Sunday Night Back to Bayshore

Mighty MikeyD the Miracle in sneakers made his first appearance back to Bayshore Middle school since the night he went down. It was just about one year since he walked in the building after he got out of school last June for the summer a strong healthy 12 year old boy who left for summer vacation in Ireland. Jonathan Provenzano let the cat out of the bag when he posted it was great to see you back in school on Thursday.

Peggy Dunne picked up on it right away when she posted School on Thursday???

We want to hear all about it...even a visit back to school..is big...let us know.

it was just a visit I wish it was back to Bayshore for good. I had taken MikeyD back to Bayshore for a little visit and some evaluations. our goal is to get MikeyD back to Bayshore some time next year. some people may think we are too optimistic but that is one of our main goals right now to get him back where he belongs with great teachers and great friends right here in Middletown. it was amazing MikeyD was there for a few evaluations that I had requested for PT and speech. I was talking to Dr. George who is a great guy and I told him our goal is to get little MikeyD back to Middletown sometime  next year. When Dan was doing the PT evaluation Cindy the speech therapist was observing MikeyD for speech without anyone knowing. Word spread around the school like wild fire before you knew it Mrs. Force came in to see MikeyD along with Mrs, Wiltbank, Mrs Siegul, Fran the nurse and a few other teachers. when the students were changing classes they got involved. i felt bad for Dan and I told him  I guess you never worked with a celebrity before. this evaluation will take longer than you thought. I seen tears of joy from a lot of people some said I have just been hugged by a miracle others said I have just been hugged by an Angel. Little MikeyD does walk around with a smile and a glow that looks something like an Angel on earth. We walked in Mrs. Biddle's class and MikeyD said don't fiddle with the Biddle he then spoke to everyone in the class and said OK class it is time to get back to work I have to go. Mrs.Biddle turned around and said he did not lose his sense of humor and she is right. it is sad that his short term memory is shot but amazing to see that he remembers his past. We need to get him back to Bayshore with his friends and teachers who will take care of him. We need to see him walk across the stage next year and graduate with his cousin Brendan and friends like he should of before this tragedy happened to him.

We will Miss Mrs. Force she is a great Principal who is very sincere and is retiring this year. We wish you would stay around for another year just for MikeyD. We know you would take great care of him . We will miss you and wish you nothing but the best. Who knows if MikeyD will even make it back to Bayshore my bet is he will a lot of people may not agree. Let me know if you think MikeyD will make it back to Bayshore or not.  I post a lot about SCA from kids with heart problems even though little MikeyD does not have a heart problem and never did he was just dehydrated. I hope by posting this we can save one little Heart at a time. Now that summer is here please be aware of your kids playing sports and staying hydrated they need to do it before going to games or practice it is too late if they are thirsty. Keep an eye on your kids ask the coaches to keep an eye on kids who are red and overheated send the coaches a link to this site. Let everyone be educated on the dangers of dehydration. A friend of a friend of mine son was getting a physical the other day for sports and all the mother wanted was the doctor to sign the paper. The doctor found a heart Murmur when he went to the Cardiologist the doctor said it was because he was dehydrated. Get and ECG and test for Dehydration for your kids. Get CPR certified and learn about AED’s  especially if you are a coach.

I remember a friend of mine Dave Read posting I continue to pray for Mighty MikeyD...  I can’t wait ‘til he speaks and both MikeyD’s smile together.  I have been following the blog. It was heart breaking  let’s spare others.Here is what took little MikeyD down !!!

"DEHYDRATION AND SCA"

If you think it can't happen to you, think twice!!!!!

if you are not running don't worry about it.

One particular heart condition which is seldom discussed yet is responsible for thousands of lives each year in America alone, is Cardiovascular Shock, sometimes known as Cardiovascular Insult but perhaps more popularly known by the name of its primary cause of "Dehydration".

Cardiovascular Insult occurs when the body becomes dehydrated plunging it into a state of shock. Dehydration is not a unique condition, but it is a situation that is often ignored especially at the subclinical stage which is just enough dehydration to be a potential problem but not enough to cause severe symptoms. Most often a person will upon feeling thirst, simply drink enough to satisfy the thirst but not necessarily enough to safeguard normal physiology.

In a great percentage of dehydration victims the first symptoms are often fatal. The tragedy of this condition is that it could have been avoided by simply increasing the intake of water.

