I Hope You're Having A Great Night.
David just rolled into his bedroom to get a good nights rest. I asked him if he wanted me to say anything particular in the blog and he asked that you all think of John Hayes. John was David's team leader on his first tour and was just hit by an IED in Afghanistan. The initial report is that his injuries are very close to the injuries that David sustained. John is stable and the last word was that he was on his way to Germany. David is very anxious to fly to Washington and see his friend and give him some assurances, but is very much aware of the fact that he needs to wait until he is out of intensive care so he will remember the visit.
I am so blessed to be with David but it seems our whole family is being tested right now. As I am typing, Michael, David's older brother, is in surgery in Utah. He wasn't feeling well and went into an Instacare facility and was told to get straight to the hospital. Michael had to go the long way around to the hospital as there is a blizzard going on in Utah right now. He went into the hospital and told them he had to get his appendix looked at and now we found out that he has Diverticulitis and that he has a perforated bowel. So, he's under the knife right now.
In the last three weeks David's mother has been in the emergency room 3 times and has had her gall bladder removed. Other than that and other unmentionable family situations, all is calm and going well. You know, sometimes you can only laugh or cry with so much going on. Right now I'm smiling but 5 minutes ago that was far from the case.
Well, back to the situation at hand. David is doing well. He is really working on his strength. He now has the desire to do push-ups while holding his body parallel to the floor. He has done one push up that way. He has a set of these "Perfect Pushups" and he goes from a sitting position, lifts himself off the ground and rotates his torso so he is parallel to the floor - then he tries to do push ups. He did that about 20 times yesterday but was only able to do one of the push-ups. He was so dang sore today. He loves every second of it. I tried using the "Perfect Pushups" and did one push-up but my feet were on the floor. I tried a second one and face planted into the carpet. I'm feeling like a weakling in comparison to David.
Today was quite impressive. April, David's Physical Therapist, sat on a rolling stool and wrapped thick rubber straps around each of David's legs and then he towed her around the halls. He did it without using canes. I really think, as does April, that David is ready for the full legs with knees and I firmly believe he will be in them next week.
Today David took a couple wounded soldiers out to his Jeep and showed them how he transitions from his wheelchair into the car. One of the young men lost his left leg all the way into the hip socket so it was really painful for him to accomplish the transition. I know it is very difficult, but it is also a great blessing for David to see that he actually has it a little easier than some of the other wounded warriors. On Christmas day he spent his time visiting wounded soldiers and trying to lift their spirits.
All of the sudden I am at a complete loss of words, my mind is going all over the place and I guess that means I have written about as much as I need to for today.
If any of you have updates about John or would like to hear any updates from David, please don't hesitate to call.
Take Care,
Gordon
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010 @ 1210
Happy Holidays,
I'm sitting downstairs at my own home and, with almost 6 months away from home this year, home feels a little bit foreign. I should be in church right now but Lynnette is having another gall bladder attack and I don't feel comfortable to leave her alone. She'll have surgery tomorrow morning and that should take care of the problem - fingers crossed.
David wanted to stay in San Diego for the holiday season and have some "Me" time - I absolutely understand. These seven months have been all but alone time.
I wanted to take a moment and tell you a little about last Thursday. Occupational Therapy had a little Christmas celebration and it was quite touching to be there. Keep in mind that Occupational Therapy does not just deal with soldiers, they deal with dependents and retirees and help in any way they can to get individuals past injuries, or strokes, or rehab from surgery.
Well, there were individuals in the kitchen cooking tortillas, steak, cookies, etc. David was in charge of rolling some of the cookies out and they another soldier was in charge of timing the cookies and then the cookies would be taken to the nurse who had to have both of her legs and hands amputated and she would use her new hooks to carefully place large chocolate kisses on each cookie. It was all very tender to watch as carols were being sung.
As soon as it was over it was back to business and more therapy.
