A Good Week

Last week we asked you to pray for Dan and he has had an extremely good week. Let me say a GREAT week. His headaches are considerably better, his appetite is greatly increased, and he has slept through most every night, not even asking for his cuff to be put down. Thank you for praying.

The RIC therapists planned an outing for Dan to practice use of his power chair in public. We all went to the Shedd Aquarium on Monday, and Dan maneuvered his power chair very well - in and out of elevators, up ramps, between crowds, etc. How he can "sip & puff" AND also say "excuse me" is a feat in itself. We still can hardly believe his attitude about being out in public -- he does so well.

This is a very special week for us Knudsen's with our daughter Jen's wedding this Saturday. We're ready and we're all so excited -- even Dan. He desperately wants the day to be about Jen and not him. (He adores his sister!) Thank you to all of you, who have been staying with Dan this week, even over night, thus allowing us to be home more with Jen. You are loved!

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalm 107:1

3rd Month Recap

WOW! How time flies.

3 months ago we got "THAT" phone call. While on a missions trip with Cedarville University, Dan, our youngest son, attempted a back flip and severely injured his C1 & C2 vertebrae . 2 weeks later we learned more about the 1st Minutes After the Accident. A severe contusion to the highest vertebra in his spinal cord caused a paralysis from his neck down, and requires a ventilator for his breathing.

Dan spent 2 weeks in Neurological ICU at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and then transferred to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago just down the street from NMH. His stay here will be 3-5 months as stated in "nothing I didn't already know".

Dan's physical condition has not changed to date as his Spinal Cord Injury is termed complete. He could not eat by mouth, lost over 35 #'s and experienced a lower back sore [from a 9 hour transfer back to the USA] that became worse day by day. This will be fixed surgically in the next few weeks. He has been plagued by frequent headaches, high temperatures, and many 1-2 hour only nights of sleep.

His life now is about preparing to live life physically, mentally and spiritually as a quadriplegic who is also on a ventilator. There is no indication that his diaphragm will start working or that he will get off this ventilator.

Thankfully Dan did not sustain any head or brain injury. He is a quick study and does well on any new proceedures or challenge put before him. Here are a few GOOD highlights of Dan's progress.

• He can speak normally with his Cuff Down, but has to keep it up at night, or his lungs get a build up of mucus. This 'up' time used to cause night time anxiety on Dan's part, but not in the past few weeks.
  
• He has a power chair that he operates by "sipping or puffing" on a tube. It is not the straightest drive, and a wide hallway or large area is needed.
  
• Via a computer, he has accessed his email, games, and web information.
• He has ventured out in public, and is not concerned about the stares he gets.
  
• His sleep has greatly increased in the past week. 6-7 hours of solid sleep.
  
• His appetite for food is increasing daily. "I'd like a Happy Meal"
• Visitors are welcomed with more interaction from Dan.
  

The "Ugly" or difficult areas of his rehabilitation are:

• Transferring a 6'1" 150# lifeless frame in and out of his chair from his bed.
  
• Showers - it takes 3 people in the handicap roll-in shower. 1) to Ambu bag him, 2) to wash his hair, shave and wash his face, 3) wash the rest of his body. This is done every other day. It's an hour plus long "event".
  
• Chair to shower chair transfers.
  
• Moving his trach tubes. They get knocked or bumped and cause discomfort to his trach.
  
• Technology that does not always work right.
• Spasms in his legs, that can affect his mental focus and cause anxiety.
  
• Increasing his neck muscles so that he can hold his head up.

This photo of Dan and one of his campers is a favorite of ours. It encourages us during difficult times. Dan was ministering to children like this in Puebla, Mexico at the time of his accident. We have confidence that this "accident" will not stop Dan's future ministry opportunities. Everything in life is for the Glory of God. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him." [Jn 9:3]

God Bless each and every one of you. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.

Northwestern Visit

Dan is off to Northwestern Memorial Hospital today for another bone test -- this time a bone biopsy to see if there is any bacteria/infection at all in the bone. If no, then soon after the wedding, Dan will have plastic surgery to take care of his pressure sore. It is just too big and deep to heal on its own. This surgery means a 2-week stay in the hospital, then slowly learning to sit upright again. If there is infection, then there will be 6 weeks of intensive antibiotics, then the plastic surgery. We hope this plastic surgery will be a great solution to this never-ending problem! Dan is OK with going through all this -- he has an AMAZING countenance!

(The Collar is Off - Part 2)

(At first we used the word spinal cord in our last post -- the vertebrae surrounding the spinal cord have healed -- rarely does the spinal cord itself heal after a complete injury. Dan's spinal cord was bruised or compressed at his time of injury and does not usually regenerate as in other parts of the body.)

The Collar Is Off

What more can we say?

Dr Gireesan, Dan's neurosurgon, said x-rays of Dan's vertebrae show that the fracture is healed and gave the okay for Dr Tracy, the resident doctor, to take Dan's collar off. DONE!!!

It's time to buff up those neck muscles.

Dan also had an acupuncture session to help alleviate his headaches. They have not been as severe since the wound vac was removed.

Prayer Needed

Dan is not feeling well. We think it's because of the wound vac, but the headaches are extreme. We know that you are already our prayer support, but I just wanted to ask you to possibly set aside a special time this week to pray for Dan. Many will be fasting as well. We need divine guidance, as do the doctors, to best care for Dan. Thank you.

quiet week

We didn't forget about you folks.

As we move into the final stages of Dan's rehab, things seem to be moving too fast. Did we forget to mention that Dan might be out of here by the 4th week of June?

So this week we met with a power chair rep. to fit Dan to his own power chair. So many things were discussed and many questions were asked. Front wheel drive vs. mid or rear drive. Driving control modules: mouth, voice, or head movements. Suspensions, power train, seats, and helper controls, protected ventilator storage units, etc. It is a 2-3 month process from order to delivery; 3-4 weeks each for

1. insurance company negotiations,
2. making of the base power unit ,
3. the top chair and other control items.

Dan has a new suction device -a wound vac- hooked up to his back sore. "THAT SORE". We now feel that it has been the culprit for his everyday level 7 or 8 headaches , not to mention it's one nasty looking wound. This suction device has tubes that connect to a sponge and this works to vacuum away some residue and stimulate tissue growth. It seems to be working, but is another tube to watch out for when transferring him. We really can't go home until this sore is pretty much healed, so the end of June may be premature.

We are looking to make another break to a museum, and thought about trying bus transportation, but may not because of the vent. Dan's headaches have put a big damper on those activities and we can't go too far from here without proper staff.

Other things with Dan: we will be modifying a temporary room for Dan at our home; early stages of planning for a possible house building [although we run out to see every new "ranch lead"], and working through all of that tedious house related stuff -- more about "God's Home Makeover" later. There is that other big family event that is in full steam. 16 days...oh me!

I was reading I John to Dan recently, and these verses made me think of you folks.

I John 3:18 & 19
18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other;
let us show the truth by our actions.
19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth,
so we will be confident when we stand before God.

Thanks to relief sitters who show us God's love. You are getting more familiar with the nitty gritty of Dans care; trach issues, cuff up/down , vent settings, suctioning, transferring, bagging, feedings, counseling, sleepless nights, and on and on. We could not do this by ourselves.

More love in action to all of you who pray for Dan and us, those who leave or send encouraging comments, house repairers, gardeners and cleaners, so many who are behind the scenes, helping with legal, financial and other items. Those also who help us financially. All of you show God's love each and every day. THANKS