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June 3 Update

By Janet | June 3, 2008

Friends,

Its been a long weekend but today went a little faster. Now that it’s Monday night around 8 PM I just want to put on the brakes and slow it all up. I guess I’m just scared of the next step.

Peter is getting stronger each day. The pain is controlled by taking 40 MG of Ox cotton twice a day (the newest wonder drug) and then he takes something to control the tingling sensation and an antibiotic. Physical therapy is going great with Patrick who is a very nice young man. Peter is learning how to sit alone, get off the bed and use the scoot board. (A board used to transfer from bed to chair and so forth) Then he stretches Peter all out and says Bud is doing a great job. Bud helps Peter with some of the same exercises 3 times during the day. After all that we transfer Peter to the cardiac chair. It’s this really big pink chair on wheels that supports Peter’s whole body. We sneak out of the hospital and go for long walks. Last night we took the sidewalk that runs around the perimeter of the hospital. I know people were looking at us and wondering where we were going. Of course we got lost and since it was starting to get dark we decided we should cut through a parking garage. We were not counting on the speed bump and decided that going backwards would be the best attempt. Mission was successful and we stopped by the cafeteria for a Coke. (Ditching the security guards is hard work…… but they did say we could go anywhere we wanted) I’m sure the hospital has collision insurance on that piece of equipment.

Having fun does make the day seem more normal and go much faster. Tomorrow Peter will fly to Denver and Craig hospital is expecting his arrival. Our prayers were answered and they have a space for Peter at just the right date. The first two days will be evaluation (mental and physical) and then they will place him with a roommate and design the correct plan for him. He has scheduled activities from 8-4 each day. He will be a lean machine when he completes the 60 days. He’s still planning on attending OU in the fall. Bud is setting up his office in Denver and plans to stay. I’m not sure what I will do. We know they have an apartment for the family for the first 30 days. After we know the routine we will figure it all out. Since Whitney is handling Team Jessee’s finances, everything is now under control on the home front. Peter really misses her, but they call each other several times a day. And of course Ed Leinbach is keeping track of Peter’s condition each day and has helped with the travel arrangements.

This is really long but I receive these emails and everyone wants to help AND there are so many questions. Do not worry, when we know something more we will ask for help.

Peter seems to have some feelings in his legs, but it’s patchy, meaning that sometimes he seems to have it and sometimes not. The spinal cord is injured at the T10 level. (Around the belly button) Sometime he can feel hot and cold. Sometimes when Bud rubs his legs he can feel heat. I always wonder when I’m rubbing his legs why something that feels so healthy can only feel asleep to Peter.

Ok, here’s the plan. Since we already had our return airline tickets purchased Bud and I are flying American.

Bud leaves Tuesday morning 7:30 AM arriving Denver at 11:30 Tuesday night. (on American)

I will stay behind with Peter and ride with him in the Ambulance to the Airport. He leaves 8:30 PM on Tuesday and arrives around 7:30 Wednesday morning. Bud will be waiting with the ambulance to take him on to Craig Hospital. We have hired an intensive care RN to fly with Peter. They are going non-stop on United so everything will be all right. Peter has been in a regular room for about 7 days now and Dr. Chang said it’s perfectly safe for him to fly. The RN is required because of Peter’s current physical condition.

Pray for safe journey.

I then fly on American Wednesday night arriving Thursday morning.

I’m sorry this email is so hit and miss. It’s hard to stay on track in a busy room. Keep the email and text messages coming….Peter really enjoys hearing from everyone. It’s always fun to hear him laughing out loud and then he gets really busy on his Black Jack phone. Technology is great.

Send prayers our way to keep Peter’s spinal cord healing and safe journey.

Patticakes and Barbara, please forward to football, soccer, NHS and BA High School. Christy, please forward to Flames Hockey.

Please forward…please foward to all prayer chains…..in case I forget someone.

Janet

Topics: Peter |