Passionette Palate

17/09/2025

Brian update 9.16.25 - this is a big one...Brian is high-fiving! 🖐💪 He said even if we move the target, he can move his arm to wherever we put our hands (within reason, of course). All credit goes to Jesus for allowing this to happen!
"By Jesus' stripes, we WERE healed" - Isaiah 53:5 - we're just watching it happen in the natural realm. He is making great progress weaning off the vent too.
Video cred goes to our Polish respiratory therapist who was SO excited to see Brian do this that she teared up!
**For anyone who understands Polish, she had Brian and I say something that she finds hilarious that I even knew how to say (thanks to my cousin, Monika - I learned when I was in Poland 😆) - I said it one day out of the blue to her and she laughed so hard, so she wanted Bri and I to say it! It loosely translates to "heck yeah" in a Polish slang. The staff was so excited, and they cheered in 4 different languages in his room - Polish, English, Filipino (tagalog), and Spanish. Go Brian, and PRAISE YESHUA!

02/09/2025

Brian update 9/2/25 - One of Brian's high school friends, Randy Micheletti, is in a five-piece brass band 🎺and coordinated with his colleagues to come perform for Brian (and us!) - what a blessing! They were ✨️awesome✨️! It was also for all of the patients and their families on the ventilator floor to enjoy. The genuine hearts of so many people have shone so brightly through this crazy trial - thank you for sticking with us everyone.
And special thanks to:
- Randy (one of the trumpet players) for coordinating this performance with me
- the amazing performers
- all of the friends and family who came by to share in this fun with us
May God continue to bless all of you in ways above what you have blessed us with. 🙏 🩵

24/08/2025

We are officially 💥Sold Out💥 for the Tea Party fundraiser for my husband, Brian! Thank you all so much for your interest and support. 🙏If you are attending, please reach out to Kay Morrisroe, owner of HospitaliTea, to let her know if you have any food allergies or sensitivities so we can plan for the food properly. 🩷💚

15/08/2025

🎟 Tea party tickets are being reserved quickly, so if you haven't secured your spot, I would encourage you to do so today via Eventbrite.

This way, it's done, and you know you have your ticket!

I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone.

Thank you to Kay Morrisroe of HospitaliTea for coordinating as well as my parents and Gina Lempa for helping out with various tasks. Let's keep cheering for my husband, Brian! Thanks to ALL of you for your support. ❤️💜🩵

Grab tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1435802426709?aff=oddtdtcreator

08/08/2025

Brian update 8.8.25 - the next 🚶‍♂️MOVING part! He hasn't done THIS YET in bed, so to move his legs this much🦵 is A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT! 🤩 A few of the therapists *really* work him out and he's continuing to make great improvements, praise Jesus! Praying and praising that the progress continues to speed up. 💪🏋‍♂️🚴‍♂️🤸‍♂️

02/08/2025

Brian update 7.27.25 - weaning is going pretty well. He IS still lowering settings on the vent leading him to breathe 100% on his own. Low settings tire him out quickly at times as he's "exercising" his diaphragm / respiratory system A LOT.
Getting closer to trying more aggressive weaning therapies. 🙏 Left arm is less stiff, and the PT & massage therapist said this is a BIG win! Most importantly, he is growing in his faith walk with Jesus, and it's a beautiful thing to encounter. This trial is extremely tiring for both of us, and I can only thank God for helping me coordinate everything because there's so much on my plate right now - I don't even know how I get through these days sometimes! Brian is already healed, in Jesus' name...we're just watching the healing come to fruition. Praise Yeshua! Thank you for your ongoing support. 💕

✨️☕️Also, here's the TEA PARTY fundraiser 🫖 info in St. Charles, IL, in case you'd like to attend Sept 14, 1p - 4p: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-spot-of-tea-for-a-spot-of-hope-tickets-1435802426709

✨️☕️Hope to see you there!

22/07/2025

Our friend, Kay Morrisroe, owner of HospitaliTea at State Street Market Shops in Elgin approached us to host a beautiful 🫖 HIGH TEA PARTY🫖 Fundraiser in Downtown St. Charles, IL on Sunday, 9.14.25 (1pm - 4pm) for Brian as he's still in a Skilled Nursing Facility, and hasn't been home in 15 months. 😩(Sigh)

He's still in need of many therapies, caregiving, and medical equipment after a high level spinal cord injury that he sustained after falling from a ladder on 4.10.24, resulting in him being mostly bedridden and on a ventilator.

Kay was so sweet to let us know that she's been praying, and felt moved to help Brian through an elegant and fun TEA PARTY! ☕️🫖

I'm sharing this for her as she's looking for Business Sponsorships for each table, Silent Auction Items, and people who want to enjoy some 🌸Afternoon Tea🪻 with us to support Brian. And, you can decorate your own table if you're a sponsor!

I know it looks like a lot of information to read, but I ask that you please read the attachments to get all of the details to attend and/or to showcase your business. 🙏

Feel free to contact her or me, and I can direct you to the appropriate contact if you're interested in any of the above ways to support Brian.