Most recreational athletes as opposed to professionals, do not drink enough liquid to replace the fluids they lose during exercise. This includes Basketball. What is more startling, is that as many as 80 percent of the American public are living in a continuous state of subclinical dehydration and are not even aware of it.

Research has proven that fluid demands in our body change rapidly making it impossible to use thirst as a reliable indicator of potential dehydration. The body absolutely requires between 48 to 64 oz of water each and every day. This equates to 6 to 8 large glasses of water daily (in Arizona, the need is far greater). A water bottle should be as much a part of every working person's and athlete's equipment as a hammer, tennis racket or golf club.

In addition, the minerals lost due to perspiration go much further than simply sodium and potassium. Science has proven, health is positively affected by the addition of 84 trace minerals in the general diet in the form of supplementation.

Sport, recreational and occupational deaths are increasing each year to Americans appearing to be at their peak of performance. How many of these deaths could have been prevented by the addition of a simple item called WATER!!!!!!!!!

Remember We Believe in miracles !!!!

Please keep praying and posting for Mighty MikeyD !!!

Friday June 7th

Mighty MikeyD continues to amaze us. We opened the pool over Memorial day weekend and we worried about Mighty Mike the whole time. MikeyD was always a swimmer and he loved the water. we were not sure how he was going to handle the water again and we did not think he would be able to swim we blew up some rafts so he could float around. We also knew that his sisters and sully would look out for him. Before we knew it the little boy who not so long ago was in a wheelchair  was out of the raft and swimming in the pool. It is amazing there are a few things that he use to do real well that are coming back to him like pitching a baseball, shooting hoops not three’s like before closer but with perfect form and swimming. Little MikeyD is truly a miracle even though he has a long way to go and is totally different than before he was that tragic night he is getting better and stronger every day. MikeyD did fall three time last week his balance is still off and he is trying to move faster than he can. The first time he fell he cut his right knee and his left hand while he was laying on the ground and I seen the blood I said are you OK and he said no, I said let me help you up he looked up at me and said I want to get up on my own he laid there for about ten minutes before he got himself up. You could tell he was sad and was thinking about how hard things are for him now that use to be easy. My heart goes out to him every day when I watch him struggle yet he never complains he just keeps fighting the fight.Linda Verange was right he is now batting every time we play wiffle ball and he is batting real well. We are looking forward to having more games as soon as the weather clears up. Julia’s Birthday was last Wednesday she turned 17 and got her license the first thing she promised MikeyD was that when she got her license she would take him for Ice cream she kept her promise she picked him up when he got home from the children’s Hospital and took him to Dairy Queen you can see how happy he was from the picture above. Today is also my brother Seamus the Hero Cop’s Birthday. Happy Birthday Seamus you and MikeyD remind me so much of each other. In October, Seamus was presented by the NYPD with the prestigious Theodore Roosevelt Award in recognition of his outstanding “endurance and performance of duty in the face of life-threatening injury”. I am very proud of you and MikeyD.

***Please help spread this information below Pauline maybe you can get this info to the sports clubs in Ireland to pass around my goal is for all sports groups and teams to have an AED at every practice and event ********

Make sure all of your children playing sports stay hydrated now that the weather is getting warmer. Also make sure all your children playing sports are screened and get and EKG just to be safe if we can save one kid at a time we will be doing a great thing. I have been reading and studying a lot about sudden cardiac arrest in children and you would be amazed what I have learned and how common it is. It occurs when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions and the heart stops beating. The heart can no longer pump blood to the brain and vital organs. SCA occurs most often with little or no warning.

SCA is NOT a heart attack. A heart attack is a plumbing problem. It occurs when one or more blood vessels become blocked thus preventing the proper flow of blood to the heart.

• SCA is the leading cause of death in the United States claiming an estimated 300,000 people each year or approximately 1000 people a day.

·         SCA is the leading cause of death in student athletes.

·         Every 3 days, a young, competitive athlete suffers SCA.

·         For every minute that goes by without an AED the child’s chance of survival goes down 10% so in 10 minutes you have almost no chance MikeyD was down much longer than that without an AED. You now have to believe he is truly a miracle in sneakers we thank God every day for giving us this miracle.

Please keep praying and posting for mighty MikeyD

Sunday Memorial Day Weekend

Mighty MikeyD the Middletown Miracle continues to fight the good fight every day to win the battle!

