Tuesday September 30, 2008 (Day 17)

On Monday night Adam got moved to the seventh floor out of CCU now that he off the respirator, today he got moved to the ninth floor, to acute rehab where he learns how to walk talk eat all the stuff that we take for granted in our day to day lives. He gets three hours a day of rehab. I got a phone call from him today Adam was talking through his teeth it was great. To here him it just like him I leave and he starts to wake up I leave the next time and he starts to talk. You can only image how happy I am, the first day I saw him I did not know if he was his out come was going to be. Now he talking and they got him setting up in a wheel chair I could not believe that this was the same kid 17 days ago.

He is going to stay in California at Palomar Medical Center for his acute rehab he hopes that he gets to Wounded Warrior Battalion West at Camp Pendleton, California to complete his therapy and after he is fully recovered he wants to go back to his training in the Marine he is working hard on complete this goal.
Julia is having to stay in California to help Adam I sure all of this is hard on her to be the only one there and to have to be there with Adam for the hard times and to keep his sprits up and to keep him motivated. (Way to go Julia you the best I love you).
I was not there when they got him in the wheel chair and setting up for the first time. I would think that it was not an easy task to complete and took several people helping him. Look at the picture he’s a pink belt.
I don’t know how much usage of his arm if any and leg that he has know he says he can move them a little, and has no strength in them yet. They have put in a smaller trach in with a one way type valve it allows him to breathe in but it does not allow him to breathe out. With the valve and smaller trach it allows more air over his vocal cords allowing him to talk through his teeth.
I said baby steps and everyday he approves it seems by leaps and bounds. Adam has always impressed me when he sets his mind to something he does not let any thing stop him.
If you don’t believe in the power of prayer just ask me I will tell you how great it is. God is a great God.
I have to think that God has some special purpose for Adam. Let’s keep in prayers that God looks over Adam and Julia during the difficult times of rehab and give them the strength to make it through this. I thank God for all that he has done to help Adam. I know if it was not for all us praying that he would not be recovering this fast.

Adam new room is 911B here is the address again.

Palomar Medical Center555 E. Valley Pkwy RM 911BEscondido CA 92025

Monday September 29, 2008 (Day 16)

I have to say I am sorry that I have not sent out any post. I am sure that everyone understands I have been non stop since Thursday night and I just now have got ten minutes to my self before I have to start work.


So a quick up date, I will give a full update later tonight. Thursday he breathed on his own for 15 minutes, Friday two hours, Saturday he started on his own at 9:00 AM and hasn’t stopped. He did about two hours of therapy on his leg Friday, and seven hours on Saturday. His therapy on his leg is a machine that moves it to a 45 degree angle and then down about 5 degrees and back up 5 degree. I spent the night with him at the hospital Saturday night he complained that his leg hurt all night. Did I mention he’s awake now? It was a big surprise to me when I got to the hospital.

Well when I left on Sunday they were going to move him to a new room. They but a valve on his tracheotomy he can now make sounds his mouth is still wired shut though.

I will give a more in depth update later tonight when I get home from work. Keep the praying that he has an easy time with Physical Therapy and a full recovery.

Sunday September 28, 2008 (Day 15)

See that he off the respirator and did seven hours of therapy they did not have him do any more Addison and Awna got to hang out with him all day his room. I went back to the hotel to get a little sleep before leaving. After backing all the bags I went back up to the hospital to say good by. While we were say good by we found out that he was going to get to be moved to another room out of ICU. I got a page early Monday morning that he finely got moved to another room. On the 7 floor I thank not sure they may be moving him soon to another floor for acute therapy unit I thank is what it called on the ninth floor.


Well its good news and hopefully they will have him up a bit and moving around soon. Its wonderful the power of God. I hope you are all felling they same wonderful feeling that I am feeling.

