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




Tuesday, March 8, 2011

ok folks, let try this again

we are back in Vanceburg!
after two nights in Fleming County Hospital and ten at UK, and what seems like 50 tests and 20 blood draws, Lance is back home.

the bowel obstruction has resolved, potassium is up, swelling is gone, pneumonia has cleared and sodium is down. OH! and the weight bearing restrictions have been lifted!

On Friday morning rounds, the doctors told my parents that he was going to be discharged. This sent us into somewhat of a whirlwind. However, not as chaotic as when he came home from Atlanta. Mom stayed with Lance, Dad packed up Lance's belongings and Gena headed home to help me get the house ready.

This trip home on Friday evening was hopefully a little easier on Lance's body. only 2 1/2 hours on a stretcher instead of the 10 hour trip made a couple weeks ago from Georgia. Plus my dad was riding in the ambulance as well. I was in the driveway when they rolled the stretcher to the new ramp on the side of the house. Lance was wide-eyed and looking around. I think he knew he was home. When he arrived in February, I don't believe he realized where he was. It was so extremely wonderful to see him, to see him look back at me.
Over the weekend, Lance seemed much more restful than he was when he came home before. He watched the Louisville-West Virginia game. He tolerated the wheelchair very well. He hasn't been out of bed since the Sunday we took him to the hospital. Although, he is skinny, he looks more like Lance than he has in 3 weeks.
We have once again been overwhelmed by the support of our community, people bringing us food 'by the truckloads' as my dad said.

So, its March... when means that everyone has a birthday. everyone but me. My mom's was last week, on the 1st. She usually gets a Lewis County win on her birthday. My dad's was yesterday. Brock and Peyton share a birthday, today. Brock is 22. geez...
 Lance's 25th birthday will be on Thursday. He has done more things in a quarter of a century than most people do in their lifetime.
My aunt Christa's is Friday, and Shauna's on the 31st. Do you think this family might get tired of birthday cake? no way.

Because of Lance being in the hospital, I was driving from Lexington straight to work. Which left me zero time to deal with the tshirt orders. I have a mini-vacation coming up at the end of this week, so I plan on getting all of the orders in for the Dance 4 Lance shirts.
Also, Brock has designed another shirt. These will be gray with red lettering. They will just simply say Live the Lion. If you would like to order one of those, just let me know. chelceeocull@gmail.com
I apologize for the delay in ordering the shirts and if you haven't received a bracelet yet. There are some at Dad's office, you can just ask the girls up front for one. Also, if you know either of my grandmothers, they should have some at their houses. If you can't pick it up at any of these locations, let me know. email, facebook, text.

I think thats all I have for now.
Prayer is powerful.

-chelc
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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 8, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    Wow! I am soooo happy for Lance and the rest of the family. God is good, awesome! I never met the birthdays stars but your Dad and Lance and it was very briefly but Happy Birthday to all. One thing I have to say, a very special Happy Birthday to Lance! This new year the Lord gives you is a very special one, your family have you, your friends are happy you are here to celebrate and most of all, the Lord loves you so much than when the Enemy thought he was going to finish with you the Lord told him STOP! not his life, he is mine and I am going to let him tell the rest of the story. The Lord will use your story and testimony so many can see that he is the Healer, the Comforter, the Peace Giver and the Savior of our souls. Happy Birthday Lance, Danny and I can't wait until we see you back at Shepherd at Beyond Therapy. May the Lord bless you richly.
    Your friends in Atlanta, The Diaz family

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  2. karenMarch 10, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    So good to hear Lance and Family are back home again!! And Happy Birthdays to Lance and all the family celebrating birthdays this month seems like it happens that way our birthday month is June! mine on my mom's birthday, my grandma was born on her dads birthday I have 2 grand children with June Birthdays, a daughter in law and various other family members! Theres a lot to be said about home sweet home! How really sweet it is when you have been away for a while and come back. I hope and pray that the sweetness of Lance being home and surrounded by people who love him so much will be just the medicine he needs! I look forward to even more good news! as always Lance and family you are in our thoughts an prayers!!
    Karen Killen

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  3. LOIDAMarch 10, 2011 at 1:37 PM

    Happy Birthday Lance! I sent you an ecard to your email address.
    Blessings.

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  4. MarilynMarch 10, 2011 at 10:05 PM

    Happy birthday to everyone in your family and Happy Return Home too!!
    We also have a lot of March birthdays in our family.6,I believe.
    I sent an email for 4 of the new Live The Lion shirts. I forget how much they cost, though.
    I hope and pray that Lance is getting stronger and better every day.
    Please let me know if you all need anything that I can do!!
    May God continue to bless you all.
    Much love and prayers,
    Marilyn

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