True Meaning of Love

Please forgive this tonight... Lack of sleep = Filter off.  I am really speaking from the heart tonight.
I was told today that I am a resident of Hope Island.  That doesn't necessarily mean that I am hoping for the best, which I am.  It also means that sometimes I am delutional or misguided by my expectation that everyone is going to do the right thing. 

I keep expecting that people will do the right thing, rise to the occasion, not be petty and selfish, and then I am disappointed.  I keep hoping that THIS time will be different and this person will step up to the plate and do what is right and proper and not just what he/she feels is right or fits for his/her own life or circumstances.  I am naive in that sense, or maybe I just do not want to accept the truth that some people are just in this for themselves.  Selfish.  The All About Me Syndrome.

I have a child lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life.  This is not about anyone but him.  He is the only one entitled to have the All About Me Syndrome right now, and he constantly worries about me.  He is always asking me if I have had enough rest, if I have eaten, and if I am okay.

This is the time to put aside petty differences, oneupmanship, jealousy, etc and concentrate on helping him.  I wish I could say that everyone could see that, instead, I get unfriended on facebook, nasty emails and texts, rude remarks, snide comments, etc.

As for unfriending me on facebook, should I care?  No, I don't.  I just find this so petty and unnecessary when we should be pulling together at a time like this.  I did nothing to deserve this.  The nurses wanted certain people removed from Derek's room entirely and I asked that they not be.  I was the one who ensured that they still be allowed to visit.  When they said some not nice things to Krystina, I protected her, but I was pleasant to them.  This is the thanks that I get.  Once again, I am the bad guy. 
Am I perfect?  No.  Not by a long shot.  I'm just doing the best I can in a bad situation and not getting any help from the ones who should be giving me the most (except my family).  I should be getting nothing but support and encouragement from people who claim to love Derek.  I laid aside all of my hurt and pain of the last decade, as God would have wanted me to, and this is what I am given in return.
I am a permanent resident of Hope Island.

Krystina and I can see the the long road that we have ahead.  We are working together to give him love, support, care, and everything that he needs.  My sister comes down whenever she can to help and relieves me or helps however she can.  My kids are here whenever they can.  They sit in the hospital for hours, all day, just to offer support.

Krystina left school (she will go back), quit her job, and is down here helping Derek.  She caters to his every need.  She is by his bedside every day, practically all day, barely taking time to get herself something eat.  She is living off whatever savings she might have had because she is not on orders.  Because Derek was unconscious at the time, and because they were not married, we could not get her on orders, even though I had POA.  So, Kevin, Derek's brother Michael and I am on orders, for now.  I have to have two rooms with the size of my family, so cancelling Michael's orders would mean the kids cannot visit their brother without me having to pay for a room, which I cannot afford to do.  If this is what I need to do to get Krystina on orders, then I will, because she cannot even get medical care if she gets sick.  For now, Krystina's parents and I are not letting her go without.  She is staying with me.  But we have to get her on orders as soon as possible.  It is what is best for her, and I will do whatever I have to do to protect her.  It will be rectified soon.

My 14 yr old son spent five weeks in Bethesda.  He got up in the morning and sat in the Day Room for about 12 hours each day.  Some days he spent less than an hour with Derek because Derek was too sick or sleeping.  But Sean just sat there.  He didn't care that he couldn't interact with Derek.  Even if he was just down the hall, at least he was close.  That just goes to show how much love and support even a 14 year old boy can give.

Being there for Derek does not mean physically sitting in his room, since that is not possible given the circumstances right now, and given the fact that Derek doesn't always want or need company.  Sometimes he just needs to know that the people who love him are down the hall if he needs them.

Derek spontaneously says, "I love you," and "I miss you" to Krystina, his aunt Kiki, and his siblings.  He has always shown that he loves us, but now he is saying it.  This morning, when I walked in, the first thing he said to me was,, "I missed you." 

Then he asked me to look under his bed.  I did, thinking I was looking for monsters like when he was little, and he asked if the Gatorade was there.  When I said no, he cursed.  He had dreamed that Gatorade was under his bed.  He sent me out to buy some.  The store was closed until later due to Labor Day, but I got him a Sprite from McDonalds.  Even though he still cannot swallow, he happily sipped and suctioned it out!  With his permission, we snapped a picture of it, and he is allowing me to share it!

