Spilk's Miracle

Gone Fishin' and Signing Off

2010-08-09T14:53:00.000-07:00

At a follow-up visit, Andrew had the pic line removed from his arm. As the doc went to remove it, it wouldn't come out. The doctor's eyes got big and he said "this isn't good". Finally, he got it out. He looked at us as said "I'm going to have to have you go get an x-ray to make sure nothing broke off and stayed in the vein. As we waited in radiology, I leaned over to Randall and said, "it figures, Just as we are crossing the finish line, someone says 'not so fast!!' It all turned out fine. But it did give Andrew's doctor a good scare! So where do we go from here? Andrew has to be very careful through October. His nerve pain has been bad since the surgery. It should calm down as we get the meds built back up in his system. He got the go-ahead to swim so that made him happy. We took him up to camperworld at Echo. We all watched him get into the pool. It was a very happy moment. Andrew draws questions from other swimmers when they see his amazing scars. It is something that he will have to deal with for the rest of his life. That next morning, after sleeping in a tent, he went fishing. He grabbed his pole, didn't have shoes or a shirt on, and headed to the river. It was good for him just to be free to do want he enjoys. Andrew is our own version of "Huckleberry Finn". Life is good and summer is the best time of all! Andrew starts high school soon and is ready to move on with his life. So this is the last blog of an amazing journey. Thanks for sharing your comments, faith and prayers for Andrew. This has changed our lives in many ways. One way being that I never by-pass others in need. We were out on Saturday and noticed a medical fundraiser at the high school for a child with cancer. We had to stop and contribute. You can't imagine what it means to be in a position of spiraling hospital bills. You hope you never have to face it. But we have. So now, we feel compelled to pay-it-forward. I also look at life differently. I just don't get worked up about things that I used to. A lot of stuff that we worry about is truly 'small' in the grand scheme of things. Love your family, spend time with them, and live like each day is your last.

Recouperating from Major Surgery?

2010-07-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

Most people who go through a major bowel resection and abdomenal wall closure surgery enjoy lounging about for several weeks, recouperating. Not Andrew. Day One. We arrive home, Andrew goes over to the Barkers acrossed the street. OK. He'll play computer stuff. A little later on, I send Amanda over with a popsicle. She comes home to tell me that he isn't there. What!!! He went with the boys to watch them do a service project in the neighborhood. Later on he tells me that he wants to go to Farmington Pond. No!! I realize that for the next six weeks I am going to have to keep a close watch on him. Day Two. I make Andrew come with the family to Farmington Pool. He can't do anything but sunbathe and hang his feet in the pool. Day Three. We took a ride up to Westgate in Park City. Grandma and Grandpa are staying there. Once again, Andrew gets to sunbathe. It is hard for him to watch from the sidelines. But we are in the home-stretch now and have to be careful. Recovery time will be six weeks - very careful and three months - careful. Over the weekend we had the annual Spilker Family Reunion at Westgate. We spent one day at Trial Lake fishing. Andrew caught a a 17", 1 pound albino trout. We had a lot of fun with Grandma and Grandpa Spilker! Later in the weekend, I was walking out to the pool and turned my head in time to see Andrew swing a tennis racket. He was trying to play with his cousins! Eek!! My blond hair is rapidly turning white. Hmm, I wonder why? Andrew's pain levels are mostly manageable. His back/leg nerve pain reared it's head again. He was off those meds for 10 days during the surgery. So now we know that they really do help. Andrew has some muscle spasms in his abdomen that hurt but he is doing very well! Just a little tylenol for pain. I have to smile when I watch him do things that he enjoys, like fishing. To see the twinkle in his eyes is such a gift! Each new day that you get to spend with a loved one, is precious. That is one of the lessons we have learned. On Wednesday, Andrew's JP drainage tube came out by itself. He said, "Mom! I swear I didn't pull it out! John is my witness." I had to laugh. It was ok and can stay out now. We are down to the PIC line and tpn. We go in on Tuesday and I think we may be good to end that too. We can see the finish line! It has been a long race.

One more day

2010-07-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

False alarm. We will be going home on monday. Andrew's surgeon was out for a bike ride saturday night and stopped by to see him. We decided to keep Andrew on tpn for a while.
Tpn helps him to maintain or gain weight while he is recovering. This added another night to our hospital stay. His surgeon is a very caring, awesome doctor! If we can get Andrew to wake up this morning, we will all go to church here at the hospital.

Tomorrow is the Day

2010-07-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a week. Andrew has progressed nicely through the recovery process. It is painful to have a large abdomenal surgery as he did. Thursday was a difficult day with a lot of nausea. However, on friday, things moved foward as his insides finally started working. He took a long walk. They allowed him to pulled out his own NG tube and begin drinking. Aaron, John and Matt, Kortny and Sabree had a movie night with Andrew. Saturday he was able to begin eating food. We had Randall's aunt's funeral in the morning. When we arrived saturday night, Andrew was off of everything but he was having pain. He has lost some weight and will have to regain the weight. It looks like we will be going home on sunday! It will take time to feel good eating again. His stomach has shrunk down and nausea is a problem. It has been wonderful to receive all of the well wishes for Andrew that he has received from the staff. Andrew's success is this hospital's success!

Saturday, 3rd of July

2010-07-03T19:12:00.000-07:00

This morning we all woke up feeling a bit tired!! Concern sure takes a lot out of a person. Today Andrew had a few visitors: Family, Sabree, John and Matt, Mike, Rick, Connor and Katrina. We think his pain med is up a bit high because he just wants to sleep all the time. It is nice when visitors arrive at a meal time. It allows us to sneak down to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat while they visit Andrew. Later in the evening, the hospital asked us to move rooms. We negotiated a better price...just kidding. We ended up with a room that is a lot bigger and nicer. We twisted Andrew's arm and got him to sit up for the first time and get into a wheel chair. I couldn't help but think of women who have c-sections. This is worse. But Andrew made it in the chair using the 'hug the pillow to your stomach' technique. He sat in the chair for over a half hour before we got him back into bed. Tonight, I feel grateful to have Andrew with us. As you get around the hospital, you find yourself witness to families dealing with sudden trauma and tragedy. It pulls on your heart in a profound way.

Is It Time Yet?

2010-07-03T18:49:00.000-07:00

Friday we left home at 7:45 a.m. to reach the hospital by 8:45. Just as we were reaching Salt Lake City, the phone rang. There was an emergency surgery that bumped us. We were to report at 10:15 for a 12:15 surgery. OK. We decided to go rest at Ashley's home in North Salt Lake until it was time to go. We enjoyed seeing our sweet grandson. At 10:00, we arrived at the hospital and checked in. They moved us to the surgery prep area. We waited and waited. Keep in mind that it is Friday at noon and Andrew hasn't eaten anything since Wed. night. Next thing we know, they bump us again but this time with no idea when the surgery will actually be. We couldn't believe it. I was not a happy camper. I decided to go eat something so that I could regroup. Andrew wanted to continue to wait. He just wanted to get it over with. They put him on an iv to help with his starved condition. We watched tv and waited. Finally, they took Andrew back for surgery at 4:00. They wanted to place an epideral but it ended up in a failed effort. The surgery was very long. It went 4 hours. It is very hard to do nothing but wait. I fell asleep in a chair by the window. Finally, we got a call that they were 45 min out from completion. They said that things were going good. When the surgeon came out, he had very good news. They had to do two different surgeries; a bowel reconnection, and an abdomenal reconnection. The surgeon was very pleased with how the first goal was reached. It took four hand because they had to work through some scar tissue. It took a lot of time but, things went together well. Second, the abdomen went together completely. They needed a little more slack at one spot, so they opened a side spot wider to gain a little more give to it. Then they sutured dermamatrics to the new wound site. Randall went back with Andrew in recovery. Andrew woke up with a muscle spasm that was very painful. The pain team took care of things quickly so that we could check into his room. Andrew slept well for several hours until he had an itching response to the pain meds. Once they resolved that he was able to rest again. Andrew has a implant that carries pain med locally to his wound site. He also has an on-demand pain med system. There is also a drain for his wound. It is fascinating what medicine and creative medical engineers have come up with to increase post-op comfort! We were exhausted by the end of the day but so happy with the outcome of the surgery!! Andrew was in a good, positive mood.

2010-06-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

Back flip at barkers (MAY)
Boondocks fun April
Presidents day
Natural history Musuem

Andrew going to school for the first time. In April.
Physical therapy.
Ice Fishing, February
Antelope Island in march
Owl

Facing the Next Hurdle

2010-06-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a final pre-surgery appointment at PCMC. The surgeon gave us a good idea of the challenges that may or maynot be present. They will reconnect Andrew's bowel. Due to the distance between the ostomy and the fistula, it will be challenging. Placement is key if it is to work properly. Because his liver placement changed with the accident, they are not sure where the intestines and stuff will be situated. To complicate things more, there could be a lot of scar tissue to work through. They will also close the abdomen in a permanent, sturdy way. The opening is very close to the ostomy. The surgery will take around four hours. Because of his past experiences they will be prepared to give him blood products, if necessary, and will be taking preventive measures against blood embolisms. The hospital staff continues to ooh and ahh over Andrew. He is a rock star at PCMC. The surgeon indicated that the staff is aware that he is coming in and that they are excited to move forward on this part of his recovery. Many of the trauma surgeons worked on Andrew at some point. He said that they will be looking in on this whether they operate or not! Very exciting! After Andrew completed his summer school boot camp, he went to scout camp last week. He had a great time at Camp Browning. He rapelled a 200ft. rock, took the polar bear challenge (icy water), shot a gun, and did an aerial obstacle course. The obstacle course was the hardest for him due to his weakened core. But he did it. Rick McGurk was his awesome, group leader. Although Randall and I knew he'd be fine, we felt sick for a bit as we dropped him off to camp. We are very invested in this kid. Last week he also went four-wheeling with the Barker boys. He didn't really have permission but I guess we will forgive him. Andrew loves to be active!! After our appointment yesterday, we decided to visit our friends at the PICU. They hadn't seen him for quite some time. He has a nice tan and his hair has grown out. He has added a good amount of muscle mass to his body. They took us around for everyone to see him. We ended up outside a patient's room. I don't think that it was a coincidence that we brought Andrew in that day. There was a teen girl on ECMO. I didn't realize it at the time but Andrew noticed immediately. I talked to her mom and gave her a hug and words of encouragement. She was so grateful to see Andrew. It gave her great hope that he looks so good! We were also told that the hospital did a big write-up on Andrew. He is the only patient to ever survive ECMO with an open abdomenal wound. Apparently they didn't expect his body to be able to contain the circulated blood. So he is a ground breaker for this amazing, life-saving option. As we left the PICU, I noticed that my hands were trembling. Even having gone through everything that we have, there is something raw and tender about an ICU. Life hangs in the balance there for the patients and their loved ones. ...but for the grace of God, there go I... . Andrew was asked to speak in church about his experiences. It was difficult for him but he made it through the talk. Andrew had a great number of responses to his talk. His experience continues to open people's hearts to God because Andrew's life is a medical miracle. When you realize what Andrew has gone through, you cannot deny a divine power involved in his recovery. Andrew's surgeon talked to us about needing divine help in our every day lives. I have prayed unceasingly for Andrew and his surgeon. As this next hurdle comes before us on friday, I had a moment the other day of feeling weak and unprepared. I had a restless night. When I woke up, I had the distinct thought that Andrew is the most courageous person that I know. I realized that he has been tested and proven. Andrew meets life head-on with faith. He doesn't whine and feel sorry for himself. It occured to me, that I could give no less back in what I do. We are now prepared for this challenge. We approach it with optimism and faith.

Feeling Good About Life

2010-05-24T12:52:00.001-07:00

Andrew will have surgery some time in July. They will reconnect his bowel and close his abdomen completely. If all goes well, it will be a 7-10 day stay at the hospital. It will be, at least, a month recovery. He will need to be careful until October. It is our hope that this is the last surgery that he will need. Andrew has been doing great. He is hardly home. He likes to hang out with his friends. He got his learner's permit for driving. Andrew volunteered at an mock emergency for Ariel's EMT class. They covered him in fake blood and made up his wounds. Then they set up a triage and diagnosised and prepped the patients for transport. They gave Andrew a fake tracheostomy and strapped him to the board for transport. Andrew loved it. He wants to do his EMT while at Davis High. Andrew has enjoyed his physictal therapy. His muscle mass and strength is greatly improved. He did a back full on the trampoline and his ostomy bag went flying off. I see miracles in all that Andrew does i.e., mowing the lawn, checking out a book at the library, passing the sacrament at church, helping a neighbor. Andrew feels optimistic about his future and is happy to be alive. He is working on making up school credits. That isn't fun but we are moving forward. This summer, Andrew is planning to go down the green river, rock rapelling boating and lots of fishing. A friend at the saloon who lost a baby shared this thought with me- If you live in the grief of yesterday, you cannot feel the blessings of today! I believe in looking for peace and happiness and filling your life with hope and love.

First day of School

2010-03-24T20:27:00.001-07:00

Andrew started school on Tuesday. He has four classes a day. He is doing great. I think that he enjoyed getting back into school and into his regular life. That morning I had calls from everyone in the family. Every time my phone rang, I worried that it was Andrew calling. But he never did. We all survived the first day just fine! Andrew was worried about getting stupid questions about his accident. The kids at school were cool about things and he had a great day! YEA!

Just Plugging Along

2010-03-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

Last week we spent the day at PCMC and U of U for several doc appointments. Andrew continues to move forward in his recovery. He is off the tpn and if he can maintain his weight, they will pull the pic line. He is down on the meds that he takes, so life is good. We are encountering two conflicting opinions regarding what sports he should participate in. His main physician believes that he should be happy to be alive and not participate in contact activities. His nephrologist believes that he should "go for it". He doesn't believe in having him sit on the sideline of life. I am beginning to believe that it will eventually be up to Andrew. Andrew really enjoys going to physical therapy. He gets stronger all of the time. Last week there were several young girls at PT. One was a cheerleader who had pulled some muscles doing the splits. She really enjoyed watching Andrew lift. I tried to keep from laughing. I told him afterwards, "you've still got it!" Andrew also becomes more active each week. We are working towards getting him into a couple of classes the last term. Home school is difficult. The work seems harder to him than normal school. He has a lot of work to make up so we keep him plugging along. As he strives to come to terms with this entire experience, he remains positive about life. It is a lot to take in. But he recognizes how fortunate he is. We remain thankful. Several months ago I tried to imagine where we would be in his recovery by March. I know that we are further along than I ever dreamed.

Wow! He can jump...a little

2010-02-22T14:54:00.000-08:00

Last ten days have been so busy. First and most important, Andrew is done with the wound vac. It was an amazing moment. The nurse with wonund team was also the nurse who was with him in surgery the first day. We reflected on his journey. It is amazing. Andrew feel so free not to have the machine to pack around. The skin graft in the front is good enough that I stopped putting a dressing on it. The back wound is coming along. Andrew's continues to gain strength. Andrew went with his friends to the arcade. He even bowled. It is a concern whenever he goes out. People don't realize that he is still recovering even though he looks so good. One of the neighborhood boys slapped him on the back. I cringed when he told me. We can't keep him in a bubble, can we? Andrew goes to his weekly church activities. He played racket ball. It is the one night of the week that he can do things that the doctor probably woundn't approved of. The most difficult thing for Andrew right now is the nerve pain. He has had it from the start. Nights are the worst. We are not sleeping much. We have an apt. with the pain clinic in March. Hopefully, they will have some ideas about his pain. The pain is coming from the spine where he lost several transverse processes. It radiates up and down his leg and is excruciating. Not fun! Andrew is back to his starting weight. He has also gained a lot of muscle in his upper body. Two more steps forward. Yesterday, Andrew ran four steps. Then he showed me how high he can jump. Not very high but, impressive nonetheless! At PT he is lifting 60 pds with his legs instead of 20. Then they put him on the treadmill and turned it on to a pretty fast pace. I had to turn my head because it made me nervous to watch. But he continues to move forward. We stopped at the school to look into putting him into a couple of classes the last term. We are so grateful that we are to this point. Sometimes Andrew wonders about the future. I remind him that nothing is guaranteed in this life. If you work hard and have faith, the sky is the limit. He really enjoyed seeing Svindall from the Olympics. It you don't know, Svindall came back from a serious trauma (ski crash) and took the gold medal in the downhill. People with this kind of courage are very special and inspirational! Keeping up hope is so important in a recovery. When we feel discouraged we think about how far we have come. We also know that we can and will conquer this!

