mlwintory@msn.com

Richard Wintory

wintoryok@hotmail.com

Sherry Wintory

sbwintory@msn.com

Lisa Today

LISA TODAY - February 22, 2009

The latest on Lisa- a 3^rd Anniversary Update

Hey gang, Richard here. As we pass Michael’s third birthday, we approach the third anniversary of the catastrophic event that denied him in so many ways the blessing of being Lisa’s son.

We have much to be grateful for, compared to where we started that horrifying night three years ago. Lisa’s heart was stopped cold by a lethal genetic condition that had been the undiagnosed cause of her own father’s death when she was 12. The defect in her genetic code, known as Long QT type 3, had lain dormant and deadly while she competed in cheerleading, tennis and swimming, completed her education, traveled the world and had met and impressed all who knew her from U.S. Supreme Court Justices to the corrupt politicians and sex offenders she prosecuted and sent off to prison.

In truly a most cruel twist, it wasn’t until Lisa added one more title to the list of accomplishments she’d sought, mother, that this monster surfaced. Those who have followed these updates will remember all that came next- the first frantic hours and weeks, the initial thought that Lisa was stabilizing followed by the horror of the Stevens-Johnson reaction to one of her med's. The panicked helicopter flight to Phoenix, the slow recovery back from the abyss again. We were all so hopeful after Lisa was transferred to St. Joseph’s and placed under the care of the Barrow Neurological Center, giving her the best chance for the best recovery possible. However, despite initial promising progress the injury inflicted in those first few minutes continued to extend its reach slowly, steadily taking that opportunity away.

A recent round of tests, including another CT scan of Lisa’s brain show the devastation caused by the lack of oxygen after her heart stopped. I learned that less than 1% of those suffering out of hospital cardiac arrests survive more than a year. Knowing that she was already an odds beater, all of her family, friends, doctors, therapists and those who joined us through these pages prayed she might somehow have avoided the worst of what such an injury means. But that was not to be.

Lisa isn’t able to move, speak or communicate with us in any consistent, meaningful way. The brain injury caused spasticity which has, despite her receiving all the medical treatments available, continued to stiffen and cruelly twist her body. While she doesn’t appear to be able to see, Lisa does startle in response to sudden touch and loud sound. Her heartbeat and oxygen saturation, constantly monitored, also provide insight. Learning from these reactions, we’re able to know when she’s uncomfortable or otherwise distressed. Lisa is completely dependent on round the clock care provided by her caregiver, Patrice (during the day) and me (at night). Her many medications, nutrition and fluids are administered by a feeding tube, and while Lisa breathes on her own; she’s more comfortable with a little oxygen to assist her. A tracheotomy tube helps us keep her airway and lungs clear through regular suctioning.

Because of these limitations, we can’t be sure how much Lisa understands about all this. As I mentioned Lisa does show a “startle” reaction, but she doesn’t react to other things like hearing Michael or being spoken to by those she loves or on topics that would be of interest to her. However, I’ve continued to operate on the assumption (I won’t call it a hope) that Lisa can understand more than she can express. So while I don’t know she does perceive these things, because I don’t know she doesn’t we work off of the belief she does.

This means we keep Lisa in the center of our lives at home. She sleeps in her bedroom with her husband and son nearby, spends the day in her home, enjoying the breeze on the patio, listening to the wind chimes or books on tape her brother’s family gave her for Christmas and smelling the roses and jasmine she planted. Lisa joins me in the kitchen while I cook dinner and later when I read to Michael. We put the phone on speaker when she receives the regular calls from friends and family like nephew Collin and Godparents Jack and Napua.

Lisa’s condition makes bringing her with us when we leave home more difficult. The cost of a wheelchair van has been beyond our reach. Fortunately, our town of Oro Valley does provide a van that takes Lisa to doctor’s appointments or we’d be in real trouble. Still, this has limited our family outings or Lisa joining us when I take Michael to the playground, to church or to the store. I hope to be able to address this in the future.

Medically, despite her enormous injury Lisa is stable, safe and secure. The consistency and excellence of the care Patrice provides along with Lisa being out of a place filled with sick people has eliminated the terrifying cycle of infections and complications. The medical equipment used at home for Lisa ranges from as good to vastly superior to what she’d receive in any facility anywhere. The medical team available to Lisa has responded quickly when we have had problems (mostly involving the tubes that drain her stomach or provide nutrition). The bottom line is that I believe Lisa is in an environment where the complications folks in her condition are vulnerable to (skin breakdowns, pneumonia, etc) are being kept at bay.

The one constant source of joy and happiness during all of this has of course been our beautiful, cheerful, destructive son. He is helpful to a fault when furniture needs to moving Vetrano daddy needs help in the kitchen washing vegetables or out in the garden or yard Just as Lisa’s, genetic condition didn’t keep her from being a dedicated jock, neither has Michael’s. It’s hard to say at this age if he’s got Lisa’s ability or his father’s enthusiastic clumsiness. Still, he’s the joy of our family. Since our last update, Michael had his first experience carving a pumpkin and trick or treating on Halloween. He was quite unenthusiastic about the enterprise, even though I’d found a Thomas the tank engine costume. That is, until he figured out the goal was… CANDY! Then, he was a trick or treating machine!

Thanksgiving had Michael escorting Dad and Sherry to visit all my sisters’ families in Illinois. Sherry’s daughters, Dana and Chris along with their broods met in Chicago. Sherry and Dad hauled Michael to Galesburg where Laura and James got to love him up as well.

Christmas was wonderful despite my being stuck in a trial that went from the first of December through the middle of January. Godparents Jack and Napua came in for Christmas and what they’d hoped would be balmy weather (oops). Patrice’s daughter, Laura, on Christmas break from Arizona State came down to see her Mom. Just after Christmas, Laura and James escaped from the frozen tundra of Galesburg to the now-balmy Tucson (Jack and Napua having just left) so we had a great guest list for the holiday’s.

