War Hero Kyle Anderson - by Coach Will Short
Wednesday, August 23, 2006:
Hello All:
Please accept my apologizes for all the inconvenience I may have caused you.
I over-stepped my grounds and I misunderstood Kyle when planning the house
warming party for him. Kyle is now doing therapy three days a week and he
doesn't feel comfortable with people dropping in to visit him. Due to these
reasons, we decided to cancel the house warming party at this time. Again,
please accept my sincere apologizes. Take care.
With Love and Thanks,
Mary
Friday, August 11, 2006:
Hello All:
It appears that Kyle has had his final operation - he is all squared away and
he looks fantastic! Last month, Kyle purchased a new home in Inver Grove
Heights and he is thrilled with all that is happening in his life. He
still cannot speak verbally but his actions, smiles, and sign language speak a
thousand words. I am attaching an invitation to a house warming party that
I'm throwing for him in September. Kyle wants so much for everyone to see
him, feel comfortable stopping by to say hello or just to write him a letter
to keep him up to date on yourself. Please pass this info to anyone who may
know him or be interested in saying hello. From the bottom of my heart - THANK
YOU ALL - for the love, support, kind words, and most of all, THE PRAYERS that
have brought him through this incredible ride. His spirits have always stayed
high, his determination and strength are an inspiration to all, and his love
and joy for living have taught so many of us to slow down, hug those close to
you, enjoy each minute and make the most of God's blessings that He has given
us.
Mary (Mom) Kylander
Tuesday, December 6, 2005:
Hello Everyone:
Sorry to get this info to you late - I was out of town when the word came
through. The day has come! Kyle was released from the V.A. last Friday. He
is staying with Tim and everything is going well. Kyle is SO happy to be home
- just one big smile constantly. Until we get a few things ironed out as far
as visitors, please call his home phone number and make sure a visit is ok.
The number is 651-554-0279. That is also a fax number so after 4 rings it
will start squeaking very loudly in your ear. Kyle will be staying with Dick
and me, at the least, every other weekend and at times when Tim and Matt are
both out of town; all are welcome here at any time. (Just don't mind the
mess). Mary's cell is 651-253-9335. If I don't answer, please leave a message.
As things calm down, and we all get better situated, I'll write again.
Right now I would like to speak for Kyle and all of the family and say THANK YOU to everyone who has shown such wonderful support and have kept the prayers coming. To those that took the time out of your very busy lives to visit Kyle, THANK YOU. I know how much every visit meant to him. For all the cards, gifts and signs of love, THANK YOU. I've saved every one and one day I'm sure Kyle will read them out loud. Kyle is so lucky to have such great friends, family and community. Kyle is a HERO and an INSPIRATION. Please remember that we have many, many hero's still serving and fighting for us and many families who have lost their loved ones. Please keep all of these people in your prayers and always take the time to say THANK YOU to any soldier who has served or is currently serving our country and pray for those families who have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
With Much Love and Thanks,
Mary
Tuesday, November 8, 2005:
Hello Everyone:
Great News! Kyle had his skull replacement surgery yesterday and all went
fine. The doctor said everything went perfectly. They had expanded the scalp
enough so he was able to cut away some of the large scar tissue area in the
back of his head. The plate that had been made from the computer image of his
right side fit perfectly. The neurosurgeon said that whomever had done his
previous surgery had done a fantastic job. When he opened up the left side of
Kyle's scalp, the brain had previously been positioned perfectly for this
skull replacement surgery. There was no excessive bleeding and almost no
cauterizing was needed. The brain tissue was very healthy. Thank God! Kyle
is doing well. He had an upset stomach from the anesthesia, but that's very
normal. Around 3:00 am he started sleeping very comfortably. He obviously
has a pretty bad head-ache, but he looks fantastic! He is currently in SICU
(Surgical Intensive Care Unit) but later today he will be moved to the SCU
(Surgical Care Unit) on the second floor. He will be there for a couple of
days - all depending on his recovery rate. We are not sure how long he will
remain in the V.A. but I would expect him home before Christmas. He should be
back in his own room by the end of the week so please feel free to stop by and
say hello. I will update again in a couple days.
Thank you all for your prayers and support.
With Love,
Mary
Monday, October 10, 2005:
Hello Again To All:
Surgery was cancelled. Not because of Kyle, but because the neurosurgeon, as
he so medically put it, had a brain fart. He said the 17th but really meant,
Nov. 7th. So, as it sits now, November 7th will be the date. I'm sorry I
didn't get this info sooner to you, but when I dropped him off last night,
that was when I found out the surgery would not be today. So please keep the
prayers coming and thank you all for your responses and deep interest in Kyle.
