MAFO

Carl got his Molded Ankle Foot Orthosis (MAFO) today. This customized "spring-loaded"plastic brace fits inside a shoe and it makes Carl's foot lift upward when he walks. His limp is definitely less pronounced when he wears the brace. It will take a few days to adjust and to learn how to walk without pulling up at the hip as he has had to do in the past weeks.It is amazing what the medical world can do to help!

As I mentioned, the brace only works in tandem with a shoe. Unfortunately, because of the swelling and the nerve pain in Carl's right foot, he can not tolerate wearing a shoe for very long periods of time. So it's a bit of a catch-22 for the time being.

Tomorrow we will start the switch-over to a new medication which might help with the nerve pain. Our prayer is that we can get that under control so Carl can enjoy the benefits of the MAFO. In the meantime, he will wear the brace as much as he can.

He looks great walking, by the way!

Merry Christmas!

Our kids have traditionally opened their Christmas stockings on Christmas Eve morning and then we open our other gifts after church, late on Christmas Eve.

Since Mandi and Doug now go to market on that day, we have improvised the past two years and I think we started a (goofy but fun) tradition! At 5:30 am, Doug and Mandi join us for a quick dip in our hot tub on the patio: crazy-cold but so invigorating! Then we run back inside the house and as soon as the kids have opened their stocking gifts, it's off to market for the Stoltzfus's and back to bed for the rest of the Smuckers.

Thanks to Doug and Mandi for being such good sports. It was also great to have Carl be able to join the rest of us out in the cold yesterday--even just a few weeks ago, it would have been impossible.

Our Christmas Day has been quiet, we all slept in till late and relaxed the hours away. Being together is our best gift.

In the midst of many uncertainties, may you feel the Spirit of Peace this Christmas in a very personal way. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2008

Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart...filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.--Bess Streeter Aldrich (Song of Years)

thoughts on a Monday

One of the challenges I have found in the past months is discovering that delicate balance between gratefulness for what we still have and dealing with the reality that it can never be the same. I determined in the beginning that I will look for the good in our situation--and there IS so much good. My husband can walk! For now it is slow, painful, limping--but it is walking.

And I am thankful.

But I miss his heavy, purposeful footsteps, always on his way to somewhere and always with a plan. I miss the spontanaity that was coming with this season in our lives, the ability to just get-up-and-go. We talked about things we want to do in the future, like traveling and taking up new hobbies.

And we may still be able to do some of those things in the future. We have no plans to give up! It's just that so much remains unknown. For the present, Carl will no longer be going to physical therapy. The doctor says walking will be his therapy throughout the next 6 weeks. After that, they will check to see if there is any potential for further bending in his right leg. (He has about 30 degrees of bend, which is enough to allow him to walk, but not enough to do stairs easily or sit comfortably in many of the normal places we go: church, a movie theatre, the bleachers at our kid's basketball games, an average vehicle.)

Sometimes I just want to go back to living the illusion that we have some control over our future and make plans accordingly. I want to know that we can return to Africa on a missions trip in June, I want to assume that we will be able to bike around the neighborhood again and work together in my flower gardens and have my husband take out the trash and fix things around the house.

And then I have to pull back again and remind myself to live TODAY--because that is all any of us have. There is strength for today, grace for today, mercies new each morning. Ps. 33:20 says "We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone."

He walks!!

progress

Carl drove himself to work today! His Dodge Durango is set up surprisingly well; you sit rather low in it and he can push the seat back to accommodate his right leg.What a huge step toward independence and "normalcy" for both of us! I have jokingly told people that for the last 4 months, we have literally done what the the verse from the Bible says, "Whither thou goest, I will go...." Carl and I have traveled everywhere together, with me in the driver's seat. To his credit, he hasn't been too bad at back-seat driving even though I have a very different style of driving than he does. He is a patient man.

50th Birthday!

December 5 is Carl's 50th birthday! That's half a century!

We celebrated today by going out to eat with the kids. We also went to Frysville Farms to pick out our Christmas Tree, a favorite tradition around here. Thank you, Vince and Caroline for your generosity, the tree is beautiful!

12/3 doctor visit

Since Carl's orthopedic surgeon was out of the office today, another doctor from his group evaluated Carl. Although we much prefer working with Dr. Essis, it was interesting to get a new perspective regarding Carl's injuries.This doctor looked at the x-rays and confirmed what we have already been told--that most people with this severe injuries lose their leg. A good reminder again of how much we have to be thankful for!

The bones in Carls' right leg are healing slowly, but surely. He was given the go-ahead today to bear weight on that leg as much as can be tolerated, but must still use crutches. He also continues to wear a bone stimulator for 8 hours each night.

Now Carl will concentrate on teaching himself to walk as normally as possible, given his circumstances. His foot drop makes it necessary to lift upward at the hip each time he moves his right leg forward and that causes a limp. But it's walking and that looks pretty good to me!! (Later on, the shoe insert will help with the limp.)

Another doctor visit is scheduled for next week, maybe we will find out at that point about the upcoming surgery to make his knee bend.

Thanksgiving

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." (T. Wilder)

My extended family--the Beilers-- came to our house today to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. (That's me and my 7 brothers and sisters on the picture shown above.)

Today we recognize the many treasures we have been given--the joys of family life, gathering around a table laden with delicious food, the faith, love and committment of parents, sisters and brothers, children and grandchildren. Along with these precious gifts, we also remember to give thanks to our God for the gift of life. By His mercy, our family circle still remains unbroken. We do not have any guarantees for tomorrow: all we can do is cherish the moments we do have.

My heart goes out to those who are suffering today with any kind of pain, especially the loss of a loved one. Somehow, in the way that only Jesus knows how to provide, I pray for peace and a sense that He is still in control.

-Fan

3-wheeler bicycle

We got to spend an unexpected two days longer on beautiful Anna Maria Island in Florida, thanks to the hospitality of our friends John and Carol Stoltzfus, who invited us to stay at their home after the Hollingers returned to PA. The weather was warmer those last two days, so we spent lots of time outdoors. Carl decided to rent a 3-wheeler bicycle and we biked around the quiet streets of the little town.

This is how we accomplished that feat: John duct-taped Carl's left foot to the left bike pedal (!!) so he was able to propel the bike forward with one foot. His right foot rested on top of his crutch, which was also duct-taped in place. I'm not sure Carl's physical therapist would approve of the method, but it was a very good workout for his left leg and it was so much fun!

Sunny South

Early this past summer, we had planned a November trip to Florida with our friends David and Debbie Hollinger. After Carl's cycle accident in August, we realized we would need to cancel most activities and plans we had made, at least for several months. But Florida we held on to, as a goal for us to reach for. The doctor gave the go-ahead and 15 weeks after the accident, here we are!

