Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Good afternoon, everyone,

I am very happy to be back on the blog and giving you updates. John had his first of 3 physical therapy appointments this week. He completed his 45-60 minute appointment in 30 minutes. He said, "you can't keep a good man down". This is vintage John Anders. He is beginning to use his left arm a bit more, however, it is still very weak. You can see the difference in his shoulder size, when he stands in the mirror. It is amazing that in such a small amount of time, how our bodies can be affected. His anterior suture line is healing quite well, and his posterior suture line has staples intact. His first follow-up appointment at the University of Maryland spinal/neuro clinic is February 5, @ 1000. We are looking forward to his staples being removed, and the first update on how his fusion is healing. He will have a CT scan, an MRI, and a CT angiogram. They will then compare all of his previous studies to verify improvements, hopefully.
Chris and Amy are back at work. I know that we are all still in shock over such a catastrophic experience, but are trying to get back to some form of normalcy. They both are doing very well in their careers, but I hope there will be some understanding for both of them, because I even find for myself that I am having some difficulty with concentrating.
Marcus is back at school, as well, and he seems to enjoy the structure. He is one of those people who needs the demand of schedule to keep him motivated. He performs well under pressure. He is back to his exercising, and working. These are important milestones in returning to a life of normalcy.
Again, thank you all for your wonderful words of encouragement, love, and prayers. We are receiving meals, desserts, and drink. As you all know, John is my cook, and with him out of commission, we would either be having lasagna, spaghetti, or toasted cheese. I can bake up a storm, but we really need some protein! I hope you all are enjoying your lives with your loved ones, family, and friends. If there is anything we have learned, don't ever wait to tell those you love how you feel. You never know when you may not get the chance, again. We were given a huge reprieve, and believe me, we are all extremely grateful. I just love that man, as I know, many of you do, also.