We continued our tradition of decorating the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. This tradition was actually created due to my again running out of time to complete the task before everyone showed up. Oh well Dad, Jack and Michael had fun.

The presents, food and football were all pretty wonderful but the company was best of all. Michael certainly enjoyed his gifts but likes the act of opening them most. It’s only later that he figures out there are toys and books involved. The magic of a little snow on Christmas day was, unfortunately, lost on him leaving him confused about whether it was Christmas or Halloween fortunately Aunt Laura straightened him out.

Michael’s third birthday was another treat. Just as I’ve discovered the joys and mysteries of “Spongebob Squarepants,” “Thomas the Tank Engine” and “Wow Wow Wubzie”. I now have learned the magic of Chucky Cheese and our local variant, Peter Piper Pizza. Introduced to the secret by our friends Carl and Tracy Miller (anything that works with their 3 boys is good enough for me), I found a place combines everything necessary for a great birthday party: the back half is filled with rides and games. At the front are tables where parents can maintain surveillance with the door at their backs. In the middle of the place, there are counters where you order the pizza. But the real prize (for me) that makes this place not just endurable, but magic? You got it, ice-cold beer!

Michael’s development is amazing to me. He’s exceedingly polite, even while being completely unreasonable- “Hi, daddy. Can I please have some chocolate pudding?” while on the playground. Of course, as soon as you tell him we’ll have to do this later, he’ll think about it, and usually says, “ok, daddy, deal!” holding out his hand to confirm the arrangement with a “gimme five”.

I’ve been fighting a cold this weekend, and while I’m typing this, he’s brought me a steady stream of toys, snacks and drinks asking if I’m still sick and if I’m taking my medicine. Michael’s treatment of Lisa is the most wonderful of all. He’ll adjust her blanket if he thinks she’s cold. He understands when I tell him I’ll take care of him “after I take care of mommy”. When we come home at the end of the day he comes through the door shouting “hello, mommy!” and says goodbye each morning as we leave.

The rest of our little band is doing well also. Dad is still Michael’s best friend, ally and advocate (read spoiler). He picks Michael up each day from school and they knock around till I come to get him. Sherry’s taken on two new jobs and despite her perpetual struggle with desert allergies and the understandable loneliness of missing her kids and grandkids up north, is keeping us all in line.

In addition to providing outstanding care for Lisa, Patrice is continuing her online degree program recruiting our neighbor and regular rescuer Jim to get poked and prodded for her practical medical exercises (I’ve convinced her it would be a conflict of interest for me). She’s also studying Spanish, which is a handy thing to have in Tucson. So with these friends and family you can see that we’re doing just fine.

Our Best To You All!

Richard.

LISA TODAY - SUMMER 2008

ORO VALLEY, ARIZONA

Hey gang, Richard here, what a great summer we’ve had in the house Lisa built! Last summer we’d just gotten Lisa home after a year and a half of moving from one hospital and one crisis to another. Getting our home remodeled, equipped, supplied and staffed for Lisa to be safe and comfortable was a huge undertaking that spilled over through last summer and fall.

But this year we’re chillin’ in the desert! Lisa’s medical care team has smoothly handled the inevitable challenges and kept her healthy and stable. Michael has kept me in stitches (and somehow kept himself out of them) and our friends and family have kept all of us going.

The summer has been filled with quiet mornings, busy days, restful nights and fun–filled weekends punctuated by visits from friends and family, exciting trips and (for Tucson) pretty mild temperatures.

Lisa insisted that despite our living in the desert we would have some grass in the backyard for kids and pets. Boy, was she right! Michael uses the grass to develop his horsemanship skills. I use it to protect my knees and hands as I play the role of horse. Bucking him off is an important part of learning, right?

Our backyard has definitely been a mini-oasis where Michael has become swimmer, gardener and engineer. With Lisa on our back porch under her ceiling fan, Michael plays shark attack (he’s the shark) in the pool, pulls weeds from the flower and vegetable beds (ok, he hasn’t quite figured out the difference between petunias and weeds) and organizes his trains and trucks in the excavation of his quarry (or what some might think of as a sandbox).

Local landscapers call this the “mini-oasis” concept that permits the area immediately around the back of the house to have grass, fruit trees and other water-hogging plants before the transition to traditional desert adapted vegetation on the other side of the backyard fence. I ran chicken wire along the bottom of the fence to keep the rabbits out that were eating the grass (which I welcomed) but carpeted the area with ….fertilizer (which on my hands and knees playing horse, I don’t).

The fence has worked pretty well with the rabbits, but hasn’t stopped the parade of other desert wildlife into our yard. Our wild summer visitors have included a bobcat, rattlesnake, tarantula, Gila monster and a herd of Javelina. We have a covey of Gambel’s quail Michael has watched grow up feeding at our seed block out the kitchen window along with the white winged doves. So far, I’ve been able to escort the predators out of the yard without harm to them or our brood. Michael has, of course, been an invaluable aid in these events. “Kitty, daddy, kitty!”

We’ve had other wild visitors this summer. Lisa and I are both career prosecutors, and I’ve been involved with National Dist-rict Attorney’s Association for many years. In fact, it was an NDAA board meeting here in Tucson a few years ago that sold me on the place. Well, NDAA’s summer conference was in Tucson this year. That brought many of Lisa’s friends from all over the country here and definitely called for a party. The weather was ordered up by the visitor’s bureau and the food came from my trusty Oklahoma Joe smoker and our favorite local Mexican restaurant. Old friends and new got to spend time with Lisa, meet Michael, my Dad and Sherry and our Tucson gang. I’m not sure if it was Lisa’s sangria recipe (which I followed to the letter) or the company, but it was a wonderful time.