Traveling went well, we flew from Philadelphia to Tampa non-stop. No one else sat in the row where Carl was sitting so he was able to rest his leg across the entire seat!

It is unseasonably cold here in Anna Maria Island, but we are not complaining. Even though the temps are chilly, the sun is warm. And Mandi called to tell us it's snowing in Pennsylvania! That makes it hard to think about heading back home tomorrow.

perspective

Our situation is abruptly put into perspective when I consider the unfathomable pain of my cousin and his wife who lost their 20-year-old son this week in a terrible accident. My heart breaks for them. Their loss is so very permanent.

back to work

I thought I should tell you that today my husband loaded a tractor-trailer. He really did! He spent several hours on a forklift in our HomePlace Structures warehouse, loading outdoor wooden products which are packaged in shrink-wrapped kits. It was so good to see him in his element!

Crutches!

It has been an emotional day for us. Our visit with Carl's surgeon was as we expected it would be, both positive and negative. First the good news: As of today, Carl can put weight on his left leg! He was so-o excited about the prospect of "being vertical"! He got crutches and went straight to therapy after the appointment. His leg can hold his weight for a short time but the biggest issue at first is an ability to balance. After 13 weeks of being off his feet, it's understandable, and will be short-lived. He'll be up and around very quickly, I suspect.

We all took turns getting standing-up hugs from him today. It was wonderful to be held...

The results from Carl's nerve test were mixed:

*his right femoral nerve (front of thigh), which allows the knee to straighten, sustained moderate damage from the crash and has a good chance at recovery.

*the tibial nerve on the inside of the right leg provides sensation to the inside and bottom of his foot. This nerve allows the foot to push down, like on a pedal. This nerve was severly damaged and recovery remains to be seen.

*the peroneal nerve on the outside of his leg was severed. It is gone, with no chance of recovery. This is the nerve that allows the foot to flex upward (toward your head.) So the doctor will eventually fit Carl for an insert or "boot" placed inside his shoe which will act as a spring and propel his foot upward when he walks.

Carl's right leg can not bend because of severe scar tissue in the knee. During the initial surgery, they had to remove a lot of cartilege and now it is mostly bone against bone in that area. The surgeon will likely need to go in and clean up (scope) the knee area. He wants to wait until all the bones are healed on that leg to pursue other options--probably surgery to bend it or as he calls it, "manipulate" the knee. Some other possible future treatments include a surgery to release muscles and tendons, including the achilles tendon. This should allow the leg to loosen up a bit to allow him to learn to walk. He is also a candidate for knee replacement in the future but the doctor wants to put that off as long as possible. Dr Essis said, "We'll get you a gait" which means he will learn to walk somehow!

I know this is a lot of information, maybe too much. But for tonight, we look at how far Carl has come in the past 3 months and rejoice in the fact that he can now use crutches. We still don't know what the future holds---but then, who among us does?

In the Fires

We are now living in what the doctors told us would be the "long haul" part of our journey. It has been 10 weeks since Carl's motorcycle accident. Life has settled into a new normal for us and we are focusing on doing what is necessary for Carl's legs to get better. But there is nothing quick or easy about it, just lots of hard work on Carl's part and patience on mine.

Following is a paragraph from Streams in the Desert. P.140.

“Glorify the Lord in the fires.” Is. 24:15 “Notice the word “in”... we are to honor the Lord in the trial-in the very thing that afflicts us. Sometimes God did not allow His saints to even feel the fire but usually the fire causes pain. It is precisely there, in the heat of the fire, we are to glorify Him. We do this by exercising perfect faith in His goodness and love that has permitted this trial to come upon us. Even more, we are to believe that out of the fire will arise something more worthy of praise to Him than had we never experienced it.” –Margaret Bottome

Quite honestly, this is easier said than done! But it IS what faith is all about: "the confident assurance that something you want is going to happen, the certainty that what you hope for is waiting for you, even though you do not see it."

Sunday Morning Service

After 10 weeks out, it was wonderful to be back at church this morning!The worship time was meaningful and the sermon was especially timely-- (Pastor Sam spoke on the verse from the Beatitudes, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted"), but even aside from that, there's just something nice about the customary, the predictable, the habit of spending time each week with other people who share faith and belief in a God who is bigger than the complexities of life.Carl is able to sit for longer periods of time now and being in a crowded setting for several hours didn't seem to make him tired.

Big week ahead of us!
Monday is therapy, Tuesday is the nerve study on Carl's right foot, Wednesday and Thursday is therapy and Friday he gets fitted with the bone stimulator.

therapy

Carl's physical therapy is scheduled for 3 times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11:00-12:30 at Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, Oregon Pike. We will be making that trip for the next several months, at least through the beginning of next year. Please pray for strength, stamina and endurance as we enter this new phase of Carl's recovery.

10/8 doctor visit

There is always news to report after a visit with Carl's orthopedic surgeon.It's what makes those doctor visits both exciting and scary...

*Outpatient therapy starts on Friday. After 4 weeks of physical therapy here at the house through the Visiting Nurses Association, we will now be traveling in to Lancaster 3 times a week for Carl's therapy. It will be more aggressive and steamlined for Carl's specific needs. I will post the therapy schedule after we know more details.

*The doctor is quite pleased with the range of motion in Carl's left leg: he made it to 90 degrees yesterday--yeah! (This means that when he is sitting, his leg can bend at the knee so that his foot rests on the floor.) Although he will continue to try to loosen that leg, it is considered functional at 90 degrees. Only 4 more weeks till that leg can bear weight! Carl is so excited for the prospect of crutches instead of a wheelchair.

*Next week Carl is scheduled for an evaluation of the peroneal nerve injury in his right foot. Basically it will be a nerve conduction study where they will now be able to see what kind of damage actually occured in that foot due to lack of blood flow in the hours after the accident.The doctor is also becoming more open to giving Carl some type of medication to still the constant prickling, tingling, stinging sensation in that foot. Possibly we can start that next week. (His only concern is that this medication has been known to slow bone re-growth and we sure don't want that!)

*The bones in Carl's right leg need to fuse better so the doctor ordered a device to stimulate bone growth. It is something Carl will wear 24 hours a day for 6 weeks before they can tell if it is effective. That's all I know about this for now--I'll update when I learn more.

I can hardly believe that tomorrow it is 9 weeks since the accident happened. Because we can get him in and out of the van with no problem, Carl is anxious to move forward to this next step in his recovery. Thank you for being so faithful in praying for his TOTAL and COMPLETE healing!

