WE LOVE NOAH!!!!!!!!

FRIENDLY'S

2009-10-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

Friendly's welcomed us for a Noah night! It was so much fun :) We would like to sincerely thank all of those who came out to support this event...we understand times are tough and going out to eat is not easy. We are grateful to Friendly's for helping support a member of their community! Friendly's just happens to be one of Noah's favorite restaurants, he is very predictable...a chicken basket and friend-z for dessert :)

A HUGE Thank You to Many, Many Wonderful People and Bussinesses!

2009-10-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

Today (Sunday the 27th) we wrapped up an amazing week of fundraisers. On every day but Friday Texas Roadhouse hosted an event, and we also had the enormous Pasta Family Fun Night event at Wallace Middle School. The Texas Roadhouse fundraiser was great, and the food was awesome. Texas Roadhouse was the third fundraiser Noah was able to attend in person! The Pasta Family Fun Night is not the final fundraiser because we have not reached the goal, but it was in planning for a long time and it was a blast! Mr. Domico (AKA Bob) lended his culinary talents, while many other great individuals and orginizations volunteered their valuable time and talents to man the tables (selling tickets, managing the raffle), prepare food,and many others essential functions needed to make the event the success it truly was. We weren't sure we should thank each individual involved, as that would turn out to be a rather pedantic exercise, but we would like to mention groups and organizations. We thank the members of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who's have been there in countless ways such as prayer and attending the fundraisers consistently. We thank the committee of volunteers from VHS who have been a driving force since the early planning stages of the Pasta Family Fun Night. Thanks to the senior class officers and advisers, and all individuals and businesses who have donated food or other materials (Blow up play area for kids, prizes for the auction, etc). THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! Everyone who came reported that they had a blast, and it would not have been possible without your collective efforts. :)

Bob Evans & Loyal Lanes!

2009-09-27T17:36:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Loyal Lanes for having us, Noah and everyone who came had SO much fun!
We could not have asked for a more welcoming staff.

Bob Evans was a treat and we would like to thank the handful of wonderful people who came out to eat. The staff was friendly and so very willing to support Noah! We had a very enjoyable evening! Thank you :)

Bound by Nothing Concert!

2009-09-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all the bands and musicians who participated in this event, but a special thank you to you the band Bound By Nothing!!!

Big News...Noah's on the news, again!--Tomorrow!!!

2009-09-08T17:42:00.000-07:00

CBS 3 News came and interviewed Noah, and we thought it was going to air on the Wednesday before the big Pasta Family Fun Night fund raiser, but...IT'S AIRING TOMORROW @ 4:00, and again on Thursday morning between 6:30 and 7:30 (for you early risers)!!! When Dave came we thought he was there just to interview Noah, which he did, but it turns out CBS is doing a weekly segment about the concept of "brotherly love," and so Ms. DePre became a big focus of the story. Ms. DePre did not expect to be on camera at all, but we feel she really stepped up to the plate (as usual), and we know the story will turn out great. Dave and the crew from CBS are amazing people with huge hearts, and we are so grateful they came and truly wanted to help Noah.

*For those of you who don't get to watch the broadcast (sorry for the late notice), the segment will be available online tomorrow around 5:00 pm ;)

October 13th "Chili's Give Back Night!!!"

2009-09-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! There are some great and exciting events coming up over the next couple of months, and Chili's is one of them! In order to participate in the Chili's "Give Back Night" you MUST have a copy of the above voucher in-hand (one per party). We have been asked what Club AVID is and why their name is on the voucher. AVID is a club at Vineland High School and they sponsoring the night for Noah.

September just started, and we want to get head start on getting the vouchers out to as many people as possible leading up to the event. If you would like us to email you the vouchers we would be more than pleased to do so, and we invite you to forward and print as many as you like for your family and friends. Noah's story has become so much more than a tragic tale of a teen in an accident; Noah's story has lifted and inspired the community. We thank all of those who truly understand the meaning of love, service, and charity--YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE :)

Noah Emoticon!!!

2009-09-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

Christine Palmer has hand drawn this custom Noah emoticon by still frame (on right side under donation info), and we just want to thank her. Noah loves it, and his family thinks it's awesome! *The idea behind the emoticon is that you can leave a donation, and then copy the Noah emoticon for yourself. For those of you who have been to some/all of the fundraisers you know that by dropping money in the donation jar you get a Noah pin or button--the emoticon is the same concept, only in digital form. Thanks Christine! You are very creative and generous.