We were particularly glad to have our long time friends from Oklahoma, Suzanne McLain Atwood and Trent Bagget here. Lisa had served on several important boards with them and so, having them sitting on Lisa’s porch together while our beautiful Pusch Ridge turned deep pink as the sun set, was special.

LISA’S CARE SYSTEM WORKS.

After tweaking and transitions over the last year, I’m confident we have Lisa in a safer, more comfortable place than any in the world. We had the chance to try it all out this summer and the system (along with Lisa) passed with flying colors. We have a doctor, nurse practitioner, and therapists all making house calls when needed for routine care. Lab technicians also come to our home for routine blood tests and x-rays. For trips to her physiatrist for spasticity treatments or tests or treatments at the hospital that can’t be done at home, good people at Coyote Run transport Lisa and Patrice along with her “go-bag” get her there and back safely without the drama and expense of ambulances.

When Lisa’s G-tube needed replacing this summer, her team of caregivers handled it in an afternoon at our nearby hospital and had her home before bedtime. Later in the summer Patrice and I noticed subtle changes in her condition that might have been overlooked without the consistency of care we can provide. When the symptoms continued, Lisa’s medical team ordered up blood work and then more tests by our old friends at Oro Valley NW Medical Center. A complete set of tests using all the high-tech equipment there identified the problem (her G-tube had moved) which was immediately corrected and resolved the symptoms right away.

Lisa was tested, treated and cared for by many of the same folks who saved her life after the cardiac arrest two years ago. They were amazed at how well Lisa has done (if you remember, she was flown out by helicopter with a life-threatening reaction to a medicine that was blistering her skin and linings of her lungs). More delight came when they saw Michael. Because, when they first saw him he was wrapped like a burrito to be with his mom when they’d help smuggle him in to visit, now, he’s 2 and a half, and ready to “help” them run their hospital.

Bottom line: Lisa is in a home modified and equipped with the best bed, lift system and other stuff available anywhere in the world. She is cared for by folks who know her and love her with the skills, training and facilities to handle the kinds of complications (Michael with Cousins Will & Catharine)

her brain injury make inevitable while keeping her in her home with her family. While I’m proud to be one of these caregivers each night (my shift) I know it’s more than just one person who makes Lisa’s safety and comfort possible and I’m grateful to them all.

MY MOM

This is Lisa’s update, so I don’t try and do too much of my stuff here, which is pretty boring anyway. But my writing of this update was interrupted by the passing of the person who got Lisa and I together- my mom, Beverly Adele Wintory. You can read her memoriam at http://obituaries.galesburg.com/Link.asp?I=LS000117543209X

I wanted to share with you that story since most folks wonder what the heck Lisa was thinking when she married me anyway. It’s your basic “boy gets girl, boy loses girl because he’s an idiot”, when my mother comes into the picture.

After my mom’s stroke and move back to Illinois, she came to visit me in Oklahoma each summer. It was during one of those visits after "boy" had been repeatedly told he’d lost the girl (by the girl) we begin. My mom was again reminding me how much she believed Lisa and I should be together and asking if I’d called her. After the usual “she’s already told me to leave her alone” “you should call her” exchange, I picked up the phone just to shut my mom up by letting her hear Lisa tell me to get lost.

I dial the number. It rings. Lisa answers. I say, “I know I’m an idiot. I know I’m a bigger idiot for calling you again after you’ve told me to get lost repeatedly. But my mother is making me call you to….” Lisa interrupts and asks “Your mom! How is she?” One topic led to another and to dinner for the 3 of us and the rest, as they say, is history.

Lisa and I were really glad to have mom make what turned out to be her last visit to Tucson while our home was being built. We got to show her all the sights and had a great time together. Lisa’s love for her was enough to give me the chance that led to our marriage, home and Michael. We’ll miss mom’s weekly calls to visit with us and Michael will miss yelling “HI, GRANDMA!” into the phone. Mom’s real understanding of our situation was always a source of support and strength for me and comfort, I believe, for Lisa.

Richard...

Please direct your questions or comments to: mlwintory@msn.com

LISA TODAY – Spring 2008

Oro Valley, Arizona


Hey everyone, Richard here...

Lisa and I are having a calm, quiet weekend. Poppy and Mimi (my dad, Michael and Sherry) extended a business trip to Anaheim, California and are treating their grandson to Disneyland.

The trip gives me a chance to catch up you all up on how well things have gone this spring. Lisa is continuing the stable, comfortable, safe condition she’s maintained since getting home. Lisa has been unable to regain the ability to communicate that we’d hoped for, but we have gotten pretty good at reading her reactions to keep her stable, safe and comfortable.

Lisa’s Tucson physiatrist (the Neuro-Rehab specialist) has continued the work of Dr. Kwasnica in adjusting the different medicines to control Lisa’s spasticity. The results in reducing the stiffness in Lisa’s muscles have been impressive. We are able to move Lisa’s limbs much more easily and she can sit in her chairs without sliding out from her being so stiff. This has made it easy for her to sit in the kitchen while I’m fixing dinner with the help of our two year old Sous Chef.

Lisa continues to reap the benefits of her new bed, the Hill-Rom Total Care Sport bed. It rotates her from side to help keep her lungs clear and skin healthy. It helps turn her on her side and even turns itself (kind of like “transformers”) into a great big well-padded chair so she can sit up and enjoy the incredible views out of our bedroom patio doors when it gets too warm to sit outside. We’re still fighting with the insurance company to pay for it, but there’s no question it has been worth the cost. Lisa’s not had anymore skin or lung problems since she’s gotten this amazing piece of equipment.

