For Jessica...

Please everyone say a little prayer for Jessica. She is having a rough day today and she's not feeling well.

She has spent the last 8 weeks taking care of Livi while still spending every spare minute with Brian...lathering him up with lotion so he'll feel better, loving him and cheering him on. And now she needs us.

Jessica when you read this, please remember that we are still right here with you. You have so many friends surrounding you with love and we are just so very proud of you. And it's OK to feel frustrated and sad - life isn't fair. But we will do anything to make this a little easier for you.
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Ecclesiastes 4:8-10, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”
-- We're all here for you Jessica!!! We love you!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year we are so thankful to have Brian!! We came so close to losing him but he is still here and fighting hard to get better. We hope everyone that reads this post has had a happy thanksgiving.

Brian has been moved out of ICU because he was doing so well off the ventilator. He has been moved to the 7th floor - the neurological floor - where hopefully they will be able to give him more specialized care. He is in Room 768 (7 West). He is now awake a lot of the day but unfortunately he is not responsive. So please continue to pray that God will make the swelling in his brain go down so that he can come back to us.

Also continue to pray for Jessica and Olivia because it will be difficult to celebrate the holidays with such an important member of the family away from home.

To all that keep Brian in your prayers, please keep doing so. He needs us all so much -- He also needs as many people visiting him as they can. Since he is in a regular room, he doesn't get as much individual attention so it will be up to us - his friends and family - to talk to him and get him to come back to us.

Thanks to all for your prayers and enjoy a safe and happy holiday!!!

Back on Track...

Brian is still in ICU but is starting to show signs of improvement. Yesterday, he went off the ventilator and is now breathing on his own again -- woohoo!!!

Jessica spent a long time with him last night after work and when I walked in to see them, Brian had is eyes open a little bit!! So he is definitely trying to come back. The lung doctor said his lung infection is under control and is improving. So now we are just waiting for the swelling in his brain to go back down.

Jessica will be able to write more about his condition when she can...the girl has got to be tired!! She is running around taking care of Brian and Olivia and still trying to get fully settled into their new apartment. But we are just so proud of her ... she is showing everyone what true love is all about.

Please continue to send Brian all your positive thoughts and prayers. He is looking much better but still has a long, hard journey ahead of him. Knowing that we are all along for the ride will make him feel so much better.

Thank you to all that are praying.
Keep up the good work!

Back to ICU

Hello all,

We are sad to say that Brian has been moved back to ICU -- well, actually we're thrilled that he's back in ICU because he got great care there. But he did not have a good night last night so they had to move him and put him back on the ventilator.

For those that can and want to visit, he is almost in the same room as before - right side and last room on the right. (4th floor; 4N ICU)

We still don't have any real answers about why he started having trouble breathing. We think that he was not being cared for properly but I don't think the doctors will admit to that. We are however in the process of filing a formal complaint. But he is stable now and should be off the ventilator again within the next couple of days. Jessica has vowed that they will not move him back to the regular floor and we are prepared to physically prevent them from moving him.

We really need your prayers right now for Brian. He is suffering from several infections as a result of his being in the bed for over 6 weeks. He still has a bit of pneumonia and a blood infection and now he is developing a urinary tract infection from the cathetar. So please pray for Brian. He is such a fighter. I saw that last night...because even when he was losing the battle, he was still fighting like hell. And we all know that God has worked miracles in his life up to this point and there's no reason to believe that our Brian isn't coming back to us. We've seen too many glimpses of the old Brian to not believe that he's going to make it out of this.

This is just a step backwards and now is the time that Brian needs us the most. We have to cheer him on and push him forward.

Please also pray for Jessica. She is so strong and is fighting so hard to make them give Brian the best care. I don't think that Brian would be here with us if it weren't for Jessica.

So if you can, please take some time to pray for this family.
We are not giving up and we are not letting this get us down.

Thank you to all that continue to post comments. They make us feel less alone. This is a very hard road to go down but knowing that there are so many people praying makes it a little easier.

Moooving Day!

This past weekend, Jessica and Livi moved into their new apartment. It is so nice and on the ground floor! Jessica has lots of patio space for all her plants and several big windows - so she is happy.

And Brian has his own room waiting for him when he gets ready. Livi also has her own room and enough toys to fill the house! :)

Tons of people came out to help - Bree, Sampson, Jeremy, Jim, Greg, Will, Jeremy, Andrea, and Baby Beau who was a very big help! Because of these people, we moved everything in one day. And a lot of the unpacking was done too. I'm sure Jessica is still working to get everything sorted out.

So now, we just have to get Brian well enough to come home. Everything is ready for him. Jessica will write more about his condition later. Some days are better than others but we are still praying and cheering him on. His dad and stepmom are in town. And his brother Danny has been here for awhile too. Please continue to pray for Brian -- he has so many people loving him and praying for him and I know that he is so happy about that.

