This site is dedicated to Josi Jean Eve, a brave and caring soul off on a new adventure. She left sooner than we expected, but then again, her clock never seemed to keep the same time as that of anyone else. We are thankful for the time she was kind enough to share with us, and for her beaming smiles, which could easily light the darkest of rooms. We are forever blessed for knowing you, Jos.
Final Post August 29, 2010
Josi Jean Eve
Josi Jean Eve, 22, of Great Falls, died at her home Saturday of natural causes as a result of a severe traumatic brain injury from a car accident on August 13, 2006.
Josi Jean Eve, passed away Aug. 27, 2010, at home surrounded by her family, friends and her beloved pets. We are grateful for her spirit and tenacity and the care of all those who loved her that kept her with us for four years following until her body could not fight off another onslaught of infection.
Josi was born on Dec. 23, 1987, in Great Falls, Mont. She was the youngest daughter of Joseph Eve of Lakeside and Debra Eve of Great Falls and graduated from Great Falls High School in 2006.
She was vibrant, tenacious, funny, mischievous, stubborn, generous, caring and compassionate. She lived a life of abundance – full of intensity and passion. And, she lived a life of love – surrounded by family and friends with whom she shared her zest for life and her vivacious spirit. Josi was a fighter - never willing to back down or accept less than everything, always ready to take her hits and keep moving forward. Her tenacity, strength and courage have been an inspiration to all of us. In her illness, she was a healer – bringing out the best in all those who have been fortunate enough to be around her. Josi loved animals of all kinds but especially loved cuddling with her Doberman, Daydo (aka Tater).
Josi lived her live with gusto and passion. She was a fierce competitor. Whether it was Powder Puff Football or video games, she always wanted to win. But, she never let herself be held back by a fear of failure. Josi was willing to give anything a try and was forever pushing limits. Sometimes that daredevil spirit got her into some tight spots, but more often than not, she accomplished what she set out to do. She was a compassionate and generous soul, always doing things to help other people. It was Josi who would stand up for the kid that was being bullied or go out of her way to include the kid whom everyone else left out.
Josi lived her life surrounded by loving friends and family. Brother, sisters, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends – she loved them all with a fierce and lasting love. Her grandparents – Poppa, Poppa Grandma, Popsy and Popsy Grandma - held an extra special place in her heart. Josi was a “hug mug,” always seeking – and sharing - hugs with those she loved. She touched so many lives, before and after her accident. Every morning she greeted us with a smile, and as we leaned down to give that morning hug, we would put her arm around our neck and feel her squeeze us back. She loved to see her family and would beam when they were all home to see her.
It would be impossible to thank all those who made it possible for us to feel her hugs again, see her smile, watch her laugh, or scowl at those who blocked her TV, but we would like to acknowledge all those in the health field who gave a little bit more for Josi. When she was at the hospital, Josi met a young lady (Brandi Szydlowski) who worked there, and soon after, Brandi left the hospital to help us take care of Josi at home. Words cannot express what it meant to us to have Brandi in Josi’s life. Brandi helped to care for her, read to her, and made sure she not only had a suntan but her nails were painted, too! With the help of her care team, Josi made it to her brother Grant’s wedding in Whitefish and sister Theresa’s wedding in Bozeman last year. The smile on her face made all that effort worth it. The semi-weekly trips to the Peak Warm Pool with Senor (Bob) were the highlight of her week, and everyone who saw her there knew she enjoyed the freedom of floating in that pool. Visits by Corgan Bosley and son Koley made Josi laugh, deep bed-shaking belly laughs. Friends Matt Washington and Allen Johnson made sure she was never without music and company for a movie. Her beloved Senor Bob made sure all her daily needs were attended to, including the right TV channel. Love for Josi was deep.
During her all-too-short life, Josi touched so many people in so many different ways. We will always remember the beauty of her spirit and her unquenchable passion for life, even as we mourn her passing. Her life has been a gift shared with all of us. We are sad she is gone, but that light of Josi’s will never dim; we carry it with us in our hearts and see it in each new star in the sky. Josi had the spirit of the buffalo. She didn’t turn away from the storm; she turned and walked through it, with all of us by her side.