Thoughts about Courage

Courage is reclaiming your life after a devastating event robs you of your confidence and self-esteem. It is facing tomorrow with a firm resolve to reach deep within yourself to find another strength, another talent...It is taking yourself to another level of your own existence where you are once again whole, productive, special...--Catherine Britton



If our vocabulary did not contain the words trouble, adversity, calamity and grief, it could not contain the words, bravery, patience and self-sacrifice. Those who know no hardships will know no hardihood. Those who face no calamity will need no courage. Mysterious though it is, the human characteristics we admire most grow in a soil with a strong mixture of trouble.--Dale Turner



Courage: contrary to popular belief, it is not the absence of fear. Courage is the wisdom to act in spite of fear.--John-Roger and Peter McWilliams

Homecoming 2008

Carl figured out a way to get into our mini-van today and we took him around the corner to Pequea Valley High School Homecoming tonight. Our Tessa was honored to be chosen as one of the six girls on the Homecoming Court. (By the way, she has been fighting mono the past few weeks and as late as yesterday, her face and lymph glands were very swollen and she felt pretty miserable. The Lord was gracious to allow her to feel SO much better today so she could enjoy the experience.)

Once again, we are reminded of the little things that matter most: like Tessa having her dad there to celebrate life's special events. Every day I thank God for sparing his life.

sleep

And if tonight my soul may find her peace in sleep,
and sink in good oblivion,

and in the morning wake like a new-opened flower

then I have been dipped again in God, and new-created.

~D.H. Lawrence

Wow, there's just nothing like a good night's sleep! Carl slept straight through the night last night for the first time in many weeks. Just pure, sweet sleep.... We both woke up this morning a bit confused, because it's been so long that it no longer felt normal to us. It is amazing how sleep affects energy level.

We think the new medication that Carl started just a few days ago may have kicked in or maybe it's that we went to bed later than usual since the kids were all here watching football until nearly midnight, or maybe it's just that he turned a corner--whatever the reason, we are very happy!

In other news, Carl designed a really neat tray (thanks to Brian at the shop for constructing it) that attaches to the front of his wheelchair and acts as a desk or table area. It comes complete with cup holder and pen holder. Our physical therapist thinks we should market the product!

9/25 update

Carl said as he laid on his bed to go to sleep last night, "Oh this is so comfortable..." and then as almost an afterthought, he added, "if it wasn't for the pain." We chuckled but the reality is that this is what he lives with everyday. On one hand, something can feel good for a short while but underneath is always the constant, aching pain. He does not complain though--I am amazed at my husband's attitude and how brave he is. A man named Brother Lawrence writes, "Be courageous. Offer your pains to God. Pray for the strength to endure. Above all, develop a habit of conversing often with God. Adore Him in your infirmities. At the very height of your suffering, ask Him humbly and affectionately (as a child to a good parent) to help you accept His will." I see my husband striving to do this and I am very proud of him. Many times a day though, I wish there was something I could do to make the pain go away.

We had a doctor appointment again yesterday with Carl's surgeon, Dr. Essis. He is very matter-of-fact and told Carl that he needs to see himself as a trauma patient for about 6 months. He will live with soreness and discomfort for quite awhile. The doctor said many patients recognize the severity of their injuries in the hospital but often feel like things will quickly get back to normal when they get back home. The thing is, "normal" simply has to happen one...day...at...a...time.

Carl's left leg is doing so much better, basically it is broken bones--and those heal. His right leg continues to be a challenge. Dr. Essis says that the human's thigh bone is so strong that there has to be significant trauma to break it. And when it breaks, there are usually other problems associated with the tendons, muscles, nerves, etc. Also of concern is a condition called "foot drop", which is a loss of the ability to raise the foot at the ankle. This leads to difficulty in walking and a floppy-appearing foot. Injury to the peroneal nerve (the one that is responsible for lifting the foot) often causes foot drop. Also the fact that Carl did not have blood flow to his right foot for 4-6 hours after the accident. We still believe that the nerve will rejuvenate itself with time. The doctor gave a foot brace for him to wear as much as he can tolerate it. It is uncomfortable but necessary.

Today we had lunch with some of Carl's family. They are some really wonderful people and such a support system for us! Thank you all.

Sunday, September 21

What a beautiful day! Don Hess came by for a visit after lunch and we took a walk outside. I wish summer would stay here forever... (unfortunately this is it--tomorrow is the first day of fall!)

10 reasons

10 reasons to be thankful today:

1. Summer's last hurrah--spectactular September weather

2. 100 quarts of fresh applesauce, canned assembly-line style in my garage, by wonderful hard-working friends/family

3. our back yard, newly mown and manicured to perfection by Carl's brother Jake

4. a delicious home-cooked supper, courtesy of Lill

5. Carl can lie on his side now, allowing us to (very carefully!)
half-snuggle for a few minutes at a time

6. a reading of 69 degrees in the ability Carl has to bend his left leg - better than just two days ago in therapy
(90 degrees is considered functional)

7. hot water and plumbers who know how to fix things

8. my hairdresser, Deanna, who has persevered through her share of physical challenges, and come through with shining colors

9. medical insurance

10. Grace for each day

therapy at home

Carl's in-home therapist comes to our house several times a week to work with him, helping to make his legs work again. It is such HARD work for Carl --and Jason is patient, reassuring, and positive, even on days when we don't see much change or progress. We try to celebrate as best we can the little things: feeling a hamstring on the back of his leg tighten just a little bit, the ability to lift his right leg a half inch higher than a few sessions ago, the degree of bend in his knees ( we check and re-check to see if it's more each time).

Oh, it feels like a long road ahead. It will be, but today we just have to do today.

meds update

After a few rough nights and a call to Carl's doctor, it was determined that his meds were being pulled back too quickly. So we will stick with his morphine-type pain medicine for a bit longer and try weaning off more slowly over a longer period of time. It is so important that his body is able to rest in order to heal.

We're finding that this is a trial-and-error endeavour, since every person's injuries are unique and everybody reacts differently to any given medication.

The physical therapist seems pleased with Carl's leg movement. He continues to have more sensation (burning, prickly, "sleeping", itching) in his right foot and they tell us that while this is annoying to experience, the flip side is that it means nerve endings are trying to rejuvenate.Carl also has some feeling in his big toe now, good news for when he learns to walk again!

phases of the sun

My sister Yvonne, her husband Lin and their four girls visited us today. Lin lost his mother in an accident nearly 8 years ago.

He encouraged us by reminding us that this event in our lives feels initally like direct sunshine, full on our face. It blinds us to all other parts of our normal lives, demanding constant attention and focus.Everything else gets put on hold.

In time the sun will move a bit, this incident will no longer be front and center, more off to the side of our peripheal vision. Other facets of our life will come back into play--our work, our kids activities, our relationships at church and in the community...

