Family and Friends Makes the World a Better Place

Tyler has been surrounded by family and friends the past few days.  His aunt Natalie’s family came to visit and brought all sorts of fun.  They made paper snowflakes and decorated a gingerbread house together.  He absolutely loves his family.  His dear friend Natalie Sorensen has been so good to him.  She has stopped by to visit almost every day since Tyler’s accident.  She is so patient with him and so extremely kind.  She is the beautiful (tallest) blonde in the picture above. 

  

Physical Therapy has been going really well.  Tyler and therapists are pleased with the progress in his right hand.  The therapists have commented on several occasions how patient Tyler is and easy to work with.  The therapists love him so much they even threw him a pizza party today in the weight room!

We are starting to make plans for Tyler’s upcoming birthday.  Tyler loves to joke about ‘breaking out of this joint’ for the occasion.  His next 'break out' will be tomorrow for a ride in the tool truck again!  GO TYLER!

Soccer Team; Pins Pulled and Christ Like Love

The last two days have been eventful for Tyler.  Yesterday his soccer team came to visit him.  They brought him a signed soccer ball and a bag full of soccer gear.  He was thrilled with their visit.  He loves his team so much and has such great memories with each of them.  It was a special visit. Thank You so much!

Today, he had another doctor’s appointment.  They took off his casts to remove the pins in his left foot and check healing in his right.  Tyler’s description of the procedure left my knees a little weak.  He said the first two pins (the short ones that have the yellow ends) felt really strange while being removed but wasn’t very painful.  However, the third and longest pin was piercing.   It has made him a little nervous about other pins he has to have removed.  The cast on the right side is smaller and lighter, so that made him happy as well. 

Yesterday I was walking down to my classroom and was met by the entire Westlake Student Council singing Christmas Carols at my door.  They handed me a large bag with a quilt they had made (a special thanks to Heningers) and so many kind and thoughtful cards.  I was overcome with gratitude that students who have never met my nephew would go to such great lengths to lighten his burden.   There have been numerous examples of service and thoughtful acts rendered by so many in the community.  These recent acts of service have reminded me to “Love as He Loves” as I have seen so many do.

“Jesus the Christ, who knew perfectly how to give, set for us the pattern for giving.  To those whose hearts are heavy with loneliness and sorrow, He brings compassion and comfort.  To those whose bodies and minds are afflicted with illness and suffering, He brings love and healing.  To those whose souls are burdened with sin, He offers hope, forgiveness, and redemption. 

If the Savior were among us today, we would find Him where He always was – ministering to the meek, the downcast, the humble, the distressed, and the poor in spirit.  During this Christmas season and always, may we give to Him by loving as He loves.  And may we, through simple acts of kindness, charity, and compassion, fill the world with the light of His love and healing power.”  (Fill the World with Christ’s Love, Uchtdorf).

4 Week Mark!

Today marks exactly 4 weeks from the day Tyler fell.  When we were talking about how far he has come, he said, “Humpty Dumpty Has Been Put Back Together Again”.  It was even more humorous because he said it in his British accent. In celebration of his 4 week mark he got to take his first shower!  He was so grateful to feel the cleanliness only a shower can bring.  He showed me how his right hand no longer looked like ‘reptile skin’.  He will get to shower every other day now.  We talked about all the things he will never take for granted again: water; showering; breathing; talking; feeding himself and having a hand to maneuver things with.  I am certain this list will grow as Tyler continues to have these big milestones.  He even filled out a form with his right hand.  He said the hand writing was pretty impressive too.

Tyler had an appointment today with one of the trauma surgeons that did some of the first operations.   The pictures below show the hardware the surgeon put in place.  Tyler said he is a little nervous about the operation to remove some of the pins in his right arm in 6 weeks, but will be grateful when it is healed.  I wish we had the original X-rays to show how many breaks he had in each bone, I heard it was shocking.   Nevertheless, the X-rays from today equally demonstrate what Tyler’s body has been through.  It amazes me to realize that this isn’t an extension live of the hardware in Tyler’s body – this is just what one surgeon was in charge of. Tyler goes to his foot surgeon on Thursday.  They will remove the hard cast to check healing and put another back on. 

Tyler’s right hand is really bothering him.  It constantly burns and he has very little motion in a couple of fingers.  In four weeks they will do a nerve test to see what might be going on in that hand.  

Look how good his incision site looks on his right arm above the elbow!  What miracles have been wrought in just 4 weeks!  It makes me wonder and anticipate what miracles we will see in the next 4.  

Riding in a Tool Truck

Tyler wanted to go to his own BYU singles ward this week – and so the preparations began.  Karen brought him a white shirt, tie and black sweats.  John started working on arrangements on how to get him there.  John was about to give up when he thought about one of his neighbors that has a tool truck.  At midnight he texted his neighbor asking if it would be a possibility to transport Tyler using his truck.  His dear neighbor responded early in the morning wanting to help Tyler with his desire to attend fast and testimony meeting.  The morning was crazy.  Breakfast came more than an hour late, so within 30 minutes, they dressed Tyler, shaved him and fed him breakfast.  John used his 4 wheeler ramps to get Tyler into the truck and sat directly behind him, holding his wheelchair in place.  Success!

