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Aug 18 Update

By Bud | August 18, 2008

We are starting to get in a routine regarding Peter’s care and therapy. Having a routine helps the mental attitude and morale. This past weekend Peter had visitors of Easton Woods, Wes Moody, Carl Salazar and Shelby Chapman. Carl and Peter even took an outing to Carl’s house for a few hours. This really helps Peter get out of the house and return to a normal routine. We also had our good friends Susan King and Valerie Morris come by for a visit. Susan was bearing a gift from her husband Ed. Two K-State t-shirts that he wants us to wear when we go to the OU/ K-State game with Ashley. I don’t think so Ed.

Today we made another trip down the turnpike to OU Medical School for another session on the Lokomat. One of the physical therapy students is Zack Burrow a 2005 graduate and former football player for Broken Arrow. Even though this is a therapy sessions, they have lively discussions about past football games that only they can remember. It seems as though Zack has a vested interest in Peter’s therapy, as in returning a fellow BA Alum to walking again. I’ve attached a photo of Peter on the Lokomat. The photo really does not do the equipment any justice, because there is a lot more to the machine than the camera can capture. But at the command of Professor Shirley James and her students, the Lokomat is simply miraculous. God is answering a prayer by furnishing this fine machine, facility and personnel.

Sunday started our tour of the churches that have supported us since Peter’s injury in Hawaii. Sunday we attended Arrow Heights Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, We received a very warm welcome from Pastor Bob Green and his congregation. Pastor Green and his wife were the first visitors we received while in Honolulu. Their support and the support of their congregation is one of the many blessings that God has provided. With their prayers at Arrow Heights we know that he will walk again.

Our next stop will be to visit Monsignor Gaalaas at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Tulsa. Even though Monsignor Gaalaas was visiting his sister in Denver he came by Craig Hospital every couple of days to visit with Peter. Our relationship with him goes back several years as we were past neighbors while we lived in Broken Arrow.

This Friday night, Broken Arrow football will be using their scrimmage as a fund raiser to help us pay for additional therapy for Peter that is not covered by insurance. The scrimmage will feature BA, Sapulpa and Coweta. Peter will be introduced at 6 pm before a kicking contest that will feature Peters good friend Carl Salazar. I invite everyone to come out and fill the stands to cheer for Carl to win this competition. Go Carl.

God has answered many prayers. We ask that you continue to pray for Peter and all those we left behind at Craig. Victims of spinal cord injuries struggle day in and day out with changes they can not control in their bodies. We are now becoming aware of the struggles they face to continue their therapy for recovery. It can be very frustrating and many just give up and therefore their recovery stagnates. Usually their insurance has limited days for therapy and they are not capable of continuing. You can not compare a knee replacement, hip replacement or broken leg to a spinal cord injury, yet insurance usually allows the same number of rehab days as a spinal cord injury. I know I’m in the insurance business and until you are faced with these situations, you really never understand the consequences of an injury. Fortunately, I have never had a client that has had a spinal cord injury. That is why it is so important to pray for all these victims to give them courage and strength to continue their fight.

Hope to see many of you Friday so…………..
He will walk again
Bud

Topics: Peter |