Our michigan trip starts tomorrow, we will stop in Iowa at the Pecks where corn detasseling is going on 
Then off to Grand Haven, MI for a week. We’ll be right by Lake Michigan, at a beach house— lots of fun! We’ll be posting pictures, hopefully sooner than later. SO EXCITED!
Larisa
We moved eye surgery from today til Aug. 6 so that it wouldn’t interfere with our fun trip in Michigan coming up!
This is a picture of all the girls at Angel Faces with the founder/starter of the program. The week was busy but fun with yoga everyday at 7 and other activities like swimming, art, spa, and counseling. Lots of new friendships and encouragement and healing…
p.s. I’m on top row in white, I want to live in CA now.
This is a picture up on Trail Ridge..WITH A CHIPMUNK ON MY LAP. YAY! Lots of fun shopping in Estes Park!! I flew in the Saturday before and we stayed at Starla and Bryce Rictor’s place in Denver, then two nights with Paul and Betty Hnizdil and then off to convention at Elizabeth. A good thought was that it is impossible to please the devil, but we can please God. Sunday night we stayed at Bartlett’s and enjoyed fellowship with young kids. Overall, awsome trip!!
Love Larisa
Bartletts, McConnells, Kellers, a Hertz, and a Forsberg below:
Larisa left me orders on the way to the airport to wish a Happy Father’s Day to Jeff and Dave and lots of others who have adopted her thru this experience! Her wishes to Jeff and Dave is:
“This year has been a tough one, but you have taught me how powerful the love of a father can be, both naturally and spiritually. Thank you! and Love you!”
Yesterday her and Jeff had an exciting helicopter flight to the Smoke Eaters Event. Today Jeff and Dave drove her out to the airport to fly to California to Angel Faces Retreat.
I add my thanks and love to Jeff and Dave for being true pillars for all of us. The hymn that reminds me of their faithfulness is May the Lord depend on you’ . “Yes” – they both have proved true. With Gratitude, Monica
—KAKE NEWS—aired coverage.
(Copy and paste this to see news broadcast… )
http://ww2.kake.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?clipId1=4882717&flvUri=&partnerclipid=&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=Community%20Pitches%20In%20To%20Help%20Burn%20Survivors&d1=127567&redirUrl=&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=flv&rnd=92974442
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Jeff & Larisa in Eagle Med helicopter
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… Larisa and Emily sharing Dave’s lap back in March, but it’s a great pic to show you on Father’s Day!
Larisa has a busy month with special privileges. Antioch was so encouraging. I peeked in Larisa’s notes and here are a few gems:
..If we choose Jesus, we won’t be left as orphans.
..In an experience, your attitude is more important than the experience.
..God doesn’t choose us cause we’re perfect, He perfects those that he chooses.
..Spending time with God is the difference between knowing about Him and knowing Him.
Sat. June 19th, Larisa and Jeff will fly in the Eagle Med helicopter to the Softball Field where Larisa will throw the first pitch at 6pm. The tournament and auction is a fund raiser for Via Cristi Burn Center. Larisa has painted a couple canvas/acrylic pictures for the auction. The Burn Center is flying Larisa to California on the 20th of June to Angel Faces Retreat that hosts 25 young girls with disfigured faces. Then on on June 26 when Larisa flies back she will get off the plane in Denver and be at Elizabeth I for Sunday and then get all of Elizabeth II.
Today was the last day of therapy. Mixed feelings. Yes, we are happy to move forward and be home for good, but sad to leave the therapists who have become our friends, and also the Grainger household which we adore in every way!!!. Here is a picture of Shelly, Larisa and Mike Reynolds. They have had some great times together!
…Another pic that Larisa wanted to take today up at therapy. I was teasing her that she ate so much her friend didn’t get enough!
Just wanted to let you know that Monica and Larisa were able to go to most of the Antioch, NE convention! They left Abilene late Thursday morning and drove the 500 miles to arrive there at approx. 8pm.
It’s quite a thing to consider Larisa being able to make the trip in a car that far seeing where she was 7-9 months ago!
I don’t want to sound like a broken record but just want each and every single one of you to know how much you have meant to our family and the Grainger family. Those of you that have commented and those of you who have stood quietly by. They have been such a comfort and have helped to open our eyes to see how big this family of God is. We believe your prayers on our behalf have reached the heart of God and He’s been our strength from the very beginning. This experience has helped us to better know the love of God and His keeping power.
