Live the Lion was created in an attempt to keep everyone up to date on Lance O'Cull and his road to recovery.

Lance was involved in a car accident near Morehead, Kentucky about 30 miles from where we grew up Thanksgiving weekend of 2010. He was airlifted from the scene of the accident to UK Medical Center in Lexington. The doctors told us that they could fix everything below the neck, but his brain was in God's hands. On December 22, after multiple surgeries, Lance was transferred to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia for an intense rehabilitation program.

It was there that Lance began to gradually emerge from a coma. Lance was discharged to home, in Vanceburg on February 17th, to continue his therapy with family.

On March 10th, Lance's 25th birthday, he stood on his feet for the first time in 103 days, with lots of help. On May 11th, Lance was accepted into Cardinal Hill's brain injury unit. There he impressed and amazed our family and friends, as well as his therapists through the progress he made everyday.

Between September 2011 and April of 2012, Lance was back and forth between Cardinal Hill's inpatient program and Shepherd Center's inpatient and outpatient program. He has had a couple minor surgeries to enhance his healing and a baclofen pump inserted to help with the tone in his body.

For the past year, Lance is back in Lewis County splitting his time with both parents. He continues to travel to Ashland 3 times a week and Lexington once a week. He is learning to walk again and we couldn't be more thrilled.

It hasn't been easy, Lance has had some setbacks and tears still fall. But he is up and running this marathon. And we are all running right along beside him.

Most of the blog entries have been made by myself, Chelcee, the big sister, Brock, our baby brother, and Dr. Johnny, our dad. Our goal is for Lance to finish this blog as soon as he is able.

God has been with Lance and our entire family, giving us strength. We give Him the Glory. He is the God of Miracles.



~Chelcee




Thursday, December 9, 2010

Thursday, December 9th 2010

My brother is incredibly strong!

Last night, Lance was very agitated. I think he was hurting. So, his right arm was very mobile. His dressing had slid down about 4 inches on his forearm because of all the movement.
His pelvic fractures were fixed by my Dad's old college roommate, Billy. and Dr. Wright. and from what I'm told he is 'THE pelvic guy'. He was able to put a screw across Lance's sacrum. and place a plate on his acetabulum. They did find something that they didn't see on the ct scans. He has some shearing of bone and cartilage of the femoral head. This could cause Lance some arthritis in the future. He also had to have a couple units of blood. Other than that, the surgery went according to plan.
By the time, the doctor came out and talked to us, he was already off of the vent. He looks wonderful. He is breathing easy, and the traction is gone! He also had a wound vac for the open wound on his calf. They had to place him on his stomach to perform the surgery so they had warned us that he might be a bit swollen post-op. However, he doesn't appear to be swollen to me. Just his eyes, they are a bit puffy.

We are done with surgeries for a while, thank goodness.
Thanks for your prayers, cards, calls and visits.
Please keep the members of the other accident victims and their families in your prayers.

Also, if anyone is planning on coming to visit, please let me know. Facebook is fine, or a call or a text. So that we can let you know where we are.
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3 comments:

  1. Broken SDecember 11, 2010 at 10:37 PM

    Chelcee, hi I am Stephanie, i am...was Karie Huynhs cousin. My mom raised her so she was more like a sister to me. I just wanted to make sure you knew that through all of our trials and tribulations we have not forgotten lance or your family in our prayers, i keep your blog in my "favorites" so that i can check on him every day and relay information to my family. if you need anything please let us know. My name is Stephanie A. Thompson Nolder, if you need anything please look me up on facebook or email me, and we would be happy to help. northerncutie20@yahoo.com God bless you nd please tell lance that we are all pulling for him and praying non stop. Something good must come out of this tragedy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownDecember 11, 2010 at 10:47 PM

    I am so happy to hear that Lance is doing much better now.Sending many prayers for him and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Broken SDecember 12, 2010 at 12:03 AM

    That is Karie (angel)'s aunt Dianna...our whole family is with you...prayers every day...

    ReplyDelete

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