Skin Graft is 50% Success

2010-02-07T14:36:00.000-08:00

Andrew had a rough week. The skin graft didn't work as well as we would have liked. The graft slid out of place so they think that the surgery may be 50% successful. The doctor slid it back in place but only time will tell. It is a difficult road to be home all the time. You miss your friends and activities that you used to do. Andrew commented that he cannot wait to be able to run once again. The impact of the situation hits at different times for Andrew. It is not easy. Sometimes we all wonder if we are truly up to the challenges that have been placed before us. It is reassuring, however, to observe God's hand helping Andrew one step at a time. I am amazed at Andrew's strength to endure the multiple procedures that he must go through. Before his last surgery, he was calm and confident. I wasn't feeling that confident. I had to give him a big hug before they took him back. We have invested so much into this kid! We have all worked so hard to help him move forward. God's plan for Andrew unfolds a little each day. Andrew receives extra comfort and strength as needed. The other night as I was flushing his pic line, Andrew asked how come my hand was shaking so much. I had to remind him that I am not "nurse material". Last night when his line had an obstruction, I ended up calling the nurse. She had me flush a little saline and then pull back to see if blood would come in the syringe. This way we would know that it wasn't the pic line. It really grossed me out but I did it! The medical stuff is the hardest for me. Each week we really enjoy the home seminary teacher who comes to teach Andrew. Each week as they discuss the scriptures, there is a sweet spirit that attends them. This has been a humbling experience for the whole family. We try to work together. We try to be grateful. We try not to complain. We try to see our goal of a healthy, active Andrew.

Making Progress

2010-02-01T20:28:00.000-08:00

Today was a long day. Andrew had surgery. They took skin from his thigh to graft on front and back of his abdomen. We arrived at 2:00 and didn't leave until after 8:00. The surgeon said things looked great. This is one more step in moving foward toward recovery. Andrew will have to take it easy this week. On friday, he may lose his wound vac. That will be great for him. The harvest sight looked really sore. He took a long time to wake up. But he is doing great. Andrew started computer school last week. He says that it is harder than real school. My new role is teacher added to that of nurse. I try to be mom with the time that I have left. Oh well, you have to work with what you've got! We work hard to help Andrew stay positive about life. We took him for a ride to Antelope Island on saturday. We saw a coyote, porcupine, great horned owls and a herd of antelope. You have to be creative to keep a super-active person happy when they are sitting on the bench in the game of life. Andrew has never been one to sit and play computer games. He is all about movement!! The other day before he would touch his school work, I had to take him for a ride. Cabin fever is a constant threat. Andrew had to write an essay for school. He chose to write about the accident. It was interesting to read his perspective. He never feared for his life but was worried that he wouldn't walk. We have a lot to ponder. Why was Andrew spared? I have always noticed that Andrew has a kind soul. We were at physical therapy the other day. When it was over, Andrew held the door for an elderly patient who was on oxygen and just arriving. I had walked past him with my mind on other things. Andrew was undoubtedly exhausted from the workout. But he stopped for a moment to help another human being. It made me remember one day when he was around two years old. I had finished a snack and held the plate in my hand. Before I had a chance to take it to the sink, Andrew took it from me and set it in the kitchen. I called him my "little gentleman".

A Big Week for Andrew

2010-01-16T10:18:00.001-08:00

This has been a big week for Andrew. First, he will have his skin grafts done on the first of Feb. We spend a lot of time at different doc apts. Dr. Downey, his surgeon, was very pleased with his progress. Andrew has gained weight thanks to the pic line and tpn. He commented that this is the first big medical progress that he has made since the hospital. Andrew moves forward all of the time. Andrew went to a scout activity. They played pool at a neighbor's house. When he left, it felt like the first day of school for me. He walked out of the house with Connor and Gavin. I watched him walk down the street with them. He had a great time. The next night, he went over to Connor's house. Mike took them out to get a pizza. Then Andrew started his outpatient physical therapy. I found a great PT, Kurt Leske at Mountainland PT in Layton. He evaluated Andrew's strength. He was surprised at how strong he still is. He gave him a workout. I was amazed as I watched his determination. He really wants to get his muscles back. Andrew will go three times a week. Andrew really enjoyed it but he took a big nap afterwards! Have you ever received a bill for $824,000? We did on friday. It was for just the hospital's portion. We now have about four inches of bills for Andrew. We believe he will be worth around 1.5 million. It was interesting to look at the charges. Andrew received $8,000 dollars worth of blood/blood products the first day! It cost about $6,000/day just to be in the PICU. It get's complicated. You have to be careful to use insurance-contracted docs. When a trauma happens, you lose control of these decisions because things are happening so rapidly. The doctors make the decisions. But this week we have been referred to a GI doc and I have to make sure that he is contracted! This will lower our out of pocket expenses. We also have a prescription for Andrew that the insurance won't cover. It is going to be about $600 @ $7/pill. You hear these stories, but when you are in the boat it is quite amazing! Overall, we stay busy and we solve our issues one day at a time. Today, Andrew is going with the young men to the temple. He can participate in the confirmation part. It is amazing! We were driving along one afternoon and I looked over at him. I felt very grateful to still have him in my life. I said, "Andrew, I am so glad that you are still alive!" He smiled. A strange thing to say, yet true!

New Year, New Possibilities

2010-01-10T19:06:00.000-08:00

Andrew has been home over a month and we feel grateful that we haven't done anything wrong in his care. It is complicated taking care of someone who has been through a trauma. Lately, Andrew was put on a pic line and tpn. They put him under for this and a wound vac change. This is an iv that he can be on during the night for 12 h0urs. The doctor decided that this would help him get 3,000 calories a day. It seems to be working because he has gained three pounds. For my part, it is a little scary. The pic line goes to the heart. You must keep things sterile. So every night we hook him up. It is a bit of a family affair. We do it before family prayer. The other night we had problems with the machine and air bubbles. The whole family was in on solving the problem. I looked at the faces of each of my children as they hovered over Andrew. I really appreciated how much they care about their brother. I suppose that we have done something right! They really love each other. In the morning, I guess I got up too quickly. I went to disconnect him from the line. I have to flush the line with saline and shoot some heparin into it. I sat down and began the procedure. I felt all the blood leave my head. Andrew told me that I looked weird. I was about to pass out. Luckily, Randall hadn't left for work yet. I ended up going to bed for a nap with Andrew napping too. While we were asleep the wonderful ladies, came and cleaned my house. (Leslie Clark, Julie Simmons and Karen Greenwell). I woke up to things in order. I can't tell you the relief that I felt. They are angels of mercy. I really need and appreciate the help. So things are progressing. The plastic surgeon is getting ready to skin graft Andrew's front and back. He will be able to sucture some of it. Andrew will have a five day stay at PCMC for this procedure. I also notice that I am running the "Andrew" business. Each day I have calls to make, appointments to schedule, supplies to order, and prescriptions to pick up. I had no idea that it would entail so much. You know when you see someone use a handicap parking spot and they walk out of their car just fine. You might feel a little annoyed. Now I understand why you don't need to feel annoyed. Caring for someone really takes time, effort, money and energy. I am so grateful to have the option to park in a handicap spot. I am so exhausted by the worry and all the work. It is a great help. The worry continues. Randall and I confessed to each other that we often check him when he's sleeping, so see if he's breathing. Just like a newborn. My knee decided to go out on me a couple weeks ago. It has been swollen, weak and very sore. We laugh because Andrew's walk has been stronger than mine. I think God wanted me to have some pain to help me be a little more understanding of Andrew. Andrew is doing well. Ariel and I took him to KJH to meet with Principal Stromberg, Mr. Brown and others. I have always thought KJH was an exceptional junior high. Now, I see how much they care about the kids. They are really interested in helping Andrew. There is a new program to do school on the computer. Andrew may be out the rest of the year so he can work from home. It is great because Andrew got a great computer screen for Christmas from the people at Randall's work and we went in on it. He also received a new processor from Prime Systems. Keith Duncan at Prime Systems is really great. We have been doing business there for years! Andrew can even lay in his bed and use his computer. This will be a big help for him to keep his school work going. Andrew enjoyed going to his locker and checking a book out. It felt weird to him to have people see him. He has lost a lot of weight. I know that people wish him well so he doesn't need to worry. Saturday, Andrew made it through Avatar, the never-ending movie. He really enjoyed it. I thought it was a little long! I look at the year ahead of us and hope and pray for things to go well for Andrew. It is my wish that he will be put back together so that he can start his sophmore year at Davis. Last night when I was up most of the night with him, I prayed for his continued healing. Andrew is a great kid and a big fighter.

2009-12-27T20:33:00.001-08:00

The Best Christmas

2009-12-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Andrew had a wonderful Christmas. We took him to the mall to pick up a present. He was able to attend our family parties. The first party was a lunch on Christmas Eve. His cousins, Nicole, Ryan and Eli were here from California. That night we went to the Spilker party. It is always great fun. Grandma Spilker feeds us a German buffet. It is the best meal of the year. Every family has to perform a talent. It gets pretty funny at times. Then we opened gifts. After that we picked up Grandma Martin to bring her home for a sleepover. Andrew was pretty wiped out Christmas morning. He wanted us to go ahead without him. But finally we were able to coax him out of bed. The gifts really didn't matter, we were content to just have the whole family together. Grandma put a bow on Andrew and called him the best gift of all! I cooked up a turkey and a ham. I don't know if Andrew is eating anymore food but, I seem to be cooking more food all the time. Half and half cream and bacon has become a staple at our home. The next day we took Andrew to his sister's home while we went to the show. Unfortunately, we found out that all movies were sold out! So we went back to Ashley's and watched a movie and had spagetti. Family time is the best part of the holidays. We are enjoying having Alex here from Washington. We are so thankful for all the kindness Andrew received for Christmas. He had carolers, treats, presents, and lots of visits. Andrew is thankful to the Tullis family, the Jenkins, the Spragues, Alice Henderson and Advanced Graphics for the gift. They found out that Andrew was feeling down when he learned that the money being rasied was for medical bills not for his fun money! They decided to gift him a bit of cash to brighten his spirit. It really did the trick. Thank you so much. Rick McGurk brought Andrew a really neat present. It is a sword made in Spain. It is really heavy, and it says "The Sword of Laban" on it. Thanks Rick! You have been great! Things are difficult for Andrew. He wrestles with pain all of the time. I think he is a bit anorexic from not eating for so long. He keeps his food down but eating doesn't sound good to him. I find myself worrying about this a lot. On Christmas Eve, Dr. Downey, called to check on Andrew. This is one of the surgeons who worked on Andrew. He talked to me for 1/2 hour. I continue to be impressed by this man. He wanted to know how Andrew is getting along. We will see him on Tuesday. Dr. Downey said that he feels an ownership in Andrew and that the hospital should too. He talks about him to associates all of the time. He mentioned that the muscle graft/skin graft surgery may be coming up. He feels that it will be a two year recovery for Andrew. On Christmas night, Andrew's wound vac failed. We tried to get a home health nurse out to change it, but no luck. So guess who got to change it? Luckily, I have seen it done a million times. Ariel helped me. It turned out ok, so we felt good about it. It has worked since! Finally, we have noticed that we are more aware of the people around us who are suffering. There are a lot of people who answer this suffering. Whether you are the server or the one being served, good comes from this interaction. January is coming. If you get the winter blues, find someone to help. You will end up helping yourself. I know this to be true. I have seen it from both sides.

2009-12-20T19:49:00.001-08:00

Going to Church

2009-12-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

Andrew is doing well. He is on normal food now. It is important that he gains weight so we try to fatten him up. Andrew went to our church for the first time since the accident. It was a great moment for us. I remembered a church meeting that we attended when he was in the PICU. I wondered then if he would ever attend with us again. Today, we came late and left early. That way he wouldn't be overwelmed by well- wishers. He is still having pain and he is quite weak. I fired his therapists last week. They told me that he is doing so well that he doesn't need them. So he continues to move forward. He is down to one wound vac on his back. The front just has a dressing over it. Andrew has been out a bit as he feels up to it. He likes pizza but still feels that eating is a burden. There are some ladies in our neighborhood who have done a great service for us. Leslie Clark has organized a cleaning effort that we can never repay. Once a week since September they have descended on our home and clean it up within an hour. At one point there were only teenagers living here so you can imagine! I am humbled with gratitude as I contemplate what great souls these ladies have. Thank you so much. I am so grateful for the Edward's family. They have put us in their back pocket and helped to carry us with their multiple kind deeds. My favorite deed was simply sitting and talking with them in a hospital waiting room. I have one more to share with you. We realized that it would be better if Andrew could sit up more during the day. Leslie got the idea to post that we needed a recliner. It only took a couple of days when Pierces called. Sure enough they had a recliner that they aren't using. Aren't people great! We know so. We continue to be so grateful that we have Andrew with us. We now belong to the "never take life for granted" club. We understand how fragile life is. It reminds us to cherish the moments that we have with our family. I went to my work party on saturday. It was great to see all my wonderful associates. I realize that so many people put their faith in Andrew's corner. That is a very powerful thing. Faith can move mountains. Faith moved a mountain for Andrew. We believe in miracles!!!

Thank You!!

2009-12-08T19:54:00.001-08:00

Monday, Andrew's Benefit Puppet Show. The puppet show, put on by Alan Griffin, was wonderful. He really puts on a great show. There were so many people who helped to make the evening a success. We are incredibly grateful for the wonderful community and ward support. The money that was raised will help to keep our energy focused on Andrew. The concern that people have for Andrew is so amazing to us. Thank you so much! Andrew is happy to be home. It takes a lot of work to take care of him. Today I woke up to an ostomy that was leaking into his wound vac. So I had to change the entire dressing. The nurse had done is just yesterday. Luckily, I have watched it so many times that I can do it. Today Andrew had some friends from school drop by. Andrew showed them one of his scars and was telling them how he got it. It is good that he can talk about things. Later in the evening, he threw up his NJ tube. Now we will have to go to PCMC tomorrow to have it placed again. I have decided that it is kind of like having a newborn, except that he can verbalize his complaints! I had to take a nap today. He has me running back and forth for this and that. I don't mind really. It is just great to have him home and on the road to recovery. PCMC gave us the name of Kyle Korver's, of the Utah Jazz, Foundation. The representative came out to meet with us. They will install porch rails for us without cost. They do this as a service to families who need adjustments made to their homes to care for their children. He talked to Andrew and asked who his favorite player is. Andrew likes them all. He said that he will bring him a signed jersey from the players. Another example of the great people out there who care about others in their time for difficulty.

Home and Back to PCMC

2009-12-06T14:51:00.000-08:00

Saturday started with a blood draw. It took four times to get it. What an awful thing to wake up to. Then Andrew had a shower. Randall and Ariel took Andrew to get a Big Mac and then to pick up a shirt at Kohls. Later we found out that his sodium levels were very low. Not good! They told us some things to do and to watch out for. He was fine until bedtime. He passed out on us and we were not sure if it was a result of the low sodium. So we had to call 911. Ariel took his vitals while we waited. He came to, but looked very pale. They took him back to PCMC. We felt so bad for him. It was hard. Our good neighbor, Rick, came over and helped Randall give him a blessing. Ariel rode with him in the ambulance and Randall went with the sheriff. I stayed with the kids. They were pretty upset so we all slept in my bedroom. Today, I talked to Randall. He said that they believe one of the meds is causing the sodium to drop. They have adjusted some things. We will have a stronger sodium saline to give him. They also redid his NJ tube because it was clogged. One of the meds is quite cakey so I think that I will have him swallow that one rather than pushing it down the tube. So we hope he will be home in a couple of hours. Very low sodium can be very dangerous so we will have to stay on this problem. This will be the new fun, making sure that he is doing well. We will also have to take it easy on the trips out.