And eventually the sun will become just a gentle warmth on our back, reminding us of how this accident shaped us into the people we are, but it will be in the form of memories, no longer requiring our energy and focus. We will look back and see God's everlasting faithfulness and his constant presence with us throughout the entire process.

PS I'm looking forward to sunset!

therapy sessions

For the immediate future, Carl's in-home physical therapy is scheduled for 11:00-12:30 next Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He also has a doctor visit on Wednesday so that day will be pretty full.

follow-up visit

The meeting with our orthopedic surgeon went well. We were reminded again that medical technology has advanced such that even a mere 10 years ago, a leg as severely injured as Carl's right one was, would have had to be amputated. When we look at life that way, we have so much to be thankful for!

Carl will not be weight-bearing for 10 more weeks. That means living with a wheelchair until mid-November. But in the meantime his legs can become more agile with therapy and the harder he works now, the easier it should be to learn to walk again after he can stand.

The doctor kept telling me that I can't be "easy" on Carl, because he needs to work hard on range of motion every day. Those of you who know me well know that's not my personality---it looks like I will need to stretch and grow too! It helps a lot that Carl is self-motivated, so I think he'll do well.

Starting today, Carl is going to slowly "wean" off the narcotics that he has been on since his accident. Dr. Essis told him to expect some anxiety, nervousness and sweats, a withdrawal of sorts. Will you pray that he will not need to experience these symptoms? I believe the peace of God can guard his heart and his mind and that he will not need to feel these side effects.

Carl's first in-home physical therapy session is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:00. After that we will know his ongoing schedule.

appointment

At 2:20 today, we have an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon who performed all of Carl's surgeries. This is the first time Dr. Essis will have seen Carl since August 20, (the date of his last operation.) We are excited about the appointment and hoping the doctor will be able to give us a sense for how well Carl's injuries are healing internally and a better idea of when he will be able to bear weight. I am trying hard not to set unrealistic expectations and yet balance it with believing for "better than we expected!" I know God is able to make this healing process go quickly.

guest book entry

Entry from our Guest Book 9/8/08:

"The wounded (John Stoltzfus) and the formerly wounded (Glenn Smoker) visiting the more wounded (Carl Smucker)"

Today's Tribute

On Wednesday evening, August 6, we hosted our HomePlace Structures Employees Picnic in the backyard of our home. None of us could have known that early the next morning, Carl and I would not be coming to work --and we would both be out of the office for the forseeable future.

There are no appropriate words to express our gratitude to these wonderful people for what they have done for us this past month. Helen Keller once said, "The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker."

Since August 8, these faithful men and women have been steadily, daily, working in our office, our warehouse and our manufacturing facility--all with almost no contact from us. Each one has come through for us in a way that few employees are ever asked to do. We are humbled by their faithful service to our company.

With gratefulness, we recognize:

Rich and Bonnie Sauder

Anita Southam

Lisa Warren

Will Stoltzfus

Stephanie Rychlak

Josh Christ

Brian Horst, Denny and the guys at Pinnacle

Mandi Stoltzfus

Our delivery people and installers who work with us on a daily basis.

home again, home again

After 30 days in the Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Carl came home today-- in the pouring rain! The ramps worked beautifully and when he was wheeled inside he said, "Just let me smell the place!" It really is wonderful to have him here with us. Little things mean so much: sitting around the dinner table to eat home-cooked food or relaxing in a room that is at normal temperature (hospitals are so cold!) and just being able to be together without driving 25 minutes to get there.

The kids (except for Doug at market) all came by this evening so we took a picture to show you our new set-up in the great room. Carl's hospital bed is set up right next to a bed for me: I will sleep well tonight!

There will be adjustments as we try to figure out new ways to do things, but we'll learn.

For now, it's good to be home.

getting ready

Thanks to Marlin, Lin, Jake and Darrell for readying our house for Carl's arrival on Saturday. These guys are great! They built ramps so Carl can manuever his wheelchair from the garage into the house and then out on to the back patio/yard. We cleared the front room of all its furniture so they could build a "runway" across the sunken space to allow Carl access to the bathroom around the corner.

My personality can tend to be bothered by changes that affect my daily life (like messing with my furniture!) Interestingly this time it doesn't seem like a big deal. Maybe I'm looking at life with a new perspective, maybe I'm so relieved to be coming home that it doesn't matter, maybe it's just God's continued grace and the prayers of His people. Whatever it is, I'm grateful.

On the other hand, I feel a bit nervous about Carl coming home. Whenever I left the hospital or rehab these past 4 weeks, there was someone else on duty. Now, it feels like the responsibility lies heavily on me. For you moms, remember how it felt the day you brought your first baby home from the hospital? I remember thinking,"What in the world am I doing? I have NO idea how to do this job!"

It is good to know though that this season is just temporaray. Each day Carl is able to do something he couldn't do the day before (that's his goal!) Today he was able to lift his right leg up about an inch off the bed: hard work, but he did it. His left leg, which was not as badly injured, is progressing nicely and will likely be the one that will bear his weight first.

It sounds like Carl will be picked up at the Rehab Center at 12:00 on Saturday.

We'll be in touch with you after we are settled in at home.

news about home

We got word today that Carl will be coming home on Saturday! He will be transferred from the Rehab Center by wheelchair van. An order was placed today for the things we'll need to "do life" at home for now: a hospital bed, wheelchair, portable toilet, tub bench. My brothers-in-law have graciously offered to build ramps around the house and already some furniture is being moved to make more room. Thanks to Jason (Graybill Plumbing) for being willing to work this job into his schedule to do some quick modifications to the tub and sink.

Since Carl can not travel in a car yet, his therapists will be coming to the house for the time being. We'll find out more details about that by week's end and will post the tentative therapy schedules then. We hope you all will stop by to see us during the times he is free!

It feels a little scary to think about this next step, but the over-riding emotion is one of excitement. It hasn't felt truly like home since Carl has been gone and I look forward to him being there with our family again.

Fan

Labor Day

Carl continues to improve daily. Last evening Marlin and Janet, along with Doug and Mandi and Carl and I sat outside in the Rehab courtyard until dark, enjoying the spectacular weather. It felt so "normal" to sit and visit. Thanks for the wonderful snacks: hard pretzels, bologna and cheese--perfect! Carl is able to sit up in his chair for longer periods of time now and enjoys visitors in the evenings.

Today the doctor removed 159 metal stitches from Carl's legs! The sutures are healing nicely, with no drainage and very little swelling: in fact the nurses keep saying how "beautiful" his legs look--and they mean it!

Thanks to Merrill who sat with Carl through his entire afternoon therapy session today. I think he was impressed that Carl can now move himself from bed to wheelchair and back all by himself! I know WE are impressed---just days ago it took me plus two other nurses and a slider board to accomplish the same feat. Carl has a strong upper body and strong arms, we are just so grateful that he had no injuries from the waist up.