Today Derek had his 21st surgery.  He was second case and taken down around 12.  The surgery went very well.  They washed out his wounds, closed up one wound by his left leg a little more, changed the dressing, and he might be ready for the skin grafts and flap next week. 

There is still an infection in the blood, and the abcesses and still in the abdomen, but since the white cell count went down a little more from 25.5 to 21.5 and the fever he had overnight (101), broke in the morning, they held off on the CT scan.  The only reason they would do the CT scan was if they were going to go after the abcesses surgically.  Because the white cell count is declining, they believe the abcesses are getting smaller.  We have to wait it out a few more days.

The ulcer that is the main concern for wound care is down to a stage 3 and is the size of a dime.  The nurses have done a wonderful job turning him and caring for the site.

CPAP support went up overnight, but it was reduced after surgery to 5/5.  At 4:20 p.m. (1620) they tried the trach collar.  Within 15 minutes he was asking for the swallow test - now!  Impulsive, impatient!  Derek is coming back!

That awful ketamine was stopped last night, so hopefully the nightmares will stop.

Tonight they are giving Derek lunesta.  Maybe the little translucsent butterfly from the commercial will alight onto Derek's pillow and bring him happy dreams tonight!

So, I am off to dreamland myself, hopefully, and maybe Hope Island.  Sleep has eluded me the last couple of weeks.  I doze on and off all night, and then cat nap in that wonderfully, comfortable chair (not!) in Derek's room until someone comes in and wakes me.

Here's to better days, chocolate milkshakes and dancing at the wedding!

God bless you all!

Thank You

 

First of all, a great big thank you to Kim Daves from NJ who took Krystina and me to dinner tonight!  It was great getting out of the hospital and having some girl gossip.

And thank you to Anthony D'Agosto from the Essex County Health Commission and Cathy Cardio from LI, NY who sent me care packages!

Forgot to mention that Kevin's bother Keith was in town yesterday and came for a quick visit with Derek.  Kevin and Keith stayed a couple of hours with Derek.  Now it's down to Krystina and me.  With the start of school, Kiki will not be able to come as often, and neither will my kids, only about every other week. 
Not much on the medical front today.  Derek's white cell count is down slightly from 28.6 to 25.5.  Still too high, but at least it's better.  No fever, so that's good.

They had to go up on the CPAP overnight, but by morning it was back to 5/8.  The only not so good thing was the secretions were thicker and greener today then they have been.

The ortho doc explained that in the civilian world, the flap on the arm is either performed within the first week, but no later than six weeks.  We are now at six weeks since Derek's injury.  He told me that he has never done one this late, but another doctor he works with has, and it was successful.  They are hoping to do it next week, but the infections have to clear up a little more.  Come on, bugs!  Move on out!  Here's your eviction notice!

I was getting aggravated with the positioning when the leg was not put back in the right position.  It is very important to keep that leg pointing down.  For weeks it has been pointing out, and that constricts the muscles.  It has to point down so it can work with the prosthetics.

I had a bit of a panic today talking to the doctors about timing.  It is still a long road.  Thinking about how long I will still need to be here due to logistics, Derek's care, consents, etc.  It's overwhelming due to the sheer nature of having to support my children, pay my mortgage, etc. 

Friends and family have set up fund raisers (there will be one at the North Caldwell Fire Department I believe on October 16th - thanks, Tommy) and my firm, who has been absolutely wonderful through this entire thing, has set up the Friends of Derek McConnell fund with the North Caldwell Police Department for donations, but it is overwheming to think about it all.  I am a single mother.  I have done this on my own for so long.  How to accept help now and not work for it is beyond me.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Derek McConnell fund in West Caldwell, who has prayed, who has sent good thoughts and kind words.  They mean so much and have helped hold me up with I feel weak.  this is a long, hard road.  Nothing prepared me for what I was facing.

I wish someone had told me to take that week Derek was traveling from Khadahar to Bethesda to settle up things and prepare to be away for anywhere from a couple of weeks to possibly months.  I had no idea.  We just completed Day 37 in the CCU at Bethesda, Day 44 since the injury.  We have seen many patients come in after us and leave the CCU, to graduate to the med/surg floor - the 4th floor.  After that, they become outpatients.  That could take only a couple of months, or depending on the injuries, it could be almost a year.  I cannot leave Derek until he is out of CCU and well on his way to recovery.  His condition is too severe.  I also cannot leave until Krystina is on orders, because she will have no place to stay.
This was an emotionally draining weekend.  I am exhausted.  But today there were funny times.  Derek is blossoming back into his old self.