2009-12-06T14:30:00.001-08:00

FYI

2009-12-04T22:17:00.000-08:00

The Benefit is December 7th, 6:00 p.m., Kaysville Junior High

There is No Place Like Home

2009-12-04T21:54:00.000-08:00

Today started early, at seven a.m. Andrew was excited to go home and didn't have much patience. There was a lot to do in order to leave. Different departments had to sign off. Equipment had to arrive. Rick McGurk came up to visit for a minute. There were a lot of people to thank and say goodbye to. By 1:30, we had all the stuff out to the cars and Andrew in the chair and ready to go. We stopped to pick up all of his meds. Then Andrew decided to walk out of the hospital. We stopped the wheel chair and Andrew stood up and walked out the door. This was an amazing moment that I will never forget! We trusted in the Lord that this day would come and it did! So many people have labored to bring us to this day. Andrew felt well and enjoyed the ride home. He talked and noticed things along the way. When we reached Kaysville, he wanted to drive around the block before stopping. The welcome party at our house was surprised to see us pass by. Finally, we arrived home. It was an emotional moment for us all. The Barkers were waiting along with Kortny. Andrew walked around the house and checked out his new room upstairs. Then he disappeared down stairs. Once we got all of his medical supplies and equipment into the house, we organized. Andrew ended up staying downstairs to watch a movie. The home health company arrived to help me set up his feeding tube. I have to follow a schedule for meds, feeds, vitals, and ostomy care. I will track all sorts of information. Andrew felt at home and was thrilled to be there. The best moment came when the movie was over, he came upstairs like he always used to. He layed down in our bed between us for a bit before we got him to bed. In life, you don't often get a second chance. We have been given one. I intend to make the best of it. Our priorities have shifted. Family means more to us than ever. Our faith has seen us through the most intense, emotional and frightening time of our lives. We put our faith in the Lord and he strengthened us to be able to stand the trials put before us. We are so thankful! We want to thank all of those who have provided meals. There are more then I can mention. God bless you! We are also thankful for the many chaplains of all faiths who took the time to talk to and pray for Andrew. There faith and service is inspiring! Many people have asked if I will continue the blog. I will update once a week. We have family all over the world so that will help them to stay connected.

Andrews Benefit- Puppet Show, Auction and Ariel Singing

2009-12-03T18:16:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

This is Ariel Spilker,

I am writing because i have put together a Auction for Andrews Benefit on Monday the 7th. I have received donations from the following buisnesses.

-The Paw Spa
-Guitar Lessons
-Voice Lessons
-Lisa's Passion for Popcorn
-Fit Life
-Ace Hardware
-Massage from Holly
-Nail Salon
-Bowmans
-Paradise Tanning
-Baer Cayon Dental- Teeth Whitening
-Hair Max
-Taco Time
-CCCNA Has donated a CNA Class It is worth 450 dollars and an excellent place to get certified. I just finished the course. It only takes a week. If you do it at the DATC it takes a semester.

Please let everyone about the auction!

This is going to be a great event dont miss it!

Love you all

Destination Kaysville

2009-12-03T17:56:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow Andrew is going home!!! This morning at his care conference, Dr. Black made the announcement. Andrew's doctor from Tanner Clinic attended the conference. It was our last chance to discuss our concerns and express our appreciation. We have had a super team working on his recovery. After the meeting, The news started spreading about his departure. We took a spin around the PICU to say our goodbyes. Ian, our favorite nurse, was there. He was so happy to hear the news. He commented that it is kids like Andrew that make him want to continue doing his work. So many people had worked on him in the PICU and many came to ooh and ahh over him. It was quite a moment when I wheeled him into the room that he spent five weeks in. He only has slight memories of his time there. Next, we went up to the third floor to hang out on the leather couches. A border collie therapy dog stopped to visit Andrew. He enjoyed petting him. It was time for his shower then wound vac change. Things looked great. We enjoyed saying goodbye to a lot of great people. Andrew had me play Christmas music for him on the piano. I think it is really sinking in, to us both, that we are about to be, relatively speaking, on our own. I will have to monitor his vitals, take care of his NJ feedings, ostomy, and meds. They have given me good training so I feel pretty good about it. Our neighbor, Tyler, doesn't get to go home yet. I am sure that it is hard for him to see us leave. We pray that he will get home soon! Someone asked me if I am nervous. I say "bring it on". I am so done with camping in the trailer! Besides, Andrew will heal much better at home.

How About that Jazz

2009-12-02T20:34:00.000-08:00

Today was a great day for Andrew. It started with our declaration that we want to go home. We let all the doctors know that it is time. Then I had volunteered to play the piano in the cafeteria for their kick-off of the holiday season. Lillie, the music therapist sang while I played. She was very good! The cafeteria is always packed during lunch. When I finished, I turned around to see grandma Spilker and Andrew. She had found out that today was the day that the Jazz team comes up to see the kids at PCMC. We were so excited. We saw Carlos Boozer as he walked into the hospital. He talked to Andrew, asking him how he was doing. We hurried up to his room. CJ Miles, Deron Williams, the Jazz Bear, and a Jazz cheerleader came into his room. It was so awesome. Grandpa Spilker drove up to the hospital in time to be there. They were so nice to Andrew. We took pictures. Grandpa turned on his baseball cap that light up, blinking the Jazz logo. Andrew had his Jazz blanket and pants on. Deron Williams signed Andrew's socks and gave him a signed Jazz ball! Grandpa asked Deron Williams something about those referees. He answered then noticed Ariel had her camera going. He told her it better not end up on you tube! As I went down stairs to eat lunch I saw Jerry Sloan and Boozer again. There were three other players but I don't know who they were. Ariel got their picture. So we decided that it was good we didn't go home last week. We would have missed a very cool experience. After that Steve Greer stopped by to see Andrew. We had a nice chat. While he was there, Dr. Black came in and announced that Friday or Saturday is our exit day!! We are so excited. Tonight, I had to learn to crush pills to put into his feeding tube. I think I have learned everything that I need to know. I did realize that I will be up in the night with him for meds and aches and pains. So this is when the fun begins! We are so grateful to all the staff at PCMC for their expertise in caring for Andrew. If you have to be sick, this is the place for kids!!

There's No Place LIke Home

2009-12-01T18:29:00.001-08:00

Dec 1 Today they took the suction tube out of Andrew's nose. Yesterday went well so they felt it was time. Today wasn't as good as yesterday. He ate some ceral for breakfast. He wanted to go sit in grandma's trailer so we took him out there. He had some lunch but threw-up a bit. He was not happy so Randall came as soon as he could get away. He really likes having dad around. Today we reached the point where we are ready to go home! It is hard to be motivated when you don't feel well and when you have been in the hospital for so long. It is harder still to be movtivated when you see different faces every day. So today, certain members of his team decided that it is mom's fault that he isn't motivated as much as they would like. If you have ever raised a teenager you know that it is like raising the Titanic to get them to do something that they don't want to do! So I decided that their interpretation of the situation is "stupid" and "wrong". I am going to have to run interference for Andrew. When you have twenty different people on a team, everyone is going to have a little bit different take on a situation. In short, we have had enough! We want to go home!!!

Getting Better

2009-11-30T20:10:00.000-08:00

Monday, Andrew had a slow start. He didn't sleep very well. But Dr. Black decided to clamp off his tubes and let him eat. Andrew's had to have a quick xray to make sure his tube was in the right place. The tape holding his tube had come off in the night. It was interesting. Before when we went down to radiology, Andrew would get right in. Today, we had to wait. I told him that it was an indication that he is getting better. He is climbing down the totem pole of urgency. Andrew ordered steamed shrimp and a salty pretzel. It went well. He ate again later. His major complaint now is some back spasms. We are using heat and tylenol on it. Alex called to check in. He had a good trip back to Washington. Today the doctor commented that he thinks it's time for Andrew to leave the hospital. Hopefully, tomorrow the tubes will come out and then... home. We have been so fortunate in his recovery. It was a great moment for me to watch him eat today!

One or Two Meatballs

2009-11-29T19:17:00.001-08:00

Sunday started with a visit/lesson from Andrew's teacher's quroum from church. Chris and Adam Barker gave the lesson. Ariel sang in a Layton ward so I stayed with her. Dr. Black and Treasure came in this morning to visit with Andrew. Randall told the doctor it was time for Andrew to eat. Randall has being trying for weeks to have them let Andrew eat. The Doctor was not sure and Randall pressed him to explain why it would hurt. Andrew has already had issues with throwing up and Randall explained that what would it hurt to throw up the food he ate. The doctor thought about it and finally agreed and said "Andrew what do you want to eat?", of course Andrew wanted nachos but the deiticians said they could not make that low fat enough. Andrew settled for a roll. The roll went well and Randall convinced the Doctor to continue to let Andrew eat. So now Andrew can have four small meals a day. Later for dinner Andrew again wanted nachos, but he will just have to wait, so he settled for spaghetti. Later, the whole family met at the hospital to visit with Andrew. Cousin, Callie came by in time to see him walk a bit. She hadn't seen him since the PICU so it was a big change for her. We took him up to the third floor to visit. We had a sing-in until it was time for him to return to his room. We are hopeful that the eating continues to go well which means Andrew will be going home soon. If they can take out the suction tube, we could be going home. Alex is on his way back to Fort Lewis. It has been a pretty good weekend!

A True Blue Fan

2009-11-29T12:55:00.000-08:00

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit friday night. Colby brought Andrew a remote control helecopter and flew it around his room. Saturday Ariel stayed wtih Andrew while we got our Christmas tree decorated. Andrew enjoyed the BYU v. UTAH game. We had a camera to make it big screen on his hospital room wall. We had Tyler and his dad from acrossed the hall watch with us. Most of the nurses and doctors were UTAH fans. Andrew is a BYU fan. He really enjoyed the game, especially the ending! During the game, I caught Andrew starring at Tyler's nachos. He smiled when I pointed it out. It is really hard when you are not supposed to eat! We tried a new pain med for Andrew and it seemed to work.

Ouch! It Hurts!

2009-11-28T13:17:00.000-08:00

Friday Andrew had wound vacs changed. He got to have a shower. Then Ariel, Alex and Aaron hung out with Andrew. They watched a movie. It was a hard day for Andrew with lots of pain. His nurse, Nancy, realized that he needed better pain management. He really hasn't used anything but a little tylenol. She talked to the doc and came up with a better plan. Andrew will have to verbalize what type of pain he is having so that we can respond appropriatelty. I think that he has been flying solo in the pain department. I feel bad that we haven't understood his needs better! Now we have a better choice of drugs to help him. Ariel stayed over night with him.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T20:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Last night Andrew told me that Steve Greer had stopped by for a visit. Today Andrew had visits from Mike and Connor, McGurks, and the Parks. Andrew and Connor played ninetendo for a bit. We went to see a movie. Ariel stayed over with Andrew. When I arrived, I quickly ate a Thanksgiving dinner from the cafeteria. I ran up three flights of stairs to catch up with Ariel and Andrew. I watched the Dallas game with Andrew. The family went to grandpa Spilker's for dinner. Later Andrew met wtih his family in the cafeteria for pie. He announced, "I'm having pie!" We let him have a little bit. Uncle Scott, Aunt Robyn and Crystal brought the pie. Every year I have my kids write down what they are grateful for. It is fun to see what they are thinking about. Randall is thankful for home, family and that Andrew is still here. Michelle is thankful for the simple things. I am grateful to have Alex home and that Andrew is still with us. Alex is grateful for home, family, friends, and freedom. Ashley and Dustin are thankful for miracles, prayers, family, and that we still have Andrew. Harper is thankful for nee nee and Chesney. Ariel is grateful for educated people, Andrew's sweet spirit, Robert and Cher's wonderful testimonies, and family. Aaron is grateful for family, friends, Andrew, good health, and PCMC. Andrew is grateful to be here, family and friends. Amanda is grateful for family, friends, and that Andrew is still alive. This morning I was talking with Alex. He remembered that he hasn't been home for Thanksgiving for two years. Last year he was in Iraq and he ate alone. It wasn't turkey. The year before he was in Georgia at tech school. It is a stinker to be away from family during the holidays. We respect and appreciate the men and women of the military who sacrifice for our country. We hope and pray that Andrew will be home for Christmas. Santa, that is all that we want for Christmas!

Therapy Prison

2009-11-25T18:25:00.000-08:00

Wednesday Andrew realized that he is in therapy prison. It is hard when other people tell you what, when, and how to do it! Andrew started walking last weekend. Now they have decided that they expect a lot more out of him. He walked all the way to the gym, climbed the stairs and walked a 1/4 of the way back. Then his therapist got after us about doing more. Then the occupational therapist got after him about dressing himself. He told her that he could but didn't want to. So she gave him a big lecture. Poor Andrew!! He can't wait to get released from hospital prison. Later in the day, Alex popped his head in the door. He was able to take an earlier flight. We all went to the 3rd floor lounge. Alex gave us a little concert with a guitar. Ariel showed up so we had a Christmas song family sing-in. I am keeping a log of all the time he spends out of bed. This will help him prove that he is trying to get stronger. A month ago, Michelle C. gave me a beautiful bracelet. Inside the dangling heart it says "trust the journey". This is an interesting concept. If we have faith in a higher being, then we should be able to trust the journey. This journey is a very steep climb but we are taking it one day at a time. I believe that in time we will look back to see many good things have come from this journey.

God is Love

2009-11-24T19:17:00.000-08:00

Last night after I posted the blog, the Barker family came up to visit Andrew. We have been blessed with awesome neighbors!! Today started with a care conference about Andrew. These meetings allow everyone concerned to coordinate the best way possible for his care. The meeting turned to laughter when dad confessed that he had snuck Andrew a piece of donut. Then he told them not to worry if Andrew turns up missing on Thursday, he'll bring him back! He also wondered about putting some turkey juice in his feeding tube. Andrew is up and walking the hall now. He tires quickly but every day there is progress. At physical therapy he shot a bunch of baskets. I passed the ball back to him. My basketball skills are a little rusty! Every week the surgeons change duties. We met a new doctor. He was great. He came into Andrew's room and drew a picture of his insides and explained what he thinks is going on. When he finished he told Andrew that he must have a special reason for being here. Today I had three different occasions to bear witness to Andrew's miracle and of God's love. I was eating in the cafeteria when a person who works here asked if she could sit with me. She started crying and explained that she needed to see Andrew's miracle. She once knew God but had lost her way. She was so thankful to witness his experiences. She said that she had felt skeptical about his recovery and even the faith that was being shown. So when things turned around, she really felt God's love. She said she isn't sure where this knowledge will lead her but that she is grateful. So I added my thought to hers. I told her that I have always believed in God but now I know. I know! Later, I had a family of a neighboring patient stop me in the hall. The mother said, "do you mind if I ask you why your son is here?" So I explained about the accident. As I was telling the story, the dad starting crying. I told them that it is definately God's will that Andrew survived. There son is here due to a brain tumor. We compared our experiences and the things that we have learned. We both feel God's blessings upon our families. Later, a chaplain came to see Andrew. He was a really great man. We enjoyed talking about God's love for his children. He has noticed our family for some time. I asked him to pray for our family. He said the most beautiful prayer. I don't think that we are of the same denomination but we are definately of the same "faith" in God. Ariel came by and we took him for a walk. She spent the evening with Andrew. Tonight they are finally seeing an improvement in his bile issue. The volume that he is putting out is much less than it was. Once again, we are so grateful.

