Hey Everybody

Hey everybody, Tyler here. From this point on I'll be personally updating the blog. Every Sunday I'll post a weekly update and if I have the motivation I may post on regular weekdays. Here's the week in review:

Monday was FHE with the ward. We played Scum. I started the first half of the game out as scum... Fortunately, I worked my way up to a better position by the end. 

I had a follow-up appointment for my recovering left hand on Tuesday. Dr. Frazier said everything looked great, but his office hadn't received any results regarding the EMG. The radial nerve is the nerve in question and I'm still in the dark. At this point, I assume the nerve's sheath was severed. That means I'll have to wear a permanent brace.

I've been working with my occupational therapist on getting a brace figured out. In the next few weeks I'll be seeing a specialized hand therapist. One of the concerns for my left hand is the ring finger. The tendon is still compromised and the finger itself is still extremely stiff. It should improve with time, but it's difficult to deal with at the moment.

On Thursday I had an appointment with my foot doctor. My right heel has been giving me grief, so they removed the cast and examined the skin. The original surgery scars are still there, but no new sores were to be seen. They put on another cast with more padding in the heel this time. This one will last two weeks and then I should be done with casts.

Friday was legit. My home teachers, Craig and Kurtis, came over and gave a nice lesson. We played Super Smash for a while and my friend Nikkita joined us and made it that much better. Shortly after, two friends from high school showed up. My buddy Nick brought his Xbox One and Dallin provided the pizza. It was the best Friday night I've had in a while.

Church today was pretty routine. We took the tool truck again, but I'm not sure how much longer it'll be necessary. Earlier this week I practiced car transfers. I can get in and out of a car with little or no help now. Kyle and I home taught today. Since it's still difficult to get me out of here, the sisters we were teaching came to the facility. The spirit was strong and my heart was full. It's always nice to share gospel principles. 

On another note, my friends Jessica and Shaliece stopped by today and dropped off a late birthday present. We played the wii and caught up. It was pretty great. My family came over for dinner tonight. We played a game and enjoyed each others' company. I sure love those people.

Thanks for all your continued prayers and support. Good friends and family have made my situation more bearable than it would've been alone. Thanks for all the visits this week, I love you guys.

BYU and EMG

I am Tyler’s scribe again tonight – so although this post bears my name, these are the words from Tyler:

Last Sunday Luke Worthington from the BYU basketball team stopped by say “hello”.  He dropped off a poster with all the player signatures.  It was very generous and is now hanging on my wall.  He also gave me a BYU snapback, I will wear it with pride.

Monday was Family Home Evening with the singles ward.  They came to the facility here.  We played a get to know you game in the dining room.  I will get to have Family Home Evening again with this tomorrow night.  I can’t wait.  I also spent the latter part of the evening watching the College National Championship with my friend Kyle and my Dad.  It was nice to underdogs take the title. 

On Tuesday, I had an EMG test to test if the nerve in my left hand is functioning.  The man administering the test hooked up nodes and shot electricity through my arm many times.  That part wasn’t so bad.  However, after that, he pulled out a wire with a sharp end and proceeded to puncture my skin in 10-15 spots to monitor the nerve activity.  It was really painful.  I was glad when it was over.  I find out the results this Tuesday.  The pain in this hand has been worse since the pins were removed.

On Friday, I went to BINGO again.  I took the first big winner spot and blackout the first round.  The second round I was one number away from getting to be the first winner, but all three spots were claimed while I waiting to no avail. I can’t complain though, because I won some serious BINGO bucks!  This is just one step down from Wendover here!  

I am officially bored enough that I started watching and analyzing the "Lost" series again.  I swore I would never visit this series again.   I am keeping track of all questions to see if the series ever answers them.  I have a feeling I will be disappointed.

First Post from Tyler

This post is coming from the mouth of Tyler tonight. I am just the scribe tonight so that Tyler doesn't have to spell each word out one click at a time. It was fun being with him tonight!

CURRENT (shifted with cracks)

BEFORE (Taken after the initial surgery)

On Tuesday I had an appointment with my hip doctor.  I went in expecting to see little or no change to the placement of my hip.  Unfortunately, it did shift and crack in two spots when I was trying to transfer from my wheelchair to the mat during physical therapy.  This isn't great news, but I am still staying optimistic about the outcome of the situation.  Hopefully this hip will last me at least a few years and if not, I will be looking at a hip replacement in the near future. The doctor said if I had to choose one sport to take up it should be swimming and to avoid running at all costs.

On a more positive note, yesterday I had surgery to have the pins in my left hand removed.  I arrived at 5:45 in the morning, checked in and put on one of their ridiculous gowns.  After that, the doctor came in and marked my hand for surgery and gave a few follow up instructions.  Immediately afterward I was taken in for surgery.  I woke up around 8:15 and went straightaway back to sleep.  Around 9:00 I woke back up and prepared to leave.  They enforce a 30 minute stay after surgery, so we waited it out without any complications and left by 9:45.  It was a four hour ordeal for a 15 minute surgery.  I am really glad to have the pins out though. I hope to see the left hand make progress in the next few weeks. 

After I got back from surgery I was laying in bed and the fire alarms went off.  I was pretty sure it was a drill, but a little worried since I was stuck in bed.  No one came to get me out of bed, so I figured it was just a drill.  Shortly after the cleaning lady came in and said, "I am not sure if it is real or not, but I am going to keep cleaning and get out of here".  Glad to know I am in good hands. ;)

My brother Zach had his birthday on Monday.  My whole family came to celebrate at the nursing home.  My Dad hauled in a cake he had been saving since mid-November.  They didn't have time to eat it since my accident.  We ate ice-cream and listened to music, it was a great time.  Zach was over today to play super-smash-brawl with me for a few hours.  That kid is getting good, he even beat me once and it was a hard earned win. 

 My friend Spencer visited tonight.  We had a good conversation.  It is always good to catch up with friends, so feel free to stop by anytime.  If I am asleep, just wake me up because I sleep all the time.

Thanks again for all the donations we have received so far.  It means the world to me and my family.  Your hands are helping shape my future.  Thanks for everything! 

Love, Tyler

BINGO!

Days are looking very much the same lately.  Our goal right now is to bring diversity TO Tyler in the form of walks, visits, food and games. He absolutely loves when people come to see him, so if you are in the area, don't hesitate to drop in for a few minute!  The missionaries are going to start visiting Tyler.  I believe they will make their first visit this week.

This Wednesday (1/7) Tyler has surgery on his left hand to remove the pins and tomorrow visits the hip surgeon to see if any damage was done last week.  Family and friends fasted yesterday for Tyler's left hand and right foot.  We appreciate all who participated!  Indeed we are grateful for all the miracles and blessings we have seen up to this point.  We also feel that more miracles are in Tyler's future.  We are so grateful for a Heavenly Father that blesses us and watches over us in times of need.  Tyler went to church again yesterday in the tool truck.  THANKS AGAIN RANDY for taking him each week!

Since Tyler arrived at the rehabilitation center,  I have been begging him to play BINGO down the hall.  There is just something endearing about seeing a 21 year old playing BINGO with the elderly.  Finally, today Tyler relented and played.  His Aunt Jette wheeled him down and said he had a lot of fun and even won 14 bingo bucks!