If and when anything changes again, I'll let you know. Take care.
Love,
Mary
Saturday, October 8, 2005:
Hello Everyone:
As many of you know, Tuesday will be the one year anniversary of Kyle's
injury. It was last year, Monday, October 11th, Columbus Day Holiday. I had
played in a golf tournament that day and then went to the first night of our
pool league. I got home at 11:00 and at 1:00am the most horrific call came.
It COULDN'T be my Kyle that was a casualty! Time and life seemed to stop at
that moment. For two weeks, while Kyle was still over seas, I existed in a
complete fog. Thanks to so many family and friends, you kept my sanity and
spirits up. To this day - I will never be able to THANK ALL OF YOU ENOUGH.
When we got to Bethesda, we were escorted into Kyle's room. We were with some
high ranking Marines and they tried to warn us what condition Kyle was in and
what he would look like. We entered Kyle's room and there was a Lt. Colonel
next to me. As we stood at the bottom of his bed, my knees went limp and I
started to crumble and cry. The Lt. Colonel put his arm around me, lifted me
up, looked me straight in the eyes and said, "this is not the place. You must
always stay strong and proud. Do not cry in front of him. He needs YOUR
support and strength". That hit me like a ton of bricks! I stood up,
regained my composure and walked to Kyle's side and kissed him. I whispered
in his ear that he would be fine, that he needed to keep fighting - this would
be the biggest and toughest fight of his life and reassured him that we will
always be here with him and for him.
Well, as all of you know, Kyle has fought back with everything he has. He has amazed the doctors, nurses, and everyone who thought or thinks negative about this war. He has been an inspiration to all of us. He is a hero! He loves this country and when asked if he would do it again, knowing the injuries he sustained, it's an immediate THUMBS UP!
There is not a sole in the Minneapolis VA that doesn't know Kyle. He salutes all the men and woman who wear hats with military insignia and he is thumbs up to EVERYONE. He will go out of his way to salute a WW2, Vietnam or Korean War vet. He visits the other young guys in the hospital who have like injuries and often times, just holds their hands to let them know, he is praying and supporting them. He holds the hands of many mothers to let them know their son will be ok. He high fives the hands of the dads, and gives them the look - hold tough, your son will be ok. To this day, I will not cry in front of Kyle, but the pride I feel is often times overwhelming and I have to step away to wipe the tears.
All that said - Kyle is now scheduled for the cranial surgery. They have stretched the scalp enough to fit the skull plate in. The date will be October 17th, one year and one week from the day of the injury. All is expected to go well. The neurosurgeons are very confident and believe, like I have from the beginning, that Kyle will start talking and regain more use of the right side. Kyle is so excited!
Please keep the prayers coming. Thank you all again for the love, support and thoughts. Please remember, we are still at war and there are many moms, dads, wives, husbands, brothers, sisters and friends that will be getting that devastating phone call. Please support and pray for all of them.
Take care and I'll let you know how things are after the surgery. Have a great holiday.
With Love,
Mary
Saturday, August 13, 2005:
Hello All:
Kyle had the first part of his skull replacement surgery last Monday. The
neurosurgeon inserted two balloons into his head. In about 2 to 3 weeks, they
will slowly start filling the balloons with water and that will slowly stretch
his scalp to make it large enough to fit the skull plate. They figure late
September for the plate surgery. The reason for this is so that when all is
said and done, Kyle's left and right side of his head should be an exact
duplicate of each other. He came through the surgery very well but he does
have a constant headache, (he is taking pain medication so he does just
fine). The helmet he used to wear for protection does not fit so a new one is
being made. Until the time of getting a helmet that fits him, they will not
release him on any home passes due to the safety issues involved if he were to
fall. Therefore, Kyle is required to stay in the hospital for a least the next
few weekends. His therapies have been cut back so he is bored to death! If
anyone has the time to visit - please do so. He loves the company and
anything to break up his days.
We truly appreciate all the continued love, support, and prayers from all of you. Take care.
Love - Mary
Saturday, June 4, 2005:
Hello All:
This message comes with great pride and joy. Kyle is doing fantastic. Kyle
was scheduled last week to have the skull replacement surgery done, but, Tim
and I cancelled it due to the fact that they were not going to do the best
possible procedure there is for this kind of surgery. However, the V.A. is in
the process of rescheduling the procedure for sometime this week or the week
after. Kyle is walking, with little assistance, in and out of his wheelchair,
extremely independent, and, of course, he has great spirit and motivation. His
laugh, smile and just plain love of life would make even the most sour person
think twice about what is really important.
