Day 30 - Letter from Daniel

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hey uncle bill, dad said you want me to update you on some current events regarding my progress and such. well, things are going great. I feel great and am walking and getting around pretty good. physical therapy on my arm is quite painful but the progress is fairly noticeable.

Christine's been coming over every day for about half the day. i may be boring her but i more than enjoy her company. she's been amazingly wonderful throughout this whole ordeal, by my side daily and i believe she's very happy now that i am able to put my arm around her and that she can hug me without me wincing in pain. oh, and for the record Ben, i did not get in this accident just to make sure Christine was the right girl or to test her, I've always known how incredible she is.

for those who don't know, Christine and I met my senior year of high school when i moved out to salt lake from Tennessee. we swam together and i was really good friends with her older sister Danielle who was one of the captains on the swim team. i first noticed how beautiful Christine was at her 16th birthday party. her dad, Jeff, has a printing company and he made all these giant posters of her and put them all over their house. it was a bit much but looking at all those gorgeous pictures of Christine sure left an impression on me. I was star struck for her for quite a while after that but never acted on it for some reason. we continued to be friends up until i left on my mission and after that we didn't really keep in touch.

upon my return from Russia two years later, i just so happened to be at a party where i was graced with her presence. she was more beautiful than ever. we engaged in a long conversation on my friend stein's back porch and along with a few other friends, peter, stein and Paul, we sort of formed a new group of friends for the summer and began hiking, climbing and camping alot. a quite ironic foreshadowing of Christine's and my engagement occurred on a camping trip in august up little cottonwood canyon. as we passed a beautiful Toyota Tacoma i stated "oh i love Tacoma's, their my favorite car!"(or something similar to that) after which, Christine agreeingly stated that the Tacoma was her favorite car as well. Paul told us that we should just get married and buy a Tacoma together, we laughed and said ok (we were not dating at all at this point). later on the trip, once we were at our camping site at lisa falls, we decided to take some pictures together in front of the river. well we all got shots together, in twos and threes. after looking at them all, someone, maybe peter, pointed out that the pictures of Christine and me had turned out the best and continuing with the joke made earlier about marriage, suggested we use that picture as our engagement photo. neither of us thought twice about this comment but a few weeks later we were climbing and she impressed me so much with how well she climbed that i decided it was time to ask her out. I did that night and two nights later we went out and 4 and a half months later we were engaged and 4 months after that i got in this accident. we are getting married august 1st now and are much more anxious than we should be for having 3 more months ahead of us. we are completely in love and can't wait to get married, so we've decided to go to Vegas this week to speed up the process.

well, other than being engaged to the most beautiful girl in the world, my injuries are healing, slowly but surely. I'm walking great, my spirits are up and the only big thing I'm struggling with is sleep. thank you all for your prayers and love, it's much appreciated and the many miracles of my recovery are quite apparent. I love you all.

-Daniel-

Home Again

Sunday Evening, 26 April

After making the transition to oral antibiotics, Daniel was released from the hospital late this afternoon.

When we arrived at Daniel's home this evening, everyone was in the family room watching a movie. Imagine the reality check when we walked in and saw Mendy lying in the hospital bed, Daniel and Christine sitting in chairs, and Grandma Nan on the couch. That alone shows just how far Daniel has come. He is no longer stuck in the hospital bed 24/7.

Alex relaxing in Daniel's hospital bed.

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Daniel and Christine enjoying his liberation from the hospital bed

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The knee is healing well.
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Daniel flushes out his liver with saline solution 3 times daily.

He says he can feel it go in because it is cold, and then it feels kind of bizarre when it gushes back out.
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Alex playing his new piano

(which his parents bought him before Daniel's accident, but didn't get a chance to have delivered until last week)

Day 27 - Letter from Aubrey

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Sunday 26 April

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Aubrey wrote the letter below very late Saturday night and emailed it this morning, but one of us (we won't point fingers) overlooked checking his inbox. When we were at Aub and Mendy's house tonight Aubrey said, "did you get the e-mail I sent this morning?" Belatedly, here it is:

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written Saturday 25 April, around Midnight

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Dear Bill,

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Daniel had his first shower today...they put Saran-wrap over his drainage tube. I can only imagine what he felt, after almost a month of not being able to shower.

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He called me and ordered a pizza, as only he can. Of all the places to order from, he wanted Papa Johns. The last thing I wanted to do after being out all day, was to drive downtown for an underrated pizza, but I decided indulging him was probably a good thing. He ate piece after piece until he almost polished off the whole thing. Now his stomach aches will be considered self-induced. Hopefully the suffering will be worth it, since it was his idea.

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"This pizza looks fabulous. I believe I could eat the whole thing."

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"In fact, I think I will eat the whole thing. Here goes!"

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Christine smiles contentedly while T-Bob chows down.

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He looks great. Our Daniel is back with us. As I left the hospital tonight, I stopped outside the elevator and looked around. It suddenly hit me and a few tears welled up in my eyes. We came so close to loosing him and I'm just now allowing myself to realize it. Our kids are precious gifts to us. Life is a precious gift to us. We are all a bit weary, but I drove home with a new perspective. It is sobering. I think this concludes another chapter of a long book, and you know how I hate to read. I usually fall asleep during the first few pages, but this one has captured my attention.

We love everyone who has cared for us and who have stood ready to help in any way that we needed. I came outside yesterday evening to see a freshly cut lawn, by a loving neighbor who has more needs than any of us could imagine. It was his way of showing us he cared. It showed me again that often it is the ones that have the least to give (money, time, energy, talents), that truly give the most. It's ironic that when we are downtrodden or weary and feel we have nothing left to give, we can actually be renewed and uplifted by giving even more. It works every time.

Aubrey

Day 26 Update

Saturday 25 April

Daniel remains in the hospital today. The doctors have switched to an oral antibiotic to fight the infection in his liver. Aubrey says he is looking much better.

Day 25 Update

Friday 24 April, 6:30 pm MST

There was some speculation among the nurses today that T-Bob would be getting his walking papers and heading back home this evening. But the doctors are still trying to isolate the infectious bacteria in his liver, so for now he gets to retain his accommodations at the University Hospital. Currently Daniel is receiving three broad spectrum antibiotics intravenously. Once the bacteria is isolated, the regimen can be reduced to one oral antibiotic. When that happens he can go home.