MikeyD has been helping me coach Ciara's St.Catherine’s Basketball team. I told him he could call all the plays at the last game he stood on the side and said Dad I have to call time out they are not boxing out to get the rebounds. He called time out and asked the girls do you know how to box out ? He then started showing them and explained to them that you need to box out. He then said Dad I do not want to call another time out now but in the next half I am going to have them play zone instead of man to man I am going to put them in a one, three, one zone. He even started to sound like Mugsy.  (Mugsy was his coach for a few years) During the game I could tell it was really stimulating him he started talking faster and clearer for that one hour. it was almost as if he never had a TBI. On the way home he started talking slow like before the game. I am hoping that we can get him more involved in helping out in coaching basketball it really may help him in his recovery. he really loved playing basketball. Mighty MikeyD also received a great package from the Harlem Globtrotters Basketball team. It had a basketball signed by the whole team, wrist bands, cups and a team calendar. I am not sure who had it sent to him but thank you very much you should of seen his smile. MikeyD loves to see people that he knew before that tragic night you can tell by his face like when Chris Price and his mom Regina came to see MikeyD at Ciara’s basketball game that night. When he shook Chris’s hand  and he hugged Regina you just see this glow it is hard to explain but his eyes lit up and it makes him really happy. He does not say much but you can tell. You have to see the glow for yourself. If you can come see MikeyD please do anytime you can it is very much appreciated. We will be having an AWG (Attitude with Gratitude)get together tomorrow at The  Hills House , 20 Garryford Drive   Middletown, NJ 07748(off Stavola)

 if you can come see MikeyD that would be great. We will be honoring are fallen heroes and having a game of capture the flag.

We may even get a wiffle ball game going on the side.

We believe in Miracles !!!

Please Keep Praying and Posting for MikeyD.

Happy Mother's Day !

We had another Wiffle ball game last week. This time it was an away game at the Hill's house it was great. We had the Middletown Miracle pitching on the mound. A lot of people showed up  and he pitched really well as you can see him in action in the picture. We all had a lot of fun and are looking forward to our next game. We played the national Anthem before the game and we all knelt down and said a prayer giving thanks for our Miracle during the 7^th inning stretch.  We took off this weekend in honor of Mother's day. We will be having a game over Memorial day weekend if you can make it that will be great details will follow. MikeyD is starting to get flash backs now from all the time he spent in the hospital, Last night MikeyD was talking to our neighbor Cookie and she was asking him a lot of questions. She started asking him about when he was in the hospital and she came to visit him. Mighty MikeyD said to her you know I am still sick don't you ? She said yes I do he then said to her do you know I am fighting real  hard every day to get better. It is truly amazing that he is telling people that he is still sick and fighting the fight every day. We see him fighting and struggling every day with little things that we take for granted and yet he never complains. Mighty MikeyD says I can do it, let me do it and I want to do it on my own !!!  We will keep posting for Mighty MikeyD . We never knew how many people were inspired by this little 12 year old boy. This blog was started by MikeyD sisters Julia, Ciara , my brother Seamus and niece Bridget that tragic weekend in the Children’s hospital of Philadelphia when I could hardly talk or think straight never mind write. The blog was started just to keep our very large family informed most of which are in Ireland so we would not have to be on the phone. It was never started to be shared with so many people or to inspire anyone. We never thought anyone beside our immediate family would be on the blog. When they left that weekend they showed me how to log in and asked me to post an update on how he was doing. We were told it would be a miracle if he lived until Tuesday. As the administrator when you log in to do a new post you get a report of how many people went to the site to read the updates I could not believe it when I read the report we were getting 2,000.00 hits a day before you knew it we were getting over 3,000.00 hits a day for a little boy on a blog that was set up for the family. I received a lot of phone calls, emails and text since I posted the last time on Thursday night from people asking me to please not stop posting. I heard stories of people with cancer, that were sick, old and tired, people that had given up, who were inspired by the little boy who was doing things that they said he would never do again.

