Friday, February 20, 2009

Friday Feb - 20

We are so excited about the benefit concert at Brookdale Lodge tomorrow night. We all are planning on going including Jerry. It's going to be so much fun, we hope to see many of you there.

We met Jerry's new doctor today, Dr. Quinn, I gotta say right off the bat we love him, he is awesome. We did so good getting Jerry to his appointment today on time at 2:15, we were even 5 minutes early. That doesn't sound like a big deal I know but if you've seen what we go through to take him on an outing you'd understand, we did good ;-). Dr. Quinn is arranging for home health care PT and OT so we are excited about that. Dr. Quinn seems to have a very aggressive approach towards Jerry's care, it's so refreshing. We all really seem to be on the same page which is a great change of pace. God has connected us with the prefect doctor for Jerry's needs.

I have to give a big THANK YOU!!! to Leanne Martinez. Leanne contacted Senate furniture store and told them of our need for a chair suitable for Jerry, as a result Senate donated a used chair for Jerry. The chair is in great shape, Jerry's been sitting in it for about an hour now and says it's 100 times better then what he's been sitting in. He's so much more comfortable, thanks Leanne and thank you Senate Furniture.

We looked at the van in Scotts Valley that a woman is willing to donate to us, it may work out however we need to talk with her to find out more about the van. She was not at the van so we just peeked in the windows. As far as we know the van has been sitting for a few years and is being used as a storage shed. I don't know if the lift works and what kind of work needs to be done to get it running but we'll find out. We also need to do a measurement to see if he'll fit in it with his chair.

Our friend Jenny found a van in Napa that seems ideal, it has less then 15,000 miles and they are asking $16,000. The lift will work perfectly and it's fully loaded. The only draw back is the floor to ceiling height is only 57 inches which is exactly how tall Jerry is in his chair. We would like to get Jerry in his chair and put him in it to see how he would fit but I don't think Jerry can stand being in the car for several hours driving to Napa at this point. Maybe the guy will meet us half way but even with that we will have to load the wheelchair in a trailer to get it there. We'll figure it out, I would love for that van to work out. I'm thankful that we have a couple of options to explore at this point. Thanks to all those who have been sending us links and leads on vans we have explored them all. Someone asked us to post again the specifics in what we need in a van. Here are a few details to keep in mind, we are looking for a van with a dropped floor, we would rather not have the raised ceiling van as the only thing Jerry will be able to view would be the ceiling. We need a full size van because the mini van style will not fit his wheel chair. When Jerry is sitting in his chair it is 57 inches from the floor to the top of his head, we can get by with a 52 inch door opening however the floor to ceiling needs to be at least 60 inches. We are hoping to find a van with less then 80,000 miles and are not wanting to spend more then 15,000.

Jerry has been feeling pretty good today, a little nausea this morning and a little pain this evening but for the most part pretty good. It's so nice to get him out of the house. It may take a couple weeks to get Jerry into the Dominican Rehab Center so it's nice that Dr. Quinn will be sending a physical therapist to the house. Dennis and I have been doing his range of motion every day but it will be nice to have a break with PT working him. Dennis is going to make a skateboard devise to exercise Jerry's arms, similar to what he used at Valley Medical. Jerry's biceps are getting stronger and he seems to have a little more feeling then last week. I pray God will give Jerry new feeling or movement each day. I see the hope in Jerry's eyes when he feels something new, it melts my heart and I want that for him every day. God's timing is not our timing and we don't know his plan. We want what we want and we want it yesterday, waiting is the hard part. It's hard for us to be patient but we are trying. Jerry is only 6 weeks post injury and has made huge improvement, most people with his level of injury are in the hospital for 2 to 3 months, on ventilators or have a tracheotomy. We have to remember how very blessed we are.

Good night,
Katie

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey guys,
It's us again.
Sorry we feel the need to know detials of Jerry's day, but we have been "Following Jerry" for the last "7 years" and when we don't get updates, we get scared.
We forget to trust in the Lord. We leave our imaginations to wonder.
God grant all of us reality!
God grant us the forsight when the MacCallisters need privacy!
God grant us the knowledge to call when the MacCallisters need comfort!
God grant us the timing to call the house when Dennis wants comforting and God grant us the the luck to reach Katie and let her have a sounding board every time we call!
Let all six MacCallister's know that whatever they need, no matter how silly they might think it is, they can share it with us!
In Jesus' name we ask this. Amen.
Do you remember:
We are "Family." (Thank you Sly and the Family Stone, or was it the Pointer Sisters?)
Brookdale Lodge here we come!
Love you all!
Luboff's
Hey Jer, Luke left you a message on your phone. Call him back when you get a chance.

Anonymous said...

Morning! Cooper, Patrick, Mason, Cosmo and Quinn all asked for you yesterday, Jer. I was so swamped with activities and kept the kids busy - even during lunch, that I couldn't get online to post you, though the kids continue to be solicitous about your recovery. I really want you to know that you've touched the lives of some pretty great children and they're following you.

Glad to read the nausea decreased yesterday and that the recliner fits you better. Pain and nausea suck to be sure. Sounds like the legions for Jerry are hunting down a van and getting closer by the day. With a hunting party like that, you're sure to bag a van.

Necessity is the mother of invention - or should I say father in your case. I like the line from that baseball movie, "If you build it they will come." Well, in your case, If your dad builds it it will be raucous and work wonders! IT being muscle mass, exercise, progress, strength, stamina....

Mary was sorry she's missing the concert tonight. She's visiting Chris for his birthday and checking out UCI. She was really excited and nervous to fly by herself, but she got into the airport, found the monitor to show which gate she was to leave from, got there, got her seat assignment and turned around and who was there on the same flight? Barb and Peti, Torie's folks. She was stoked! Chris picked her up in a cab - her first cab ride and on they went. He's got a race today, so she's not too stoked to sit around another track meet, but hey, there will be great eye candy!

Anyway, hope your day goes well, with little or no nausea. Hope your folks can have a moment to breathe and be in the stillness of the moment and feel comfort and the love we send. Much love to you and as you are everyday - many times everyday - remain in our prayers and hope in God's plan.

Trish

Laurie Lester said...

Hi, gang! Sorry I've been out of touch...just got internet hooked up at my new place finally. Though I have been offline, you are all ALWAYS in my prayers!

Just got caught up on the blog... great you all are getting settled in. Have a great time at the concert tonight...sounds like fun! Wish I could be there!

Jerry, keep up the hard work...and I KNOW the hardest part is the patience thing. Us MacCallisters are not known for our patience! We are go-getters, or as your dad says, getter-done's! But perseverance and dogged determination are two benefits of our Scottish heritage and, especially in times like this, serve us very well!

I am praying for your patience to continue one step at a time in God's time. He's got the plan laid out for you and His plans are so much greater than we can ever imagine! Keep up the good fight, run the great race. Like a distance runner, pacing is key so you don't poop out!

I know you're doing it - all 6 of you - keep up the great work! We're all in this for the long haul - together!

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

I love you! L

robin said...

Yay for a new comfy chair and an aggressive Doctor! God does provide. Can't wait to hear how you are progressing Jerry. Will continue to pray for the perfect van.

Robin P