We are also gearing up for a yard sale and bake sale to be held on December 2. Hopefully we will have enough to hold two - one in Woodstock and one in Hawkinsville (central Georgia). So if you have anything that you would like to donate, please comment here or contact me or Jessica. For obvious reasons, we can't post phone numbers on this site.

Thank you to all that have helped throughout this process - whether that has been physically or spiritually!!

Keep praying!

From Jessica

11/8/2006

Everyone who visits Brian now needs to put on a mask and gloves. Both are on a table outside his room. He is still fighting infections- the less he is exposed to germs the better.

There isn’t too much to report on Brian’s condition. He is still showing signs of improvement, but he is also in and out of responsiveness. There are times when I can really tell he’s in there fighting to come out and others that he’s passed out cold or just staring through me. It’s still a big waiting game- a game that no one is enjoying.

Once his fever and infections get under control we can work on getting him to a facility he can go to until he his able to participate in the rehab program at Shepherd - A facility that will have more time to dedicate to his care and stimulation- and that won’t have as many germs and infections he can catch. How long that will take is anyone’s guess.

Please continue to pray for Brian. He needs all the prayers and good thoughts he can get right now. Pray that he will beat the infections and that the secretions in his lungs will clear up. Pray that soon he’ll be well and alert enough to make the move to Shepherd. Pray that soon I can bring Olivia to see her Daddy that she loves and misses so very much. Pray that he will make a full recovery and be able to watch Olivia graduate or walk her down the isle if she chooses to get married. Pray that we can all have our beloved Brian back as soon as possible. I really miss him- and I know I am not the only one. He is such a good friend to so many people.

If you would like to donate to our family I have set up a support account for Olivia. All money donated will go to helping to support our family while Brian is unable to work. Some of the money will go towards rent because it is increasing a few hundred dollars a month since we need to transfer to a different apartment -as well as to all the utility transfer fees and moving expenses- some will go towards Olivia’s after school care and lunch money, and some will go to new clothes for her (since no matter how many times I ask her to stop, the kid just won’t stop growing!). It will also be used to make ends meet since our expenses are going way up, yet the amount of money I have to work with has gone way down. Not to mention all the still unknown expenses that will arise once Brian does come home.

If you would like to donate, you can go to any Bank of America location and make a deposit to The Olivia Hatton Support Account ending in #****3271.

Thanks so much,

Jessica

Thanks Everyone!

By: Jessica

The Benefit concert last night was a HUGE success! Thank you so much to everyone who came out to show their support! Jason "Lefty" Williams, Dino and Dust Rabbit were amazing! Thank you for providing the tunes and keeping us all moving. It was so much fun. I can’t even begin to express my gratitude to EVERYONE.

Thanks so much to Mikie for organizing the whole thing. You did a GREAT job!!!

Thanks to Jessica D., Shannon F., Beth A., and Jeremy W. for coming back to Sidelines to bartend for the event. You guys are great and I love you! The entire Sidelines staff did a great job. Thank you so much for all your hard work!

I can’t forget about Donald, Rupert and Betty – thank you for opening up your restaurant to help our family and for so generously hosting the event and providing the raffle prizes. Thank you Thank you Thank you!

Last night was a great way for all of Brian's friends (and even those that don't know him!) to get together to celebrate how special he is. I know that Brian will be so touched when he hears how many people came to support him and cheer him on. I cannot wait to go to the hospital tonight and tell him all about it. We hope that very soon we can celebrate again, but this time with Brian there too!!!!

Brian has been feeling pretty yucky this week. He is still fighting a blood infection and a touch of pneumonia. The fever, meds, and infections are making him a little sleepy, but I think once the fever and infections are under control he’ll be feeling better. He seemed to be last night when I went to see him. He was still running a fever and I can tell he feels just plain awful. But he did wake up and hang out with me for a bit. He looked much better too. His color is better and some of the swelling in his arms and face has gone down. He has been retaining a lot of fluids from being on his back for so long. I know once his body takes the time it needs to heal he will once again make leaps and bounds to recovery. His brother Danny will be back in Atlanta tomorrow. I know having Danny here will play a huge part in Brian getting well. They share a very special bond- Brian loves his brother so much- I know having Danny here will give Brian the fuel he needs.

To all that came last night to support our family, THANK YOU.

Jessica

PS. Moving day is Saturday November 11th.

Brian Hatton Benefit Concert

WHAT: Brian Hatton Benefit Concert
WHEN: Tonight, 7PM until close
WHERE: Sideline's Grille on Barrett Parkway
WHO: Jason "Lefty" Williams, Dino, Dust Rabbit will be playing
WHY: To help Brian and his family
COVER: $5 at the door

Don't forget to come out to Sideline's Grille (Barrett Parkway) to support Brian and his family. Three bands will be playing - Jason Lefty Williams, Dino, and Dust Rabbit.

All proceeds and donations will go to help Brian and his family during this difficult time.

Thanks to all!!!!