Power lifting…

Today Ron was able to lift his right arm completely off the pillow! He is very active on his right side, just beginning to flex muscles on his left leg…still no movement on the right arm.
However, he was much more alert today than yesterday. He made eye contact – the nurse said she was able to give him simple commands and he responded. And when I held his hand and asked if he could feel my hand…then asked him to close his eyes if he did, he slowly closed his eyes. (!!!!)
Over the next few days we will be considering some long term options: at this point he can be moved to a specialized hospital (Kindred Hospital was mentioned) where he can be weaned from the ventilator and receive some rehab. He is completely stable physically at this time, so he doesn’t reallly need to be in intensive care.
I know there is something I forgot to write…but if it pops into my head, will add later tonight.
Thank you everyone who is sending cards, leaving posts on the blog, and calling – or simpling thinking of him or praying. Everything helps – everything. Thank you.

Visitors welcome…

Last night was the beginning…but it seems to be temporary. Today, while Ron is more active than ever, he is not “coming out” the way he did for a brief period last night. The nurse de jour, Paul, says this is not unusual…for patients to become alert and then retreat. Sometimes waking up in a strange environment is overwhelming. His eyes are very active, although not focused and he is moving his right leg and arm a lot. Once again they’ve set the ventilator to support, so he is controlling his breathing. But except for a few very brief moments for the girls (Pearl and Alexis) and for Ester, he seems withdrawn.

For those who are interested in visiting – I’ve opened it up to those who wish to drop by. Please remember that the nurses may need to ask folks to leave if they have work to do or if they decide he is overstimulated. It is definitely good for him to hear familiar voices though.

He’s awake!!!!!!!

Ron is coming out of his sleep!
I got the the hospital around 8…when I got to the room the nurse mentioned he had been moving his right leg a bit. Put on his glasses and called his name and he looked at me!!! He focused his eyes and made contact!!! I called the nurse….and told Ron to squeeze my hand…could barely feel the pressure but he definitely responded. The nurse first asked him to move his right foot – and he moved it. Then Dwain/nurse asked him to stick his tongue out – Dwain had to open his mouth for him (so many tubes going in) but after a minute he was able to stick his tongue part way out of his mouth. As the evening progressed he kept trying to move his right arm and leg and once even tried to sit up (but was too weak). He kept wiggling his eyebrows and tried moving his mouth…but again, too many tubes prevented him from talking. He was only able to stay focused for five to ten minutes at a time…and then would get tired and would close his eyes and rest. But by the time I left (around 10pm) he was trying to move his left foot (that had me worried…thought there might be left side paralysis, but I guess not). Dwain said the leg and arm movements could be automatic, but to have facial expressions there must be a mind directing the muscles – so it looks like we are on the road to recovery.
It was tempting to spend the night – but I have to balance Alexis home alone against Ron’s needs…and I’ve been debating cutting school tomorrow but (damn it) my broadcasting kids need me on this last day to hand in their projects…and I frankly can’t afford to take another day off right now. Dwain said Ron will probably drift in and out of consciousness…that while he may see me, he may not actually recognize me (hah).
So – if you’re on the visitors’ list, feel free to go on up. If you’re not and you want to drop by, email me. The important thing right now is not to overstimulate him…but he does need visitors to help him reconnect with the world. If the staff feels there are too many folks or he is getting overstimulated, they will boot folks out.
More as it develops…I’m just gonna cut and paste this to the blog.
Thank you everyone for your candles and thoughts and prayers!
love to all – Cyndy
PS – Evelyn Nance made the remark that the birth of the chicks was very symbolic…a renewal of life….a rebirth. All I can say is that those little balls of fluffy made me smile when I was feeling down. I went out to the dogpen tonight to check on them and found momma hen nestled in the roots of the tree with a stiff wind blowing, so I put a box in front of her to protect her from the wind. She is a wild creature and will not live in captivity…but we hope to socialize her chicks so they can join our flock.

Tiny bits of happiness…

Some days you wake up and have a bad day…mine began yesterday and kept on going until this afternoon when Lexi called me to the back yard with something VERY important. Our feral chicken had decided to hatch a brood in Garrett’s dogpen. Her logic is impeccable – catproof with a large furry dog to protect her and her babies. Ron and the girls and I are suckers for baby chicks…and these must have just hatched today. Little miracles bring joy….

I’m off to the hospital in a few minutes…depending on how late I get in, may not post an update until tomorrow.
PS – Evelyn, if you want to bring J and Amani by, feel free to just drop in. They will love the babies.

10:13pm

Today was a hard day…first, the American Legion ceremony for Memorial Day and then the drive up to Sacramento. There wasn’t much change…his eyes were very expressive and the nurse said his right leg (yes, the one the girls were tickling) had been making small movements. Maybe that’s the answer: tickle therapy.
Eugmar had a question about the neck injury…and all I can answer is that the nurse said whiplash. I need to meet with Dr. Lindsey again this week to get clarification.

Memorial Day

Every holiday that even remotely honors veterans, Ron is up and out the door, attending as many as four events all over the county. The job isn’t just 8-5, M-F to him. It’s all about the vets and the debt we owe them. Today the girls and I will be at the Karl Ross American Legion Post ceremony, pausing to remember those who served and sacrificed. Even if you can’t make it…take a moment to think and remember and honor our servicemen and women.

3:35pm

Spent a couple of hours at the hospital while the girls went to church. Not much change from yesterday. He is breathing on his own with assistance from the ventilator. The MRI that had me scared was finally explained – very simply put, he has whiplash. Not a big deal compared with everything else that is going on…

The nurses have his glasses on during the day – in case he can see. Will have him focus mentally too.

So really not much to update. We are just waiting for him to heal.

Rolling on the river…

Kathy Newell sent me this photo from a raft trip we took last summer. Ron and a raft full of women (me, Alexis, Kathy, and Clarissa – who took the photo). A good memory – too bad we all got burned (hey, the lotion kept washing off – that’s my excuse and I’m sticking with it).

On hold…

Today is Alexis’ fifteenth birthday. May 26, 1992….nine months earlier I had returned from a trip to cover the collapse of the Soviet Union. Ron gave me a wonderful welcome home…resulting in our little “oopsie” baby.

Today was not just a celebration of our youngest getting another year older….it is a bittersweet day. Today is day seventeen after Ron drifted through a stop sign just down the road from the house as he drove to work – and was hit by an oncoming SUV. Today is day seventeen of lying in intensive care, unresponsive to the world around him. Day seventeen of no dad…no husband.

I’ve been emailing updates to friends and family…but keep getting calls from people as they hear of his plight. Hence this blog to update everyone. It is difficult for me to tell people about what happened and how he is doing…writing it down is much easier.