But in order to reduce Daniel's separation anxiety from the trauma team, they are sending him home with a souvenir. He gets to keep the drainage tube in his liver for a couple more weeks. The tube exits through his rib cage (yes, the broken ones) and out his side, and Daniel told Aubrey today, "I thought I knew what pain was." Still, Aubrey says he looks much better and has better color.

Daniel also walked down the hall and back today without his crutch. The orthopedic surgeon told him he can now put as much weight on his leg as he can tolerate. He has to take baby steps, but he is walking.

Day 24 Update

Thursday 23 April

The e-mail below from Aubrey was sent today at 11:19 am MST

Dear Bill,

Just got an update from the doctor. They are keeping Daniel in the hospital at least until tomorrow. The infectious fluid (gunk) that is draining from the liver has so many unidentifiable bacteria in it that they now have him on 3 antibiotics. They are concerned that one of them could be staph and seem to be taking it very seriously. His liver is continuing to drain a lot, and his white count has dropped from 12 to 6 overnight, so his body seems like it's glad to get rid of the stuff. Other than being nauseated, he feels so much better. "Better" of course is relative. He's still in pain, but each improvement reduces his overall discomfort. One step at a time.

I am remembering the country-western song a few years back, where the lyrics said, "...I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel, but Lord I hope it's not a train."

Mendy is exhausted, so it's nice to have had Grandma Wadsworth here and now Grandma Nan. Mendy has been able to slip in to work for a few hours every few days, so at least she feels somewhat under control there.

Please let everyone know how much we have enjoyed and appreciated their meals, letters, emails, visits, thoughts, and prayers. We are blessed to have so many who care.

Aubrey

Editor's note: Aubrey's reference to song lyrics brings back memories of another great country-western song: "Drop Kick Me Jesus Through The Goal Posts of Life." I've always loved the title of that song and have fantasized about how nice it would be to get drop kicked above all the problems and challenges of life -- flying non-stop to that great touchdown in the sky. However, since this life is all about gaining experience and growing, somehow I don't think just sailing through without any worries or cares was ever part of the plan. But certainly Daniel has had lots of help every step along the way of this particularly challenging journey. He went into it strong and he will come out the other side even stronger. To echo Aubrey's words above, thanks so much for everyone's faith, prayers and the assistance you have given and continue to give Daniel and his family.

Day 23 Morning Update: Surgery Completed

22 April, 11:30 am MST

Daniel is out of surgery now. The surgery went well. The abscess was in the dying part of Daniel's liver. The surgeon went through Daniel's rib cage and inserted a different type of tube into his liver than they have used in the past. The poisonous fluid is now draining out the tube.

Daniel is very fortunate that one of the doctors just happened to think of doing a CT scan yesterday (which is how they found the liver abscess). If the abscess had burst and flooded toxic fluid into Daniel's body, he would be back in the ICU right now.

Daniel will remain in the hospital today and we do not yet know whether he will stay in the hospital overnight or when he will be released. But as usual, we will update his condition and release information on the blog as soon as Aubrey and Mendy know.

Day 22 - Daniel Readmitted to Hospital

Tuesday 21 April, 5:30 pm MST

Aubrey just called with an unexpected development. Exactly three weeks from the date of Daniel's motorcycle accident, he has been readmitted to the University Hospital and will undergo surgery tomorrow.

Daniel has been in a lot of pain the past couple of days and his stomach is distended again. Mendy took him to the University Hospital this morning so that the trauma team could evaluate his condition. The tests began at 7:30 am and continued all day. Around 5:00 pm the doctors analyzed the results of a new CT scan that one of the doctors had recommended during the course of evaluation today. Daniel has an abscess in his liver the size of two fists.

The stent that is still in Daniel's liver is not draining off the fluid from the abscess, so tomorrow the surgeon will insert another drainage tube to drain the abscess. We do not yet know what time the surgery will take place, but will update the blog as soon as there is more information.

On a positive note, the doctors also checked Daniel's lungs today and they are clear. In addition, they removed the stitches from his arm and leg.

Please continue to keep Daniel in your prayers. Although he does not look as much like a critically injured accident victim, Daniel still has a lot of healing to do. His worst injuries are internal. And the external injuries are covered by an arm cast and a leg brace, or are hidden under his clothing (remember the hip picture?), so sometimes we look at him and think he has recovered. But for now, his battle continues.

Day 20 Update

Sunday 19 April

Among Daniel's steady flow of visitors, Aubrey's brother Ben and his wife Mattie have driven down from Boise with their three active-yet-adorable kids for a visit with T-Bob.

Daniel's cousins enjoy a visit.

(The ribbon in the middle of the pic is from Daniel's floating

"Get Well" balloon)

Josh (left) and Ryan (right) comfortable in Daniel's hospital bed.

Even Brady does his part so Daniel can live at home.

(Note: Brady doesn't live in the cage. He's just kind enough to stay here at times when there are lots of guests.)

Aubrey will write a post later today to update everyone on Daniel's last couple of days, but we wanted to go ahead and publish the pictures from our visit today. As you all know, Daniel is living at home now, in a hospital bed in the family room.

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6:00 pm MST

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And now it has arrived... Aubrey's letter:

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Dear Bill,

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I went to church today for the first time since Daniel's accident. I tried to slip in late so that I wouldn't have to be asked to give an update on Daniel's condition. You know me better than most. I tend to shy away from crowds and retreat into a quiet corner, even though I am only surrounded by people who love our family. I felt numb throughout the meetings, although it was really nice to see everyone again. I finally took time to read through the blog site and was amazed at all the detail I had either forgotten or pushed to the back of my already crowded mind.

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Daniel continues to slowly improve, even though one pain just gets traded for another. I panicked the other night and called on a doctor friend to come evaluate Daniel to see if he needed to be rushed to the hospital, and she quietly and calmly checked Daniel and gave us a little more clarity as to what was happening. Apparently, Daniel's philosophy of "No Pain, No Gain" has taken it's toll on his body. At the time of his discharge he was not told that even the slightest move in the wrong direction could cause his liver to start bleeding again, so he had been trying to move around more and hobble with his crutch. The workout agitated his stint and caused his abdomen to harden, swelling to begin, and jaundice coloration to his skin. After Daniel became aware of this, he took to his bed and has stayed there for the past 3 days. He hates his hospital bed and can't seem to get comfortable in any position, but he is also grateful to be home.

