Well it's been a long time since I provided update. My last blog was a few days before dad passed - several times, since Lance was injured, I have pondered just how much of a man's heart beats for his children. I'm so glad that I had the chance to better understand dad's love for me during the last year of his life. I would never have felt the degree of compassion, or been able to appreciate John F. so much, had I not experienced the "great sadness" that wanted to become my constant companion. (great sadness-reference from The Shack)
Today, March 28th, marks 16 months since Lance was injured. I always deal with an unwarranted amount of emotion when the 28th of each month comes up on the calendar. Today seems different; it is so busy and Lance has had three successive days of fun developments. In fact he has had three and a half weeks of excitement since arriving at the Shepherd Center. In the first three hours after his admission so much happened. Dr. Elmers and her team were busy listening and sharing ideas; their knowledge of him was astounding due to the excellent reports they had received from his outpatient therapists as well as Cardinal Hill. Gena and I later compared notes on our feelings; she experienced alot of emotions just walking down familiar hallways and remembering Lance's status when we were here a year ago. I did not have those flashbacks until I started bumping into staff members who had provided care for Lance with so much affection.............provided support for us, his family, when we were so fragile. To each of them I will be forever grateful......................... Each of us have the chance to help others along their journey; while you cannot always be ready to jump in and help.....keep your eyes wide open as there are so many people fighting hard battles.
I promised myself I would be brief, so I will just hit the highlights. Gena and I enjoyed the first week with him in Atlanta as our wonderful team provided assessments and began giving input and put together a plan of action for Lance. We had fun times as he started laughing more often when funny things happened. Still the travel had been tiring and now he had to quickly get accustomed to a new group of people, new schedules, and new surroundings. The trip itself would have caused anyone to become disconcerted; Lance slept in four different beds on four consecutive days during the transition. Friday - Vanceburg, Saturday - Knoxville, Sunday - Atlanta but not the hospital until Monday. We were able to help him begin his birthday celebration. Other birthday visitors were the Dunaways-Chris, Deah, Noah, and Lance's buddy Grant.
Jill and Grandma Betty were with him during week two. This week was challenging with Lance having a Baclofen pump surgically placed by Dr.Frankel on Thursday. This allows medicine that helps to control muscle tone to be delivered, site specific to where it is needed, in his spinal cord. This, as well as all other coordinated efforts, are precursors to him being able to walk. In order to avoid post-operative problems he had to stay in bed, relatively flat, for 48 hours after surgery. All has gone well and we are starting to see benefits. (This will be a long term medical device for Lance; many deal with similar devices such as pain pumps or insulin pumps.) I underestimated the recovery time but he now seems to have that behind him.
Sue Jane Bane and Brock were with him a couple of days while he still didn't feel well, early in week three. Gena finished out the third week; Friday was a troubling day as Lance had a light seizure soon after wake-up. She was in room helping him get day started when the episode occurred. The rest of the day and the weekend was spent closely monitoring him. There were some immediate medicine adjustments; some meds, typically used for patients like Lance, have seizure risks. No other similar occurences have been observed since then.
Chelcee and I arrived for week four and have enjoyed our time with him. By Monday it seemed that he was much stronger and there was a new difference. He was laughing at TV shows, at me, even at himself. The laughter doesn't have the volume that you who know him would miss. However, the laughter is spontaneous......and there is a twinkle in his eye that is beautifully familiar. I've missed so much for so long........this has been a wonderful blessing. Much re-training is occurring. He seems to embrace learning, just as he always has. His attitude is outstanding as it has been through the journey. Next week he is going to have surgery on his Achilles tendons; they were stretched during the months in which he was in a coma - to a point where walking, running, bicycling in a normal way would be impossible. He understands and is willing to go through yet another tough procedure / recovery to obtain the best possible outcome. I'm thankful to be in such a place of hope, a place where big dreams are dreamed and realized.....by avoiding low expectations.
His determination seems to be coming from inside him and not only from those who surround him. Pictures will display casts that are being used on left arm and leg for muscle extension. These are treatment techniques that he has experienced before but now with new goals. He advocates ardently for the Louisville Cardinals with anyone who brings up the Final Four. Visitors during the Cards-Gators game on Saturday included Mike and Jenny Ginn, Chuck Perry, and the Hyatts-Todd, Megan, and Parker. He attended the Atlanta Hawks vs. Utah Jazz game Sunday night thanks to Fleming Countian and fellow Uof L alum Derrick Crump, who works for the Hawks.
Dad and I always enjoyed good news/bad news jokes. So did Lance and I. On Monday afternoon Lance and I were sitting outside on a 75 degree Atlanta spring afternoon. I had carried out the plastic dish with the last three oatmeal cookies that mom had sent with us. I gave him one and kept one for myself. A few minutes later I opened the top and held it so Lance could look inside at the sole remaining cookie. I said there's good news and bad news. The good news is there is a cookie left; the bad news is...". He interrupted saying, "and it's for you."
Today we called to tell Gena about the upcoming surgery; I wanted to use the good/bad idea again so Lance could tell her in a fun way that it was going to involve not just one, but both ankles. I started, "Tell Gena the good news about when the surgery is scheduled." Lance said, "Next Thursday." I followed, "And the bad news is.........". Lance finished, "......and it's on me!" It was so fun that he improvised, away from the script, and said something that was much more humorous.
Last night he told me something that was bad news and good news, but not a joke. Chelcee and I had just finished helping him with a shower - no small task for a man with two casts. I looked at him and observed a grimace on his face as he shifted to get comfortable on his pillow. I asked, "What's the matter Lance?" His reply, "My neck is hurting." was the greatest complaint these ears have ever heard. Sorry as I was to hear him describe pain, I had just witnessed a complete sentence spoken spontaneously - his first. To some this will sound too simple to dwell on.......until you ponder all that has to happen for this God given communication system to work in our brains, our bodies. Let's pause a moment and give God praise for many things that we can so easily take for granted.
As we move toward Palm Sunday - Holy Week - Easter, let's pause for longer periods and ponder BIG things that God has done for you, for me. You think God seems far-away, elusive? Start obeying what God is telling your inner self to do..............God will be much closer than you thought.
-John
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