alone having that monster pulled all the way up his throat and out of his neck. No pain no gain!
Thankfully they managed to quickly insert a stainless steel jackson trach with a slightly smaller diameter as a replacement, then after 4 days they pulled it out [not so much pain this time cos there was no inner balloon to worry about] and inserted another jackson stainless steel trach with yet again a slightly smaller diameter This procedure allows the hole in Stephen's throat to heal up a bit and get smaller and smaller each time. Finally and thankfully Stephen managed to breathe well enough by himself ,without any support from that life support machine; and the nursing staff gave the long awaited OK to pull the smaller Jackson trach from Stephens neck, then a special patch was put over the hole in his neck in order to keep it surgically clean and to help close up for good that horrible neck wound.
YES---YES ---YES----AT LAST NO FOREIGN OBJECTS IN MY MOUTH OR THROAT
These were Stephens words at the time-----can anyone imagine what that has been likefor 21 weeks? Because Stephen is breathing air at a very high altitude [Denver is a mile high] he is taking in a lower oxygen content than we are down at sea level, so as long as he remains in Denver he has to wear an oxygen tube up his nostrils and get his top up from an oxygen cylinder and get his lungs used to breathing on their own without that life support machine This has been the news we have been praying for and dreaming about, it is such a huge step forward for Stephen in his determined efforts to get better from this most crippling of injuries. A huge well done son, is my way of thanking him for staying strong and continuing to fight to get rid of that machine
BLOODY WELL DONE SON---------WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF YOUR ATTITUDE
Other good news is the fact that Stephen and Melissa have found a suitable house to live in,[ back in the Riverside area of Southern California ] and signed a 12 months rental lease,. Because of their unfortunate financial position we had to come up wth all the 12 months rent up front---thanks to all who have helped with the STEPHEN MURRAY FAMILY FUND we have managed to do this, so today, Friday 16th November, Melissa is flying back to California to pick up the keys and start the house moving process.
In my first paragraph I did say we have been waiting for some news from the Craig Hospital for the last 2 weeks, this following is what it has been about Stephen has been waiting for his own personal brand new electric powered wheelchair to arrive at the Craig Hospital so that he can have it fitted around him comfortably and learn to use all of the controls with the back of his head,[ cos that is all he has the use of at present]. It is now believed that his new wheelchair will arrive in Denver Friday 23rd November and if all goes well, the hospital staff will work with Stephen for about a week or so to ensure he can totally control it well enough to be finally discharged from the Craig Hospital in Denver , keeping our fingers crossed for hopefully Friday 30th November.
I will be flying across the Atlantic Ocean for the umpteenth time to spend the last week in Denver with Stephen and then flying with him from Denver to California and spending another week or so helping him to settle in to a new way of living away from the Hospitals which Stephen has been living in for these last 21 weeks
Cynthia is flying to California a few days ahead of us so she can put her own little touches into making their new house, a nice new comfortable home, ready for Stephens arrival, and will also be staying with Stephen for a week or so to help him to get to get to grips with his new way of living in his own home, with his wife Melissa and their 2 sons 5 year old Seth and 2 year old Mason------ not forgetting Stephens 2 Golden Retriever sister dogs Cassie and Geordie and his giant St. Bernard, Rocky.who have been such a miss to Stephen but have all had very good homes these last 5 months.
That's all for now folks and it goes without saying that you are so much appreciated for everything you helped with ,YOU have made us all STAY STRONG FOR STEPHEN
Thanks everybody
Jeff
Seems ages since I tapped these computer keys and typed out an update for you but for these last 2 weeks we have been waiting for some important confirmations from the Craig Hospital and it is only today that I feel confident enough to spill some juicy juicy news---more about that later in this bulletin. During my last trip out to stay with Stephen we saw some huge changes in his breathing abilities and we were on a countdown to try and get rid of the trach from Stephens neck which has been keeping him alive for the last 21 weeks via the life support machine[ ventilator]. The large diameter plastic trach with the speaking valve and inner balloon was removed with a lousy yelp from Stephen, it really hurt me just watching let 
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