April, 2004
Liz Beerman, a longtime family friend, has great fun sending Marla delightful postcards and stories "written" by Rosie and Daisy. Marla and Mary frequently respond with cards "written" by Puck.
Marla attended the Glacier Peak Elementary "Sock Hop" dance. She enjoyed visiting with students and fellow teachers. Here she shares a hug with Matthew Alvarez. These amazing students and teachers used the dance as an opportunity to raise money to support Marla to participate in the Brain Injury Association Challenge Camp this July in Breckenridge.
Marla takes a few tentative steps around outside her room. Due to dizziness and fatigue from her pain medication, she can't go far yet.
Marla posing with the plates and screws that were removed from her humerus, radius, and ulna in advance during the elbow replacement surgery.
Julie Andersen and Liz Beerman give Marla a hug and check out the workings of her CPM range-of-motion machine.
Marla is resplendent with the joy of sharing her lap with a lap-sized Rosie. Puck's probably kinda jealous!
Marla soaks up the love of Rosie and Daisy during a visit from friends Julie Andersen and Liz Beerman.
Julie Andersen, family friend and Marla's Senior AP English teacher in high school, shares in the fun.
Dr. Sachar, left, is Marla's orthopedic surgeon. He performed the 5 1/2 hour surgery to repair and replace Marla's elbow. Dr. Weintraub, right, is Marla's neurologist at Craig Hospital. He dropped in at Swedish to see how she's doing.
Celeste, Marla's PT at Craig Hospital, came to visit her after her surgery at Swedish. Celeste was a great help in setting up Marla's CPM (automatic range-of-motion) machine, and helped lift Marla's spirits.
Marla pauses to admire the beautiful blooming trees on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder. She spent two days being evaluated at CU's speech science department for participation in their summer research program. The evaluators (instructors and graduate students) commented on Marla's intelligence, warmth, determination, and were amazed at how well she has already applied a variety of adaptive communication strategies on her own!

















