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October 5 Update

By Bud | October 5, 2008

Sorry I have not kept everyone updated a little better. We have been very busy working this past week to set up the trip to Cleveland, OH to get Peter in the Cleveland Clinic, one of the top research hospitals in the country. With the help of Doctor Malone here in Tulsa, Peter has been accepted. We are scheduled to be admitted there on Monday Oct. 13. We are hoping this will answer a lot of questions of exactly what caused this occurrence and if it is actually the proper diagnosis. If it is what Dr. Malone thinks, just a thought, this could be a break through not only for Peter, but many others that this has affected. It could be that Peter’s arteries were not pinched and cut off the blood to the spinal cord, it could be that the spinal cord could be getting too much blood. An example is, think of taking a drink from a water hose. It is no problem to get a drink. Now you pick up a fire hose and try to get a drink. The pressure is too strong and the water goes past your mouth and you are unable to get a drink. There might be the possibility that Peter’s arteries are that fire hose and the spinal cord is not getting a drink. At this time this is just a theory. Hopefully this question can be answered in Cleveland.

Therapy this past week has been very positive. Tuesday PT at St. Johns, Peter was initiating the squats on his own on the Total Gym. You know it is amazing when I mention the Total Gym, nobody knows what I am talking about. But when I mention to men, the one Christie Brinkley advertises and to women, I say the one Chuck Norris advertises, they all know what I am talking about. Wednesday and Friday on the LoKoMat at OU Med Center, the hamstrings, quads and glutes were definitely firing. Friday Whitney took Peter to OU. On the LoKoMat, they were using Estem and when they would shoot the juice to Peter’s legs, Whitney was able to feel the difference. It is really great that Whitney can take him to OU on her days off. When those two are together, there is nothing but positive vibes going. A new face to Peter and it being his sister, really helps his mental strength which I know helps his physical strength. Thursday morning we went to the Jenks High School training facility. Herb Rhea, head trainer for Jenks sports programs, was kind enough to let us use their therapy pool. This therapy pool is state of the art. It has a treadmill in the pool with parallel bars. Herb put the treadmill on slow, which to me still seem pretty fast, and Peter was able to move his legs and keep up with the treadmill. It was impressive. I am hoping that we will be able to get some more time in the pool. I think it will really help strengthen Peter’s legs. As I have said before, the Tulsa community support has been miraculous and Peter walking again has become a community project not only with all the prayers, but also with his physical therapy. Thanks to Herb and Jenks schools.

Our church tour has continued the last two Sundays. Last Sunday we attended our former Sunday school class at Asbury Methodist, Couples for Christ. We have not attended for many years due to many of Whitney and Peter’s sporting events always being out of town. I know that is not a good excuse. The teacher all these years has been Richard Eldridge. Richard got in touch with me when Peters situation happen. He started sending me his lessons via email and they were a God send. Richard is the only Sunday school teacher I know that can take a song smack out of the 60″s acid rock era and make it into a gospel song. If only I had known what Richard could do with that music back then, I could have explained to my mom and dad that I was listening to future gospel music. I don’t think they would have bought that idea. Maybe Richard could send me another lesson and I could have mom listen. Dad is already hearing it from his current residence. The Couples for Christ welcomed their prodigal son back with open arms and they showed us that once you are part of their family, you will always be part of their family and family takes care of family.  We can not thank them enough for the prayers and generosity they have shown.

Today we were guest of the Church of Christ in Broken Arrow. Peter has been on their prayer list since May thanks to Victor and Teresa York and their son Taylor. Taylor was Peter’s holder on the football team all through high school and a mighty fine one I might add. I can not remember one bad hold their whole career. The congregation welcomed us with open arms and we know that God will answer their prayers.

Next week we will be traveling to Cleveland, OH so the church tour will be delayed until our return, but our next stop will be St. John’s Episcopal Church of Tulsa. There is a ladies prayer group there that made a prayer quilt for Peter while we were in Denver. I can not remember who our connection was at St. John’s Episcopal, but I would like for them to get in contact with me. We need to meet these ladies and thank them for all their prayers and the quilt.

As I said there are many people in the Tulsa community that have helped in their own special way and all the different churches that have Peter on their prayer list. With all this help and all these prayers we know that the ultimate result will be that……………………

He will walk again
Bud

Topics: Peter |