I told him this morning that I received a facebook message from Sgt Keith and told him that Sgt Keith said he loved him and was sending him a hug.  I then said, "I totally love that kid."  Derek typed out on his pad, "Mom, he's thirty."  That's still a kid, to me.  I might be only 44, but anyone younger than 35 is a kid to me! 
Later in the day, Derek told me the doctors were trying to kill him with the shark bites.  They describe his arm injury as a shark bite.  I asked him if he had been dreaming, and he had been.  Although they cut back on the ketamin and it has helped with the bad dreams, they are not gone.  Derek asked Krystina when she walked in if she was taking her medication.  She asked why, and he said for her aids.  He had dreamt that she and I had aids.  This was after a visit from infection control and discussing the battle buddy blood.

Derek looked at his nails and was disgusted.  He told Krystina that they were gross and he begged her to clean them and do his eyebrows.

That's about it for today.  Thank you for being so supportive.  God bless.

I Torpedoed the Boat

 

Like I said, Derek really did not want to be in a boat so he did not join the Navy.  The boat bed was a bust.  After looking at it, the doctor said no way.  And the charge nurse (I love this guy!) Dixon said the whole point of a wound care bed is circulation and keeping sweat, fluids, etc. away from the body.  He said this bed does not seem designed for that, and he was not happy with it, either.

The boat bed does not have a mechanism that allows it to incline and recline.  Due to his lung condition coupled with the wounds on Derek's lower back, he needs to be constantly changed from sitting up to lying down.  The boat bed uses foam wedges.  In order to change his position, the nurse would have to have him sit all the way up and take one or more out to get the right height, instead of simply pushing a button.  Derek cannot sit all the way up because of the pelvic fixator.

But also, how exactly does lying with foam behind the head, shoulders and upper back keep the circulation going? 

So, I was asked to decide whether I wanted boat bed for the couple of days it will take to get the new bed or whether to keep him in his bed now.  Weighing the options and Derek's preferences, we sunk boat bed.  His nurses have been awesome with the wound care, and they said that until the new bed arrives they will turn him even more than they have been.

We had Tom Diggs as his nurse again today, and I do really like him. He is very attentive, not only to Derek, but to me.  He is always asking if I am alright and if I need anything.  I appreciate it.
Not much medically today.  White cell went down a little to 28.6, but fever spiked to 102.1.  Dixson's Pillow of Destiny helped bring that down to normal.  If the fevers continue, the CT will be done tomorrow and they will not wait until Monday.

We got CPAP support on the vent down to 5 and 8, so hopefully the trach collar will work tomorrow.
I forgot this yesterday....  Derek asked Krystina to kiss him.  Begged her.  She said she couldn't, because they would kick her out!  (He is still on droplet precaution.)  He then settled for chapstick.  Today he asked for a hug.  With his abdominal wounds and pelvic fixator that could seriously injure him, and that close contact could transfer infections from our clothes to his, so she said she would love to, but couldn't just yet.  Instead she squeezed his shoulders and held his hand.  My poor boy.  When asked what he wanted for his birthday....  "to go home."  His birthday is in October.  He won't be home by then, but maybe he will be up and about.  We can hope and pray.

Sean left today with Kellina and Kiki (my sister Yvette).  It's strange not having him here.  He has been here since day one.  Our comic relief has left us.  We will have to rely on Derekisms alone now.
It was said to Krystina and me today that it is unknown how we sit here everyday, all day, making the difficult decisions and pushing him to do what he has to do.  It's not hard.  I am only doing what I have to do to get him better.  For 36 days now I have sat by his side.  I am up at 5:30 a.m. on surgery days, 7:00 a.m. on non-surgery days.  We sit in the hospital, most of the time in his room and sometimes in the day room, until between 7 and 10 at night.  I've read six books.  This is life right now.  This is what Derek needs. 

There are days that I spend little time in his room because the doctors and nurses are so busy with him.  Those days I sit in the day room and catch a few minutes when I can.  I do not dare leave the hospital, because if Derek needs me, I want to be there.

