Thank you so much for posting this! They have posted a blog for Rick, it is prayforrodeorick.blogspot.com. Again I want to thank you for your prayers on behalf of this family. I believe God let's us experience things in our lives so that we will be of help to others. If there is one family that can offer comfort like no other can, it is yours. Again, thank you for letting us watch the miracles God has worked in your lives. May God continue to bless and Levi ALWAYS inspire!
Kbaily
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Reaching Out
Dear Friends,
You know the miracle Levi is, and its because of our faithful, loving, powerful Lord and because you have cried out to Him on our behalf. Please see attached a petition from another Christian that needs our help. Join me in praying for this family today!
Dear Steelman family,
I have an urgent request. One of my friends had an accident last night at the Quanah rodeo. His name is Rick Kieschnick and he is in ICU with a severe head injury in Wichita Falls Tx. I KNOW your great faith and ask that you would please send up a prayer for Rick and his family. You have so inspired me with your story that you were who I thought of immediately. If anyone would understand the miracles that God can do in this situation, it is your family. Levi is a living breathing testiment to the miracles our God can do. Thank you so much. May God continue to bless you all.
You know the miracle Levi is, and its because of our faithful, loving, powerful Lord and because you have cried out to Him on our behalf. Please see attached a petition from another Christian that needs our help. Join me in praying for this family today!
Dear Steelman family,
I have an urgent request. One of my friends had an accident last night at the Quanah rodeo. His name is Rick Kieschnick and he is in ICU with a severe head injury in Wichita Falls Tx. I KNOW your great faith and ask that you would please send up a prayer for Rick and his family. You have so inspired me with your story that you were who I thought of immediately. If anyone would understand the miracles that God can do in this situation, it is your family. Levi is a living breathing testiment to the miracles our God can do. Thank you so much. May God continue to bless you all.
Friday, June 5, 2009
GONE FISHIN'
Yes, Levi is gone fishin’ with Papa and Nana. Uncle Dick and Aunt Mary are there at Eagle’s Nest also. I am confident he will eat well! LOL. He called and they had caught 10 trout Friday, 15 Saturday! Papa caught one about 18 inches long, but it’s too cold for the perch. Levi said he caught 2 trout, when he wasn’t sleeping…..must be nice! He was kinda bored the first 2 days, it was raining, so they didn’t fish….just sat in the camper and watched TV or read books. I told him “Hell, I’d go up there just to see it RAIN!”
Levi had been home a while. We were planting, plowing, watering…ALWAYS watering….all our usual stuff. He was going with me every day, whatever I was doing. He was about town, saw many people. Then he just up and decided to blow this popsicle stand!.....go fishin’, with Papa! He said he wasn’t all that busy, anyway…..lol.
He is progressing, slowly. The slowness is what eats him up. He does get frustrated and downcast, but I try to encourage him. I told him he was way the hell better than feeding through a PEG tube ….He just said “HMMMPPHH!”
He wants to go to WORK! That’s a first!...lol. I tried 20 years to get his butt outa bed! No, but he wants to go to work, make some MONEY!
He still has the drive, Wants to GO! That’s why I nick-named him 10-8-SUS. That’s what his license plate says.
I know it’s been a month since we posted…..but progress is slow. Day-to-day, it seems like there is nothing to report, but ol’ creeper, 10-8-sus, just sneaks up on ya like that.
DAD
Levi had been home a while. We were planting, plowing, watering…ALWAYS watering….all our usual stuff. He was going with me every day, whatever I was doing. He was about town, saw many people. Then he just up and decided to blow this popsicle stand!.....go fishin’, with Papa! He said he wasn’t all that busy, anyway…..lol.
He is progressing, slowly. The slowness is what eats him up. He does get frustrated and downcast, but I try to encourage him. I told him he was way the hell better than feeding through a PEG tube ….He just said “HMMMPPHH!”
He wants to go to WORK! That’s a first!...lol. I tried 20 years to get his butt outa bed! No, but he wants to go to work, make some MONEY!
He still has the drive, Wants to GO! That’s why I nick-named him 10-8-SUS. That’s what his license plate says.
I know it’s been a month since we posted…..but progress is slow. Day-to-day, it seems like there is nothing to report, but ol’ creeper, 10-8-sus, just sneaks up on ya like that.
DAD
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Good News!!!
Levi Had surgery on his right hand/arm Monday. The goal was to see why and, if possible, correct whatever was wrong with his radial nerve. That controls the extension of the fingers, opening of the thumb, and some turning of the hand. We feared the nerve had been severed in the accident; his right arm was nearly severed completely. If not severed, it had most probably been severely mangled and chewed up. Previous tests were inconclusive (aren’t they always?).
