Blog for Terry Adams

Three and a Half Years

2010-08-14T13:54:00.002-04:00

Yup! It HAS been that long. I'm very pleased to say that healing continues to improve!!! Praise God!!! Terry has commented that his overall pain levels are going down. Others have noticed that just looking on. Also, his abilities are expanding, too. He is walking better all of the time, and best of all, with more security! I haven't held on for his safety for a long time, and a couple of nights ago, we even forgot to put on the gait belt when he walked to bed! I think back to when I felt like I was personally almost carrying him, he leaned on me so much! It's WONDERFUL that he's come this far!!!

There is hope that they are going to change the filtration system in the pool. I may have written that I am allergic to the chlorine (something I FINALLY figured out after MANY problems!!!). When they do get it changed, we will begin water therapy again. Not formal therapy, but with me as the therapist. I HOPE it will bring added strength and stability. Only time will tell.

We are continuing with our ministry. We have made some VERY SPECIAL friends! We try to do what God would have us do. We visit more often, stopping by for a few minutes several days a week after we leave the gym. Then we also have the Bible study, once a month at one nursing home, and twice at another. We do a little bit of visitation at some hospitals as well.

I think that's about all for now. There are many things for you to keep in your prayers, though. There's praise for new life, but also petitions for those that are sick or hurting. There is SO much need around us!! We ask God to bless those that need Him, and to draw those that don't know Him.

I'll write again eventually. God bless you!! Lynn

THREE YEARS!!

2010-02-15T00:02:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone! I know it's been awhile, but I don't have as much to tell these days. We did reach the three year mark. It's hard to believe the changes! We certainly look back at these times, and remember that first day. God has brought us S-O-O-O far!! We're thankful for the gifts He's given us--- a new awareness of how precious life is, and how wonderful it is to share it with someone special. We have the JOY of family times, the FUN of friendships,and the support -- given and received -- in the hard times.

We've made MANY new friends: in therapy, at the gym, and in the ministry (she doesn't know it, but I've adopted a grandma!). Our relationships have more meaning these days, too. We KNOW that things can change in the blink of an eye, so we try to be more AWARE of everything!

Terry and I are a much closer couple, too. We've weathered the worst(we hope) of the storm and come out stronger AND more aware of God's hand in our lives. There are so many things we might have missed or not even noticed. I PRAISE GOD that He's shown us so much more, and re-directed our lives in the past three years!

I pray that we will continue to try to follow His leading. I look forward to see the new opportunities He has for us! We keep you in our prayers. There are many battling illnesses or injuries, and many struggling financially. There are also those that are grieving. There are so many hurting, needy people out there. Pray that they will come to know Jesus and the salvation only He can bring!

I'll write again when I have more news. God bless you! Lynn

December 27 Update

2009-12-27T12:54:00.002-05:00

Hello! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! We certainly did! Over the two weeks before Christmas, I did a lot of cookie decorating with my grandchildren. We had a train, a barn, a house and a gingerbread BOWL that we decorated, as well as MANY cookies! We also made some other cookies that didn't need decorated. Anyway, it was a WONDERFUL time to share with them! I always feel a little closer to them when we can create something that others will enjoy, and we have such FUN while we work!

My brother and his wife did get home from England. Now we're working on catching up. It's amazing how precious those hugs are to us! Being able to see and hear someone is great, but touching and being touched is so uplifting! I think God made us to NEED hugs and to share them as often as possible!

Terry's sister and family came up from North Carolina for about a week at Christmas. Her grandchildren got to decorate cookies with some of their second cousins. Also, several of us "girls" enjoyed a special lunch at Kopper Kettle. They stayed through the 26th, then drove home. It was GREAT to see them!

We had a little bit more festive time at the nursing homes this month. We sang carols together with some of the residents, then went door to door for those that couldn't get out. Some of the musicians from our church went with us, so we had a good bunch. I think we ALL enjoyed the time.

I think that's all for now. Please keep us in your prayers. I pray YOU will have a blessed new year! Love, Lynn

November 21 Update

2009-11-21T00:36:00.002-05:00

Hello again friends! I do have some news to share. On Nov.16, the doctor tried to insert the neurotransmitter for pain reduction. Unfortunately,there was too much bone overgrowth and scar tissue. The doctor tried working from several different locations and angles, but it just couldn't be done. Terry says that God must have another plan. Please be praying with us that God will show us the way past this pain problem, or acceptance of the pain.

We did have our night away from home. It went VERY well! Terry did have a little extra pain, but we BOTH enjoyed the change! We'll have to plan another night a little farther from home in the near future. It's nice to look forward to something different!

We're getting excited about Thanksgiving! We get to see several relatives then that we don't see often, so we'll enjoy that time! I've also found out that my brother is FINALLY getting to move back from England!!! Praise God! We have missed him SO much! We have been able to talk with the aid of a computer program, but it's not the same. We'll have LOTS of hugs to catch up on when he gets home!

I think that's about all for now. Please keep us in your prayers, as we keep you in ours. Also, there are many people who don't have family to share Thanksgiving with, keep them in your prayers, too.

I'll write again soon, I hope. God bless you! Lynn

October 19, 2009 update

2009-10-19T22:44:00.002-04:00

Okay! Once again I'm behind. I DO have the highlights of the past two months, so I'll share them.

One of the WONDERFUL points is that we MAY have found a different avenue toward freeing Terry from pain! He may be able to have a neurotransmitter implanted in his back that would send electrical impulses at a different frequency than his pain, therefore blocking it and creating a warm, tingly sensation instead. We're VERY hopeful that it will all work. We should know no later than Nov. 20.

The summer went fairly well. We had some family visits from out of state, and out of the country! It was nice to catch up. We also had horse shows and go-cart races to attend. Then, when school started, our 5-year-old grandson began getting off of the bus at our house. That means we see him almost daily! MOST of the time it's a joy! There are SOME days though....

We had some repair work done on the outside of the house. It looks SO much BETTER!!! It had needed a face-lift for quite some time.

Our ministry is going well. We have made some wonderful friends, and we have many great discussions about the Bible. We've added a few new people, as well, so we think we're on the right track.

Terry had a fall on 10/06! It had been a while since I had held on, so when he started to fall, I had to grab quickly! I pulled some muscles and have a minor injury to contend with. I AM being very careful these days. I've also gone back to holding on again. We'll get brave again soon, I'm sure. Terry is MUCH better at catching himself most of the time.

We're going to try a night away from home soon. If Terry can manage in a motel for a night, then we could do a little travelling. We could CERTAINLY use a change of scenery! It's been a LONG time of the same routine every week.

I THINK that's about all for now. I'll try to write again by Thanksgiving to let you know the results of a couple of things. For now, please keep us in your prayers! We have certainly seen God at work. Also, please keep those battling cancer in your prayers. There are SO MANY hurting people.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement! It keeps us going! Lynn

August 30 Update

2009-08-30T13:11:00.002-04:00

I'm BACK again! Hello to all of my friends! This will be fairly short, as there are not as many changes these days.

Terry's time at the gym continues to bring improvements in strength and ability. We are adding weight in some areas, repetitions in others. His walking distance has taken a GREAT leap in the past week! He walked THREE HUNDRED feet on Monday and Thursday! Also, his upper body strength is enough now, that when he "begins" to fall, he catches himself more readily. It has given me the confidence to begin to let go when he walks. I'm still not TOO relaxed, but it's coming. He hasn't had a fall for almost three months. PRAISE GOD!! Falls are so hard on both of us, not physically, but mentally.

We had some WONDERFUL visitors in the past month! My brother, who is working in England for 2 years, was home for three weeks. It was GREAT to see him. Also, Terry's sister, who lives in N. Carolina, was here for a few days. We had a chance to get all of the family together to see her family. It was SO GOOD to see them. They also got the opportunity to see Arlyne's children compete at the State Fair. Terry and I were there that day, too. We arrived at 10:30, and didn't leave until 6:30. It was a LONG day, but Terry was not too uncomfortable. YEAH!!! The kids did very well, too. Wyatt got a second place in Pole Bending, and Rylee got a FIRST in Flags! We also had a couple of friends competing as well, so it was nice to be there.

School has begun, and our 5-year-old grandson, Garrett, is in kindergarten. He rides the bus home to Grandma's every day. Finally, we're getting to see more of them. Mom wanted to spend as much of the "last summer before school" with them as possible. We do see them most days now, at least for a little while.

That's all for now. Please keep us in your prayers. Also, there are so MANY people out of work or facing financial problems. Please pray for them. God bless you! Lynn

July 17, 2009 update FINALLY!!!

2009-07-17T14:50:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone! It has taken a LONG time, but I'm finally going to "catch up" with all of you. It seems that time is really speeding up at this point, and I get behind before I know it. Anyway, I apologize, and here goes.

Terry has been working hard these last two months. On May 19 he walked 375 feet at one stretch. He has also been working out at the gym. James taped him for the second time on July 9. We haven't seen the comparison video yet, but it should be enlightening. James thinks it would be a good idea to tape every 6-8 weeks, so we'll try to keep that in mind.

In June, James suggested we quit therapy for a while. The gains are not coming quite as fast right now. He thought we should take some time, gain strength and balance, then come back when we think we need an expert. He IS available for questions or problems, and he'll also try to keep in touch so that he can tell us when Terry might need to come back. It was a little hard to quit, I had come to depend on James's wisdom and guidance, as well as his ability to PUSH Terry. We'll just have to work harder! We joined the gym, and plan to go there 4 times a week. Two days to walk, and two days to work on the upper body machines.
Terry fell FOUR times in two weeks! It doesn't really hurt him, but it DOES make him more wary. Consequently, he hasn't walked as far since then. We're TRYING to work our way up, but it's SLOW. James couldn't see any difference in Terry's walk, so he said he just needed to be more intentional in locking that right knee with each step. It has been over a month since he fell, so he's getting braver again, but now he needs to regain the endurance for the distances. It's a vicious cycle! He IS doing the walking at home pretty well, although he has shortened them, as well. I pray for improvement.
Terry has been experiencing more pain for several days now. That limits him, as well. We saw a different dr. to try to find a reason for it, but he really couldn't say. He did reccommend a specialist. We'll see him at the end of July.

It's been a busy two months in our ministry. We are getting closer to the people, and having some GREAT Bible studies and discussions.

Since it is summer, we've been to a couple of horse shows to watch our grandchildren. We've also been to the county fair and the zoo. We've watched the grandchildren a bit, also. We hd the two youngest for 5 days! Grandma was TIRED, but we enjoyed them.

We had a death in the family this month. Terry's uncle died. He had been ill for quite some time, so it wasn't entirely unexpected, but we'll certainly miss him. We also have friends and relatives battling various diseases, and I ask you to be praying for all of those that are struggling each day.

I think that's about all for now. Please keep praying for Terry. His pain level is pretty high sometimes and that makes EVERYTHING seem harder to bear. Also, we BOTH need wisdom to handle each challenge WELL. We're keeping you in our prayers, as well. Thank you for your support. Love to all! Lynn

May 18, 2009 update

2009-05-18T17:28:00.002-04:00

Hello again, friends! It has been a busy month! We are going to the Wellness Center for work-outs twice a week. Those are improving. It's getting easier and more comfortable to do them, AND Terry's strength and mobility are improving QUICKLY!! A friend had suggested video-taping Terry now and in a month or two so that HE can see the difference. The therapist agreed, so Julie taped him on the 14th. It will be interesting for ME to see the changes, too.

I have been remembering some of the very difficult things of the early days of having Terry home. He was SO WEAK!!! He could do so little for himself. It's AMAZING how far he's come! We have just passed the two-year anniversary of him coming home, and it always makes me think back. God has been SO GOOD!!!

We are continuing work in our ministry. We had our first visit at a nursing home. At that visit, we pretty much just shared the story of the accident and how God has worked in our lives since then. We wanted to let the people get to know us a little first. We're working on devotionals for the next visits, as well as continuing to prepare with the guidance of our pastor.

Since we THINK summer is coming (hard to tell with all of the rain and cold), we're looking forward to more cook-outs. We've been to a couple with the kids, and it's nice to be outside finally.

Terry is STILL dealing with a fair amount of pain, worse some days than others. We keep praying and hoping for relief. Even with the pain, though, he just keeps working and trying to improve.

Please keep praying for us and our ministry. We are trying to follow God's lead to the best of our ability. Thank you for your support! Lynn

April 16, 2009

2009-04-19T15:16:00.003-04:00

Hello again friends! It's been a VERY FULL month!! One of the most WONDERFUL things happenned on March 17, right after the last update. Terry let me get rid of the hospital bed!!! It's GONE!!! PRAISE GOD!!! He hadn't been sleeping in it much, but it was still the most comfortable place to be. Thankfully, he gave me the "gift" of letting it go. I FINALLY have my family room back!

There have certainly been other great advances. He figured out the "tricks" necessary to sit up on the side of the bed unassisted! That was a HARD one to conquer. Some days it still isn't possible, depending on his strength in the morning and his level of pain. He also has begun walking MUCH MORE at home. James assigned him the "homework" of five 100' walks each day. MOST days he's getting in at least four of them. It's made a LOT of improvement in his ability to stand from his chair, and to walk with more assurance. It's still difficult, but it IS getting easier.

On April 16th, he had his first therapy session at the Wellness Center ON LAND. James wanted him to start some upper body strengthening. He also needs to regain his flexibility. Since we've concentrated SO MUCH on walking, and his hands are always on the walker, he's lost mobility in his shoulders. I think that will improve QUICKLY!! We will have a FEW sessions under the direction of the therapist (Julie again), then we'll be on our own there. We'll still see James twice a week at the hospital, then have two days a week at the Wellness Center.

James introduced Terry to a new pain-blocking device. Terry seems to have fairly constant pain, but sometimes it's too much to handle very well. This new unit will help with that. It's been great so far!

In our family life, we're beginning to baby-sit more often. We'll have the two boys most weekends over the summer while Mom and Dad work. We take them to Sunday School with us, and they really enjoy it. An older cousin comes with us a lot of times. She spends the night fairly often, and is a GREAT help with the boys!!

We are just beginning a new ministry. We're EXCITED!!! After having gone through all of the physical difficulties that Terry's endured, he still has a VERY positive, joy-ful attitude, praising God for His help and provision. Our pastor felt that Terry had been uniquely prepared for a ministry of encouragement. We're in a short "training" period now, trying to learn how to be MORE useful. We're looking forward to serving God and seeing His work accomplished!

We had a GREAT Easter with family! The kids had an egg hunt, and we just had fun family time together. We tried to catch up once again. Some of the kids we don't see as often, so it's always nice to spend time with them.

That's about all for now. Next month looks like it's going to be at least as full. I'm looking forward to seeing the changes in Terry, too! I think they'll keep coming faster and faster at this point. THANK YOU for all of your prayers and support. Keep praying for our ministry, please, as well as for a lessening of Terry's pain. God bless you! Lynn

March 15, 2009

2009-03-18T11:54:00.000-04:00

Hello friends, It's about that time again. We've had a busy month. I had a birthday, so we planned a fun day with another couple. We had a good time, and spent the WHOLE DAY out, so it was good for Terry to just have some fun time, too. I also FINALLY got all my connections done so that I can talk to my brother in England, WITHOUT it costing anything! It's great to have that capability. Ain't computers grand?
About a week and a half after our special day out, we found out that Terry's best friend (who we'd spent the day with) had advanced cancer. He hadn't known until recently. Unfortunately,that, along with several other factors, led to his untimely death on March 7. It was all so quick we're still reeling! We will certainly miss him, and ask for prayers for his widow. He was a veteran, and therefore received special honors for his service in Vietnam. It reminded me VERY vividly of HOW MANY we have to thank for our freedom!

In the area of recovery, Terry's doing GREAT!! From 2/11-2/20 he set new distance records almost every P/T session! On 2/11, it was 469 feet, on 2/13 it was 515 feet, on 2/16 it was 518, and on 2/20 it was 537 FEET!!!! He works SO HARD!! Then, on Fri. Feb.20, he got his prosthetic knee adjusted. James (physical therapist) wanted it looser so that he could have a more natural gait. There is less safety in the knee, but Terry is enough better that it shouldn't be a problem. Also, when his gait IS more normal, it will make it TREMENDOUSLY easier. The hard part right now is trying to re-learn a normal walk!!! Because of the difficulty, and since this part is SO IMPORTANT, James is working on form rather than distance. He is back up to expecting 100" each try. I'm sure that will extend quickly.

We have some new developements at church, also. Terry walked in on Mar. 18, and will CONTINUE to do that every week now. Also, our pastor has asked Terry to begin a new ministry, helping those going through physical struggles. He CERTAINLY has the training from a patient's standpoint! We will have some training from the pastor, but should be starting fairly soon. We're EXCITED ..and a little scared... but look forward to seeing how God will use us!

I think that's all of the highlights for now. I'll get back to you sometime in April. Have a BLESSED Easter!