They arrived on time, but thought service hadn't started and began waiting.  They didn't realize that they were waiting on the wrong floor.   Heavenly Father was looking out for Tyler because Natalie (a close friend) was running late.  The elevator opened and Natalie was standing there and asked them what they were doing on the wrong floor.  If it weren't for Natalie, they would have searched that entire floor in frustration.  

John said it was a beautiful service.  The congregation prayed for Tyler in both the opening and closing prayer.  A few mentioned their visits with Tyler in the hospital and the strong spirit they felt there.  Following services, Tyler was swarmed by those that love him.   It is so heartwarming to see young people join in faith and embark in the service of God in the behalf of someone else…. especially when it is one of your loved ones. 

After sacrament, Tyler was exhausted and his pain was starting to escalate.    When I went to Tyler’s room hours later, he and his two younger sisters were fast asleep listening to Enya.  I woke Becki up taking her picture (hence the cute grin) but she went right back to sleep as well.

Mom (Tyler’s Grandma) was talking to two of the physical therapists that were there the first day Tyler was brought into the rehabilitation facility.  They were telling mom that when Tyler arrived they both had a strong impression that there was something really special about him.  They also bore witness that they have felt the presence of those beyond the veil in the rooms of some patients who have especially difficult recoveries.  To us, it is no surprise.  We have witnessed miracles and know that families are forever.  We love our families.  We know this life isn't the end.  Therefore, it is no surprise that loved ones would stand in wait offering encouragement and help as best they can even after they leave mortality.  

A New Set of Wheels

Tyler has a new set of wheels!

 Tyler won’t be able to put any pressure on his left foot for another 11 weeks, but he is now going to be a little more mobile.  While in the wheelchair, he fed himself a portion of his lunch!  What another glorious freedom that will be for Tyler when he won’t have to rely on someone feeding him.  We are so happy for him!

 The nurses and techs love Tyler.  I have heard so many nurses say how patient he is with everything he is going through and his extremely sweet disposition. Tyler listened to Mozart today and a family in his ward brought in a Christmas tree.  Look how darling it is!

Right after Tyler had his breathing tubes removed, I told him that a few people in my neighborhood (including a few children) had written him cards but that I had forgotten them at home and promised to bring them the next day.  Upon arriving the next day, his first question was if I remembered the cards.  He looked at each of the drawings closely.  Hearing from others who love him in the ‘outside world’ gives him peace and hope. 

We can’t express enough gratitude for these kindnesses in Tyler’s behalf.  If you feel so impressed, Tyler would love to hear from you. On the right side of this blog is a form to fill out if you would like to send Tyler a message.

Ahhh .... Clean

Tyler looks SO amazing.  Just seeing him in street clothing makes a huge difference in his appearance.  Sometimes it is hard to remember that even though he looks so good on the outside, he is still broken almost everywhere.  Some find it surprising that his entire body isn't in a hard cast.  However, he has so much internal hardware holding his bones in place that casting is unnecessary, especially while bedridden.  When asked how he was doing physically he said, “broken”.  However, he also said his ‘hope-a-meter’ is high.   You can tell when the pain medication starts to wear off, his head beads with perspiration and sometimes you can even see his chest quivering as his heart rate rises in response.  We are just so grateful those times are getting farther apart.

Tyler had a sponge bath in bed today!   He commented how great it was to feel and be clean.  He is holding up a stick of deodorant to let everyone know that he is clean and smelling great!  He is also getting his new Insulin pump today since his last one was destroyed in the fall.  This alone is going to be one of the greatest blessings for Tyler.  Tyler has been great at managing his diabetes these past years.  During his hospital stay, staff had to guess how much insulin to give him. His blood sugar spiked and dropped so frequently that he usually felt sick. 

Tyler has a new 3” ball he is using for therapy in his right hand.  He holds and moves his fingers around the ball.  Today, the doctor gave permission for him to start therapy with weight in his right hand.  The weight limit is only 2 pounds, but that means Tyler will soon be able to hold a cup of water with his hand.  One of the coolest things today was when his Stake President was leaving; Tyler reached up and over to shake his hand.  His hand was shaking, but it was a beautiful sight.  Tyler is one strong man!

Karen also brought Tyler's laptop to his room today.  With help from their neighbor, they were able to get the computer hooked up to the TV so he can watch movies.  

This Christmas is taking on a new meaning for me and my family this year.  There has been a decreased focus on presents and decorations and more on seeing the needs of others.  I am certain the greatest gift we can give our Savior this season is the gift of serving others.  “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25.40) We sincerely appreciate all the visitors and support Tyler has received.  Visitors greatly lift his spirits especially when surrounded by the same four walls.  

He's OUT!

After 3 weeks, Tyler was discharged from the hospital today!  

He is now happily settled in a rehabilitation facility. He had his PICC line removed and all the other wires and needles.  It was so great to see him in a bed not surrounded by so many monitors and liquids dripping in his veins.  They also removed his splint on his right hand and he can raise it really high.  He was able to manipulate his phone with that hand as well… it was awesome to watch!  Some of his deep scabs are starting to fall off which is another sign of healing! Tyler is definitely the youngest resident there.  On a happy note, he is going to be a master at BINGO.  GO TYLER!