I won't see David for 10 days so I won't be able to write much in the way of giving you updates but I wanted to take a moment and let you know how blessed we feel. You all know that you only have to go next door or down the block to find a situation that is much worse than your own. David and I were talking this week and I felt it important to express to him that there was absolutely nothing that was in his long term plans that would need to be left out. If he wants to run, he will. If he wants to have children, he will. If he wants to travel to foreign countries and serve those people, he will. If he wants to mountain bike to the top of a mountain, he will. Things will definitely be more difficult - but they are all attainable. He has all of his faculties, he has his sense of humor, he, to me, is one incredible young man with all the potential he has ever had.
I don't feel I can possibly express to you just how blessed we feel. All will be OK!
Merry Christmas to all of you following this blog and thank you for your support and prayers.
This week will be spent getting a great fit on David's new sockets and then the first of the year will be knees and re-learning the proper way to walk. I think it's going to be a great 2011.
All My Love,
Gordon
I'm sitting downstairs at my own home and, with almost 6 months away from home this year, home feels a little bit foreign. I should be in church right now but Lynnette is having another gall bladder attack and I don't feel comfortable to leave her alone. She'll have surgery tomorrow morning and that should take care of the problem - fingers crossed.
David wanted to stay in San Diego for the holiday season and have some "Me" time - I absolutely understand. These seven months have been all but alone time.
I wanted to take a moment and tell you a little about last Thursday. Occupational Therapy had a little Christmas celebration and it was quite touching to be there. Keep in mind that Occupational Therapy does not just deal with soldiers, they deal with dependents and retirees and help in any way they can to get individuals past injuries, or strokes, or rehab from surgery.
Well, there were individuals in the kitchen cooking tortillas, steak, cookies, etc. David was in charge of rolling some of the cookies out and they another soldier was in charge of timing the cookies and then the cookies would be taken to the nurse who had to have both of her legs and hands amputated and she would use her new hooks to carefully place large chocolate kisses on each cookie. It was all very tender to watch as carols were being sung.
As soon as it was over it was back to business and more therapy.
I won't see David for 10 days so I won't be able to write much in the way of giving you updates but I wanted to take a moment and let you know how blessed we feel. You all know that you only have to go next door or down the block to find a situation that is much worse than your own. David and I were talking this week and I felt it important to express to him that there was absolutely nothing that was in his long term plans that would need to be left out. If he wants to run, he will. If he wants to have children, he will. If he wants to travel to foreign countries and serve those people, he will. If he wants to mountain bike to the top of a mountain, he will. Things will definitely be more difficult - but they are all attainable. He has all of his faculties, he has his sense of humor, he, to me, is one incredible young man with all the potential he has ever had.
I don't feel I can possibly express to you just how blessed we feel. All will be OK!
Merry Christmas to all of you following this blog and thank you for your support and prayers.
This week will be spent getting a great fit on David's new sockets and then the first of the year will be knees and re-learning the proper way to walk. I think it's going to be a great 2011.
All My Love,
Gordon
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, 14 December 2010 @ 2115
Hi Everyone,
Well, where do I start. The weekend was very low key so there is not much to tell you about that. I thought Lynnette was going to be in surgery but that ended up waiting until next Monday so I a little extra to worry about. David had a very relaxed weekend, which was really needed. David brought his legs home for the weekend but the pain and torn skin on the back of his left leg stopped him from doing any walking.
I can't really make a great amount of comments about Monday because I left the apartment at about 7:30 and didn't see David until about 3:30. I took his new 63 Lincoln and sat while the hand controls were installed. I actually like driving with those controls but don't tell the police or I would be grounded for sure. While I was waiting for the work to be done, one of David's high school buddies, Ryan, called and said his parents were out here and wanted to see David. Everything worked out so we met them at a restaurant at Mission Beach and had a great conversation and a great meal. The bad part about it was that Mike, Ryan's dad, lives about 50 feet from my back door and he and I have never sat down and talked before. It had to take this situation to get us at the same table and I absolutely loved talking with he and his wife, Maryann. Maybe it's time to slow life down a little and get to know my neighbors a bit better.
