Gone Fishing!

Well the last several days have been new adventures for Justin.  He was able to stand in his standing contraption for a combined total of 27 min.  (longest at one time, 13 minutes) The therapists thought that was a "WOW" factor.  This helps keep everything in line and weight distribution.  Justin has been able to be outside to enjoy the awesome fall weather.  He even has met and chatted with other spinal cord injury patients that are on his floor/wing of the hospital.  He said it was like sharing "war stories", each of them telling what happened to the other and what C- level that was injured. 
Justin was able to feed himself pudding with his left hand with just a little dribble on his shirt, but overall he did a great job on Friday, 8-26!  He was unable to grab and hold his sandwich, but we have at least progressed to pudding feeding.  On their weekly sleepover, Justin was so excited to have Angie and Michaela stay up with him to watch T.V., (while his dad went to bed) because all three are night people.  He however, did not want to be bothered in the morning- mornings are no good!  His kids were able to see him most of the day on Saturday.
On Monday, Justin and his hospital 'peeps' went fishing under the supervision of Madonna personnel.  He was just very excited to be outside and be by the water!  Four days until the Huskers play!!  GO HUSKERS!!  We are going to paint Justin's toenails black, for the blackshirts!!  Pictures will be taken!
Also, to all who I havent been able to reach, if you are interested in anyway to help out on his fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 23, we are having a meeting at the Police Union Hall on THU 9-8 @ 7pm.  Cool huh? 9-8-7...  The support and kind words have still been coming and are very appreciated!  Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers, they must be paying off a little at a time!  Have a great and SAFE Labor Day week-end!!

Justin has been sick.

Justin has been sick and throwing up the last couple days from his medicine. The medicine is for his muscle spasms.  They are going to fix the issue, so hopefully he will be feeling better in the mornings and wont have his 'morning sickness' anymore. Kristi-his O/T (remember the KU fan?) HAD to come into his "Husker Room" so she could stretch him out since he was unable to leave. She was almost 'sickin' from all of the Husker decorations.  LOL!  She took it well but is not converted over to a Husker Fan....Yet. 
Justin can shrug his shoulders and move his arms outward but still has no forward motion in his arms but working very hard on that.  He doesnt have any movement from his wrists down except for a occasional movement in his thumbs still. Someone told us that they heard he was standing, he is not.  He has no movement from the chest down except for the occasional twitches.  He can still feel physical contact on his skin and is getting more and more feeling in his hiney.
Thank you all for the continued support and for the many family and friends offering to help at the fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 23 at the Police Union Hall.  Justin sincerely appreciates it!

Another Husker visit!

Johnny Rogers stopped by to see Justin on Wednesday, so his Physical therapist, Kristi, who happens to be a huge Kansas fan, was not happy or thrilled which made Justin laugh and made his day!  Justin was even able to get her to have a picture taken with Johnny and told her, he was going to show ALL of her friends that she posed with a Husker Legend. (She refuses to meet Justin in his "Husker Room" because it is covered in Big Red decorations.)  So needless to say, they are having a very fun time back and forth on the football team rivalry.

Justin was visited by his kids for about six hours on Sunday, which made him extremely happy.  Justin was placed on the mechanical bike again on Wednesday.  He loves that because his leg muscles do do the work.  They also placed him in a standing contraption but he said he felt very dizzy and thought he was going to pass out.  He moved his left thumb and says it is starting to happen often.  His therapist said if he continuously moves his finger/s everyday, they will start shocking them.  This means his nerve endings are coming back, so we are hoping and praying for that!!  He is getting his hands closer to his mouth, so hopefully soon he will be able to feed himself and regain some of his independence on doing that.  His legs also twitch and will jerk real quick sometimes- muscle spasms. He can feel his shins more if they are rubbed.  He even said he is starting to feel more of his butt- in this case, that would be a good thing.....

Justin has been working hard!