Wednesday September 24, 2008 (Day 11)

Last night did not start out good after the surgery on his face, hip, and pelvic. I know that the last update said that all went well. It did but after the drugs started to ware off from the surgery his blood pressure started going up and he was in bad pain the nurses gave him more morphine to control his pain. Julia called me about two in the morning letting me know that they got his pain under control. He slept the rest of the night with Julia by his side all night. He was in surgery from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central Time. He had little blood loss I do not thank that they gave him any blood during this surgery and if they have no one has told me so. They had to restrain his hands so that he would touch his had or pull out his tracheotomy until they got his pain under control. When he was better they undid the restrains. He now has signs on his room door hanging above his head and on his chest not to touch his face, because they went and set more bones in place in his face, while he was out for his hip and pelvic.

Later in the morning he woke up and they allowed him to sit up now that his hip has been plated and pined not sure of what they exactly did I have not seen the x-rays. He is getting frustrated at trying to communicate to Julia. So she went to Big Lots, yes they are in California too. She bought a magnetic white board with magnetic letters that we all played with when we were kids on the refrigerator he is able to push them around with his left hand and spell words or point to letters. He is still unable to write with his left hand but he is trying and he is doing better. I talked to the respiratory therapist today, they told me that he was doing better. They told me that if he keeps this up that by this weekend the respirator machine will only be breathing for him if he fails to take a x amount of breath a minutes. If we can keep a 100% blood oxygen level, they will take him off of it completely soon. He will need to learn how to breath through the tracheotomy until his jaw becomes unwired just incase they will to tube him again for some reason. He can’t move his right leg and he can only lift his right arm a bit. But it this time I will take what ever improvements I can get how every how small because each little improvements are going to add up to big ones. Julia and I know that he is there and we thank that he has a positive attitude about all this and that gives Julia a positive attitude about this. They still have his hand and arm in a plastic cast like cast that they have him ware for about two hours at a time with about an hour break between treatments. They are trying to keep his hand and arm from curling up until the nerves repair them self. The doctor told us that his nerves would repair them selves but it on heals about one millimeter a day. From what I understand that the nerves were damager at his humerus (upper arm bone) and the nerves go all the way to the hand. What I don’t understand is if the nerves have to repair all the way to the hand or just where they were damaged at the humerus. I would image that it just at the humerus it’s a good question to ask the doctor next time I talk to him.

Once Adam is off the respirator completely I thank they are going to start him on physical therapy trying to get him using his right hand and leg not sure what all this is going to acquire I really haven’t talked to any of the doctors about this. Julia and I were only worried about if we were going to have the Adam that we all knew and love.

Let’s talk about work a bit Julia has but here massage business on hold so that she can take care of Adam. So if anyone need a massage I’m sorry you will have to wait till she gets back. I have been asked by several people why I’m not able take time off from work under the FMLA well I took a new job in December of last year and under the FMLA you have to be employed for twelve months before you are permitted to take the FMLA time off. The company that I am work for has been understanding about the condition of my son and how I fell, they allowed me to take off a week and a half with out asking any questions. They are also allowing me to work 10 hour days and take four day weekends every other weekend. I am excited about this weekend I am driving Julia’s car to California this weekend I am taking Awna and Addison with me. We are dropping off Julia’s car to here so that she will have her car and we can return the rent car. It will not save us a lot of money but it will help. Julia told Adam that I was bringing Awna and Addison to California, Julia told me that he started to cry when he heard that I hope that means that he is happy that we are coming out to see him. I am taking Awna and Addison out of school Friday and we are leaving Thursday night so when you pray for Adam say some for me that we are safe. Addison is excited to but I thank that’s because he will get to drive some. So I will not being blogging, updating, or my own personal therapy tomorrow and maybe even Friday.

I not sure what is to follow and I have not really talked about the rest of Adam recovery this is what I understand so far however. If he recovers well and can walk, use his arm, hands, tie his shoes, and feed him self that he will properly stay in California for rehabilitation. If he can not do these things he will more then likely be coming home for rehabilitation until he can do theses things again then go back to California. I going to leave it like this because I do not want to acknowledge to any other thing other then he will get better maybe not 100% but close to 100% and we will cross this bridge when we get to it baby steps for now.

The power of prayer has given my Adam a speedy recovery from surgery most of the doctors and nurses are amazed at how well he is doing. Let’s not stop now he still has a long way to go and he is going to need the strength that only God can give to get through what’s to follow.

Again I can't tell every one how wonderful it is to have friends and family like you all.

