We found out today that the rehab at EIRMC cannot accept Danny based on the level of his spinal cord injury. We need everyone's prayers that we will be accepted tomorrow at the University of Utah's spine center. The hospital we are currently in is definitely not for us and we hope to be leaving here tomorrow.
Because we pushed and caused a lot of waves (surprise coming from Danny and I!!) He is now off the vent and had the ng tube removed (feeding tube inserted through his nose and into his small intestine) and is on solid food today. He was so happy to eat meat :) (and ketchup)...
The process of dealing with all of these different doctors and staff has definitely been a challenge and we have learned a lot through the process. It is definitely important to do your own research and not just trust blindly...money definitely makes the world go round for a lot of people. This experience has brought Danny and I closer together and taught us to trust each other so much more. I can't believe the issues that we used to think were so big and insurmountable. The amount of personal growth and knowledge we have each experienced/gained during this time certainly makes coping with the realities more manageable.
Danny says that you for your support to all those who have helped us, loved us, and prayed for us. He is talking up a storm now!!
Happy Birthday Grace!
Oh I'm sure he is LOL:-) that sucks I wanted to come see him when he got to Idaho falls:) well I miss u both and I hope that he gets accepted in Utah. Danny, you are probably the strongest willed person I have ever met and I really mean that your a good friend and I miss our talks:) hope we can have them again:) love u both nikki oler
ReplyDeletehello danny,
ReplyDeletemy name is brandon jones. you dont know me, but i am a very close friend of your cousin jessica virgin. she has asked if i would take a look at this blog and offer any words of encouagment or advice seeing how you are going through many of the same things i experianced 12 years ago when i broke my neck at c6-c7 in a truck rollover at the st. anthony sand dunes. i have read through all the posts on the blog and it has brough back a lot of emotions and memories that i have of being in your exact spot. it looks like you have a great support system from family and loved ones. this is a great and important thing to have in your current situation and in the tough times ahead. i see that it looks like you will be going to the u of u for your rehab and in all honesty it will be a great place for you to go, i went there myself for my rehab and couldnt have been happier. you sound like you are working hard and have a strong drive that will help you get through this.
i can tell you the care and attention you will get at the u of u will be far greater then what you have had so far. they have great nurses and theropists there that will help you recover mentally and physically to your full potential. i have a lot of love for the staff that helped me while i was there. my best advice for rehad is listen closely to what they teach you and work as hard as you can each day you are in physical theropy as silly as some of the things they might have you do are they will help you recover and bulid your strength. i know these times can be frustrating and all you want to do is go home, but you'll be better off for the time you spend there and the harder you work the better off you'll be when you do go home.
i could sit here and write you novel on the things to expect and tell you about everything i went through while i was there but i dont want to bore you to death :-). i know it can be hard to stay positive all the time and it can be hard to want to listen to people who walk into a room and tell you everything is going to be ok when you are sitting in a bed and looking at a very good possiblity of living the rest of your life in a chair. but coming from a person who has gone through what you are going through, who has dealt with the emotions and thoughts that you have right now my best advice is to stay positive and talk about your feelings. realize its ok to be upset and angery and use those strong emotions to help you work even harder in rehab. you will have very very high days where everything is great and you are going to have very very low days where all you want to do is cry and be very angery about what has happend to you, but your nurses, PT's, and OT's will be there to help you when your loved ones cant be.
i would like to give you bolth my e-mail address and if you have any questions at all please feel free to ask. i know i am not a freiend or family member and it can be uncomfurtable to talk to someone you dont know, but i am a person who has been exactly where you are and i can empathise with your situation better than anyone you do know right now. my wife has also said she is more then happy to offer up any advice she can to you bolth as well. my e-0mail address is bjoneslvscs@gmail.com and my phone number is 435-862-4961 and once again please feel free to call or write if you feel i can be of any help. i wish you and your family all the best!