Pizza Party at Johnston's. Special guest appearance by Henry & Barb!

Photos By: Lori Johnston




It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood!!!
We love you Henry!!!

Making The Rounds

Thanks to all you guys for your comments, prayers and well wish's!
Henry made it to Uncle John's Halloween party Saturday night.
Him and Grandpa were wheelchair to wheelchair.
Very touching!
We are planning an employee pizza lunch next week and
hoping Henry can make it!!!
Then we can take our annual employee company photo,
with him in it, and all the guys would love to see him too!!!
-Lori Johnston

Welcome Home "Tree Man"!!!

"Think Like a Tree"



Soak up the sun

Affirm life's magic

Be graceful in the wind

Stand tall after a storm

Feel refreshed after it rains

Grow strong without notice

Be prepared for each season

Provide shelter to strangers

Hang tough through a cold spell

Emerge renewed at the first signs of spring

Stay deeply rooted while reaching for the sky

Be still long enough to hear your own leaves rustling.



-Karen I. Shragg





This poem made me think of you Henry.

Love,

-Brenda

Home Sweet Home

Henry got home this morning. He was very excited and emotional. The things we take for granted like color...he was soo happy to see the color in his house. Furniture is a little low so they will play around with lifters and what not. I am sure there will be a few things he will have to adjust but right now he is nothing but happy. He wants to try and pick peppers tonight...now that sounds just like Henry! Thank you everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers, love and concern. Our family has been very blessed with his recovery and family and friends.

19 Oct

From Barb Rafferty:" Henry had a beer at sullivans pub on sunday! can you believe it!!!! he even stood at the bar for about 5min.!!!! hopefully in 2 wks. he will be home!!! God is great!!!!!!!!!!"

He walks video.

Let's Get Physical Physical Henry's gettin Physical

Bonnie and Hank came to Ohio for our son's birthday and had lots of wonderful things to say about Henry's recovery.

This a picture recently taken of him on the treadmill!! WOW He is working very hard to get home. They said he is just exhausted everyday.

I am going to upload a video of him walking this week(we have to edit other patients out) Stay tuned!

One small step for man ...7 foot for Henry

Great Fantastic Yes the news is true Henry walked 7 foot today unassisted! WOW I can not believe the progress therapy and determination makes!!!!!!!

He is now just like everyday wiped out!

29 Sept - Standing Tall

I talked to Henry tonight on the phone. He stood for the first time on his own today. It started by the therapist and Barb holding him, then a few minutes later they helped him up and let go while Henry stood by himself. They then repeated it a third time in the hour. He said it was good to wear shoes again and stand but it was very tiring. Great to hear though. It is now expected that he will be home before Halloween. A long road yet to go but going home would do wonders for Henry. Everyone keep their fingers crossed and pray that he makes his Halloween homecoming.

GoErie.com: Local News - Woman charged in Erie parking lot accident that seriously injured man

GoErie.com: Local News - Woman charged in Erie parking lot accident that seriously injured man

He's moved on up to the top to a deluxe room in Health South

Well Henry is in his (private) room at Health South. His schedule is very precise and crucial to his physical and occupational therapies. Health South has very strict visiting hours M-F 3-8pm and Sat-Sun 10-8pm.

Basically from what we know he has a very busy schedule other than during visiting hours. The doctors, therapists and Henry are working very hard to build his muscles so he can start moving on his own etc. We all know the common goal is for Henry to get back to as normal life as possible or better. It has not quite been a week so we have not got any details as to how he is feeling or progressing yet. Dan did speak with him on Wednesday evening and he was in good spirits and looking forward to the work ahead of him knowing that is what is going to get him back home. Although he did mention at that point he was none to impressed with the nursing staff but liked the doctors and therapists.

Any visitors and all phone calls need to adhere to the visiting hours schedule. Please keep in mind he has to eat lunch and dinner in the dining room. We are not sure when dinner typically is Henry could tell you if you call.

Health South

143 E. 2nd St

Erie PA 16507

Room 218

814-878-1418

21 Sept

Henry is being moved to Health South today where he will start undergoing serious physical therapy. He is mostly to the phase of muscle building only except his left knee is still locked and moving his right elbow is extremely painful. He is in good spirits though and mentally preparing himself for a lot more movement.

Moving Along

Well not a whole lot of detail but wanted to give some updates of what I do know.

Henry has been starting to work his muscles. Not only in his legs and arms but his whole body. He was immobile for so long he even had to strengthen his neck to have the ability to hold upright. The Dr's and nurses get him up in a wheelchair at least once a day and he has a new bed that rotates to an upright position to help him work on standing. His left leg is locked and they are for sure if it will work out the more he has physical therapy or if it will have to be surgically done.

I hope to have more info over the weekend so I can give more details.

"FRIENDSHIP"

Mike, Brian, Jamie, Troy, Mark, Todd & Henry

You are not alone in this!

As brothers we will stand,

and we'll be there to hold your hand...

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!!!

We will ask the night

to lose it's sight,

until the sun can light your way home.

We will move mountains for you,

our strong shoulders will hold you up...

We Will Be Your Ladder To The Stars!!