February 14, 2009 Update

2009-02-14T11:49:00.002-05:00

As you can tell by the date, today is the two year anniversary of the accident. We certainly go over things about that day and the days before when the anniversary is approaching. Of course, we miss some of the things that we've lost, but we're GRATEFUL for many of the blessings we've gained! We have a MUCH stronger appreciation for our God and His provision for us. We've also grown much closer, both as a couple and with our family and friends. Although we "knew" beforehand that money and 'things' mean little in the grand scheme of life, we have seen very clearly ways in which we were remiss in being AWARE of God and His CONSTANT PRESENCE and great LOVE for us! We're learning!

Now for the update...We've had several changes just in the past month. Because it has been so cold, we've realized that the van REALLY doesn't operate well if it's very cold. We HAVE cleaned out and re-arranged the garage (with MAJOR help form two sons) so that I can park in there overnight. That seems to help greatly! It also means I don't have to scrape the windows. Another bonus is I can unload in the "warmth" of the garage. Yeah!! Even with all of that, we still missed 3 therapy sessions, two due to snow, and one because of BITTER cold. We were blessed during the snows. Our driveway was plowed TWICE by two different, anonymous, "snow angels". It has long amazed me how many ways people think of to help. There are ALWAYS friends at church watching out for us, and I also know that there are MANY people I could call for help if needed. Thankfully, we are becoming more self-sufficient, as well.

Terry had a day out with Mike last month. They enjoyed their time together, and I enjoyed the 'break'. I don't often have time alone at home anymore, so it was a nice change. Terry had an appointment with his neurosurgeon last month also. It was on a day that snowed quite a bit. We allowed ourselves extra time, but were late anyway. The news was GREAT, though. Terry has been experiencing a new sensation lately, and the doctor said it sounded like further healing. PRAISE GOD!! Terry's right leg is continuing to heal~ Our hope is that it will heal sufficiently so that it will "feel" and function normally. The doctor's words definetly gave us hope for that possibility.The doctor ordered a CT scan, just to check for any movement of the screws and such. We should hear the results of that soon. It was a good visit. The doctor was VERY impressed with Terry's progress. After the surgery, he had LITTLE idea that Terry wouldn't be paralyzed. God is SO GOOD!!! After the appointment, we headed home. The snow was falling thicker and traffic was SLOW!! We FINALLY got home about 6 1/2 hours after we left. The total time SHOULD have been 3 1/2 hours. What a LONG day!!

Now for the REALLY interesting stuff. Terry is making GREAT gains in distance. Last month I wrote that his walks were at least 100 feet. As of Monday, 2/09/09, James said he wouldn't accept less than 300 feet per walk. Terry's best distance,a new record he achieved on 2/13, was 515 FEET!!! He works SO HARD!!! That 515 feet left him WORN OUT! Thankfully, recovery time is getting shorter, too. They're also working more on standing/balance, and I realized I misled you last month. When I said Terry had stood for a minute, I didn't say that James was holding Terry's hips (lightly, but holding). This month I can report that Terry stood WITH NO SUPPORT for 15 seconds! The balance and trunk strength still need work, but progress is being made all the time! Each session brings new gains, as well as renewed hope. There's no telling how far Terry can improve!

That's all for now. I'll get back with you next month (I hope). Thank you for keeping us in your prayers, as well as for all of your encouragement!

January 11, 2009 Update

2009-01-11T14:35:00.003-05:00

Hi Everyone! I hope you had a blessed Christmas! We've had an eventful few weeks since my last update! One of the MAJOR highlights happened on Dec. 6. After Terry had walked to bed, but before he sat down, I asked for a hug. I expected it to be one-handed. He took BOTH hands off of the walker and gave me the FIRST standing HUG since Feb. 13, 2007!!!! It was WONDERFUL!!! And since we found out that's possible, we practice at least once a day. It's amazing how GREAT something that simple can be.
He IS doing more walking at home. He walks further in the morning, AND further at night. He also tries to walk a little through the day (in between naps!). At therapy, each attempt is over 100 feet, and on Dec. 19, he had a total of 650 feet in just THREE tries! The distance, AND Terry's endurance are improving. In addition to the walking, James is having Terry practice standing WITHOUT the walker!!! He can push up on his own thighs, but otherwise is unassisted. Once he is standing, he MUST let go and just STAND. This was EXTREMELY difficult the first time ( 12-31-08, I think), and has only gotten a little easier. His best time standing has been one minute, ten seconds, but that's a BIG improvement over the first time (which was 10 sec.) .
He is done with Occupational Therapy again. They showed him some "tricks" and tools to help in various tasks, now it's just a matter of practice.
We had a HUGE gathering on Christmas Eve! We had 42 people, mostly family!!!! Terry's sister and her family were all up from North Carolina. It was GREAT to get together with everyone!
Then we had other gatherings. We got together with some of my family on Christmas, then on the 28th of December, my nephew Josh got married!! It was a pretty big gathering for that! They had planned a small wedding, mostly just wanting to be married in a church rather than by a JP. But as the family network got busy..... It was a lovely wedding. Josh is a Marine, and wore his uniform. His bride was BEAUTIFUL!!!
I hurt myself a couple of times over the past three weeks, and have pulled muscles around my ribs both times! THANKFULLY, God has sped my healing so that I can give Terry help whenever needed. Also, he doesn't NEED as much help as he did just a short while ago. He's getting stronger and gaining balance with each week!!! We PRAISE GOD for His faithfulness!!
I think that's about all for right now. THANK YOU for your on-going prayers and interest. I'll get back with you soon. God bless you! Lynn

2009-01-09T21:44:00.001-05:00

Terry & grandson - Warren @ Christmas.

Terry with sons - Tony (sitting) and Jimmy.

October 29 to December 3, 2008‏

2008-12-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!! I don't have as much this time, but it's GOOD!!!

Terry did get his new leg back in late October. When we got it, we found out that it was the one our nephew hoped Terry would get. Chris (our nephew) has been working on a research project concerning amputees from the Vietnam war. Shortly after the accident, he commented that Terry ought to try to get this particular leg. It helps SO MUCH with normal function! Without saying too much about a particular type of computer leg, that's what we ended up with. One of Terry's doctor's said it was the "Cadillac" of prosthetics. We certainly have been VERY pleased with Terry's progress with it! Terry was able to extend his best single distance from 210' to 335', within about a WEEK of getting the new leg! He has also extended his cumulative distance in one day from under 500' to a new record of 645' in three "walks". The new goal is 1000' cumulative. I don't think it will be TOO far in the future.

The therapists have decided that for now, we'll discontinue water therapy. The new leg can't go in the water, so in order to best become adjusted to it, he won't put the old leg on for 3-4 months. That will also give James (land therapy) more time to work with Terry. It seems that the gains in ability AND strength are coming so FAST that James runs out of time before he runs out of ideas for therapy. Terry will have land therapy three days a week, now. They have also added occupational therapy for a while. They will show him some tricks and tools to help in DAILY function (dressing, showering, etc.). Terry has the strength and balance to begin re-learning those things. Again, he picks it up pretty quickly, even without all of the abilities the rest of us take for granted. It IS more time-consuming, so pray for PATIENCE (for BOTH of us!!!).

Terry is walking more often and farther at home, now. He finds that most days he hurts less if he exercises more. Some days, there STILL doesn't seem to be any way to escape the pain, though. On those days, he is understandably reluctant to do much.

We had a GREAT Thanksgiving weekend!!! We attended THREE Thanksgiving meals, and one extra family dinner. At each home (one dinner was at the track) Terry WALKED in!!! Two of the three homes had two steps leading in. Terry couldn't navigate those AT ALL (had to be LIFTED), and the other had a threshold he needed help over. All in all, though, we were all VERY PROUD of his determination and progress! He sat in recliners (which he can only get out of with help) and a couple of regular chairs. He also did some extra walking each place. His pain level was down, so we were able to stay and visit more, too. It was a GOOD four days!!!

We celebrated our 32nd anniversary last week. Lots of memories then! Who would have thought we'd be HERE now? We're very BLESSED,though. We have such a CLOSE marriage, one that's been tested in many ways, and has grown stronger because of the trials.

I had the fun of going to see Lion King with my Mom last week, too. It was GREAT!!! It had been quite some time since I'd done anything like that. I was glad for the opportunity!

That's all for now. PLEASE keep us in your prayers. Terry still fights pain on a daily basis. Thankfully, most days it stays at a fairly low level.We also have friends and family members battling cancer, and friends dealing with recent deaths. Thank you for all of your support and concern!! Have a BLESSED Christmas! Lynn

July 20, 2008 to October 30, 2008

2008-11-03T09:08:00.002-05:00

Hello friends! I FINALLY can update this blog. About the time I was ready (around Aug. 31) I began having computer problems. That, of course, took a back seat to the more important things in my life---like Terry! We HAVE come a LONG way since last time, so I have WONDERFUL gains to share. Terry is finally sleeping in our bed more nights. He is STILL more comfortable with the hospital bed, but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks lots of nights. At P/T, he has advanced to his best single walk being TWO HUNDRED TEN feet!! That's 40 more feet than in September. He still doesn't like to walk too much at home, though. There are too many obstacles and turns. James (P/T) had Terry try a stationary bike at therapy. It was interesting to see how well Terry could do. It wasn't very effective, though. We're also trying to practice with Terry just standing on one leg. If he can get to where he can stand and pivot, then sit in his wheelchair, that will give him more options (middle of the night, after water therapy when the leg is wet, etc.). On land and in water, they're working a bit with a single step. In the pool, that means Terry only has ONE handrail to help. On land, he's in the parallel bars when he tries the step. They have taken the walker completely away in water therapy. When he walks, he has a rail at the side of the pool to hold onto, but that's all. They're also working on him standing in the pool, TOTALLY unassisted! He has to go from a "floating" position to his feet and stand upright completely on his own. It's VERY hard!! He doesn't have quite enough strength and balance, yet. The best he's managed is about 10 seconds. James (P/T) and Julie (W/T) are BOTH working on strengthening, as well as Terry and I doing exercises at home every day. His left thigh is getting stronger quickly! James says that although most of the outward damage was done to Terry's left side, apparently the spinal cord damage affected his right side. Therefore his right leg does not respond as quickly to strength training and exercise. We'll keep working on it though. We're nowhere NEAR the end of the road!

One of the BEST things that has happened is that Terry got a COMPUTERIZED leg! We had thought that would be the next step, but we weren't sure when it might happen. It got to the point that the first leg was almost as much hindrance as help, so then it was time. The process took about 10 days from start to finish, and he got a "practice" computer leg 9/23. We all noticed a GREAT improvement right away! He has a more natural walk---which makes it less tiring, AND he stands taller. The new leg expanded his outlook IMMENSLY!!! With the old leg, Terry couldn't see EVER getting away from the walker. Within the first two weeks, he began to see MANY possibilities. We've gained HOPE!!! That, of course, gives him more drive and enthusiasm. As I said, this was a "practice" leg, so in order to get the right one, we had to give that one back. We MISSED it! They thought it would take only a week to get it ready, but it ended up taking TWO AND A HALF WEEKS!!! In that time, Terry was shown just how much difference it had made---in comfort, mobility, and strength. We DO finally have it back, so we'll see how he progresses now.

The final change is that Terry has begun Occupational Therapy again. They will help him to learn various tricks and tools in order to become more self-sufficient. I'm interested to see what kind of advances he can make there.

Now on to the less interesting stuff. I did clean out the workshop some, and we bought a ramp so that Terry can get in there. Jimmy built a table for Terry's scroll saw, and he's been able to use it a little. He STILL doesn't have a great energy level, so he's not out there often. I also cleaned the garage so that Terry can do transfers to the Jimmy more easily. He really needs a flat surface. The gravel drive, or the apron of the garage, weren't very good options. Now I have enough space to at least pull partway in and he can transfer easily. Now, if we'll just plan the extra few minutes it takes...... Terry has also begun keeping a record of good, medium and bad days. He has a pocket calendar that he marks each day. Even though he has a lot of pain at least PART of every day, the good days are out-numbering the bad. PRAISE GOD!!! It helps to look back and realize that on the worse days.

We went to several cook-outs over the summer. Those were great because it means Terry doesn't have to try to get in anyone's home. We don't realize it, but many homes can't even accommodate a portable ramp. It's amazing the things we don't think about until we're faced with an obstacle. We also went to a few festivals to visit with friends. Some friends we made in the concession business we only see at festivals. It was nice to see them and show them that Terry is MUCH better than a year ago.

Finally, I want to ask for prayer for many people. We've had several YOUNG friends die in accidents recently. Their families and friends need our prayers. Also there have been various health issues with friends and family. Please, just pray for comfort and healing. Terry and I can always use your prayers, too. Many days are VERY challenging, and we need strength AND vision to continue on the path ( of course I don't think we can get off the path right now.....). Once again, THANK YOU for your prayers and patience. I'll try to keep this working. God bless you!

Entries through July 19, 2008

2008-07-21T09:28:00.002-04:00

Hello again! I've just looked at the blog and realized the LAST update wasn't sent (I wrote it off-line and left it!!). So you get TWO this time (just think of all the gains Terry's made since you last read!) James had Terry working in the parallel bars again for a few sessions. It's AMAZING how well he can stand now! It was a piece of cake! He's up to 400 feet in the pool each time, and doing that faster with practice. He did some walking on land a couple of weeks ago when we were with our son-in-law, and he thought Terry was moving pretty fast there, too. He was having quite a bit more pain for a while, so we went to the doctor. He tried a new medication, but that didn't help. Thankfully, it has mellowed somewhat, and Terry's doing better again. When we saw the doctor, we also went to visit RHI (where he was in the second month after the accident). We try to visit there every now and then. We went into the gym to look for his main therapist. We saw her, but she didn't see us. I helped Terry to stand and then he started walking toward her. I called her name and she saw Terry walking. She was THRILLED!!! When he had been there, they had no idea what the future might hold. It was great to see her joy! James has also had Terry work on standing up to the walker with NO
assistance. He has done it a few times, but practice will make it consistent. James came to do a "home visit" last week. He wanted to see what Terry's obstacles might be, and give us pointers to help his independence increase. While he was here, he had Terry get in bed to see what he can do toward sitting, etc. Terry couldn't sit up without help. James was trying to rig up something Terry could pull up on (rather than ME) and when he looked back, Terry was sitting!
If all of the conditions are right, he can sit up ALONE. Again, something that practice will help.
Terry has been sleeping in our bed about once a week, but then when he had all of the pain, he didn't even want to try that, so we skipped a week or two. We finally decided to get an extra "pressure-changing" mattress for our bed and that seems to work well. He has slept there THREE nights in a row! Progress is being made all the time. We went to the track for the fourth of July (actually on the 5th). They had a WONDERFUL fireworks display, and several family members were there, too. We also went to a special race there. They had an "Ironman" race---140 laps driven by one driver. It was grueling!! Donna had brought a special chair for Terry. Mike and another young man CARRIED Terry up into the clubhouse (a long flight of stairs) in his manual wheelchair. Once there, he stood to get into the other chair. We had a GREAT view of the race! The two grandsons (Garrett and Logan) have been spending the night on Saturday nights, then going to church with us on Sunday. Garrett calls it Sunday class, and
they really look forward to it, even wishing it was more often ("I wish it was Thursday class, Grandma!"). We went to the fair last Friday. The two boys were in a talent show with
their day care group. They did the Pledge of Allegiance and sang It's a Grand Old Flag. It was really cute! Next it was time for the horse contesting. Chase, Wyatt and Rylee all rode in ALL of the events, and Arlyne was one of those in charge. Unlike last year, we were able to stay for the WHOLE evening, finally getting home about 11:00 PM. It was GREAT to see them all trying their best. Last Sunday, we went to the festival at Lapel to visit with long-time friends. It was nice to see all of them. As you can see, we've had a FULL schedule. We've also had a full prayer
list. One of the organizers of the motorcycle benefit ride had a spill on his motorcycle (in Virginia) and was hospitalized there for a week. He's home now, and hoping to return to work soon. Also, a good friend of our daughter's died in an accident. So YOUNG!!! Many have been grieving. There are SO MANY people who need God's touch! We're thankful He loves us SO MUCH!!! That's all for now, but I'll get you caught up again soon! Keep praying! God
bless you!

