It feels like we are winding down up here in Palo Alto. David improved so quickly for about two months, and everyone was amazed. Now the improvements are no less important, but they are more subtle. We are now refining his gate, so he has a more natural walk. We are practicing walking up and down curbs, on grass and other uneven surfaces and lots of stairs. David and I got to go to a Golden State Warriors basketball game at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. The $75 seats were donated to the Recreation Therapy program at the VA. The arena is right next to, and shares the parking lots with, the Oakland Coliseum, where the Raiders and Athletics play. We walked a long ways, through crazy crowds, up and down hundreds of stairs, did the side step walk down the row to our seats (I had visions of David tumbling down onto the court), and he did awesome. The only problem that he had was ordering Nachos and a huge Churro, and then wondering how he was going to carry it back to our seats with one good hand and a cane.
We have another week and a half up here, if things go as expected, and then we will drive home where David will spend 30 days on 'convalescent leave'. He will have regular therapy, (we don't know where yet) but can also enjoy some 'R & R' with family and friends. After the 'leave' he will go into a 'transitional' program where he can receive more advanced therapy.
Patty is flying up tomorrow morning, (the VA is paying), and the three of us will visit the redwoods, and have all kinds of fun. She has to be back early Monday morning to teach her fourth graders, so it will be a fast weekend, but we have missed her a lot and it will be worth it.
David will visit the 'PTRP' program, right next door to his 'ward' next week. It is the Poly trauma Transitional Rehab. Program, and is the next step in his rehabilitation. We are leaning towards the transitional program at "Casa Colina" in Pomona, but this 'visit' will help David compare the two programs.
David still has his wisdom teeth extraction scheduled for Tuesday, March 11th, the day that we were supposed to leave for home. We will stay an extra day, to make sure that he is ready for the long drive home. The Vicadin should help!
The 'winding down' process is quite busy, and we would appreciate your prayers so that we don't forget small details, and that all of the paper work get filed correctly, and on time. We just had to resubmit a 'Power of Attorney' paper to get the last of David's things shipped back from Turkey, as the first ones did not meet the standards of the Turkish government. He still has a surfboard, snowboard, boogeyboard, computer, TV, and who knows what else over there.
Steve
Friday, February 29th, 2008
Wednesday (and a half) Feb. 20th, 2008
David had another full day of therapies, a dental appointment, and a "ceremonial bike ride around the hospital". Yes, David may have to have his two remaining wisdom teeth out, and the bike ride kicked off the start of a "soldiers bike marathon" ride from Palo Alto to San Diego. David wanted to go the whole way but his therapists suggested, "maybe later".
Did I forget to mention 'Wednesday Night BINGO'? David now has around 85 one dollar coupon books that he can spend at the hospital store or snack bar. So far he has only bought a couple of muffins. It is hard to find time to go shopping!
David continues to tease the therapists. Luckily they are used to him by now, and they get him back.
Steve
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
So, I took the liberty to add the CORRECT photo, that my dad forgot. And it's to remind David, in case he should forget also, that we were really there. The whole weekend. David, if you try hard enough, you'll remember too.
Ha Ha! Love you! And we wish we were there!
Laura, Brian, Brea and Bryn
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008
We had an appointment on Friday morning to visit Casa Colina, the rehab hospital in Pomona, which is about 45-60 minutes from our house. We took the whirlwind tour, and left confused. It is a nice facility, and the Transitional TBI program looks very good, and it is 5.5 hours closer than Palo Alto. David would live there, but we could bring him home on weekends. However, David has grown fond of the Palo Alto VA, and enjoys his doctors, nurses and therapists, and they also offer a transitional program. So, we will have to make a hard decision.
On Saturday lots of David's friends came over and hung out. Even some of mine and Patty's "old" friends came over (Patty had not been home for 4 months) and it was fun to see everyone.
After church on Sunday we had a family picnic (and some more of David's friends) and it was great catching up with everyone.
On Monday David and I drove back to start our last three weeks here. As we were pulling up to the hospital David said "this is wierd but I'm kind of happy to be back". It has been a strange 'home away from home', and the people here are great!
Tuesday was back into the grind, with breakfast at 7AM, and therapies starting at 9 and ending at 4PM. There were many comments on how much David has progressed, even from last week. It is a testament to the Lords grace, lots of faithfull prayer, David's drive, and the skill and love of the staff here. We really have 'gratefull hearts'.
Steve
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
David keeps improving in so many ways. He walks better, is so much more self sufficient, has so much more drive to be 'normal', and he continues to 'crack us up' with his humour and his great attitude.
He had a good workout with the massage therapist (who is also a chiropractor) on Tuesday, and then we went on a roadtrip to Santa Cruz, which has 'heavy' memories for us because that is where David's cousin, (Jay Moriarity) grew up. He learned to surf there, and was trained by his neighbor, Frosty, to surf Mavericks, one of the most awesome big wave spots in the world. Jay was on the cover of Surfer Magazine for his heroics at Maverics.
