Blue Power Ranger Down

Amy,
There are so many parallels between Wout's continued recovery and my own that it seems that you are reading from my own story. Everything from the food, to the therapies, to the little things that he says and yes even the bad nights. I had a bad night that my wife and I have talked about on many occasions, because it troubled her so much. It involved terrorists and one of my machine guns and my inability to find it in my hospital room. I had her open and leave open every drawer in the room, then check in the bathroom, and the hall, then do it all over again. I was still bed ridden and had my wife looking everywhere for my machinegun which was not there of course. But I knew I had brought it in with my secret stuff that I snuck in when I was admitted. I would not calm down about it and even got violent, but I was already restrained to the bed so about all I could do was swing my one good arm and yell. The next night I was taken off of the Ambian to help me sleep and I was fine from then on. It was the drugs that caused mine, I'm not saying that they are causing Wout's bad nights just that they caused mine.

Hang in there with Wout as I'm sure you will and before you know he'll be home with you and the kids. I know my wife wonders why she didn't try to hold the pillow over my head when I was still unable to fight her off. I know that things don't seem like it now, but it will return to a semi-normal state eventually. One, where you wouldn't take anything for Wout, but wouldn't give a plugged nickel for another one just like him. Take care, as always you and Wout continue to be in our prayers.

Joe

June 8

Hi everybody,

I', sorry it's been such a while since the last update, but things are busy around here! Wout is continuing to do great - he is so determined and trying so hard it almost hurts me to watch him.

He wants very much to go home, so we are on a countdown. The doctors have set a tentative discharge date for June 18th, but that is very subject to change. We will have therapists come to the house to work with Wout once we are home. I don't know yet whether or not we will have help from a home health service, but that will depend on insurance approval (of course!)

The doctors are going to try to schedule a meeting with all the therapists and doctors who have been working with Wout, and family/friends who will be helping once he comes home to try to get everything set up and prepared for discharge, like what we need done to the house, etc. Wout has been trying to get most of his visitors, especially people we are very close to, to help him go home "now."

Things are still very fuzzy for Wout now, and he struggles with things that all of us take for granted, like knowing his birthday, or being able to recognize and count money, add or subtract numbers, etc. I continue to see improvements on a daily basis, though, and I know in my heart that he will continue to improve. Walking is still a real challenge for him with balance, especially since his right leg is still weak, but he is making improvements there day by day. I think being home will be a great step for him, to get him back in a familiar environment, and closer access to friends and family again.

I don't have much more time to write, Wout is waking up from a nap now, but just wanted to touch base. Thank you all for all of your thoughts, prayers, and e-mails. I'm sorry I don't have the time to respond to each one individually, but please know that I depend on all of you to help keep me going through these days!

Love,

Amy

Incredible progress

Just got back from visiting Wout Sunday Night. What an improvment just since Friday when I last saw him. Walking faster, talking much better, cracking jokes, taking the brace off of his right hand so he can show us how he is working it. [Even though, as he put it, it hurts "Big time."]
Amy's problem now is going to be keeping him from trying to do too much.

wilber-t,
that's much better than the other scenario. wout's progress has been nothing short of amazing. we've had the pleasure of watching a real story of courage unfold here.thanks be to you and amy for sharing this with us. keep the updates coming, as i'm always looking for them......


greg

Pic of Wout and Amy

Here's a better pic of Wout and Amy from one of our trips last year.

5 more days

Counting down the days till Wout comes home. He continues to make great strides in his recovery. Just talked to him on the phone this morn. He sounded almost normal. He continues to work very hard. Told the people stretching his right arm out that it hurt, but he wanted them to hurt him some more.

Amy, this is great news about Wout's progress, he sounds like a real trooper. It is amazing to me how fast I healed after my crash, although it seemed like an eternity at the time. After I was discharged from Siskin, the local rehab hospital, I had home health taking care of me at first. It seems that they are more geared to taking care of the elderly and invalid than a still productive member of society, at least mine were. They would get me up on the bed and have me bend my knee as much as I comfortably could and that was good enough for them, but not for me or my orthopedic surgeon. I only had about 73 degrees range of movement in my knee and had to be scheduled for a "knee manipulation" where I was given an epidural and then the surgeon took my knee and bent it. He got it to 105 degrees and then gave strict written orders for "NO MORE HOME HEALTH THERAPY!" That was when I found North River Therapy, just across the street from where my Mom works. These guys were great, they took their time with me and not only kept me from losing any range of motion, we were able to increase it. I know that it is hard to do, but just having gone through this same scenario myself a year and a half ago find a Therapy clinic near you and forget home health. I wish that I had, I would not have had to have the "knee manipulation" if I had. It sounds like Wout's recovery is going great, we'll continue to keep both of you in our prayers.

Home sweet home!

We brought Wout home yesterday. He got carsick pretty bad on the way home. Said it was too much visual stimulation. Once he was in his house with a doggie in his lap he was all smiles. CF, he will be riding to Pinehurst for his rehab. The Dr. thought that would be much better for him. I'm picking up some medicine for car-sickness today and he goes for his first session tomorrow. Amy has her hands full as he will not sit in one place very long. Then again, he never did like to sit still.

Here are a couple of pics from yesterday.

May I be The First
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