*If you have donated in the past or contributed somehow we thank you, and if you want the emoticon for your blog (or anything else), go for it! ;)

The Dream Foundation Donation

2009-08-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had the honor of accepting a $5,000 donation in Noah's behalf. It has been our biggest donation thus far and we cannot express our gratitude for this more than generous donation. The Dream Foundation is "dedicated to assisting families with ill children and providing them with the moral support and financial help at a time when it is most necessary." The foundation sure did make a "lasting difference" in our lives that we will always remember. The founders, Mark and Gina Rudolph were so kind and their sweet spirits were felt. They are truly amazing people, along with the other members we met, and we look forward to keeping in contact with them and giving back to the foundation. Thank you to everyone who was involved with The Dream Foundation!

Bound By Nothing Concert Saturday the 29th

2009-08-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that Noah's musical benefit is tomorrow evening at 6pm at Fuel House Cafe (634 E. Landis Ave) in Vineland. The band Bound by Nothing is hosting and a number of other bands will be performing as well. 100% of proceeds will go to Noah's fund :) We are so very grateful. The band stopped by to see Noah at home and gave him their cd, a t-shirt, signed poster and their signed drum top(We do not know the correct term). Noah had a great time meeting them and wishes he could attend the concert!

Denny's Night & Walmart

2009-08-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came to Wamart and was actively involved in getting donations!

We are very appreciative to the handful of people who came out to Denny's...it means a lot to us!

What a week!

2009-08-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU TO APPLEBEE'S, BURGER KING AND DREAMZ CAFE & GELATO!

What a week we had! We want to thank everyone who came out to support Noah as well as the restaurants who welcomed us. It was a busy few days but it was a lot of fun! We try to bring Noah something from each fundraiser, but he cannot wait to come himself! Until Noah is able to be at the fundraisers with us in person the giant pictures of him will have to do ;D

Update On Noah's Hospital Visit Today

2009-08-18T13:22:00.001-07:00

(The above picture is a goal Noah has before summer is over...he wants to be back in the pool!!!!!)

As I write this Noah is drugged up and snoozin' after a long trip in an ambulance to the hospital and back. Today Noah went to Dupont Hospital in Delaware for a checkup on his bone's healing progress. The doctors were so happy with Noah's faster-than-expected healing, didn't even x-ray him, and removed the splints entirely! At last, Noah can really scratch those pesky itches that have been hiding for the past month :D The only down side is that all of the moving around has made Noah very sore, and he had to take some fast acting meds (which got him pretty groggy), but we are pleased and amazed by his progress. Noah maintains his usual positivity, and the pain is much more tolerable because of his many great supporters (Noah Nation!). With Noah's splints removed our hope is again refreshed, and Noah's goal to be ready for school is looking like a real possibility.

Noah thanks you!!!

One Month Update!!!

2009-08-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, today it has officially been 4 weeks since Noah began his lengthy recovery period. We have had a few requests to write a post specifically to update you all on Noah's progress, and we figured today would be the perfect occasion. While this day reminds us of how scary the accident was for the family, we are indeed grateful for Noah's miraculous recovery thus far. Before Noah came home he had to be weened off of I.V. pain meds, and begin to take oral medication instead. Since coming home the man who caused the accident was apprehended, and family and friends have rallied to raise money on Noah's behalf. Noah has a hard time when he has to be moved around or transported to doctor appointments (in an ambulance of course), but he has decided to stop taking the prescription pain meds. Noah is really toughing it out now, and simply takes tylenol now and then since the prescriptions had him all groggy, and the side effects were unpleasant. Noah can't help but reiterate that he wishes very badly that he could attend the fundraisers in person, and he has a goal to be back to school on the first day and plans to attend the big pasta dinner event on September 25th. At this point we are just keeping Noah company while he lifts our spirits with his positivity. Noah is watching lots of DVDs (thanks to Vai Sikahema and his family) and TV, and he loves visitors too. One month since the tragic accident we are, as a family and community of friends, realizing again and again that this very well could be one of the greatest learning processes we could be blessed to endure. Greatness is born out of affliction, and we are surrounded by greatness. Noah thanks you with his whole being, and we (his family) do too. :);):D;>

I scream, You scream, We all scream for Coldstone icecream!

2009-08-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of those who have participated in tonight's Coldstone fundraiser. We feel very touched to have such wonderful friends who come to support Noah over and over again. It was exciting to see the constant coming and going and at times the overflowing of people!! We had so much fun getting to mingle with "Noah's Fan Club" as it has recently been called. We hope to see you at the next fundraiser! :D

Thanks to Rita's & Wendy's

2009-08-11T12:00:00.001-07:00

We would just like to thank all of our family and friends, and anybody else who came out to support Noah's Rita's and Wendy's events. So much generosity has been poured out on Noah's behalf, and he just can't believe so many wonderful people exist and are making sure he is able to go back to school (etc.). We are just getting warmed up, and there are many more great events coming up. Please tell your friends, come on down, and enjoy a night out with the family at upcoming fundraisers! :)

Welcome to Moe's!