Aaron and Becky provided foot rubs and a shoulder massage for Carl this afternoon as well. Touch is very healing, in fact nerve endings can be rejuvenated just by physical touch.Our bodies are so fearfully and wonderfully made!

If you would like to visit, Carl will be happy to see you. Keep in mind that his daily therapy sessions are from 10:00-11:30 and then again at 1:00-2:30 so he is usually available after 3:00.

Thank you for the many ways you show your love each day.

Fan

The true meaning of rest

Two painters each painted a picture to illustrate his conception of rest. The first chose for his scene a still, placid lake nestled among the far-off mountains.

The second threw on his canvas a thundering waterfall, with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam: and at the fork of the branch, almost wet from the water's spray, sat a robin on its nest.

The first was only stagnation.
The last one was rest.

Jesus life outwardly was one of the most troubled lives that ever lived: tempest and tumult, tumult and tempest, the waves breaking over it all the time until the worn body was laid in the grave. But the inner life was a sea of glass. The great calm was always there.

At any moment you might have gone to Him and found rest. Even as His life on earth was ending, He turned to his closest followers and offered them as a last legacy, "My peace."

"Rest is not a hallowed feeling that comes over us in church; it is the repose of a heart set deep in God."

adapted from "Streams in the Desert"

from Carl

Hi everyone, this is Carl. Wow! Where have the last 23 days gone? I have put off posting on this blog for a few days now because I know there is no way I can adequately convey my feelings towards you, my friends.

This one thing I do know, I will never look at relationships and friendships in the same way as I did before the accident. I have been so overwhelmed and humbled. Truly you are a gift from God- a tangible, real gift. This blog that my wife so diligently maintains is an unbelievable source of encouragement to me. Every comment is meaningful and powerful.

The last three weeks have been especially difficult for my wonderful wife. Thank you so very, very much to each one of you who supported her and continue to support her during this time. Next to Jesus, she is the rock that I lean on. She is a remarkable and incredible woman.

And then our 4 children-- Mandi, Carson, Tessa, Christy and our wonderful son-in-law Doug. Wow, you guys sure know how to take care of your dad. You know exactly what I need and you have been there in incredible ways the last few weeks. Thank you.

Because both of my legs were hurt in the accident, they will not be weight-bearing for quite some time. This means that I will be in some sort of therapy for the next 4-8 weeks. But God is faithful. Pray for patience as I follow Him and continued strength for the journey.

While this journey is nowhere near complete, there is one thing I'm convinced of. We have a God who cares, hears and understands and is there for us every second of every day. I have found His grace to be incredible. Thank you so much for standing with Fan and I and continuing to believe that He will bring complete restoration to my body. I am looking forward to the day when I am out and about and able to express, one on one, my thankfulness to each of you.

Until then... keep blogging!

The Psalms

Believers throughout the centuries have turned to the Psalms in times of trouble. I am no exception. I think it is because the words I am reading there echo in my own heart. David cries out to God in PRAISE and then in the next chapter, he LAMENTS.

Although the two expressions feel contradictory, there are common threads woven throughout: God is completely Sovereign, God is infinite in Wisdom, and God is perfect in Love.

It is in my struggle and questioning, while still trusting in His Sovereignty, Wisdom and Love that He comes to me in a very real and personal way. I can't explain it, I just know it is true. Maybe that is what Faith is all about.

As someone posted on our blog a few weeks ago,

"And so what seems an hindrance, has become a way,

what seems an obstacle has become a door,

what seems a misfit has become a cornerstone.

Jesus changes our hurting from a random series of incidents and accidents

into a constant opportunity for a change of heart."

~Henry Nouwen~

Fresh Haircut

and the winner is...

Lavale gets the steak dinner! Carl lost 22 pounds in 19 days.

our kids

When Mandi came by to visit today, the first thing she said was, "Dad! Just think, you'll never have to do a first day of physical therapy ever again!" Our kids have truly been their dad's biggest cheerleaders throughout this whole experience. From offering to stay overnight with him in the hospital, going out to get him food if he's hungry for something in particular, to visiting every day (and in many cases, hanging out for hours), they have been such a support to both of us. Thank you, Mandi and Doug, Carson, Tessa and Christy.

Carl had two sessions of therapy today: occupational and physical. Occupational therapy is treatment that helps people achieve independence in their lives. This service will include a customized treatment program to improve Carl's ability to perform daily activities like moving himself from bed to chair, dressing, bathing, etc. This morning he worked on some basic weight lifting to help strengthen his upper body.

Physical therapy is focused on the large motor groups that contribute to walking, reaching, standing and physical activities. This type of therapy works on strength, balance, and range of motion. Today they worked on bending his knees and moving his legs a bit.

The rehab center has a different feel than the hospital. We are much more on our own here, not as dependent on nurses and staff. It means we have to be more assertive and involved in the process.

It's late so we'll post again tomorrow.

Weigh Down

Every cloud has a silver lining. Dad was overjoyed to learn yesterday that he has lost a significant amount of weight since his accident 19 days ago. He now weighs less than he did when he got married 25 years ago.

We thought it'd be fun to see if anyone could guess exactly how much weight he has lost. If you have a guess, please leave it in the comment box tonight. We'll post the winner sometime tomorrow.

The first one who guesses correctly can choose between two prizes offered by Dad:
1) stopping by the rehab center to share a six-ounce plastic soufflee hospital cup (with lid attached) of fresh fruit with Dad.
2) a meal at Texas Roadhouse with Dad when he is able to walk again.

*Sorry, for those of you who already know the answer, you can't post a guess. (Uncle Dale- this means you.)

Love,
The Kids

Rehab...continued

Carl was moved from the General Hospital to the Lancaster Rehab Hospital around 3:00 this afternoon as planned. The nurses and doctors who served him faithfully these past 18 days wished him the best. They have been so very kind.

The Rehab Center is new, just about a year old, I believe. It is a very nice facility, all on one level and you can look out the window of Carl's room (#122) and see grass and sky and trees!

The goal at the rehab center for the next few weeks is to teach Carl the skills he will need to perform the activities of daily life when he returns home. Since he will not be able to bear weight on his legs for awhile, they will help him learn to live with a wheelchair for now. Later, after he can stand on his own, he will begin a different kind of therapy, probably outpatient, which will have more to do with walking and getting back to normal.

He starts therapy tomorrow morning from 10:30-11:30 and has a second session scheduled from 1:30-2:30. They tell us tomorrow will be a hard day. Pray for strength, endurance and perseverance for Carl and for emotional energy for me as I know how tired his body still is from the surgeries and the pain. I hate to see him hurting.

Your love and support continues to be the "wind beneath our wings."