Some of the people with cancer are cancer free and the others who had given up are doing better, fighting and doing things they could not do before reading about little MikeyD. I know he did not heal any of them personally but I do know that he inspired them with his positive I can attitude and his untouchable fighting spirit. I believe if you think you can do it you will do it and if you think you can’t do it you won’t. Attitude means a lot more than Aptitude. I am so happy that something good has come from this little boys pain and suffering. Then we had people like Diane Hansen posting  He and your entire family are a source of inspiration for all of us. Your faith touches all of us & God’s miracles with MikeyD put us in awe. We are never bored with your blog and hope that you will continue to do it. It’s a joy to read about MikeyD just as it was heart wrenching to read in the beginning of this event.

We also had Karen who we never met posting

Hi Doherty Family. We have never met. I read about Mikey D in the newspaper and I heard prayers being asked for him in our church. (He is still on our congregation prayer list, Westminster Presbyterian in Middletown) I have been reading your blog since you started it. His story and miraculous recovery, and your blogging it, is incredible. I look forward to your posts about the recovery Mikey is making. I assure you, I am not the slightest bit bored. You have touched many lives. Lives you don't even know exist, but who you reach through your blog about Mikey. It feels good to read about him doing so well, he is defying all odds, and is living proof of a higher power. MikeyD's story is inspirational.
Wishing you all well on the journey you are on.
Karen

I hope we get to meet Karen in person someday.

People like all of you posting really helps my family in this tough time,

Thank you for all your prayers and support.

Happy Mother’s day to all of you !

We Believe in Miracles !

Please keep praying and posting for Mighty MikeyD !

Thursday Night *

We had our first wiffleball tournament and it was a great time for all. A lot of kids showed up with their parents when I said we will choose sides someone said let's play the parents against the kids. that was a bad idea the kids crushed us. MikeyD was on the mound for the kids team and he had no mercy for anyone not even his Prayer warrior Peggy Dunne when he pitched to her there was no mercy and when she ran the bases he tagged her out. I do not think he really knows how much she did for him. We are planning on having more games this was really great for the MikeyD we had snacks for everyone then Moya ordered Pizza for all of us we came in and had Pizza and the first one that said lets go play when we were done was MikeyD it is truly amazing the energy and spirit he has after all the pain and suffering he has just been through. After being in a coma and then being paralyzed and laying around in a hospital bed for months from there he went to going around in a wheelchair and now he was the first one up and throwing the ball again. He is for sure the Middletown Miracle. This Tuesday April 30^th was Moya’s birthday MikeyD said do not worry Mom I think you look good for your age we all started laughing he was so sincere. Tonight when he came home from the Children’s Hospital he said mom where is my backpack ? She said I don’t know where did you leave it. He went and got his backpack and pulled out a present he said Mom this is a present from me that I made at the hospital for you for your birthday and mother’s day. It was wrapped very nice Moya said MikeyD did you wrap this for me ? he said no mom I could never wrap  like this Miss Carol wrapped it for me but I did help make it. I hope you like it. He made her a pot holder he then said Mom I hope it is not too small. Moya said MikeyD nothing you could ever give  me could be too small. He was so happy to give his mom this gift I wish you could of seen the smile on his face. MikeyD has started playing the lottery he picked some numbers and every week Uncle Larry brings him his tickets. He told me the other day Dad if I win the lottery the first thing I am going to do is pay off all my medical bills, the second thing I am going to do is donate a lot of money to CHOP and the Children’s hospital and then I am going to buy a big yacht for all my friends. After I heard that I said he is coming back to us. We need to bring him back to us from the Children’s Hospital in Mountainside to Middletown as soon as we can. I can’t imagine how he feels every day being away from all his friends in Bayshore. The doctor at CHOP who said the best thing for MikeyD right now is familiarity was right. I see it every time one of his old friends show up to visit him. If you can come visit MikeyD please do I know a lot of us are busy but it really does help him. I am not sure how much longer I will keep posting for MikeyD  I do not want to bore anyone now that he is getting better. No one knows how much further he will come back or if he will get any better. I do not want his old friends to forget him and hope that they come see him. Maybe we can get another wiffle ball game put together real soon. I would like to thank all of you for your prayers and support. I ask all of you to please keep in touch and come see the Middletown Miracle when you can.

"Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again." 

We believe in Miracles !!!

Please keep praying and posting for MikeyD !

