Blogger wont let me post a picture for some reason, but I do have proof that Greg took his first outing from the hospital! Our daughter Eleanor was baptized yesterday and Greg was granted permission to leave the VA to attend. It was WONDERFUL that he was able to be there. It meant so much to us and even more so to Eleanor. He was able to be in her circle when she was confirmed a member of the church. We feel so blessed to have Greg with us and for the joy and spirit he carries. Afterwards we went to Celia's Mexican Restaurant and got Greg a tostada :) It was a great day and we feel overwhelmingly grateful he was able to attend.
We love you Greg and Judy! Thanks for Everything!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Product Endorsement
"That is tooo fizzalicious"
- L Greg Wheelwright, upon sampling the new Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash 09/21/10
Monday, September 20, 2010
We Love the VA!
In addition to having the best equipment and staff in town, the VA also has tons of fun family activities. On Sunday we were invited to enjoy a tasty KFC picnic with our favorite veteran!
As you can see, dad delighted in sharing a tasty lunch with his wife and the Tharp clan (Wendy, Bailey, Penelope & Brian).
Due to the angle of the photo what you can't see is... Mom and Dad's matching "his & hers" wheelchairs. They are a sassy pair. Greg & Judy are both doing wonderfully, following the advice of their caretakers, and recovering a bit every day. It was truly a pleasure to see them sitting side by side and enjoying a Sunday meal with their family.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Judy, Judy, Judy...
I think it's past time for a mom update!
As you may recall, Judy broke her leg in the car accident. She has been up and about, walking in her boot-cast for about 9 weeks now. The doctors were hopeful that if she kept active and irritated that broken bone enough it would heal. Unfortunately, she was not that lucky. An x-ray taken last week showed no calcification of the broken bone. The remedy? Surgery!
Today the surgeon re-opened mom's leg, removed the pin holding it in place, inserted a larger pin (2mm), and "generated fresh bone matter" to fill in where it should be healing. Now, the "generation of fresh bone matter" is most definitely the most awesome part, but I'm going to save you the details, because I love you.
Mom sailed through surgery in record time, and I'm sitting by her bedside now. She is really groggy, but doing fantastic. We are expecting just an overnight stay, she should be resting in a comfy recliner by tomorrow afternoon.
When asked if there was anything she wanted to say to her fan base, mom replied, "Ugghhhh". Those must be good drugs...
As you may recall, Judy broke her leg in the car accident. She has been up and about, walking in her boot-cast for about 9 weeks now. The doctors were hopeful that if she kept active and irritated that broken bone enough it would heal. Unfortunately, she was not that lucky. An x-ray taken last week showed no calcification of the broken bone. The remedy? Surgery!
Today the surgeon re-opened mom's leg, removed the pin holding it in place, inserted a larger pin (2mm), and "generated fresh bone matter" to fill in where it should be healing. Now, the "generation of fresh bone matter" is most definitely the most awesome part, but I'm going to save you the details, because I love you.
Mom sailed through surgery in record time, and I'm sitting by her bedside now. She is really groggy, but doing fantastic. We are expecting just an overnight stay, she should be resting in a comfy recliner by tomorrow afternoon.
When asked if there was anything she wanted to say to her fan base, mom replied, "Ugghhhh". Those must be good drugs...
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Moving Day!! 9/8/2010
Today Greg moved out of his hospital room and into the VA! Matt and I were able to meet Judy, Wendy, and Greg there and see him into his new room. It is so clean, everyone is so friendly, the equiptment is fantastic! It is going to be wonderful! Greg is so happy to be out of the hospital and looking forward to meeting new faces in his new facility!
Medically Greg is doing really well, he is improving everyday and even got to make some phone calls to his family members on his cell phone. He has feeling on both of his sides down to his bellybutton and has feeling all the way down on his left side. He is more himself now, can remember faces and short recent periods of time. He still is sorting things out in his mind, has some issues swallowing at times and such- but he is making leaps and bounds constantly. We are all so very proud of him and impressed by his strength.
His grandkids can all visit him at the VA in his room, they are very family friendly- So Montgomery and Winifred got to see him in his hospital bed for the first time today! We look forward to many more visits and watching him improve daily!
I was talking to Wendy today and she said that at the VA they will keep you there until you are recovered to the level YOU want (unlike the hospital where they recover you just enough to send you home). She told Greg that and asked him what he wanted from this. His response was "I want to walk out of here." It will take some hard work, but I have faith that he can and he will reach his goal.
Medically Greg is doing really well, he is improving everyday and even got to make some phone calls to his family members on his cell phone. He has feeling on both of his sides down to his bellybutton and has feeling all the way down on his left side. He is more himself now, can remember faces and short recent periods of time. He still is sorting things out in his mind, has some issues swallowing at times and such- but he is making leaps and bounds constantly. We are all so very proud of him and impressed by his strength.