Fan

move to Rehab

Carl will be moved today at 3:00 pm to Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital. It is located at 675 Good Drive, Lancaster, across from Women's and Babies Hospital. The phone number is 717-406-3000. We'll update as soon as we are settled in over there.

laugh every day

On one of the cards we received today, we were encouraged to "laugh every day." This afternoon Dad was feeling good and wanted to ham it up for the camera. He's able to lift his left leg straight up and down now, and wanted to show Mom and Doug, who, as the picture shows, are obviously dumbfounded.

-Mandi

treasures in the darkness

It is Saturday. Earlier today I was wondering what I would be doing on a "normal" weekend in August...maybe outside in my gardens or grocery shopping or cleaning my house. Carl would probably be mowing the lawn or working on a project around the house.

Amazingly, although I would never have chosen for this accident to happen, I feel at peace today with where I am in real life: Room 4629 in the General Hospital. Those other things will get done in time and at least for right now, I don't feel a need to fight the sitution I find myself in.

It is such a blessing to be able to have easy, quiet conversation with Carl while we are together here. Both of us see this experience as a "watershed", a turning point, an opportunity to re-evaluate everything in our lives. There is nothing like a close encounter with death to put life in perspective.

I read a verse in Isaiah 45: 3 that says, "I (God) will give you treasures hidden in the darkness--secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the One who calls you by name." Apparently some things in life can only be discovered in the darkness. Both Carl and I want to dig for whatever those secret treasures or life lessons are.The God of the Universe calls us by name! He wants to show us things we could never have learned any other way.

Pray that we will continue to lean heavily on Jesus. Next week will start rehab, and with that move comes more change and some very hard work for Carl. Our two youngest children start school on Monday (Tessa is a senior at Pequea Valley, Christy is a freshman at Living Word Academy) so we will be juggling schedules, sports events, transportation, etc.

-Fan

Friday 8/22

It's nice to be able to report just "another good day"-- uneventful compared to the past two weeks, but eventful for us since that makes two good days in a row!

Carl slept well last night, for several hours at a time. His sister Fi spent the night here with him in the hospital. (Someone from his family, a close friend or one of our kids has faithfully stayed by his side these past 14 nights. How can I ever thank you all?)

This afternoon Carl wheeled himself down the hallway to the elevator and we ventured downstairs and out the front door, hoping to get some sunshine. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I think we overdid it a bit!

He is looking forward to seeing visitors. A few people have come during a time when he is alert and he enjoys those visits so much...but at this point it still makes him very tired. I think it is a side effect of the morphine. As time goes on, he will definitely be able to engage more. Thank you for your patience and in some cases, your repeated visits , hoping to see him.

Meadow Tea!

In answer to your questions about what Carl was drinking on yesterday's blog photo, it's his mom's famous Meadow Tea. Thank you, Mom Smucker!

Progress

The weather has been exceptionally beautiful these last days of summer, but today I FELT the sunshine deep down inside! I came to the hospital this morning to find Carl with no tubes or attachments: no oxygen, no IV, no cathedar, no morphine drip.

He had his first physical therapy session since his surgery yesterday: I stepped out of the room for awhile. They worked on ROM (Range of Motion) in both his legs, basically trying to bend his knees. He is a trooper!

When I came back, I was met by my husband wheeling himself around the hallways on a wheelchair. He even went out to the visitor elevators so he could be there to surprise Carson when the elevator doors opened!
This afternoon has been quiet, I think he will sleep awhile. His pain meds, which they are now giving orally, seem to be more stabilized and Carl is more alert while awake, even though he is still medicated.

We don't know details about when Carl will be moved to rehab, but my guess is that our location will change next week.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Fan

Good News!

Carl just returned to his room from his 5th surgery in 13 days.

The surgeon did NOT need to do any skin grafting! Apparently, the swelling in his right leg had gone down enough that they were able to close the incision without taking skin from his body. What a wonderful surprise! I asked the doctor why they never mentioned that possibility to us and he said it is so rare in a situation like this that he just never brings it up. It certainly was an example of God giving us "more than we could have ever asked for or thought of!"

The biggest long-term positive effect from this gift is the fact that now they can start physical therapy on both knees tomorrow instead of waiting for the skin graft to heal and then starting to move the leg.

This means a lot of hard work for Carl in the coming days! They will keep him heavily medicated to try to combat the pain, but he is ready to get started. I also believe that God is able to make the pain less intense for Carl and give him strength to do what needs to be done for his healing.

It is such a relief to have the surgeries behind us! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers and your support through these past two weeks. We are humbled by your outpouring of love. Luree, your presence today as always, was reassuring and comforting to me. I will learn to trust the process.

-Fan

for today

God,

grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen.

Skin Grafting

We just found out that Dad's skin grafting surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, August 20. The surgery will begin at 12:20pm, and should take approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Please pray that the surgeons will be able to find enough skin from his upper left thigh so that they won't have to take it from his stomach area.

-Mandi

Luree

Last night was hard.

After a long day at the hospital, Carl told me just before I left that he remembers details of the accident happening--the sounds and slow-motion reliving of the moment of impact. I literally felt my heart breaking inside of me. I came home and simply couldn't stop my mind from spinning. I also believe the initial shock of the accident is wearing off for me, the surge of adrenaline is starting to let down, and the harsh reality slammed me that this road ahead of us will be long and hard.

I called a trusted friend, someone I knew would offer me hope in some form. She encouraged me to make a conscious choice not to carry my husband's load. If I believe God's Word--and I do--then I must believe that strength and grace is there for him in HIS situation. God will give me each day exactly what I need in order to deal with MY part of this saga.

And then she did one of the most precious things anyone has ever done for me. By that time it was 11:30 at night: she told me to go back to my bed while she got out of her bed and went to her living room to pray for me and Carl for 30 minutes. She said "Let me do this for you for now, you go sleep." And if I was not sleeping yet at midnight, she wanted me to call her so she could continue "holding" me from where she was until I was able to relax enough to sleep.

I went back to bed and immediately fell asleep.

And she prayed.

peace

It is 10:00 pm on Monday, if you happen to be reading this blog tonight, would you pray for peace in Carl's mind?

Surgery Update

Carl's surgery went well with minimal loss of blood.The doctor placed two plates in his left knee at the top of the tibia (weight-bearing bone.) They had to remove some damaged cartilage in his knee.

Now that the overall swelling has subsided, Dr. Essis saw that there are several torn ligaments in both knees. Hopefully those ligaments will slowly heal themselves. If not, there may be reconstructive surgery needed at a later time.

Because Carl's right leg had no blood flow for 4 hours after the accident, the muscles there have permanently swollen. As a result, the 3" x 15" fasciotomy (the incision made by the doctors during his initial surgery) will need to be skin grafted, maybe as early as Wednesday or Thursday of this week.