Many have sent gifts of all sizes shapes and forms. We’ve tried to send “thank you’s” to all of you. If there are any that we’ve missed please accept our sincere apology. Know that it was appreciated! Larisa gets very excited when something comes addressed to her! You’d think she was a five year old if you’d see her! (I know she’ll bop me over the head when she reads this. Oh well.)
Thanks again to all of you! Jeff Hertz
—–We want to say “Thank You” to Emily and Evan Townsend from Clever, MO for visiting this past weekend! Here is a pic of just some for the fun games they played. ‘Good times and smiles’ is a way to summarize the weekend.
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Nathan, Evan & Emily Townsend, Larisa
Well tonight another “first” happened…I rode a bike. Not the first time EVER riding a bike, but the first time since that scary night that seemed so long ago. I tried a few weeks ago but my balance seemed to be off, and my left wrist was weaker. Tonight is also the second night I have done an exercise program called P90X with Mom, Nate, Deb, and Dave..Emily usually joins in, but she’s all the way up in Michigan surprising our friend Austin for his graduation. I try to keep up with the exercises, but it’s pretty difficult. I’m continuing to get stronger every day, but still feel “handicapped”. Oh well, it’s still a looong way from where I was in those pics you saw the other day. I feel bad for not posting more often since you are all so good at checking up on me, but it’s easy for life to kinda slip on by. Which reminds me my therapists told me today that my therapy will be ending pretty soon. There’s only so far they can go with me. I told them I felt like I should be going back to therapy every day forever….kinda scary that soon I’ll be all on my own. Wow, I’m not usually this much of a writer, haha. Anyways, just feeling thankful for life and what I have, and to say “thanks “to all of you.
—Larisa
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Stephanie Wierwille TN, Tali Blakeman WI, Eva Carolus IN, & Larisa at Old Town Abilene
Larisa had a fantastic weekend and loved hanging out with her ‘PECK DETASSELING FRIENDS’ who she walked the Iowa corn fields with for two years in a row. These 4 girls will not be detasseling this summer. They were all feeling quite sad about that. We also enjoyed a visit from John & Renee’ Skinner and children!
Larisa’s medical progress pictures from the very beginning can be viewed at the following address. Please know ahead of time that children will need adult supervision as the pictures are very graphic. (Copy and paste this address below)
http://picasaweb.google.com/hertzonahill/Hospital?feat=email#
Larisa and Monica
Here’s to my mommy! Mom is amazing! We’ve been through a lot together and she’s always been there for me, I couldn’t ask for more. To all my other mother figures (especially Debbie) and those who’ve cared about me… I LOVE YOU! Hope you all had a great day!! Larisa
(We will post picture tomorrow)
Dr. Gabriel had a tedious job today as he opened Larisa’s hand and arm to check the nerves and free them from scar etc. He reported mostly ‘good news’. The good news is that Larisa’s nerve to her thumb and her pointer finger is now completely unrestricted and she has a little movement in them both and we are in HIGH HOPES of more movement in future days. He also did a z-plasty on her web space between the thumb and index. The bad news is that he was surprised to find her muscle color in her forearm was not good. Pain will be a challenge for a few days and her fingers went from super skinny to fat from swelling.
Larisa saw her eye specialist, Dr. Gangadhar, yesterday and he said she is blind in her left eye due to a cataract that will be surgically removed July 16th. It is questionable as whether it will be a successful procedure because it is so big and thick. Plus the unknown function of the optical nerve behind the cataract will be revealed in surgery also. The bad news is that a small cataract is growing on her right eye since Larisa’s exam in March. We will hope for the best. The doctor encouraged us that she has everything to gain and nothing to loose when the left eye gets surgery.
Larisa’s energy level is really increasing and she is still keeping us all amazed with her optimistic attitude. Therapy still is a big part of our week. Our weekends back home in Abilene are packed full of friends, fellowship, and catching up on all the undone chores etc. Thanks for caring. Love from the Grainger haven. Monica
Well I said I wasn’t going to write another blog till I got a kitten!!..and guess what? WE GOT ONNNNEEE it is black and white so we named it C.C. (for cookies & cream ice cream) haha good name, huh? It was the first one we looked at and we were sold. Now Dave is loving it to death and now Emily and I will have to fight him for it, not just us two fighting over it! This should be fun What a fantastic day!