Entries through June 27, 2008

2008-07-21T09:24:00.002-04:00

Hello again! I'm sorry it's been so long, the time seems to speed by sometimes. We had a little bit of time to visit with our grandson while he was home, then he went back to CA on June 15. I've had some back pain, I'm not sure if I just turned wrong or if helping Terry with some new exercises is the problem. We DID modify the exercises some so that it's easier for me, and I AM on the mend. The motorcycle benefit ride went well. The weather was great that day (it rained the week before AND the week after!). There weren't a lot of riders, but the money raised was definitely helpful. Terry and I were also interviewed for "Steel Horse", a motorcycle show on channel 23. We have passed day 500 since the accident. I look back now and then and I'm AMAZED at how far God has brought us. One year ago, Terry could do VERY little for himself. He had NO muscle, except in his right arm, and that was weak. Now, he's WALKING without the aid of ANYONE!! We don't even hold on for safety anymore, because it's unnecessary. Terry walked 143 feet in one try last week, then repeated that this week. His average is about 70 feet. He looks forward to when his average is over 100. At the rate he is improving, I think it will be soon! He has so many muscles that are beginning to be useful! There were several that were "asleep" just a short time ago. Now it's almost as if EACH DAY there are visible, BIG gains! James has had him working on standing balance in the parallel bars. That brought back memories of December and the steps he took in the bars. The difference is HUGE!!! He stands up as if it's the easiest thing in the world. He still uses the bars for balance, but as he gets stronger, he won't need to hold on. James wants to do a home evaluation visit. Hopefully, he will give us pointers on how to best transition from how it is now to a better situation. I think we've gotten into some habits that should change as Terry gets better and more able to do for himself. Terry is having more pain, as well. We're not sure if it's caused by the increased activity or just changes in his ability to feel. Either way, we pray the pain will become more manageable. That's about all for now. I'll write again soon. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. We need BOTH!! God bless you! Lynn

Thru June 4, 2008

2008-06-11T13:41:00.004-04:00

Hello everyone! I know it's been a LONG time, but Spring brings a LOT to do outside. I've been working in our flower beds, the kids have been playing outside, we've had a graduation, and things have been BUSY!!! We've started babysitting the boys on Saturday nights, then taking them to church with us on Sunday. They sat through several Worship services with us, then I started taking them to Sunday School. They enjoyed that enough that over the next two weeks (when I didn't have them for Sunday morning) they kept asking about it. They REALLY like going with us! We've also started a Bible Study on Monday nights. It's with a group that has invited us several times in the past, but with the business, we felt there wasn't time. It's interesting how much our focus has changed! Our grandson, Eric came home from Iraq sometime around April 30. He was HERE for 3 days, then had to go to CA for 2 weeks. Now he's here on a 30 day furlough. We've spent some time with him, but hope to have more before he leaves on June 14. Last Friday and Saturday Indiana had tornadoes! Several people from our church sustained quite a bit of damage, some had so much that their homes are not livable until MAJOR repairs are done. We PRAISE GOD that there were no injuries!! Now the good stuff! Terry is improving all of the time! About three weeks ago, the "quad" muscle FINALLY started working! They've tried LOTS of things to help that to work, to no avail. Then, during one therapy session, it fired for the first time! Now we're doing all we can to strengthen it and help it be more functional. This includes a new set of daily exercises, so I'm helping a lot in that. He also learned CAR TRANSFERS!!! For the first time in 16 months, he got to ride in the passenger seat of the Blazer!! We don't take it every time, because that means he has to use the manual wheelchair, but we try it 1-3 times a week. His walk time in the pool (300 feet) is diminishing all the time. The first time Julie timed it, it took over 17 minutes. Now, it's slightly over 13 minutes! On land, he has almost DOUBLED his best distance! He walked almost ONE HUNDRED feet on Monday at ONE attempt!!! He's standing in the pool each time, also. He hasn't yet achieved a minute (standing WITHOUT the walker), but he's ALMOST there. James is also working on Terry PUSHING off of his chair to stand on land! That is going well, also. We passed the one-year anniversary of Terry starting rehab at HMH. We've been looking at the early days and realizing how FAR God has brought him!! He had NO strength last year!! Now he's doing SO much more of his own care. I don't think I'll be out of a job too soon, though. What he is able to do is HELP me with his care, rolling himself onto his side, pulling himself up into a sitting position, etc. He still needs MUCH more strength, but there's more hope than ever before for an almost COMPLETE recovery. He will probably have limitations, but they may be much less than we would have thought just a short time ago. GOD is SO GOOD!!! He still sleeps in our bed once a week. I'm praying that increases SOON! The more he can do things in the "normal" way, the quicker he will improve. It IS a work in progress! Please pray for strength and wisdom for BOTH of us. Each hurdle seems harder than the last, and some days it seems he'll NEVER be free of pain. Thank God, He's promised to never leave us or forsake us. I'm SURE none of this would be possible without HIS care and comfort! Thank you for YOUR care and support! Keep praying!! Love, Lynn

Weeks of April 22 to May 9, 2008

2008-05-13T10:33:00.003-04:00

Hello again! It's been a short time, but MUCH has happened!! Terry slept in
our bed on April 22. The first time since the accident! It went pretty well. He didn't have much pain, and I was THRILLED to have him there! There are some things to work on yet, but with time it will be comfortable. He's trying it about once a week, so far, but I'm hoping that will multiply soon! I've begun to do a little walking on the "Pennsy Trail". It's the walking trail here in town. I REALLY want to get some exercise and lose some extra pounds. Terry went with me once, and will probably go again. If we could just get this Indiana weather straightened out... We've both been a little more sensitive lately. We NEED to gain perspective! So MANY hurdles have been crossed! God has been SO GRACIOUS!!! We've begun having Garrett and Logan overnight on Saturdays and taking them
to church on Sundays. They've done BEAUTIFULLY!!! They are so well-behaved in
church, I almost don't recognize them! We will continue this for the season, since Esteina will be working at the Track. I just thought I was going to work there... I like this even more! Terry walked at our church on April 13, then at Mom's church the next week.
They, too had been praying for Terry. The following week, a nephew had his confirmation, so we went to their church! We FINALLY get to go to OUR church again on Sunday! It has been nice to share with others, but we miss our friends! Last time, I wrote that Esteina was having some problems. They never really came up with a reason, but she is fine now. I want to thank everyone for their prayers! Eric has come home from Iraq! PRAISE GOD!!! He came to IN for 5 days right after he got back, even surprising Papaw Terry at therapy one day! He'll be here for a month beginning May 15. He HAS signed up for another four years. That
bothered Terry a bit, but we'll leave him in God's hands. We had a special "talk" to do at our pastor's wife's workplace. She wanted us to talk about the "new life" that has been gained since the accident. The day went VERY well! Several people spoke to us afterward, and I think God did touch some hearts through our words. We were certainly blessed by the
experience! We have sold the business. MOST of the equipment is already gone. Now, there's just a LOT of organizing to get some order in all of our storage spaces. It's AMAZING how much useless STUFF we have!! Now to the REALLY GOOD stuff. Terry is improving DAILY!!! He's doing some walking at home almost every day! A t therapy, he's stretched his longest walk to 54 FEET!!! He's also working at standing TOTALLY UNASSISTED in the pool. That time has gone from 21 seconds to 52 seconds in just two weeks! He works SO HARD!!!! He's also trying to get used to more time in his wheelchair. As the weather gets better, he WANTS to be outside more. If we'll get enough warm days together, he'll be up and about a LOT!!! God keeps blessing and Terry
keeps working! That's about all for now. You know I'll write again soon. There's too much
for me to keep it secret! Thank you for your caring and support! God bless you!

Weeks of April 6 to 22, 2008

2008-04-29T10:01:00.001-04:00

Dear friends,
If I don't get caught up with this soon, it will take all day! SO much has happened in the past two weeks, it's AMAZING!!!! April 6 began the racing season at the go-cart track. We went out there after church to "hang out" a bit and visit. They were SO BUSY that I offered to help. They gladly put me to work! Before I left, I offered to be there most race days, so my Sunday afternoons should be fairly busy for the summer. Terry, of course was there also. He'll help some as his healing and strength allows, but even spending the whole day in his w/c is an aid to endurance. He did very well that day!
A couple of men from "Bikers for Christ" came to visit. They want to have a benefit ride for Terry!! With all of the on-going expenses and the fact that we can't really work much, yet, it will be a blessing! The ride is to be June 14, beginning at New Life Christian Fellowship (our church) at 8:30 A.M. I have never really seen anything like this, so I don't know what to expect. I look forward to see what God has in store!
We've sold the concession business. It all went so quickly, we certainly feel that God has blessed the timing. Now we just have to do the work of straightening out ALL of the areas we had stored various equipment. I'm sure we'll have LOTS of warm days to work on that!
April 9 was a RED-LETTER DAY!!!! Terry walked 5 feet AT HOME!!!! He had been doing a lot of walking at therapy, and at our family's Easter gathering, he had walked 20' (since we had several strong men there for safety)! James (therapist) had said we should try to walk at home, but we were BOTH afraid. We FINALLY trusted that God would be with us, and Terry did it! That was the first of many "walks" at home. Some days he walks easily, and some days it's
HARD. He's building strength and confidence all of the time, though. The next place I wanted him to walk was church. He balked a bit at that. He wanted to be sure that the glory went to God, NOT Terry Adams. We arranged it with Mark (our pastor), and April 20 he walked about 25 feet in each service. Everyone was so THRILLED to see the work GOD has done!!!
Water therapy is going well, too. They're trying to work at BALANCE. Over the months of rehab, Terry has learned to rely on his arms for most of the work. He uses his legs SOME, but doesn't really trust them, yet. In water therapy,they want him to try to stand without holding onto anything. The first 2 weeks, he couldn't stand for more than 4 seconds before falling. We kept praying for a breakthrough. His body seems to "remember" what to do, but in his effort, he "over-thinks" many things, and can't seem to get it easily. Then he gets frustrated, and that just adds to the problem. Finally, on Friday April 18, he stood for 14 seconds!! And on Monday April 21, he stood for 21 seconds!!!! I PRAISE GOD for the breakthrough!! God's working on me, too. Through much prayer and patience, I've FINALLY realized that I'm allergic to the pool. I've always loved to swim, and never had any problem before, so it took a LONG time for me to realize what God had been trying to tell me. I kept praying for insight to my allergy problems, and through a series of events, He showed me the answer! I've not been in therapy with Terry for a WEEK, and the improvement is GREAT!!! God is SO FAITHFUL!! Why does it take SO LONG for us to TRUST HIM??!!!!
The weekend of April19 was challenging. Esteina didn't feel "right" all day and was pretty dizzy and having chest pains. We watched the boys all day Saturday so she could be checked. They didn't find anything really wrong, but she was to be "watched" and not be alone for awhile. We kept the boys overnight, too, so she and Mike could rest and recuperate. Mike brought her to our house on Sunday morning to spend the day until he was done at work, so it was a weekend
of family time. We asked for prayer and guidance so that the answer would be found. I'll update that more in the next blog.
April 22 was CHRISTMAS!!!! I have looked forward to the day that Terry would join me in OUR BED! He's been in the hospital bed since he came home. It is SO easy to handle EVERYTHING from there (since we've had so much practice). That bed is a HAVEN, as well. We've both been praying for courage and wisdom to know when to try our bed. I tried to think of everything to make it easier, as well as asking SEVERAL people to be in prayer for us. It went GREAT!!!!
Terry was able to sleep there all night with few problems, and LITTLE pain!! THANK YOU LORD!!! That was a HUGE step!!! Terry won't plan on sleeping there EVERY night, yet, but it will be soon, I'm sure.
As I said at the start, it's been a VERY full two weeks! God has BLESSED us in SO MANY ways!! Our grandson Eric will be coming home (to the US) any day, and our nephew Josh is already here! They are both Marines, and have been in Iraq. God has kept them safe for us, and we look forward to seeing them again! I'll write again when things start "piling-up". Maybe I'll have to go back to once a week! It's been so EXCITING to see the many things God has accomplished in just the past few weeks! THANK YOU for all of your prayers and support! I THANK GOD for all of YOU!!!

Weeks of March 17 to April 6, 2008

2008-04-07T14:41:00.003-04:00

Things have been moving along very well since the last time I wrote. Terry's average distance while walking went from 10 feet on March 14 to about 25 feet by March 28. He is SO determined!! I PRAISE GOD for the strength of character I see in Terry EVERY DAY!!! He had set a goal of being able to walk 140 feet by the end of March , and he met that goal a WEEK early! Then, since Terry was doing so well, the therapist (James) started working on other things. We started learning "stand & pivot" transfers to and from his chair or bed. For the first few times, we only practiced that at therapy. Then Terry and I got brave and started trying at home. It works VERY well, at least MOST of the time. Just for some excitement last week, we had one attempt that didn't work. He was trying to sit on the bed, and was too close to the edge. He kind of did a slow slide to his prosthetic knee. Not knowing what else to do, we laid him
down on the floor (first time he's been there in over a year!), then called 911 (help! He's fallen and he can't get up!! HA-HA-HA!!!). They of course came right away and it was all taken care of VERY WELL, with no problem. They were glad to get an update on the "accident victim", since they had also been on that run (February 14, 2007). Several people called to make sure all was okay. It's so WONDERFUL that so many people watch out for us! We have decided to sell the business. We think we're headed in a different direction at this point, and we weren't sure we could really do the business justice anyway. There's still a LOT of therapy and practice needed, and that all takes time. Spring is here --sort of-- so that means Esteina needs to work more. We get to baby-sit on Saturday's!! YEAH!!! We've missed those kids. Terry is SO much better then he was last year! We think we can handle the energy of the kids a LOT better. Back to PROGRESS news - up until March 20 Terry was walking with a lot of help from the therapist. Then, on that VERY SPECIAL day, James "locked" Terry's prosthetic knee, and HE WALKED ALONE!!!! He used the walker for balance, but NO ONE was holding him!! He walked an average of 25 feet each time after that. At one point, James said that with the progress Terry's making, he should be able to move around the house AS HE WISHES by MAY 31!!!! We IMMEDIATELY joined hands and PRAISED GOD for HIS work in Terry! It seems SO SOON after this LONG year! We started water therapy again this past week. James thinks the water is the best -- and safest -- place for Terry to work on balance. After the first week when we had three days in the water, we'll go to 2 on land and 2 in the pool. That way, he will get the benefits of both. I'm EXCITED to see what God has in store for us! We've been asked to speak about all of the new life we have experienced since the accident. We're looking forward to it, and trying to "see" if this is the first step in the new direction we're to go. We are doing our best at trying to listen to God's leading. He's been SO FAITHFUL to us through all of this, we are humbled and GRATEFUL for HIS many blessings! I think that's about all for now. It has certainly seemed the progress is getting faster and faster. Terry's strength and endurance improve all the time!
BALANCE is the current hurdle, but with God's help, Terry will gain that soon, I'm sure. He still deals with a fair amount of pain, but we THINK that means the spinal cord is healing. The pain seems to be in a certain area for 2-3 weeks, and then moves down. We hope for COMPLETE healing, so that he can feel his legs and feet better. I'll write again when I can. I'll let all of you know if I'm going to "finish" this sometime. THANK YOU for your PRAYERS, ENCOURAGEMENT and continued interest. All of YOU are being used by God to keep us going!

Weeks of March 3-16, 2008

2008-03-21T23:52:00.000-04:00

Dear friends,
Entries will be a little less frequent from now on. Terry is steadily progressing, THANK GOD!!! I will try to keep everyone posted of major events. Since Feb. 25, when he began work with the walker, he's improved his distance almost 300%!!!! The first day he walked 22 feet, and on March 14 he walked 62 feet!! His endurance is improving all of the time, and he doesn't need as many rest breaks either. He walked the 22 feet in 5 starts and stops, and it only took 4 starts and stops to walk the 62 feet. His greatest distance at one try has gone from 3 feet to 16 feet!! He DOES need the help and experience of the therapist still, so he can't yet walk anywhere else but therapy. We continue to practice standing to the walker at home each day. He's getting better at that all the time, as well. Our daily routine includes MUCH more activity from him. The therapist is having Terry do some kind of exercise or stretching every hour. It's encouraging to see the benefits Terry reaps in strength, balance, and ability. We seem to continue to have van problems. Apparently, these types of vans are NOT well made, and many are prone to various problems. We had a very special visit last week. It was a snowy, low-visibility day, and we were trying to decide if we would be able to go to therapy. At one point,when I looked out the back window, I saw 20+ Great Blue Herons!!! They were evidently flying as a group when it got too difficult to fly well. They stayed for about two hours, just sitting in the pasture. It was WONDERFUL to see!!! Terry saw the hand specialist again, and he was pleased with Terry's progress. Since Terry can't really feel that hand very well, the doctor didn't think he'd improve much. He said to just keep working. Feeling is returning in stages. We're THANKFUL for that, but it unfortunately means Terry hurts more. Right now, he can feel all of the hardware in his back. We pray for a lessening of the pain. That's all for now. I'll write again soon. THANK YOU for your prayers and encouragement!

Week of February 25, 2008

2008-03-05T10:12:00.000-05:00

Terry is doing so well in therapy!! He walks farther each day. His endurance is improving, as well. He doesn't seem to need the long break periods between attempts at walking. When he started, he'd walk a few steps, then rest for 3-4 minutes. Now it's down to a minute or so. We had to go to Methodist for a test this week. While we were there, we went up to the CCU. We saw a couple of the people that were VERY involved with Terry's care. They were SO GLAD to see his progress. He spent so long just barely alive. God is SO GOOD!!! I got the chance to go to the circus with Esteina ,Garrett, Logan, Rylee, and Donna. We had a GREAT time! I even rode an elephant! The evening out was good for me. We are practicing standing with the walker at home. Most days, that goes quite well. With time and patience, he'll be walking!!! We continue to pray for strength and determination. Some days seem VERY hard!!