Smuggle Me Grandma's Bread

2009-11-23T19:01:00.000-08:00

Monday Nov. 23, Andrew was exhausted from his weekend. Randall and Andrew did a lot of walking around the NTU. Andrew passed out on his last walk. He had been off of the feeding tube for five hours on sunday. That probably contributed. So today we took it easy. I woke up and looked out to see a lot of snow. When I went out the door to the trailer, I found that the snow removal man had brushed off my steps and salted them. It really made me happy!! First we went down to radiology for an ultrasound of his legs. They wanted to check his legs. When you are unable to move around for a long time, you can develop clots. Fortunately, his legs looked fine. Then it was time for a shower. After the wound team changed his wound vacs. It went really well. It looked like he is growing some new skin. They were shocked and amazed. They had never seen anything like it. Andrew took a nap. Later, Andrew's friends came. Connor, Taylor, Cody, Taylor and Camille. Taylors mom is so wonderful to bring them to the hospital on a regular basis. Today, Andrew was much more into visiting. It is so good to see him make expressions and talking like a regular teen. Tonight we watched some tv. Andrew wants to eat now. He wants me to smuggle food to him. Oh boy! He asked me if he could lick my food container. They will allow him some chicken broth. They started him on a new med to help with this problem. Hopefully, we will see things progress to him eating. He told me that he took a sip of my sprite when I wasn't looking. I am going to have to keep contraband out of his room!!

Real Soccer

2009-11-22T18:01:00.000-08:00

Sunday I was able to go to our church for the first time since the accident. I really enjoyed being there. There is always such a good spirit and everyone was so caring. The coolest story I heard was from our neighbor Kathy Barnedt. The day that our ward was holding a special fast for Andrew, her son, Weston, did a very special thing. His buddies, Jason and Isaac, asked him if he was going to fast. Weston had forgotten so he decided to skip his regular school lunch. Weston is in fifth grade. I thought this was an amazing sacrifice made for Andrew. What a cool kid! It was very touching for me to hear the prayer at our meeting and the pleas for Andrew recovery. I also learned that the neighboring church group, called wards, Spencer Ward has also been praying for Andrew. There is a special benefit that people have put together for Andrew. It is on Dec. 7 at the Junior High. Thanks in advance to Bro. Griffin who is donating his time and talents for this event. Andrew had a CT scan today just to double check his stomach and intestines. He has had some pain. They are guessing a week to ten days for his escape from the hospital. We will know the results later. Tonight Randall's brother Byron brought up his projector so Andrew could watch the REAL game on his hospital room wall. It is big screen sized. Andrew's neighbor is going to hop in his wheel chair and watch the game with him. Andrew visited with Joy and Connor, Dustin and Kristin, Ashley and Dustin, Byron and Deon. I just want to end this blog with a thought about faith in God. This experience has brought out faith in people all over the world. People of so many different faiths have come together for one purpose, Andrew's well being. God has truly shown his mighty hand in Andrew's recovery.

Making Strides

2009-11-22T17:52:00.000-08:00

Saturday Andrew and Randall hung out together. Andrew walked all the way to the gym from his room and back. It is quite amazing the progress that he is making. They watched the BYU game and a movie. Andrew is complaining about his stomach hurting. They think it is the new formula of liquid food that they are giving him. Dr. Downey, our surgeon, came by for a "social visit" before he leaves town. The surgical team has been extraordinary. Randall was standing in line to buy his breakfast and Dr. Scaff bought his food for him. At home, I caught up on a few things. I took Aaron shopping for clothes. He was wearing super holey pants. Aaron went with our church group to the BYU football game in Provo. After that he went to the Jazz game with Grandpa Spilker. Amanda and I put the Christmas lights on the tree. We got 2/3 of the way through before the remaining lights wouldn't work. Murphy's Law.

2009-11-22T15:38:00.001-08:00

2009-11-22T15:19:00.001-08:00

Enjoying a Mini Concert

2009-11-21T18:32:00.000-08:00

Friday was a busy day. Andrew dressed himself first thing in the morning. He is doing so well with occupational therapy that they will visit him just a couple times a week now. In speech therapy he counted money and giving change back. He does very well. He was feeling sick so I let him rest a bit. Aaaron, Kortny, John and Matt came by just as the music therapist, Yosif, was playing a song for Andrew. So we broke the rules and let them all in his room. The boys borrowed two guitars and gave Andrew a mini concert. He really enjoyed it. After they started talking about remember when... . It has something to do with dry ice and destroying something. They had Andrew laughing. Kortny has lunch with me. It is so nice to have company for lunch. After lunch, it was time for physical therapy. The boys took him to the gym while I showered. Unfortunately, he felt too sick to do much. So we took him back to his room. We were able to get the Davis v Bingham game on the slingbox on our computer. Slingbox is great if you can't get it on your tv. We used it a lot when we were in Germany to get General Conference and the Superbowl. Andrew enjoyed the first half with Tony his friend in the NTU. Then he fell asleep for the rest. When he woke up he didn't feel well and was awnry. I tried to help but my helping didn't help. Oh well. Randall came up so that I could have a couple days at home. After I left, Randall motivated Andrew to get up and he walked to the elevator from his room. I was amazed when I heard that. So I decided that it is good to play the second string to give the first string a rest! Saturday will be 8 weeks.

Come Unto Me

2009-11-19T20:01:00.000-08:00

Thursday started with a care conference for Andrew bright and early 8:00 a.m. Things are going well. The one thing that seems to be keeping Andrew in the hospital is that he needs to gain weight. His duodenum is getting pinched because of weight loss. This is causing bile to back up into his stomach. So they have the NG tube suctioning out the bile. He gained 5 pounds in four days. Hopefully he will continue to gain and the weight gain will solve the problem. So now the trick is to keep Andrew's spirit up! Today we finished the book that we have been reading together. Andrew did very well in his therapy classes. He sometimes feels sick to his stomach so it takes a lot of will to get up and go to PT. I am so please with his courage. It isn't easy so today we had a good cry together. Sometimes that does the trick. Afterwards we had a talk about the scripture "Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I shall give you rest". Because of Christ's atonement, we can literally ask the Savior to help us carry our burdens. You must ask and you must exercise faith. Andrew's big goal is to go home. We have to remember that there are small achievements to celebrate. Andrew would really like to go home by Thanksgiving. That may or may not happen. We are just thankful that he continues to progress. Tonight Ariel, Mckinsey, and I went to the Legacy rest-home in West Jordan to perform for their 10th anniversary. It is nice to be able to put a smile on someone's face just because you obeyed your mom and practiced the piano. It was a very nice place and we had a large group to perform for. When I got back to the hospital, Randall and Andrew were enjoying the Utah Jazz game that ended in a victory. All of the time people ask what they can do. I thought of something today. If anyone would like to send words of encouragement to Andrew that would be great. You can send a note to him through my email at spilkermm@hotmail.com Thank you so much for the love and support!

It's Just Window Dressing

2009-11-18T18:25:00.000-08:00

Today Andrew had his wound vacs changed. It takes about an hour. He has to hold still so it feels longer to him. Everything is healing well. The wound team does a great job. The surgeon stopped in twice yesterday and twice today. He is a really great doctor. Andrew is his wonderboy so he likes to keep an eye on him. The NG tube is working well. Hopefully we will notice a difference in the next two days. They weigh him every two days. He has gained five pounds since the last time. Andrew tries to sit up as much as he can stand during the day. Ashley and Dustin spend the afternoon with Andrew. We took him outside to see baby Harper. I had Harper wrapped in a Ute's blanket. It was cold out so I decided to put a beanie on him. The only beanie that I had was a Y beanie. So I took him out like that knowing that his dad wouldn't appreciate that. Both Ashley and Dustin were in Ute sweat shirts. Pretty funny! We spent the evening watching a movie. I have enjoyed spending extra time with Andrew. We are looking forward to the big homecoming! Tomorrow we have the care conference. We will know better what our time table is. We are so thankful for the cards with words of encouragement. Andrew enjoys hearing from people. I know so many people at the hospital now. I can't go two steps without having to stop and talk to someone. "How's Andrew?" I even ran into a mom from Kaysville who is in our unit for swine flu. Andrew has come a long way but he still has a lot to conquer. We hope that he will have a good transition to home. The holidays are upon us. I usually worry about a lot of little stuff. This year I have learned that if you have your family around you, that is as good as it gets!! All the "stuff" is just window dressing. Open your eyes as see how much you have really been blessed. Some people get down at Christmas. Serving other people is the answer. There are people in real tough situations waiting for someone to care. We are so blessed to have love and support. Thanks to all!

A Prayer Shawl

2009-11-17T17:52:00.000-08:00

Tuesday was a tough day. It started with Andrew hearing that he will leave on Friday. We take that with a grain of salt. There are a lot of different people who have to weigh in on that decision. He just didn't feel very good. He suffered through his therapy classes. His book worked looked so good today. His hand writing is as good as it ever was. So we were happy. I finally had a moment to dry my hair. I had finished half my head when Nicole W. came in and said that I have visitors. I reluctantly went out to see who it was. It was Andrew's principal, asst. principal and Mr. Brown, his counselor. We had a nice visit. Then I took them to visit Andrew. It is great to have so much support from the family, church, community and school. After classes he started to feel sick again. Dr. Downey came by to talk about a couple things. All along he has compared Andrew to a severe burn patient. His system has been through that kind of shock. He called it hyper metabolic. It takes a good amount of time for the body to settle down after a major shock. It kind of reminded me of my hyper thyroid. Your heart acts like it is on a treadmill 24/7. Later in the afternoon, Ariel came by. It was decided that they needed to put an NG tube in to suction out his stomach. It was not fun. So he was stuck to his bed for a time. Kristin came by to give his hair a spruce up. She did a great job and it made him happy. Wow! I can't believe the stories that I hear up here. The mother of the missionary who is next door to Andrew, shared a bit with me. They have had to quit their jobs for their son. They had jobs that required traveling. So she and her husband are basically unemployed. She has put it in God's hands. Someone said to me "how can you continue to do what you're doing?". What they don't understand is that when it is your child, you do what needs to be done. It is not a burden to serve a loved one. While I was at dinner, Trevor and his dad came by. They brought something really cool. It is a prayer shawl from St. Joan of Arc Church in Ohio. It came with a letter from the Women's Guild. They started doing this five years ago. Many prayers and blessings are knitted into every shawl. We thought it was a really nice gift. I showed it to a couple of PCMC chaplains. They really liked it too! So thank you so much. It was very thoughtful and useful. Tonight Andrew is pretty subdued. It is hard to rehabilitate when you stomach feels icky. Hopefully we will start to make headway on this problem. We know that he will recover and just have to be very patient. Andrew doesn't really get how far he has come. He is a little more impatient. Tonight, Dr. Downey came in to visit Andrew. I can't believe what wonderful doctors we have. He wanted to check on him before leaving. Then he got a call that will keep him here for some time. I found out that I have an 8:00 meeting with a home rehab group. I don't know who decided on 8:00 a.m.! Early to bed for me!! They will change Andrew's wound vacs tomorrow.

Pinch, Poke and Release

2009-11-16T17:54:00.000-08:00

We had a nice day today. First thing this morning, Andrew said "so what do I have to do to get out of here?" I thought that showed the correct attitude. Basically, he has to get stronger and go to his classes for longer periods of time. The nurse came in and handed me the shot needle. She said "I heard you want to learn how". Ok. I thought. I usually close my eyes when I see shots on tv. They gave me a handout to read and then turned me lose. Andrew gave me a vote of confidence by saying "If you hurt me, I'll kill you". The paper was missing an important point. It said pinch the skin, poke, release the skin and empty the syringe. So I pinched, poked, and released the skin. Oops! The needle came out. You have to follow the skin back with the needle. I felt so bad. I had to do it again. This time it worked great. I never said I was nurse material. Grandma Spilker came up just in time for me to shower while Andrew went to his therapy classes. He is getting a little stronger every day. Sitting and standing is a big effort. Andrew climbed stairs again and shot a few basketballs. Today is shower day for Andrew. Afterwards, the wound team changed his wound vacs. Things looked great. He is healing nicely. Andrew went to a class this afternoon. It took a great effort but he did it. The hospital chaplains visit us every day. They are wonderful people who volunteer their time to spread hope and faith. They were praying with Andrew when I came up from picking up dinner. Andrew understands that prayer has been a huge factor in his recovery. This evening we watched a movie. Andrew chose "Waterboy" again. The goal is to get Andrew home in time for Thanksgiving. We are praying that things will come together for this to happen. Alex is coming home for the holiday. It would be the best thing ever!!

That's What Friends are For

2009-11-15T18:39:00.000-08:00

Day 51- Sunday, Andrew got up and walked out his door around to a window. Then we took him for a ride around the hospital. The surgeon decided that he would solve his nausia problem today. They did a lower GI scan. It showed that because of weight loss there is bile backing up into his stomach. The long and short of it is that they can increase his feedings up to 3,000 calories / day. As he gains weight, it will correct itself. He also needs to sit up for longer periods. Sitting up is the hard part. Just think about how weak you get after you've been sick. It is quite a challenge for Andrew. Mike and Connor stopped in. Then John, Matt, Ethan, McKinsey, Adam and Josh took turns visiting. Then Taylor, Camille, and Cody came to cheer Andrew up. That's what friends are for! The hard part about rehabilitation is having the will to fight your weak body. Earlier today, we had the sacrament brought to us in Andrew's room. He wanted to take it but couldn't because of his eating restrictions. Right now he can only have enough water to get his pills down. It is hard for Andrew to feel happy at this point. We try to assure him that every day he is moving closer to his goal to get back to his life. Andrew loves his friends. He can't wait to get out of here. It is our hope that he will be home in time for Thanksgiving. I will learn how to give shots this week. I will practice on Aaron. Just kidding! We are so blessed in so many ways.

It is a Cold, Cruel World

2009-11-15T09:38:00.000-08:00

Thursday night turned out to be loads of fun. I must admit that during this experience I felt truly sorry for myself. It was finally time to go back to the trailer, my little corner of the world. I have some new neighbors, a young couple. It was really cold in the trailer. I never get cold but I put the heat blanket on medium and jumped in. I was into the last 100 pages of my Dan Brown book. I started to notice that I was freezing. So I jumped out of bed to turn up the heat. The bathroom was particularly cold. I almost stuck to the seat. I jumped back into bed. Not getting warmer... I jumped back out to feel the air flow. Cold. So I took out a match to light a burner. By this time my hands are shaking violently. Nothing happen. Yep, I'm out of gas. I quickly made a hot cup of pero. I put on layers of clothes and grab the space heater. Luckily, grandma Spilker is extremely prepared. I found a big feather bed. I close the drapes in the back and pointed the space heater at the bed. I jumped in and turned the heat blanket up to the max. I covered my head and wondered, WHY!!! I had a really good pity party. I thought of Randall all snuggled and warm in our bed at home. I thought about crying but realized the tears would probably just freeze! I wondered if my frozen, lifeless body would be found in the morning. I had my prayers and then pretty soon I noticed that I was finally getting hot. Oh well, it felt real good! Friday was a pretty good day. The biggest complaint is the nausia that he is having. They believe it is related to the NJ feeding tube. Of course, it couldn't be all the meds that they are giving him??? I had the nurse print out everything that he is on. Funny, a lot of the side effects were listed as nausia. We have now come to the conclusion that it is in Andrew's best interest to get out of here as soon as possible. Once we get the go-a-head, he will be able to heal much better at home. No one wants to hang out in the hospital? Randall came up and refilled the gas bottles to the trailer. Andrew is getting up walking, sitting or riding throughout the day. Linda and Johann came to visit for a bit while we grabbed something to eat. Later on, I went with Ariel to the Lyric Opera Concert at the U. It was the first time that I have done anything fun since before the accident. The music was beautiful and I really enjoyed the break. We continue to be amazed and grateful for our wonderful neighbors. Their service is such a gift to our family. We are also thankful for the monetary contributions that we have received. Things are difficult for most people now days. It often takes part-time jobs to supplement the regular job to make ends meet. So I get what a sacrifice it is. For my part, it is a humbling thing to accept help. I wasn't thrilled with the idea. But, I am incredibly grateful. My new job will be "nurse mommy". The hospital is concerned that I have a team to help at home. Fortunately, my kids are very adept at learning new skills and very generous with their time. I also know that I can call on my ward (church group) for help. So I say "Bring it On!" Let's all pray that things come together so that Andrew can finally come home!