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Alex carefully helped him to his wheelchair and out to the car for an hour at Donner Park. While the short trip wore him out, he loved being outside. He loves the out of doors, as do I. I remember a while back, driving up Parley's Canyon to Park City, just as Spring was fully settling in. I started making sounds that expressed my feelings of being in the middle of the gorgeous surroundings, and Mendy said, "Why are you making those noises? I replied, "Don't you get excited when you smell the fresh pine, feel the breeze, and experience all of this beauty?" She said, "No." So, I guess it's just another one of those creative things that only I and a few other soul mates experience, Daniel being one of them.

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Mom has been such a great help to us and now Grandma Nan will be arriving tomorrow to help with Daniel's care. As I sat in church today, I reflected on a visit I made last week to a young friend that was on the same floor as Daniel. He had just been diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer, that literally dissolves his bones. He has already lost 4" in his height. He is only in his 20's and has been married for about a year. Another close friend has a terminally ill child at home, who has required a 24-7 vigil of care for several years now...nurses in their living space throughout the day, never allowing any privacy or quiet family time with their other children. I think of our dear friend, affectionately called by our boys, "Grandma Dorothy", having had to care for her son Frankie for over 60 years, who as a child had been hit by a car and then later developed some type of virus that blinded him and left him mentally challenged. At 96 she still continues to pay for his medical bills... and yet, another close friend our age, who has been bed-ridden now for over 15 years, whose husband has to come home from work each day at lunch time to give her an injection for pain.

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As trying as this has been, our situation with Daniel pales in comparison to so many others. It just makes me more aware of those who courageously and quietly suffer through their challenges. We all have friends or know of people who endure these circumstances, and now we too find ourselves among them, but somehow ours just doesn't seem to be that bad. We love everyone's emails, blog comments, and letters. I have gained 5 lbs. since the accident, with all of the wonderful food that has been brought to us. We continue to feel everyone's support and LOVE......we are amazed at how many care so deeply for Daniel and our family. He is an amazing boy. I love you very much.

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Aubrey

Day 17

16 April

Below is a correspondence between Aubrey and (Tennessee) cousin Harrianne. Her thoughts seem to mirror those of so many others. Aubrey's response gives an update on Daniel:

Dear Aubrey and family, thank you so much for the blog on Daniel, I have kept up with it daily and the thought of him going home is unbelievable. Miracles do still happen and he is the living proof. How can anyone not believe in God. I felt your panic at the thought of taking him home. I refused to take Charlie one time and it worked for one day but insurance was a little more lax at that time. I have tears in my eyes looking at his pictures and then I see the smile on Norma's face and know that feeling too. Give our love to him and now the hard work begins. I haven't any doubt that this time next year it will all be a horrible and thankful memory. We love you guys and it is a shame that we can't see each other more often and it takes something like this to even keep in touch. Our love to the whole family and daily prayers for Daniel's recovery and for his pain to lessen each day. Love, Harrianne and Charles

Dear Harrianne,

Thank you so much for your personal message. I really have never been able to take the time to read the blog site. Bill has done so much to relieve the time that it takes to respond to phone calls, a deluge of emails, letters, etc. Everyone is so kind and we want to speak with them all, but you know all too well that it is impossible to maintain and balance everything...so, you have to choose where your energy is focused. Daniel had a rough night, with a lot of pain and distention in his upper left quadrant (as the doctor put it). He continues to be a bit jaundiced. It is impossible for him to exercise because one side of his body is broken and he cannot place any weight on his leg and hip, and the other side has the shattered elbow. When he hops with his crutch and one leg, he has to compensate to balance and that begins to compromise the healing of his liver. We have a close friend who is a doctor who came to our aid last night and again this morning; otherwise, I would not have known what to do or how to react. Friends and family continue to be our support, in every small and large way. I too, feel a desire to be closer to each other and am grateful that these situations, at the very least help us to gain perspective of how important it is to nurture our relationships with family and friends.

I was just sitting down to email Bill so that he could post an updated report for Daniel, so now that I have written to you, I realize I just did it.

We love and miss you very much,

Aubrey and Mendy

Day 16 Update

Below is a new letter from Aubrey, written today, Wednesday 15 April, 8:24 am MST:

Daniel's being at home has not been as comfortable as Daniel anticipated. Yesterday, he heard his pelvis crack as he was maneuvering the stairs. We're scheduling another X-ray this morning. In spite of his discomfort, he is managing to carefully go up and down the stairs. Either Grandma Wadsworth, Christine, or his mom has been by his side 24-7, ready and willing to care for his needs. He barks out the orders, but always says "thanks". His physical therapists showed up at 10:00am, but I haven't heard their report. I failed to mention that his Easter dinner request was to have my enchiladas and chocolate chip cookies. He said the enchiladas were the best I had ever made, but we must remember that he hadn't eaten for 12 days. The cookies got a "thumbs up", but his lack of verbal expression told me that they weren't quite up to par. When his aunt Cindy was visiting last year for his homecoming from Russia, I made my famed cookies at a friend's cabin we were staying at. Her comment was, "these are almost as good as Pepperidge Farms". I've gotten a lot of mileage out of that one. Last night Mendy made her wonderful pork chop casserole. I wish there was another word for casserole, because it was anything but that. I've grown up with too many trying memories of "Relief Society" casseroles.

I came across this quote, which conveys our thoughts to wards all those who have, and continue to exercise their concern, faith, prayers, energy, kindness, and love toward our family, and especially in behalf of Daniel. We have witnessed the miraculous results of these combined efforts and are the blessed beneficiaries.

Angelic Mortals

"I have spoken . . . of heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need. But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are (sent) from(Heaven)... Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods... Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

Jeffrey R. Holland

With much love and gratitude for bringing our boy home, whole and back to himself again.

The road to recovery will continue for a long time. Please continue your prayers and concern in his behalf.

Sincerely,

Aubrey and Mendy

Pictures from Aubrey

Daniel Is Home

Dear Readers,

Below is an update from Aubrey. He describes Daniel's progress better than we ever could.

Thank you for your many prayers and support for Daniel and his family. We are out of town and unable to get reliable internet access, so you may not see any updates for a few days. In the interim, it is possible for Aubrey or Mendy (or even Daniel himself perhaps) to update you by adding comments to this entry. Perhaps they will do that.