David Abshire

Richard and Linda

I have thought about this quite a bit and even talked to Julia about this and called Robert Lawler about this, it’s more of a prided thing with me.

After talking to Julia and that she is not working while in California it has shorted our income. The military is reimbursing some of our expenses but not all of them and really not enough for what it cost for Julia to stay in California. Plus with Julia not working I have had to tighten up the shoe strings a bit. They do give us an allowance every 10 days or so but it really not enough. After talking to Linda about advantage miles I now understand these are not just mile for mile and it takes a long time to save up these miles.

This has become some what of a unplanned financial burden on Julia and my self and we are asking our self what we are going to do. We would not be able to do what we have done if it was not for friends all ready and so many people have all ready helped us so mush and given us so mush I just hate to ask for help like this.

If some people are compelled to send money into my account I not going to say that I want use it or even give it to Adam if he should need something to help him manage with any disability he may have later in life. It would be greatly appreciated I can not my self ask for this help because of my pride and the reasonability of being able to take care of your family. I ask myself if I am doing something wrong, it almost feels like an old country song if it was not for bad luck I would not have any luck at all.

Thanks for your understanding and help.

David Abshire

Tuesday September 23, 2008 (Day 10)

Well I am back in Dallas and I am sitting by the phone waiting on the phone call I talked to Julia this morning. It was great she was in the room with Adam and he could grunt I LOVE YOU he did to me over the phone and I got a call later from my mother that he said it to her too. He is aware of where he is at and what is going on around him. From what I understand he is still having some problems with communicating bit, getting better. I hope that today’s surgery does not set him back and have to start over again.
They now have his right hand in a plastic brace to keep his fingers and arm from curling up. There are other parts that are hurting him but I want talk about them just incase he reads this one day. A prayer blanket came today thank you very much for the blanket. He not moving his right leg very much, anytime anyone moves his leg he’s not a happy about it. Still have to remind him each time he wakes up what happen but I thank he starting to remember more and more. He went into surgery about 10 o’clock Central Time Zone I have not heard a lot back yet I keep calling Julia and asking how she is doing and if the doctors have called and told her anything yet. I now feel like you all waiting on an update. The surgery is going to run about 6 to 10 hours and I image that it will be late, I will try to send out a quick email when I find out how it all went and how he is doing. I just about to send this email when I got a phone call from Julia. Adam did fine during surgery he lost little blood. He will be sleeping for a while for a while Julia is leaving the hotel and on her way to the hospital now. I will give a short update when I know more.

It’s amazing to me the way that people come together and help each other out I owe you all so much for support and praying for Adam and my family. I am in a constant state of prayer. I was told by some in a prayer group that God made red lights to pray I know what they meant by that know.

God Bless all of you

Monday September 22, 2008 (Day 9)

Good news everyone

I went to the hospital early today I wanted to spend as much time I could possibly could before I left to come back home. It funny what you call home, while I was in California I called the hotel home. I did miss Awna and Addison after being with Adam and in the shape that he is in it makes me hold them closer and tighter.

This morning visit with Adam was some what more promising then the other days. When I got there they had just finished giving him a bath. And he was some what aware of things. I talked to him and as I have done every day I explained to him where he was at what happen and all his injuries and his surgeries that he had. Today as I was telling him about his plates in his face and jaws and about how his jaw was 2 millimeters out (oh that reminds me the plastic surgeon called, the risk out way the benefits on doing more surgery on his face I get to all this later) as I was explaining about his jaws being wired shut he stuck his finger in his mouth to fill the wires. That tells me at least he might understand what I am telling him. I told him about his arm and leg and back. He got pretty upset when I told him about his back. I told him that it would heal and we would be fine. I asked him if he knew where he was and all I got was a blank stare I told him about the car accident again. I told him about Zack his best friend that was driving the car. He started to point to his chest I thought something was hurting him and I would ask him question after question trying to figure out what was wrong. I finally figured it out when I asked him if we wanted to know if Zack was still in the hospital I had to explain to him no that Zack got out six days ago, I don’t know if he was happy that Zack was not hurt as bad or sad that he was still in the hospital I like to thank that he was glad that Zack was not as badly hurt. A little while later he started to move his hand back and forth with his hand in a shape of a “C” I could not tell what he wanted I asked and asked until we were both to the point of giving up with tears in our eyes. I then found out he wanted a drink of water well with a tracheotomy in your neck you can’t have anything to drink. I asked the nurses to if I could run ice chips back and forth on his lips and I was told yes. As I was running the ice chips on his lips he smiled and seemed to feel good to him. About this time the sun is starting to come up and I asked him if he wanted me to open the blinds on the windows so he could see and feel the sun light he shook his head yes this is a on going battle between me and the nurses I open the blinds in the morning and they close them in the afternoon I usually don’t say anything because the sun is pretty bright there in the afternoon but I go back and crack them after they close them. While I almost forgot this part as I was opening the blinds he tried to snap his fingers for me to give him more ice chips.