It's fun right now because David and his friend Adam are in the living room playing X-box Black Ops with 3D glasses on. It looks like watching my grand kids at a 3D movie. It sounds like young kids playing the game - Hey Man, why'd ya do that! That was lame! Oh the reality of it all. I'm really enjoying it all.
Today was quite a busy day. David went to OT and they really worked his arm. This time they wore a belt and wrapped it around David's arm so they could pull the elbow slightly out of it's socket and then tried to extend it as much as possible. Every time they would do it David's legs would shoot in the air from pain and she would apologize for hurting him and then they would go again, and again, and again. The frustrating part about it is the fact that David has only gained about 4 degrees of extension in his elbow in two months of doing this kind of stuff every day. He really feels like it's time to talk with the Orthopedic Surgery team to see if they can do some surgical alterations to his elbow so he can extend it. I'll let you know how that goes.
Tomorrow we're told we have to be at OT at precisely 9:17 because we're going to be making a special treat in their kitchen. We have to help do the cooking. Occupational therapy is all about helping these men get back into the complete routine of their lives. On Friday they were trying to help another soldier learn how to make his bed while dealing with his new limitations and they turned to David because he has similar injuries and said, "David, how do you make your bed?" David said, "Dad, will you please make my bed!" Obviously David was the wrong one to ask about that.
After OT, David went on an outing to try hand cycling. David really doesn't like team events and he definitely does not like someone riding next to him cheering him on, so he just got on the bike and took off. I know there are liability issues with these field trips but it gets a little frustrating when an adult is telling another adult, one who has been in charge of men and millions of dollars of equipment, to slow down and watch for traffic and be careful of the bump in the road. They were worried that David's first time would be hard because he would be lagging behind but he finished the 15 miles ahead of everyone and was ready to return before the others even got off their bikes. He is really a great amount of fun.
He was pretty tuckered out after all that. It's really quite something to be sitting here with a big smile on my face because of some of the funny things he does and then be tearing up one sentence later because of a little tender thought comes to mind. I'm heading home for Christmas and will miss him greatly. If some of you here in California are doing anything with him over the Holidays, please take good care of him for me.
It was very interesting today in PT. A young man was walking on his new legs and wanted to take them home - his therapist told him absolutely not. The soldier was a bit offended because he really wants to walk. She carefully explained to him and demonstrated to him that, as he was walking, he was lifting his hip and shoulder to bring his foot through. She told him that it was critical that he did not learn bad habits when he was re-learning to walk. She told him that it takes a very short time for his body to adapt to a new way of walking and that she want to coach him through every step for this very critical time in his recovery. In like manner, David was told that they don't want to give him his full legs with knees because of the holiday season. It is so critical that he gets daily help when learning the proper way to approach each step. With the holiday season, he would miss too many therapy sessions and it is just not worth the damage that could result. So, tomorrow he may get his full height, or close to it, with knees, but the knees will be locked so he will have very tall and expensive stubbies. David is not discouraged, he is trusting their every move and is very willing to work through every obstacle they put in his path. I'm very proud of the way he handles these little disappointments. I've learned a great deal.
See You Soon,
Gordon
Well, where do I start. The weekend was very low key so there is not much to tell you about that. I thought Lynnette was going to be in surgery but that ended up waiting until next Monday so I a little extra to worry about. David had a very relaxed weekend, which was really needed. David brought his legs home for the weekend but the pain and torn skin on the back of his left leg stopped him from doing any walking.
I can't really make a great amount of comments about Monday because I left the apartment at about 7:30 and didn't see David until about 3:30. I took his new 63 Lincoln and sat while the hand controls were installed. I actually like driving with those controls but don't tell the police or I would be grounded for sure. While I was waiting for the work to be done, one of David's high school buddies, Ryan, called and said his parents were out here and wanted to see David. Everything worked out so we met them at a restaurant at Mission Beach and had a great conversation and a great meal. The bad part about it was that Mike, Ryan's dad, lives about 50 feet from my back door and he and I have never sat down and talked before. It had to take this situation to get us at the same table and I absolutely loved talking with he and his wife, Maryann. Maybe it's time to slow life down a little and get to know my neighbors a bit better.