And now for Aubrey's update.

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(written Tuesday 14 April, 8:04 am MST)

Bill,

Yesterday afternoon I received a call from Mendy saying a determined "trauma bobsled" had defied all of his doctors expectations of an extended stay in a rehab center, and was returning home...today! "Is it possible to stop what you are doing and go pick him up...now?" My first response was complete shock and then, "are they crazy?" One of Mendy's good friends brought her cleaning lady to the house and she and Mendy went from top to bottom, while I frantically tried to stop the hospital dismissal of Daniel. Quickly realizing the avalanche was gaining momentum, I had Stephanie from my office arrange for a hospital bed to be delivered to the house, while I hurriedly called "Dogmode", our favorite boarding kennel and booked a room for Brady...only to discover he was overdue 3 of his vaccinations and they wouldn't let him come. It was 5:00 when I reached the Vet, and he told me to come right down and he would facilitate the shots. I called Geoff and of course he told me to "chill" and I told him he had 15 minutes to get Brady to the vet and then to the kennel. Geoff called Mendy and offered to keep Brady @ Kelsey's and wanted to know why I was so stressed out. Mendy told him to just do whatever I wanted. In the mean time, I am talking to any doctor who will listen to me and trying to convince them to re-evaluate Daniel and send him to a rehab center for a transitional period. After all, he just had his last chest tube removed YESTERDAY! He had gone up and down throughout Sunday. In the morning he had felt a lot of pain and was slipping into a hopeless depression. He didn't even feel like having his physical therapy...something that he has always insisted on each day. He finally fell asleep, after some good drugs kicked in and we decided to keep visitors away for the afternoon. Within a couple of hours he was wondering where his physical therapists were. He was ready to walk the halls....and, he did just that. He man aged the entire hallway of the unit, through the double security doors, down the public hallway, around the bank of elevators, through another hallway, and then managed the return trip as well. I kept telling him that however far he traveled one way, he would have to travel the same distance back, but he just kept walking; of course, with his little entourage of nurses...me supporting his arm, one carrying his portable chest tube suctioning machine, and another nurse "spotting" him to stop his likely fall. Not long after he returned to bed, they took him for his daily chest X ray. After discovering the fluid around his lungs had diminished to an acceptable level, they actually removed his chest tube. Mendy and I decided it was time for him to try a night by himself with reassurance from the nurses that they would keep a close watch. Grandma took the next shift at 6:45am and then things started to happen. Apparently, against all odds, he started walking to the bathroom, by himself...with of course, his nurses and therapists keeping a close watch. The therapists allow him to continue to walk by himself and then introduce him to the portable stair steps, for the ultimate challenge. He continues to persist until he has mastered the stairs. The trauma team comes in and evaluates him and makes a decision to send him to rehab. A therapist from the rehab center comes to give him an evaluation and tells him that there really isn't a need for him to go to rehab, because he has surpassed what they could do for him. Within an hour I was getting a call to come pick him up. Needless to say, my efforts (and you know my determination) were failing and I found myself leaving my office to go to the hospital and pick up our son, to bring him home.

I stopped at the top of "hospital row" (Primary Children's, UofU, Huntsman Cancer Research, and the Moran Eye Center) and took a few pictures of a gorgeous sunset. The reality of it all started to settle in. Daniel looked around and said, "it's so beautiful". We drove the 2.5 miles home and in to the driveway. I opened the door of the car for Daniel to get out, only to realize again that he had a cast arm, a braced leg from top to bottom, a frail, skinny body, and no crutches. I left him leaning against the car while I ran upstairs to retrieve my crutches, only to find them gone. After a couple times scratching our heads, Mendy remembered that we had loaned them to Geoff. Before Geoff could get to the house, Daniel reminded me that I also had a walking cane, so I retrieved it and he, by himself conquered the incline of the sidewalk and stepped over the threshold into the kitchen, took the walk to the living room, waited for 10 minutes for Geoff to show up with the crutches and then took on the challenge of maneuvering the stairs to the family room, where he would now take up residence. Within minutes, we turned to see Christine walking up the stairs with a big smile on her face. Then, the friends started coming in. So much for Dad's sanity. I walked up the remaining stairs, shut my door and went to bed, realizing my defeat. I now wake up realizing Daniel's victory.

Thanks for all you have done for us.

Aubrey and Mendy

Day 13: Evening Update

Sunday 12 April, 9:55pm MST

Only Aubrey's kids get Easter baskets with live flowers growing in them.

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Today has had its ups and downs for Daniel, which is not uncommon for patients who have been critically injured. But the highs outweigh the lows, so we'll focus on the highs. Daniel's lung x-rays revealed that the fluid in his chest cavity and lungs has drained, so the lung tube was removed today. This is the second time a lung tube has needed to be inserted and removed and we are hoping it is the last.

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Daniel also took two long walks with his crutch today. Since he no longer has the lung pump trailing him everywhere he goes, he was able to walk without his usual entourage and only needed a couple of people beside him just in case. The nurse even gave T-Bob a sling, so he doesn't need to walk with that big block of foam cheddar cheese on his arm any more (though he still uses it the rest of the time).

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The doctors will be evaluating Daniel's progress tomorrow to determine where he goes from here. We will post an update tomorrow evening after all of the assessments have been reported.

Day 13: Easter Sunday

Sunday 12 April, 12:30 pm MST

We had planned a visit with Daniel after church this morning, but his pain is back in full force. Daniel did not eat breakfast and when Aubrey arrived at the hospital this morning, T-Bob was pretty much out of it. Finally the nurses "knocked him out" (in Aubrey's words).

We hope to be able to go to the hospital and check on Daniel later today. Aubrey spent a lot of time cooking Easter dinner for Daniel and fixing Easter baskets for Daniel and Alex (sorry Stephen and Geoffrey, but when you move away from home, some of the percs evaporate). So, we may not be able to take pictures of Daniel eating his Easter dinner, but after all that work on Aubrey's part, there WILL be a picture of the Easter basket.

Happy Easter.

We Debated About Whether To Post This One

but ultimately we thought Daniel deserved some visual acknowledgement for all the trauma he has endured. This is the least dramatic of the hip photos we took. If it looks this bad on the outside, you can only imagine how his liver and spleen and lungs looked after such a severe impact. So with Daniel's permission (he's trusting us to keep it decent because he does not have access to a computer to view his blog), we are posting this pic of his bruised thigh and hip -- taken Saturday 11 April.