I however made one mistake today while trying to talk to him I told him that we were going to have to find a different way to communicate with each other. After I said that he stopped doing everything just laid there. After trying to talk to him I found that he thought I meant he was never going to be able to talk again and after I explained that it was just temperately until they remove the tracheotomy and unwire his jaw he would be able to start talking again. He does not like the feeding tube in the side of his belly either he keeps scratching at it.

Well the other news the CT came back and the lower jaw bone has not moved any and we are not going to do the surgery on placing plates on his lower jaw. The major benefit that we get from adding plates to his bottom jaw is that he gets have his jaw unwired a week. The risk are having the side of your face paralyzed I thank we can live with a little miss alignment and not take a chance of having his face paralyzed. However he is having hip and pelvic surgery tomorrow I do not know what time yet. While they are doing surgery on his hip and pelvic they are going to do some work on the bridge of his nose, they are also going to rewire his jaw to adjust some of the alignment. I just hope its not another eight hour surgery tomorrow don’t know if I can wait that long not being there.

Well that’s it for today and I am back in Dallas for a while and THE PRAYERS ARE WORKING I SEE ADAM GETTING BETTER EVER DAY PLEASE NOT STOP SENDING YOUR PRAYERS.

Sunday September 21, 2008 (Day 8)

It’s getting harder to keep track of the days they all seam to run into one long day that never ends. You sleep when you can and you eat when you can. We found this real nice cafe by the hospital its called Charlie's they let us order what ever we want more or less, all the people that work there are very friendly plus there food is the old fashion kind of cooking that you makes you feel good.

There is no new real new update on Adam this morning at six I have not talked to any doctors. He is less sedated and they are trying to manage his pain more. When we talk to him there is more of a blank stare for 30 seconds that he has his eyes open. He moves his left arm up and down quite a bit and his left leg. His left leg keeps falling from the bed as he moves it. This has to be very hard on him, I know its hard on Julia and myself. He may be becoming aware of his injuries and pain. We thank that he hates the tracheotomy but how wouldn't like that and not being able to talk or communicate with anyone.

We talked to the plastic surgeon this morning. The lower right jaw is not lining up straight and it’s out of alignment about two millimeters. They are going to do another CT today and we are going to make our choice about having another surgery on his face or not. There is also some issues with his nose and when they go for surgery on his hip Tuesday they are considering doing surgery on his nose at the same time.

During the day to day he pulled this tracheotomy apart from the connection. They said if he did it again that he would have to be restrained to keep from doing that. They had to restrain his hand while cleaning his face and his mouth. Just for all those that are wondering if he still has his good looks well he has about six stitches across the bridge of his nose and about a dozen from the center of his right eye brow down to the corner of his right eye and about an half an inch past the corner of his right eye. It looks almost like a single crows foot coming from his right eye.

I am flying back to Dallas this Monday to take care of Addison and Awna. It’s a hard choice that I have to do, my other two kids are in need of there family. We are going to try to fly them out here in a couple of weeks to see there brother as soon as I get everything taken care of at work. Please make sure that you keep Julia in your prayers all the time by the end of the week she will be out here by here self for a couple of weeks or so. I will be in contact each day. I will try to do my best to keep the updates coming I have been asked by several people to do so. I can’t thank Linda and Danny McMullen enough for every thing that they have done for me and my family.