We are so very happy to announce that a welcome home to Kyle has been planned. Thursday, June 23, 6:00-9:00pm, at Simley High School gymnasium. We just received the OK on this so right now the plans are a little sketchy. We plan - seating and setup in the gym from 6:00-7:00pm. The ceremony to start 7:00pm sharp. There will be a couple of speakers and then a Marine General will be here to award Kyle with the Purple Heart. We want to keep it short and sweet and in honor of Kyle and all our troops. Like I said, plans are tentative as to how the night will roll out, but, Thursday, June 23rd is the date. We hope to see all of you there. Your love and support to Kyle and our family has been unbelievable. Words cannot say HOW MUCH we appreciate all of you, your love, support and prayers! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Kyle will remain in the V.A. for still some time but his road to recovery is changing daily. Kyle still can't talk, but he can communicate - you'll understand when you see him. Again, thank you all and keep the prayers coming.
Mary Kylander
P.S. We changed our Internet provider and unfortunately, during the process, I lost about 30 email addresses. If you are getting this message through the web page, please feel free to email me directly so I can get your address re-added to my address book. KYWOOWOO@netzero.com
Wednesday, May 11, 2005:
Hello To All:
May I start by saying, "Kyle is doing great"! He is surpassing what a lot of
people thought he would possibly never be able to do. He is conscience
of his actions, thoughts, memories and of what is to become, as in, homework,
from his therapists, and memories of what has happened in long time past and
present. We have had Kyle out on a couple of different weekends now. This last
one was the greatest of all. He stayed with Dad, from Saturday morning until
Sunday morning, when I picked him up. He had a WONDERFUL time with Dad; Carol
came over and made dinner, and obviously, Kyle was in heaven with both Dad and
Carol being with him. On Sunday, we all met for Mothers Day and what a
FANTASTIC day it was! Kyle was aware of everyone he knew; he acted
questionably to the family and friends he was not real familiar with, but
knowing Kyle, he gave everyone the "thumbs up".
Kyle is getting stronger with every passing day - Kyle has become very independent. He gets out of bed on his own, goes to the bathroom on his own and is able to walk a considerable distance with his cane. He should be requesting assistance, but knowing Kyle, he is stubborn and is simply going to do it no matter what! We all feel that some day soon he will be back in the Marines or back at home. (This will be his decision). We are hoping that the skull replacement surgery will take place here, and hopefully within the next month or two. Kyle can say "MOM", but he's trying desperately to say much more. We are teaching him some simple sign language and he is a sponge to learn more because he knows this is a communication line for us, to him. He understands what we are saying to him; we just can't understand what he is telling us; it's very aggravating to him that we can't understand what he wants to say to us. This continues to be a slow but miracles process - PLEASE CONTINUE WITH YOUR PRAYERS. Be patient with further updates - I'm currently pushed to the limits with my obligations with home, family, and work. We are looking forward to having a home coming for Kyle once we know the date of his upcoming surgery and recovery time. As these dates come to us, we will update again. Please feel free to come visit Kyle, he loves having visitors. Bring pictures for his photo album. Thank you all for the LOVE, SUPPORT AND PRAYERS!
All Our Love: Mary, Dick & Tim
Wednesday, February 16, 2005:
Hello All:
Please excuse the delay of getting this message to all of you and thank you
all for your notes of needed updates and your concern for Kyle. Our computer
has been acting up and we've been out of town for Kyle's brother, Matt T., who
just graduated boot camp for the Army at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. Anyway, Kyle is
doing just great. His right leg is getting stronger every day and they are
working him hard. He had a botox injection into his right arm about three
weeks ago and the purpose of that was to loosen and relax the muscles so it
wouldn't be so painful during therapy. It has helped immensely and we are
seeing some movement in the right hand. Every little bit is a miracle. Kyle is
given pureed food now, and he loves his mashed potatoes and gravy, puddings,
and fresh fruits. Still not real hot on the veggies but he gives them a taste
test. He still has a feeding tube to insure that he gets enough nutrients. He
is in good spirits, most of the time, and I must say, he lights up when his
wrestling buddies and girlfriends come into his room. A few people swear they
heard Kyle talk but the doctors feel it will be a while still before actual
speech starts. Kyle can communicate though, with his beautiful smile, laughs,
thumbs up and down, and some yelling. We are not allowed to put pictures on
his wall so we have a photo album in his room that he love to look at and go
through with his visitors. If you come and see Kyle and have some special
pictures, please bring them - I think he feels connected with these pictures.