Close up photo of Daniel's bruised thigh and hip

(viewed from right side)

Day 12: More Progress

Aubrey breaks out his toiletry arsenal:

Daniel can finally be moved to the bathroom for a haircut.

and a shave

Walking with Aubrey and Craig (his nurse)
The lung pump has to travel with him.




Relieved to be Cleaned Up

Saturday 11 April, 6:00 pm MST

Day 12: One Day After Lung Tube Insertion

This tube was inserted to drain the fluid from Daniel's chest cavity.

The red fluid drainage (left) is thick and lumpy -- almost like clotted jello.

Breathing exercises build up Daniel's lung capacity.

Arm bruise (you should see his hip)

After another rough start this morning, Daniel is feeling better this afternoon.

Saturday 11 April 2:00 pm MST

Day 11 Evening Update -- What A Day

Friday 10 April, 9:30 pm MST

Aubrey just called with the latest. Not long after Daniel returned from surgery this morning, he began to experience incredible pain. It was determined that the pain was due to a fully collapsed lung. The fluid that had built up in Daniel's chest cavity had been cushioning the collapsed lung. Once the surgeons drained off the fluid this morning, the cushion was no longer there.

Fortunately Daniel's nurse worked with him to re-inflate his lung (through different exercises). This evening Daniel is feeling more himself than he has since the accident. He was talking in full voice and eating. He wanted a shower. Aubrey said it was great to see him like this, when for days he could barely talk.

Daniel has decided he is ready to go home tomorrow! Though that is unlikely (he will probably spend a few more days in the hospital and then most likely go to a rehab center), the fact that he is feeling so much better has lifted everyone's spirits.

Day 11: Post Surgery Update: T-Bob Doing Well

Friday 10 April

Mendy called from the surgery waiting room at 9:45 MST this morning. Dr. Morris, the lead physician on the trauma team, had just given her a post surgery report on Daniel.

Dr. Morris said that between what came out when they opened Daniel up and what they removed from his chest cavity, the surgeons were able to remove one liter of fluid from Daniel's lungs. They expect the remaining fluid will drain off in the next couple of days, via the chest tube that was inserted during surgery.

Dr. Morris emphasized that though there have been setbacks, Daniel's recovery has "exceeded his expectations", considering how critically his liver was injured.

Mendy said, "even though it's hard for us to see him go back into surgery and have to have procedures, he is doing very well. And we'll just keep plugging along."

Daniel was still in recovery at the time that Mendy called.

Editor's Note: It is impossible to put a price on the value of all the many prayers that have been offered for Daniel, other than to say your prayers and support have been "priceless". Thank you all so much for your support of Daniel and his family. There will undoubtedly be more peaks and valleys on Daniel's road to recovery, but the overall trend has been UP, with a more rapid ascent than the doctors could have predicted.

How To Post Your Comments

We have heard from several readers of Daniel's blog who want to post a comment for Daniel and his family, but can not get their comment to post. Following are some instructions:

1. First, write your comments in the box just below "post a comment" (see illustration)

Comment as: Select profile...Google AccountLiveJournalWordPressTypePadAIMOpenIDName/URLAnonymous

2. Once you have typed your comment, click on the down arrow below the box (see above, where it says "Select Profile"). When you click on the down arrow, a pop up menu will appear. Scroll to the bottom and click on "Anonymous".

3. Next click on the "Post Comment" bar.

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Type the word you see (it will be a wavy or squiggly word) into the box. Once you have typed the word, click the "Finish" bar and your comment will be posted.

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Day 11: Daniel Is Currently In Surgery

Friday 10 April

We just received the text below from Mendy. It was sent at 8:40 am MST.

"He's back in o.r. to have chest tube put in again. Right lung partially collapsed. Fluid build up again. Still, he is stronger. Ate some real food yesterday."

We will update you as soon as the surgery is over.

Day 10: Evening Update

Aubrey said Daniel was sweating a lot tonight, so the nurse checked him and discovered he has a partially collapsed lung -- due to the pressure in his chest cavity. She sedated him so he can get some sleep before his surgery tomorrow.

Day 10: Daniel Slated for Another Surgery

Thursday 9 April, 6:30 pm MST

First the good news. The doctors ordered another CT scan and Daniel's organs look good. The bile and blood that had collected in his abdomen have been absorbed. Daniel's liver enzymes also look good. With all of the above in mind, the doctors anticipate being able to remove the bile drainage tube from Daniel's side tomorrow. Also in the "good news" category, he walked again today -- even further (down the hall and back). AND Aubrey says the nurses on the 6th floor (orthopedics unit) are "incredible".

Now for the not so great news. Daniel had a light fever last night. He has been experiencing difficulty breathing and rattling in his lungs (but Aubrey says it is not pneumonia) . His white blood count is back up. The CT scan showed heavy fluid in his chest and the lower part of his lungs. That means Daniel will be going back in for surgery tomorrow to put chest tubes back in to drain his lungs. The surgery can't be scheduled for a specific time because it is an "add on" to the hospital's surgery schedule. But it could happen as soon as 10:00 or 11:00 tomorrow morning. We'll let you know when the surgery happens and provide a post surgery update as soon as the surgeon reports the surgery results to Aubrey and Mendy.

Considering the fact that tomorrow will be the 5th time Daniel has gone in and out of anesthesia for surgery, we know Daniel and his family are greatly comforted to know so many people are out there praying for him. Please don't be shy about sending your best wishes and words of encouragement in the comments section. You may be reluctant to write if you have commented previously, but we don't believe there is any such thing as offering too much encouragement (under the circumstances), or letting Daniel know you are thinking of him. So if you feel inclined to write a message, please don't hesitate to do so.

We also want to thank Christine and Grandma, who have stayed with Daniel during the day so Mendy can get some much needed rest and Aubrey can work. And many thanks to all of Daniel's friends and family who continue to send care packages and help in many other ways.

Can't Keep A Good Man Down

Daniel walks 40 feet with the assistance of the physical therapists
(taken on Mendy's cell phone)

Thanks Karrie for getting us the picture!

