July 11th

We threw a barbecue on July 11th to celebrate the year. We had a pretty good turn out and a blast!

Kenz with both eyes open!

 Madison gave her a Sturgis FFA shirt!

 Flowers from Kourtni!

 So much ice!

 Momma had to have green table cloths

 Kenzie's entourage

 Leslie, Ashlee and Jordan

 So many cars!

 Maim and the girls!

 Kiz's boots

 Kenzie forgot to take her sunglasses off...shithead

 Stitch and his sister, Jersey!

 Sunset view from the backyard

 The girls

 Starr found a kitten... 

 We called him Taco.

 Madison and Kayela decorated the garage!

 11:11 on 7-11! 

We played a little pass the bottle.

Family and friends remembered the day on Facebook.

 To Kiz, From Starr

I don't think people truly realize how much their words mean to us. Thank you for your continued support.

Not a Teenage Anymore

Yesterday was my birthday and my girlfriend is so amazing that I just have to share what she did for me.

At 12:01 a.m. she had a birthday shot, a mountain dew and rum, and ice cream cake all ready for me. (My favorite things)

Then she gave me a note that explained that, although I already got my big present, (a nook) she couldn't let the day pass without a few presents. She made me 10 coupons and got me 10 presents and at the designated time I would get to open them. I got one every 45-55 minutes.

It was amazing. The coupons had things like maid service (she would clean and vacuum my car) and free of babysitting duty, (she would get up with Stitch every night.) The presents just showed all the little things she knew about me, I got a 4x t-shirt! I love love love them and have only been able to find one  and they are my favorite thing to sleep in. I also got a zip popper, a homemade comic strip, and a CD of all of 'our songs.'

She took me out to the movie and I got to pick! (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter!)

Then she took me out on a date to Paradiso for mexican food and fried ice cream and I didn't even have to wear makeup!

I was worried how this birthday would pass because it was my first one away from my family, (thanks Keah) and the second birthday without Kenzie being the first one to say "Happy Birthday!" But Starr eased my worries and easily made it one of the best ones I've ever had.

Because it's Home

With the moving date coming up soon, (August 11th!!) Starr and I keep getting asked the same question: Why Lewistown?

We want to move home. We want to be around people who know us and love us. We want to see our families more. Life is a lot more simple in Lewistown. It's slower paced, quieter, just better for us. At least for now. We want to settle down and do a little growing up. We want to start a family. (Just animals!)

Basically, Lewistown is the place for us. It's what we need right now and it's where we belong.

If anyone is interested in writing a letter for me, I'd really appreciate it! Contact me at kayla.zarn@hotmail.com for more information.

Here are some girlfriend pictures we had done:

Sisters Heal Your Heart

Kenzie's best friend Madison and her big sister Kayela came up for the barbecue. That's right, her Lewistown friends get too busy for her, but these girls drove a total of 14 hours for a two night visit. They were so helpful, they helped clean, do yard work and set up for the barbecue. We had a blast with them, we caught up, drank too much and laughed a lot.

Madison amazed me with the way she treated Kenzie. She treated her just like she was Kenzie. Always talking to her and touching her. Including her. Instead of talking about her, she talked to her. She made sure that she wasn't ever alone and continuously giving her shit. :)

Madison and Kayela made yesterday so much easier. The tearful goodbye today was hard, but that just means Kenz and I get to look forward to another visit. Thank you girls for everythingI love you!

One Year (Who Knew?)

Today it has been exactly a year since the accident.