Week of February 18, 2008

2008-02-26T08:41:00.002-05:00

This has been a good week! Terry is practicing standing at home, and since we couldn't get help a couple of days, we're doing it ourselves! It's good to not have to try to fit in someone else's schedule. At therapy, James has begun having Terry work at walking with the walker. Tuesday was the only time this week, but Terry took 4-5 steps during each of three attempts. He's doing
FANTASTIC!!! We also saw the orthopedic surgeon this week, and he MARVELLED at Terry's progress! He just grins with glee upon hearing of Terry's achievements. It's SO encouraging for us! While there, we made an appointment with the hand specialist. We hope the EXTRA bone growth is ready to be taken care of. That will mean another surgery, but Terry is wanting more use with that hand. We'll see him in March. On Friday, we had Julie for therapy again (James was out). She was also impressed with the gains Terry has made since she last treated him. It's been a GOOD week!

Week of February 11, 2008

2008-02-19T12:06:00.003-05:00

This has been a roller-coaster week! We've weathered some tough memories, both before the accident and after, but there have been many WONDERFUL things to remember, too. The way everyone has gathered around us with prayer, love, and TIME given has been overwhelming. There have been many gifts given as well. I look back over the year and am humbled and awed at the many ways God has used people to do HIS work in our lives. We are forever grateful!!
It's been a week of ups and downs in progress, too. Therapy on Monday was canceled because James was sick, so we had a play day. We went to dinner (my birthday was Tuesday) and ran a few errands.

Tuesday therapy went well, and we did a little birthday shopping that day. The weather isn't cooperating much. We had sheets of ice on the walk, the drive, etc. I tried to clear it, but then just put salt down.

Wednesday Terry had his first time in his Jacuzzi tub! A grandson and I lowered him in and Terry REALLY enjoyed it! When he was done, we had to lift him out, too. It was awkward for all of us, but I thought Terry ought to get to try it, and that was the only way.

Thursday was a full day. Terry had a doctor appointment in the morning. Then we went to visit our friends at RHI. Terry showed off a little bit, and they were all glad to see him. We came home for a bit, then headed out for the surprise party I had planned. We had mostly our family there, with a few friends, to celebrate LIFE!!! We're all thankful that Terry's still here and doing SO WELL!! He received lots of cards of encouragement. It was a GOOD evening! We made it through the hardest week!

Friday therapy went well. James taught me how to "help" Terry to stand at the walker, then told us we should begin doing that at home. What a scary thought! If we will do that at home, he can work on walking at therapy. Plus, Terry will strengthen that much quicker with more practice.

On Saturday we had Jimmy over to help with the standing. For a while, we'll have a strong man there to assist as needed. He may not have to do much, but we need the safety factor. It went WELL! Terry stood nicely 7 times, with only one bad attempt in the middle.

Sunday was a fairly quiet day. We had our grandson to help with the standing. For whatever reason, it didn't go as well. He only had two good attempts, with several poor tries. We'll get a refresher tomorrow at therapy. As usual, it's been a FULL week. We're glad to be past the year mark. The next year looks very hopeful!

Week of February 4, 2008

2008-02-14T08:28:00.001-05:00

This was a week of ups and downs. We had a foggy day Tuesday, and on bad weather days, Terry's therapy doesn't go as well. He also hurts more. We missed Monday and Thursday therapy, so I was concerned about progress. Then on Friday, he had a GREAT day! The therapist is still having him work on standing at the walker - sometimes weight-shifting and sometimes reaching with one hand. Terry did all of that well. Then as a strengthening and re-enforcing exercise, he stood up and sat right back down TEN times in a row!! It definitely wore him out, but he was pleased with the progress. We had several visitors over the weekend, and enjoyed that time. The one year anniversary is coming, and we're having mixed emotions as a
result. We have SO MANY blessings!!!!! But it has also been a LONG, hard year. We're trying to look to the future and remember that God is our strength! He's been so near to us this year. We PRAISE HIM for the guidance and HEALING!

Week of January 28, 2007

2008-02-08T22:12:00.000-05:00

Terry's been working (in therapy) at standing with a walker. James really focussed on that this week. Obviously, the parallel bars are not portable, but when Terry gets comfortable with the walker, he can stand ANYWHERE! That day is coming SOON! Also, WALKING with the walker shouldn't be too far behind. I'm getting S-O-O-O excited! I just keep PRAISING GOD for His WONDROUS work in Terry!!! Terry's still doing some form of movement each hour of the day. That seems to be getting easier to remember and accomplish. Sometimes a nap might interrupt. I've been working on the journal this week. I wrote it in spiral notebooks, in a rather haphazard fashion. I've been trying to get it all in order in a binder so it is easier to read. In the process, I've been reading it. It's AMAZING how far God has brought us in a year! We had a few visitors on Saturday. It made for a nice day! We're praying for continued strength and healing for Terry, as well as determination to reach the goal. Some days it seems pretty far off yet. That patience thing...... Thank you all for your prayers!

Week of January 21, 2008

2008-01-30T18:30:00.000-05:00

Therapy on Monday went very well. Terry was able to lay down and sit back up with minimal help from the therapist. Then, when the session was over, James helped Terry stand and pivot to get back into his chair. When we get to the point that I can assist with that--safely-- it will make a HUGE difference in Terry's mobility. Tuesday therapy was fantastic! Terry was working in the parallel bars. That day, he STOOD AND WALKED WITH NO ASSISTANCE!!! Then just to prove it wasn't a fluke, he did it again! Praise God!!! The strengthening and improvements are coming much faster at this point. After therapy, I took the van in to be worked on again. We didn't get it back until Thursday, so we got a ride to therapy on Thursday, but didn't go anywhere else those days. Friday at therapy was a harder day. James has shown Terry that his balance point is off-center, and wants Terry to find the RIGHT balance. Due to all of the injury to his left side, he leans to his right a bit. Since he's done this for so long, it's HARD to FEEL that it's wrong. This will be an on-going challenge for a time. We baby-sat for two different sets of grandchildren this week, and had one set overnight. It was great to spend time with them! We also had a couple of naps in our bed. I look forward to the time when Terry's pain and discomfort are down enough that he can sleep in our bed for a full night! We had a full, EXCITING week!

Week of January 14, 2008

2008-01-22T08:37:00.000-05:00

James (therapist) is encouraging Terry to do more "regular" exercising. Pick a few things, and do 15-25 reps of one each hour. Over time Terry has gotten out of the habit of moving, so he has to INTENTIONALLY re-learn that habit. Terry has worked at it fairly well this week. We had to take the van to McCrocklin Ford this week. It needs a couple of things worked on. They have ordered the parts, and we'll take it back for repair when they come in. I took the day off on Wednesday, Jimmy stayed with Terry and I spent the day with my mom. We went downtown this time. It was a COLD day, but we enjoyed the time together. On Thursday, Terry pointedly asked James about his progress. James said that in the past two weeks, he's seen a LOT of improvement. He sees much more potential than he had for awhile. The land therapy seems to be strengthening Terry just as we had hoped. On Friday after therapy, Terry and Mike went to the wood-working show at the fairgrounds. That gave me a few hours at home alone. I got a few things done, and just enjoyed the un-interrupted time alone. On Sunday, we went to Sunday school for the first time in a LONG time. We enjoyed it! Later, Esteina invited us to go bowling with her and the boys and Donna. We all had fun doing that! Esteina was the champ of the day, almost doubling anyone else's score. We had a quiet evening.

Week of January 7, 2008

2008-01-18T13:10:00.000-05:00

I was sick from Sunday to Wednesday. We went to therapy anyway on Monday, and found out we have a problem with the door on the van. We tried to get it worked on, but will have to take it to the mobility place next week. Later in the week, we also found a gas-line leak in the van. Sometimes it seems we have more than our share of problems. Therapy this week - Monday, Thursday, and Friday went well. We keep finding things Terry CAN do that we weren't aware of. The therapist will have him try a new way of moving, and he'll just do it. Hopefully it will translate into new functional gains in the next weeks. He's definitely getting stronger! Terry went to Pro Bull Riding with Michael on Friday. It was a surprise evening planned by Mike. I got the evening off, so I had a hair appointment, and then went to visit Esteina and the boys. It was a nice evening! Saturday was family day. We had one family for brunch, and another for dinner. We hadn't seen much of the grandkids since Christmas, so we were glad to see them. As usual, we've had a full week!

Week of December 31, 2007

2008-01-14T16:14:00.000-05:00

We started land therapy exclusively this week. Terry's hit a plateau in the
water and needs the strengthening that land therapy will provide. One of the
major things they will be working on is balance. In order to really walk,
Terry will have to find his balance WITHOUT holding on. That was a tough one.
Wed. was the first time he tried, and it was frightening! He'll get better with
time and practice. We saw the neurosurgeon this week. He was very pleased
with Terry's progress, and AMAZED that he's taking steps. The doctor doesn't
need to see Terry for a year, now. The rest of the week was fairly routine, but
Terry is making progress in therapy. He has strength we weren't aware of, and
we'll build on that. I woke on Sun. feeling under the weather, so we didn't
get to church. Before 1:00, we had received three phone calls with people
from church checking on us. It's GREAT to be cared for by so many. God is GOOD!!

Week of December 24, 2007

2008-01-06T19:53:00.000-05:00

Christmas Eve with the family was GREAT!!! We went out to the track again, so we had PLENTY of room. The kids (and Terry) chased around a lot, and we all had a good time just catching up. Terry's sister and family were here from N. Carolina. Jeannine and Craig hadn't seen Terry since he was in intensive care, so they were VERY pleased with how good he looks. It was a wonderful day. On Christmas, we went to Mom's. It was a small gathering this year. Lincoln and Jen are in England (they called) and Debbie and her family are on their normal Christmas vacation, so there were only 7 of us. Terry was hurting a little more than usual today, too, so we didn't stay long. We enjoyed the time, though. It's ALWAYS nice to visit. with family.
We had a quiet day at home on Wednesday, just trying to catch up on housework. Jeannine and Craig came for a visit. It's easier to talk when everyone is not there. We enjoyed seeing them again.
At therapy, James said we would try land therapy only for a while. It will still be 4 days a week, but all on land. Two days we'll work on walking, and the other 2 will be time for other skills and strengthening.
On Saturday, we finally babysat the boys again. It's been a LONG time! It was good to spend some time with them. The rest of the weekend was quiet.

Week of December 17, 2007

2008-01-06T19:51:00.000-05:00

Water therapy on Monday went MUCH better. He was able to stand unsupported for about 3 minutes. He IS getting stronger! Aunt Liz had therapy today, she had a large tumor removed. We'll be praying that her cancer treatment goes well.

At Tuesday therapy, Suzanne from church came to tape Terry walking. The church has been SO supportive, we wanted them to have visible proof of the power of prayer. They'll edit that and show it on Sunday.

On Wednesday we went to have Terry's leg shortened just a bit. Now that he is standing on land, he noticed a pinching. They took care of that, and he could tell a difference immediately.

On Thursday Debby Knox came to do a follow-up on Terry. They showed it that evening! (There is a link to it on this site.) She continues to be impressed with his progress, as we all are. Praise God for His wonders shown! After they left, James wanted to try a walker with wheels and a seat. James sat on the seat facing Terry, and they tried that. It's a little early yet, but it looks like it could be soon.

At Friday therapy, we discussed the possibility of going to land therapy only for a while. Terry seems to be at a plateau in the water, so it might be time for a change again. We'll talk to James about it next week.

Saturday was a fairly quiet day.

Then we had the exciting Sunday! We got to show the video of Terry!!! Everyone was pleased. We had a quiet day after that.

Week of December 10, 2007

2008-01-06T19:50:00.000-05:00

This was a week full of ups and downs. Terry was having a rough time early in the week. Therapy in the pool wasn't going too well, and that is discouraging. Then Tuesday came. He had land therapy today. James wanted to work in the parallel bars. Terry got all set up, then he TOOK SEVERAL STEPS!!!!! Then, just to prove he could, he did it twice more! PRAISE GOD!!!! God definitely lifts us up when we need it most! Thursday therapy was good again, but then Friday in the pool he had a hard time again. He can't seem to put weight on the prosthetic in the pool. Then it snowed on Sat., so we were homebound Sat. and Sun. It was a FULL week!

December 21, 2007

2007-12-21T08:53:00.000-05:00

Debbie Knox did a followup with Terry at therapy yesterday (12/20/07). Then it was aired last night on the Channel 8 6 o'clock news. Click link below to see the video:
http://www.wishtv.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?clipId1=2

You will need to scroll down throught the videos and look for Terry (photo of him). His video is titled Man Who Lost Leg in Accident Eyes a Major Comeback 08. Click on it and it should start with a commercial and then Terry's video.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!!!

Week of December 3, 2007

2007-12-14T08:37:00.000-05:00

This was snow week! Mandy and I shoveled on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I also spent a LOT of time on paperwork. It seems a lot of people need information that only I can find. I've spent HOURS trying to gather everything. At therapy, both of the therapists are working toward Terry being able to stand without holding on. He's not quite there at either place, but he's getting closer! He was able to stand for about 20 seconds in the pool!!! YEAH!!! We had visitors over the weekend. Guy and Cheri (friends from South Carolina) visited on Friday and Sunday. We've been friends for over 30 years. It was great to see them. On Saturday, we went to my mom and dad's for a birthday/going away party. Debbie had her birthday, and Lincoln is getting ready to move to England for 2-plus years. We wanted to get together one last time before he left. It was a wonderful day! It was just the immediate family, so a small group. As usual, we had a very full week!

Week of November 26, 2007

2007-12-14T08:32:00.000-05:00

As usual, I'm behind on this. I keep trying! We celebrated our anniversary this week. Thirty-one years! Also, Terry is now doing about 95% of the work at getting from a sitting position to
standing!!! Praise God! We can see progress almost daily. We finally had a chance to try crutches. Terry thinks that will help with him standing taller in the pool. The first attempt was on Friday. It didn't go too well. Terry was a little disappointed. He had thought he would get it easily, as he has so many things. He'll keep trying. It DID help him to stand taller when he got back on the walker, so that's progress. On Saturday, we had two awards banquets to attend. One was at the go-cart track. Many of the drivers know Terry. They were pleased at his progress. The next banquet was for Indiana POA (Pony of Americas) Association year-end horse showing awards. Chase, Wyatt, and Rylee all received awards. They're so talented! It was a great day! On Sunday morning, Terry & I lit the first Advent Candle. Several of the kids were there: Grant and family, Arlyne, and Amanda. We were glad they had come. It's been a nice weekend.

Week of November 19, 2007

2007-12-02T19:12:00.000-05:00

At water therapy, Terry's having a hard time putting weight on his left foot. He learned how to balance without the prosthetic, so now it's hard to do it WITH the leg. It will come with time.
At land therapy Terry stood for a full FIVE minutes!!! His strength and endurance are improving! Also, the last time he stood today, he asked if the parallel bars could be lowered. Lames did that, and Terry did about 80% of the work to stand!!! With the right angle, he does very well!
We got a new lift chair/recliner for Terry this week (as an early Christmas gift!) It will give Terry someplace else to sit, and therefore a LOT more comfort. Jimmy made a platform for the chair so it will be almost the same height as the W/C (for transfers). I did some baking for Thanksgiving, just a couple of pies and macaroni and cheese. Then Terry and I had to make his "world-famous stuffing". We did all we could Wed. then finished early Thu.
We had our Thanksgiving dinner out at the track. Terry had SO much fun racing around with the kids on their riding toys! Everyone thought it was great to have all of the extra room! We also had a LOT to be thankful for this year!
Mom had the family for Thanksgiving on Sat., so we went there. She had a HOUSEFUL!!! We played cards and pool, chatted and laughed! I have several NUTTY relatives and I laughed more than I had in months. It was GREAT!!!
After such a full week, we had a restful day on Sun. It was nice to just relax.

Week of November 12, 2007

2007-12-02T19:09:00.000-05:00

We realized we STILL had a leak in our family room, so Mike came over and checked that. We think we've tracked it down. I had a cold that started on Sun., so my energy level was down. Mandy helped quite a bit. In land therapy, James was working on Terry's flexibility and felt that Terry had made a LOT of progress! He also had Terry try to stand at the side of the exercise table. Terry did it! After he had stood for a minute and then sat back down, James said he hadn't thought he could do it. It's great to see Terry accomplish things we don't realize he's capable of doing!
We had the extra part REMOVED from the wheelchair. Hooking into the front seat won't work. Oh well....

Thursday - Rylee had to go into the hospital overnight. She'd been sick and became dehydrated. We went to Comm. North to visit her.

