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