2009-08-05T19:22:00.000-07:00

The service and support of the staff was excellent!

And the food was out of this world(as always)!

What a night! "Welcome to Moe's" was shout out over and over again as people entered for Noah's night. It was incredible to see all the familiar faces and new faces as well who came out to show their love for Noah. First of all thank you to Moe's! You were all so accommodating, helpful and supportive! It was a wonderful experience hanging out with you all. Secondly, thank you to everyone who came out to eat ;) Yum! For our first official restaurant fundraiser, it was definitely a success! I spoke to many people who came to Moe's for their first time tonight and they will be coming back! I do not know anyone who could try a "homewrecker" or "overachiever" (my two personal favorites) and not love them. Many people have been converted to Mexican food tonight :) Noah really wishes he could have been there to have a burrito and nachos and thank you all for the support. He cannot wait to be out and about again...I know he will be making an appearance at Moe's soon after his recovery!

Dupont Visit

2009-08-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

Noah's visit to Dupont went wonderfully today! His splints were gently taken off, and then he was x-rayed to check the progress of his bones. Noah's splints had to be changed due to the decrease in the swelling of his limbs, and the splints are now softer and a bit smaller than before. Everything looked okay, although Noah said for the first time he felt every single break; When Noah's splints were on he did not feel individual breaks, but only a general pain. Noah took extra pain medication, but it really did not work much since he was getting moved around so much. The doctor, nurses and technicians were all so careful and meticulous with Noah. We could not have asked for better attention or quality from the hospital staff. This Thursday, Noah will go back to Cooper for another cat scan, which is the procedure when monitoring a hematoma. This week is a busy week for Noah considering he cannot go anywhere except doctor appointments(by ambulance of course)--wish him luck!

11 o'clock News

2009-07-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

Wow, NBC 40 Atlantic City did a great job putting together the story on the 11:00 news! Phaedra Laird (the reporter) contacted us this afternoon, and soon enough they were in Noah's room interviewing him. We are so grateful for all of the media coverage, but this was just amazing because Noah was on it personally. Finally all of the people who have been expressing their concern and helping Noah since the accident were able to see him doing so much better (considering all he has gone through). I am so proud of my wife Megan, and she, Noah, and Vicki (mom) are so awesome in the news segment! Please visit the NBC 40 website, we have even provided a link at the bottom of the blog for you! Enjoy the video again here, or if you missed it please press play. YAY NOAH!!!!!
(thanks again NBC 40)

Watch Video by Clicking Here

Mixed Emotions

2009-07-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

We were contacted by a Detective from the Vineland Police Department today and the driver who hit us was arrested. He was found on a farm in Greenwich and is now in the County jail. We immediately had mixed emotions because we are glad he will not be able to harm anyone else but feel bad for his family. The decision he made will effect a number of people forever. Thank you to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and all the other authorities for all the time and effort you put into this case.

(To read the article from the Daily Journal scroll down to the bottom of the page)

Home Sweet Home

2009-07-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

Who gets to ride home from the hospital in an ambulance?
Noah does!

Unloading...

Noah even squeezed out a grin!
Who would guess that 12 days ago
he was in a serious accident.

The very nice guys who safely transported
Noah home...

Door #1 did not work...

Door #2 pulled through...

All settled in his new hospital bed!

The day has finally come, and what an eventful one it was for Noah! After seeing only hospital walls for 11 days he got out in the fresh air and sunshine. He loaded up on some extra pain medication for the ride home and when asked about the ride, Noah said, "Dare I say it was fun". He actually enjoyed the ride since he was leaving the hospital instead of going there. When he returned home his oxygen was waiting for him and his hospital bed was being assembled, it was quite a full house to say the least. Everyone is happy to have him home where he can recover in his own environment. Noah would like to say thank you for all the prayers, cards and get well wishes :)

The Big Day!

2009-07-26T18:41:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the big day, Noah gets to come home!!! Noah will have spent a total of 11 full days at Cooper Hospital. Not many people get to say they rode home from the hospital in an ambulance, but Noah will...Go figure! That is the only way to transfer him home safely, which is the most important thing. Noah has a long and hard recovery ahead of him but his bones can heal just as well at home as they can at the hospital. He has slowly been weaned off of his constant dosage of medicine from his IV, and is now taking his medicine by mouth(not quite as strong but doing the trick). Each time we visit Noah he looks better and he is so determined to get through this. What a wonderful example he is to all of us.

