miracleboy

Valentine's Day 2005

miracleboy — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 19:50:00 -0500

This is just an explanation of what happened to Sam the night of the accident...recent posts are below:

Before the accident Sam was a pre-med freshman at Michigan State University. He had spent the previous July-November in Boston doing research at Harvard in an effort to find a cure for his sister's rare disease (see the catagory "Sam's Research Before the Accident") and had just started at MSU in January. On Valentines Day 2005 he was driving home from getting a chest xray to check for pneumonia. When he was three miles from his mom and dad's house he fell asleep and drove off the road at 40 mph. His car finally stopped only after becoming airborne and hitting two trees. When the paramedics arrived he was still breathing, but just barely. This blog tells of Sam's life after the accident and the struggles and miracles that followed.

Yes, there is another sister...the silent gifted one.

miracleboy — Sun, 11 May 2008 21:57:00 -0400

Early on in our travels in the land of brain trauma, you might have noticed that Sam had two sisters who posted equally and took the time to put down their thoughts and let you know what was going on in the land of Howells (or people who formally lived there and now visit WAY too much!). There has been some confusion about what has happened to the second, brighter sister and why it is that she no longer posts.

I need you to understand some things about family dynamics first. You will have to decide for yourself what you feel the true reasoning is behind this mystery.

1. I am middle child and am often forgotten. I think once they left me on a vacation all alone in the hotel room (Okay, I was 31 at the time).

2. My sister is cute and thin and fluffy (in a very nauseating way when you are the bigger little sister) but she can be lethal. Don't let (ouch!) her fool you (ouch!). She likes the format and lime light of these posts and as I post she (ouch!) raps on my poor bigger-than-her knuckles with a ruler or anything that is near her that she can wield.

3. They often keep me locked in the basement where there is no electricity but I must admit, they do give me candles and a woolen blanket.

4. I truly enjoy reading Bec's post and am slightly afraid that if I pick up the slack then she won't be as likely to post and therefore I can't read the Becca text that makes me laugh and chortle. Also I have four kids and they are all (except two year old Izzy) way over involved in sports.

So, fans of Sam, you decide, what happened to the little sister that was once part of this blog?

Also, I must say I saw an amazing (VERY SCARY) thing this weekend. Sam and my mom as great fans of my children, without informing me, planned on coming to my two daughters soccer games. They got behooded in their matching Freeland sports sweatshirts and they were off. The only thing that gave them away was the phone call my mom made to ask, "Where is everyone, when do they arrive?" Only to realize that she was at an empty field that Robby's team used to use as a flood field about three years ago. No problem she showed up dragging Sam behind her in his wheelchair across the grass.

Okay, back to the scary event. I was acting very professional as I do teach in this town; there was nary a scream, screech or a phantom kick coming from my leg (Okay, it was pretty much nonstop, what can I say, I can't control it, I swear if they let me on the field for five mintues, I'd be quiet). When I slowly turned my head and saw with my very own eyes Robby shooting soccer balls at Sam, WHO WAS STANDING UP! He and my mom had their arms around each others shoulders like the Freeland sweatshirt twins that they were and Sam's reflexes were amazing. He and Robby were passing the ball back and forth. Before Sam would have about a five second delay in reflexes. If we would play around with a ball in the house (like all 32 year old/21 year old brothers and sisters do I am sure), The ball would get past him or he would kick and miss because his reaction time was delayed. Not anylonger, he was just a-passing, like nobody's business. It brough a tear to my eye and made me very scared! He is now amazing, miracle/soccer boy again!

Now I must go before Becca sees me, my knuckles are still bleeding from earlier.

Heath

Brain Stimulant Turned Young Man into 85-Year Old Woman

miracleboy — Sun, 11 May 2008 10:06:00 -0400

Sam has said au revoir to something that has been a pretty big part of his life for the past ...

Thick It Real Good

miracleboy — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:26:00 -0400

My brother has officially entered the world of people that can just pick up a bottle of Mountain Dew (his ...

Don't Pull the Plug

miracleboy — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:57:00 -0400

You know, this entry might not have a whole lot to do with how my brother is doing now, but ...

