Good evening all. Just wanted to check in. I’ve been posting on lots of other threads, and talking to some of you guys by private message or text, but wanted to update things here.
It has been 25 days since the accident, and I guess I’ve been in rehab around 16 or 17 of those. I am still here. It is really difficult having to be so limited to a bed, dependent on other people for just about everything, but it is what it is and I remain of good cheer but you never get used to being wiped after crapping in a bedpan. There’s still a good bit of pain and discomfort pretty much all the time, but I know it isn’t permanent. And the folks here took really good care of me.
I get a little more independent each day. Well, independent is not the right word, but I am learning the ADLs to become more independent. Whereas last week it took a whole team to get me into a wheelchair, I am able to do most of the work with a few people making sure it is done safely. It’s not easy. It’s not comfortable. But it sure is worth it once my scrawny butt is in that wheelchair. Today I was even able to push and pull myself around a little bit with my feet (barely because I can’t put ANY pressure through hips), which is important because with my broken left arm if I only use my arms I can just go in a circle. It’s kind of pitiful.
I really look forward to being able to spend more time in the wheelchair and out of the bed. You’d think that is easy, but it’s not. Through the lack of conditioning and, frankly, lack of preaccident core strength, it’s just not that easy to sit up when you have no real ability to use anything below your belly button to keep yourself up. For example, I can put my feet in the stirup things to keep them off the ground, but I cannot push from them to get myself comfortable. I have to use my elbows and butt walk my way back. All of these are things I never would’ve thought about before, but are just uncomfortable and difficult. For now.
I continue to be overly blessed with support and visitors. Over the holidays people were in here all the time. They still are, but it’s not quite the same as when nobody was working. Tonight a few of my friends surprised me with a little concert. They play in a big local band, but they had created a three person band out on my pool deck a number of years ago. One of their girlfriends and my wife worked it out to have them visit me tonight, and I completely missed everything until one of them brought out his guitar. I was so surprised that I actually thought it was a new rifle case that I wanted until I saw the shape. They played three or four songs with guitar, saxophone, harmonica, and vocals. It was really awesome. It’s things like that that continue to overwhelm me.
It’s looking like mid January is still the target date to get me home so I need to work very hard to make sure there’s basic ADLs or things that I can do inside and out without any help. I’ve also had friends already figure out the wheelchair ramp solution at the house, checked all the doorways and everything to make sure I can get every place I need to be, and I even have a neighbor I barely know who has now offered me a scooter wheelchair in case that might help me at times. I think I’d like to use the wheelchair to keep myself physically moving (especially once my left arm is better and I can use both arms) but it will be a big help at certain times.
I don’t know what else to say now other than how much I appreciate your support, prayers, texts, and calls. And those of you who have reached out through private message and then texted or called me have been a whole other level of support. Believe it or not, one of the posters on this board was a patient in this very facility years ago and has been really helpful. I’m not going to say who because that’s not up to me, but it is just funny how small the world is.
I’ll try to catch everybody up in another 3 to 4 days. I don’t want to do a daily update because it’s just too much. But if you ever have questions or just want to chat, you can just ask me things here or send me a private message. I’m sure I won’t be too busy to get back.
It has been 25 days since the accident, and I guess I’ve been in rehab around 16 or 17 of those. I am still here. It is really difficult having to be so limited to a bed, dependent on other people for just about everything, but it is what it is and I remain of good cheer but you never get used to being wiped after crapping in a bedpan. There’s still a good bit of pain and discomfort pretty much all the time, but I know it isn’t permanent. And the folks here took really good care of me.
I get a little more independent each day. Well, independent is not the right word, but I am learning the ADLs to become more independent. Whereas last week it took a whole team to get me into a wheelchair, I am able to do most of the work with a few people making sure it is done safely. It’s not easy. It’s not comfortable. But it sure is worth it once my scrawny butt is in that wheelchair. Today I was even able to push and pull myself around a little bit with my feet (barely because I can’t put ANY pressure through hips), which is important because with my broken left arm if I only use my arms I can just go in a circle. It’s kind of pitiful.
I really look forward to being able to spend more time in the wheelchair and out of the bed. You’d think that is easy, but it’s not. Through the lack of conditioning and, frankly, lack of preaccident core strength, it’s just not that easy to sit up when you have no real ability to use anything below your belly button to keep yourself up. For example, I can put my feet in the stirup things to keep them off the ground, but I cannot push from them to get myself comfortable. I have to use my elbows and butt walk my way back. All of these are things I never would’ve thought about before, but are just uncomfortable and difficult. For now.
I continue to be overly blessed with support and visitors. Over the holidays people were in here all the time. They still are, but it’s not quite the same as when nobody was working. Tonight a few of my friends surprised me with a little concert. They play in a big local band, but they had created a three person band out on my pool deck a number of years ago. One of their girlfriends and my wife worked it out to have them visit me tonight, and I completely missed everything until one of them brought out his guitar. I was so surprised that I actually thought it was a new rifle case that I wanted until I saw the shape. They played three or four songs with guitar, saxophone, harmonica, and vocals. It was really awesome. It’s things like that that continue to overwhelm me.
It’s looking like mid January is still the target date to get me home so I need to work very hard to make sure there’s basic ADLs or things that I can do inside and out without any help. I’ve also had friends already figure out the wheelchair ramp solution at the house, checked all the doorways and everything to make sure I can get every place I need to be, and I even have a neighbor I barely know who has now offered me a scooter wheelchair in case that might help me at times. I think I’d like to use the wheelchair to keep myself physically moving (especially once my left arm is better and I can use both arms) but it will be a big help at certain times.
I don’t know what else to say now other than how much I appreciate your support, prayers, texts, and calls. And those of you who have reached out through private message and then texted or called me have been a whole other level of support. Believe it or not, one of the posters on this board was a patient in this very facility years ago and has been really helpful. I’m not going to say who because that’s not up to me, but it is just funny how small the world is.
I’ll try to catch everybody up in another 3 to 4 days. I don’t want to do a daily update because it’s just too much. But if you ever have questions or just want to chat, you can just ask me things here or send me a private message. I’m sure I won’t be too busy to get back.