P.S. Texas was great too, but doesn’t quite beat this. Sorry Tim 
Emily with C.C. (cookies and creme)
Hey everyone this is Tim, Larisa’s brother. Last night, mom, dad, and Larisa showed up a little after midnight. With all the excitement, we didn’t get to bed until around 2. I have seen tremendous improvements with Larisa since the New Year! Very encouraging! Today has been a blast! Most of us just slept in, but not mom, who was too excited to turn my house into a home and got up before 8 and already had my kitchen organized when I woke up. This is the first time they have seen my house. I’m afraid I’m going to be calling mom when she leaves wondering where she put my stuff :S After more organizing and brainstorming, we went and got lunch and did some shopping for more junk. Between Target, Lowes, and Bed-Bath-Beyond I realized I might need a second job. I didn’t realize this “home makeover crew” would cost so much money Larisa liked riding the motorized carts. After almost taking out several isles, we taught her how to turn wide so her back wheel wouldn’t do costly damage. A lot of good times, laughs, and long overdue time spend together today. After that more time at home and I tell you what, mom is doing wonders to this house. For supper we went to a Tex-Mex restaurant. Tomorrow we are going to Grandpa and Grandma’s house for meeting and staying with them for lunch.
Good night y’all,
-Tim
I am sitting here with Dave (he is typing for me since I am slow). He is helping me search for cameras online. I really need to be helping Mom pack. We have therapy today and then we are off to Texas to see Tim. We are taking the Grainger’s RV (Roadtrek), it has a lovely king size bed in the back! Yay! Dave was going to ride with us to Dallas (Debbie and Emily are already in Dallas at a volleyball tournament), but alas, he can’t. He has to “work” (I don’t know what this word means). Let’s see, what else? We are trying to get to 100 words…yay, that did it! We will blog from San Antonio!
Larisa (and Dave, kind of)
Jeff, Monica, Daniel, Larisa, David, Rebecca & Dave Larson (VERY ENJOYABLE STOPOVER IN DALLAS!)
Daniel Craig is ready for the marathon. He is dressed in the blue shirt and yellow shoes.
The Hertz family had the privilege to host our friend Daniel Craig from Gypsum Ks who took 1st Place today in the Abilene Marathon!!! WOW!!! It was exciting!!! The weather was beautiful. Daniel ran the full marathon (26.2 miles) in approximately 2 hours and 31 minutes. He set a new course record. His mother Donieta and his brother Dwight were able to attend. Here is a picture of them with Larisa.
Larisa has been feeling a lot more energetic the past two days. Not quite enough to run a marathon yet:) Her donor sites are 98% healed! We are hoping, if she keeps improving, to travel to San Antonio and visit Tim and other relatives in a week or so. Hope you are having a terrific weekend too! Monica & Jeff
Yes, the stuffed kittens have been arriving by mail as this picture shows. Thanks for the kind gifts.
Larisa has been recovering from the past 5 big weeks of all the neck reconstruction. The last hurdle is to get the donor sites healed. Her neck looks great!!! I’ll post a picture when I get around to it.
Today we made it back to therapy, Dr. Sprole’s follow up appointment, and to the Graingers where Anna Cronk and Roeanne Kooy joined in for Debbie’s luscious tacos and a walk in this beautiful weather. Thanks for checking in. Monica from TGH
This was no ‘joke’… the limo drove up to the Grainger home at 1 P.M. and Larisa, Emily, Jaclyn, and Nathan rode away in style and comfort to the KFDI Radio Station where Carol Hughes was ‘live’ on the radio interviewing Kelly Pickler. Afterwards Kelly visited with all of us on a personal level and autographed some items. Then the limo took them downtown to hear Taylor Swift and Kelly Pickler sing. Thanks to the Burn Center, KFDI, and Dr. & Mrs. Jost for the tickets and arrangements.