He has been moved again - just across the hall to room 103. He is still on the
1st floor, D wing, room 103. If you come to see Kyle and you have questions,
and Tim or I are not there, please just ask the nurses. They are very nice and
helpful but their main thoughts are for Kyle's safety and well being. Kyle can
be put in his wheel chair and there is a big screen TV in a rec room just
down the hall. He also likes playing cards (War), and this rec room has
tables high enough for the wheelchair to fit under. If you haven't seen Kyle
yet or if it has been a while since you have, you'll be wonderfully surprised
at his progress. Please talk to him, not over him; he does understand much
more than you might think. Wrestlers, please keep him up to date on how Simley
is doing and forgive me for not keeping closer track. Again, he does quite
well with visitors, especially the people he knows well and if by chance there
ends up being more than 3 or 4 people in the room, please take turns.
Thank you all again for your continued support, love and prayers and with Gods grace, we will continue to see great progress. Take care!
Mary Kylander
Kyle's Mailing Address:
Hello again:
Many people have asked for Kyle's address so here it is:
LCPL Kyle Anderson
VA Medical Center
1 Veterand Dr Ward 3F Room 103
Minneapolis, MN 55417
We read every card and letter to him and I'm saving all of them so that one day soon, he can read them himself when he gets bored.
Thank you all,
Mary
Sunday, January 9, 2005:
Hello Everyone!
Great news! Kyle is officially considered to be "out of the coma." The
doctors and therapists had to evaluate Kyle on certain long and short term
memories, able to complete certain tasks on his own, following precise
commands and a certain level of communication, which he did. So as of
Thursday, December 30th, he is out of the coma but still has considerable TBI
(traumatic brain injury). A coma and speaking do not have any connection with
each other so Kyle is still unable to speak and eat. However, he is doing
remarkably well and the doctors are thrilled with his continuing progress.
They moved him to a new room, same floor - room 104, which is a rehabilitation
room. It's real nice and much larger. He gives us the thumbs up and down for
yes and no, he hugs us, he still has his wonderful sense of humor and his
smiles will light up a room as well as your heart. Every day brings an
unbelievable amount of hope and encouragement. Thank you all for your
CONTINUED prayers, and support. We can't thank you enough. Also, please
continue to go through us before visiting - just so that Kyle doesn't end up
with numerous people in his room at one time.
Wishing everyone a very happy and safe 2005, and pray for all our troops.
Thank you.
Love Mary
Monday, December 20, 2004:
Hello All:
Sorry it's been so long since an update, but here is great news. Kyle is
still considered to be in a coma, however, he is becoming more alert each day.
The different therapies are working wonders with Kyle and he is responding
beautifully. He is actually playing catch with us, he is smiling and
laughing, he is tolerating the wheelchair for longer periods of time, and he
is tolerating standing (strapped in of course), for longer periods of time.
The doctors and therapists are thrilled with his responses and alertness. We
would still like you to contact either Tim or myself before visiting. He
still gets upset with certain things and any more than 2 to 3 people in the
room sets him off. It's too confusing for him. Tim and I are in contact with
each other and we are trying to make sure that he only has visitors at times
that Kyle feels comfortable, no therapy scheduled and not more than a couple
of different people in a day. Thank you for your understanding in this
situation and again - above all - THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LOVE, SUPPORT AND
PRAYERS.
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a glorious new year.
Mary Kylander
Thursday, December 9, 2004:
Hello Everyone:
Kyle is doing well and each day brings progress and more hope. The therapy he
is getting is long and hard each day and totally wears him out. They have
Kyle sitting in a chair twice a day for an hour at a time and we're working
hard at getting some line of communication established. I stated last week
that it would probably be ok to start visiting him this weekend, but, I'm
going to have to revise that. Until further notice, please no visitors
unless you've spoken to either Tim or Mary. Kyle simply isn't up to
visitors and the doctors don't think it's good for him just yet. He is in a
confused and agitated state and his memory isn't working fully yet. He is
still in a coma - but just about out, and voices that he hears and can't
figure out get him very upset. I certainly don't mean to offend anyone but
this is for Kyle's well being.