Who knew you could live through a year without a smiley face text from your little sister?
Who knew you could make it a year without hearing someone's voice but still feel like your hearts sing that same song?
Who knew that you could feel so many emotions at once?
Who knew new music could come out and Kenzie wouldn't know the lyrics?
Who knew that your heart could shatter into a million pieces but you could keep living?
Who knew you could lose your better half and still remember how to breathe?
Who knew it would be weird to make it through a day without tears?
Who knew survival mode didn't include memory?
Who knew I'd still miss her so much?
Who knew everyday would actually get harder to keep going but easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel?
Who knew seeing a picture of that smile would take your breath away?
Who knew that I would regret ever telling her to be quiet?
Who knew you could cry from not seeing a daily Facebook status?
Who knew it took effort to continue living?
Who knew that saying "I love you" every time you have a conversation with someone could be so important?
Who knew it would be the last time?
Who knew when I wrote "One More Day :)" on Kenzie's Facebook, on July 11th, 2011, that no words would ever be more true?
Who knew your world could stop and everyone else would get to keep on living?
Who knew she'd forever stay 16 in my mind?
Who knew she wouldn't graduate high school?
Who knew it would be so lonely at night when the world went to sleep?
Who knew that sunny evening would turn into a living a hell?
Who knew everything would go dark without her smile?
Who knew one girl was so loved?
Who knew that so many would come to our rescue?
Who knew that strangers would comfort more than friends?
Who knew everything would change?
Who knew home wouldn't be home anymore?
Who knew life as we knew it was over?
Who knew every time you thought you were healed, the wound would open again and the emptiness would return?
Who knew every wish would be dedicated to healing that brain?
Who knew how bad this life needed that laugh?
Who knew a partner in crime would be important for quality of life?


I didn't know, but now I do.

Our Story: Mom and Dad's POV

Our world changed July 11, 2011, our youngest daughter was in a motor vehicle accident west of our hometown of Lewistown Montana. When the sheriff called we knew it was bad. We went to the hospital and saw Kenzie for a moment, the attending doctor told us she would needed to be airlifted to a trama center, two hours away. He met us in the waiting room and told us not to expect her to live through the helicopter ride. After frantic calls to family and friends we were on our way to the trauma center in Great Falls Montana. When we walked in the emergency room doors we were met by a pastor, he took us to a small room, where we waited for the team to give us any news. Kenz broke every bone in her face, severe laceration to the right side of her face, lacerations to her scalp, left femur was broke, collapsed right lung and her left thigh was "hamburger". Deep wounds covered her body from barbed wire. When the team briefed us they said she has a traumatic brain injury and she went through the barb wire fence. This was the beginning of a nightmare we would never wake up from.
We are very lucky to be surrounded by wonderful family and friends. Everyone jumped in right away to help. The social worker at the hospital was very helpful and arranged for a rv spot and our friends rallied and found us a camper to live in. The staff in ICU was awesome too. Friends in Lewistown set up an account at the credit union, for people to donate to. At this time we did not know how crucial that would be in Kenzie’s recovery. We were told we had three choices while she was in ICU, take her home, take her to a nursing home or take her to hospice. We decided we were taking her home, the road will be long and hard, but she is sixteen and science is a wonderful when paired with the support and dedication of strong family. When she was moved from ICU to the pediatric floor we started the transition to a nursing home until we could get our house in order for her. While during a routine cat scan they discovered that her catroided artery was smashed, this only could be repaired in Seattle Washington, again we were asked to make the decision, Randy flew to Seattle with Kenz and Kayla, my other daughter, and I took a commercial flight the next morning. We were expecting to stay three days and we were there ten. The surgeons there thought the swelling in her brain put her at more risk so they put a shunt in to drain the fluid, two shunts and an adjustment later, we headed back to Montana. Again, we started to prepare to bring her home. Our support group made sure our bills were paid and animals taken care of. This allowed both of us to be there for Kenzie. The process of bringing her home was long and we had alot of obstacles to over come. Our house had molded while we were gone as we had a flood in June and were not able to finish the clean up when the accident happened, the door way would be impossible to accommodate her equipment. We had such awesome support they helped us find acamper to live in while Kenz lived in an extended care center. We moved in September 14th and were able to move to a new house March 27th. I'm not sure where we would be without the support of so many. Thanks to the people donating, whether it was time, money, energy hope or a prayer, we have our beautiful child at home in an environment she can blossom in. All of you have touched us in a special way that will effect our family for years to come. Please buckle up, Randy and Soni Zarn