Justin has had a fever between 99-102 in the mornings after waking up.  Nurses/Doctors dont seem to be concerned since it goes down after giving him fever reducing medicine.  His allergies have been bothering him tho.  Justin received a letter from Tom Osborne wishing him well and hoping for a full recovery.  (He also said that football is off to practice and should have a good season.)  Russ Canick, a friend of Justin's and who had worked with his dad, came on Tuesday to visit him and gave him encouragement and promising words.  (Russ had been in a motorcycle accident just two years ago with about the same injury as Justin.)
Justin has been enjoying food from everything from pizza, Burger King, Subway, Long John Silver's and anything else visitor's have been bringing him.  His appetite has been more for outside food then the hospital food but always thirsty for Iced Tea.
During therapy, Justin was put on the mechanical bike that moves his legs for him.  He was very excited about doing this, even tho he couldnt feel it yet but he was just happy to be moving his legs!!!  He keeps having spasms in his lower back and sometimes his legs.--This is neither good or bad, they say but we are hopeful that that is a good thing.
Don't forget about the fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 23!!!  We will have flyers printed by the end of next week!!! There are more benefits being scheduled but will let you know when they are since the dates they have changed.
Again, thank you all for your thoughtfulness, kind words and prayers!!  We do appreciate them all.

Its "snot" funny!

Justin was found to have a sinus infection and antibiotics have taken care of his virus.  We are thankful it wasn't worse than that.  He was trying to have big muscles like his dad, and during physical therapy he pulled a muscle in his right arm, so he has had to take it a little easy on that side and has been icing it all weekend.

On Sunday, Uncles Tim, Otis and Aunt Linda visited as well as Vicky, Dan and their 3 grandkids. Craig was Justin's bed partner again.  Justin will attempt to do tricks for chocolate shakes........hint, hint for any visitors.  He is on week two of his "boot camp".  Jolyn visited him tonight and Nick made him laugh his head off.

Don't hesitate to call, visitor or send a note, he would love it!!

Spirits are good!

Recap for the week:  Justin still is unable to move from his chest down.  He can move both shoulders and arms up and down but still unable to move his hands and fingers.  However, he is able to move his electric wheelchair with his left hand.  We have rubbed and massaged his hands and he says that they tingle quite a bit afterwards like they are asleep.  He says he feels slight pressure and warmth when you touch his legs. So anyone that visits him, feel free to rub his forearms and hands. (Only his forearms and hands--Craig and Mike Trapp!)  He continues to have therapy M-F, weekends off.  Between 11:30-1:30pm he is chilling in his room and after 3:30PM.  Visiting hours are 6 AM-10PM everyday.  You can visit anytime and if he is in therapy, you can watch him and be with him while he does that. He has a phone in his room he can answer:  402-486-8114.

Thank you all to the visitors so far:  Craig, Taysha, Matt and Leslie Jacox, Jared, Gina, Uncle Steve, Uncle Paul, Cousin Carissa, Brooke and Eric Crouch!!  (If we forgot anyone, we do apologize.)  We would like to especially thank Craig who has spooned with him overnight.  Justin's brother, Drew, came back from the Air Force in Tucson for 10 days and also had many "spendies" (sleepovers) with Justin.  Grandma Nancy has as well.  Ashley cant be with him at this time, as she is finishing up her Army training but will soon be home to be with him. 

Justin is in very good spirits and of course is harassing his nurses and all are enjoying some good laughs!  We are hoping his second week of "boot camp" brings good results towards his recovery.

What is hope and encouragement?

Well blog readers, I spoke to soon.  I had previously said "WE" are ALL trying to help and are here for Justin in his recovery....... well it is sad to say, not ALL of us are.  Laurie, Justin's soon to be ex-wife, went to see him today (Friday 8-5) less than two weeks after the accident and told him, she is divorcing him.  This is encouraged by her mother, Emily Campbell, who told Mike and Justin's grandma, Nancy- "he deserves this and God is punishing him for the things he has done" regarding his accident..........

We did not want negative blogs but we are just letting everyone know where the support is actually coming from.

We do want to thank you all for your kind words and offers of support.  We are truly touched by all of your kindness.  We hope to see you at the upcoming benefits.

Hello all!

This blog is dedicated to bringing family and friends the latest information and updates on Justin's recovery.  We are doing this to support his medical bills and keeping everyone informed and on the same page on what is occurring with Justin's status.  On Saturday, July 23, Justin was in a devasting pool accident that the doctor's said would leave him paralyzed after crushing his C-5 and cracked his C-6 vertebrae.  He underwent surgery to have two pins and a plate placed around his C-5 to stabilize his neck.  Justin was moved to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, NE Room # 114 on Friday, July 29 where he is undergoing intense therapy to help with his recovery.  Please check back often for updates, dates/times for fundraisers, pictures and you can even write comments or encouraging words for Justin.  Remember:  We are ALL working towards Justin's recovery.  (Bare with us while we get this up and running and looking spectacular.)