It's fun right now because David and his friend Adam are in the living room playing X-box Black Ops with 3D glasses on. It looks like watching my grand kids at a 3D movie. It sounds like young kids playing the game - Hey Man, why'd ya do that! That was lame! Oh the reality of it all. I'm really enjoying it all.
Today was quite a busy day. David went to OT and they really worked his arm. This time they wore a belt and wrapped it around David's arm so they could pull the elbow slightly out of it's socket and then tried to extend it as much as possible. Every time they would do it David's legs would shoot in the air from pain and she would apologize for hurting him and then they would go again, and again, and again. The frustrating part about it is the fact that David has only gained about 4 degrees of extension in his elbow in two months of doing this kind of stuff every day. He really feels like it's time to talk with the Orthopedic Surgery team to see if they can do some surgical alterations to his elbow so he can extend it. I'll let you know how that goes.
Tomorrow we're told we have to be at OT at precisely 9:17 because we're going to be making a special treat in their kitchen. We have to help do the cooking. Occupational therapy is all about helping these men get back into the complete routine of their lives. On Friday they were trying to help another soldier learn how to make his bed while dealing with his new limitations and they turned to David because he has similar injuries and said, "David, how do you make your bed?" David said, "Dad, will you please make my bed!" Obviously David was the wrong one to ask about that.
After OT, David went on an outing to try hand cycling. David really doesn't like team events and he definitely does not like someone riding next to him cheering him on, so he just got on the bike and took off. I know there are liability issues with these field trips but it gets a little frustrating when an adult is telling another adult, one who has been in charge of men and millions of dollars of equipment, to slow down and watch for traffic and be careful of the bump in the road. They were worried that David's first time would be hard because he would be lagging behind but he finished the 15 miles ahead of everyone and was ready to return before the others even got off their bikes. He is really a great amount of fun.
He was pretty tuckered out after all that. It's really quite something to be sitting here with a big smile on my face because of some of the funny things he does and then be tearing up one sentence later because of a little tender thought comes to mind. I'm heading home for Christmas and will miss him greatly. If some of you here in California are doing anything with him over the Holidays, please take good care of him for me.
It was very interesting today in PT. A young man was walking on his new legs and wanted to take them home - his therapist told him absolutely not. The soldier was a bit offended because he really wants to walk. She carefully explained to him and demonstrated to him that, as he was walking, he was lifting his hip and shoulder to bring his foot through. She told him that it was critical that he did not learn bad habits when he was re-learning to walk. She told him that it takes a very short time for his body to adapt to a new way of walking and that she want to coach him through every step for this very critical time in his recovery. In like manner, David was told that they don't want to give him his full legs with knees because of the holiday season. It is so critical that he gets daily help when learning the proper way to approach each step. With the holiday season, he would miss too many therapy sessions and it is just not worth the damage that could result. So, tomorrow he may get his full height, or close to it, with knees, but the knees will be locked so he will have very tall and expensive stubbies. David is not discouraged, he is trusting their every move and is very willing to work through every obstacle they put in his path. I'm very proud of the way he handles these little disappointments. I've learned a great deal.
See You Soon,
Gordon
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010 @ 2126
Good Evening, I may make some mistakes, again, tonight because I lost one of my contact lenses today. You'd think it would be just as easy to type without your sight but these computers aren't as easy to keep your hands in the correct place, so when I make a mistake I have to put my nose next to the screen to see what it was and then plant my nose on the keyboard to find my position again. Just be forgiving.
It's been a very eventful few days. Yesterday was the day that we thought David would be fitted for his new legs and we thought he would be standing but not quite. We did have a two hour appointment with Pete in Prosthetics and David got completely remeasured and recast for his new legs which should be on his body by Wednesday. It is very very very exciting. He received his new liners that are worn inside the socket of the leg. The left liner was made with an attachment on the end that will take a special pin that inserts and locks into a hole in the socket and gives his left leg a much better fit so he doesn't walk out of the leg and face plant on the sidewalk. Pete is great, he talks to you in terms that are really understanding - I didn't know how great he was until he had a colleague drop by from back east and he was talking in all these technical terms that had my head spinning. A very nice guy but totally different in his approach to the soldiers.
