Help at CU

Dan has been working like a mad man this semester. He is taking an online course in Macro Economic, and classroom course of Constitutional Law. This class is the start of what attorneys would do, act, say, present, in a court of law. Despite the hard work, new concepts, and the rigorous research, Dan loves it. He has always loved to use his power of persuasion on people. [Especially his parents]

We'd like to say all else is well, but it is not.
Dan still does not have medical care funding from IL [brick wall], OH [moving forward, oh so slowly] or the insurance company [he is not "home bound" status = need no assistance, period]

Of course when all seems well, his physical situation can turn on a dime. After a 48 hour bug last week, he is having Autonomic Dsyreflexia [high and low blood pressure] issues AGAIN this week. [see reference in side bar]. We are trying to track everything he eats and drinks, consulting with medical doctors, but have found very few answers. Some say "it's just his life". The worst part is him missing class. He puts forth so much effort and does not want any favors.

The AD spikes up at night, and someone [usually Garrett] is up in the dead of night, applying Nitro Paste to lower it, monitoring his BP until it gets back down to 100, removing the paste, trying to sleep. just to have it repeat itself again.

DAN NEEDS HELP . . . Nursing help.

If you, or if you know any nurses [RNA, CNA, PA, Nurse Caregivers] in the Cedarville, BeaverCreek, Xenia, Springfield area, Dan could use 1-2 hours of help in the evenings or weekend mornings, 1 day each or every other week, for these last 5 weeks of his college.

Please give and have them contact us at this email address: checkinondan@gmail.com

Thanks and Love,
Bill & Debbie

2 Years

This past Friday night marked 2 years since we received the phone call that Dan had an accident and was on his way to a hospital in Mexico. I was recently looking at photos of those early days, Dan with tubes in his mouth and nose, neck brace, months of hospital stay, and realized how powerful prayer is. I look back and shudder at the heaviness of it all, yet at the time we didn't carry that same heaviness. Whether is was the short stay in Mexico, ICU, rehab, back home, I now know that prayer carried us through each stage. Even after 2 years, tears occasionally flow like when looking over photos and videos of Dan BEFORE his accident. The grief process still continues. Thank YOU for carrying us.

Dan is doing well. He looked so good when he arrived home last week for spring break. His week included taking a test at his local community college for his online course, seeing and babysitting his 3 nieces, lunch with grand parents, taking in a movie [Pink Panther 2} with his Aunt Mary Kay, AND catching up on emails. He continues to have some minor blood pressure issues, but we are growing in our understanding of Dan's physical needs.




Dan's spring break also included a visit to his mom's 2nd grade class at Harvest Christian Academy in Elgin, IL. To them, a celebrity was coming! What an inquisitive group of students they were. Their questions included:

• "What's that thing on your chair?" [It displays the controls for my chair]
  
• "How fast can it go?" [Faster than you can walk]
  
• "How do you eat?" [Many people help feed me]
• "What do you eat?" [Almost everything]
  
• "How do you read The Bible?" {I use Bible Gateway.com ESV]
• "Does it bother you when people stare at you?" [NO, people look and then look away, kids look until their parents tell them to stop. I smile back at them.]
• "What are you studying at college?" [Pre-Law]
• "Will you be able to walk again?" [only God knows]
  
• "Do you get jealous when you see people do things you can't?" [NO, I am glad for them]
  

There were some cards and gifts for him which were much appreciated. Dan thoroughly enjoyed his visit as much as the students enjoyed him. Thanks to all of Mrs. Knudsen's 2nd graders for loving Dan.

This is one of Dan's favorite verses , which he quoted to the students. Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."