I did ask the doctors about taking the kids to DC for a few hours, but they said it would not be a good idea right now to be more than 10-20 minutes from the hospital.  They will be back during the school year and DC will still be there.  I cannot leave his side right now.  If because of surgery, procedures, doctors, nurses, etc. I only get a few minutes with him, then that is what I get.  This is where I need to be.
As for the decisions and pushing him?  They aren't hard when they are what is best.  It's called being a parent.  For Krystina, it's called being a loving girlfriend/fiance/wife (pick one).

We will get Derek through this.  Krystina and I are in this for the long haul.  He is so much better than he was, but he is not out of the woods and he has a long way to go!  Unfortunately, Krystina and I will be away from home for a while.  C'est la vie.  I worry, but I have a wonderful family at home who will hold it together until I get back.

Love does great things.  It gives you strength when you feel like you will shatter.

Anchors Away!!!

 

Day 35 in the ccu, surgery 20.

During surgery this morning, they looked at the wounds on Derek's back.  The wounds had been from the original blast.  At first, they were determined to be stage 3, with one at stage 2.  They thought they were getting better, so they were downgraded to stage 3 and 2.  There is one that is not getting better.  They are determining it to be "unstageable," but if they were forced to stage it, it would be stage 4.  Not.Good. 
The bed that he had was specially ordered to help him with this.  It is a wonderful bed that circulates air around him, but it wasn't enough.  So the doctors decided to order him a "boat bed."  If a regular bed is the Ford of beds, the bed he has had is the BMW of beds, this new bed is the Bentley of beds.

This new bed does everything the bed he has now does, plus more.  He should have it tonight or tomorrow.  An army guy in a boat bed.  And he said he joined the army because he didn't want to be stuck on a big boat!  Ha!

Surgery went great.  The wound vac on the right leg was removed!  Hooah!  The left leg is still showing signs on bacteria.  Not so great, but we'll get there.  The right arm looked good and was cleared by ortho for the flap for whenever plastics felt comfortable enough with the stage of the infections to complete the procedure.  The infection is not gone, but it is getting there, so by the end of next week or the following week, plastics should be ready.

They will be doing another CT in a few days to look at those abcesses.  His white blood cell count was 27.9 in the morning and spiked to 30.8 by the afternoon, but his temp was normal all day.  They believe it might be the abcesses in the abdomen.  If it is, they need to let them mature, and then general surgery will go in and get them out.  He had his stitches removed from his stomach today, so more surgery on the ab is NOT what we wanted to hear.  I really hope the antibiotics work and surgery is not needed.

His heart rate was scary high today.  It hovered in the high 130's, favoring 137, all day.  He was tachy most of the day.  Because the echo showed no signs of damage or strain as of yet, they gave him fluids and are watching it carefully.  His nurse was so wonderful today. LTJG Tom Diggs, and kept such a close eye on him.

I have been so lucky.  I hear others complain about nursing and doctor problems, but that is not my experience.  I had one bad experience, and one ditsy experience, but everyone else has been wonderful.  I pray this continues.

They tried Derek on the trach collar again.  Unfortunately, it only lasted four minutes.  He just isn't strong enough.  His CPAP was reduced from 60% support to 40% support at 5/12.

Derek told me so many times that he loved me and didn't want me to leave him.  I told him I wasn't going anywhere.  He begged me to take him home, and I just told him I wish I could, and that I would as soon as the doctors said it was okay.

What broke my heart was how much he wants food.  Lt Tom was concerned about restarting his tube feeds after surgery because the J-tube did not feel right, so he talked to Dr. Dan about an x-ray.  The x-ray looked okay so the tube feedings started again, but it's not filling his belly and he is not satisfied. 
Derek was enjoying his Sprite and suctioning it out, and he finished the bottle.  He asked Krystina to get him another, but she said one minute, because she didn't want to leave him just then because he was so cute, and she wanted to see his blue eyes.  He turned his head and hid his face so she couldn't see his eyes!  Brat!

A funny story from a week ago was when Krystina asked Sean to bring her her pocketbook from the Lodge.  What do you think the cops thought when they saw a teenage boy walking with an oversized, bright pink woman's pocketbook?  What do you think a teenage boy thought when he looked behind him and saw two police cars following him very slowly?  He started walking very fast to get into the hospital building before they stopped in, his heart pounding the whole time!  Poor Sean!

Derek had a lot of visitors today, but he was quite tired from surgery, so he slept most of the day.  Kiki, Kellina, Sean and Kevin were all around, but all Derek really cared about was his Sprite.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a quite day of rest, relaxation and healing in his boat bed!  Anchors away!