Thank you all very much for your love, support, and concern and please keep
the prayers coming.
With Love and Gratitude - Mary Kylander
Friday, December 3, 2004:
If you have not heard, Kyle is home in our V.A. What a great Christmas
present and it's so wonderful to have him close by. The V.A. is doing a
wonderful job with him. Kyle has intense therapy from 8:00 to 3:30 everyday.
He gets speech, occupational and physical therapy throughout the day so with
that in mind, we are asking that no one visits until at least, next weekend
and only between the hours of 4 to 9. Kyle needs to get acclimated to his
new surroundings, new nurses, aids and doctors. Since the injury was to the
left side of the brain, it has affected his memory. It appears to us, that
often times it takes him 2 to 3 minutes to figure out even very close family
members so when Kyle sees someone and can't figure out who they are he gets
real confused which causes him to get very agitated and uncomfortable. For
Kyle's well being, we are asking that no more than 2 people are in his room at
a time unless Tim, Matt, Dick or myself are there with you. If you notice him
getting upset, or agitated, please say good-bye and let him calm down. Please
keep your visits to no longer than 20 minutes and all visitors must sign in at
the nurses station. Please do not be offended if you are asked to leave or
unable to see Kyle - again, we are looking out for his well being. Kyle has so
many dear friends and we love all of you and your support. Kyle is making
great progress. They are going to have him sitting up in a chair today, he
has started brushing his own teeth and doing other simple tasks. These are
big steps in his recovery and we are taking each day at a time. The V.A. has
set a goal of 8 to 12 weeks to have Kyle ambulatory, and communicating with
us.
Again, thank you all for all your love, support and prayers and probably,
from now on, we'll update this once a week to show the progress that he is
making.
Mary
Thursday, November 25, 2004:
Hello All:
On Saturday, Nov 20th, a fund raiser benefit was held on behalf of my son, LCPL
Kyle Anderson.
At this time, I would like to thank SO many people. To my brother Joe and his wife Gloria who stayed with Kyle so that I could attend the benefit. To my entire family, the Deep Purple softball team, to the Moose Lodge and numerous friends who organized and ran this enormous event in just three weeks time. To the Simley Wrestling family and the hundreds of people and businesses who donated so generously to the silent auction. To all the Marines, Air Force, and all the active, retired, and reserve service men and woman. To the community of Inver Grove Heights and to all who attended. From the bottom of my heart - I THANK YOU ALL!
The support that our family has received is inconceivable. At times like this, it's great to know that our community and country, stand together - united as one - for the good of our troops.
To all those families who have loved ones over seas, our love and prayers are always with you. Feel confident that your loved one has our nations respect and our ever lasting gratitude of their service to our country.
At this moment I realize just how many hero's our country has. (Kyle happens to be my personal hero.) Not only are our soldiers hero's, but so are all the doctors, nurses, and corpsmen, who not only saved my sons life, but the lives of thousands or our troops. THANK YOU ALL and GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and a joyous Holiday Season.
All Our Love and Thanks - Mary and Dick Kylander, Tim and Matthew Anderson
P.S. Keep the prayers coming.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004:
Kyle is set up for transport home, to the Fort Snelling VA hospital. Doctors
are very happy with his current medical condition and feel at this point his
remaining recovery process can be better provided for here. Transport will be
set for the next 24 to 72 hours. I'm sorry this is all I have time to write at
this time, I'm on my way to work, but I needed everyone to hear the good news.
I will continue later with more details.
Dick
Tuesday, November 23, 2004:
The plans are for Kyle to be flown to Minneapolis in the next 3 days, where he
will continue his recovery at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
Thursday, November 18, 2004:
Sorry for the delay, but some good news. Kyle has been moved out of ICU and is
up on the 5th floor ward. The doctors are satisfied with all the vital signs
and it looks like the infection he had is under control. He is not fully
conscious however he is responding to voice commands and understanding what is
being said. Speech and physical therapists have been up to start working with
him towards recovery. They are starting to work towards getting him transferred
closer to home. Kyle would most likely come into Fort Selling VA hospital, they
are one of four brain trauma centers in the country. I hear they have an
excellent program. Again thank you all for your ongoing support and prayers.
Dick
Friday, November 12, 2004:
Hi everyone -
Just a couple things - sorry - I don't have an update on Kyle - but I just
wanted to let everyone know that as we were out getting donations from the area
- the AmericInn in IGH
gave a donation - but they also said that if anyone has someone traveling
from out of town to just mention that they are here for the fundraiser and
they'll give them a room at a discounted rate.