Friday - At water therapy on Friday, James (land therapist) came by and saw Terry walking. That way he has a better idea of what needs worked on.
Saturday - On Saturday, Rylee came to spend the afternoon and night with Mandy. They used to spend a lot of time together, but hadn't in awhile. They enjoyed the time together.
Sunday - Sunday was our Thanksgiving dinner at church. We had a wonderful time of fellowship with friends and family we don't always see.

Week of November 5, 2007

2007-11-13T08:49:00.000-05:00

Monday - Water therapy went well today, but Terry seemed a little stiff. We'll work on that. We called to arrange for the lock-down for Terry's chair in the van. This will allow him to drive into the front passenger area and lock his chair down. I'm anxious to see the freedom it gives him (and me)! We're working out plans for Thanksgiving. We'll have it at the track this year. It's too crowded at any one's house with all of the people (35-40). Then trying to make room for Terry to move in his chair would be that much harder. We think we've got it planned, though. Now I just have to make the calls to everyone.

Tuesday - At therapy today, James could see a lot of improvement since Friday. Terry was a lot more flexible. We also found that the splint for Terry's wrist is working well. We're ready to move up to the next one. I'll call to arrange that. We visited Carmel Wal-mart today. We have a lot of friends there after doing so many fund-raisers there with the trailer and Cotton Candy. We stayed for about 2 hours, just catching up with friends. It was a nice afternoon. We came home after that.

Wednesday - I spent the day with Mom today. It's been quite a while since I had a day off. We shopped and went out to lunch.It was great! Mandy and Lucy (her dog) left for TN today. They're visiting friends there. They won't be back until Sunday. I got home about 7:00. We had a light supper, then a quiet evening.

Thursday - We had therapy at 1:00 today. James worked on Terry's flexibility for a little while, then wanted him to stand again. It went better, with Terry helping more than he realized. He's definitely getting stronger! We ran a couple of errands after therapy, then came home.

Friday - At water therapy today, Julie really stressed how important it is for Terry to stand straight and put the weight on his legs instead of his arms. He's having a hard time trusting his legs, because he can't feel them very well. So he bends to watch them. It's improving, though. We went to get the lock-down for Terry's chair today. While we were up there, we found out the van doesn't have the right part, either. We'll have to come back on Tuesday to get that put on. The part they did took quite a while, and we weren't home until about 6:00.

Saturday - We had the boys today. Garrett said it was a good day and he likes coming to our house. That was nice to hear. Terry's having a rough day. He just wants to be better NOW! It's hard to not be able to play with the little ones. Also, the part they put on his chair drags the ground. So he can't go in the grass. He doesn't want to give up that freedom, so we'll just have to have it removed. It was a good idea that didn't work.

Sunday - We had church this morning. Mark had a great sermon! This afternoon, Missy, Chris and Jacob came for a visit. We had a nice time with them. We did realize we had another leak, though. It's in a spot that's been worked on THREE times already! Mike will come tomorrow and check it out. Mandy came home from TN today. We had missed her. We spent a nice evening together.

Week of October 29, 2007

2007-11-12T09:10:00.000-05:00

Monday - We have an appointment. with Dr. Sigua today (rehab doctor). We had to be up at 6:30. YUCK!!!! The appointment. went well, though. He's impressed with Terry's progress, and doesn't want to see him again until Feb. or Mar. We went to see our friends at RHI after that. They were also pleased at how healthy Terry looks and how well he is doing. We ran a couple of errands after that, then came home.

Tuesday - We had a quiet morning, then I wanted to take Terry someplace special for dinner (his birthday is Nov. 2). I had heard of an oyster bar just west of Dayton, so I planned the trip, then went. When we got there, it was closed for renovation! Oh, well, the best laid plans... It was a pretty and enjoyable drive. We did have dinner, just not what was planned. After we got home, we were done for the evening.

Wednesday - We had therapy with James at the hospital today. Apparently Rachel is going to replace Jill at the pool for a time. James will be our therapist for a time. He wants Terry to have twice a week therapy on land for a while. We'll have a total of 4 days, with Wednesday off. We came home and I spent quite a while on the phone trying to straighten out some tax matters. That, of course, took longer than I planned, and the call was only the beginning. We WILL get it worked out, I'm sure.

Thursday - Terry was hurting through the night, so we were up several times. We had a quiet morning, then picked Rylee up from a field trip. We ran a couple of errands, then came home for the night. We hope tonight will be better.
Friday - I had gotten behind on my scheduling, so we didn't go to the pool today. We saw James again. He wanted to do some stretching on Terry. He was afraid that Terry's joints were locking up. After a little work, he loosened up pretty well, so James was pleasantly surprised. He'll continue to work on Terry's flexibility. We went to the store after that. We're planning on potato soup for dinner. Mike and his family are coming, too. As they were discussing coming, Esteina told the boys it was Papaw's birthday, so they wanted to make it special. They brought a party! They had cake and a present, Shrek ears for all, and sang Happy Birthday several times. It was a nice evening.

Saturday - We babysat this evening instead of this morning. We had a quiet day early, then a fun time with the boys.

Sunday - We had a good day today, with church, then a couple of errands, then a movie (at home). We enjoyed the restful day.

Week of October 22, 2007

2007-11-02T12:20:00.000-04:00

Monday - At water therapy today, we found out that Jill, one of the therapists, is having some health problems. Julie asked us to pray for her. Terry did well in therapy. He is getting stronger all of the time. Praise God! Julie's next goal is to have him use a cane instead of the walker. That will take a LOT more reliance on his legs instead of his arms. I'm anxious to see how soon it will happen. After therapy, we ran a couple of errands, then came home.

Tuesday - I had dropped the van off for some work yesterday. It was ready by noon today, so Mandy dropped me off on the way to work. A little later we picked Rylee up after a field trip, then went to Home Depot. Terry is looking into siding for the office. We took Rylee home after that, then came home for the night.

Wednesday - At therapy today, Terry got a new therapist. David's contract is up, so now we have Rachel. During therapy, Terry stood 6 times, staying up for 3 minutes on his best attempt. We need to strengthen his legs!

Thursday - We ran a few errands early in the day. Later, Arlyne's family came for dinner. It was a nice visit.

Friday - At W/T today, we took Terry's walker away. Julie stood on one side, and I was on the other. Terry used our arms for support. Julie can get a better idea of how much Terry is using his arms that way. Also, Terry seems to stand taller without the walker. It was pretty nice to be at his side walking. After we came home, I checked the trailers for anything that might freeze, then we spent a little time outside. It was a BEAUTIFUL day!

Saturday- We didn't babysit this morning. Garrett wanted some "Mommy time", so Esteina stayed home with them. We had a lazy morning. Terry had his shower a little later, and afterward I wanted him to try to roll on his side. He worked at it a bit, then did it! For the first time since the accident, he rolled by himself! It felt really good to him, and opens up many possibilities for future improvements is our routine. I really think that over the next few weeks there will be LOTS of advances made. He seems to be right on the verge of so many things. We went out to the track for a visit, then came home for the evening.

Sunday - We had a fairly quiet day today. I baked some cookies to mail to Eric in Iraq, then made to list of what else I wanted to send. I'll pick that up tomorrow after a doctor's appointment in the morning.

Week of October 15, 2007

2007-10-29T09:16:00.000-04:00

Monday - Terry had land therapy again. His sore is healed, but the lift for the pool broke. He did pretty well, but this time when he laid down on his tummy, it was uncomfortable. We'll have to work on that. We went to Mike and Esteina's for dinner. They're going to Las Vegas this weekend (without kids!!!), so we wanted to visit a bit first. We had a nice evening.

Tuesday - We took some of the extra stock back today. We got it all sorted out last week, but hadn't had the time to return it.

Wednesday - At therapy with David today, Terry stood SIX times! Then he did weight-shifting from foot to foot. Then....he took a STEP!!!!! He very deliberately took a step with his right foot, momentarily putting all of his weight on his prosthesis.We were all very pleased! We went to the store for a few items after that, then came home for the evening.

Thursday - Terry stayed in bed for quite a while today while I was working on paperwork, etc. Then we got ready and went to return more stock. We also went to buy more swim trunks for Terry. His are pretty worn. After shopping, we came home for the night.

Friday - We got Terry's power chair today. It's been in the works for quite some time. The one he had was a loaner until his was ready. This one is much like the loaner, just a little better suited to Terry's size and needs. Terry finally had water therapy today. Since he does have his new chair, they took the manual one away. We haven't used the P/C around the pool. We don't want to give it a dunking! We'll just have to be very careful! The last time Terry had water therapy was Sept. 28. That was the first time Julie had him try side-stepping. It didn't go very well the first time. Today when he tried, he did GREAT! It always amazes me how he seems to learn even when he's not practicing. His strength and ability keep improving. Praise God!! We came home after therapy and had a restful evening.

Saturday - Grandma Donna brought the boys this morning. She has them while Mike and Esteina are in Las Vegas. Logan didn't want to stay with us! He was having too much fun with her. He did stay, and we had a good morning. We went to the store after they left, then home for showers, etc.

Sunday - Terry said he felt a "blanket of peace" settle on him this morning. He battles the blues from time to time, remembering all he used to be able to do. Thankfully, God reminds him that there are better days to come. We went to church, then had a quiet day, enjoying a movie together.

Week of October 8, 2007

2007-10-29T09:13:00.000-04:00

Monday - I called to cancel therapy today. The festival was just TOO tiring for both of us. We napped quite a bit today, trying to catch up.

Tuesday - We spent the day sorting out the trailer, emptying freezers, etc. We needed to consolidate all that we had left in order to return whatever possible. Sales were down, so we had a lot to return.

Wednesday - We had therapy today with David (land). It didn't go very well. The week without therapy put Terry behind. He did do table work, though, and David was surprised at Terry's added strength and balance.

Thursday - We called for an appointment. with the hand specialist. We're both somewhat concerned about Terry's hand. We saw the doctor later that day, and he ran a couple of tests. Terry's hand IS improving. The feeling is still not very strong, but better than the last appointment. We left feeling encouraged, thinking it will just take time.

Friday - We had therapy again today, but not in the pool, as is usual. Terry has a sore from the prosthetic, and can't get in the water until it's healed. Jill had him work on the table instead. She had him lean side to side several times, as far over as he could. Then she wanted him to lie down on his side.He did about 75% of that, only needing help in lifting his leg onto the table. It was good progress. We went to the track after that. They're having their biggest race of the year this weekend-- the endurance race. It was PACKED! We stayed for a while, then went home.

Saturday - We babysat this morning, then had a quiet day.

Sunday - We went to church (we're SO glad to be able to do that!), then went out to the track to see the race. It started with 70 CARTS!!! It was pretty interesting to see. We hadn't planned to stay for the whole race, but after running an errand for them, we did see the end. It was a fun day.

Week of October 1, 2007

2007-10-19T08:13:00.000-04:00

This week is the Riley Festival, in celebration of James Whitcomb Riley, the writer. We'll have our trailer there, so there's a LOT to do. Terry didn't have any therapy this week so we could get everything done. We stocked sorted and made everything ready to set the trailer on Wednesday. evening. Jimmy helped several days, and will stay with Terry when I'm working. Thomas pulled the trailer to our spot and helped in the final set-up.
The week was HOT, with several 85-95 degree days (we even broke several records). Many of our family members helped: Mom, Dad, Brad, Debbie, Jen, Liz, Bill, Arlyne, Mandy, and Bobby. There were also some friends: Mark, Beth, Andrea, Sherry, Brad, and Stacia. Terry spent 7-8 hours there each day, visiting with friends and helping to keep track of everything.
I was glad when Sunday evening arrived. We were DONE!!! We had all survived the week, and it went fairly well. Business was down by about a third. The weather was so hot, the people just weren't there during the day. Terry got a chance to see many of the people we've made friends with at the festival. Quite a few hadn't heard about the accident. They were all glad to see he was doing so well, and were very supportive.
I'm done with festivals for the year now!! I can concentrate more fully on helping Terry to get better.

More Therapy Pictures

2007-10-08T18:34:00.000-04:00

Pictures of Terry's Water Therapy

2007-10-08T18:30:00.000-04:00

Week of September 24, 2007

2007-10-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

Mon - We have W/T today. I woke in pain. I've pulled another muscle in my chest. Julie (W/T) told me to sit out. Terry walked the length of the pool and back! His technique isn't good, but that will come with time. Therapy wore him out, and I'm hurting, so we spent the rest of the day at home.
Tue - Amanda is home all day today, so I went alone to pick up some stock. I can fit a lot more in the van. Jimmy and Warren came a little later to move some of the heavy stuff into the trailer, then we quit for the day.
Wed - Terry woke at 3:00 in pain. He woke me at 6:00. He hadn't slept well, and was pretty uncomfortable all morning. He did get a little nap before therapy, but not much. We had therapy with David today. When we got there, David said all of his patients that day had been hurting more. It was a rainy day, and that seems to aggravate injuries. David took Terry to the parallel bars and had him try to stand.We both helped quite a bit. Terry's just not feeling well. He tried his best, though. After therapy, we just went home. Terry needs the rest!
Thur - Terry woke again at 3:00. I'm not sure what the problem is. We'll hope for better nights. Mom came today to help with getting things ready for Riley Days. We got a fair amount done. We babysat for a bit in the evening, then relaxed for the night.
Fri - We both slept well last night. What a difference that makes! At W/T today, Terry walked the length and back, with strength to spare! Then Julie wanted him to try side-stepping. It's pretty hard. Each new task takes some practice. He's doing great, though! His stability and strength keep improving! We went to Sam's again after therapy. Jimmy came for a bit later, to work on the trailer. Then we were done for the night.
Sat - We were up early. Some of our friends from church are coming to do some of the outside work. It's been neglected a lot this year. Terry mentioned that it was bothering him, and Karen organized a work day. We have such good friends, and a great church family!! They worked for about 3 hours, and it looked LOTS better. After they left, we came in for lunch and Terry went to bed. He slept for 2 hours! The morning had worn him out. I worked on the trailer for awhile, then we were done for the day.
Sun - Terry wanted to "wear" his leg to church today. Several people had asked about it and wanted to see it. They also saw a few pics, and Jeffrey downloaded a few to show on the screen at church. We went to W/M afterwards, to get all of the paper goods for the trailer. Then I worked on the trailer for about 2 hours, just cleaning and getting more ready. We finally settled for the evening.

Week of September 17, 2007

2007-10-02T08:56:00.000-04:00

Mon - We had W/T today. Terry walked the length of the pool with his new leg. It's great how well he is controlling the leg. He floated back, then did some kicks at the bar. Very Impressive! After he was dressed, he stood for FOUR minutes!! He just keeps extending his time. Later, we did some stocking for Riley Days (Oct. 4-7).
Tue - Today was fairly quiet, just doing some housework and paperwork.
Wed - We are having land therapy today with Jill and Julie. As it turned out, Julie wasn't there, so it was just Jill. She had Terry stand, trying to put weight on the new leg. He did fairly well, but not as well as on just one leg. The prosthesis throws him off a bit. He stood 3 times, and did some kicks in between. We went to Sam's again, then home for the evening.
Thur - We have dental appointments. today. Later, we had several family members for dinner. We had a nice evening.
Fri - No therapy today, so we worked toward the festival. I cleaned the garage (sort of) and made a list of all of the stock we have on hand, then made a "buy" list. Tony came for a visit and dinner, then we went to the Bread Ladies restaurant for a bit. Tom Sullivan is singing tonight, so we'll enjoy that. It was a nice outing.
Sat - While we babysat today, we went to the back pond to see how it looked. It's VERY dry! I went out a little later to check the front pond. It's low, as well. We are about 8" short of normal rainfall so far this year. We had a quiet evening.
Sun - When we went to church, several of the children took a special interest in Terry. He was telling them about his new leg, and that he's walking some in the pool. He also showed them how FAST his power chair can go. They were duly impressed. The rest of the day was spent just taking it easy.

Week of September 10, 2007

2007-09-17T09:33:00.000-04:00

Mon.We had W/T today. Terry did well in the pool, then Julie wanted to try standing. I stood on one side and Julie on the other. Terry had a walker. Then he STOOD. It only lasted a few seconds, but it's a start. He tried it twice, then was worn out. Later, we went out to dinner to celebrate. It was a good day!

Tue. Terry had an appointment. with Dr. Mobasser (the neurosurgeon) today. The doctor was AMAZED (his word) with Terry's progress. He said again that he never thought Terry would walk. What a great testament to God's work! After all of the running around, we came home to relax.

Wed. At W/T today, Terry stood for a minute and a half. He was MUCH steadier today. It always surprises me how much he improves in such a short time. At O/T later, Kelly said this was Terry's last visit. Without improvement, insurance won't let her continue. Later, we went to the track for a bit, then home.

Thu. We finally get Terry's leg today!! We got thereby about 11:00. They fitted the liner to Terry's leg, the brought the prosthesis in and showed us how it goes on and works. We stood Terry up for a proper fit (it was a little long), then he adjusted it some. Terry didn't leave it on , we just brought it home. We'll only use it for W/T to start with.