Climbing Stairs

2009-11-13T18:29:00.000-08:00

In the last blog, I failed to mentioned that Maxine Hamblin came to visit. We love having Maxine as our neighbor. She is a great person. She was the first person to help when the accident happened. Friday started kind of yucky but once I got him going, he did great. Andrew had three therapy classes in a row. In PT, he climb four stairs. He didn't even pause. Right up and right down. We were amazed. Next he did some soccer kicks. He tried one standing up. That was a lot of effort. He even wheeled the wheel chair by himself. I push the pole behind him. He took a good nap. We tried having another PT session after his nap. Connor, Cody, Seth, Camille and Taylor came by. They went to PT with him. Unfortunately, it was cut short. Andrew got sick to his stomach. It is amazing how much effort it takes the body to recover its strength. We love Andrew's PT, Janine, she is an amazing person, very motivational. Connor wheeled him back. Then they took turns visiting. We try to obey the rules so that I don't get yelled at! Aaron and Kortny came by on their way to the Davis game. Kortny sat with me during my dinner. It get's lonely eating by yourself all the time. She was great company. Then Julie and her sister came by to visit. So Andrew had a few good visits. Afterwards, we watched the Jazz game on slingbox. Finally we turned on a movie. It was a good day. There is a lot of talk about getting Andrew home by Thanksgiving. We will see. He does need to cooperate with the psychology department. He told one of their reps to "go away"! I think that means he's getting better. He is tired of answering "dumb" questions. They keep him moving around here. His progress continues to amaze!

A One Pole Patient

2009-11-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

Last night I attempted to sleep in Andrew's room on the couch. I ended up leaving at 2:00 a.m. It was the worst surface I have ever tried to sleep on. Then I couldn't go to sleep. So after a couple hours, it was time to go to the meeting. Randall was stuck in traffic so I had to give the parent's report. Things are proceeding really well. Today I watched the nurse change Andrew from a multiple iv pole to a single pole. All that hangs from it is his feeding tube stuff. Andrew had really good therapy classes today. He played three hands of UNO. A round of Jenga while standing three rounds, sitting three rounds. His physical strength is really helping him recover. He got to have a shower today. One of those luxuries that we all take for granted. He sat in the shower for a long time. Then it was time for him wound vac change. They also took out some sutures and staples. He endured it without any meds. He is very good at relaxation. Medicine is the culprate with his heart issue. So they are weaning those drugs off. But, in weaning off those drugs it brings up old symptoms again. Later this afternoon he started getting aggitated again. Oh well, this too shall pass! Ariel arranged for a massage for Andrew. She came to the hospital for him. Andrew didn't have a good evening. I hope he has a good night. I am done for the day. Now I just have to wait for him to fall asleep. We sure need our Heavenly Father's blessings each day. Thank you for all the prayers!

A Lesson in the ABC's

2009-11-11T19:27:00.000-08:00

Wednesday was a great day! Andrew had a great night's sleep. His therapy classes were really good. He played perfection and boogle. The heart team had a look at things. They expect that the drops in his heart rate are due to the meds. They are gradually taking him off a couple different things. So we don't have a definitive answer but a good idea why. PCMC is very thorough in treating the children. Their motto is "The Child First and Always". We have witnessed that to be true. The folks who work here really take care to do the best thing for the patient. We are so impressed with the health care workers on every level. We have had so many kindnesses extended to us. Randall took his lunch to visit with Andrew. It is hard for him because he doesn't get to spend much time here. But we assured him that we are doing well. He has done a great job running the house in my absence. Rick McGurk brought our dog, Lacy, up to the hospital. We bundled up Andrew and took him outside to see her. She gave Andrew a big wet kiss. Yuck! He loved it! He actually stayed longer than I've seen him do before. He sat and pet his dog. It did my heart good to watch. After lunch, I spent some time reading Robinson Crusoe to Andrew. It is a classic story by Daniel Defoe. Then it was time for physical therapy. This is definately the hardest part of the day. Janine parked Andrew's chair at the door of the gym. He walked the entire length of the gym. Next, while sitting down, he kicked a soccer ball with two assistants. He really liked that. Then she let him shoot a basketball for a while. It took a lot out of him but he did great. I had no idea how difficult, yet important, rehabilatation is. The PTs here are great. Andrew played phase ten with Tony. Every day his ability to complete tasks is greater. The doctor is pleased with the NJ feedings that he is getting. His pancrease numbers are still dropping. Now during the day, we hear talk about "when" you go home. I think that things are progressing nicely. At some point they will decide that he can heal at home better than at the hospital. What an amazing thing. Today after a nurse said to him, "you don't remember me but, you are such a miracle." We asked him if he is getting tired of hearing that? He said, "Yes". We said "ok but, you are a miracle." Ashley, Dustin and Harper came up to visit. I was able to tend Harper in the trailer. Harper is a gift from heaven. No matter how worried I was, Harper could always get a smile out of me. Babies are wonderful. We took a nap together with my finger in his hand. He is so sweet. We had a nice evening once they got the wound vac changed again. We just can't seem to get the right placement to keep it from leaking. Tim and Tyler Seeley had a nice visit with Andrew. Andrew can have two visitors at a time. I just wait in the hall. He is now able to enjoy visiting for a time. Have you ever heard the ABC's of success. I heard this some years ago, I can't remember where I got it from. It goes like this. Anything that you can CONCEIVE, if you BELIEVE, you can ACHIEVE. I went over this with Andrew today. Success is 90% attitude, 10% hard work. I believe in approaching life with a positive attitude. You are much more apt to reach higher if you do. My mother gave me the gift of a great example in this. She grew up with some hardship. She lost her right eye in an accident. Her family really struggled through the depression. Yet, in spite of difficulty, her faith enabled her to feel happy and optimistic. I hope that I have conveyed, and can continue to convey this to Andrew. No limits, no boundaries!

I'll Fight Another Day

2009-11-10T19:33:00.001-08:00

Last night Ariel stayed in Andrew's room. I got a phone call. His heart rate had dropped a great deal very rapidly but then it would climb back up. This happened about four different times. All of his other vitals were normal. They tried to pick it up on an EKG but, of course, it didn't do it. They weren't terribly concerned. So I tried to relax and go to sleep. Today Andrew had to have a little adjustment on his colostomy bag. We keep having problems with leaking. I am learning how to apply it. Bishop Quist came by for a visit. Dr. Matlock came in to see Andrew. He is pleased with his progress. They have been able to up his NJ feedings. His pancreas numbers are going down. So that it good. Today Andrew chose to have a bad day. We all have them. He didn't want to get out of bed, go for walks, or anything. Tracy Webb (from PICU and we knew her in Germany from church) stopped by for a visit. She is so motivational. She is a Navy Seal. One of a few women from a test pilot program some years ago. She epitomizes courage and strength. She is so great for Andrew. She tells him that she is going to beat him at basketball, no mercy!! I talked to Tracy after she visited Andrew. She recognized a couple of things. The heart issue is most likely due to a medicine. She also said that Andrew needs some buddy time. It is a real bummer to be in a hospital for a long time. He normally gets two shots a day but they added the H1N1 today for three shots. Strangers come in all day and ask questions, poke and make you cough. I realized that we have had all these weeks to get used to this new reality. Andrew is just now coming to terms with things. So we all cut him some slack today. Physical therapy said that he could have today off but tomorrow...no deal! After Tracy's visit, Andrew had a change of heart and decided to let us take him outside. Ashley, Dustin and the baby met us. Andrew got to hold his nephew. The baby was so cute and giggled on cue. The heart team came by just after I left to get some dinner. There were five of them. They decided to put a monitor with a recording device on Andrew for 24 hours. All went well until the doctor said to Andrew "worst case scenerio is that you will have to have a pace maker your entire life." ????? What was he thinking? It made Andrew worry so we had to do some damage control. Some people sure don't have a clue of what tact is. Aaron came up for some bro time and will spend the night. He is not sluffing he has home release first period. We talked Andrew into getting up to use the facilities. The doctor wants him to get up many times for small periods of time instead of once for three hours. There are times when you have to take a day off. Tomorrow will be a new day. The challenges will be waiting for the challenger. How do you find strength, courage, and the will to fight your battles? Love and supprt, prayer and faith. These are the weapons of the day!!

Take Good Care of Yourself

2009-11-09T17:48:00.000-08:00

After a good night of sleep, today started with speech therapy for Andrew. Andrew did a little paper work. Next, he had occupational therapy. This is where you brush your teeth, get dressed etc. and then they played a game. After that, Ariel took Andrew on a walk outside. It was really beautiful and Andrew enjoyed the sun on his face. Next, it was time for physical therapy. They played connect four. After that, Andrew lifted a four-pound weight doing some reps and then he walked to the door. Andrew was exhausted so they came back and took a nap. Ariel turned on Twilight, the movie, while he slept. Today was wound vac change day, so he was able to have a shower. About this time, I arrived at the hospital. I had to go have labs for my thyroid issue. Earlier, at 7:00 a.m., I woke up to a call from the hospital. They asked if they could do his wound vacs without anesthesia. I agreed that I thought he could handle it. As the wound team got ready, Tony, from child life, got Andrew to laugh and smile. The first laugh I have heard. In addition to humor, Tony also helps with relaxation. When it was time for the procedure, Ariel put on a little Michael Buble' and Andrew fell asleep through the entire procedure. Andrew's wounds continue to get smaller and to fill in. Everyone gets so excited about it. I watched Water Boy, the movie, with Andrew. Then, I fell asleep. In the evening, we had a visit from Emily and Ian from PICU. Ian was able to answer some of Andrew's questions. They had a nice visit. Later, we had a visit from a wonderful PCMC chaplain that we have known for some time. She hadn't seen Andrew for a week. Andrew had his foot resting on the other knee. We noticed that she walked past his room and then finally walked in. She said, "Andrew?" She couldn't believe it. He looks so good!! I just want to say that we have had the best nurses at PCMC. The PICU is exceptional for saving and stabilizing really injured and sick people. The NTU is exceptional for rehabilitating a sick or injured person. One of the surgeons commented that Andrew's story is as close to the resurrection as you get. He has been amazed with Andrew's progress. So as I reflect on everything that we have experienced, I have come away with a new respect for the body. Sometimes we take for granted that we will have good health no matter what we do. As I have watched the medical folks literally fight for Andrew's life, I wonder why we aren't more careful about our bodies. Lately, I decided to cut down on my sick addiction to Diet Coke. I now go for the DCFDP... Diet Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper. Never take you health for granted!

Loyal Sister Turned Soiled Sister

2009-11-08T20:47:00.000-08:00

Last night Andrew asked Ariel to sleep in his room. She said ok. He has had a hard time getting into a good sleep pattern. He couldn't sleep so he asked Ariel to lay down next to him. It worked and they both fell asleep. When she woke up, his bag had leaked on them both. The nurse gave her some hospital pants and got things situated. She had a good laugh! Randall stayed with Andrew today. They watched some sports, and took a walk outside. Uncle Scott, Aunt Robyn and G-ma Martin visited. I went home to spend some time with the other kids. I haven't been able to be with them for a long time. I spent a couple hours with Aaron on his computer. I played a little piano for Ariel and did some dancing with Amanda. It was a really nice day. In the evening we all piled into the car and headed up to the hospital. Randall and Andrew were watching the Dallas game. The nurse stopped me to tell me that Andrew is doing great and that he expect good things for him. Healing takes time but we are so happy with the direction that things are headed in. We ended the day with our usual family prayer. Our family is so grateful for the blessings that have been poured out on us. These blessings have taken many shapes i.e., our neighbor who lets our dog, Lacy, run around in their yard with their dog, Max, or, the wonderful relief society sisters a.k.a. the merry maids. What would we all do withou the relief society? We have met a lot of different families who are in the same boat as we are. The details are different. Maybe it is a newborn baby with internal defects or a 21 year old handicapped missionary who has had six different surgeries. They are such an inspiration of faith and hope. This is an amazing place of healing!!

2009-11-08T15:12:00.001-08:00

It Is a Team Effort

2009-11-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

Six weeks...Today Andrew pulled off his colostomy bag so they had to redo his wound vac. They usually sedate him for this process but I convinced them that he could do it without. It doesn't hurt but he had to hold still for an hour. His front wound looks really small and good. Tina from the wound team then worked on his three other wound sights. They used something called Medihoney. If you put it on a wound it pulls the bad stuff up and out. We were really pleased with everything they accomplished for Andrew. Ariel, Aaron, Kortny and Amanda took turns hanging out with Andrew. We took off for a couple of hours to get some things done. Aaron played play station 2 with Andrew. Ariel played a card game. Kortny played with Amanda. This is a real team effort. I was able to get a hair cut and color and do some laundry. It is stupid but don't ya feel better when your hair looks good? Later as the Ute game was going on, Ariel and I took Andrew for a ride around the hospital. We ended up running into Andrew's friends from KJH. Taylor Edward's mom brought them up even though she had just endured a foot surgery and was on crutches. They brought Andrew a cool poster, the game ball from the winning game at district for KJH girl's volleyball (signed), a video of their season, and a book (Christmas Jars) and jar of money. When I heard that they were giving the game ball to Andrew, I cried. What a bunch of awesome friends! They wrote his name on their arms at their games. They gave Andrew a hug before leaving. Andrew doesn't really feel like smiling. It makes me hurt inside when I notice. Today he felt discouraged. I reminded him that it hasn't even been a week since he left the ICU and yet he can walk 30 ft with a walker. He said "I need to be patient." Isn't that something we all need to learn. If I could, I would speed this up to the happy ending. But that is not the purpose of life. We need to learn in small increments. Small steps of faith. Andrew is beginning to look at pictures from the past weeks. It is important for him to know. We just want him to see that this was an accident and that he will find happiness again. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. We will work to help Andrew be happy once again! We know that he can with the help of the comforting spirit of our Father in Heaven and great friends.

A Watched Pot Never Boils

2009-11-06T20:25:00.000-08:00

Friday is my favorite day! Andrew had a better night. He slept for two hours and then again for four. Andrew had an NG tube placed in his nose down to the intensine. This will allow them to give his body nutrition without upsetting the pancreas. They took a scan as they placed it. It bipassed the stomach and the pancreas. Next, they placed a new iv because his pic line was clogged. Andrew had a great day in his different therapy classes. One therapist brought him a beach ball and a three foot bar. He held the bar while she threw the ball at him. It required some of the goalie skills that he has. I told her that he was going easy on her! During physical therapy he walked about 30 feet with a walker. Janine, the therapist, then had him shoot bean bags into a barrel. The bean bags were put up by two of us in different locations on each side. He has a lot of heart and really puts effort into the physical therapy. The music department brought a yamaha guitar for Andrew to play. He enjoyed playing it for a while. Around 2:00 p.m. he looked at the clock and said "it's only 2:00, I'm bored!". Tony from CL came and played "phase ten" with Andrew. After that I started a book with him and then we played catch for a while. The surgeon visited Andrew and allowed him a little more water. The kidney doctor visited and told us that she is changing his blood pressure medicine just to tweak things a bit. Alex called from Fort Lewis to talk to Andrew. Finally, it was 6:00 and dad came to visit. Ashley came a little later while we had something to eat. We spent the evening watching a movie. Andrew has a bunch of pills to take every night ending with a sleeping pill. I am beginning to learn some of the things that will need to be cared for once we go home. It isn't too difficult. We will probably need a home health care service too. Andrew is looking forward to going home! He felt so bored at one point I said, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." He didn't buy it. Ok, so time really dragged today. I don't know why, but it did!