Also - if you are getting any donations that are gift certificates or tickets
to sporting events - please make a copy of the item so we can uss that for
the silent auction and put the real one's in a safe place behind the scenes.
My update on the donations side is - things are going great and we hope that
things are going just as well for our little buddy Kyle!!
Mona Mitchell
Wednesday, November 10, 2004:
Hello to everyone. The last couple days bring some good news. Mary continually
standing by Kyle's bedside, holding his hand and talking to him finally had
Kyle squeezing her hand back. His eyes are open and tracking during the day
and closing for sleep at night. He is making movements and slight noises. We
believe he is so very close to totally waking up. The infection removed on
Sunday's surgery must have helped a great deal. The doctors are being very
optimistic with his every change. The tube in his spine to inspect the
bacteria is going to be removed, they think they have a handle on it at this
time. His antibiotics are going to be decreased to help him wake up. We can
only pray this will work and the bacteria doesn't overpower the body again
where the dosage has to be increased. Thanks to all of you for your continued
prayers and support. This would, I think, be unbearable for Mary and myself
without it. God bless you all. Kyle will have other visitors this week, Will
Short, Kyle's high school wrestling coach, Anna, Mary's sister and Kyle's
sister and husband, Robert and Tracy Murphy. I am hoping to go out to visit
them both over Thanksgiving. Forgive me for repeating myself, but thank you.
Dick
Sunday, November 7, 2004:
On Saturday (11/06/04) several test were completed on Kyle. They checked the
fluid in his spine, for one, do to the fact they can't contain this infection.
Sunday the results were in and there was a positive presence of this bacteria
in the spinal fluid. Sunday, Kyle was taken into surgery once again, to
inspect and clean inside the head. The surgery went well, he is resting
peacefully. They did find infected areas and removed the bacteria from these
areas, hopefully now the antibiotics will take hold and rid the body of it.
Mary is still hanging in there, and we want to again thank everyone for all
their support and efforts.
Dick
Saturday, November 6, 2004:
It's Saturday 11/06/04 and I apologize for the lapse but at this time there is
no real change in Kyle and his recovery. He is still in a coma state but his
wounds seem to be heeling. The primary problem they are dealing with is the
infection. He has movement and he is tracking people in the room with his eyes
so the doctors are very optimistic this is close to coming out, but the
infection is holding this back, They are working very hard to find the right
vaccine and dosage to combat this. Josh and Matt are heading back home today.
I'm glad they could make it out to see him. Mary is holding up pretty well,
all considering. I again want to thank you all for your love and support, GOD
bless you all. I will keep you all posted as best I can.
Dick
Monday, November 1, 2004:
Good morning everyone,
Mary and I so very much thank you all for your support
through this difficult time, God bless all of you. It's Monday morning, I came
back to town Saturday. Mary is still with Kyle, and will continue to be their
as long as necessary for him to become alert and on his way through recovery
and rehab. Not to much more to added, Kyle is still in a semi conscious state.
He appears to sense people in the room at times, his eyes open wide and I very
much believe he is listening to everyone around him. He is getting the very
best of care, the facility at Bethesda is second to none, and the doctors and
nurses caring for him are excellent. All is vitals are good and the doctors
and nurses say he is doing well. This morning he is scheduled to have a tube
put in his stomach to feed him, to this point there is a tube down his nose.
He has been taking nourishment good, however they cannot continue feeding this
way for any length of time, it will effect your sinus passages. There are two
conditions they are trying to eliminate, slight phenomena in the lungs and a
bacteria found in the soil over their, assaneetabactra. Matt and Josh went to
see him, they arrived Saturday afternoon and stay a few days. At this point
all is hopeful and we pray for a complete recovery. Thank you all again and I
will try to keep everyone updated.
Dick
Friday, October 29, 2004:
Hi -
Today they are putting in a new feeding tube directly into his stomach. Kyle
is still taking the food well, which is a good. He is having another CAT scan
done this afternoon. His overall body swelling is going down - and Mary can
actually see his knuckles. Not a whole lot of change, but as the doctors said,
this is a long-slow process.
If you want to send a card, the mailing address is:
LCP Anderson, Kyle
Care of Marine Corp. Liaison
8901 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20889
Thanks from Mary & Dick & our entire family for everyone's prayers & support -
please keep the prayers coming and
Wake Up Kyle!!!
Anna
Wednesday, October 27, 2004:
Morning. I Talked with Mary & Dick last night.