Fri. W/T today, with the new leg! We got there and put the leg on while in the lift (Terry doesn't want to try transfers with it on yet). He stood with it on for a bit, then tried to walk. The therapist was impressed! Although the leg WANTED to float, Terry controlled it pretty well. He did some kicks at the bar, also, and did very well. I took off the prosthesis after he got out, then we dressed. Julie wanted him to stand again. He stood for three minutes this time. He's always improving!

Sat. We babysat this morning, then Esteina came and cleaned our family room carpet. She had done her house in the AM while we watched the boys. She's such a help! We ran a couple of errands while it dried, then came home for the night.

Sun. We went to church this morning, then home. Jimmy came and we worked in the trailer. We need to get it ready for Riley Days. I'm sure trailer work will be an on-going task for the next 2 weeks. We relaxed for the rest of the evening.

Week of September 3, 2007

2007-09-17T09:32:00.000-04:00

Mon. I woke early to get Terry ready for the pond. He was surprised and pleased with the idea. When we got there he enjoyed the peace found in nature. It was very refreshing. We scared up 2 deer and saw a heron. Beautiful!! After we came back up, we had a 2 hour nap. Later in the day, Tim Settles came for a visit. He was at the accident site and saved Terry's life. Terry's been wanting to thank him in person. It was GREAT to see him. Finally, Arlyne hosted a party for Eric. He's home for a few days and then will go to Iraq with his Marine unit on Sept. 28. Our prayers and love go with him.

Tue.We worked on stocking the trailer in preparation for the festival this weekend.

Wed.We had W/T this morning. Terry did quite well, showing more strength and proficiency all the time. At O/T, Kelly said she's not seeing much improvement. Terry seems to hit plateaus every now and then, finally getting past them with time. I had another chiropractic appointment. later. We went home after that.

Thu. We had to run another errand to stock the trailer this morning. Then I worked to finish up on all I could before Jimmy came to help with the heavy stuff. When all was ready, we relaxed for a little while, then Herb came to pull and set the trailer for us. Terry and I led in the van. We went to Pendleton and got all ready for tomorrow. Andrea came to help me, and Grant was a big help, too.

Fri. The festival started today. Jimmy stayed with Terry while I went to work. It was a decent day until about 4:30, then it poured. That cleared all of the people out, so I closed and went home early.

Sat. After an early(6:00 AM) morning, I went back to Pendleton. Beth is my best helper at these festivals. We had a fairly busy morning, then got SWAMPED from about 12:00 - 4:30. It started raining again about that time, which sent everyone running. Again, we closed early.

Sun. Our church is having a special weekend, a kick-off for Zeteo (translation- to seek God), so we are having a longer service today. Terry went with me, and then will go to Pendleton for the day. The service was wonderful! We had a mini-concert and some testimonies in addition to worship and the GREAT sermon! After church, we had a pretty good day at Pendleton, with Terry catching up with friends. Then we closed and packed everything away for the ride home. Tony came to pull it back. He did all of the outside work with Terry's direction. After we got home it was relax time. It's been a LONG weekend!

Week of August 27, 2007

2007-09-17T09:29:00.000-04:00

Mon. We saw Dr. Sigua about the pelvic pain. He thinks it has to do with the back injuries and healing. We have an appointment. with the neurosurgeon on the 11th. After the appointment., we had W/T. Morey and Jo came to watch and I had Jo take some pics. They turned out well, Terry showing off his abilities with the walker. When we got home, they delivered a loaner power chair. It's a lot like the one they've ordered for Terry.He's looking forward to using it.

Tue. I woke in pain. I've pulled a muscle in my chest. Beth was supposed to come to work on the trailer, but I'm not up to it. We took it fairly easy today, trying to let me heal.

Wed. In W/T today Terry seemed more energetic and stronger. He's always improving! We had O/T a little later. Everywhere we go, we're talking about Terry's first leg. He's supposed to get it tomorrow. We can't wait!

Thu. Today's a BIG DAY!!! Terry has an appointment. for a Botox evaluation, then to get his leg. At the evaluation. we found that it wouldn't work for Terry. He'll just have to work that hand. Afterward, I got a message that the knee for Terry's leg hadn't come in, so the leg wasn't ready. We'll just have to be patient. I took Terry home, then left for a chiropractor appointment. We had a quiet evening after that.

Fri.At W/T today, Julie said she'd like to try standing Terry again. It had been tried before (with David at P/T), with little success.She told Terry to be planning on a try after next week. We had another doctor appointment. after that, then came home for an early night.

Sat. We had the boys in the morning, then showers,etc. Mom's having a party for Josh tonight. He's home for a few days, then will leave for Iraq with his Marine unit on the 14th.The family all gathered to pray with him and send our love with him.

Sun. We went to church, then had a quiet day at home. Warren came over later and I had him try riding Terry's chair to the pond. It went well. Terry's turn tomorrow!

Week of August 20, 2007

2007-09-16T20:57:00.001-04:00

Mon. W/T today. Terry was much stronger! The improvement is wonderful to see.God is so faithful in healing Terry! We had Mike & Logan for dinner tonight. Esteina and Garrett are on their way to see the Wiggles in Evansville, so they joined us. Terry went to sleep by about 9:00. The workouts through the day are hard on him.
Tue. We had W/T again today. Terry is having a lot of pelvic pain (STILL!), so it's amazing how much he can do through all of the pain. We spent the rest of the day at home.
Wed. We had some errands to run today. It's still surprising how long it takes to get ready to go anywhere. We got out at 11:00. After our errands, I dropped Terry at O/T. That's for his left hand. I ran home to drop off groceries, then went back to the hospital. We had a fairly quiet day after that.
Thu. I get to spend the day at Mom's!! I've arranged for Jimmy to stay with Terry, and I'm surprising Mom by going to her house. She was thrilled to see me! We went shopping, and just played the day away.It was a great break for me. I came home by 6:00, and made dinner, etc. We had a slightly busier evening, trying to address pain in Terry's shoulders, and taking care of other things.
Fri. Terry had W/T today. It went well. When we got back home, the house was 81 degrees! We called Grant right away, but he's out of town. He'll send a friend after work. In the meantime, we did all we could to stay cool. His friend came and fixed it, but by then the house was at 85 degrees. It finally was down to 77 by the time I went to bed.
Sat. We watched the boys today. I'd purchased a little pool for them while I was with Mom. They had LOTS of fun playing in it!!! After they went home, we had showers etc. to get ready for church tomorrow, then settled in for the night.
Sun. We went to church, then went to the go-cart track to visit with friends and family. We enjoyed the day.

Week of August 13, 2007

2007-08-21T09:02:00.000-04:00

Mon. It was hard to get up today. Not enough sleep. Unfortunately, that made therapy extra hard and not as effective. We'll have to schedule our rough nights better!!(ha-ha) We ran some errands, then came home. We had Rylee overnight for a visit before school.
Tue. Rylee went to therapy with us and played in the pool. Terry also had an appt. to find out about the pelvic pain(no relief yet). I had an appt. for my skin. It cleared well, but now seems to be falling back (it's a matter of time and patience). We came home and spent the afternoon with Rylee.
Wed. Today was tax day. SPRING property taxes, that is. We took care of that, then went to therapy. We had showers, etc. in the evening, making it a late night.
Thu. We see the prosthetic doctor again today. He took a cast of Terry's leg, and said the prosthetic should be ready in TWO weeks! They'll order a water-proof knee, and make the rest. We're excited!! The next stop was Methodist. I intentionally planned extra time so I could show Terry around a bit. We saw several people that knew him, and they were AMAZED at his progress! We need reminders like that. We saw Dr. Maar, and he was pleased with Terry's improvement as well. He doesn't need to see Terry for 6 months. After that appt., we headed for home. LONG day!
Fri. W/T again today. Terry is STILL having the pelvic pain. We keep praying for the answer. He DID feel his hamstring stretching. Praise God! That means feeling in his thigh IS coming. We went home after therapy, to do still more paperwork.
Sat. We babysat again, then had a fairly quiet evening.
Sun. After church, I had a TWO-HOUR nap. It was wonderful! We had a fairly easy day planned anyway, but I took it to extremes. It was nice to relax!

Week of August 6, 2007

2007-08-20T08:05:00.000-04:00

Mon.I had a lot to get ready before therapy, then we left. At W/T they had Terry work on technique (they're getting PICKY!!!). He did WELL!! Then, as a grand finale, they wanted him to stand without the walker!! With me on one side, and the therapist on the other, HE DID IT!!! As a reward, I kissed him while he was standing STRAIGHT up! He was using our hands for balance, but it was a glimpse of the (CLOSE) future.We had an appt. with the prosthetics next. The therapists feel it may be time for that leg. They'd like to see him be able to use it in W/T. We ALL think it would be good for him to learn and strengthen in the water, then move onto land with the leg. Mr. Rogers (they're not doctors) agreed, and gave Terry two stump-shrinkers. He's supposed to wear them all of the time. We made an appt. for next week. After we got home, we had a quiet evening. It's been a LONG day!!
Tue. At W/T today, Julie wanted Terry to try to use his HANDS on the bar, instead of his arms. It's difficult since he doesn't have the mobility in his left hand, but he tries. We had Arlyne and Thomas for dinner. They're kid-less since the kids are at Aunt Jeannine's, so it was a quieter evening. Warren came, too.
Wed. We had O/T today, then went to Sam's. Mike, Esteina, and the boys came for dinner. We had a nice day.
Thu. Mom came again today. With her as taskmaster, we had three bags of trash, three boxes of books, and FIVE bags for Goodwill! We really made a BIG difference! It definitely helps to have her here keeping me on track! After she left, we ran a couple of errands.
Fri. Terry's having a lot of pain in his pelvis(2-3 days now). We're not sure if he may have a bladder infection or what it may be. We plan to get it checked. We have W/T today, too. At W/T, Julie took the armrests off of the walker. She REALLY wants Terry to use that hand. It was very difficult(and painful!!), but he tried. We had O/T after lunch. Kelly(therapist) says Terry only needs to see her once a week. With all of the tools he has at home, he can do therapy without her.The schedule just keeps changing!! Terry hurt pretty badly after therapy, so we came home to rest for the evening.
Sat.We babysat this morning again, then went to a triple birthday party for Seth, Levi, and Lydia. All of their birthdays are in August, so they celebrate together. We enjoyed seeing them. We don't get to see them as often as many of the other grandchildren. We ran a couple of errands, then came home for the evening.
Sun. We had a guest preacher today. Our pastor had neck surgery this past week. He's doing great, praise God! After church, we stopped by Arlyne's and they graciously fed us breakfast. We enjoyed the visit! We came home and had a nap TOGETHER in our bed! We don't often get to do that since Terry needs the mobility of a hospital bed, but it's GREAT for a short time. I look forward to the day we can get rid of that hospital bed! Terry's still having a lot of pain in his pelvis. I hope we find a solution soon. We ended up staying up until about 2:30 AM, just talking over things and trying to focus on the need to lean on God. It was a long night, but very needed at this moment.

Week of July 30, 2007

2007-08-20T08:04:00.001-04:00

Mon. We skipped therapy today. We MUST find a van. We had a doctor appt. first, then went looking. We found a GREAT van. It's a mini-van, with only 39,000 miles on it.It was pricier than we really wanted, but mobility vans don't come cheap. This one should last a long time, without big problems. We drove it home tonight, and will finalize everything tomorrow. I'm having MAJOR skin trouble, too, but there's little time to deal with it right now. Soon, I hope.
Tue. We had W/T with Jill again. She said there was 150% improvement. Terry sees a challenge and works to meet it!! God gave him so much determination! After therapy, we went to the bank, then to finalize arrangements on the van. We noticed a couple of small glitches, which will be taken care of Thu. I'm pretty miserable with itching,etc., so I'll call tomorrow to try to take care of that.
Wed. I called and saw the Dr. early this AM (Mandy stayed with Dad).I'm apparently having an allergic reaction to something. To get past this "storm", she gave me Prednisone. I hope it works! We had O/T and P/T later. David(P/T) said they all thought we should change our schedule so that we have three days of W/T, and the other two days of O/T. W/T seems to be the most effective right now.We won't have P/T at all for awhile.
Thu. The Prednisone has me WIRED! I hope it also clears my skin. Mom came again today. We got a fair amount done. Unfortunately, there was an accident on I-70 that caused traffic in town to be totally tied up, and it took Mom two and a half times as long to get home as usual!!! She handled it well, though, praying for those in the accident, and just taking it easy.
Jimmy took the van for it's small repair problems. They gave him a loaner car and said they'd call when it was ready. Unfortunately, it wasn't ready that night, so we're out a van until it's done.
Fri. I was awake, itching, until 4:30 AM. I called and found there were some things I could take to relieve that.
I also called Senior Services to arrange transport to W/T. I hate to miss ANY therapy. Later, we found out we wouldn't have the van until SAT.!!! Another day spent waiting....
Sat.We babysat again. Also, my skin IS clearing. PRAISE GOD!!! I'm not sure I could have stood it much longer. We ran some errands after we got the van back, then had showers, etc. to get ready for tomorrow.
Sun. Mark asked me to tell of my encounter with God(or one of them) at church today. That's what he's currently preaching about. He also asked Terry to do the morning prayer. We prayed that God would give us His words and use it all for His glory. All went well, and our nerves didn't show. We got a nap after church, then I cooked a roast on the grill for dinner. YUM!!!

Week of July 23, 2007

2007-08-20T08:02:00.000-04:00

Mon. We had water therapy today. The therapists are taking turns so far with Terry, so they see a lot of improvement. This is VERY encouraging to us!
Tue. They had Terry use the walker in W/T again today. It has special arm-rests, so Terry's using the strength in his upper arms. He walked the length of the pool today!After therapy, we couldn't get the van to start. I had to get us home, as well as arranging a tow. Thankfully, Senior Services took care of the ride. The whole thing is discouraging, though. Our mechanic delivered it, ready to go a little later. We wanted to go look at other vans. When we made a short stop, it was hard to start, AGAIN!!! It will have to go back in. Unfortunately, it had to be towed AGAIN!!! We'll have to arrange that in the Morning. HARD day!!
Wed. We had the van towed, then were stuck home. We had hoped to help with the NCMP Race for Riley.
Best laid plans.......
Thu. Mom came today. She's offered her Thursdays to help me organize. It seems I'm having trouble finding my house under all of the STUFF!!! We worked for several hours, while I was right here to help Terry.We did get a good start on things. We got the van back, but I don't trust it much. We'll be praying for guidance.
Fri. In W/T today, Terry walked the length of the pool and back! Then he immediately "swam/floated" the length and back. His strength and endurance are improving! We had O/T (hand) after lunch.
Sat. Babysitting again.Yeah! It's so nice to get back into that a little. We've missed that closeness. Arlyne and family came for dinner.
Sun. At church, a good friend offered to be at my service on Fridays. I've had so MANY offers of help in different ways, I'm VERY blessed! I haven't figured out how to use all of the offers, but one day soon, I'm going to try.

Week of July 16, 2007

2007-08-19T21:33:00.001-04:00

Mon. At therapy today, David had Terry transfer to the table by himself, scoot around it, and transfer back into his chair. It's amazing to see Terry's progress in just 4 days. He did the whole process in just 20 minutes! Tue. We went to see the hand specialist today. He wants Terry to WORK that hand. He also scheduled a nerve test(EMG) to measure Terry's injuries.At therapy, Terry got a new splint to try to bend his wrist backwards. He can't bend it back right now, limiting his function. At water therapy, they were impressed with his progress. Wed. We made more festival purchases and preparations. I'm getting a little nervous about the festival. Thu.Beth and Jeffrey came this morning to help with final preparations for the festival. They stayed for a few hours, then had to leave. I kept working, and finally stopped around 7:00 PM. I'll do the rest in the morning. Fri. It's festival day! Since there were a couple of people here to help for the festival, Terry felt safe to try transferring to his chair(with watchers).He did GREAT !!! He went to the festival to help in the set-up. It was good to have him there, keeping track of many facets of the operation that I had forgotten. He stayed until about 6:30, then Tony took him home.Tony and Grant were SO much help!! It was a fairly busy evening, though. I missed Terry's experience! Sat.We had a long day planned! I got up at 6:30 to be there by 8:00. Jimmy is going to stay with Terry, with various other family coming later. We had plenty of people to help at the festival, but not much business for HOURS. Finally, around 6:30, we began to get busy. We kept hopping after that. Fortunately, I have several family members to help me, too, as well as a couple of GOOD workers. It went well, and I was home by 11:00. Sun. There's a community church service at the festival today. Terry is going with me to that, and to spend the day. There was a radio station there(88.1), and they wanted to interview Terry, so we did that. The business was fairly slow, so our workers handled it while I was busy with Terry. When it came time to shut down, again Terry was invaluable help! There are so MANY things I don't think of!! I thank God for Terry's clear mind OFTEN!!!! We got loaded up and came home. Thomas pulled the trailer.