FRIENDSHIP: an attachment to a person by,

esteem, respect and affection

Surgery Done!

Just got the phone call....Henry is out of surgery. Everything went well, he will be staying on the 8th floor at Hammott until he is medically ready to go back to Select Hospital. The bar is off the pelvis, they worked his knee and elbow. The elbow is giving him a great deal of pain so he will probably be heavily medicated the rest of the day and trying to rest.

Henry will be starting alot more movement over the next several weeks including physical and occupational therapies. He is going to be all kinds of sore and in pain but that is still wonderful news on so many different levels.

I will keep everyone updated as I hear new news. Have a Great Week!!

What you have all been waiting for....Drum Roll PLEASE

Henry is on the next step to recovery!

On Tuesday September 7th Henry will go to Hammott for a surgery to remove the stabilizing bar from his pelvis and work on his left knee. His left knee is the leg that was degloved and he has not been able to move that leg so it has locked up and they believe has some calcification.

He got to sit up some tonight, well not quite upright because he does still have the bar. He was moved to the side of the bed and got to put his feet on the ground!!! After 2 months of laying down he did get a bit lite headed and his legs numbed up a bit but what a great step.

We are soo excited to hear Henry is moving to the next stage to recovery. Of course with each new step there is going to be pain and mental preparedness. I am sure it will be a shock to realize the little thing he has always done will take some work for a little while. We all know Henry is very strong and we ask everyone just to keep on praying for his strength and determination to help through the next phase.

Sorry the update took so long!!

Corry Journal- August 31st

Tuesday, August 31, 2010 2:33 PM EDT

" Hometown: Helping Henry Rafferty "
A benefit for Henry Rafferty of Lawrence Park was held Saturday at the American Legion Post 237 pavilion in Union City. Rafferty, a graduate of Union City Area High School, is recuperating at Select Specialty Hospital in Erie after a car slammed into him at Sarah A. Reed Retirement Center while he was looking at the condition of a tree for his job at Johnston’s Evergreen Nursery. Rafferty’s wife, Barb, left, and his mother, Bonnie, right, of Union City, show some of the many items that were donated for a Chinese auction, including baskets of fresh vegetables donated by Bonnie Rafferty’s brother.

"Yes Virginia, (or Henry in this case) There Is A Santa" And, boy did he come eary this year!!!

What An AMAZING Day!!!!!

I prayed for the following things for Saturday:
1. please let the day be beautiful
2. watch over everyone, and keep them safe
3. let the spirit of the day be filled with kindness, generosity and patience
4. give stamina & strength to all the workers & volunteers
5. let there be enough food & drink for everyone
6. no blow-outs with the electricity
7.no fights, arguments, or disagreements, and no negativity of any kind
You know what? God answered every single one of my prayers!!!!!
(the most important prayer answered, Henry's life & his recovery!!!)

Thank you, number one to God,
and to all who came out to support Henry & his family!!!
(I think over 1200 people came)

To all the volunteers who helped out,
(to many of you to name!!!)

to everyone who donated money, food, raffle & auction items,
( don't know if I should give the exact amount of the money raised, so I will just say, it was a lot!)
can you believe we had food, pop & water left over?

to the bands & DJ for the great entertainment...

you all sounded great & did a fantastic job!!!!
(and they all performed for free!!!!)
REFUGE
DANA WILLIAMS
BRIAN BUTLER & FRIEND (sorry friend, I didn't get your name)
JOYFUL NOISE
SOUNDWAVE- DJ TOM McCALL

And a big THANK YOU to the friends of Henry, who started this benefit!!!
(Brian, Jamie, Mike, Troy, Mark & Todd)
& their wives, who did all the work!!! ha,ha,haaa
(Carrie, Marcie, Chris, Paula, & Carrie)-yes, there are two Carrie's, i didn't mess that up LOL!
-here's how they go together:
Brian & Marcie
Jamie & Paula
Mike & Carrie
Troy & Carrie
Todd & Chris
Mark & his dog Joe (Joe cleaned up after everyone! ha,ha,haaa)

And for Henry himself...thanks for skyping in throughout the day... it gave us all the lift we needed, to see your smiling face!!!!!!!!


THANKS!!!!!
-Brenda

Over the river and through I90 to Bonnie and Hanks we go...

Dan and I are leaving this afternoon to help do whatever we can. We know everyone has worked their tailends off and as time gets closer it is getting very emotional for everyone.

We are expecting a very large number people, so if you get stuck in a little traffic sit back and enjoy the scenery. Hopefully that will not be bad but if we have some hectic times, which is bound to happen, just remember this is for a good cause.

I was able to view Henry and Barb just a minute ago on the news, wsee.tv home page top news. Boy was that emotional!! I have emailed the station and hopefully we will have and be able to post the news clips on the website soon. Keep your fingers crossed.

Again Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone that has helped and contributed to make all these wonderful things come true for Henry and our family. We can not ever express the gratitude and the deep emotion we have for everyone!

See you soon Dan Mechelle and Conall

News Clip

If anyone gets a link to the news clip from Wed evening news with Henry and Barb PLEASE post it or send to Dan or I. We would love to see it!