(A giant card from the youth at church!)

Our first fundraiser was a HUGE hit!!!

2009-07-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

Today we had the Noah's Lemonade Stand fundraiser, and it was a blast! Thank you everyone who came, helped, organized, and/or donated! We will try to have the, "Unbreakable Spirit" Noah pins at future fundraisers--they were a big success today! Friends, family, and complete strangers rotated through all day, and everyone was just amazingly generous. Shelby and Camden did a great job executing their ideas and sold tons of yummy lemonade. They really did help Noah, "one glass at a time." While this fundraiser was an amazing beginning, we are truly just getting started. Noah is so overwhelmed by all of the support, and his recovery is so much more barable because of your positivity.

(thanks Shoprite and Acme, for the lemonade and cups! Thanks again Howertons, you rock! Thanks SOJO for the advertising!)

Spreading the word...

2009-07-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

As most of you know Noah's story was on NBC 10's 5 and 6 o'clock news tonight. Many people have asked us to post it. For now the 1st video is not the best quality...but it is better than nothing!

5 o'clock segment:

6 o'clock segment(slightly different from first but better quality!)

Thank you to NBC 10
(Especially Rosemary & Greg)

One Week Update

2009-07-23T16:57:00.000-07:00

Noah got his 5th cat scan this morning and the results came back that the hematoma has not grew any larger and seems to be dissolving!!! Yay, no surgery! We had a good feeling that the blood would be absorbed instead of surgically removed, so it was a relief to hear it from the doctor. Noah has been doing a lot of sleeping and has eaten a few bites of food today. He has been eating mostly grapes...he was craving them so bad! Noah has felt everyones prayers, love and concern for him. He is very grateful and can not believe all that is being done on his behalf. Thank you!

More Pictures...

2009-07-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

The Accident Story

2009-07-22T08:38:00.001-07:00

On Thursday July 16, 2009 around 5:40pm my Mom, Noah and I were leaving the house for dinner and got a mile and a half down the road when a Blazer raced through a stop sign at Trento and Cornucopia and hit our van on the driver’s side near the back tire. We flipped two or three times and skid until we hit a telephone pole, where we landed on the driver’s side of the van. My mom and I immediately unbuckled to get to Noah. My mom climbed to the back of the van and tried kicking out the windows or door because all other doors were so badly damaged they were sealed. I went to Noah's side while she yelled for help. Noah was thrown from his wheelchair and ended up lying under his 300-pound wheelchair, which was dangling by the safety straps about a foot above his body. My mom and I could not pick him up because he was literally sandwiched. Each time we tired to move him closer to the door we knew he was in severe pain. We remember him telling us "It's okay, I think I'm going to need some medicine." There was a pool of blood around his head so we did not know what to expect besides we knew he had broken many bones. A guy, we now refer to as “our angel” ran to help us almost immediately and we asked him to hold the wheelchair up just in case it fell. He was very calming and helpful. We do not know exactly who this "angel", as we call him is yet. He held Noah's bloody head in one hand while the other was holding up the wheelchair. He was amazing. Eventually Noah was moved out when my Father climbed into the van where Noah was propped on my mom's legs and laid him on the back door of the van. It turns out the guy who hit us fled the scene on foot as all of this chaos took place...supposedly his blue/green Blazer was unregistered/uninsured, and has Texas plates. This was literally a HIT and RUN. The police found empty beer cans all over inside his vehicle and a 12 pack of unopened ones. We are guessing he was drunk when he hit us and ran into a field. From the recent newspaper article is sounds like police have a suspect.

The Damage Done

2009-07-22T08:04:00.001-07:00

Noah fractured 4 parts of his skull, which resulted in a large epidural hematoma. He had a severe amount of bleeding internally there but that has stopped. The doctors think it is because his fractured skull allowed the hematoma room to expand. Hopefully the blood will absorb back into his body but if not it will have to be surgically evacuated. Noah broke both femurs, both tibias, both radius, both ankles, his left humerus and ulna, his right hand, right hip, and lastly some fingers too. All of the just mentioned fractures are complete breaks...the bones were separated. He also has other minor fractures in his neck, limbs and possibly a rib, among others. He has been in the ICU at Cooper for 7 days now, and they said he will be there until tomorrow (Thursday). He is getting a cat scan tomorrow to check the progress of the hematoma. Noah is stable and doing better than expected. It is a miracle we are all alive...it truly is! Noah has the longest recovery ahead of him, but with prayer anything is possible. Thank you all for your prayers and fasting, we know those prayers have been answered as we speak with Noah and monitor his miraculous recovery.