His grandkids can all visit him at the VA in his room, they are very family friendly- So Montgomery and Winifred got to see him in his hospital bed for the first time today! We look forward to many more visits and watching him improve daily!
I was talking to Wendy today and she said that at the VA they will keep you there until you are recovered to the level YOU want (unlike the hospital where they recover you just enough to send you home). She told Greg that and asked him what he wanted from this. His response was "I want to walk out of here." It will take some hard work, but I have faith that he can and he will reach his goal.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Great News!
We just heard that Greg got accepted to the VA!!!
This is FANTASTIC news and we are all SO excited! This means he will be moving asap to the Veteran's Affairs Hospital in Palo Alto where they have all of the state of the art equiptment to care for Greg more fully and completely then at Valley Med.
He will be moved as early as late this week, just as soon as a bed opens up for him! We will give another update soon with more complete info on the new facility!
Keep up those prayers and well wishes, Greg is improving everyday!
This is FANTASTIC news and we are all SO excited! This means he will be moving asap to the Veteran's Affairs Hospital in Palo Alto where they have all of the state of the art equiptment to care for Greg more fully and completely then at Valley Med.
He will be moved as early as late this week, just as soon as a bed opens up for him! We will give another update soon with more complete info on the new facility!
Keep up those prayers and well wishes, Greg is improving everyday!
Monday, August 2, 2010
The SKY is the Limit!
It's graduation day for Greg, and the news is all good today. Following is a quick update of dad's progress:
1. Greg is breathing without assistance. His trach is plugged, and he is being scheduled to have it removed within the next few days. Once this minor surgery is complete, he will be able to enjoy all the culinary delicacies that Valley Medical has to offer. Can you say, "whipped carrots"?
2. All IV's have been removed, the only remaining input line is his feeding tube. The feeding tube will be removed once he is able to consume enough calories to sustain himself without the added liquid diet boost.
3. Dad has graduated from his status of "Trauma Recovery Patient" and is now officially a "Rehabilitation Patient".
Due to the residual confusion of "someone jiggling my coins", Greg will be transfered to the head injury rehabilitation center today. Dad's mental recovery has been as miraculous as his physical recovery, but he is feeling a bit (ok, lot) frustrated with the lingering confusion. The doctors are optimistic that with more time things will straighten out. Greg can speak, read, and is quickly recovering the full extent of his vocabulary. Yesterday the man was heard to say, "Yeah, right. That helps. Why don't you give me another platitude", with a biting sarcasm previously reserved only for teenage girls. He was right though, it was a platitude.
And if that wasn't enough good news for you...
4. Upon physical examination today, Greg responded to pain below the waist! The doctor was poking around, "can you feel this?"... poke... poke... poke, "can you feel this?" ...poke... and dad unexpectedly jumped and said, "Yes". So as any good doctor would, he tried it again. =)
After a full examination the doctor happily announced, "This changes things. Greg's status has changed from 'complete' to 'incomplete'. The sky is the limit for his rehabilitation."
1. Greg is breathing without assistance. His trach is plugged, and he is being scheduled to have it removed within the next few days. Once this minor surgery is complete, he will be able to enjoy all the culinary delicacies that Valley Medical has to offer. Can you say, "whipped carrots"?
2. All IV's have been removed, the only remaining input line is his feeding tube. The feeding tube will be removed once he is able to consume enough calories to sustain himself without the added liquid diet boost.
3. Dad has graduated from his status of "Trauma Recovery Patient" and is now officially a "Rehabilitation Patient".
Due to the residual confusion of "someone jiggling my coins", Greg will be transfered to the head injury rehabilitation center today. Dad's mental recovery has been as miraculous as his physical recovery, but he is feeling a bit (ok, lot) frustrated with the lingering confusion. The doctors are optimistic that with more time things will straighten out. Greg can speak, read, and is quickly recovering the full extent of his vocabulary. Yesterday the man was heard to say, "Yeah, right. That helps. Why don't you give me another platitude", with a biting sarcasm previously reserved only for teenage girls. He was right though, it was a platitude.
And if that wasn't enough good news for you...
4. Upon physical examination today, Greg responded to pain below the waist! The doctor was poking around, "can you feel this?"... poke... poke... poke, "can you feel this?" ...poke... and dad unexpectedly jumped and said, "Yes". So as any good doctor would, he tried it again. =)
After a full examination the doctor happily announced, "This changes things. Greg's status has changed from 'complete' to 'incomplete'. The sky is the limit for his rehabilitation."
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