Lisa’s daily routine goes something like this: we wake up listening to National Public Radio news and Michael’s quiet breathing. After her morning meds and treatments Lisa finishes the tube feedings that provide her the nutrition that keeps her healthy and strong. We (Patrice and I) use the ceiling lift to transfer her safely and smoothly to her shower chair and give Lisa a chance to sit on our patio to enjoy the morning songbirds and smell of the star jasmine we planted on both sides of our master bedroom patio.

Next, Lisa gets her shower, with the modification we made to our house; she can be easily rolled into our super-duper shower with its 7 spray heads and get a real spa experience. Later Lisa gets range of motion therapy and a chance to rest for a bit. After her nap and afternoon meds and treatment it’s back into the ceiling lift and a trip downstairs into her regular wheelchair.

If Lisa has an outside appointment the great folks at Oro Valley’s Coyote Run (public door-to-door wheelchair transportation) will pick Lisa and her caregiver Patrice up and take them to her doctor’s appointment or even shopping and back! Patrice always brings a “go-bag” to make certain Lisa has necessary equipment and medicines should a need arise. Getting out and about during the week is also fun! For most of her needs though, folks come to Lisa and she is able to meet them downstairs in her home.

When there are no visitors or appointments, Lisa will sit with Patrice studying for one of her online college courses or they’ll watch “chick flicks” which, by-the-way, I can’t sit through. Once I hit the door after picking up our 2-year old Godzilla, Lisa comes into the kitchen with me while I make dinner, usually with Michael helps push his mom’s wheelchair. He wants to help and I let him.

Later we’ll watch a little sponge bob square pants (if you don’t know, don’t ask) or Michael will yell, “book!” prompting a hard look from me, followed by him lighting up a heart-melting smile and whispering “please?”. At the moment, we’re working through an illustrated “treasure island.” by this time Lisa’s back upstairs with us and we’re all winding down getting ready for a restful night and the next day’s adventure.

Springtime has turned into a wonderful season for us here in the desert. The weather is truly wonderful and the blooming plants, trees and cactus make you wonder if someone dropped LSD into your coffee with all the strange shapes and colors.

Spring started with Michael’s birthday in February on the 10th followed by Easter with beautiful church services and Michael’s first Easter egg hunt. We celebrated Lisa’s birthday in April and mine a couple of weeks later (I’m still so much older than she is!) in May. The highlight of mother’s day for us was Michael’s handmade (literally) gift for mommy.

What makes these times so special are the members of our family and friends who’ve stood by and supported us through thick and thin. Lisa’s beloved nephew Collin, who used his spring break to travel to a troubled and impoverished town in Mexico to serve others and then called Lisa to share the story with her, Jim and Ann, our guardian angel neighbors, Jack and Napua, Michael’s godparents who are always calling in with love and support, and Poppy and Mimi, without whom we couldn’t make it a week helping make sure Lisa’s son is surrounded by folks who love and protect him and his mother.

We still have challenges ahead; I’m hoping to get Lisa back into hyperbaric therapy and eventually a wheelchair van to make weekend outings possible for us as a family. Lisa’s condition is unchanged. I know for some that’s disappointing, and in a way, of course, it is. But from where we were just a year ago, (just take a look at those updates) we are in such a much better place, that I truly feel we are blessed. So we’re going to keep plugging away, making the most of each day God has given us, together. r (Richard Wintory - 20 May 2008)

For more information or comment please email:

Michael
mlwintory@msn.com

Lisa Today - January 16, 2008

The latest on Lisa, Christmas 2007
Home sweet home in Oro Valley Arizona


Ours is a home I wouldn’t exactly call “sweet” and certainly it’s not peaceful with a little, lovable monster like Michael doing his best impression of Godzilla destroying Tokyo on a daily basis. Still we have all the personnel, medicine, equipment and supplies you’d expect in a state of the art long term acute care facility. Lisa has an experienced, compassionate live-in, full-time caregiver, Patrice (certified as personal, supervisory and directed caregiver) to provide her medicines, tube feeding and therapies, her daily shower and other necessary care from 7 in the morning until after 8 at night. When Lisa needs to see a doctor, her primary care doc, board certified in family medicine makes a house call. Routine tests, x-rays are all done at home and delivered to the labs and specialists for interpretation with the results reported back to Lisa’s doctor and family. When Lisa’s baclofin pump needs re-filling that too, is done at home by visiting nurses.

Of course, some visits to Dr’s offices (like for her board-certified neurologist) must be made and when the need arises, Coyote Run, a local, shuttle service provided for disabled residents of Oro Valley, is available for scheduled appointments during the workweek. On those days, Lisa and her caregiver Patrice load up together with a “go-bag” of essential supplies and equipment. Even though the service isn’t available for weekends, urgent medical matters or for trips to church or other outings for Lisa, it has been a real blessing.

I have found a local business that rents wheelchair vans from their sales inventory and that let us take Lisa to Dad and Sherry’s home for Thanksgiving, to church, one of Tucson’s lovely parks, and shopping, all with Michael’s indispensable help! As beautiful as our home is, I really believe it’s important that we include Lisa in these “non-essential” activities with her family, so it’s something I’m going to continue to work on.

Dad and Sherry have continued their support for our ability to care for Lisa at home by helping with Michael. Dad (aka Poppy) picks Michael up in the morning, letting me get ready to go to work. Our little bundle of boy gets bathed, dressed and dragged to his Montessori school where he’s made truly amazing progress in “practical living skills” as you can see from the pictures, Michael helps with me in the kitchen cooking, he’s all about “clean-up” time i.e. picking up what he’s gotten out and feeding himself at his little table. His vocabulary increase in size and quality everyday, and is only slightly populated by variations of “no”

So with all this in place, we entered the holiday season. Here’s a recap of how well it went, with Dad adding pictures of it all here and in the attached photo show:

A family Thanksgiving in Mimi and Poppy’s new home in the desert
My stepsister, Dana, her husband Kevin and their two wonderful children Andrew and Allison came from Minneapolis for Thanksgiving. My sister Debra also flew from slightly warmer Sarasota, Florida. Sherry was overjoyed to have her out of state family join us for their first holiday in her new home in the desert. We were all rewarded with wonderful meals the evening before and the afternoon of Thanksgiving. In between feasting, Sherry (aka Mimi) led the kids in board games, arts and crafts projects and general fun. Michael and his cousins had a blast together as you can see from the pictures Dad has attached in the accompanying photoshow. I’ve offered Allison a job as Michael’s babysitter if we can just work out the drive time to Minneapolis. Dana and Kevin are a couple Lisa and I really bonded with when we were together in Illinois the Thanksgiving before Michael was born. It was good to get to visit, drink good wine and plan future adventures together.