Kyle's angiogram tests went well and show no bleeding. He spiked a fever Monday night so the doctors know he has an infection somewhere - they are trying to pinpoint it so they can treat it correctly. The swelling on the brain has gone down slightly, but there is still fluid. They drilled a small hole and put in a tube to drain the fluids.
Yesterday the doctor was checking his tracheotomy tubes when Kyle reached up with his right arm trying to grab the doctor. This was a total voluntary movement - which is a good sign that he may be coming out of this coma! He also seemed to show some facial responses to Mary & Dick as well.
This morning they're putting a camera down his tracheotomy tube to check his lungs for fluid. Since Kyle may be coming out of this coma, they will mildly sedate him so that he doesn't move while doing this procedure.
We are all very optimistic by his responses yesterday -- but they need to find the infection.
Keep on praying & "Wake Up Kyle"!!!!!
Anna
Monday, October 25, 2004:
Hi,
I just spoke with Mary & Dick.
Kyle is doing ok. He is having an angiogram this afternoon -- where they shoot dye into the brain to look for any infections, etc. The doctors and nurses are exceptional - and their main concerns right now are keeping his vitals strong, keep infections away and to get him to Wake Up. He is still on the ventilator - but seems to be doing some breathing on his own, which is a good sign. They ran tests on Kyle's other internal organs and all of them are fine. Mary and Dick can go into his room, hold him, talk to him, etc.
Mary said the Marines are treating them great - they're staying in a hotel which has a small kitchen so they can eat there and they're walking distance from the hospital.
Mary will call me daily and I'll let you all know his condition.
Please keep up all the support and prayers - they are so needed and appreciated. And remember, we need Kyle to wake up!!!
Thanks,
Anna (Mary's sister)
Saturday, October 23, 2004:
Hello Everyone:
Please be prepared for what you are about to read. I will attempt to keep this
as clear and simple as possible. The reason we had not heard directly from a
doctor up to this point was because Kyle signed some paper before he left
instructing any doctor from the Marines not to call his parents. He did this
because even the smallest of first aid wounds we would get a call and Kyle
didn't want us to worry about the little stuff. What he didn't know was that
the doctors won't call even in a life and death situation once this form was
signed. Now with that understanding, I have a nephew, Timothy Tichawa, who is
a firefighter/paramedic with the Air National Guard and he is currently
stationed in Germany. My sister gave me his email address and I informed him
that Kyle would soon be arriving. He phoned me the day he received the email
and went directly to the hospital and found Kyle for me. He got his
neurosurgeon on the phone for me and this is what has, and will be happening.
On October 11th Kyle was hit with an IED bomb. That is basically a dirty bomb that is homemade and extremely destructive. A large piece of shrapnel hit the back of Kyle's head, crushing his scull and ripped from the back of his brain to the very front causing extensive damage to the entire left side of his brain. He was immediately airlifted to Baghdad Hospital where his neurosurgeon did immediately operate. This first surgery that quickly, saved his life. His skull was removed and thrown away, parts of his brain were removed so that the doctor could clean the brain and scalp as best as possible. Keep in mind these bombs are extremely dirty. Kyle was put on phenobarbital in high doses to keep him in a coma. He was doing ok but on Thursday or Friday his fever started spiking which was a sign of infection. The neurosurgeon took Kyle back for another operation to again remove the brain and clean the wound. Again, Kyle stabilized and on Wednesday morning was airlifted to Germany. His doctor took the trip with him to ensure his safety. On Friday when I spoke to his doctor, Kyle had just come out of his third surgery. Kyle had gotten gangrene on his scalp so that had to be cut away and then he stretched what skin he could to cover the brain. Obviously, there wasn't enough skin so currently Kyle has very large bandages covering part of his brain. The skin will grow back. He also did a tracheotomy to reduce any chances of Kyle getting a nasal infection. The doctor insured me that Kyle was stable enough to make the trip to Bethesda on Saturday and we'll be with him tomorrow. The doctor right now is most terribly worried about infection in the wound. This is the critical thing right now. The swelling of the brain is down, his vitals are good and what he is very impressed about is that Kyle is taking food. They are literally pumping solid food into his stomach and his body is accepting and digesting the food just fine. He said this was very important and that every day Kyle survives is definitely a positive. He could tell immediately what a fighter Kyle was - most people would not have survived what Kyle has gone through to this point. He gave me the doctors names of which will be working with Kyle in Bethesda. His doctor quit giving him the phenobarbital on Thursday and he said Kyle would remain in a coma for up to another 7 days. At that point, it's very important that Kyle awakes. He said it's not unheard of for someone to stay in a coma for two to three more weeks, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. His skull can be reconstructed anywhere from 6 to 12 months once he wakes up. Again, the doctor is very impressed at how strong Kyle is, that he is able to take food and he feels Kyle has a good chance of recovery. The extent of the brain damage is still unknown. The left side of the brain controls memory and motor skills.
