Heres an update for Derek I got today from his mother Barbara and a picture. If youll remember, hes my young nephew (ex) who was critically injured on the Syrian border early November when his Humvee took a direct hit from a missile. Hes been in hospitals in Germany, MD and now CA ever since doing the endless surgeries to first save his life, and now to try to give some quality of life back to him.
Thanks again to the few who sent email or cards in support of this brave young man who gave nearly his all for us. I really appreciate you for doing so, and am sure they ARE making a difference to Derek and Andrea (even their yet unborn Sean Patrick) and their families. Bet they would still be greatly appreciated if you care to still send one.
Derek@wildcalls2k.com
Thanks friends,
Larry
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Good morning,
We just got back from spending 2 days with Derek at the Palo Alto VA. He is doing really great. They are going to keep him really busy he has great doctors and care they have him on a schedule most of the day with Speech Therapy, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, etc. All staff seems to be very nice and caring. Andrea and Derek have a case manager and she seems GREAT. He can get up into a wheelchair by himself and yesterday they taught him how to take a shower. He shaves, dresses and grooms himself. Loves the Physical Therapy. Will really push himself. Today they will put the "shrinker" on the leg and start the process of getting it into a cone shape for the new leg. (probably take about 3 weeks or so). They are Still planning on going to Walter Reed in DC when this part of his therapy is done. He is getting stronger everyday. The VA will go to Hawaii and fix his bathroom and anything else he will need before they get back home.
As you can tell from the picture (taken at Bethesda) he is VERY thin. They are working on getting him to eat more, but doesn't have much of an appetite. (Stomach surgery) and seems to have a soar throat -will see an Ear, Nose, Throat Dr. sometime this week. Could be from the dental surgery, (stitches should come out sometime this week) or maybe when he swallowed the shrapnel, time will tell. They will take out the stitches in his eye around the 23rd and still think he will have good vision in the right eye, can't see very good now though cuz they keep drops every 3 hours. They have cut back on the pain medication and he is much clearer and seems to remember quite a bit. He is VERY emotional, but they say that is normal. May have to have additional surgery on his right foot, but Derek and Andrea don't have to make that decision right now.
He was very glad to see us, Dave and I, Melissa and Trevor (note: brother and his wife). Andrea is doing great, has a nice hotel room and rented a car. She will now get some downtime cuz she won't be able to see him until after 4:00PM during the week. So hopefully she can get a little bit more rest. She is showing quite a bit now and Sean Patrick is moving quite a bit. She is WONDERFUL, he is sooooooooooo lucky to have her. Derek is very excited for the baby. Pop and I are too.........
Visiting hours for Derek are 4:00-8:00Pm on weekdays (they work with him all day long and he has a full schedule everyday) and l:00-8:00 on weekends, Andrea is hoping to spring him on the weekends. If all goes well, we will bring him home for the CHRISTmas weekend - wouldn't that be a Christmas present if we could all be together (keep you fingers crossed). We don't think it will be a problem, talked to us already about our house and if we needed to get anything special, they will provide what we need.
Please don't call him at the hospital, cuz he is still so confused. Hopefully will get his own room sometime next week. Right now has absolutely NO ROOM cuz he is sharing with 2 other guys. I will let you all know if he needs anything as time goes by.
As for Dave and I......................we are doing so much better, getting some rest and trying to get back in the swing of things. We will spend this weekend in Palo Alto with Derek and Andrea. We so want to thank all of you for the many prayers and good wishes for Dereks speedy recovery and we know how difficult this has been on everyone. We are so grateful that Derek returned to us from Iraq and will be able to see Sean Patrick grow up. Derek is very strong and we know he will get through this difficult time, he is so grateful to everyone for all the support and prayers and tell us this all the time. Dave and I hope you have a wonderful holiday and hopefully we will be able to see all of you in the new year.
Love to all and thanks for the support - Merry Christmas
Barbie