When we went to PT David was only able to do two laps because his leg was so sore. The surgery he had on Monday really made the back of his left leg very tender and the skin has torn several times. His stamina is really good right now and it is very frustrating that the pain of one small spot stops him from walking. Several of the sites that were lasered last Monday are now flaking off and the skin seems much more movable in many areas. David, like everything else, is a very special case here - his H O is completely out of control and everywhere so it's very hard to be consistent with his daily routines. You just have absolutely no idea what's going to hurt or not hurt the next time he puts on his legs.
He is loving driving and I've determined he is really a lead hand. Get it?
Last night he took off, by himself, in the Jeep and went to dinner with Zack. I felt like a dad with a young man out on a date or something - I just kept wondering if he was OK. When he left we went to the Jeep together and I was just the spotter. He opened the back door and window, climbed into the back of the jeep and slid to one side so he could lift the chair into the back. He did it with ease and then closed the window and door and climbed through the Jeep to the front and drove away. It is very cool that he is feeling this kind of freedom.
Today we did some creative work and then went to Lowe's to get the materials needed to design a handle that he could use ot open the back door from inside. It was a bit trick because there is nothing we could find that was already designed. But, now he has a mountain climbing carabiner that acts as a handle and he can open the back gate from inside. It's amazing what incredible minds us Lyon men have - stop laughing.
Today Lynnette called me in severe pain and she is now just headed home from the Emergency Room. Tomorrow at 9am she will return to the hospital and get a test done and, more than likely, head to surgery to have her gall bladder removed. I think she is all morphined up right now so she isn't feeling much pain but, hopefully, this will take care of what she has been going through for the past year or so. I thought it might be stress - I wonder why I thought that. Thank you Shirley, Brian, Wally, and Rachelle for taking care of my incredible wife.
I love you all,
Gordon
It's been a very eventful few days. Yesterday was the day that we thought David would be fitted for his new legs and we thought he would be standing but not quite. We did have a two hour appointment with Pete in Prosthetics and David got completely remeasured and recast for his new legs which should be on his body by Wednesday. It is very very very exciting. He received his new liners that are worn inside the socket of the leg. The left liner was made with an attachment on the end that will take a special pin that inserts and locks into a hole in the socket and gives his left leg a much better fit so he doesn't walk out of the leg and face plant on the sidewalk. Pete is great, he talks to you in terms that are really understanding - I didn't know how great he was until he had a colleague drop by from back east and he was talking in all these technical terms that had my head spinning. A very nice guy but totally different in his approach to the soldiers.
When we went to PT David was only able to do two laps because his leg was so sore. The surgery he had on Monday really made the back of his left leg very tender and the skin has torn several times. His stamina is really good right now and it is very frustrating that the pain of one small spot stops him from walking. Several of the sites that were lasered last Monday are now flaking off and the skin seems much more movable in many areas. David, like everything else, is a very special case here - his H O is completely out of control and everywhere so it's very hard to be consistent with his daily routines. You just have absolutely no idea what's going to hurt or not hurt the next time he puts on his legs.
He is loving driving and I've determined he is really a lead hand. Get it?
Last night he took off, by himself, in the Jeep and went to dinner with Zack. I felt like a dad with a young man out on a date or something - I just kept wondering if he was OK. When he left we went to the Jeep together and I was just the spotter. He opened the back door and window, climbed into the back of the jeep and slid to one side so he could lift the chair into the back. He did it with ease and then closed the window and door and climbed through the Jeep to the front and drove away. It is very cool that he is feeling this kind of freedom.
Today we did some creative work and then went to Lowe's to get the materials needed to design a handle that he could use ot open the back door from inside. It was a bit trick because there is nothing we could find that was already designed. But, now he has a mountain climbing carabiner that acts as a handle and he can open the back gate from inside. It's amazing what incredible minds us Lyon men have - stop laughing.
