Heart warming update from the CaringBridge site, posted by Karen today - Feb 1, 2008.
Hi everybody!
It's discharge day! And what a busy day its been already. I did not have time to post yesterday, as it was filled with more phone calls and making more appointments back home. I have successfully nailed down everything I need to and Josh and I will be VERY busy next week.
I started packing Wednesday night and almost had a mini breakdown! Looking at everything and thinking how in the world it was getting into my car was overwhelming! Plus, putting Josh in there and his wheelchair! Well, I did it! With about an 8x12 area of rearview window to see out of, I will making the trek back home today. I had to shut the trunk like an overstuffed suitcase this morning. I was rather panicked about this, but after three attempts, it latched. Phew, I was becoming rather undone. I didn't dare open it again and try and fit one more thing in there. It's closed until we pull into the driveway! The last thing after Josh got in this morning, was attempting to put the wheelchair behind my driver's seat. After trying 3x, I finally figured this out and off we went to Shepherd.
Josh has three sessions this morning and an 11:45 graduation ceremony. Travis, one of his in patient roommates is graduating as well. Travis is also walking now, rather fabulously. Jeremy, Josh's other roommate is walking too, and Kevin who went home first, I have come to find out, is walking as well! Remember, way back when, the nurses called our room, " The Miracle Room." Didn't this turn out to be true!
As we pulled into Shepherd this morning and I looked at the front entrance, I was reminded of the first day we arrived here. My brother Chris met me here and we awaited Josh to arrive via ambulance, after he flew on a private Leer Jet from Paducah. I remember seeing his feet when they opened the doors and knew instinctively that was my boy and out he came. He survived the trip! No blood pressure problems, we made the journey! The following is a synopsis of the rest of our journey here, that you all have so faithfully followed with us:
Josh was admitted Monday November 5,2007 with gravely low blood pressure that prevented him from sitting up past 30 degrees without passing out, he could not move in the bed by himself, he had very limited movement of his right leg, his left leg would only respond with spasm, his hands could not open and close and he could not hold a cup, he could not feed himself, he could not change the volume or channels on his tv,(he had to use a straw-like device to blow on), he could not brush his teeth or do any hygeine activities. I had to roll him and position pillows every 4 hours, as to not develop bed sores, he was lifted in and out of bed with a lift system and a net placed underneath him. He still had a catheter in place and had no control of his bowel, he was still wearing a cervical collar. He was put in an electric wheelchair that he had to drive in an inclined position, because of his blood pressure concerns. We never left the room for approximately our first ten days because of all his other injuries sustained in his car accident. Despite all this, he had full feeling below the waist, that gave us tremendous hope and we NEVER lost sight of what was to come.
Today, February 1, 2008, almost 3 months later, Josh is a miraculous work of God! He overcame all of that! I type this with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. He is now in the gym 3 floors below me, up on a walker, walking around the gym! Something Dr. McDonald had the fortitude and years of knowledge to forsee back in late Novemeber! And he told me this would take place, and I believed him! I believed this the day I received the devastating phone call of Josh's accident while @ Fenway Park, I NEVER STOPPED BELIEVING THIS! All of you lovely, wonderful friends and family have believed it too, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You have laughed with us and cried with us, this has been a journey that will live with us forever and it is long from over. Part three is just about to start, as we arrive home and begin this chapter. Although I leave here with mixed emotions, anxiousness to get home and trepidation to leave the security of this environment, we will leave just the same, because we need to. We need a sense of normalcy for a little while and we will entrust these next 6-8 weeks into God's hands yet again for his will and purpose for Josh. I need to remember to stay out of the way and not to be too much of an advocate, this is a hard line to walk. Continue checking in on Josh's progress, I will continue to be faithful to update you on what he's doing and his successes.
Barry, myself and our entire family want to acknowledge each and every one who has kept up with us. We are so blessed and so grateful. God Bless You All. Much Love, Karen
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Topic: Barry, (displacing air) (Read 42391 times)