Week of July 9

2007-08-19T21:30:00.000-04:00

Mon. David wanted Terry to try balancing on a Therapy Ball. It was pretty shaky at first, but pretty good.
Tue. Terry FINALLY HAS HIS FIRST WATER THERAPY TODAY!!! They lowered him with a lift into the water. Then she had him do some sitting leg exercises. Next came the HARD part. She took him over to a chest-high bar. He was to stand up beside it. Locking his right knee was VERY difficult! Although the right calf and foot are very active, Terry doesn't yet have feeling in his thighs.With WORK, he was able to do it, though. Balancing is quite a chore. This is fair week. We've seen several grandchildren competing, and they've all done well. We spent the evening there tonight.
Wed. Today at therapy, David wanted to see how much Terry could do toward transferring himself. He worked, and worked, and WORKED and TRANSFERRED HIMSELF!!!!!! We all felt like it was party time! To see him do that was like watching a miracle unfold. Later in the day, Arlyne brought him a power wheelchair that her friend wanted him to have. It belonged to her friends' mother, and she had recently passed away.We got Terry in it, and he was VERY pleased to have the mobility! It was great to see him move around on his own. It is a little small, but maybe he'll adjust.
Thu. We went to the store with Terry in the power chair. It was nice to have him move on his own. It's a lot more awkward than many people realize to try and shop while pushing him and pulling a cart.
Fri. While we were at therapy today, David suggested we change the schedule so we have water therapy 3 times a week, and land therapy only 2. Terry will probably progress much faster in water right now, so we'll try that for a while. David also had him transfer to the table by himself and then try to scoot around the perimeter of the table(slightly bigger than a king-sized bed). Terry was up to the challenge! It's hard to watch how difficult things are for him to accomplish, but gratifying to see his determination!
Sat. We babysat for Garrett and Logan for the first time today. It was great to start that again, we've missed those times. Another first! Terry shaved with his safety razor for the first time since the accident! He's been using an electric, but with his full beard, it's not very effective. We went to Lapel for a while this evening. Their festival is this weekend, and we can't work there, but we wanted to visit. We enjoyed a couple of hours there, visiting with many friends.
Sun. We went to church this morning, then came home. Thomas and Chase are coming to help prepare the trailer for a festival next week. We worked for a few hours, then they went home. Terry and I went to their house for dinner and swimming later. It was GREAT!!!

Various pictures of Terry after he has come home

2007-07-19T20:45:00.001-04:00

Pictures from Terry's First Day Home

2007-07-19T20:38:00.001-04:00

Week of July 2, 2007

2007-07-19T19:07:00.000-04:00

Monday was therapy day. They worked on Terry's balance and some leg exercises. Lynn can see that he has made MAJOR improvements but she is anxious for him to move more. They had some trouble with the lift again. They called Ted (friend) and he said to see how it goes for a while (then let him know).
Tuesday and Thursday were cleaning the trailer days. Lynn got Terry settled before Beth (friend) came over to help her clean it. Lynn will be going to the festival in Fortville on July 20-22.
Thursday AHHE brought a power wheelchair for Terry to try. It was too tall for the van entry (but it can be adjusted).
Friday was therapy day. The therapists did some evaluations on Terry for improvement. They didn't find too much improvement but Lynn sees it differently - attitude, determination, gratitude, and pain level. After therapy, they picked up Taco Bell and went to the county fairgrounds. Chase, Wyatt, and Rylee (grandkids) were showing their ponies at the county fair. While at the horse show, the announcer mentioned that Terry was there and welcomed him. They were able to watch the kids perform in two events. Then they left as Terry was uncomfortable (he had been in wheelchair for about 10 hours). They enjoyed watching the kids.
Saturday was a Fourth of July party at Lynn's moms house. They had a really good time visiting with family. They made a short stop at home before leaving again to go to Esteina's (DIL) parents house for a fireworks display. They had dinner and visited with friends before the FANTASTIC fireworks show. By the time they got home, Terry was worn out and hurting.
Sunday was a quiet and relaxing day spent at church, short trip to Walmart, and home (after a very full weekend).

Week of June 25, 2007

2007-07-19T18:27:00.000-04:00

Terry works with one therapist for his hand - stretching and bending left arm, elbow, and shoulder. The main focus is the left hand but all of his upper body needs attention.
His other therapist is working on his balance and strengthening his lower body. They talked about the best way to use the therapy time. They are all working toward the same goal - Terry walking - so any ideas are appreciated.
Terry's shoulder is healed so they will be scheduling his first aqua therapy session.
Tuesday they went to New Castle - visited the nursing home he stayed at and went to Michael's (son) work.
Wednesday at therapy, the therapist gave them some more tools and wraps for Terry to use on his fingers throughout the day. (Some days Terry is pretty aggressive with his therapy on his own but other times Lynn has to push him.)
The other therapist put him on the tilt table again. He also hooked up some electrodes to Terry's right thigh (those muscles seem to be lagging behind the others). It took a while but he finally got some results.
Thursday Terry was a little depressed but Lynn reminded him that they needed to count their blessings. They worked on some exercises to chase away his blues.
Friday Terry had another shower. Ted (friend from church) picked up the van.
Saturday they worked on some therapy at home since the van was with Ted. They stopped for lunch and a nap. After the nap, Ted called and said he was done with the van. When they got it back, they ran a few errands. Terry took another shower when they got home.
Sunday Terry planned for Lynn to go shopping with a friend - Helen. She had a really good time and bought some new stuff for the bathroom. When she got home, they went to visit Michael (son) at his work. Later that night, she decorated the bathroom with the new items she bought.

Week of June 18, 2007

2007-07-19T18:13:00.000-04:00

They are working on getting a power wheelchair for Terry.
Ted (friend from church) came to look at van. He said it doesn't need to much work, and he would do it on June 30.
Terry went to the eye doctor. His vision has changed and he will be getting new glasses.
They are still waiting on the aqua therapy until a sore on Terry's should has healed completely.
Terry received a new brace for his arm. It bends a couple of fingers more (they seem to be lagging behind the others). Terry really is a challenge for his therapists, but they keep coming up with fresh ideas. On Friday, the therapist put Terry on a tilt table. They strapped Terry to the table and then stood him up. He was standing and bearing weight on his right leg. It was GREAT!! He was "standing" for about thirty minutes. It was great to be able to get off his bottom and just change his perspective for a while.
Terry go another shower on Saturday. It is getting easier every time he has one, and he enjoys it.

Week of June 11, 2007

2007-06-24T21:47:00.000-04:00

Terry had a EMG (nerve test) on Monday. The doctor looked at Terry's left hand (it has drawn up in a claw). The doctor hooked Terry up to several lead lines & "shocked" him. The doctor moved the lines several times, as well as sticking needles in and shocking him. It was unfortunately painful, but the news was GREAT! All of the nerve impulses are working. There is of course some damage, but with time and therapy it will heal. After the doctor visit, they went to visit with Terry's uncle & aunt - Jimmy & Shirley. After the visit, they went to his therapy session.

Tuesday Terry had a power wheelchair evaluation. The doctor gave them a RX for the wheelchair. There was suppose to be a 5 page questionnaire for insurance but the doctor had not received it. Lynn contact AHHE to see what they should do. AHHE is contacting the doctor and working on it for her. They will have to wait and see what happens now.

Wednesday - Terry got a haircut and went to therapy today. Jimmy (son) dropped the van off at the shop to be worked checked out.

Thursday - Quiet day. Received news that the van had several problems - they are wondering if the shop is just telling them that to get more work. A friend from church will look at it more and possibly he can fix it.

Friday - Terry had PT & OT today. The sessions are going very well and there are improvements daily.

Saturday - They babysat Garrett and Logan (grandsons). Esteina (D-I-L) had to work. Amanda (daughter) & Curtis came over with Kenzie & Ava (Curtis' daughters). Amanda left to go to work but everyone else stayed. Curtis was a great help watching kids while Lynn did stuff with Terry. They enjoyed seeing and playing with the boys. Later on Tony (son) and his kids (Seth, Levi, & Lydia) cam over for a visit. Terry got his first shower at home (the bathroom is almost done). It was great to finally be able to shower in the new bathroom. This was the most relaxing shower yet.

Sunday - They went to Mt Comfort United Methodist Church (their old church). Terry wanted to go there and thank them (several people there sent cards, prayers, etc). When they arrived they were greeted by a few old friends. It was nice to see familiar faces from so long ago (they left there in 1989 to help plant the church they attend now). Everyone in the church had been praying for them. Terry wanted to show them the VISIBLE proof of God's care and healing. He spoke for 3-5 minutes recounting some of the less-know miracles. Later on that day, Eric (grandson) came over. He is back for a visit from the Marines. He will go back for more training, then he will be deployed to Iraq (they also have a nephew - Josh - who will be deployed about the same time). Terry had another visitor - Guy (friend) who was up from SC for the Formula One race.

Week of June 4, 2007

2007-06-24T21:25:00.000-04:00

Terry went for his PT/OT evaluations at HMH. After seeing the therapists, it was decided that Terry would go M-W-F from 3 to 5 for several weeks. Lynn hopes they will be able to add water therapy soon (T-Th). Terry's pain level is so far down that he is able to do so much more. They are adjusting to the new routine as well. They are learning their limits (and pushing them a little each day) and progressing all the time. They spent time working on getting Terry in and out of the shower chair. They had a few snags, but finally realized that the manual lift and sling are the way to go with the shower chair. They made a few trips to Walmart this week and a trip to New Castle Motorsports Park (go-cart track where Michael-son works) and Sams Club. They also went to watch the horse show at the fairgrounds in Greenfield. Arlyne (daughter) and grand kids (Chase, Wyatt, and Rylee) were showing. Terry and Lynn watched the egg race, pole bending, flags, and some of the barrels. This brought back a lot of memories - Terry used to show at open horse shows with Arlyne and Amanda (daughters). On Sunday, they went to church again. It is wonderful for them to be able to join in fellowship with other Christians. The van lift is having some problems, so a couple of friends at church looked at it. They will take it in for service next week. They stopped at Walmart and CVS after church to pick up some things. After they took their stuff home, they went to Arlyne and Thomas' house for swimming and dinner. Lynn got to enjoy some pool time with Rylee (granddaughter). After dinner the grand kids all got on their ponies and practiced barrels, poles, and flags in the riding arena. Terry and Lynn had a very busy week. They enjoy going out and getting around - the van is the greatest thing.

Week of May 28, 2007

2007-06-11T08:07:00.000-04:00

This blog will now be updating on a weekly basis. Terry had visitors and therapy this week. He had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday with a hand specialist. X-rays were taken when they got there. The doctor measured all of Terry's hand, wrist, and finger-bending abilities. The doctor wants Terry to have an EMG test as a baseline (Lynn believes it measures nerve function). That test is scheduled for June 11. In the meantime the doctor has order aggressive hand therapy for which Terry will need to go to Hancock Memorial for out-patient therapy - starts Monday June 4. They come back to the doctor in 6 weeks.

The bathroom remodeling is going well. The tile will be laid this week. The tile was completed this week. It looks great - there is some around the bath tub, in front of the shower, and of course the floor. The plumber also came and finished all of his work, so they will be able to use it starting on Sunday. The trim man came and measured for all the trim. There is still plenty left to do but it should be completed within a week or so.

Terry had an appointment with his pain management doctor. He was very pleased with how GOOD Terry looked. The doctor adjusted a couple of Terry's medications. Hopefully this will help several areas. Terry is healing more in his nerves, so there is more discomfort rather than pain (which is DECREASING with healing). Terry is cutting down on the pain medication and increasing the dose on a medicine that helps with the effects of nerve regrowth (tingling, numbness, burning). Hopefully in a few days they will see improvement.

Terry got a trapeze bar to work on some therapy at home. Lynn is anxious to see his improvement with this additional tool.

They went to church again - it is so GREAT for them to be able to go to church. They picked up Chase (grandson) and took him to church with them. It was a good week.

Day - 103 May 27, 2007 Sunday

2007-06-11T07:58:00.000-04:00

They went to CHURCH today. It has been such a long time and they are really ready to be there. When they got to church there were balloons in the foyer, and everyone clapped for Terry. The kids at the church daycare made a sign - "Welcome Back Mr. Terry!". It was almost like coming home for them. Terry said a few words during the service - thanking everyone for their prayers and generosity throughout the last 3 1/2 months. He told them he knew it was only by God's grace that he was alive, and that God had been carrying him the whole time. The service was great and they are looking forward to many more.

After church they went over to Mark & Donna's (Esteina's parents) for a visit. While there Terry started feeling uncomfortable, so they took him out of his wheelchair and sat him on the couch. He REALLY enjoyed that. The had a very good time - it was a relaxing change from home. Esteina (DIL) took care of Terry, while Lynn looked after Garrett and Logan (grandsons). They headed home around 6 and had a quiet evening.

Day - 102 May 26, 2007 Saturday

2007-06-11T07:55:00.000-04:00

No big plans for the day. Esteina (DIL), Garrett, and Logan (grandsons) came over to visit. The boys love riding their toys down Terry's ramps into the house. They all went to Taco Bell for lunch. After that they made a Walmart stop. They had a really good day. It is a early night - tomorrow is Terry's first day back at church.

Day 101 - May 25, 2007 Friday

2007-05-28T13:09:00.000-04:00

Terry had a good night. They slept for seven hours - only waking once for about 5 minutes. It is so much more restful when they can do that. The PT/OT therapists came today. There was also another evaluation - the visiting nurse felt like she really wasn't necessary. Someone came to assess that. It was decided that she would no longer come since Terry is medically healthy. Lynn can always call with any concerns if needed. Arlyne (daughter) and family came for dinner. They always enjoy visitors. It is great for them to spend time with family and friends at HOME! The rest of the evening was quiet - just enjoying time together.

Day 100 - May 24, 2007 Thursday

2007-05-28T13:01:00.000-04:00

Terry and Lynn slept until 7:30 am today. There isn't any therapy scheduled for today, so they will exercise on their own. They are going out today - Lynn needs an allergy shot. They will also go to Walmart to do some shopping. Jimmy (son) to the van to have the tie-down straps installed. He got back around 12:30 pm. He helped Lynn get Terry in his wheelchair. Then Lynn got herself ready to go. They started loading Terry in the van around 1:20 pm and were on their way. They arrived at the doctor early, so they had to wait a few minutes. Once they were done at the doctor's office, they headed to Walmart. They shopped for quite a while, Lynn pushing Terry and pulling the grocery cart. It went fairly smoothly but was tiring for both of them. They arrived back home around 4:30 pm. She got Terry out of the van and started unloaded groceries. She called Curtis (Amanda's boyfriend) to help get Terry back in bed. (She looks forward to when they won't have to rely on other people to help - they can go it themselves.) It had been a LONG afternoon, so they had a fairly quiet evening. A few visitors stopped by to visit.

Day 99 - May 23, 2007 Wednesday

2007-05-28T12:59:00.000-04:00

Terry felt pretty good today. The nurse and the therapist came, and they exercised as well. It was warm outside, so they spent some time on the front porch. It is very NICE for them to be home!

Day 98 - May 22, 2007 Tuesday

2007-05-28T12:51:00.000-04:00

Terry has an appointment with the neurosurgeon today. He still wasn't feeling well, so Lynn tried to see about changing his appointment (that was not possible). She found out the appointment was an hour earlier than she thought, too. They had to hurry to get ready to go. A Hancock County Senior Services van picked them up at 9 am. First Terry had X-rays, then he saw the doctor. The doctor said everything looked good. He asked Terry to move his knee. Terry said he wasn't strong enough but did move his foot quite a bit. The doctor was very pleased. After surgery in February, the doctor did not think Terry would be able to move his legs. He thought Terry would be paralyzed - GOD IS SO GOOD! His miracles in Terry's body are evident every day. The doctor said Terry didn't need his back brace (turtle shell) any more, and that he is released for weight-bearing activity as tolerated. Now the REAL work begins!! They got home around 1 pm, and the rest of the day was fairly quiet.

Day 91 - May 21, 2007 Monday

2007-05-28T12:49:00.000-04:00

Terry wasn't feeling very well today. They cancelled the therapy session that was planned and asked for no visitors. It was a LONG day. He didn't really improve the rest of the day. It was a rough night, too.

Day 96 - May 20, 2007 Sunday

2007-05-28T12:43:00.000-04:00

Terry and Lynn have quit setting the alarm for his 4 am pain pills. If he is up and asks for them, he gets them. Otherwise he doesn't get them until he wakes up. They bought some straps to tie Terry down in the van - it is Garrett's birthday party today. They go to NCMP (New Castle Motorsports Park) where the party is being held. Several people introduce themselves to Terry (they heard about his story on NCMP's website). They were all very impressed with him. They stayed for about two hours. They showed several people the van. One generous friend offered to pay a third of the cost for the van. Lynn and Terry continue to be overwhelmed by the caring and blessings that come their way. After getting home, it was a quiet evening.