🎶🌻🍍☕️Food, Tea / Coffee, Entertainment, Networking Opps included! Grab some friends, and secure your spot soon!👛👗👒

Here's the link to register:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-spot-of-tea-for-a-spot-of-hope-tickets-1435802426709?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thank you, Kay. 💜❤️ If any of you feel moved to share this with your friends, family, and network, we would be grateful. We appreciate your ongoing support!

Trish Boril will be gracing us with beautiful harp music
The Brothers Sinatra will be crooning Sinatra tunes and providing comedy
+ My dad, cousins, and friend will be performing oldies tunes through their band
St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce

11/07/2025

Brian update 7.10.25 - weaning, baptism, setbacks ... and, progress. Be speaking w/ a few medical practitioners & they mentioned that many people with the level of injury that Brian sustained (C1 + C2 cervical spine injury) perish due to the location of the injury. 😮 We're learning just how much more Jesus truly saved Brian's life. Praise God, Brian is making so much progress considering the injury site. It's just a miracle that he's 1️⃣still with us 2️⃣100% cognitive abilities in tact 3️⃣weaning from the ventilator ... and SO many more blessings. This is NOT without hundreds of challenges, but God IS faithful and Brian's health will be restored because of God's Promise. We're still on this rollercoaster, and it's tiresome (especially for me and Brian). Grateful to those who are helping us get through this in all ways, especially staying with him while I'm not there (I'm there 15-17 hrs/day).
🫖☕️Stay tuned for info on the TEA PARTY fundraiser for Brian on SUN, 9.14.25, 1p-4p that our friend is hosting.

20/06/2025

Brian update 6.20.25 - Here we GOOO!🤩 Look what Jesus is doing NOW with Brian - another big improvement! 🙏 Our Heavenly Father is SO faithful. Praise Yeshua!

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”
- Psalms 91:14-16

Yes, He *will*. 💕

In addition, I want to *personally* invite you to come join me at a ✨️TRIVIA NIGHT + SILENT AUCTION✨️ fundraiser for Brian at Grumpy Goat Tavern in Elgin on Saturday, 7.19.25.

🎟 🎉More info and tickets available in the Eventbrite link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/game-night-with-a-greater-purpose-tickets-1382785882799?aff=oddtdtcreator

Or, if you feel moved to support through the GiveSendGo link, you can find that here: https://www.givesendgo.com/brianandannettesupport

As always, THANK YOU for supporting us, in any way - we love you! ❣️

Chris Carey
Randy Micheletti

13/06/2025

Brian has been making progress! However, there are still MANY MORE therapies needed to keep the progress going.

Some of Brian's friends from softball ⚾️want to see him on the field again, so they came together to brainstorm a fundraiser for his recovery process! And, they landed on a ✨️TRIVIA NIGHT + SILENT AUCTION ✨️

🎉🧠 TRIVIA NIGHT WITH A GREATER PURPOSE FOR BRIAN 🎉🧠

Grab your friends, bring your brainpower, and join us for a night of trivia, laughter, and community — all to support our very own Brian on his road to recovery!

📅 Saturday, July 19
🕒 3:00–7:00 PM
📍 Grumpy Goat Tavern at Highlands of Elgin Golf Course in Elgin, IL

Brian has spent the last year facing one of the hardest battles of his life — a spinal cord injury from a fall that has challenged him in ways we can hardly imagine. But if you know Brian, you know he’s tough as nails and full of quiet courage. 💪✨ Let's continue lifting him up!

🎟️ Get details and your tickets here!

🌟 Want to donate something for the silent auction? Please contact the two people in the invite (Erich or Mike).

💙Can’t make it but feel moved to support? Feel free to donate here:
https://www.givesendgo.com/brianandannettesupport

Let’s pack the place, show up big, and remind Brian that he is surrounded by love, laughter, and a community that won’t quit. 🧡

Thanks to our amazing friends Erich, Chris, Mike, and Randy for coordinating this! Most of all, thanks to Our Heavenly Father for Brian's complete healing through our Savior, Yeshua! 🙏

Join us for a powerful night of trivía, laughter, and community as we raise funds to support Brian's continued healing journey!

11/06/2025

Brian update 6.10.25: He got in the wheelchair for a haircut and beard shave with the talented Jim + Tina Salerno, owners of James Anthony Salon, and after these two beautiful people had given him a makeover, he asked me to record something 🌟spectacular🌟. As soon as I hit the "stop" button from recording, Brian said "POST IT!" So, here I go... the next big movement - his right LEG! 😲🤩Jim, Tina, Brian's high school friend, Tristan Smith, and I all had a front row seat for the action. Praise Jesus, Our Messiah - Our Healer! 💕

07/06/2025

Brian update 6.7.25: Guess WHAT?! He's using his hand for *this*! This has been going on for a few weeks now, but wanted to SHOW all of you. Praise Our Heavenly Father! He still needs a lot more therapies, but things are slowly improving. What's next 👀?! 🚶🕺🏌‍♂️🏋‍♂️