Today Lynnette called me in severe pain and she is now just headed home from the Emergency Room. Tomorrow at 9am she will return to the hospital and get a test done and, more than likely, head to surgery to have her gall bladder removed. I think she is all morphined up right now so she isn't feeling much pain but, hopefully, this will take care of what she has been going through for the past year or so. I thought it might be stress - I wonder why I thought that. Thank you Shirley, Brian, Wally, and Rachelle for taking care of my incredible wife.
I love you all,
Gordon
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Wednesday, 8 December 2010 @ 2212
I've kept you in the dark for too long and I'm sorry. This has been a very busy couple weeks.
I had the opportunity to go home for Thanksgiving and be with my beautiful wife, my wonderful mother, and my incredible children. David took the opportunity to go be with great friends for some Turkey as well. He had the great opportunity of having Zack and Dave stay with him and I think it couldn't have been any better for him.
Lynnette and I flew back together. We flew into Sacramento so we could make arrangements to bring Ethen down to see his Daddy for a few days. It is such a beautiful site to have them sitting next to each other watching TV or playing the Scooby Doo Match Game or Coloring, or just watching each other play computer games. Heather, Ethen's mother, was wonderful in making this all happen. We went to the beach, to eat sushi, to a couple museums, to the hospital, and we even drove to LA to pick up David's new 1963 Lincoln Continental. David's Aunt Monika even came out and spent a couple days with us. His cousin Jonah also came and we had a great time together. There are just so many people that have make all of our lives better. Thank You All!!!
David had some surgery on his wound sites. I think we're up to about 29 surgical visits - one of these days I'll actually read what I've written and see if I can come up with an accurate number. This last surgery was broken into 2 sessions because the Dermatology department had some important visitors and David agreed to be the center of attraction in showing the visitors the latest laser techniques. The surgery on his wounds was suppose to take about an hour and it took about 3 hours. They use laser technology to shoot strategically placed holes throughout his wound sites to encourage the skin to produce a thicker and more pliable skin layer. These wound sites have a tendency to stick to the muscle and it is very important for the skin to remain pliable and movable like our normal skin is. This procedure is also suppose to give the skin a notification to get rid of particles that don't belong there - that's the easiest way of putting it. David thinks it's working because the first site that was lasered is now producing bumps that he thinks are pieces of the bomb or pieces of dirt that were forced into the skin when the blast hit. I wish he would have kept all the pieces he has pulled out, we could have melted them all down and molded them into some kind of a pendent that he could wear. One of his friends got shot through the chest from a very close distance and lived to wear the bullet around his neck as a keepsake.
Yesterday there was a young man that approached David because of his EOD Tech T-Shirt. The two didn't know each other, but, as you know, EOD Tech's have a kinship that binds them together whether they know each other or not. This young man was in a wheelchair with a cast on his right leg. We asked what happened and he told us he had stepped on a bomb. David said, "Lucky for you that these guys aren't too smart and don't always mix their chemicals properly!" I guess he had stepped on a bomb similar to the one that hit David but the blast was very minor, in comparison, and just severely broke his leg. I sure wish David would have had that same blessing but I guess that wasn't to be.
Yesterday David was walking with Ethen, Me, Monika, Jonah, his Physical Therapist, and a busy hallway full of people when he fell. It happened so fast that none of us could do anything. David said his pride was the worst thing hurt. His left leg just came loose and he went straight down. I try so hard to be positive and upbeat and smiling, but sometimes I just have to lower my head until I've regained my composure. He got right back up and continued his walk. His walks these past two days have only been 1 lap because the skin is very tender from the laser surgery.
Guess What, nope - nope - not even close. Ok, HE IS DRIVING! He hasn't even hit anything. He did take one wrong turn on the freeway and I was able to talk smack with him for a few miles because of all the smack he has given me when I've taken wrong turns. He's loving this driving stuff. It's one step closer. I LOVE IT!
