Kris Griggs

Dear Friends,

on Valentines Day 2016, our dear friend, Kris Griggs, suffered a stroke. After 6 days at Vanderbilt's Neuro ICU she was finally transferred to the Healthsouth  Rehabilitation Hospital of Franklin located just behind the Williamson Medical Center. 

This is just a general introduction, but we hope to update this site soon with all the details on what happened, how she is doing, information concerning visitation, and more. We needed a centralized place for updates, since those of you who have had loved ones in the hospital know that simply trying to update all of those who care can be a full time job. 

Thankfully, Kris has been covered up with love and support from family, friends and co-workers. Everyone asks if Kris has any immediate family close by to help her during this difficult time. Her mother, Malinda Griggs, is with her every minute that she can spare, along with her brother, Jeremi Griggs, her sister, Jennifer Sutton, and her other brother Jay Griggs who drove in from South Carolina to be with her. Also, her sister, Karla, in Washington DC, is constantly in touch and receiving updates. Kris also has wonderful extended family who has been very helpful during this difficult time.

Kris got a new iPad Mini 4 for Valentines Day, and we are hoping that it can be a centralized point where people can text message her, email her, and even FaceTime with her. It will take a few days to have this set up, so please be patient. Kris cannot remember her iPhone Password, Facebook Password, Email Password, etc, just yet, so please understand that she cannot reply to any of your texts, emails, or FB posts, because we are unable to log into any of her accounts for her. We hope to set her up a new email address, Facebook Site, and contact number (on the iPad 4) where you can literally text her directly, email her directly, post on her FB, and possibly even FaceTime with her live.

Also, please understand that Kris has had a stroke in the area of her brain that forms speech, and most aspects concerning reading, writing, etc. The stroke has compromised her ability to speak, and the motor skills on the right side of her body. We do not totally know the extent of this damage, but she has been making progress with leaps and bounds, undoubtedly due to the tens of thousands of prayers all over the United States that are going up for her and the incredible outpouring of support.

We are all obviously hoping and praying for her healing and speedy recovery. But, Kris is in a very challenging place where she is still struggling to understand what has happened and how it has affected her. Possibly you can imagine how incredibly frustrating and overwhelming it might be to wake up in the Vanderbilt Neuro ICU, unable to speak, unable to use the right side of your body, and unable to fully understand or process all of the things people are saying around you. Yes, Kris is now speaking some very basic words, and we have many praises to share in that area, but please pray that the Presence of our Lord might be with her and comfort her like only he can, during this amazing challenge that she is facing. 

Several people have asked how they can help and if there are any financial concerns. Over the past week we raised a substantial sum of money from all of you who love and care for her. In a mere two or three days we were able to raise 10,000 dollars to help cover her medical bills, and other expenses that she will face during this time. For now we are holding off on raising any more money until we begin to see what her bills are going to look like. 

I think we would all like to help her simply be able to keep her mortgage and bills paid, so that, one day she can still come home to her condo, with the power still on, and her credit still in good shape. For those of you who visit her, Kris knows about this Web Site (CaringBridge), but does not know about the money that we have raised for her yet on Gofundme.  She is a very private person and was rather upset and worried when I told her that "we" were going to handle her bills. Right now she has no concept of numbers, what year it is, what day of the month it is, etc... and certainly has no idea of the immense medical bills that will start rolling in.

Thanks for all of your prayers, concerns, and even financial support, and we hope to have this Site updated very soon with pictures, posts, praises, and more, so that you don't feel like you have to call or text someone to get the latest.