Reality Check

2009-11-05T20:26:00.000-08:00

So in case there are those following this blog who think that it is weird that our family is handling this a little too well, today we didn't! The stress of week after week of worry, living at the hospital for some, and separation for others has taken its toll. Yes, we are normal, we sometimes really bug each other. So tonight we all had to go to our respective corners to regroup. My job is to handle things at the hospital, Randall will be handling things at home and work. We are exhausted and really spent but must keep movin'on. I suppose the pioneers who settled Utah had their "moments". Think about it. Can you imagine being in a wagon for months on end with your family. Sometimes we have had trouble just driving to Salt Lake from Kaysville! Sometimes too much family time can be a stress. We learned that when we moved to Germany. When we first arrived, we didn't have friends, telephone, tv, or computer for a couple months. We really started to irritate each other. I suppose in the eternities we will be more mature and able to handle "quantity" family time. Well, on the other end of the spectrum, Andrew had a great day. He was able to have a shower before they changed his wound vacs. His wounds are really healing. They could see a difference from a few days ago. Andrew slept for three hours this afternoon. Ian, his nurse from the PICU, came by to visit with him and he took care of the wound vac procedure. Ian is one of those gifted, extraordinary people who is able to heal others by their skill and presence. We will never forget the work that he has done for Andrew and the help he has given our family. After the procedure, I sat by him and enjoyed listening to him really sleep for the first time. His surgeon came by later to visit with him. The surgeons are so pleased with their work and with Andrew. Tonight I watched a little tv with him. He looked so good and he was interested in finding some music that he likes. He had a very calm day. We had an 8 am meeting with the staff of about 18 people regarding Andrew. It is a little strange to sit in on such a big meeting regarding one of your children. The meeting eventually got around to talking about his discharge. It is still some time away but exciting to ponder. Andrew will come home with some accessories i.e., wound vacs, feeding tube, and colostomy bag. They asked us what we were willing to do at home with medical care. We said that we would trust their timing and that we figured we could learn anything that needed to be done. I have zero experience with home health care so it will be interesting!

Andrew's New Schedule

2009-11-04T20:25:00.000-08:00

This morning I answered the phone and it was Andrew. He wanted to know when I was coming up! I hurried and dryed my hair and then it was off to the races! Andrew took two rides outside today. I am getting good at pushing the iv cart. The weather has been so nice. Andrew enjoys sitting in the sun. Today as he sat there, a golden retriever ran up to him and sat down by him. The therapy dog wanted to visit with Andrew. Julie and Ariel helped take Andrew to the third floor where they have an outdoor patio. There is a display case with Steve Young, Karl Malone etc. jerseys. Andrew has a schedule now. He meets with different people who work on various areas of his recovery. Andrew did a puzzle today, and a couple of math figures. Next he took a nap. Then it was time for physical therapy. He walked about 10 steps, and did some leg lifts. I met with the education director. She will coordinate with KJH regarding his educational needs. We are so impressed with the team that is backing Andrew's recovery. They don't miss a thing. Right now Andrew needs a lot of quiet. He doesn't like loud talking or a lot of busy things going on in his room. When we are in his room, we only talk in very quiet tones and less is more. The doctors have requested that if someone visits, that it happen after 5 o'clock. The visits need to be brief, like 15 minutes. Only two people (including parents) can be in the room at a time. It is best to call ahead because sometimes he simply wants to be alone. I've watched him cover his face with a pillow if someone talks too long. Tonight I watched the World Series with him. Then we had a visit by the hospital chaplain. She said a very nice prayer for Andrew. Afterwards, we watched a movie and then had a little scripture reading by dad. Andrew talked to Aaron and John and Matt on the phone. It is the first time that he seemed to enjoy talking on the phone. Every day there is progress. We are so grateful for our blessings. We are so grateful for our family. Life looks different now. All the things that used to concern me just don't seem to matter any more. There is so much good that a person can do if we just look for the opportunities. Tonight we read the scripture that basically says if you should labor all your days in serving God you would still be unable to repay his goodness to you. God is always helping and blessing us. You should hear Andrew's prayers. He understands where he has come from. He understands the blessings that he has received and he is so grateful!

I'm Movin' On

2009-11-03T20:12:00.000-08:00

Today Andrew took a ride outside with his nurse to sit in the sun. We met with the surgeon, nurses and staff to discuss the next phase for Andrew. Then Andrew took a victory ride around the PICU and moved into this new room in the NTU unit. It is really nice and it is already making a difference. He took a nap, did a little written work, and went to the gym. He took about 16 steps with the help of a walker. A little later he stood up by himself from the wheel chair. Andrew even talked about the accident. He doesn't remember anything before falling backwards. He wants to know about his condition and has a lot to say. We were told that it is possible that they might write him up for the medical books. It is extremely rare for someone to survive ECMO with an abdomenal injury. One nurse said around 5% change of survival. So a lot of people in the hospital know about him and are so happy with his recovery. Tonight they tried a different sleeping pill. Hopefully, he will get a good block of sleep. So many different miraculous things have happened for Andrew. When he said his prayers tonight, it was with great sincerity and faith. He knows that Heavenly Father has watched over him in his hour of need. We know that angels watch over the children!

Let Me Be Myself

2009-11-02T19:48:00.000-08:00

Today was a busy day for Andrew. First the wound team changed his wound vacs. They looked really good. They put a patch of collagen over the back wound to stimulate healing. The results from his CT scan showed that he has a large blood clot near the veina cava where the bullet knicked it. They have doubled his dose of blood thinner. The more movement he has now the better. I watched him brush his own teeth. He threw his Jazz ball to me, sometimes at me. His nurses name was Susan today. When she went into the hall while he wanted some water, he called her name. "Susan, Susan". She ignored him so he call "Suzie, Suzie". A little later, he was throwing a fit when the Geico (cavemen) commercial came on. He stopped fussing and starting singing, "Let me by myself. If you want to, let me by myself... . " After that we watched some hockey on the tv. I got him to sleep for a 1/2 hour. He only slept for an hour last night. Tonight they are going to double his dose of sleeping meds. We got him into his wheelchair and took him for a spin out to the angel garden. Then we took a tour of the NTU wing where his new room will be tomorrow. He will have a nice view. We went into the rehab gym. He wanted to know where the hot tub was. Tonight he listened to some of the Jazz while watching the World Series on the tv. Tomorrow we have a big meeting with the medical staff about the move and what is next for Andrew. Andrew is getting stronger everyday. Just beware of the flying pillows. There are so many children in need up here. If you are feeling self-absorbed visit a children's hospital. It will cure you real fast! Be happy, life is good!

Watching the Sun Set

2009-11-01T19:42:00.000-08:00

Sunday was a beautiful day in Salt Lake. There was a strong sunshine coming in the windows. Andrew did not sleep once again. He was awake all night. We had worked really hard at keeping him awake. We thought that he would sleep. But no deal. First thing today, Andrew had a CT scan of his stomach. They were checking for cysts. They didn't find anything remarkable. Today each of our six children came up to the hospital. We had special permission to meet together in Andrew's room. We had a chaplain take some pictures. Andrew is sitting in the chair in them. Next, the rest of us knelt down and we had a family prayer. A little later, around sunset, we got Andrew in a wheelchair and took him through the new ICU wing and then downstairs. First we wrapped him up in the quilt made by Taylor E. and friends, and put a Jazz beanie on his head. The quilt is really nice and warm. Perfect for a stroll outside. Ashley, Dustin, Harper (a bee for Halloween) and Amanda were waiting outside as we came out the doors. It was a great moment! The first time he has left the hospital to go outside. We parked him by the water fountains. He really seemed to enjoy it. Andrew remembers what happened to him. He even remembers flying in LifeFlight. He is very grateful for the knowledge that Alex had to save his life, for Aaaron's help, and for the blessings/prayers that Randall gave him. Tonight, I spoke to my brother-in-law, Max, who is a retired Lieutenant Colonel (Air Force) and my sister Janice. Max commented about how the training that Alex received from the Army kicked in to help him do what needed to be done. He said to tell Alex that he is very proud of him. Janice and I talked about how fun it is to be grandparents. We are so grateful for all of the support that our family has receivied from family and friends near and far. We feel incredibly thankful that Andrew is such a fighter. We are thankful that it was not yet his time to go. We recognize that God knows the masterplan for each soul's life. Jesus Christ marked the path at every point. It is up to us if we will follow. He said "Come Follow Me" to his disciples. The choice is ours.

New Lessons

2009-10-31T18:28:00.000-07:00

Five Weeks/Saturday/October 31
Today the surgeon said that Andrew could move out of the PICU. Andrew's pancreas' numbers are high so they will take an ultrasound monday. They want to be sure that he does not have a cyst. So no liquids or foods right now. The two wounds are healing nicely. They may not have to do surgery. They will wait and see. Later in the afternoon, the attending doctor decided not to move Andrew today. Over the weekends they are shorter staffed. So they will move him to the NTU Monday, if all goes well. Andrew held himself upright, for a moment, in his chair today. Alex spent a lot of time visiting Andrew and was very motivational for him. The worst thing right now is that sometimes Andrew doesn't know where he is. He can get angry too. He slammed his fist on the arm of the chair. I am realizing that until the meds leave his system, he gets reoriented in his nights, and he overcomes the ICU sickness, it is going to be rough. We tried to keep him awake most of the day. We are hoping that he will get some sleep tonight. We also correct him if he thinks that he is fishing in a boat with Desiree. "No, you are in the hospital". It is a new ball game now. I am going to have to get "thicker skin" to handle him by myself when others can't be around. It is hard beacuse he is still really strong. He is still trying to pull out things. There is no set time for this to pass. Each patient is different. Grandpa S. gave Andrew a Jazz blanket that he really likes. Grandma M. was able to sit with him for a time. He asked her to say a prayer and then he gave her a kiss on the cheek. We are being more careful about the hospital rules, only two in the room at a time including parents. It really makes it hard but that's how it goes! When you become a hospital parent you are a slave to the rules too! I really miss Kaysville! I really miss the old rythmn of life! Randall reminded me that God is teaching us. We just have to learn to be good students. Just when you think you've got it, there is something else to learn.

New Hospital Rules

2009-10-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys,

There are new hospital rules in place as of today October 30. Andrew can no longer have any visitors other than immediate family (brothers, sisters and parents) due to H1N1 and only 2 family members of the immediate family in the hospital at a time. This is for Andrew's and all the other patients safety. Please leave a comment on the blog if you have a message for Andrew. Sorry for the inconvenience!!!

A Medal for Andrew

2009-10-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

Friday-Today was the day Andrew has been looking forward to for three days. Andrew came knocking at the trailer with Julie. We were so excited for him to see the new and improved Andrew. Alex found Andrew awake but in bed. He had been sitting up earlier. Alex pulled out his medal for service in Iraq. He told Andrew that he wanted him to have it! Andrew looked at it with surprise and then said, "Alex, you are the best brother ever!" It was an amazing moment. Andrew stood with Randall supporting him and Andrew moved each of his feet a little. They revoked his gatorade privileges. He can only have water right now. His pancreas is a little inflamed. Rick McGurk came to visit. Andrew was so excited to see him. Ariel and Aaron spent some time with him too. The brightest spot in my day is when Ashley brings baby Harper to see me. Babies are a joy. You have to smile when you see one. Ashley asked Andrew if he remembered the baby. "Yes" "What is his name" "Phillip". "No it is Harper!" Then Trevor came in with a leg cast. Andrew said "What happened to you?" "I was playing goalie for you!" Andrew was much calmer today, much more coherent too. Andrew painted a pumpkin and wrote "I love you all" on it. Andrew is beginning to realize how many people have cared for him. We want to recognize the Fullmer family. They are our son-in-law's family. They have helped in so many ways, i.e., prayer at Mass, tending and personal prayer. They are a great bunch of people!

2009-10-30T12:28:00.001-07:00

Pals with Paws

2009-10-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

Thursday, October 29, Andrew took a trip to radiology for x-rays of his spine. Everything looked great. Then they had to insert a new pic line because he pulled it out last night. He has become quite the hand full. Patient who are in the icu for long periods of time can go through several things. There is an icu narcosis and sundowners (getting night and day mixed up). So he is going through both and withdrawal from the meds. Today he sat in a chair two times. I asked him to squeeze my hands as tight as he could. Ouch! He is really strong. Randall also had him us his own strength to stand up while supporting him. As I was entering the icu I noticed a lady who had a dog. At this hospital, they allow certain dogs to visit the children. So I asked her if she'd let Andrew see the dog. Andrew was in the chair, so we put a cover on the bed and let the dog jump up. The dog was so calm and gentle. He set his paw in Andrew's hand. Andrew loved it! A little later, another dog came through the icu. It was a giant poodle. It had a mohawk that was painted pink. It went over and licked Andrew's hand. It is amazing how dogs can comfort and make someone happy. People just volunteer their time. Corinne, Desire, and Kristin came to see Andrew. He wanted to know where Uncle Jo was. As we walked through the lobby we ran into Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander, of the Seventy. Elder Neuenschwander was donating several boxes of stuff animals that his wife had purchased in Germany. We chatted with him for a minute and he gave us an animal for Andrew. It was an animal that they often see in Germany. As the sun went down, Andrew said, "unchain me I want to go sleep with mom." At sunset, Andrew tends to get even more agitated. So I laid next to him to calm him. It seemed to work. Ariel was able to assist the nurse from wound care in cleaning and changing his dressings. Aaron, Kortny, John and Matt are with him now. Sometimes they enforce the two visitors rule and other times we sneak by. John did the "flying bird" demonstration for Andrew. He laughed. The third time he said, "John, you've gained weight." They told him they were leaving so he whispered to them, "don't leave, they try to tie me to the chair!" So he says some funny things. Today they took us on a tour of the NTU, his next unit. They have a nice gym, spa, and very nice rooms. One thing that I have noticed since being here is that everyday people drop quilts off. People from the valley donate quilts for the children. As Andrew went to x-ray, he didn't have a cover. A lady walked by and gave him a blue fleece blanket. It really meant a lot to him. We have decided that Andrew's eagle project will be for PCMC.

A Gatorade Emergency

2009-10-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

Last night was really tough. We sat with Andrew for a long time. He was having bad withdrawals from the meds. He kept trying to pull out stuff. We had to restrain him. It was hard for me. Even after all this time, he is still quite strong. Finally, I was exhausted and told the nurse to tie him up! We slept in a little this morning and when we called his room, we learned that he had been sitting in a chair by his window for 2 hours. We ran upstairs to see him sitting there. First, he gave Randall a hug. Then I got a hug from him. This was the moment I have been waiting for, for so long. Next, he asked for some gatorade. They had to take him to radiology to check his swallowing. They gave him different textures with barium in it. What we saw on the screen was his skeletal image and the fluids going down his throat. It reminded me of that scene from Pirates of the Caribbean. So he got the go ahead to drink a small amount every hour. The surgical team changed his wound vac's this afternoon. He was so tired that they only gave him 5 ml of medicine while doing so. Everything looked great! The surgeon is really happy. When they were done, we sat with him again. I walked in with a drink. He asked me to bring it to him. I said "it's diet". Yuck. Then he said, I want a slurpie. We weren't sure that he could have one. So Andrew said, "bring me your phone." I said, "who do you want to call?" I called Ashley for him. The first thing he said to her is "bring me a slurpie!" Ian, Andrew's wonderful nurse, went and found one for him. Next, they took an ultrasound of his leg. The leg had previously had the canula in it. They were checking blood flow. Andrew became concerned when they were conversing about the results. He said, "oh, no! I am paralyzed!" We all started laughing and told him "no, you're not!" Andrew said to Randall "look in my mouth" so Randall looked in it. Andrew said "I want a drink." Grandma S. put lotion on his hands. Grandpa talked to Andrew about the Jazz game. Tracy Webb, our friend from Germany, came by and told Andrew that soon she will play him in basketball. She told him that she won't give him any sympathy just because he's been in the hospital. She said, "I'll take ya!" Andrew reached up and took her hand in a grip and pulled her toward him to show her that he's still got it! Then Andrew decided that he doesn't like pink or red gatorade. He wants blue! So I called Ashley and told her that we were having a gatorade emergency. She and Dustin ran up some blue gatorade to Andrew. Randall had Andrew count while he stretched his leg out. Then they talked about what Andrew can do when he is not feeling well i.e., relax, breath, stretch, and pray. So Randall said, "should we have a prayer?" "Yes!" "Who do you want to say it?" "Dustin". So Dustin proceeded to pray and Andrew said amen before it was over. Then he said "that was the best prayer ever!" It has been wonderful to interact with Andrew again. We want to thank Randall's work for the help and cooperation with Randall's work schedule. So many wonderful people are helping us to be able to be there for Andrew. We appreciate Grandpa Spilker letting us have access to the trailer. He is awesome! Andrew sat in a chair for nearly 4 hours today. He brushed his own teeth. He started eating and drinking. I used to take small, simple things for granted. We sat there and got all excited over Andrew taking a sip of Gatorade. We are so grateful!!! Just a note: we received word that people out of state are unable to access the donation account for Andrew. Randall is working on a solution. We will let you know when we have it. Right now, it is only possible to access it locally.

