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
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