No one has worked harder or given up more to help us with Lisa than Sherry, so having her “nested” and having a great time with her kids and grandkids was really special. Now we just need to get my other step sister Chris and her brood out here!

“Over the river and through the woods….” A trip to see Grandma!
Commitments that had been made earlier in the fall that would have tied me to Tucson throughout December fell through leaving me with an opportunity for Michael to see his grandma in Illinois. My mom, you’ll recall, is a stroke and cancer survivor and is unable to travel. She’s recently moved to a really nice facility in Galesburg, just a few minutes from where my sister Laura and her husband James live. So, with Patrice, Sherry and Dad looking after Lisa, Michael and I loaded up for the long flights and headed out.

Flying is no big deal to our son. Escalators, though, are an entirely different matter. He got mad in Dallas when 3 round trips up and down weren’t enough and I had to drag him off for the connecting flight. Our flight arrived late and even though I had a rental car, my sister Debra (again in from Sarasota) drove to the airport to watch Michael while I installed the car seat in the frozen darkness. This is the stuff I wouldn’t have thought of asking for help with as a new dad. Our good friend Tracy Miller pointed out that while she has husband Carl to corral her twins in such situations I’d need help that Deb was glad to offer.

Our visit was wonderful. Grandma’s joy was unmatched by anything I’ve seen. Mom’s had some significant setbacks recently and feared she’d not get another chance to see her family. As it was, we darn near had a reunion! The other residents of the care facility were quite taken with our tow-headed wonder. We were all able to share meals and good times there with mom before heading back to Laura and James beautiful home for the nights of our visit.

One morning of our visit we went to Laura’s job. Laura is the women’s ministry director of a rapidly growing Baptist church. She and James recently completed a church-sponsored trip to Africa to help women in Nigeria fight the AIDS epidemic. While Lisa and I attend Mass and have decided to raise Michael Catholic I, of course, welcomed the Tucson-based Baptist minister Laura had come and pray for Lisa in those first terrifying days and feel great pride and respect for Laura and her church’s efforts.

Michael got his first, hilarious exposure to snow (what do you expect from a little desert rat?). All too soon, and yet with a huge desire to get home, Michael and I began our return trip. All was well till the looooooong flight from Chicago to Tucson. And while 4 hours is long by any measure, a screaming, inconsolable lap child makes it even tougher. I kept wondering when the air marshals were going to sack us up or the captain was going to put us down in Omaha! But once we were in our old reliable Toyota (134,000 miles and going strong) he was asleep before we left the parking lot.

Christmas with a visit from Santa, and Michael’s Godparents
With Christmas upon us, we began preparations for a holiday visit from Michael's godparents, Jack and Napua Davis. In addition to a legendary career in law enforcement, Jack is an amazing cook, and with Napua's Hawaiian cooking heritage, cooking for them is pretty intimidating. Of course, all that disappears with their great company and a little (ok, a lot of) wine.

We renewed a Christmas tradition of decorating the tree on Christmas Eve. Ok, ok, the “renewal” was prompted by me not getting it done sooner. But Dad, Michael and I found a beautiful, fresh, ginourmous tree, and with everyone helping while I finished fixing dinner, the tree was decorated faster than old St. Nick’s “Ho, Ho, Ho!”

The last time we’d had these lights and decorations out was the Christmas before Michael was born. This was the first one Lisa and I’d had in our home, our first as a married couple, and Lisa had taken great care when everything was put away that year to label and mark everything so we’d know what went where for future years. So it very much felt like Lisa was helping me in the yard string luminarias and other lights when I had her handwritten notes from that very happy time telling me what to do.

On Christmas Eve, Lisa’s notes added her “two cents” as she sat with us in her chair while we completed decorating the house. Even though Lisa isn’t able to be responsive to us we all prayed that she felt the peace and joy we did at being together in her home.

Christmas morning came, and since Michael at 20 months still doesn’t “get it” the grown-ups took their sweet time at getting up and over here. We had breakfast, coffee and Patrice got Lisa gussied up for the occasion. Michael really scored big, and while last Christmas he was interested only in tearing the paper, this year, he figured out the contents were the real fun! From his family and friends he got thoughtful and thought-challenging toys, videos, books and clothes heavily represented by Thomas the tank engine and friends, along with many other much welcomed gifts, including gingerbread man cookies from his grandmother Carmen from Oklahoma.

I’d struggled with gifts between Lisa and me but it all became clear the way these things do. We got a Christmas call from Lisa’s nephew Collin and we learned he’s off on a mission to Mexico during his spring break with his church. Imagine a kid in this “selfish” age in which we live; excited about giving up his vacation to help others in real need. It gives you some idea why Lisa loves this young man so much. When I learned we could help with the cost of the trip, my Christmas gift problem was solved!

Christmas dinner was truly special if not exactly on time. The world’s best neighbors, Jim and Ann Peterson who were putting Jack and Napua up, joined us along with our friend Brad Holland. Brad had provided Lisa and I with our first place to stay here in Tucson and many good times thereafter despite being a native Nebraskan. Lisa and all the ladies looked beautiful and Michael was a real Christmas angel.