Sam Lives...Sister Continues to be a Major Slacker

miracleboy — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:59:00 -0400

You know when you have that dream? You know the one I'm talking about. Where you have a class (in ...

miracleboy — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 22:13:00 -0500

A Merry Holiday Movie from the Howells

miracleboy — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 20:55:00 -0500

We have discovered the joy of Jib Jab movies starring US (this is how we spent Christmas Eve). Please enjoy our holiday show and click on the link below:

**Ignore the previous link--it was working sometimes but kept replacing our heads with strangers. This makes no sense until you visit the site: www.jibjab.com Go there and peace be with you. It is fun.

Bec (who has nothing better to do than to turn her family of origin into elves)

God Bless Us, Everyone

miracleboy — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 19:39:00 -0500

Christmas has arrived and, along with it, all the bitterness and infighting that comes trailing behind this most blessed holiday. ...

Surgeon General's Warning: This Post Might Be Really Stupid

miracleboy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:02:00 -0400

Fine. It's been so long, I don't even know what to say.

This stinks.

Anthony just looked over my shoulder, ...

God help California, they're going back

miracleboy — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:13:00 -0400

Some background on why my family should be banned from California...

Last year my wonderful parents and my brother offered to go to California with me for my doctor appointment. Here is where I should be swearing a blue streak. It was awful. Like, I almost jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge awful. Okay I didn't almost but I'm sure that would have been more pleasurable!

Now, I have traveled with my mom and we have a lot of fun together. I have traveled with good old Sam and we have had fun together. Although my dad is a good fellow with good intentions, he travels like cheese. Imagine taking a hunk of cheddar cheese, unrefrigerated, mind you, on a week long trip. Think about how it would be effecting you by the end of the trip. People stare with noses slightly upturned. You have an unexplicable headache all the time. You feel slightly ill and find yourself making excuses just to get away from the cheese, if only for a moment. Yet at the same time, you feel guilty about leaving those you love alone with the cheese. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, wouldn't be here if he wasn't. But I swear, by the grace of God, I will NEVER travel with him again.

Let's go over some of the highlights (look back in the blog because Bec did write about this).

Ooooh guys, let us go on a Whale Watch, that will be exciting. You agree? Until the ship starts pitching back and forth and Sam is rocking wildly side to side with Heather and Mom simutaneously, knuckles white, knees clenched on wheels, holding on for dear life while Jim smokes a cigarette and walks around. Suddenly, Heather is left holding Sam solo because my mom is ever so demurly, pukin' over the side.

Whew, on the China Town for dinner. We followed my mom's ever standing vacation advice to go to the busiest restaurant because, it must be good. Man was she right, the BEST place I have ever eaten! That evening Sam proceded to have a siezure. So, we visited the local hospital because, heck, why not!

We'll do a little poem to tell you about the rest:

My mom was popping pills

As we climbed the lovely hills.

Was she having an attack?

My dad I just might smack.

Get Sam to the shore.

In the car my dad snores.

As my mom is the one to steer.

We drank some Chineese beer.

A waft of stink came our way.

Same got some new pjs.

Thank god I am home.

I will next time travel alone!

The reason they are going to CA is the following:

Sam being the super, wonder, miracle boy that he is has been invited to come to California and possibly be the spokesman for this thingie he uses on his leg (I know, I shouldn't use such techincal jargon, people might get confused). So they have invited a few candidates to come out and see who will be the chosen one. He might be on tv and stuff.

So, God help California and God help the Howells because the Grizwalds have NOTHING on us!

Heath

It's Offical: Sam is writing poetry and now I'm NOT special AT ALL

miracleboy — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 17:38:00 -0400

The time has come (like I knew it would). I have officially been stripped of my title as "The person in the immediate family that writes things pretty good and stuff"...

Whole Bunch of Nothing

miracleboy — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:02:00 -0400

It has been so long since I have written even an inkling of a coherent post that I am a ...

Pray for Micah

miracleboy — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:28:00 -0400

I was sitting next to a woman in a hairsalon yesterday and overheard (or maybe eavesdropped) on the conversation she ...