Please keep praying for him, he isn't out of the woods yet but I truly believe
we'll all be looking at that beautiful smile and listening to his goofy laugh
in a few months. The doctor told me to put away my watch and start looking at
a calendar; this is a long, slow process of recovery. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
LOVE, SUPPORT AND PRAYERS. Kyle is truly blessed with so many wonderful people
in his life. THANK YOU! I'll email again once I see him.
Take care everyone.
Mary
Friday, October 22, 2004:
We found out Thursday (Oct. 21) that Kyle should be in Bethesda, MD Sunday
(Oct. 23) or Monday (Oct. 24). They are flying in from Germany. He will be
scheduled for surgery on arrival. Apparently they will have to fly no higher
than 5000 feet, they can't pressurize the cabin, due to the brain trauma. We
talked to a nurse caring for him in Germany and she said his vital signs are
holding but there is bleeding on the brain and a section of skull missing to
relieve pressure, I don't really understand it all. Mary is dealing with this
as best she can. The military has been very contradictory on what we hear. We
will be leaving for Maryland this weekend to be with Kyle. We will keep you
informed as best we can. We take all your thoughts and prayers with us for
him.
Dick
Tuesday, October 19, 2004:
Hello All:
We got word yesterday from the Marines that Kyle is still stable but still
unable to be moved, therefore, he is still in a Baghdad hospital. The waiting
game continues and hopefully all your prayers. Thank you to all that have
given me names and contact numbers to attempt to get news a little quicker
than what has been happening. I contacted Joe Atkins on Sunday afternoon to
see if he could help in processing my passport. He phoned me Monday morning
and said he had contacted Mark Dayton's office. Dayton's office phoned me a
half hour later and they are going to process this as fast as possible. I also
heard today for the military liaison of Dayton's office and he gave me his
email to help in any way possible. Again, to those who have helped in these
phone numbers and contact names - Thank You! Please keep the prayers coming -
Kyle's a tough little shit so we all know he'll be OK! No need to reply. WE
THANK YOU AND LOVE YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!
Mary & Dick
--------------------
Hello Again:
Sorry to have to email so soon after the last one. Just received a call from
Camp Pendelton. Kyle is still stable but in a coma. They informed us that he
won't leave the Baghdad Hospital for at least a month. He does have very good
doctors and around the clock care. In speaking to a couple of other very
experienced military people, they said not to worry. This is the best thing
for Kyle. He will have the same doctor all the time, they're not taking any
chances and this hospital is Very Good. Please keep PRAYING! Thank you all
again.
Mary
Sunday, October 17, 2004:
Hello Everyone:
Thank you again for all your thoughts and prayers. This is the last official word we've received.
We're hoping today we get word that the swelling is down and he is conscience.
Keep praying that all is well. Thank you again and we'll update as we hear.
Mary Kylander (Kyle Anderson's Mom)
Wednesday, October 13, 2004:
Kyle was hit in the back of the head with shrapnel. The shrapnel went through
Kyle's helmet and into his brain. Kyle was transported to the hospital where a
neurosurgeon was in the ER. Kyle was operated on, shrapnel removed. Currently
Kyle has brain swelling. Kyle now is stabilized. In an undetermined time he
will be transported to Germany, further undetermined amount of time Kyle will
be transported to the States. Kyle may come home to Minnesota for our MN Vets
hospital does specialize in neurology or currently the other possibilities are
Bethesda or Balboa. The neurosurgeon who operated on Kyle told Kyle's Captain
that Kyle has a "decent chance of normal recovery."
This information is from Kyle's mom, Mary Kylander. Mary is feeling the relief of the words from Kyle's Captain that "he is now stabilized" from this serious injury. Other Marines in Kyle's group were also injured but not to the severity of Kyle's injury.
As updates on Kyle's healing become known we at Simley Wrestling will work with Kyle's mom, Mary to get the news to you.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for Kyle's healing, his medical staff, his family and his troop who remain in active duty in Iraq.