Merry Christmas !!!

"Merry Christmas to all of our "checkinondan" family
both near and far!!!"


From [l-r] Mike, Debbie & Gabri, Dan, Bill & Addy, Emily, Matt [Jen & Jeff too!]


Sorry about the comments not posting.
[Bill shouldn't touch the settings anymore]
Dan will have medical updates later this week.

Caleb & calcium

l-r Caleb, Mark, Al, Reuben & James

A Holiday Thank You to Caleb, CU '03, OPE bro, and part-time Phys Ed teacher for Chicago International Academy, a ministry of Armitage Church in Chicago, for stopping by with his college men's group (Mark, Al, Reuben, James) to visit Dan this past week. The visit was greatly appreciated by Dan. The guys were encouraged by Dan's desire to get back to Cedarville and to continue on toward his law degree. Another tray of Rice Krispies Treats® should get them back here again. Thanks, and bring the guitar next time guys :)


Last Friday, late afternoon, Dan had blood work done in Cleveland because we thought his calcium levels were elevated. He had high calcium levels at the end of our RIC stay, and this is what was said back in the August post "preparing to go home".

• he has had elevated calcium level from calcium loss out of of the bones; this problem is to be expected for a SCI person.
• tests and two special flushing have been done with little results,
  
• thus he had a 4 hour "infusion" of Pamipronate to stop the spill of calcium into his blood. - this is a serious procedure with the heart being monitored too.

High calcium levels, a condition related to Spinal Cord Injury [SCI] people, causes increased spasms [just a touch to his arm sets his entire body shaking] and a severe stomach ache after eating.

Dr. Onders called us early Saturday morning concerned with the results. Calcium was at 12.7 [high]. He wanted Dan to drink lots of fluids and ordered another complete series of blood work done. Monday, Trish, a nurse who has been helping out, and her sister Deb, were able to take another few vials blood at home, and we ran them over to the urgent care.

Waiting, Waiting, [keep drinking water, Dan] Waiting.

Wednesday Dan saw an internist doctor, Dr. Win, who got the blood results back from the lab. Calcium was down to 11.2 [8-10 is normal]. YES! He let us know that more body movement and "lots of fluids" can keep this in check, but we always need to watch for it to come back. There's always some issue going on around here with Dan's care. But that's okay.

Dan has needed to see an internal medicine doctor for sometime. We have been turned down by a few that were recommended, as SCI patients have LOADS of issues. Our SCI doctor has refused to fill some medications telling us "it's the nature of SCI injuries, I am not an internist, nothing more I can do for him".

Dr. Win came about because in doing research for a new SCI doctor, we came across his wife Dr. Yin, called for information, and her office recommended her husband. We have already benefited from this this husband/wife combination. We DO have a visit with Dr. Yin this next week.

We trust all of you are enjoying the holiday season. Despite many changes, we are grateful for life and the future hope in Christ.

roomie visit

A bit tired from the Cleveland fast trip, Dan got a surprise visit from his 06-07 dorm mate, OPE bro, Mexico missions trip and all around great guy Andrew, who was in IL for a post college job interview. [Remember those anxious days of "job search" after college? yikes]

It is always a treat for parents to hear their kids & college friends joke about all the "non-educational" events, that happen during the college years . . . AND they still manage to earn those diplomas. hmmm

Many seniors get side tracked during these last semesters of their college careers.Keep those '08 graduates that you know in your prayers.

Thank you to all Dan's peers, but especially the guys, who have visited him since his accident, Adam, Andrew, Bobby, Brian, Griffin, Jeremy, John, Jordan, Mark, to name a few. [I am forgetting a few... just add your name in the comments] You DO NOT know how Dan's spirits are uplifted when he can talk to his buddies. Thank You, Thank You.

Dan's Room

Cleveland quick visit

Dan, Dad and Aunt Mary Kay are in Cleveland right now at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. This for a 4 month checkup with Dr. Ray Onders of Synapse Biomedical aka "superman's pacer doctor".

Dan is getting a few of his pacer wires "re-routed" and Dad gets to assist this time. ["scalpel please, nurse Bill"] This procedure is with local anesthetics and we expect to be back on the road tonight back to Chicago.

The trip here was really uneventful, with none of the suctioning or emergency stops like the 1st trip in August.

Sometimes you have to look at where you have been to see that life is better in the present.

UPDATE:

Dan went for some blood work
[when at a medical facility, take advantage of all that is there],
then we went down to the cafeteria and ate dinner at the hospital,
rather than trying to do a restaurant. Got back at 1 am.
Thank you to Aunt Mary Kay, for her help with the driving.
No pain or complications with Dan.
Thanks for your prayers.

Giving Dan a Lift

We have needed a lift for Dan since . . . August. A friend of ours, Emily at Silverfox Limo, had a connection with a health care facility, and thought they might be able to help obtain a used lift for Dan.

Well, as blessings do come in many forms, Inspiration Ministries of Walworth, WI came to the rescue and gave Dan, yes, GAVE as in FREE, an Invacare 450 Battery-Powered Hydraulic Lift.
WOO HOO!!!
Thanks to the Schnake's, who help manage the facility, for hearing about and helping get us this much needed piece of equipment. Two of their children are graduates of CU . . . there always seems to be a Cedarville U. connection. :)
As with most used things, there was a bit of tweeking in the past months. The battery needed replacing [which was found and ordered] and the lift sling did not work properly. When lifted, Dan's body folded in half and he slid right out of the sling.
NOT GOOD.
A few weeks later we were at the RIC and took a look at and tried almost every type of available slings. Bingo! We found one, ordered it [no waiting here for Medicare or insurance, to help save our backs] AND it's all working great.

Previously Bill was the only one who could get Dan out of bed, but now Deb, family, nurses and friends are able to use the lift. What a great blessing we wanted to pass on to all of you.

Thanks Inspiration Ministries, Schnake's, & Emily. [Jane too.]