Angels Watch Over the Children

2009-10-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

A little over a month ago, a 50 cal. bullet tore through Andrew's body. Among other things, it knicked the vena cava vein, the largest vein in the body. Andrew has been on a ventilator since then and even ECMO (lung machine). Today they took him off of the ventilator. Then they took out one of the tubes placed in the plural space to drain fluid. The first thing that Andrew said was "I'm cold". He hasn't stopped talking since. Alex called from Fort Lewis to talk to Andrew. He also talked to Aaron and Amanda on the phone. Andrew really likes his blanket. It is the first thing that he has been able to control since this happened. I went to adjust it and he got mad at me. He is still having trouble with pulling important tubes out. Randall and I will be watching over him a lot for the next several days. He has been on so many different medications that he will have to go through a withdrawal. Today they also sat Andrew up over the side of his bed two times. Andrew has an amazing amount of strength left. We are exhausted but are able to carry on because we feel so grateful. You can imagine how I felt when he said "I love you mommy". The Kaysville 11th ward held a fast for the sick in our ward, Andrew being among them. They went without food for a day. Then at the end of the fast they had a special prayer. We are so humbled by the faith that has been placed in God on his behalf. When we serve someone else we are, in fact, serving our Heavenly Father. There are so many sick children up at this hospital. It is said that angels walk the halls here. I really believe that to be true. Just think how Jesus loves the children. Yesterday, another boy returned to Heavenly Father. We spoke with the family. It is a very tender, difficult thing. I am sure that there are angels watching over the children.

It is a Climb

2009-10-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

Today the surgeon was able to close Andrew's abdomen down to about 4x3. He then filled the remainder with Aladerm, and put a vac over that. This was really good news. They also changed the back vac and saw that his back wound looks really good. The back wound is about 8x6, a star shape. He was in surgery for about four hours. After surgery he was extremely agitated and we discovered that he was sick from the anesthesia. They have to restrain his arms because if no one is watching, he tries to pull things out. Tomorrow they will test his lungs to see if he is getting strong enough to be off of the respirator. They would also like to sit him up for a bit. At this point in his recovery, it is difficult because Andrew is awake a lot more. It is hard to watch a loved one struggle. Today Uncle Scott/Aunt Robyn/Grandma M./Zac/Joe/Courtney came to visit. We truly appreciate all of the support in so many different ways. Wittwers have been a great support to our family. As I contemplate the climb that Andrew has to make, I realize that it is through prayer, priesthood blessings, and loving support that an individual can climb. But most importantly, it is with the help of the Savior, Jesus Christ, that we get to the top of a mountain.

Slow and Steady

2009-10-25T18:26:00.000-07:00

Slow and Steady Wins the Race... Andrew makes improvements each day. Today he was able to breath on his own, twice, for a couple hours. They are working to be able to get him off of the respirator. Tomorrow they will close his abdomen again. They have been able to get rid of any swelling through the use of lasiks. This will enable them to close the abdomen tighter. Andrew's lung x-ray looked completely clear today. They are amazed. Andrew is able to communicate to us by nodding. It would drive me crazy not to be able to talk. I can't wait until we cross that bridge. Randall is good at reading him. Sometimes he has an itch. Sometimes his legs hurt. Connor and Mike, the Barkers, and family came to see him today. At the hospital they have cracked down on visiting rules. Only two beside the parents. They canceled any gatherings too because of the H1N1. Andrew has a nice corner room. They want him to get his days and nights straightened out. He has a window and the sun shines in brightly. It really helps. Andrew has had extraordinary people working to get him healed. We have really appreciated their skill and compassion. We have come a long way. We have a long way yet to go. I feel optimistic that we can meet each day as it comes. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Four Weeks Today

2009-10-24T20:21:00.001-07:00

Saturday Andrew made some progress in his recovery. They were able to start his feeding tube. The surgeon stopped by to see Andrew. He is amazed with Andrew's progress. They are getting closer to closing his abdomen. They will work on his back when then feel that Andrew is ready for it. They turned down the respirator and let his lungs do the work for about an hour. When he got tired, they turned the respirator back up. Andrew enjoyed a short visit from the Badgers. Mike and Joy had put together a photo album of Andrew/Connor photos. He enjoyed looking at it. Ariel got Andrew to do a "smile" around his breathing tube. Andrew has come a long way. We believe that he will continued to improve. They control his pain with morphine. They have been able to reduce the different meds that he was on. Andrew can't talk because of the tube but he can nod to our questions. When he gets angry, he ignores us! He always had a little temper in there. Today I talked to Andrew about not feeling sorry for oneself. It is important to have a positive attitude in order to achieve your goals. I reminded him of the many people who are concerned and praying for him. He responded by nodding four times. Today is the four-week anniversary of his accident.

So Many To Thank

2009-10-23T18:03:00.001-07:00

Today Andrew had another good day. The surgeon invited Randall to stay and observe the procedure of closing his abdomen. Randall did watch. They were able to close it some more. One or two more times should do it. Andrew's back wound looks really good. The plastic surgeon had a look at it today. This evening, Andrew was really awake. Randall and I talked to him for a while. Andrew likes to have his arms up with his hands under his head. He moves all of his arms and legs now. He answers with a nod of his head. I gave him a pep talk. I reminded him that we will get through this together! We have had so many kind deeds by people. Visits, cookies, books, laundry and prayers. We even had our leaky roof caulked and our oven problem solved. How can you thank so many people for so many things? Andrew was feeling sad tonight. I read a couple of get well wishes from one of his posters. I reminded him that there are a ton of people praying for him. Prayer can see you through anything.

Simple Gratitude

2009-10-22T21:34:00.000-07:00

Today was a rest day for Andrew. He had a good day. His numbers look good. Randall got him to open his eyes and respond to a few questions with a nod. He also moved his legs and arm. Randall asked him if he knew that he is getting better every day? He nodded yes. They are taking him off of a couple of the harder drugs that he was on. He looks very good. We are so happy to be headed in the right direction. Andrew has become the "wonder" boy in the PICU. It seems that everyone knows about him. Wherever we go we receive good wishes for him. Once again we must thank our family, neighbors and others who have given us help in our time of need. There is power in prayer. My sister, Linda, told me to try a gratitude prayer. To do this you don't ask for anything. She indicated that you really have to concentrate. It is easy to ask for things like a kid in a candy shop. I'm sure that Heavenly Father, like any parent, appreciates hearing what we are thankful for. We have so much to be thankful for. Today, I noticed how wonderful the sunshine was as it streamed into Andrew's room. A simple thing, yet important.

The Happy Dance!

2009-10-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

Okay, I wish you could all see me doing the happy dance!! Andrew is off of ECMO. Then they took him into the OR to remove the ECMO connections called canulas. They had to sew up his femoral artery and two spots on his neck. That went well. Then they closed his front some more. He is doing very well. Everyone here is amazed at Andrew's strength. We are so happy and feel so blessed with his progress. What can I say except that we believe in the power of prayer. I realize that first you need to find out God's will and then work hard to achieve the goal. We must give God all of our heart. We can't hold any of it back. Then He can lead and teach you. We have learned so many things through this difficult experience. Our prayers are longer, more sincere and thoughtful. We want to become better people. There is always room for improvement. We will strive to spend more time with our children. We will listen more, speak more softly. We are thankful for the things that we have learned. We are thankful that we have Andrew. I can't wait to hug him!!!

God Answers Prayers

2009-10-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

Last night after I finished the blog. Andrew's numbers continued to improve. They also woke him up enough to get responses from him. This morning we woke up to a call from the surgeon. He decided to place a drainage tube in each side of his chest. He also wanted to suction out his lungs through the ventilator. These procedures went really well. They were able to get 2 liters of fluid out. They let Andrew rest a couple hours. Next they had to turn him. This was very dangerous because of the tubes that run to the lung machine. The tubes hold his life's blood. It took 14 people and one nurse had to climb in the bed to hold some of the lines still. His wounds looked really good which was a great blessing. They hadn't looked at them for a week. They also changed the top dressing. Tonight, his numbers still look good and they are weaning him off of the lung machine. They will see if he can be removed for ECMO tomorrow. We saw his chest x-ray, it looked so much clearer than last night. This x-ray was from 2:30 so it has probably improved more since then. We feel incredibly blessed. The doctors, nurses and techs have worked so long and hard in Andrew's behalf. After the test of faith come the blessings. Blessings do not always come in the way that we would want. We recognize God's hand in everything that has occurred. We are so thankful for all the of the prayers in Andrew's behalf. We have talk to people who are praying for the very first time. We know God does answer prayers! We believe that God has a plan for Andrew just as He has for all of his children. This was a really good day!

Making Progress

2009-10-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day for Andrew. The new line that was placed yesterday has really helped to bring his SAT numbers up. SAT is the oxygen in your blood. The goal is that the lungs can rest in order to heal. This morning his lung x-ray was completely cloudy. Tonight, there are black areas. This indicates healing. In addition, his chest is beginning to move again. It is not as tight. Kidney function is working really well too. The swelling from third spacing has gone down. Yesterday, after I wrote the blog, we had a moment of concern about his numbers. I just told myself that I would not feel fear. I would choose faith. I remembered his priesthood blessings. The med team figured out a way to bring his numbers up as we watched. I realized that life is a test of faith. How we respond, is up to us. We are so grateful for the medical team that is working on Andrew. Technology that allows this process to happen is simply a miracle. Every night we have a family prayer with Andrew. Randall always mentions the countless people who are praying for Andrew. Andrew can hear us. I believe that prayer is a key element in his recovery. Thank you so much.

Faith and Hope

2009-10-18T18:46:00.000-07:00

Today Andrew had another surgical procedure. They added another line to the ECMO machine. They want to get more oxygen circulating. This will help his lungs heal faster. Randall, Amanda and I went to the church meeting they have at the hospital. The song that really hit me was "Lead Kindly Light". The words talked about how when things are going smooth, that we don't ask for direction. But then, in a moment, we suddenly have to rely on the Lord completely. The song said something to the effect that I do not ask to see the step in front of me. This is where we are at. We can't possibly know what is best for Andrew. We have turned it over to the Lord. To lead us on. The speaker talked about faith and hope. I was really touched by his words. They seemed to be speaking to me. I realized that we are doing everything that we can. All that is left is to have faith and hope. I went to sit with him this morning. It is funny, but I had trouble finding the words that I wanted to say to him. So I ended up just holding his foot in my hand. There are so many lines that you don't want to disturb. I felt that he could at least feel my spirit reaching out to his. Randall and Aaron (nurse) gave Andrew a blessing. All the blessings that he has received have pointed to his healing. It is hard to imagine how can we can get from a to z? It seems so ominous. Faith is believing in things that are not seen but that are true. No matter how this turns, we know that our Heavenly Father is aware of Andrew. He loves him. We are so thankful for the support that we continue to receive. We are humbled by the outpouring of love. Thank you so much.

A Beautiful Fall Day

2009-10-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

Andrew's night was uneventful. Throughout the day the highly-skilled medical personnel work on the ECMO machine and with Andrew to do the work of his lungs. This gives the lungs the opportunity to heal. I just left Andrew's bedside. Two nurses are constantly watching over him. Many of the nurses call in on their day off to see how he is doing. We are so blessed to have these folks watching over our son. Now it is a wait and see situation. It takes time for the lung to heal. Sometimes it is overwelming to watch a loved one in a dire situation. This morning we sat in the meditation room for a time. We felt upset until we remembered that we have placed him in the best hands. The hands of the Savior Jesus Christ. We know that God's will is the best thing for us. We trust in His plan. Alex left for Washington today. Grandpa Spilker bought him an airline ticket so that he wouldn't have to drive. We appreciated it very much. It was a tough day yesterday. It was hard for Alex to leave his little brother. But we trust that there will be a time when we are together again. Amanda and the rest of the group stayed the day and we sang Andrew a song by his bed. I am a Child of God. My sister, Marsha, from Arkansas was in town for three days. It was so good to feel of her sweet spirit and feel her strength. The entire Spilker and Martin family have been so wonderful to us. As a family, we still believe in Andrew's recovery. Andrew has had many miracles. We have now been here three weeks.

Inspired Blessings

2009-10-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

The phone rang at 5:00 a.m. Andrew had taken a turn for the worst. We all gathered at the hospital. Some time around 4:00 a.m. Andrew's lungs quit doing their job. When we went to his beside several residents and nurses were crying. They do not want to lose Andrew. We had a few moments to talk to him and tell him of our love. The surgical team came up with a procedure that can buy him time while his lungs heal. The lungs may have collapsed or had blood clots, and infection. They weren't sure. As a last resort, they decided to put him on an artifical heart/lung machine. They put tubes into his coratid arterties and in his femoral arterty. The blood circulates out of his body, goes through the machine to get rid of carbon dioxide, then adding in oxygen to the blood. Andrew received a blessing from a resident and Uncle Byron. He was blessed that it is not his time to go. We all gathered on the 3rd floor to wait. Our good friend Tracy, from Germany, was on the case. We were so impressed with her professionalism. She said to me as I walked out, "Not on my Watch". While we waited, the Parks came to comfort us. They were on the way to their daughters wedding but found the time to stop by and see the Spilkers. The Parks are so Christ-like. We love them. After an hour or so, we talked to the doctor. The machine was installed. It is a very technical thing. They call it a balancing act. Every number has to be just so. We were able to see Andrew. He is under morphine. It will be as long 7-10 days to know what's up. They can do tests to see if his lungs have healed and if they can handle breathing. The life-support maching was not even working when this occured. So this was our last option. Tracy came out later and let us know that we can keep hope alive. She said that we must have prayed for the doctors. She had never seen the procedure go so smoothly. As you can imagine this set-back was discouraging and worrisome. Alex will leave to Washington tomorrow. We had hoped that he could leave under better circumstances. What I do want you to know is that we had a very spiritual experience today. Too sacred to tell in detail. However, we felt peace during this crisis. We believe that it is, in fact, not yet Andrew's time to go. The odds seem overwelming. It will be three weeks tomorrow. Although this is a big setback, we reaffirm that God is watching over us. All thing move according to his time and according to his will. Andrew's priesthood blessings have indicated that there will be a recovery. Please help us by increasing your prayers. We love you and are thankful for your support! The Spilker and Martin Family have lifted us up and held our hands. What a great family we have. G-pa Spilker brought Andrew a mini Jazz ball. He was squeezing it last night. We believe in Miracles!!