Tuesday Night

Ciara made her Confirmation last week we are so proud of her. It was great that she picked her sister Julia to be her sponsor. They both looked so pretty all dressed up. On Friday Moya and I had to go to the Children s Specialized Hospital for Brain Injury Awareness Day. We were both very surprised when we got there they had all the kids in the cafeteria along with the doctors, teachers and therapist. They had different displays set up around the room explaining about brain injury. One of the displays had a maze puzzle on it with a 3 way mirror behind it. When you stood at the display you could not see the maze by looking down you could only see it in the mirror. We had to take a pen and try and go through the maze while only being able to see it in the mirror it was very hard to try and figure it

Out. They explained to us that this is what it was like for someone with a brain injury to try and figure things out. After that we were really surprised what happened. They had MikeyD get up in front of everyone with his speech therapist next to him and he made a speech in front of everyone with some coaching from his therapist. It was very emotional for us he said hi my name is MikeyD I was playing basketball on September 7^th when my heart stopped beating and I fell to the ground  it took the people a long time to get my heart beating again and now my whole brain is damaged. I now have a hard time processing information especially when people talk to fast with that he looked out at me and said ok dad everyone started laughing. The ok dad was not part of what they had rehearsed. He then said because of my brain injury my balance is off and my body is weak so I can no longer play sports like I use to.

I also have problems with my memory. Since I started my therapies I have made a lot of progress I am learning to read and write again. Moya and I were both amazed that he was telling this story we never talked to him much about what happened that tragic day. The doctors and therapist talk to him about it all the time they say that one of the things about a brain injury is that people are aware of their injury. This is another great group of professional people that are really caring and know what they are doing. This is where MikeyD needs to be for now. Peggy had a great idea to get MikeyD involved in baseball again she said we will get some kids together and play wiffle ball. When Brian Hill heard this he said that is a great idea so we are going to get the other MikeyD – Dunne ,the Hill Boys, Sully, Rob Cassin, Sean and some others and set up some games. Barbara Cassin also had a great idea and invited MikeyD  to come over and try the batting cage in their yard. Ciara, Sully, MikeyD and myself did go over on Sunday and it was great.  MikeyD got in the cage and started pitching to the batters. He could not swing a bat just yet but that will be next. He threw a lot of pitches in the cage and every time the bucket was empty he even went around with us and picked up the balls and helped fill the bucket. That is great PT for him. We are looking forward to the wiffle ball games and going back to the batting cage one day to see MikeyD swinging a bat.

We believe in Miracles !

Please keep praying and posting for MikeyD !

Sunday Night

Twenty Three of us celebrated Easter Sunday with Mighty MikeyD it was really nice. We all went out to dinner. We celebrated the Resurrection which means new life. MikeyD was given a new life one that we are very grateful for but it is a much different life than he had before one that everyone in my family is  adjusting to especially Julia and Ciara.

We know they are going through a lot and not getting any credit for it. I know one thing for sure Mighty MikeyD could not have two better sisters they take care of him like you would not believe. It is really hard on everyone in our family my mother, my father, my brothers  my sister  Moya’s mother her brothers , and sisters, and all his cousins  to adjust to this new life. I am sure it hardest on Julia and Ciara to see their little bother as he is now compared to how he was before. He doesn't know what day it is he cannot read or write he is confused and does not even know what he had for lunch. You can no longer talk to him like you could before this he looks a little bit like he use to look but he is very different. Moya’s Birthday is in April today he said mom I never knew your Birthday was in April it is sad. Both MikeyD and his new Puppy have so much to learn, you can tell that he is starting to miss the things he  was able to do before like playing baseball in the spring, hopefully one day he will be able to play baseball again. Along with Julia and Ciara being so good to him he is lucky to have a few great friends that still come to see him. I can only tell you one thing I see the best improvement when he is with Julia, Ciara and these few great friends.  Ciara will be making her confirmation this Tuesday and normally it would of been a big occasion in our family. I feel like it has been over looked for her because of all we have been through with MikeyD . I only hope that Ciara knows we are all so happy for her and look forward to seeing her make her confirmation. We are so proud of her and the way she takes care of her little brother with her sister  Julia.  Ciara also picked her sister Julia to be her sponsor for her confirmation. We will celebrate Ciara’s confirmation on Tuesday. Above is a picture of Kiona when she was taking care of MikeyD she hurt her ankle and was wearing a boot and MikeyD had two boots. Mighty MikeyD continues to dig in deep and fight his daily struggles everyday with his I can do it Spirit.

Right now he needs all the support he can get from friends and family.

We believe in Miracles.

Please keep praying and posting for MikeyD.