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Eclipsehornplayer · 03-16-2007, 11:37 AM

Everyone; thank you all again for your thoughts and prayers regarding my father.

Here's the latest:

As of today 3/16/07 my father has been outside a few times! He is learing how to drive an electric wheelchair. I'm told he handels the obstical course quite well.

He has gained some very minute movement in his left hand but still not enough to close his hand. He can only touch his left thumb and forefinger together.

He has more movement on his left side then on his right. He is learning how to feed himself; he can't hold the utensil so they have introduced a device that "velcro's" the utensil to the palm of his hand and then he can sort of feed himself a little bit. They suction cup his plate to the table so that it does not move around on him.

He still has not control over his bodily functions. He can feel the need to go; however he can't control it! This is an improvement in that he was not able to tell anything since the accident.

We recently found out that his vocal chords were damaged while he was intubated for surgery. I'm not sure what we will or wont do about this; I'm just hoping that they will heal. We had wondered for a while why he was having so much trouble talking.

Today the rehab institue is sending out someone to survey my parents home and make reccomendations to help make their home handicapped accessable. I have discussed this at length with my mom and told her that they may need to look at selling their home and moving. My parents home IS NOT wheelchair friendly and I feel that it would cost much more to make it wheelchair friendly then it would to just sell and move to a home that is.

Sadly Michigan's housing market is S*** and they will get their butts handed to them selling the house as homes are not moving in Michigan's market. Ahh the joys of a single state recession!

My dad is generally in good spirits and has not smoked since January 29, 2007 the day of the accident. He has been a smoker for almost 50 years and is a heart/diabetic patient so I'm encouraging my mom and sisters to quit smoking as well. It would most certainly be best for all! My dad has tried and failed several times to quit smoking so I'm encouraged that this time it may stick. I told my sisters and mom that anyone who gives him a cigarette will risk getting their arms broken!

Tuff times call for desperate measures!

All and all for someone who was totally paralyzed this is good news! I'd like to see more; but I'm happy for this. I want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I've received many PM's and I'm just so grateful to all of you for the concern that has been shown for me and my family.

All the best,
John

03-16-2007, 11:37 AM	#37 (permalink)
Eclipsehornplayer Forte User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Flat Rock, Michigan Posts: 2,395	Re: A Message about my Father Everyone; thank you all again for your thoughts and prayers regarding my father. Here's the latest: As of today 3/16/07 my father has been outside a few times! He is learing how to drive an electric wheelchair. I'm told he handels the obstical course quite well. He has gained some very minute movement in his left hand but still not enough to close his hand. He can only touch his left thumb and forefinger together. He has more movement on his left side then on his right. He is learning how to feed himself; he can't hold the utensil so they have introduced a device that "velcro's" the utensil to the palm of his hand and then he can sort of feed himself a little bit. They suction cup his plate to the table so that it does not move around on him. He still has not control over his bodily functions. He can feel the need to go; however he can't control it! This is an improvement in that he was not able to tell anything since the accident. We recently found out that his vocal chords were damaged while he was intubated for surgery. I'm not sure what we will or wont do about this; I'm just hoping that they will heal. We had wondered for a while why he was having so much trouble talking. Today the rehab institue is sending out someone to survey my parents home and make reccomendations to help make their home handicapped accessable. I have discussed this at length with my mom and told her that they may need to look at selling their home and moving. My parents home IS NOT wheelchair friendly and I feel that it would cost much more to make it wheelchair friendly then it would to just sell and move to a home that is. Sadly Michigan's housing market is S*** and they will get their butts handed to them selling the house as homes are not moving in Michigan's market. Ahh the joys of a single state recession! My dad is generally in good spirits and has not smoked since January 29, 2007 the day of the accident. He has been a smoker for almost 50 years and is a heart/diabetic patient so I'm encouraging my mom and sisters to quit smoking as well. It would most certainly be best for all! My dad has tried and failed several times to quit smoking so I'm encouraged that this time it may stick. I told my sisters and mom that anyone who gives him a cigarette will risk getting their arms broken! Tuff times call for desperate measures! All and all for someone who was totally paralyzed this is good news! I'd like to see more; but I'm happy for this. I want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I've received many PM's and I'm just so grateful to all of you for the concern that has been shown for me and my family. All the best, John __________________ Eclipse MHY Bb Trumpet with interchangable leadpipes Bach 229 25A C Trumpet Getzen Capri Bb Cornet GR & Monette mouthpieces Last edited by Eclipsehornplayer; 03-16-2007 at 11:40 AM.