Day 9: Evening Mini-Update

Wednesday 8 April, 9:30 pm MST

Just spoke with Aubrey. He is at the hospital with Daniel. Aubrey says, "Daniel may not realize it, but he is feeling a little better tonight." Aubrey can tell from little things he observes that Daniel is not in quite as much pain tonight. But Daniel still only talks in whispers because he is so "wiped out".

We didn't put this in the earlier post, but Daniel's supervising physician told him this morning that if he is not able to eat in the next day or so, they will put him on a feeding tube. The doctor was not getting on Daniel's case. In fact he said it was natural for Daniel not to have an appetite at this point. However, throughout the day things have been disappearing from Daniel's room. First there was a few sips of Insure. Then a few slices of banana. Then a half cup of orange juice. And then a couple of crackers that Aubrey had left by Daniel's bed, just in case. So either there is a hamster loose in the Ortho Wing or T-Bob is beginning to nibble.

We didn't receive the pictures yet (we're guessing getting them off Mendy's cell phone has presented a problem), but we promise there will be some tomorrow. In fact we plan to go take some new ones also -- this time no scenery pics :)

Thank you all for you support and prayers and all of your wonderful comments.

Day 9: Afternoon Update

Wednesday 8 April, 2 pm MST

Mendy just got home from the hospital and called with an update of Daniel's medical progress. Mendy was at the hospital with Daniel all night and now she is at home this afternoon cleaning. How does she keep up that pace? I would be in fetal position in bed by now (this is not Claudia writing by the way).

The new x-ray results have not yet been confirmed by a physician, but it looks like Daniel's pelvis will heal without requiring surgery. Daniel walked 40 feet today -- twice the distance he walked yesterday. Mendy said, "he is no pansy when it comes to pain". The walk made him light headed, but he did it.

The doctor told Daniel, "you got all the way to the bottom, and now you are barely starting up the hill." At least the direction is now UP. The doctor said Daniel is not out of the woods yet, but his prognosis is looking better. He will probably have to keep the drainage tube (for the bile leakage from the liver) in his side for some time.

Daniel still doesn't have an appetite, but he was able to drink some Insure this afternoon. There isn't an official game plan for when T-Bob will be able to leave the hospital, but it could be as soon as Saturday. At the point he is ready to be discharged, the doctors will determine whether he will be transferred to a skilled nursing home or a rehab center. There is even a possibility he may be able to transfer directly home.

Well, that's all we know for now. Mendy took a picture on her cell phone of Daniel taking steps with the help of the physical therapist. As soon as Geoff is able to send the pic in an e-mail, we will post it on the blog for you to see.

Day 9: Morning Update

Wednesday 8 April, 10:30 am MST

The letter below from Aubrey will update everyone on Daniel's condition. Mendy spent the night with Daniel last night and we hope to get a medical update from her later today. We do know that Daniel's pelvis did not shift after the 20 steps he took yesterday -- which is a very good sign.

In the letter below, Aubrey mentions cutting Daniel's fingernails for him. What Aubrey does not mention in his letter is that Daniel would have had them trimmed a day earlier, but Aubrey accidentally dropped the fingernail clippers down the hospital elevator shaft. He said he could hear them ping as they bounced off different objects on their way down.

Wednesday, April 8

Again, I cannot begin to express how grateful we are for the blog site you have created. Many comment that they enjoy reading about Daniel's progress. Every day seems to melt into the next. Monday, a new team of nurses attended Daniel, and Mendy and I stood back to watch what would happen if we backed away a bit from his one-on-one care. Daniel was worn out after his surgery and was not being patient with the nurses. After 5 unacceptable attempts to get him situated in the bed, his nurse said, "you know 'Danny Boy', it would be nice if we could get a "please". Mendy and I just sat there in silence and observed, as the negotiations took place between Daniel and his nurses. He made an obvious attitude adjustment and the response from his nurse was one we had hoped for.

I had really reached my limits the night before when there was only one petite, young, and in-experienced aid on the floor and Daniel's nurse, as well seemed helpless at times. I finally asked, "What would you do if we were not here?" At times his nursing care is fantastic, yet other times, the standard of care simply doesn't measure up to my expectations. Then, does anything?

Late, yesterday afternoon, they moved Daniel to the 6th (Orthopedics) floor. I didn't feel he was ready to leave ICU, but his orthopedic doctors wanted him closer to them. He now shares a room with a really nice, quiet young man whom we hope to get acquainted with today. Daniel is so exhausted and barely utters his words. He isn't able to take care of any of his personal needs which is very discouraging to him. He cannot seem to tolerate any noise (see, he is more like me that we thought) and has expressed that he really isn't up to visits right now. Focusing on managing his pain is where all of his energy goes, but the nursing team is very caring and try their best to make him comfortable.

His chest tube was removed yesterday, as well as the web of monitors. I noticed too that several of the pic lines, etc. had been removed from his arm. The liver continues to be the main concern so please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. I clipped his finger nails for him last night and he would love for me to cut his hair. Maybe someday soon he can actually take a shower. I feel that as the misery begins to fade, it will be replaced with gratitude. We are certainly blessed. Our friends continue to pour out their love and concern and that is what continues to sustains us.

Aubrey

Day 8 Update

Hi everyone: This is Claudia again. I spoke with Mendy earlier this afternoon, and here is what she shared with me:

Daniel has actually been mobile today. He walked 20 feet with support. I should say he was made to walk 20 feet with support. The doctors want to see how his pelvic fractures will hold up with his using it somewhat. He is to go in for more X-rays later this afternoon so the doctors can evaluate how his breaks fared. (I know, sounds weird, making him walk with a broken pelvis, but I'm just the messenger here ... of course the other half of this blogging duo will tell you that I sometimes get details mixed up, but I promise I wrote down the details as Mendy was giving them to me. Granted Mendy had had practically no sleep all night long, so I'm sure Bill will follow this post with any needed corrections).

We are hopeful that there won't have to be any more surgeries. Daniel ate a bit this morning -- cream of wheat and some juice. The doctors also cast his broken right wrist - say that three times fast - by extending the cast from his repaired elbow. The wrist was broken in such a manner that it did not need to be re-set, just cast so that it can heal.

Mendy also said they took the splint off of Daniel's leg and changed the dressing on his leg wound. If you will remember, he suffered a deep gash near his kneecap. The gash is about 5 inches long, which should give Daniel a scar to rival the other males in the family who have had assorted accidents (you know who you are!). The wound looked healthy with no signs of infection. This is good news!