A Special Visit

 

We got back to the room on Thursday night very late, so I did not get to update.  Sgt Tom Mautone of the North Caldwell Police Department came to visit with Derek and took us out to dinner. 
I had said that while Derek is in CCU, visits would be limited to family.  Tom is family.  When my grandmother was taken to the hospital once, Tom played ball on the front yard (in uniform) with the boys while the paramedics loaded her into the ambulance.  When Derek was going through his rebellious teenage years, Tom was there.  Tom talked Derek though a lot of troubling times.  Many times when Derek wanted to punch the lights out of someone who really deserved it, Tom talked him out of it.  When Derek was having some real problems, Tom was there. 

When Derek was arrested, Tom talked his mother down!  Derek came to his friend's defense and hit a bully in school and had to be arrested (school's rule - when there is blood, there has to be an arrest).  Tom was the officer called to the scene.  My rule is, if you are arrested, stay there for the night, and I will come by in the morning.  Tom convinced me to come and get him because Derek did the right thing by standing up for his friend.  Once I had the whole story, I knew he was right.  Tom has been a good friend to Derek.

It was great seeing him.  He took us to dinner last night, and he promised to be back.  He is planning a fund raiser at home for the family to help us through this time.  The goodness in people is truly overwhelming and a blessing from God.

Overnight on Wednesday night, Dr. Mielke got Derek off the vent and on the trach collar.  Unfortunately, Derek's lungs were just not ready and his stats fells.  By Thursday night he was back on CPAP with pressure support of 5/14.  He also received 2 units of blood overnight.  His trach began secreting again.
Plastics and the ortho guys came to discuss the flap and the plates an screws for the arm.  We are on track to do it next week, God willing.  It looks as if the infections are on the run from the arm and will be gone by then!

Derek was removed from the TPN because the tube feedings are working!  Yes!  It hurts him when the J-tube is accessed, but it is working.  We just need to remind the nurse to be gentle.

The infections, while on the run from certain areas, still elude us.  His white count was back up to 32.  They are tricky creatures.  His fever was 99 all day, so while not high, it's curious that the white cell count is high while the fever is low.

Yesterday, he was finally allowed some Sprite.  He said it was "heaven."  First taste of something in six weeks.  He cannot swallow, so we have to suction it out, but it was still something with taste.  The look on his face was priceless.

Derek is doing so much better.  His color is good and his personality is shining through.  Everytime Master Sgt Bell walks in, she says "climb to glory," and he responds, "to the top!  All the way!"

The prayers are working.  We will get him there.  Thank you for all of the support, love and prayers.  It means so much.

Introduction

Derek was born on October 8, 1989. 

Derek's battle through the world started with his birth.  He was born premature with gastrochisis.  He had hernia surgeries as a result at age 2 months and 6 years.  Notwithstanding this, he grew into a strong, healthy boy.  We almost lost him at age 14 when he had an incarcerated bowel.  But Derek survived and grew into the strong, brave man he is.

Derek graduated from West Essex High School in 2008 and entered the U.S.Army in January 2010.  After finishing Air Borne training, he was assigned to Catamount, B Co, 2-87 at Fort Drum, New York.

Derek's deployment began on March 18, 2011 when he shipped out to Afghanistan.  He was upbeat and ready to serve his country.

Derek previously took Tae Kwon Do classes earning the rank of brown belt.  He left Tae Kwon Do and pursued mixed martial arts.  He keeps in shape by working out and running.

Derek met his wonderful fiancee Krystina four years ago.  Krystina Dressler has been a source of strength, support and love for Derek since that time.  We love her, and she is part of our family, just as Derek is part of the Pizza/Dressler family.

Derek's world changed on July 23, 2011 when he and another soldier encountered a pressure plate IED while on patrol.  Although he has lost his left leg from the hip and the right left high above the knee, we are taking bets as to how long it is before he runs the NYC marathon, and how long he lasts before taking off his new leg and beating his little brother Sean with it.

Derek has always been a fighter, and as he begins this ultimate battle of his life, we know that he will do it with the strength and grace he has shown in entire life.

You are welcome to join us in our journey through this new normal.

Thank you for all of your support, prayers, well wishes, etc.  Without the love and support of family and friends around the world, this would be a much more difficult journey.  Thank you for sharing this journey with us.