If all goes as planned, the Doctor anticipates starting rehab a few days after the last surgery. The beginnings of rehab would be here in the hospital, trying to bend his right leg. He will likely be moved to a rehab center sometime in the near future.

We are being told that approximately 12 weeks from now, Carl's legs will be able to start bearing his weight.

Pain management is key right now, trying to keep him as comfortable as possible during this time of multiple surgeries.

Thank you all for your prayers today. I am grateful for my precious sisters, Janet, Vonnie and Janelle who came to the hospital, hot lunch in tow, to be with me during the surgery. Carl's brothers, Dale, Merrill (along with Vern) and Chub also spent some time here with me.

For all of the support our family is receiving each day, we thank you. We continue to believe for the best outcome for our situation, and we appreciate you standing with us. With God, all things are possible!

August 17

Carl's surgery is scheduled for tomorrow at 12:00 and is expected to take about 2 1/2 hours. They hope to do all the necessary bone repair on his left leg and change the dressing on the right leg at the same time. (He still has the opening in his right leg to help with swelling.) I'm glad they did the worst leg first so it makes this one seem easier.

I also know that we need to adjust our expectations for the next few days to allow "2 steps forward, 1 step back" after the surgery. The pain is subsiding a bit in the right leg--just in time for the left to get the brunt tomorrow. Please pray that his pain will not be as intense as after the previous operation.

Although still groggy from 10 days on heavy morphine, Carl seemed to feel better today. My brother-in-law Marlin was here at the hospital with him for awhile this morning before the kids and I came in, and they had some comfortable conversation as Carl was more alert for a few hours. I look forward to when he does not need to fight the medicine to have a conversation and it will become easier to process his thoughts. That said, he does a pretty amazing job even with the meds!

Physical therapy today involved getting him out of the bed and into the wheelchair like before, but this time they had him wheel himself out of the room and back. He has been sleeping for hours since that excursion (without hiccups, I might add!)

My mom brought her famous Pot Roast "Sunday Dinner" to the hospital for us today. It tasted beyond-delicious and Carl ate more in one serving than he has any other meal in the past 10 days. Thank you Mom and Janet, what a treat to taste home-cooked food!

The younger 3 children have all gone their separate ways this afternoon, Mandi and I are napping here in the room with Carl. For the moment, our life outside these walls has become simple, uncluttered, there is no sense of "busy-ness" or "to-do" lists. I know that we have many decisions to make in the days ahead, regarding schedules, business, rehab,etc, but for now we rest.

Saturday

Today was another "restful" day. Dad seems tired but not as groggy as yesterday.

He still has the hiccups some times during the day. The nurses have doubled the hiccup medicine he was taking.

This afternoon, the physical therapists helped him move from his bed to his chair and back. He sat on the chair for two hours. He likes to stay active as much as possible in his upper body.

They also started another blood transfusion for him this evening. We think this is so that his hemoglobin count stays high enough for his surgery on Monday.

-The Family

Morning Musings

My mom encouraged me with these words from Elizabeth Elliott:
"The life of faith is lived one day at a time. And it has to be lived...not always looked forward to as though the "real" living were around the next corner. It is TODAY for which we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow!"

I am living a totally different life than the one I lived eight days ago. If you have ever traveled abroad, you know that feeling of going up in an airplane, sometime later landing in an airport somewhere, getting on another plane and repeating the process until you arrive at your final destination. It's sort of a "mode" you get into and you lose all sense of time and normal perspective. That's how this feels....like a very long journey, and I don't have a sense for when I'll get to the end of it.

Even though I would not have chosen this, it IS my life for right now and I want to live it well. I do not want to waste my suffering, but instead learn what I can so that I can become a stronger, better person. With all my heart (not always my feelings though) I know that God makes no mistakes and He has a plan and purpose for everything that happens in my life.

I am very grateful that my temperament/personality does well with routine and so far, being in the hospital all day every day has not been too bad. I also love my morning time alone here at the house before I head in to LGH, it's been so beautiful outside and I like to tinker in my gardens to re-juvenate for the day ahead. Sometimes the nights are hard. I really miss my husband's presence.

On my kitchen window sill is a plaque that reads: "All I have needed Thy hand hath provided: Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me." I am resting in that promise today.

Fan

A New Day!

Yesterday was a rough day for everyone, but today is a new day and things are going much better!

When I came into the hospital this morning and saw Dad, he looked much better than he had yesterday, but he still had the hiccups. I asked him how he was doing and he said, "If it wasn't for these hiccups, this would be a walk in the park!" All that to say- today is a MUCH better day!
(His hiccups stopped around 1:00 this afternoon, and haven't come back yet. Good news!)

The physical therapists came into his room this afternoon to work with him again. They had been here once before and only got him to scoot around a bit, but not get off the bed. Today they got him onto a wheelchair! After getting situated, he sat there for about 30 minutes and was able to eat a few bites of lunch. It wore him out- he was exhausted afterwards- but it was so encouraging to see him up and moving around more! We are making progress.

We also found out today that surgery on his left leg is scheduled for this Monday, August 18. We're not sure of many other details (times, etc.) but will let you know as soon as we find out.

Thanks for praying!

-Mandi

From Tessa

1 Peter 1:6-7

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Love You Dad,

Tessa

Rough Day

After Carl came out of surgery last night, he was one happy man! The anesthesia made him forget his troubles for awhile and we shared in his exuberant relief that surgery was over and that it was successful. Later on we will have some funny stories to tell him!

Then came the pain in his leg. Today his pain level, on a scale of 1-10 was nearly at the top. Thank God for drugs that help to manage the pain. (I'm finding that this is a process and what works for one day may not be effective the next.) He has been fitfully sleeping off and on most of the day although the physical therapists woke him long enough to help him sit up on the bed and swing his legs to the side. I am amazed at how quickly they try to get a patient's body to function as normally as possible. And as painful as it is, Carl wants to do the therapy. It is tough, the pain keeps him somewhat on edge. His body breaks into massive sweats which require changing bed sheets throughout the day and night. Annoying hiccups come and go.

Dr. Rogers, the vascular surgeon, stopped by today and told us that he believes he can safely hand Carl over to the orthopedic surgeon's care. This means they are fairly certain that the transplanted vein is working well long-term!

Another positive from yesterday: even though they could not use a tourniquet during Carl's surgery because of the transplanted vein, he lost less blood than expected. However the nurses are preparing to give him another unit of blood tonight to replenish his supply.

Tomorrow is another day.

-Fan

Hiccups... Again

It's early Thursday morning, I just spoke with Carl's brother Merrill, who spent the night in the hospital with Carl (Thank you, Merrill). The hiccups are back and they keep him from resting well. Please pray that they will be gone for good.