Fun and family for the New Year
More great meals and good times were enjoyed in the days that followed. While I worked Napua and Jack said “our turn!” and put my cooking to shame with all different Asian/island specialties Napua has at her command together with the down-home Oklahoma fare she and Jack pair up on. Lisa joined them in the kitchen as she does me. During the day, Jim and Ann took Jack and Napua to the San Xavier mission. They saw and photographed many gains in the restoration the 500 year old mission since Lisa and I’d taken my mom there during her last visit.

Dad, Jack, Jim and my partner at the county attorney’s office, Chris Ward, hit the links, with them hitting back, to hear them tell the tale. Dad proved that Wintory guys make up in enthusiasm what we lack in skill and a good time was had by all. Afterwards, Jim and Ann hosted everyone to a lovely dinner at a local hotspot that was more than Michael could handle so he and I stayed at home with his mom and Thomas the tank engine, my new idea of a good time!

Napua and Jack’s food festival peaked on New Year’s Day with traditional black eyed peas,(for good luck) fried chicken, greens and thin, crisp (no, not cakey, Jack) cornbread. YUM! The day was warm and beautiful and while Napua and Jack were doing their thing I was smoking pork shoulders, beans and a turkey for tailgating the following day.

Tailgating? Oh yeah, there was one disaster this holiday season. The University of Oklahoma’s performance at the fiesta bowl against West Virginia. Despite the abject humiliation of the game, Jack, Jim, Chris and I had a helluva good time. Michael, Dad and Sherry hung out while Patrice looked after Lisa for the day. We left early, got a great tailgating spot near the porta potties (hey, with all that beer, whatyaexpect?) set up our tables, and chairs, popped open the cooler and few cold ones, and when hunger struck, tore into the bbq which was- according to informed sources- deeelicious. The day was warm, clear and the crowds were friendly, all perfect. Until… oh well, that’s what makes the college game so great. It was all still great fun.

Sadly, the next day, Jack and Napua had to begin their trip home and our holiday season came to an end with tears and hugs and blueberry pancakes.

A blessed time….
It’s funny how it all works. We’re so much worse off than where I’d thought we’d be two years ago when Lisa, happy and near-term with this incredible life growing in her, and I decorated the house together. But we are so much better off than where I feared a year ago when our lives, like these Christmas lights, remained boxed up. Last Thanksgiving’s near-death traffic accident while I was driving up to Phoenix; Christmas with Michael and me on a pull-out bed in Lisa’s hospital room, opening presents by the light of her heart-monitor and the fight over Lisa’s getting hyperbaric treatment all come to mind. Even in those times though, we were lifted up by the kindness, prayers and unflinching, untiring support of our friends and family here, at St. Joe’s and across the country.

The only lesson I draw from all this is that God’s grace gives us reason for humble gratitude during times of despair and joy.

The New Year will have many challenges and it’s not waiting to present them. We’ve been cooling our heels since August for blue cross to tell us if they’ll pay for the hospital bed Lisa’s doctors believe she needs. I thought perhaps they were waiting for the new year when we had to start our deductible again. Well, they were waiting, but that apparently wasn’t their thought and yesterday I got the denial letter. It says, that because Lisa doesn’t yet have bedsores we don’t need a bed her doctor says we need to prevent them. Even sillier, they said that because the mattress she has was ordered by her doctors at Select over half a year ago, the order of her doctor now doesn’t count!

The generosity of so many of you has given us enough to get one of the refurbished beds. These beds cost as much as a wheelchair van, so I’d been holding off till blue cross decided hoping I could do both. As it stands, I’ll get on these guys and we’ll figure out how to get-r-done!

I’m finishing this update, like most of my dinners, just a little late, on Sunday January 6th 2008. It’s a rainy day here in the desert, so taking down the outdoor Christmas lights is waiting a bit longer. Michael has me playing catch with him inside the house while Lisa’s getting her shower. When it dries up I’ll store the lights the way we did that last happy time and I’ll save Lisa’s notes on the strings of lights to help me again next Christmas.

Richard Wintory

wintoryok@hotmail

Michael Wintory

wintory@msn.com





,

Lisa Today 2008

Lisa Today -2007, October 28

Hey gang, Richard here, from Lisa central. It's a quiet Sunday afternoon, of the type we haven't had in, well, never, since Michael was born 20 months and four weeks ago. That was two weeks before that terrible night when a genetic killer lying silent and deadly and awakened by Michael's birth tried everything it could to rob Lisa of her chance to enjoy the life she worked so hard to have.

By fighting back so hard, Lisa gave us all the chance to see how the very worst can bring out the very best in so many. By fighting and winning, Lisa gave doctors the chance to solve the mystery of her father's terribly premature death when Lisa was just twelve. The answer to what took her dad and almost claimed her, a genetic condition call "type 3 long qt syndrome", has come in time to identify its presence in our son and to test her brother and niece. Michael now gets medicine twice daily to help keep chemicals in balance that conduct the electrical current that keeps our hearts beating. Fortunately, the stuff tastes good enough he insists on getting it.

We brought Lisa home in June. Wow. It's hard to believe it's been 4 months already. We've had so much going on getting her settled in, modifications to the house, managing the inevitable crisis that I haven't had time to turn around. Dad has continued to do his amazing job of keeping everyone updated. Folks have been so patient for more details so let me hit the highlights.

When I last kicked in here, we were still in at select specialty hospital, the long term acute care facility located in phoenix at St. Josephs hospital. Lisa was stable enough to be moved and that was what our insurance company blue cross had been demanding since the end of February.

But while Lisa was ready to leave select, to bring her home, we needed key modifications for our home to be safe and comfortable. We also needed someone special to move into our home and help care for Lisa during the day while I worked. I posted on websites and publications in the field from all over the country and inquiries literally all over the world.