For all of those who kept the faith, love and hope throughout this journey, we thank you. Our girl is now an angel and will be watching and waiting for us to join her. Always and forever, Josi's mom
July 10, 2010
Whoo Hoo, it's pool time!!! Josi is back floating around in the warm salt water pool twice a week. She is loving it and is the "belle of the pool". Before the pool is open for her, the seniors have a class, and some stay through the next session that Josi is in. Of course they all marvel at her smiles and enjoyment. Senor and Brandi take her in, and after the stretches and toe touch (just her feet to the bottom of the pool, a strange sensation I am sure), they put in a couple of swim noodles, hold her head and she floats. What a smile, it is worth all the effort to get her there and back a million times over! Senor tells her about fifteen minutes BEFORE it is time to leave that she has to get out, she scowls and then floats around for awhile longer. Staying a bit longer each time, because even this little exercise has an effect on her.
We have been blessed, she has been very healthy and except for a short bout with the flu (always scary though, she dehydrates rapidly), has been healthy.
The surgeries have been helpful, many who see her think she is looking brighter and more aware. She gets outside most days for awhile,even has a tan line!.
Things are good, better than they were last year about this time. Josi has put on some weight, eats soft food every day and likes most of them. She loves the new pudding flavors, especially those by JellyBelly - pear, very cherry and cotton candy!.
Take care, and always thanks for thinking and praying for Miss Jo2theC! Faith, Love and Hope - Josi's mom
May 23, 2010
Again I apologize; time just seems to get away from me. Miss Josi is good, as good as she can be, not as good as we want her to be, but that is still the quest. The tone (spasticity) fights the surgeries, for awhile Botox on the back made it possible to move her arms, but as that wanes, the fight amps up as we try to move body parts locked into place. To keep the fingers open we place soft objects (like half a small nerf football or a piece of a water noodle) in her hands. Pressure, Pressure and she pops them out! All and all pretty healthy, been staying away from the hospital.
Josi has a great swallow reflex, eats a couple of yogurts or yogurt and oatmeal every day (doesn’t like eggs), but the chew is not consistent enough to add a more solid food. We call her “tonguey” as she has mastered sticking her tongue out when she wants food and wiggles it. Have to stimulate it with food, so must have something to do with taste. Again can’t get her to do it for a yes or no but once she starts eating or drinking (a lot of water via mouth now) the tongue is a silly snake wiggling all over.
Since we now have sunshine, she has been out a while each day and even has a slight tan line, soaking up the vitamin D. Brandi, Cassidy and Mercede took her to the mall the other day and she came back all smiles (and with a few bags – shorts and a cute top). She really likes to be part of the “girls”. The crazy French poodle has gas issues and makes Josi laugh and laugh. The dog needs a job so we taught her to look for rabbits and when she spots them outside, OMG, it is a circus. She whines and pokes you with her snout, and then stands on her hind legs, emitting her trade mark sound (and Josi laughs) looking out the window. Only at our house I guess.
Haven’t seen much for friends of Josi’s besides Allen. He wanders up to say hello and gives Senor a hand at a few house projects while he waits for one of his job interviews to pay off. So hard these days to get work, but glad to have him around. Josi watches him intently when he is here. Grant and Mercede bought a house here, so looks like they will be around for awhile. Nice to have the extra people around and we have gotten so used to Cassidy here, it will be a quick year and she will be gone to college, back to just the three of us again.
Back to Josi – she is gets ROM (range of motion) stretches multiple times a day, therapy has been discontinued (no thanks again to the insurance company and government rules), so we are on our own. Going to try and get swimming going again after Memorial weekend and see if between Brandi, Bob, Cass, Mercede and Grant she can get to the pool twice a week.