More later,
Fan

Surgery Done!

It's almost 5:00 pm, and Carl's orthopedic surgeon just gave us the report that his first surgery has been successful. They put a rod into his right femur bone and a plate on the tibia bone and on the knee. They were able to close the outside incision (fasciotomy) that runs from his knee down to his ankle but left the one on his inner calf open to help with the swelling. That incision will be closed later and will likely need skin grafting in the future.

They had no problems with the transplanted vein: thank God it is still pumping blood to his lower right leg.

They did not attempt surgery on the left leg today.

Carl will wake up tonight without a steel frame imbedded into his right leg. In it's place is a knee immobilizer. That certainly is a big step in the right direction and he will be happy about that!

Thank you to those of you who have donated blood. In answer to prayer, Carl did not need another transfusion during surgery, but even if he never needs more blood, the hospital will use it to replenish the blood they have used for him.

Thank you to my wonderful sisters, my mom and my sister-in-law Vern (and Merrill) for sitting with me throughout the entire surgery. It was like having a good old-fashioned "Sisters Day" and was a great distraction for the hours of waiting.

Becky, your understanding heart means more than I can say. I will learn much from your wisdom and your experience.

For now, we are looking foward to seeing Carl in a little while. (They said he already asked about me....yeah!!) Thank you for your faithful prayers for our family. We really do sense your deep concern.

Fan

Surgery Tomorrow

Tomorrow, August 13, Dad will be having surgery on his right leg. The doctors hope to be able to take the exterior "cages" off this leg, and replace them with steel rods which will stay in his legs permanently.

The biggest challenge for the orthopedic surgeon is that he must work around the area where the transplanted vein is situated. Please pray that the blood flow in his leg will not be impeded. The tentative plan is for surgery to begin at 11am, and it will probably take approx. 5 hours.

Thanks to everyone who has helped to make our load a little lighter. Thanks for the phone calls (don't be offended if you don't get a call back!), the blog comments (Dad often asks for one of us kids to read them to him), the flowers, and sweet cards. Thanks for taking care of our mom too. Jake- for mowing the yard, Auntie Anne- for spending the night with Dad tonight, Aunts and Uncles- for doing ANYTHING you can. We are blessed.

It's Tuesday evening and tomorrow looks like a big day. Would you pray that surgery would be successful tomorrow? Pray that the surgeons wouldn't run into any complications, that Dad would be in minimal pain afterwards, and that this healing process would go even faster than expected.

The family will probably be in and out of the hospital all day tomorrow, so you might not be able to reach us if you stop in. We've literally almost been living here, so the kids might go out for a few hours while Dad is in surgery. It might be best to wait a few days to visit Dad again.

We do feel your love and support.

Love,

The Kids

Donating Blood in Carl's Name

Dad has had several blood transfusions over the past few days and may need more blood before his upcoming surgeries.

A friend of ours mentioned that one way to help is by donating blood in Dad's name. If your blood is the same type, it might be used for his transfusions, If it is not the same type, it would be donated to the Bank for another patient. Dad's blood type is A positive.

If you are interested in learning more, please go to the following link for Lancaster General Hospital to make an appointment to donate and for general information on blood donation:
http://www.lancastergeneral.org/content/blood-bank-LGH.htm

If you decide to do this just make sure you tell them that you are wanting to do it for Carl Smucker.

-The Family

Hiccups

It seems ironic that with all the broken bones and trauma that Carl has to contend with, the most annoying symptom today has been persistent, deep hiccups! The medicine the doctor prescribed did not help. We tried all the home remedies that we could think of: a spoonful of peanut butter, using a Q-tip in the nose, and finally got temporary relief when he held his breath for awhile. The hiccups are still bothering him now (it's 10:00 pm). That seems like an easy thing for the Lord to fix, doesn't it? Will you ask Him to take away the hiccups for good?

In other news: The doctors ordered a CAT scan on Carl's stomach, partly because his hemoglobin levels are still low and they wanted to see again if there is any internal bleeding. The scan came back fine. They did another blood transfusion tonight and will check his blood levels in a few hours.

The orthopedic doctor said today that if all goes well, they will do a 5-hour surgery on Carl's right leg this Wednesday, August 13. They believe they can set the femur bone on his upper leg and the fibula bone on the lower leg but are not sure if they can do any work on the shattered knee at this point. Carl is ready to get started!

I'm sorry that so many of you were not able to see Carl today when you stopped by for a visit. It means so much to us when you come, but we are trying to be more sensitive to Carl's need for rest. Thank you for your written messages in our guest book, those will be so meaningful to Carl in the future. The blog continues to be a wonderful distraction for us--we keep checking to see who comments throughout the day!

--The family

Sunday Afternoon Naps in Dad's Room

Sunday Update

They moved Carl to a bigger room on the orthopedic floor this morning. The room we were given last night was so tiny, our family barely fit in it, let alone any visitors. Thank you Lord for that unexpected blessing!

Tessa brought her guitar along today so we spent some time singing around Carls' bed. It was a very precious time and the presence of Jesus was definitely here with us. Carl loves to hear his kids sing.

The doctor came in to see him this morning and is cautiously pleased with what he sees up to this point. He said Carl is not out of the woods yet, but is making progress. He does not believe they will need to do another blood transfusion right now. (We may post some information later about donating blood in case he does need to have that transfusion before his surgery.)

Today marked Carl's first physical therapy session. They do not waste any time in getting a patient to sit up! It was intensely hard work and Carl did it like a trooper. Thankfully his upper body is intact and he has strong arms to help pull himself up. He is sound asleep now, and probably will be for awhile due to the workout it gave him.Tomorrow the goal is to get him on a wheelchair.

Carl is having some trouble with his eyes: he says that when he focuses on someone's face and looks away, he still sees the face for a few seconds, a delayed reaction of sorts. It's disconcerting to see double--I believe it is a side effect of the heavy narcotics.

The nurses are constantly monitoring him (I do mean constantly!) since it is important that he does not develop a high fever or infection or blood clots.

Many of you have asked how you can pray specifically. Here's our request for today and for the forseeable future:

The doctors have repeatedly told us that at best, Carl will limp after he is able to walk and that he will have to live with pain for the rest of his life. My take on that bit of information is that, while I don't want to live in denial, I also don't want to just accept that verdict as final. Would you ask the Lord to COMPLETELY heal his legs so that he can walk normally again someday and that he will eventually be pain-free? I figure that no one, not even the doctors, really knows the outcome yet, so why not just ask God for the best-case scenario instead of the worst?

One of the kids will probably post later. They enjoy reading everyone's comments on the blog!

Fan