I think I'm going to get some sleep. David has been having some very bad experiences with the Ambien that he has been taking to help him sleep. He literally feels like he has legs again and it is a very unstable feeling - and very disturbing. Tonight we're trying an over-the-counter medicine that, we hope, will give him some relaxing sleep instead of these awfully unfair feelings of having his legs. It would be one thing if they were actually there but reality has the upper hand in this situation.
Have a wonderful night.
Gordon
I had the opportunity to go home for Thanksgiving and be with my beautiful wife, my wonderful mother, and my incredible children. David took the opportunity to go be with great friends for some Turkey as well. He had the great opportunity of having Zack and Dave stay with him and I think it couldn't have been any better for him.
Lynnette and I flew back together. We flew into Sacramento so we could make arrangements to bring Ethen down to see his Daddy for a few days. It is such a beautiful site to have them sitting next to each other watching TV or playing the Scooby Doo Match Game or Coloring, or just watching each other play computer games. Heather, Ethen's mother, was wonderful in making this all happen. We went to the beach, to eat sushi, to a couple museums, to the hospital, and we even drove to LA to pick up David's new 1963 Lincoln Continental. David's Aunt Monika even came out and spent a couple days with us. His cousin Jonah also came and we had a great time together. There are just so many people that have make all of our lives better. Thank You All!!!
David had some surgery on his wound sites. I think we're up to about 29 surgical visits - one of these days I'll actually read what I've written and see if I can come up with an accurate number. This last surgery was broken into 2 sessions because the Dermatology department had some important visitors and David agreed to be the center of attraction in showing the visitors the latest laser techniques. The surgery on his wounds was suppose to take about an hour and it took about 3 hours. They use laser technology to shoot strategically placed holes throughout his wound sites to encourage the skin to produce a thicker and more pliable skin layer. These wound sites have a tendency to stick to the muscle and it is very important for the skin to remain pliable and movable like our normal skin is. This procedure is also suppose to give the skin a notification to get rid of particles that don't belong there - that's the easiest way of putting it. David thinks it's working because the first site that was lasered is now producing bumps that he thinks are pieces of the bomb or pieces of dirt that were forced into the skin when the blast hit. I wish he would have kept all the pieces he has pulled out, we could have melted them all down and molded them into some kind of a pendent that he could wear. One of his friends got shot through the chest from a very close distance and lived to wear the bullet around his neck as a keepsake.
Yesterday there was a young man that approached David because of his EOD Tech T-Shirt. The two didn't know each other, but, as you know, EOD Tech's have a kinship that binds them together whether they know each other or not. This young man was in a wheelchair with a cast on his right leg. We asked what happened and he told us he had stepped on a bomb. David said, "Lucky for you that these guys aren't too smart and don't always mix their chemicals properly!" I guess he had stepped on a bomb similar to the one that hit David but the blast was very minor, in comparison, and just severely broke his leg. I sure wish David would have had that same blessing but I guess that wasn't to be.
Yesterday David was walking with Ethen, Me, Monika, Jonah, his Physical Therapist, and a busy hallway full of people when he fell. It happened so fast that none of us could do anything. David said his pride was the worst thing hurt. His left leg just came loose and he went straight down. I try so hard to be positive and upbeat and smiling, but sometimes I just have to lower my head until I've regained my composure. He got right back up and continued his walk. His walks these past two days have only been 1 lap because the skin is very tender from the laser surgery.
Guess What, nope - nope - not even close. Ok, HE IS DRIVING! He hasn't even hit anything. He did take one wrong turn on the freeway and I was able to talk smack with him for a few miles because of all the smack he has given me when I've taken wrong turns. He's loving this driving stuff. It's one step closer. I LOVE IT!
I think I'm going to get some sleep. David has been having some very bad experiences with the Ambien that he has been taking to help him sleep. He literally feels like he has legs again and it is a very unstable feeling - and very disturbing. Tonight we're trying an over-the-counter medicine that, we hope, will give him some relaxing sleep instead of these awfully unfair feelings of having his legs. It would be one thing if they were actually there but reality has the upper hand in this situation.
Have a wonderful night.
Gordon
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