Emily Grainger, Kelly Pickler, Larisa Hertz
The limo has not brought them back home yet. I am concerned about Larisa’s pain level and energy level to do all this activity in one day in her post-surgery condition, but I need to stop being a worry wort. I’m headed out to walk the dogs with Debbie and Cristy and leave my worries on the doorstep. A saying that fits this whole journey and situation pretty well is…”don’t worry, be happy”. Good Night, Monica from TGH
Larisa had a big day! Dr Sprole removed all her staples around her neck and head area and the WoundVac!! (YEAH!!! 4 weeks of carrying that thing around was a plenty) Larisa has a new brace to wear so that the neck does not contract back. New bandages were put on Larisa’s donor sites. This past week the donor sites have added a lot of pain and been a drippy, bloody mess.
Tonight Dave and Emily entertained us!
Larisa enjoyed the music as she shared her chair with Mia.
Good Night. FGH Monica
P.S. No kittens yet! Now the talk has changed to a dog! What will it be?
Larisa enjoyed a massage from Relyssa Weeda. She loved playing with Zane Kleeb (15 mo. old) and hanging out with Lorene Kleeb. Our Sun. a.m. meeting was special too today!
Larisa was excited to read about all the kitten offers! She and Emily are still working on their fathers. (Us moms are kinda soft)
I figured up some interesting facts about the first 6 months.
134 days in hospital with 15 surgeries
4 days of out-patient woundvac changes at hospital
10 days at home in Abilene (5 week ends)
4 days at Graingers (2 week ends)
30 days of appointments (therapy, hand and eye specialists) Graingers as homebase
We are starting this next 6 months with 3 days at home, so it’s really looking better all ready! Monica
Larisa, not only does Farmville on Facebook, but is having fun growing grass with a gift Christie Lester gave her.
I know its been wayyyy too long since I wrote so I thought I would…yes, this is Larisa We’re out of the hospital and staying at Graingers tonight.
Emily is over there reading a book and we shared a dish of macaroni and cheese – yum! I’m playing music trying to block out dave’s basketball game. Emily and I are really wanting a kitten. Now we need to try and convince our dads. Larisa
P.S. Please check with parents before mailing us kittens.
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Today we celebrate 6 months of life, love, friends, medical wonders, and the survival of Larisa!!! She is courageous and keeps us all smiling. We all wish we could buy a Larisa pill that would give us more of what she has. She possesses a special God-given ingredient that ’sees the positive’ … is ‘worry free’ … and ‘doesn’t look back, but keeps looking ahead’ and ‘humor’ would be the coating!!!!
The nurses finally have her pain under control. It was a challenge. Her donor sites are quite interesting. They are covered with a product called Biobrane. Dave, Debbie, Emily and Melissa were up to make Larisa smile. Tomorrow we may get to go home. Monica from LHR
Dr. Sprole just reviewed the surgery with Melissa Chardeen and I (we are missing Sharon Carroll who is in Illinois right now) and John Smart and Loren Spellman. Larisa’s surgery started at 1:05. Dr. Sprole used the right leg and her right side for the donor site to cover the neck area. A wound vac is necessary for one more week. We will stay in the hospital a few days so they can watch her close.
Sorry I didn’t post till so late last night. When Melissa and I settled down in the surgery waiting room I was so thrilled when I opened my computer and saw 15 comments on this blog. Tears ran down my face as I read them. I realized again the love and sincere care from Larisa’s Huge Army miles and miles away. It gave me comfort deep down inside.
We rejoice that we are over this hurdle. Thanks for standing by. Monica TWR
Larisa has had some good days of therapy and the wound vac on her neck has worked better. It has been 3 weeks today since she had her neck release surgery. She has had 4 wound bandage changes. The first one she remembers all too well (in a bad way). It was not part of the plan and was done with some local pain meds that did not help. She says it was the most painful procedure she remembers throughout this journey. So you can understand why the next 3 wound vac changes were done under sedation and in the surgery room to do them painlessly.
Larisa’s surgery is scheduled for tomorrow at 12:30pm. She will get her own skin grafts put on her neck over the Integra that was applied 3 weeks ago.
Today she saw Dr. Gabriel a hand specialist. He has surgery scheduled for her on her hand on May 4. He will do a scar release between the thumb and index finger. Her nerve that gives command to her index and thumb is not working at all. He will try to remove any scar tissue around the nerve in two spots in her arm and also move a nerve from another area of the hand over that problem area in hopes to get the thumb and index finger working.