Finally, the doctors have switched Daniel's pain meds to some that seem to work tolerably well and do not give Daniel hallucinations anymore. With what that poor boy has been through, it's about time he can have some relief.

We continue to hope that Daniel is done with assorted surgeries and can now begin his recovery in earnest. The nurses say he is young and strong, and now that he appears more stable, we may see an acceleration in his improvement -- but nothing is certain. Your prayers and support are appreciated more than you can know. Please keep them coming. We are so amazed at Daniel's strength and what he has had to endure -- not to mention his family, as well. His life, like all of ours, is truly a miracle and we are so grateful that he has made it this far.

Warmly, Claudia

PS -- We hope to post some pics by later in the evening, after Bill gets off work.

Day 7: Post Recovery Update

Monday 6 April, 9:45 pm MST

Daniel is back in his room now. He returned with even more tubes and monitor leads attached to him. A team was required in the recovery room to get Daniel all put back together. He came out of the anesthesia disoriented, and he is still dizzy and weak.

He's also irritable, but you would be too if you'd gone through four surgeries in seven days. Any kind of normal body process (think about it) is a major production and very painful and difficult -- especially when you are all wired up with monitor leads, IVs and PIC lines and even a transfusion all at the same time. Add to that, his pelvis is broken completely through, his ribs are broken, his elbow is broken, his wrist is broken, his knee is wrenched, his liver is still leaking bile, his spleen is lacerated, and an IV or PIC line usually gets pulled out every time Daniel has to move around. On top of ALL of that, he still has a drainage tube in his lung and another in his side. This kid has really been through a LOT. It is a miracle he is alive, but now the miracle he needs is a few days without a surgery and some relief from the suffering. So when you pray, please pray for that.

Mendy will be with Daniel through the night. We'll let you know how he does tonight in our morning update.

Day 7: Post Surgery Update

Monday 6 April, 8:30 pm MST

Daniel is in recovery now and should be back in his room in the Intermediate Intensive Care Unit soon. Aubrey and Mendy have not yet had an opportunity to talk with the surgeon directly, but the nurse said the surgeon is pleased with how things went and that the stint was placed successfully.

There should be a more detailed report from the surgeon and we will post that as soon as Aubrey and Mendy have been updated.

Day 7: Surgery Update

6 April 5:00 pm MST

Daniel is in surgery right now.

Day 7: Afternoon Update

Monday 6 April, 3:00 pm MST

This e-mail just arrived from Claudia:

I just spoke with Mendy, and she is still waiting for the surgery. They will probably do it at the Huntsman Center (she didn't say why -- I'm assuming maybe the rooms are full at the University Hospital?). Daniel had just fallen asleep, so she couldn't talk long.

She did say they have discovered another injury to Daniel - his wrist is broken (on the same side as his broken elbow). She wasn't sure how they will treat it.

We will update the blog as soon as we know more.

Day 7: Morning Update

Monday 6 April, 11:45 am MST

It is difficult to believe this is already Day 7. A lot has happened since last Tuesday morning when Aubrey called to say Daniel had been in an accident and we all rushed to the hospital.

As you know, when something like this happens, the demands of life don't stop. Aubrey and Mendy are both scrambling this morning to take care of their jobs, as well as be there for Daniel. There has been lots of support from friends and family and it will all work out, but all the things that have to be coordinated at a time like this can make life complicated, to say the least.

The endoscopic surgery will happen sometime today, but Daniel is on a wait list because the OR was already scheduled today for other surgeries. We will let you know when Daniel's surgery is happening and will of course give you a post surgery update.

Yesterday afternoon and evening were a mixed bag for Daniel. He was talking in complete sentences, without the labored breathing between words that has been the pattern before now. But he also had quite a rough afternoon and evening. Undoubtedly that is to be expected with as many serious injuries as Daniel's body has sustained.

Day 6: Afternoon Update

Sunday 5 April, 1:45 pm MST

Mendy says Daniel is feeling much better today, now that the pressure from the fluid build-up has been reduced. When she walked into his hospital room this morning, Daniel said, "Hi Mom" and sounded like his pre-accident self.

Day 6: Morning Update

Sunday 5 April, 11:15 am MST

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Sunday Mid-Morning; Mountains Above Daniel's Home in Salt Lake City

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The sun, which is shining brightly in Salt Lake City this morning, has evaporated the snowy mists of the past few days. The atmosphere is still crisp, but clear. The weather seems to be mirroring Daniel's recovery process.

Sunday mid-morning; view of east mountains and Mt. Olympus

Sugarhouse park (above) is behind the high school where Daniel graduated, and where he swam for the Highland High swim team with his now fiance Christine.

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Aubrey took the all-night shift at the hospital last night. He called this morning to say Daniel had a pretty good night. Daniel asked Aubrey to talk to him and tell him stories, which Daniel said helps distract him from the pain. Aubrey did this for hours. The pain is still intense, but sometime during the night, the nurse gave Daniel a sedative and he slept for 2.5 hours. Later he slept for another hour.

The respiratory therapist visited and said Daniel's respiration is good. Daniel is able to move a little more now and do some things for himself. He is finally being allowed to drink water again, in small amounts (this has to be a huge relief to Daniel, who has been constantly thirsty). Aubrey provided more details about what comes next. If you are interested, they are included below the next picture.

Saturday evening; view of east mountains from the hospital

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Apparently the laparoscopic surgery Saturday evening to install the drainage tubes was a temporary fix. The results have been good and 3/4 liter of dark red fluid was drained from the cavity behind Daniel's lungs. Also, there were 4 liters of fluid in Daniel's bladder bag this morning. Previously it was filled with blood, but now it is the appropriate color -- yellow.

The part of Daniel's liver that was not destroyed will heal, slowly. Currently, the liver is still leaking bile, so the doctors plan to perform some type of endoscopic procedure tomorrow, entering through Daniel's throat, to install a stint between his liver and his bowel. This will allow the bile from the ruptured liver to leak into the bowel instead of leaking into Daniel's abdomen and lung cavity. Beyond that, Aubrey says it is "wait and see". If the stint does not solve the problem with the bile build-up, then the surgeons will open Daniel's abdomen and perform a more major surgery (but we are learning that the doctors tend to prepare the family for the worst case scenario, and T-Bob is definitely not a worst case type of patient).