Getting Closer to the Edge of the Woods

 

I officially do not like September 1st.  That is the start of a new doctor's rotation.  We lost Dr. Obi Ugodikwo, who I absolutely love, Dr. Paolin of infectious disease, Dr. Mielke and others.  Dr. Mielke isn't leaving, he is moving to the pain service, but he will not be on the floor and giving Derek the same care.  I came to trust the team of doctors, and and then we were invaded by Walter Reed.  But then I got used to that team of doctors, and now they are leaving!  Ugh.  Oh well, we will will have to get used to all new doctors.  I am sure that they will be good, as well, but I will sure miss Dr. Ugo and Dr. Mielke the most.  I wish them good luck in their new adventures.

Dr. Perdue said he won't leave him through, so that's good.

Derek had the echocardiogram today.  We should have the results tomorrow.
Surgery went well today.  I was told it was "textbook."  The wound vacs were changed, and everything looked good.  The arm was washed out, and cultures were taken.  The legs are closed and look good, but cultures were taken to make sure they are not infected.

There are sacs of bacteria in the left leg, but they think the antibiotics will get it.  The abcesses in the abdomen are slightly worse, but they still think the antiobiotics will get them.  What I am not happy about is the almost defeatist way the doctors were talking about the abcesses and whether the antiobiotics will work or whether they will have to just go in after them, which is dangerous.  They were talking in front of Derek and it upset him.  His whole attitude changed after they were there, and he started with the, "what if I can't beat this" again.  I have to make sure each doctor knows that Derek is made aware of all information, but that it is told to him in a positive way.  If they are not up to this challenge, then they need to tell me so that I can tell him.  I think I will be making a sign for the door - "Only positive words and attitudes beyond this point or mama tigress will kick you ass!  This means YOU!"

There are three known sources of infection - in the soft tissue, the abcesses (even though they said maybe not), and the pneumonia in the lungs.  I was told that he did not have pneumonia, but one of the doctors tonight told me he definitely does and that whomever told that he does not was not being honest with me.  He would not have all of the fluid that he does without it.  I appreciate it when the doctors are straightforward and honest with me.  I can handle the truth.

His fevers hovered around 100 all day.  His white cell count was 28 overnight, but it was 24 in the morning, up from 22 yesterday.

His tube feeds through the J tube started today, and he tolerated them.

Dr. Mielky is trying to get him off the vent tonight.  Derek started at CPAP on 5/12 support today, and was at 5/7 at 8 p.m. tonight.  By 10 p.m. it was backed down to 5/4.  We will see what it is by the morning.  If he can be off it by tomorrow, maybe he can be on a speaking valve this weekend, which will really help his state of mind!

Unfortunately, it looks like the bacteria might be back in his blood.  Some of the cultures showed possible staph strains in his blood.  We will know more in the next few days.

We asked Derek how he felt today, and his response was "like shit."  If he could respond like that, he is coming back to himself.  He was a bit depressed tonight, and it was hard to see him so upset.  I calmed him and then I ran out to get something to eat and promised I would come right back.  I asked Dr. Mielke if there was something to help calm him down so he could sleep.  Dr. Mielke talked me me about it and gave him his regular night meds, as well as a little boost within proper guidelines, of course.  I do love Dr. Mielke and how honest and straightforward he has been with me.  I will miss him.

But as hard as it was on me to see him hurting, this is good, as explained to me by one of the nurses, Mary.  It is when these guys hold in their emotions, medicate themselves and refuse to feel that the healing doesn't happen.  The ones who go through this grief early are the ones who are healthier in the end.  Derek is strong man.  He is going to be fine.  As hard as a struggle as this is, he is climbing that mountain and will reach the top.  Climb to glory!

So, Derek is still in those woods, but getting closer and closer to the edge.  One of these days he will be close enough for me to reach in an grab him and pull him out.  I am praying for that day to come soon.  He is getting better, sometimes slowly, and sometimes he takes a few steps forward and a few steps back, but he looks so much better than he did last week.  Each week shows new progress. 

We have to concentrate on the progresses and not concentrate on the set backs.  If we concentrate on the set backs, we will go nuts.  There are going to be steps back as we continue on this journey, but as long as we continue to take steps forward, we can deal with those few steps back.

Thank you for all of your continued love, support and prayers.  It means so much.