Some of Adams friends have got a face book page that his friends are blogging on http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=26707181307&ref=mf if you don’t have an account you will have to create one to be able to logon or even read the blog.

We have also meet real nice women Chaplin Castle and her husband has been helping us spiritual. She and her husband are some very special people they help out with the Marines and when there is a terrible accident like this they help out with the family and making sure that they are met with all the spiritual needs. They are some wonderful people. They have been praying with us and over Adam everyday. God Bless them.

Saturday September 20, 2008 (Day 7)

Adam had surgery last night on his right arm and one his lower back. He did well they gave him 1 unit of blood before and 1 during. After he came out of surgery his face was face down in a halo for about 6.5 hours. His face was swollen petty bad after surgery. His blood pressure was up and his fever was up a bit but not as bad the night before.Today was a day of rest for Adam, Julia and I. It was well needed rest after the last six days. The next step is that they are going to start winging him off his sedation meds and more of pain meds. He will hopefully be more awake. However this is when we find out how his brain is working and if he can see and remember who we are. He is barley wiggling his toes once or twice a day and he is still having problems on his right side. He can give us a half way thumbs up on his left hand and barley move his fingers on his left hand a mill meter. Please don't stop the prayers. They are not only helping Adam get better but they help Julia and I as well knowing that we are all praying for him each day. Today I did not email everyone will you please forward this to everyone thanks for all your help.

Friday September 19, 2008 (Day 6)

Talked to the orthopedic doctor last night. They are going to do surgery on his arm and back today around 2 Cali time for those that are time zone challenged that's going to be 4 Texas time. He did well through the night. The CT from yesterday came back and is worried about some other problems in his face and is talking about doing more surgery on his face we have another meeting with plastic soon don't know when will update as I can. Yesterday Julia and I went to see the car and where the accident happens it was properly one of the hardest things that I have ever done. I have seen car wrecks before it was different when it is your son in that was in the car. Where the accident happen the medical supplies laying scattered on the ground along with parts of the car still there and some of Adam's personal belongings. I can not begin to explain the feelings that I felt or Julia felt. I only pray to God that no one ever again has to experience the feelings that I felt yesterday. We also meet with the commanding officer yesterday the military is being very helpful in keeping us informed on what is going on. I have learned that there is another boy that was diving into the ocean on some of his time off in broke his neck he was paralyzed from the neck down and is now only from the waist down. Adam friend Zack that was driving the car is having a hard time with what has happen. I am asking that you remember the two kids in your prayers too. I have been asked what we can do to help and there is so many asking. I do not know the answer your prayers and support has been so helpful. A couple of things are Adam has had a lot of blood and if you are one that donates at Carter or Red Cross here is his account no. Carter is SPON047067 Red Cross blood bank # is 91533. The Red Cross I not sure but from the few phone calls I have made they do not have a blood bank to donate blood to. Carter you just need to give them the no. The other thing is you can send cards and letters to him we read them to him as he gets them. He seems to enjoy the letters and cards I am sure he will be here for at least the next couple of weeks the hospital address isPalomar Medical Center555 E. Valley Pkwy Rm 635Escondido CA 92025 Thank you all your help and support.

Thursday September 18, 2008 (Day 5)

First of all I would like to say thank you to every one for all the prayers it means so much to Julia and me. If you are squeamish you may want to skip to the end. Second today surgery was about 8 hours long and he came out well. The placed plates on the left and right sides of his face by his eyes. The best I can explain is that they pulled his nose and the bridge back out to open his sinus cavity up. Then the placed plates in the roof of his mouth to keep his upper jaw together and then they re attached is upper jaw back to his skull. After that the added plates to the front of his lower jaw. The doctor did not put plates on the side of his lower jaw do to the possible nerve damage he did a line his jaw and wire the lower jaw to the upper jaw. To keep them together, they are going to do another CT in the morning to check and make sure all is in good alignment. There is some chance of him infection in his face do to the injuries in his mouth. He is still in heavily drugged and has many more surgeries to go. His commander officer and the staff Sgt came to the hospital and gave Julia and I his diploma for Assault Amphibian Crew man Course and his Operator's Identification Card for Assault Amphibian Vehicles A friend sent me this today; Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. (Matt 18:19) Please keep sending the prayers he has a long from being out of the woods.