Larisa really makes this incredibly hard experience as easy as it can be! Her spirit is ‘very positive’ and she loves seeing and being around people. She jokes with her therapist and friends and hardly never complains about anything…she is a real trooper and an example to me and all she is around. IT IS A MIRACLE and we are so very thankful!!!
Please keep praying for us. We know we are stronger because of all your love that is shown in so many varied ways! Good Night. Monica FGH
Monica and Larisa have been home here in Abilene since Friday evening! They plan to return to Wichita tomorrow afternoon.
Larisa’s fellow detasselers Kyle Leabratten and Kalynn Kieth spent Saturday night with us and went to Salina Special meeting on their way to Illinois! We enjoyed having them very much!
It was so very good to be there at the meetings yesterday! God loves to feed his children when they’re hungry!
If there are any of you that would really like to see Larisa, you’re welcome to come to our home. She should be here in Abilene most weekends. Just email us to make sure. We have plenty of room if you’d like to stay the night with us. Especially those of you that may come from afar.
Larisa’s attitude continues to be positive which at times baffles us. Like most teenagers, she gets bored pretty easy but with a computer around she keeps busy on that. She loves farming on facebook! It’s funny how the older we get the more we welcome boredom!
Monica has a facebook account where she posted some more pictures if you’re interested.
Sorry to not have posted yesterday. We enjoyed our company after meeting so much we completely forgot to!
Thank you for continuing with us. We appreciate having you with us on our journey. Jeff
Larisa has had better days with the WoundVac. Monday was therapy, Tues. she had her nerve conduction tests for her hand. The technician gave us a brief summary. Larisa’s thumb is completely inactive, the index finger might have a small minute nerve trying to rebuild. The hand specialist will look at results and give us a plan next week. Today was therapy and tonight we happily made it to the Special Mtg. in Andover. Now we are gonna call it a night because the car leaves at 5:00 a.m. in the morning for her outpatient wound bandage change on her neck and the replacement of the WoundVac again. The hymn we sang that was an amen to my heart mentioned “Love Divine Will Bear Me Through, Days of Tribulation”. Thank you for your love. FGH Monica
Good evening,
Well, it wasn’t the Sunday we planned, but it was the Sunday we got! The plan was to have Larisa at both of the meetings today here in Wichita. However…last night was not so good. The woundvac machine kept “beeping” and giving “Low Pressure” alarms. Monica and Larisa got very little sleep. Monica spent a lot of time on the phone with the 800 number folks trying to troubleshoot the system. It seemed to be doing better around 4am, but they both got very little sleep.
So, the new plan was for Larisa and Monica to get some sleep and then come to the afternoon meeting. But…more Low Pressure alarms, more time on the phone with the company, and finally a visit to the Burn Unit. Chris the nurse worked on the dressing for a couple of hours, and finally Dr. Sprole came in and did a dressing change. The thought was that there was a leak somewhere around the dressing. The dressing change was done with light (very light, according to Larisa!) sedation and some Morphine. She was a trooper, and got through it, They had to cut some of her hair off the back of her head to get the dressing to stick. Jeff was up at the hospital after the afternoon meeting, along with Emily and Nathan. She finally got home about 6 pm. She is motoring around here, doing ok!
Debbie and Monica are walking dogs, Jeff and Nathan headed back to Abilene, Larisa is chilling in her living room recliner, and Emily is playing non-stop piano music!
We will have to share notes with Monica and Larisa. We had a wonderful special meeting. So uplifting and encouraging! Look forward to more privileges this week.
All for tonight, and thanks as always for keeping Larisa in your thoughts.
David
First thing this morning we received the orders from the doctor to go home! Finally, at 6:00 p.m. we left the hospital. We waited all day for the delivery of the portable wound vac that Larisa carries with her everywhere to keep her wound fluids pulling out from under the Integra that was placed on her neck. It is such a terrific invention!
We made it to Graingers with a warm welcome from Dave, Debbie, Emily, Amy Ngo, Sandra Boettcher, Sharon Carroll, Christi Lester, Loren Spellman, Andy Kuehn, Harold Grainger and Jeff! We sat down to a super delicious barbeque dinner provided again from our wonderful friend Reza!!! Thank you so very much Reza!
Martin headed back to Colorado. We are so happy to be out of the hospital! Have a great week-end! Monica
This picture is what Larisa’a neck bandage looks like under the brace.