Day 95 - May 19, 2007 Saturday

2007-05-28T12:39:00.000-04:00

They are having the van delivered today. They are very excited about being more mobile. Lynn's mom and dad came for a visit today and brought her aunt and uncle (Liz & Bill). They enjoyed some time outside in the sunshine. Bobby (son) and Patty (girlfriend) also showed up. They all enjoyed a nice dinner together. The van didn't arrive until 10:30 pm. They decided not to go to church since the tie-downs still need to be installed. They had a very peaceful night.

Day 94 - May 18, 2007 Friday

2007-05-28T12:34:00.001-04:00

The OT therapist came today to do her evaluation on Terry. She wanted to set goals and find out what his most pressing goal is. She is going to work on his functional gains with his hands as well as transfers to improve his mobility. The people brought the van by around 11 am. It looks good. It doesn't have tie-downs in the back (the driver was the one in the wheelchair). They will need to get them installed. They will get the van tomorrow and possibly go to church on Sunday. It was a good day. They had several visitors and went outside. They enjoyed being together at home.

Day 93 - May 17, 2007 Thursday

2007-05-28T12:27:00.000-04:00

Terry is having an evaluation by the home care lady today. Also Lynn will be contacting AHHE to get a new bed. It will be delivered in the afternoon. Lynn is training everyone (family and friends) on transfers with Terry, so whoever is around can help. The transfers are getting easier for Terry (his healing continues). Lynn also called about a van they are interested in buying - it has a wheelchair lift. The people are bringing it by tomorrow. The home care lady did her evaluation. It was decided that the nurse would come twice the first week, then she would only come once a week. PT will come twice a week and OT three times a week. The new bed was delivered - Lynn was very pleased with it. The evening was much better.

Day 92 - May 16, 2007 Wednesday

2007-05-28T12:16:00.000-04:00

When Lynn got home last night the ramps were installed (by their church). They looked great and are ready for the big day today. Terry is coming home. He had his last breakfast at HH, and then got ready to leave. They went outside for a little while; the van (from Hancock Senior Services) won't be there to pick Terry up until around 1 pm. They have been saying their goodbye's to the staff for the last two days. All of the staff wanted to be scheduled for today, so they could see Terry off and wish them well. HH had family members and friends of the residents write notes on why the resident was so special to them. Terry received his "treasure chest" today before he left. They made their final rounds saying goodbye and ended up in the dining room. It was after 1 pm but the van wasn't here yet. Lynn called and checked. It was on the way just running a little behind. The van arrived around 1:30. Terry was loaded up and Lynn followed. She took several pictures of the homecoming. Jimmy (son) was waiting at the house. Terry had a quick tour of the bathroom (still being remodeled) and then got it bed. All the excitement had wore him out. He wanted some of his Valentine's Day pie (Lynn made a cherry pie for him and kept it frozen). After moving him around a few times, Lynn decided that the bed was too soft. It was very difficult to move him around. It was a difficult night. They didn't get much sleep.

Easter Sunday Picture of Terry and Lynn

2007-05-21T15:08:00.001-04:00

Here is a picture of Lynn & Terry from Easter. Sorry for the delay - this picture was on Amanda's (daughter) camera - and the camera was lost for a while.

Day 91 - May 15, 2007 Tuesday

2007-05-21T14:39:00.000-04:00

Jimmy (son) went to HH this morning, while Lynn was at home for the equipment delivery. The lift and bedside commode were delivered. The commode had to be returned because it didn't have enough support and it needed wheels (they want it to double as a shower chair). The mattress pad also arrived. It is a pad that is specially made to change pressure points continuously. It has alternating pockets of air. After the delivery man left, Lynn put the bed all together. She realized they didn't have any sheets for it. She will get some tonight on the way home from HH. She got to HH around 11:30. She started packing all of their stuff up and took it out to the car. She is wanting to get most of their stuff out of there tonight. Terry had PT & OT in the afternoon. The therapists wanted to make sure Lynn was trained on using the Hoyer Lift and any other essentials. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful - spent packing, etc.

Day 90 - May 14, 2007 Monday

2007-05-21T14:31:00.000-04:00

Today is a busy day. Lynn is trying to get everything ready for Wednesday when Terry comes home. She needs to arrange deliveries and check on the ramps to the house. She called AHHE to see about replacing the wheelchair ASAP. She also needed to arrange the delivery of the bed, mattress, and lift from there. The wheelchair will be delivered this afternoon. The other equipment will be delivered to the house Tuesday morning. They found out today that Terry no longer has to have a shot (given in the stomach) to thin his blood. He will take aspirin instead. The ramps will be installed Tuesday afternoon by their church (New Life Christian Fellowship). The therapists stressed the importance of Lynn working with Terry on his therapy to make sure he advances while at home. Lynn said they are definitely planning on doing that. The bed was dropped off about 9:30 pm (a friend knew someone with a bed that Terry could use). They got the bed set-up and then Michael (son) and Warren (grandson) helped Lynn rearrange furniture.

Day 89 - May 13, 2007 Sunday

2007-05-20T19:56:00.000-04:00

It was a quiet and restful day at HH. Terry and Lynn attended a couple of sing-alongs and listened to some Scripture readings.

Day 88 - May 12, 2007 Saturday

2007-05-20T19:51:00.000-04:00

It was a fairly quiet and lazy day today. Terry didn't have any therapy, so he and Lynn worked on it together. He also had another shower today. This one was easier on him. When they first came to HH, Terry's ribs were so painful that he was constantly telling everyone to be careful where they touched him. His recovery continues to amaze Lynn.

Day 87 - May 11, 2007 Friday

2007-05-20T19:47:00.000-04:00

The new wheelchair came today. They got Terry in it and started making adjustments to it. They are going to give this one a try. Terry had therapy and also spent a little time outside. He was in the new chair for about 2 hours. He just can't get real comfortable in it. It doesn't tilt enough. They tried to contact AHHE but couldn't get a hold of anyone. It will have to wait until Monday.

Day 86 - May 10, 2007 Thursday

2007-05-20T19:34:00.000-04:00

Lynn came in early today to help Terry get ready for the doctor's appointment. Terry was not feeling well this morning so things did not go according to plan. Finally after 2 hours they were able to get him ready. Henry County Transport took them to Methodist. Terry had a CAT scan first, then they went to the doctor's office. Terry also got x-ray's. They saw the doctor after the x-rays. The doctor explained that both Terry's arm and pelvis have extra bone growth. The doctor also had Terry move his toes. The doctor said that it is AMAZING that Terry is not paralyzed. They feel that God has been so good to them. The doctor wants Terry to see a hand specialist for his left arm - with the additional bone growth and the fact that he has been non-weight-bearing for 3 months his hand is "drawing up" into a claw shape. The doctor thinks Terry may need stronger, more aggressive therapy or possibly even surgery to correct it. They will go to the specialist on May 29. The doctor did release Terry for weight-bearing as tolerated (he's healing has been so great!). Lynn realized on the way to the doctor that Terry will need the neurosurgeon's approval for weight-bearing activity, too. That appointment is on May 22. Terry's new wheelchair was suppose to come today, but it got postponed.

Day 85 - May 9, 2007 Wednesday

2007-05-20T19:24:00.001-04:00

Lynn is having a day out today - courtesy of her mom and sister. Amanda (daughter) and Jimmy (son) will stay with Terry while she is out. She was going to a day spa to be pampered. It was a fairly quiet day for Terry. Roma (Lynn's mom) came in after the day spa treatment and was greatly impressed. Terry's strength improves daily. Tomorrow is Terry's appointment with the orthopedic doctor. The doctor will let them know if Terry can be released for weight-bearing activity.

Day 84 - May 8, 2007 Tuesday

2007-05-20T19:19:00.001-04:00

Terry and Lynn are so GRATEFUL that family and friends have been so HELPFUL & CARING. All they have to do is call on someone and the need is met. That is a big part of the reason Lynn feels that Terry can come home now, and they will be able to handle it. He is started to feel nauseated again, because he is starting to get his feelings and sensations back in his lower body. This is good, but it is not sorted out yet which is difficult for him. He doesn't have much of an appetite or drink much. They will keep working on it.

Day 83 - May 7, 2007 Monday

2007-05-20T19:08:00.000-04:00

Terry still isn't feeling well today which means he doesn't want to eat. It is very frustrating. Finally later on, he is feeling better. They hope it continues, and as he begins to move more it should make a big difference. Plus he will have home cooked food so he should eat better. They are counting the days until he will be home. AHHE (At Home Health Equipment) brought a wheelchair for Terry today, but it didn't work out. They will bring another for him to try. The rest of the day was fairly normal.

Day 82 - May 6, 2007 Sunday Part 2

2007-05-07T22:46:00.000-04:00

Lynn's second cousin Sierra wrote a composition about Terry for one of her classes. Here it is:

My Hero

After a lot of thought I came up with who my hero is. It's not my parents, or a superhero, or even anyone famous. My hero is just a regular person. It also just happens that this man is married to my mother's cousin. His name is Terry Adams.

Terry is my hero because he did something most people wouldn't. It was Valentines Day of 2007. It had been snowing pretty badly. Terry was driving home when he saw that someone had gone off the road. It turned out to be a young mother. Terry had pulled over to help out. He was talking to the young girl's uncle, trying to figure out how to get her car out of the median, when a car hit him.

Terry lost his left leg a few inches below the knee. He broke his left arm, broke his back, broke his pelvic bone, and his lung collapsed. He also lost a lot of fluids. Luckily the girl's uncle was a paramedic. When he got to the hospital, not many people believed he would live. But, against all odds, he did. They ended up amputating his leg a few inches above the knee. And he spent quite a while in the hospital.

His wife Lynn, who has been with him every step of the way, is having the house re-modeled. But until then, he has to stay in a nursing home. Terry is doing well. and says if he could go back, he'd do it all over again. He has many people praying for him, and many angels watching over him.

This is my hero. He may not have any super powers, but he has a super-loving heart. I wish him all the best luck to the many years still ahead of him. And hope he knows how much we all love and care about him.

Day 82 - May 6, 2007 Sunday

2007-05-07T22:37:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures of when Terry went to the track:
Here is Terry, Esteina, and Garrett.
Here is Terry and Logan.

Here is Tony, Terry, and Michael.

Day 81 - May 5, 2007 Saturday

2007-05-07T22:13:00.000-04:00

Terry is having some abdominal pain and not feeling well today. He is not wanting to eat or drink hardly anything. This has been an issue for a few days now. They talked more about the van. Lynn really doesn't like the idea of spending the money on it, because she doesn't think they will need it that long. If the doctor releases Terry for weight-bearing activity next week (May 10), they might not need the van. They decided to wait on the van - see what the doctor says and see what Terry is capable of doing.

Day 80 - May 4, 2007 Friday

2007-05-07T22:03:00.000-04:00

Terry had another shower this morning. The new chair is so much nicer. They talked to the dealership about the van. The mechanic they had look at the van said it needed a fair amount of work. Terry offered them less than what they wanted. They countered back for a little bit more. Terry accepted their offer. They will try and get it early next week. After lunch, Terry had PT/OT. They were talking about his TV debut. Once therapy was done, they had a pretty lazy afternoon. They even had a short nap. Terry is starting to lose his appetite again. His system is still not regular. They keep working toward the right combination, but they haven't found it yet. The rest of the day was pretty routine.

Day 79 - May 3, 2007 Thursday

2007-05-07T21:42:00.001-04:00

Terry and Lynn are going to the track again today. He had PT early because they are leaving. It lasted for 2 hours. They are doing the leg exercises differently than the other therapists. Terry is in his chair and trying to lift his knee, foot, etc. It is interesting to see what he can do. The improvements are visible daily. It continuously gives Lynn hope for when Terry can do weight bearing activity. They got to the track around noon. It was a very pretty day out. They had a few friends visit them at the track. It is nice for them to get out every now and then. It makes them even more anxious to go HOME. The rest of the evening was pretty quiet after they got back to HH. Jimmy (son) is taking the van to a mechanic in town. The mechanic is going to check it out for Terry. He will let them know what he thinks about it.

Day 78 - May 2, 2007 Wednesday

2007-05-07T21:21:00.000-04:00

Terry ate about half of his breakfast and drank a fair amount this morning. For over a week now, he has been eating and drinking better. Praise God, Terry is finally over that nausea. He is also starting to feel more in his lower body. They pray for God's continual healing so that he will be back to normal for signals and muscle movement (right now the signals are confusing). Terry had Michael (son) order a dozen roses for Lynn. They were beautiful. The new therapists are very impressed with Terry. His drive, determination, and GREAT attitude set him above a lot of people. His improvement continuously astounds Lynn. They are often talking about going HOME. They are trying to plan but it is very difficult. There are so many things they don't know.

Day 77 - May 1, 2007 Tuesday

2007-05-07T20:53:00.000-04:00

Today is the new therapists are starting. Lynn got there early to get Terry ready to help to meet the new therapists. First one came in around 9 am to introduce himself and see how they transfer Terry. After that they went down to the therapy room. Terry had therapy on his arms for about 50 minutes. After that they had lunch and relaxed before his second session of therapy. One of the new therapist wanted to start doing Hoyer lift transfers instead of sliding board transfers. The whole idea upset Lynn - for 6 weeks Terry has been doing the SB transfers. Now they want to change it for "Terry's safety". They have been doing the SB transfers so Terry could participate as much as possible. They decided to do a SB transfer to show the therapist how safe it is. Once he saw how it was done, he was okay with it. He continued his evaluation of Terry. After that Terry got to take another shower (his second since the accident). Lynn got a different wheelchair to use this time. She did it all herself this time to start preparing for when they get him home. It was better than the first time and he felt good once they were done. Then they went outside for a short time. The man bringing the van is suppose to be there around 5:30 pm. He got there about 5:45 pm. They took the van out for a test drive. They went to the track to see Michael (son). They stopped at Subway on the way back to HH to get some dinner.

Day 76 - April 30, 2007 Monday Part 2

2007-05-07T20:51:00.000-04:00

Debby Knox aired her special about Terry on Monday April 30, 2007 during the 11:00 pm news hour. The title is "A Samaritan's Sacrifice: A 24-Hour News 8 Special Report". You can view the special if you go to this link http://www.wishtv.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?clipid1=1403472&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=A+Samaritan%27s+Sacrifice%3A+A+24%2DHour+News+8+Special+Report&d1=235633&redirUrl=www.wishtv.com&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&playerVersion=9&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.wishtv.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp%3Fclipid1%3D1403472%26at1%3DNews%26vt1%3Dv%26h1%3DA+Samaritan%2527s+Sacrifice%253A+A+24%252DHour+News+8+Special+Report%26d1%3D235633%26redirUrl%3Dwww.wishtv.com%26activePane%3Dinfo%26LaunchPageAdTag%3Dhomepage&rnd=39475370

Day 76 - April 30, 2007 Monday Part 1

2007-05-07T20:38:00.000-04:00

Today is the last day for the OT & PT girls at HH. Their contract is up and a new company is taking over. Terry and Lynn will miss them (they have become friends). They have decided on a discharge date - May 16, 2007. Lynn is starting to plan everything that needs to be done to make that happen. Andrea (friend) is going to send someone out to evaluate Terry's needs to see what type of equipment will be needed at home. Terry and Lynn also talked about getting a wheelchair accessible van. They got some names of places from Tony (son). They called several of them. They found one in their price range. The dealership is going to bring it by tomorrow for them to try it out. They received a phone call from Eric (oldest grandson) today. He says he'll be going to Iraq sometime this year. They are praying and trusting God with his care. Lynn left at 8 pm today to get everything done, so she can watch the special on channel 8 tonight at 11 pm. When she got home Thomas, Chase, and Wyatt (S-I-L & grandsons) were there cutting the grass. Grant (son), Jonathan (grandson), and Michael (son) were there talking about fixing the driveway. Also Amanda (daughter) and her boyfriend were there moving her stuff back. She is moving back home.

Day 75 - April 29, 2007 Sunday

2007-05-07T20:35:00.000-04:00

Terry and Lynn went to the 9 am church service at HH. It was fairly short but enjoyable. After that it was a fairly lazy day. They had no visitors today, so they enjoyed an afternoon nap. They continued discussing when Terry might come home, and everything that needs to be done to make it happen.

Day 74 - April 28, 2007 Saturday

2007-05-07T20:30:00.001-04:00

It was a pretty quiet day today. They had several visitors. Lynn began to think about what needs to be done to get Terry home. She is going to check with her friend Andrea about needs from At Home Health Equipment, talk to admissions at HH, and talk to someone about transportation. She is hoping to have him home in about two weeks. Lynn left before 8:00 pm and when she got home the copy of the special Debby Knox did on Terry was there. She watched it with a friend. It brought back a lot of memories. Again she thanked God for His constant care and healing of Terry's body.