God has a Plan

2009-10-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

Today was a little more difficult day for Andrew. He had a slight fever and he would wake up and be disoriented and aggitated. This is common for patients who are on so many medicines for long periods of time. We took turns reassuring Andrew. We could usually get him resting again. If not, the nurse would give him a bolster of meds. The surgeon stopped by. He is pleased with Andrew's progress. The surgeon likes to remind us how miraculous it is that Andrew is still with us. He told Randall that if the bullet had gone just a little bit to the left, Andrew would be paralyzed. If the bullet had gone just a little to the right, Andrew wouldn't have made it. We recognize God's hand in Andrew's miracle. God has brought Andrew this far. We have accepted that God has a plan for Andrew. Andrew's friends came by tonight and brought a beautiful quilt that they had made for him. It had squares with messages of hope and friendship. Andrew is lucky to have such great friends. We have been so impressed by the kindness and support from the students at KJH. Everyday people tell us that they are praying for Andrew. We really appreciate this act of faith and support. We love Andrew so much. He is a joy to our lives. We remembered a funny thing that Andrew did when he was in grade school. He decided that he needed a day off of school. So he put on his backpack and walked out the front door. A little later I get a phone call from school informing me that they have Andrew absent. I said "really? I sent him?" "No, he's not here." "Are you sure?" "Yes." So I start looking around the house. No Andrew. I walked around the yard. Just as I was passing our trailer, I hear laughing. I open the door. Andrew was sitting in the trailer playing with a toy. He had opened some food that we had left in the trailer. I wanted to be angry, I really did. But I had to laugh. He did make up the school work!

Hope for a Cynic

2009-10-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

Tuesday was a quiet restful day for Andrew. Wednesday they operated at his bedside and were able to close his abdomen 1 1/2" tighter using the device they had previously inserted. The surgeon was really pleased. The back wound looked good. The special skin insert looked pink. It appears that his body is accepting the piece. Andrew's vital are good and everything is moving forward a little each day. We feel so blessed. Friday they will operate and tighten his stomach again. They originally had to open his abdomen becuase of swelling. It was a preventive measure to protect the vital organs. I spent the last two days at home. It is a tricky thing to take care of everything that needs watching over. When I am at home, I wish I was at the hospital. When I am at the hospital, I worry about being home. Oh well, I am learning to delegate. We had a nice family dinner at Ashley's home. Alex will be leaving on saturday to go back to the army. It is diffficult for him to leave Andrew and home right now. We agreed that we will bring Andrew to him for a fishing trip up in Washington when he's better! Just a word about the great people out there. Somtimes it is easy to be cynical in this world. Let me tell you how wonderful people are. Service is someone mowing a lawn, mopping floors, ironing white shirts, doing some laundry, bringing meals, setting up a blog, printing t-shirts, sketching a picture, or giving hair cuts just to name a few. Yesterday, I was able to get the this year's school picture of Andrew. As I talked to the lady at Lifetouch, she sent me the entire package. I said "here's my credit card number." She wouldn't take it. I was really amazed. She doesn't even know us but, she wanted to help! We are pretty ordinary people, nothin' special. I have learned that it doesn't matter. People care and they really want to help!! Last night as Randall and I tried to go to sleep, we discussed that we wished that we could take the bullet for Andrew. As a parent, if we had the power, we would step in front of him and take the bullet. Then it hit me so clearly. This is exactly what Jesus Christ did for mankind. He had the power. He took the bullet, by hanging on the cross, atoning for each "one". Jesus did this so that we wouldn't have to suffer eternally with death, spiritual and temporal.

Faith vs Fear

2009-10-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

At 9:00 a.m. we received a call that Andrew was headed into surgery. They had a cancellation so his surgery was moved up. We arrived at the hospital when the surgery was underway. He was in there for a long time. When the surgeon finally came out, it was with good news. They were able to apply the device that will move his abdomen back together. It will take from 3-7 days. The device as it was described to me, sounded like a fabric corset. Every two days they will remove the black suction sponge thing off and tighten the corset. Then it took a 1/2 hour to turn him over to operate on his back wound. They were able to suture up some of his wound. Then they placed a piece of special stuff (it is like human skin that has been treated and looks like leather) over the exit wound. The hope is that it will become part of his body. The surgeon and his team are excellent. He told me that he thinks about Andrew every night. Then he always says "He's still here"! We took turns holding his hand as he recovered from surgery. He is kept under anesthesia heavily because he is so strong and fidgety. Today it felt good to move to improvement instead of just damage control. Bishop and Sister Quist came up and brought us some food. We had a nice chat. Later as I reflected on today in comparison to yesterday. I recognized the difference between faith and fear. Our children recognized that we were feeling down yesterday. They expressed their feelings of faith and hope. I feel very blessed to be lifted by my children in a time of need. I feel very blessed knowing that God is aware of each one of us!

Bits and Pieces

2009-10-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

It became clear that Andrew was moving around too much. He is really sneaky for someone on like eight drips of different stuff. He almost snagged out his pic line (iv) that goes to his heart. He was also really drugged out and saying some funny things i.e. Ashley, get a wheel chair lets go! I want a sprite, give me a football etc. Randall sat by Andrew's bed all night. Randall woke me up at 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning. The doctors decided to put the life-support breathing tube back in. He can breathe on his own but it was wearing him out too much. This was a real heart breaker for us. I had been up late the night before and was on a short temper. I felt that things weren't going well. So I kind of got after a few resident doctors. Within an hour the surgeon came to meet with us. He layed out his plan for Andrew. We felt much better having the surgeon communicate a clear path for us. I was fryed, so we had Ariel stay and watch over Andrew while we went to sleep at home the rest of the day and night. I decided to sleep in Andrews room. To tell the truth, I was feeling sorry for us. I wondered what the Lord's plan could be? After a long nap, I began looking for some bits and pieces that reminded me of Andrew. I found his home evening, general conference journal. He had taken notes on two talks. One was about eternal families, the other was about finding happiness in life. Ironic? Next, I realized that I didn't have a current, nice picture of Andrew. We were going to do pictures that very week. I felt bad but realized that I might be able to get them from the school. I hope so. It is amazing what becomes important to you when a tragedy strikes. So I recommend that you get that family picture taken. Don't delay!

Great Friends, Great Examples

2009-10-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

Today we were honored to be in attendance at Jacob's funeral service. What a great family! What a great young man! What a great ward! We continue to learn from Robert and Cher. How grateful we are for their sweet spirits. With reluctance, we spent the night and morning away from the hospital. Near the end of the service, Randall's phone rang. It was our daughter lettting us know that they had removed the respirator tube because he was breathing on his own. This was wonderful news. We rushed up to PCMC. Andrew was very energetic. He was coming off of some heavy medicines. He asked for a wheel chair so his sister could take him out of here. He asked for a football and a sprite. We did our best to help him rest. It was a family/nurse effort. At one point, we let him hug the soccer ball that the Thunder had brought to him. It calmed him for a bit. He is so strong and so energetic that I'm afraid that he is going to start swinging from the rafters! Andrew will have a lot of surgerys in store for him, but he has truly been blessed with healing. We received a poster from KJH students and a fantastic drawing of him by...shoot I forget her name. Please forgive me I am so tired tonight. Anyway, Andrew continues to be blessed. We think his next surgery will be monday??? Thanks to K11 for your help! We live in a great place!

Life is a Trek

2009-10-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

Andrew had his fifth surgery today. Things looked really good. He will have another surgery on Monday. Today I thought to myself that we have begun a trek. Kind of like crossing the U.S. on foot. We will need perserverance, patience, and faith. The nurse informed me that it is like going from L.A. to N.Y. then back again. I really enjoyed her lengthened version of my visualized trek. Oh well, no good dwelling on the entire journey. One step, one day at a time. I reminded Andrew that he belongs to the A team (Alex, Ashley, Ariel, Aaron, and Amanda) and that we are going to accomplish this together. Andrew communicates through expressions and nodding. He nodded yes to this! He wanted to write a note to us but he fell asleep before we got the paper to him. Infection is just one of the great dangers to him at this point. But he keeps plugging away against all odds. I have never personally seen such strength as he has shown. We are proud of his courage! Thanks for all the help that we receive on a daily basis!!!

A New KinAir Bed

2009-10-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

Today was a rest day for Andrew...well as much as you can rest at a hospital. They gave him a special bed that has air in it. It helps eleminate pressure points to his body. Andrew also received some physical therapy to start moving and stretching his legs as he lays there. Most patients in the PICU wear high-topped shoes. Ashley bought him some nice red and white Converse. This helps to keep their feet in a correct position. Andrew had visits from Alex, Aaron, Ariel, Ashley and Courtney. He is definiately adored by his family and friends!! Funny thing is that his blood pressure seems to go down when there is a little more talking in the room. I guess he is used to our busy home. Ariel and a new friend from Utah Opera came up to PCMC today to practice a number that they will be doing at Jacob's funeral. They recevied an ovation from the bystanders. I just hope they can keep their composure on saturday. It will be a very special, spiritual occasion. We had another visit from the Parks last night. They were delivering t-shirts that a very kind soul in their ward had made. I'm sorry that I don't know their name. The shirts say "I Believe in Miracles-Jacob Park & Andrew Spilker" and on the back "Your Miracle's Not Over October 4" in honor of Jacob. We would also like to thank the Cluffs for putting this blog together for us. We are so grateful for the kindess and well wishes of so many people. Our nurses at PCMC are awesome. Most of all we are grateful to the Lord that Andrew is still with us. Andrew will have another surgery tomorrow. Your continued prayers and faith are a great blessing to Andrew and our family. We feel the spirit of the Lord each day. As we sit and watch by his bedside, we reflect on our life. We have been so blessed, To have a loving family, what could be better!

Answered Prayers

2009-10-07T19:10:00.000-07:00

My day began at 6:00 a.m. I woke up like there was a fire alarm! The nurse had felt that today would tell us a lot about Andrew's recovery. I was able to sit with Andrew. He was awake and responsive. We had a conversation. I did all the talking. We talked about motivation to get well. Faith to believe that you can get well. Strength to move forward. Testimony that Christ will walk the path with you. Then I sang him a silly song to make his heart feel happier. Our bishop came up and he and Randall gave Andrew a priesthood blessing. Andrew then had his fourth surgery. It was difficult for me because I had to leave to Layton for a doctor's appointment myself. I finally saw a doc for my over-achieving thyroid. Ashley, Andrew's sister, felt very confident and peaceful about his surgery. We arrived back to the hospital about the time he came out of recovery. The surgeon let us know that everything looked great! We were so grateful. Our prayers for Andrew had been answered in a way that made us very happy. My good friend, Cher, called and rejoiced with us in our good report from the doctor. We have had so many kind acts of service that it is humbling. "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." Mosiah 2:17 p.s. Stephanie thanks for your insight! You are wise.

A new room for Andrew

2009-10-06T20:37:00.000-07:00

Well it is true, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. After our "little" discussion with the staff last night, Andrew got a new room. It is much more quiet and will aid in his recovery. We also have had two fabulous nurses, Ian and Brian. We are asking that prayers for Andrew focus on his body overcoming infection and bad tissue. Maybe a more simple way would be to ask our Heavenly Father that his body will respond to the antibiotics and treatments. His back wound is quiet large because they had to remove bad tissue. Once they get the fever and infection under control, they can begin plastic surgery. Modern medicine is such a blessing. Our thanks to the many priesthood holders for the blessings that have surely been a comfort and strength to Andrew. The lot we drew out tonight is to sleep on the couches in the waiting rooms. We don't mind, we simply want to be close by Andrew. I was looking through some pics of Andrew. I was remembering the time he gave our golden retriever a bubble bath in his kiddy pool. Or the time he was in Fiddler on the Roof and starred in Oliver. I mentioned to Randall that we have had a wonderful life thus far. We feel blessed to be Andrew's parents.

Mama Bear

2009-10-06T10:04:00.000-07:00

They say the the most dangerous animal in the wild is a mother protecting her child...
First thing his CT scan was good, they cleared Andrew of any spinal problems. He is now able to have his bed in a better sitting position. They took Andrew in for another surgery yesterday. They had to get rid of bad tissue. It is important that they have good tissue to work with in order to put things back together. They brought him back from surgery and first thing we notice, he is missing his hair. We have been so careful about keeping it cleaned and brushed. No, they didn't ask permission. He doesn't have a head wound???? There must be a wild barber on the loose. Then we had a caregiver for the last two days that we weren't thrilled about. Andrew must not have been impressed either...he bite him. Then we had a shift change. Before we left to eat, everthing was fine. We came back and I could tell things weren't good. His temperature was high. That's when instinct kicked in. I asked why we hadn't been contacted. The resident doctor said that they couldn't tell us "every time" something came up. So I let him know that it was our right as parents to know what was up and that they had darn well keep us informed. I called the charge nurse at home, she was in our Germany ward. She let us know that things were ok and that she would shape things up. Then we had a meeting with the charge nurse on duty and let her know how displeased we were. When we checked him again he was much better. Measures had been taken for his benefit. What is the saying, when mom isn't happy...no one is happy!

Families are Forever

2009-10-04T20:25:00.000-07:00

Today our good friend's son, Jacob, left behind the difficulties of this mortal world. At this time we mourn his departure, his absence, his sweet spirit. Our hearts are heavy for the Park family. They are a beacon of strength, testimony and Christlike love. Anyone who knew them in the PICU was lifted by them. There is a silence here out of respect for these great people. I know that the peace of the Lord's spirit will abide with them in the coming days.

First we must begin with gratitude. We seriously have the best family, friends, and wardies. We love you guys. Now as to Andrew's condition. He had a relatively uneventful day. Although he is so strong that the nurse had difficulty keeping his arms where they needed to be. He rested a lot. His blood pressure was somewhat elevated. He had a cat scan today. He is fighting a slight fever and infection. This is pretty typical for this injury. He lifted and noded his head in respone to questioning, even wiggled a toe. His strength is a blessing though, it will help him through this process. We love our children and are thankful to our Heavenly Father for all he blesses us with.

I Believe in Christ

2009-10-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

God bless all of you. Your faith and prayers are helping Andrew. He has progressed into a more stable situation. We don't know Gods plan but these things happen to remind us that he is over all. The creator of this world, the King of Kings. Andrew has progressed so that they could take the cord that was monitoring his brain pressure off. They also took the neck brace off. There was some fluid in the space by his lung so they put a drain in. This will help his right lung have as much oxygen as the left. Andrew is now responding to questions, moving and aware of the goings on around him. We turned on the LDS conference that was on tv. This is a time when we can have our faith bolstered. We were unable to listen to much but the mo-tab arrangement of "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" really touched us. (Thanks Brent A.) Our dear friends in the PICU have had several days of difficult news. We love and add our faith to the multitude praying for him. Both families reconize God's love and that His will, will be done. Several angels to thank, Ian, Ben, and Cody.

Small Blessings

2009-10-02T21:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight Andrew opened his eyes as the nurse was bugging him. ha ha The medical care he has received is top notch. We are not only concerned with his progress, but with the progress of the other children here. One cannot be here long without reaching out to others in need. Many people believe that angels walk the halls of this children's hospital. Last night a sweet little child of God passed to the other side. We had spent the prior evening visiting with her mother. It was this child's time to return to Heavenly Father. We have been so blessed that Andrew is doing well. He approaches this as he did sports...a real fighter!

Update on Andrew's Condition

2009-10-02T13:17:00.000-07:00

Since his arrival, Andrew has been doing fantastic. He has had two major surgeries and has lost one kidney and a portion of his large intestine. He is currently stable and not in a medically induced coma. We are now just waiting for him to wake up. This is not a speedy process. BUT! He is already making small movements with his eyes and shoulders. He is taking his time, but we are patient.
The Doctors feel that it would be best for Andrew if we didn't have any visitors today, except for family.
We would like to thank everyone for your prayers and fasting in behalf of Andrew and Our family. The nurses are giving him a lot of attention, we think it's his good looks and charm :)

We keep seeing Miracles all around us, Keep Believing.

Update on Andrew's Condition

2009-10-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

Andrew has had a good week. As results of his two surgeries, he has lost one kidney and a portion of his large intestine. He is currently in stable condition and is no longer in a medically induced coma. We are still waiting for him to wake up. This is not a quick process. Today the Doctors feel it would benefit him the most if he did not have any visitors. We are very grateful for everyones prayers and fasting for all of us. He is getting a lot of attention from the nurses, we think its his good looks and charm :)

We keep looking and finding miracles everywhere. Keep Believing.

Andrew's recovery

2009-10-02T10:58:00.000-07:00