We continually were defeated by the math. Folks with the experience were either from other countries and no way to get here quickly, or were here and far more expensive than we could afford. Folks from here we could afford were really nice people but lacked the experience to do all the things Lisa needs. Home health care agencies were prohibitively expensive. We earn too much to qualify for assistance and not enough to afford the available applicants.

While I was chasing my tail to find a caregiver and getting the financing and other logistics for the home modifications, Blue Cross decided to make their point and stopped covering Lisa's stay at select. The retail cost for Lisa's care was running between 60 and 90 thousand dollars a month. A bit more than my salary as a deputy Pima county attorney could handle. Pressure was being applied to move lisa out of select to a lower level of care, but none were available that could meet lisa's needs and would take us in light of the lack of coverage. But with each new facility, a new discharge date would be announced only to be postponed because of these issues. The stress was unbelievable.

Just when things were starting to get desperate, we met Patrice. After 15 years as a certified nurse's assistant, she was back in school and in a period of transition in her life. It was a perfect match. Patrice went to phoenix, stayed with Lisa at select, worked with the staff that had become extremely protective of her, (they had vetoed a previous candidate) and was universally approved. We had our caregiver.

While Lisa was stable enough to leave select, she was by no means in the clear. Her cardiac arrest-caused brain injury had left Lisa's body stiff with spasticity and a host of interconnected complications. Lisa was still fighting to regain weight from a loss caused while tube feedings were reduced during hyperbaric treatments to help her spasticity. The weight loss slowed the healing of a couple of wounds caused by casts and splints used to try and control muscle contractures from the spasticity. Gaining the weight back in turn was slowed by an infection in her intestinal tract that was stubborn and drug resistant. Increasing the tube feedings caused regular bouts of infections in her lungs cause by aspiration of her tube feedings. These infections had to be treated with anti-biotics that wreaked havoc with the healthy bacteria in her gut, complicating that infection.

Obviously, the way to break the cycle was to get Lisa out of the hospital and back home. But still, leaving was hard in many ways. While the folks in the business office at select were taking care of, well business, the others were taking care of Lisa. Our nurses and cna's were simply amazing. Lisa was cared for by a pretty regular crew day and night who came to know and love her as we do them. Lisa's doc's had her condition down so well, they were treating complications before they could get out of hand. Connie, Deb, Maureen and Marty, Lisa's therapists never gave up on Lisa and have continued to help us even after we came home.

But more than the medical help, it was hard to leave our spiritual family. Every week, our little family took the elevator down to the chapel to attend church together. Michael's baptism, first birthday and first public addresses (!) all happened in the St. Joe's Chapel. Father Milt provided comfort, strength and support; he and Father Bill never batted an eye on the amazingly few occasions when Michael insisted on being heard. Our brothers and sisters in the parish never failed to offer prayers and kind words to Lisa, praise to Michael and support to me.

While we are so glad to be home we miss the people in phoenix who made our fight possible- none more so than our friends who've come to be known as "lisa's rangers". Warriors and dragon-slaying prosecutors all, they were the picture of selfless kindness in caring for Lisa, Michael and me.

I'm often told I have no idea how many people pray for us, and I know that's true. Just when I was wondering how I was going to get all modifications done to our home due to cost overruns, a call came from old friends in law enforcement from Oklahoma. With the blessing and support of our friend and former boss, Oklahoma attorney general Drew Edmondson, training for law enforcement officers was held with the proceeds going to Lisa's fund. Prosecutors from all over America sent help after an outreach by my colleagues in the national district attorney's association. More unbelievably generous help came from my wonderful step-mother's family, as well as my dad's family. Just as earlier help from Lisa's colleagues in federal service got us the leave time we needed to keep our roof over our heads, this help made it a home for Lisa again.

With a caregiver and home modifications in place we brought Lisa home- and immediately had trouble. Her feeding tube, replaced right before her discharge, clogged. One of the really great doc's we've found since coming home told me that stuff like this was going to happen for the first month or so while we got settled in and that was really true.

We had trouble with equipment, supplies and vendors. But somehow after a month or so, stuff started coming together. Okay, it's actually been longer than that but today:

• 
  
  Lisa's gotten an additional tube dedicated to feeding. It's lower in her intestinal tract, isn't clogging and allows her to get a volume of nutrition that has allowed her to regain her weight without overfilling her stomach. Since it's been in we've had no aspiration and no more lung infections.
  


• 
  
  With the extra nutrition and great care from Patrice, her wounds from the splints and cast have healed beautifully.
  


• 
  
  The stubborn infection in her intestinal tract is gone, gone, gone.
  


• 
  
  We've gone longer without any major problems than at anytime since this started. I attribute this to the consistency of care Lisa's getting (it's just Patrice during the day, me at night and we alternate weekends), the lack of commotion and the resultant rest, and the lack of opportunistic bugs and viruses.
  


• 
  
  Patrice has most all the vendors whipped into shape. Supplies and medicines are delivered or picked up on a schedule that keeps us in stock. We have just about everything we had in the hospital (with the significant exception of a hospital- quality bed and mattress- but we're working on that) right in our home.
  


• 
  
  Lisa's doctor makes house calls as does his nurse practitioner. Lisa can get x-rays and labs done here at home. Her speech and other therapists also see her here at home. While her baclofin pump and other services require office visits, we have a public transportation van that takes Lisa and Patrice to those during the week.
  


• 
  
  Lisa's routine and the modifications made possible by those family members and friends mentioned earlier, gives her time for rest, a shower in her own shower, time sitting on our master bedroom patio, (see picture) joining us downstairs while I cook dinner and for a movie or reading to Michael- in short to be fully part of her family's life in our home.
  