Julia and I went and looked at the car today all I can say is that God was watching over him and must have some great plans for him.

Wednesday September 17, 2008 (Day 4)

Quick updates meet with plastic surgeon this morning. I got to see the CT scans of his face. He has fractions on his left and right side of his face where his eyes are at. The bones behind his nose are completely crushed his upper jaw under his nose is broke and goes all the way inside his mouth the left and right side of his upper jaw is broke. His lower jaw is broke in three places as well. He will have plates in his face and jaw. His jaw will be wired shut. The surgery will take min 6 hours and they just took him back to surgery. The prayers are working and he is getting better. Day by day thank you every one.

Surgery on his Face eight hours of surgery

Tuesday September 16, 2008 (Day 3)

They removed the feeding tube from his mouth and added it into his stomach to be able to remove the feeding tube from his mouth to be able to do surgery on his face, on Wednesday.

Update just got a phone call from plastic surgeon going to do surgery in the morning on his jaw it will be wired shut. There are serve breaks that they have to re a line and there are a couple of breaks that are going to be hard to get to we are meeting with the doctor at 600 in the morning.

Monday September 15, 2008 (Day 2)

Removed breathing tube from his mouth and did a tracheotomy in his neck for breathing. Basket in his vain, the basket lowers the odds of getting a blood clog from his leg to his lungs. Still to unstable for surgery waiting.

Thank you all, the hospital that Adam is at is
Palomar Medical Center
555 E. Valley Pkwy.,
Escondido CA 92025

I will send an email as soon as possible. Again thank you all he needs your prayers.

Sunday September 14, 2008 (Day 1)

Wait to see if he is going to stable, got a scare when we though that he had got a blood clog in his lung, took him to do a CT real quick on him. Luckily it was only a mucus plug, but we have to watch for ARDS it’s a breathing disorder when the blood in his lungs starts to pool and makes it hard to breath. You can also have this problem from laying on your back for a long time and the fluid starts to build up in your lungs. This often leads to pneumonia. It was a long day of uncertain.

Saturday September 13, 2008 (Day 0)

9:23 AM
Coming home from dropping some items off at the dump received phone call from Marie Jochim Adam’s girlfriend at about asking if we have heard from Adam that there was an accident.

9:29 AM
Called Adam no answer on his phone.

9:40 AM
Called MSgt Hunt left a voice message on his phone.

Arrived at home had a message phone call on the voice mail from the plastic surgeon about the Adam being at the hospital.

10:00 AM
Shortly after getting home and hearing the message we got a phone call from SSgt Borges, Stephanie A. HQMC Casualty Notification notify us of the accident and what happen and that Adam was listed as critical and that we had orders to fly or drive to the Hospital we told them that we would fly.

11:19 AM
MSgt called me back and said he had got word of the accident and was heading to the hospital.

12:02 PM
Received confirmation of our flight and when and where it was leaving from. We received the information from SSgt Borges, Stephanie A. HQMC Casualty Notification.

3:10 PM
On board flight # 1321 to San Diego airport.

4:32 PM (now on Pacific Time Zone)
Landed in San Diego Sgt Hill was calling and waiting to pick us up at the air port

SSgt Hill took us straight to the hospital where we meet MSgt Hunt he escorted us to Adam ICU room where the doctors were at and started to go over all his injuries.

List of injuries
Face Pan Fracture
left and right side of eyes
bridge of nose
upper jaw left and right side
front of upper jaw into roof of mouth
lower jaw left and right side
chin from front teeth to bottom of chin
Brain Swelling
Scapula
Humerus
Rips (not sure of all or which ones)
Lungs
Liver
Spleen
L2 (Lumbar Vertebrae L2)
Hip Bone & Pelvic
Femur
Tibia
Fibula

The doctors did surgery right away on his lower legs some time between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM Pacific Time Zone. They placed two rods in his right leg one from his ankle to his knee and from his knee to his hip to repair the long bones.