Top Three Reasons NEVER to Take Your Mother to Camp

miracleboy — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 10:58:00 -0400

Sam went to camp a few weeks back and following his experience I decided to post a list titled 3 ...

Sam Is Some Guy in a Published Scientific Article

miracleboy — Sat, 26 May 2007 10:00:00 -0400

Okay...now my brother has truly hit the pinnacle...he is now officially VERY HARD TO LIVE WITH. The reason? He is ...

Everyone wants to write about Sam

miracleboy — Sat, 19 May 2007 17:57:00 -0400

There is another article (and video, too) about my brother. You know how my ego feels about this (Ego and I have been arguing about this very topic--I say, "Ego, Sam deserves the attention, he is a mega-cool guy, he has been through a lot." Ego rolls his eyes and responds with a hissing "whatever").

So...regardless of how Ego feels, here is the link:

http://www.weyi.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=35618

*If you go to the bottom of this story and click on the link about reading more/learning more (or something like that) you can watch the video.

Bec

Help Little Madison

miracleboy — Sat, 12 May 2007 00:11:00 -0400

A little girl, Madison, was involved in a near drowning accident just over a year ago. She is still semi-comatose but continues to make progress. Her friends are trying to get her family on Extreme Home Makeover (to help with renovations for Madison) and have a petition they would like people to sign. Please just take a second and follow this link:

http://www.gopetition.com/signatures.php?petid=12112

It only takes a minute and it could make a big difference in the life of this family.

Bec

P.S. You can view Madison's website at the following address:

www.princessmadison.org

Your Monkeys Are Calling, Mean Boy.

miracleboy — Sun, 06 May 2007 13:15:00 -0400

I'm really just posting for the pure pleasure of banging on the keyboard. I really don't know what I have ...

Oh, by the way, I need a job and stuff

miracleboy — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 15:23:00 -0400

This might seem like a desperate, really tacky move on my part but, well, I am a tacky and desperate ...

Sam Versus the Ugly Brown Chair

miracleboy — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 15:05:00 -0400

Mental note to self (Sam). When angry about your mother leaving her chair at your computer, think before you react. Mull ...

A Boring Story About a Washing Machine With NO Embellishments at all (yawn)

miracleboy — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:46:00 -0400

Okay. My mother wants me to stop with the embellishments. So here is the (boring) revised version of God Love the Little Washing Machine...

God Love the Little Washing Machine

miracleboy — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:24:00 -0400

Picture this. It is dinner time on a cold and snowy night. My mom, Sam and I are sitting around the ...

Please say a prayer for a Freeland teen

miracleboy — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 12:01:00 -0400

A friend of the family Erin (Jayne's daughter Katie's friend) from Freeland is going through a rough patch right now. She has been recently sent to Ann Arbor and they are not sure what is going on. I have heard some serious things dropped like possibilities of encephelitis and menangitis but they truly do not know what is causing her illness right now. She is in a medically induced coma right now and is in very critical condition. I know that Sam's survival was hinged on the prayers on his behalf. So please join us and pray for Erin and her family. Send up your healing thoughts like you did for our miracle.

Forever indebted to you,

Heather Boyes and family

I'm A Total Wreck And It's All Sam's Fault!

miracleboy — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 22:50:00 -0400

Sam is being dangerous sometimes and it is really freaking me out. Now, it is true that it really doesn't ...

My Siblings Are Medical Freaks

miracleboy — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 17:17:00 -0400

I have now entered the world of "person with a bad neck/back". This was a situation that I really had ...

Whatever

miracleboy — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:23:00 -0500

Haven't heard a word from my wayward family. Not a sound. I guess they are much too busy being fabulous and important. Whatever.

Bec

And Then There Was One

miracleboy — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 16:56:00 -0500

Left behind. That's me. Remember all the scary movies where there is only one person left. Where everyone else has ...

I'm Here...I'm Okay

miracleboy — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 11:17:00 -0500

Okay, I will admit that I have not, as of yet, seen the Sam's 10 minutes of fame. But I ...

Retch! Blauck! Hurl!

miracleboy — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:26:00 -0500

Ever have that "bang your head into a wall" kind of feeling? Yeah? Know what I'm talking about? I'm having ...