  
  

  
  

The insurance coverage for Lisa's stay was the "death star" looming over our existence, at least our financial existence. I'd sent in an appeal that blue cross insisted be called an "application to reconsider denial". I spent some time trying to make as strong a case as I could. I simply couldn't believe after everything blue cross has done to give Lisa the best chance for the best recovery possible they'd leave us in the lurch. Well their answer came after we got Lisa home in June. I was in the middle of a 6 week murder and racketeering trial and to glance at the 12 page letter, you'd think we were sunk. But a more careful reading revealed that while blue cross didn't believe they had to pay, they were going to make an exception for Lisa- whew!

So, instead of another round of appeals and/or a lawsuit or worse, bankruptcy, we have half a million dollars in medical bills run up between February and June covered! More recently, blue cross has agreed to consider whether they'll cover the kind of bed and mattress Lisa had in the hospital rather than the dinky home health care bed she now has. Normally, we'd have to buy the bed hoping they'd pay, but their kind of pricey so, knowing up front will be really helpful. We hope to hear from them this week.

Our local church with Father Liam has welcomed us back with open arms. Our public shuttle service doesn't go on the weekends so Lisa hasn't been able to go yet, but we're working on that as well. Michael's Godparent's Jack and Napua Davis are keeping close tabs on Michael's attendance, and I'm determined not to disappoint them.

As you can tell from dad's updates, he and Sherry are doing great. Sherry has started working again as a nurse practioner at a local clinic. Dad and his new best friend, his grandson, have a grand old time everyday; I really can't tell who enjoys it more between them. They are a real blessing to Lisa, Michael and for sure, me.

Back in January I warned the folks wanting to discharge Lisa ASAP, that me getting everything done I had to would be complicated by the busiest trial schedule I'd had in years. This had started in June of '06 when I'd come back from trying a pretty nasty case in Oklahoma to start a series of trials in a 40 defendant racketeering case. All the cases I'd been continuing after Lisa got sick were coming up for trial with no way to avoid or delay longer. These were big bad cases with big bad guys and I needed to – as my old boss Bob Macy would say- cowboy up.

Well, it was about as bad as I thought it would be, but I had tons of help from the wonderful staff and the cops I work with, a little luck and pretty good jurors. All the bad guys in all those cases got convicted, in fact it went so well, my boss nominated me for Arizona prosecutor of the year, and despite some really terrific nominees from other jurisdictions, I got the nod! Sherry brought Michael to the award ceremony and one of my co-workers thought it'd be nice to give him a piece of cake. With frosting. There are some pictures of the smearing, but that will be for another time…

One of the best parts of having Lisa home is that instead of loading up and hauling Michael back and forth to phoenix each weekend, we're able to do normal family stuff. I've got the yard back in shape, with flowers in containers on Lisa's patio, and fall vegetables planted. I am so excited to finally get to plant Lyle and Susie's pole beans. They are up and climbing! Here in the desert this is a great time to grow with days warm and nights cool.

Ok gang, that's a not very brief run-down of how we're doing. Lisa is home with her family and we are living our lives, thanks to the countless prayers and help from so many of you.

Richard Wintory

C/O mlwintory@msn.com

Lisa Today – 2007 September 18

Oro Valley, AZ

Lisa is in her newly remodeled home that was tailored to accommodate her. A special ceiling track and lift was installed which enables Patrice, Lisa’s primary care giver, to freely move Lisa about the residence. She can even be moved outside and onto the patio, and in the late afternoons she is positioned to see the beautiful Catalina Mountains at sunset. The mountains are truly a sight to behold with their great variety of color painted with the sun splashes on the mountain surfaces. Lately beautiful cumulous clouds have capped the mountain creating even greater splendor, and as Michael would say, "mmmm good." She is also moved outside on to the lower-level patio so hopefully she can see and hear Michael racing around barefoot on the beautiful green lawn and his supervised splashing in the swimming pool. Lisa is also positioned in the kitchen area to be near Richard and Michael during their evening meal preparation. What I want to convey to you is that Richard and Patrice include Lisa into the daily activities that occur in the household. I used the word hopefully above because we’re not sure that Lisa can visually or audibly interpret the sights and sounds about her.
Let me take you through the process of moving Lisa from the family room--up the stairs into her bedroom. In the first photograph (above), Patrice is shown connecting the lift to the cradle in preparation of raising Lisa from her wheelchair. In the second and third photographs (right), Lisa has cleared the wheelchair and is well on her way to the stairway approach. Notice the cable and small box Patrice is holding, it’s the control she uses to pilot Lisa’s progress: up or down and forward or backward. The sling glides smoothly and silently in all directions. In the fourth photograph (left), you can see Lisa as she approaches the bedroom doorway. Also the picture shows Patrice is right there to assure a smooth comfortable trip. Also you should know that Lisa’s heart rate, respiration and oxygen level is monitored whenever she is "out and about."
The fifth photograph (right and below the 4th photo) shows that Lisa’s destination is in sight and you can see that her freshly made hospital bed is waiting for her.

Lisa was recently visited by Jack and Napua Davis of Midwest City, OK. Jack and Napua are Michael’s God Parents, and she was also visited by her brother David, and her mother and step-father from Norman, OK.

The final picture is of Michael at 19 months (February 10th). My observation is that he is a happy child as evidenced by the fact that he waves at high-in-sky airplanes, and cars that pass his way. He tells the grocery store cashier goodbye as we leave her checkout station and blows her a kiss. He loves Elmo and the Wonder Pets, and I guess, I’ll admit it, so do I. Today he took Mac and Tosh (our 2-Scottish Terriers) on a real walk with me in tow. He demanded to hold both leashes and did a fine job as the "pack leader" (re: Caesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer).

And what a day we had today, beautiful. The temperature was in the low 80’s it was just another day in… pleasant. Best Wishes from Tucson!

Michael – mlwintory@msn.com