Had a visit from Liz, a professor I work with, she hadn’t seen Josi in quite some time and was very impressed with the cognitive improvement. She noticed how well she tracks people, listens to conversations and in general her overall interest in surroundings. It was very heartening to hear that. We notice things, but wonder if others ever do.
Keep the faith, hope and love always, Josi’s mom
March 23, 2010
Almost the end of March, time sure flies, whether you are having fun or not! Surgeries are all over, now it is therapy, therapy, therapy …and fight, argue and fight with insurance and Medicaid over “improvement”. Never ends, never will I guess but sure gets tiring. Josi has been over to Missoula for checkups, doctor likes what he sees and we are working on stretching. That da*n spasticity never leaves her alone, trying to erode the surgery results via, what we call “the super tighten up”. It is almost like hyper gear and her muscles tighten and then of course, cramp and she is in pain so tighten more. Think of it like a rubber band, we took some tension off, but it still is trying to wind itself up. We keep stretching her, have botoxed the big muscle in her back (that helped a lot on the tighten up), and go to therapy, put her in splints and rub her down. She smiles when we do, loves her hugs and eats almost every day – oatmeal, Jell-o, pudding, ice cream sundaes (gotta watch the cold) with hot (ok, warm) fudge and yogurt. Of course, never seems to gain much weight but I bet she enjoys the taste. We’ve had a few get-togethers and she sure enjoys those, especially when people stand or sit next to her and talk. You can see the smile across the room. Grant is here now and she watches him closely whenever he comes over. The crazy poodle makes her laugh, as does some other odd happenings. I heard her laugh the other day in the shower; it was more than a chuckle and brought a tear to my eye. Wish, wish, wish could hear that voice again. Allan has been around quite a bit, trying to find a job and in the downtime (unfortunately a bit too much of that) comes up and hangs out with Josi. Waiting for Corgan and Kurt to have a baby so they can bring it up to see her. Cousin Cass and company are always solid company and total entertainment (Josi watches them play dance revolution on the Wii very intently), a visit from her Aunt Ronnie and Uncle Larry, cousin Kalli and a few other family and friends have kept us all busy. Not a lot new, but things are better, which is all we can ask. Faith Love and Hope and as always thanks for the prayers – Josi’s mom
February 7, 2010
Just finished Super Bowl! What a game. Since the accident we make sure to watch the game with Josi. I remember the first time, he picked her up and carried all the way up the stairs, I was so worried when it was time to go down. Senor has carried her so many times since that day… good thing she is a light weight. The tendon releases were as successful as they could be, already we fight her body trying to contort back, but she seems a bit more comfortable. Her skin has shrunk so the arm could not be extended as much as we like but now the thumb is free and fingers are starting to move.
Josi seems “brighter”. She has had a few trips to see different doctors and our fav (her trauma surgeon from the accident), saw her to remove the Hickman port (IV access). He said he was amazed at how much eye contact she made, and he said it was a miracle she was doing as well as she is. Josi seems to pay attention more, is eating all kinds of soft foods, and likes to have her arms rubbed. The crazy (and I mean crazy) poodle makes her laugh, and it is more sustained and hearty. When asked (again on a good day, she still has those bad days unfortunately), she will stick her tongue in and out. Slow, slow progress, but progress none the less.
She is quite the traveler, having logged many miles this last year, Missoula nine trips I think, Bozeman and Whitefish! The van has been busy and so have we! We are working on a plan now to try to get her to gain weight and then when spring comes; hopefully we can get her back into the warm pool for some swim time. Right now she is healing still and we are slowly stretching the hand and fingers, and hoping that somehow, someway they will become functional for her again.
We added a TV to her room and its bigger picture seems to make her happier.
Much thanks to Matt for hosting her website and dealing with all that goes with that. Kudos to Allen for coming up and saying hi a bunch, Ashley for rolling thru and reading to Josi and keeping her company, Ceder stopped in a few times while in town and of course Cassidy has been entertaining her daily and adding much needed positive energy to home force field.
I hope all is well and will try to post more often. Take care – faith love and hope, Josi’s mom.