Jay died tragicaly in a diving accident in the Maldives Islands , off the coast of India, and hundreds of surfers gathered to "paddle out" and celebrate his life. We were all there to participate and experience the love and respect that the entire community had for Jay. It was the expression of gratitude for a life spent in the search of excellence in 'big wave' surfing, and for being a 'good guy' to every one that he met. There can be a lot of competition, animosity and violence among surfers, and Jay (though he was one of he best) always welcomed others with a smile. He was unique, and that is why he is still remembered fondly in Santa Cruz (Surf City USA), as one of their finest.
The 'Surfing Etiquette' sign that is posted at Pleasure Point is in memory of Jay.
We walked to the end of the Santa Cruz pier, ate shrimp, and then walked in the sand. It ended up being a great PT workout for David.
Steve
Monday, February 11th, 2008
David had an exciting weekend, as Kelli and her mom, Rose Manning, drove up from Riverside to spend the weekend with David. We all went to Monterey on Saturday where we toured the Monterey Bay Aquarium, ate on the pier and had a lot of fun! David walked forever, sometimes without his cane. He pushed Patty and Kelli in the wheelchair that we thought he might need. He commented that Kelli was easier to push, which didn't sit well with Patty. Since David's left arm isn't as strong as his right, the poor people on his left side got ran over. But it was a learning experience. After the aquarium we met Travis Osborn for dinner in the Felton area. He is the best youth pastor ever, and just happend to be David and Kelli's pastor. We had a great time talking and praying with him over Mexican food.
David had a busy day on Monday, with all his therapies and another vision test, (he needs glasses for distance), and we were up late visiting in his room (he has the biggest room in the ward) with several of the other patients, listening to their stories about Iraq. They had been shot at, mortered, RPG'ed, IED'ed, etc., and still they did not regret their time served for their country. They all suffered TBI symptoms like David, and one was also blind. Their lives have been totally turned upside down. It gives me a new definition of dedication and patriotism. I'm proud to have met these young men, and to have heard their stories first hand.
Steve
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Monday, February 4th, 2008
Check out this boy and his eating! I count four cartons of milk, several boxes of cereal, and a Monster! David has lost around ten pounds (which I have found). The nutritionist came by at lunch today and gave a lecture about eating his vegetables and fruit along with his sugar. He followed her advice and ate some of the carrots and orange slices. Then, back to his room to eat a couple of donuts. Ooops, she walked by and caught him downing them and gave another lecture about eating healthy and healing (good thing he ate his veggies and fruit in front of her.)
During RT, David dribbled the soccer ball around, bent down and picked it up, and had some fun. We all took a walk over to the main hospital, had David ask for directions, and find his way back to Ward 7. He did great. Richard also let David walk by himself on the grass!
After therapy, David and I went to the DMV to get a temporary Handicapped Parking Tag. We were taken to the front of the line and out of there, with the tag, in 15 minutes! The advantages of being disabled! Patty
Sunday, February 3, 2008
David, Jason, Steve, and I went to a predominately black, non-denonminational church today. It was great! Again, David practiced walking (in the pouring rain) through mud, up and down curbs, up stairs, across the aisle, and in a crowd of people. He did great. (Still un-nerving for me though as I watch each and every step he takes. I watch his feet, he watches where we are going!) Anyways, the pastor was fantastic and the people were friendly. We shopped at Costco for a short while, then had their pizza for lunch.
Patty
Saturday, February 2, 2008
David had a weekend pass to the Fisher House, which meant that we could practice taking care of him all by ourselves again. Well, that didn't really happen. We were subject to the new rule that patients couldn't stay overnight at the Fisher House. However, we had fun anyways. We took David and another patient, Jason, out for breakfast at Denny's. Then to the movies to see "Over Her Dead Body", a Mexican restaurant, and Best Buy. It was fun but nerve racking too. I have never noticed so many inclines, declines, curbs, different textures on the ground for him to walk on and over. He walked everywhere with his cane and did really well. He has a "gait belt" that he wears under his jacket that we hold onto in case he loses his balance, which he did a few times but no falling! We joked about how many times it would take for me saving his balance, to make up for me missing him when he fell backwards last week! He won't let me live that down! Back home, we played some cards and then left him in his 'luxurious' room at the hospital. (His room that is larger than ours at the Fisher House!)
Patty
Thursday and Friday, Jan. 31st and Feb. 1st, 2008
David continues to improve, and he graduated from a 'large four legged cane' to a 'small four legged' version. Today he traded in his one day old 'SFLC' for a 'one legged' model. It is not as sporty as David was hoping for, (it has the arm brace attached to the top end), but it is faster than the 'LFLC'. Most of the time he wouldn't really need the cane at all, but he does occasionally lose his balance slightly, and then it is a life saver.
David's therapies continue to 'push' and 'strengthen' him. His good attitude is nothing short of amazing. He buttoned his jeans and put his socks on 'one handed' for the first time today. We finally found time to take him out for the 'Krispy Kreme doughnuts' that he has been craving.
A couple of common symptoms of TBI are struggling to remember certain words while talking, and being indecisive when presented with choices. David has an amazing vocabulary, and he talks smoothly, and remains his opinionated 'old' self, for which we are really thankful.
We appreciate your continued prayers.
Steve