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Speaking of doctors, Aubrey says the "quarterback" of the trauma team, Dr. Morris, and the attending physician, Dr. Adams, are excellent physicians, as is the head of the orthopedic surgery team, who repaired Daniel's orthopedic injuries. Aubrey keeps talking about all the teams of doctors who are helping with Daniel's care. Last night's nurse and aid were very attentive and gave Daniel great care, and the same is the case with the nursing shift today.

We hope all of this information helps everyone feel connected. It sounds like this is a day for Daniel to rest up after yesterday's surgery. We are in frequent contact with Aubrey and Mendy and will provide another Day 5 update if anything changes. Otherwise you can assume that everything is stable.

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Addendum: Claudia tells me it is time to "cool it" with the scenery pictures, and I concur. But at least those of you who are far away have had an opportunity to visualize what Daniel and his family can see from the hospital, and that it isn't all staring at brick walls and stats monitors. We will continue to include pictures of Daniel and his family as his recovery progresses (and for the less squeamish, maybe even a pic of what is left of the motorcycle).

Day 5: Midnight Edition

This pic was taken outside the hospital while Daniel was in surgery. In the left of frame you can see one of the "Life Flight" helicopters on the hospital roof landing pad.



This view is also from outside the hospital, looking west at the Great Salt Lake (which lies shimmering at sunset, with Antelope Island in the background). Inside the hospital Daniel's surgeons are performing the laparoscopic surgery to insert the tubes and drain the bile and other fluids that have built up in Daniel's abdomen and around his lungs. This surgery went well and if it continues to accomplish what is necessary, a major surgery to open Daniel's abdomen will be avoided. The shadowed dome in the center of the picture is the Utah State Capitol.

(Note: You can click on any of the pictures to see a larger image.)




A happy dad and fiance with Daniel, who still does not have well-managed pain, but he says, "I have learned to deal with it and I breathe through it". However once his blood hematocrit levels are more normal (they are at 2/3 right now), the trauma team can change the pain medication to something that is more effective. Daniel said the morphine managed the pain at first, but is not working now. Aubrey and Christine are smiling because Daniel's surgery went so well.




Daniel is back to not being allowed to drink fluids, but he can gargle water and then suction it out of his mouth. Christine assists.




Trauma Bobsled finally closes his eyes after a long day of internal bleeding and fluid leakage, distended abdomen, emergency surgery and LOTS of pain. But his spirits are amazingly good. All things considered, we think T Bob has come through like a true stud. As they say in rural Utah, he knows how to cowboy up.
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Aubrey shared with us a long list of medical assessments tonight that we don't dare attempt to translate to the blog at this time. But Aubrey will write a letter and explain in more detail what shape Daniel's body is in. For now, we will tell you that we had no idea just how traumatic the collision impact was to Daniel's body. The fact that he is alive, that he did not incur serious brain damage, and that he did not have a significant spinal cord injury (only one chipped vertebrae) is truly a miracle. One of Daniel's doctors said, given the force of the impact and the damage to the internal organs, he is amazed Daniel survived the crash. Daniel will get through this and heal and be whole again, and THAT is an incredible miracle.

Day 5: Post Surgery Update

Hello all: this is Claudia, Bill's wife. Bill usually writes the entries here, so this post may not be quite as prosaic as usual.

I just wanted to let everyone know that Daniel's surgery went well. The surgeon left in two drainage tubes which should alleviate the fluid build-up Daniel was experiencing in his abdomen. There is a chance the doctors may need to do more to take care of the excess bile and fluids, but they will monitor him closely over the next two days to see if more needs to be done.

Thank you again for your prayers and faith. Bill will post another entry later when he gets home from the hospital. He is staying up there for awhile tonight with his family. Warmly, Claudia

Day 5: Letter from Aubrey

We just discovered this e-mail (below) from Aubrey, which was sent this morning:

Sent: Sat 4/04/09 10:59 AM

When we have a quiet moment, and have access to one of the world's 8 wonders, "The Computer", I really enjoy reading all of the messages of support and encouragement.

Daniel finally got his first "Jamba Juice" last night. Someone had brought one to him the other night, but with his ventilator tube, he wasn't quite able to maneuver his lips around the straw, so Alex stood next to him and drank it. Brothers can be cruel. Of course, during those few days, even though he begged for water by writing in the palm of his nurses hands, he was refused. Two minutes after one of his nurses' gentle refusals, she said, "Oh...would you like a cold bottle of water?" His head started an excited nod, and then she said, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I meant your dad" That was a sad moment.

Anyway, last night, before he took a sip of the long awaited Jamba Juice, he had a shot of wheat grass. His friend said, "do you actually like that stuff?" and Daniel said, "No, I hate it, but it will help me get well." I was in the room when they removed his one-inch chest tube and he didn't even flinch. He ran a low grade fever all night and was in a significant amount of pain in his lower right abdomen. The doctor explained that there was a cavity located in that spot that is called a "????? Trough" where the blood from his damaged liver, spleen, and kidney will collect. It will eventually dissipate or it will have to be drained.

They are running another CT scan this morning, to monitor the damage to his liver...that remains to be their biggest concern, as well as infection. They are also taking more X-rays of his broken pelvis. He asked for his breathing exercise devise last night and worked so hard that his heart rate raised to 165. I can see the determination in his eyes. He is constantly coughing to clear his lungs because he knows what will happen if he doesn't.

This morning he took his first two steps to see if his broken pelvis could support the weight of his body. For the first time, Mendy saw his back and said that the bruised areas were huge. He's just so broken up, but refuses to give in to the pain. Because it hurts for him to get even a few words out, he doesn't talk a lot, but aside from re-assuring us that he loves Christine (and he does include us as well), he seems to spend his energy asking the nurses if all of his tubes and monitors are working correctly. He doesn't miss a thing.

Even though he doesn't express it, I know he hears the doctors discussing the extent of his damages, his risk of infections, and his long recovery time...I can see his quiet determination to prove them wrong.

Your blog site for Daniel is a big hit and a perfect solution for providing the much desired information to friends and family everywhere. The world of technology is amazing, but more amazing are our friends.We love each of you so very, very much and want to express our gratitude to you and more especially to God. His tender mercies continue to be manifest to us and the quiet peace fills our souls. Thank you, again.

Aubrey, Mendy, Geoff, Stephen, Alex, and most of all, Daniel