Dr. Lehman opened his arm up along previous scars and found the nerve intact! I assumed a nerve to be very small and hard to find, but he said it was rather large, about the diameter of a pencil. I gather that it lies very close to the humerus (upper arm bone). It seems the nerve was not severed or even badly mangled, but rather, constricted by massive scar tissue (go figure!) and even over-growth of bone. He freed it up by cutting away some scar tissue and bone.
I am thinking this is about the best possible outcome we could have expected. If severed, Dr. Lehman said the nerve could possibly grow, at optimal best, 1 millimeter per day. Depending on how far it had to grow to re-connect, it could take 1-1 ½ years! So now, instead of thinking in terms of months and years, we are now thinking days and weeks! In fact, Levi has already noticed increased movement just 2-3 days after the surgery. It is far from being “like before”, but it is moving in the right direction and VERY encouraging.
Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers on Levi’s behalf.
JOE
Dr. Lehman opened his arm up along previous scars and found the nerve intact! I assumed a nerve to be very small and hard to find, but he said it was rather large, about the diameter of a pencil. I gather that it lies very close to the humerus (upper arm bone). It seems the nerve was not severed or even badly mangled, but rather, constricted by massive scar tissue (go figure!) and even over-growth of bone. He freed it up by cutting away some scar tissue and bone.
I am thinking this is about the best possible outcome we could have expected. If severed, Dr. Lehman said the nerve could possibly grow, at optimal best, 1 millimeter per day. Depending on how far it had to grow to re-connect, it could take 1-1 ½ years! So now, instead of thinking in terms of months and years, we are now thinking days and weeks! In fact, Levi has already noticed increased movement just 2-3 days after the surgery. It is far from being “like before”, but it is moving in the right direction and VERY encouraging.
Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers on Levi’s behalf.
JOE
Monday, April 20, 2009
Note from Dad
Levi has been home a couple of weeks now. He’s been investigating, experimenting, and trying to figure out what all he can and cannot do. Invariably, he cannot do as much as he wants to, but I always had that problem myself. He can still drive a tractor (I started all the boys when they were 8). Jake says Levi never could drive straight anyway, so that’s nothing diminished! He can do better, though, if he would stay off the cell phone! Its hard to drive with one hand and talk on the phone, too. Since many of the controls are on the right side, he has had to use his right hand a little more, which I am trying to encourage. He tends to completely neglect both the right hand and right foot, because the left side works so much better. He’s not real crazy about doing his therapy type exercises to improve them, either.
Luckily, I saw the Karate Kid and remember Mr. Miagi’s little tricks like wax on/wax off, paint brush up/ paint brush down, etc. It seems Levi’s big size 12 feet won’t both fit on the same step for getting in and out of the tractor, so he has to step up one at a time with each foot. Also, the steps are kind of far apart, so he needs to grip rails or handles or whatever to help pull himself up. He can and does grip and pull with his right hand, it just takes him a while to get his fingers around the rail. And as I said, many of the controls are on the right side and it is very unhandy to have to reach over and work them with the left hand. The times when you need to work the controls the most are when you are turning around at the end of the field. Of course that is also when you are turning the steering wheel with one hand, so he is almost forced to use the other hand. One day he and Jake were plowing in the same field, and of course it simply would not do for little brother to be going faster or getting more done than Levi…..Ha, ha, ha……so he was using both hands as best he could.
I also had him dismantle sprinkler parts in the barn. He could do that sitting down at the welding table. He had to use a screw driver and pop the nozzles out of the plastic nozzle bodies, then push a wire through the nozzle to dislodge plugs, then sort the various sizes and put them in boxes to be stored. He was able to do all that well enough and had to use both hands. It seemed much more productive to him than playing dominoes or checkers like they wanted him to do in therapy. That was to learn to manipulate his hands and fingers and also cognitive function of sorting dominoes, adding, etc. He didn’t know it, but I got him to do all that and more! Those little bitty numbers on the nozzles are really hard for me to read, especially if they have been out in the sun several years. Levi could focus on them just fine; he could read them better than I could and without glasses, lol.
I noticed Jim Rhodes had responded to one of the blogs. I have a story I think he will like. I used to have hogs, sometimes for butchering, sometimes for the boys to show livestock. I have noticed no matter what color they are or how high priced they were, their head is always on the wrong end! What I mean is, whenever you want to take them out of the pen (like to weigh or exercise) or especially to load them in a trailer, they are always trying to go the other way. They simply CANNOT jump up 4 inches to get in a trailer, but a 250 lb. hog can root his way through a 2 inch crack below the trailer and get stuck there!
One year we had an abundance of watermelons late in the season. Being the tightwad I am and also full of watermelon, I began feeding a couple of melons to the hogs everyday (not show hogs). The hogs LOVED them. They were sweet and juicy. They would run over each other trying to get the watermelon. When the time came I needed to load the hogs in the trailer, I backed up to the pen, wired the panels securely to the trailer, put a fence post under the back so they couldn’t go under….everything just like normal. Then I grabbed a watermelon and busted it on the floor in the front of the trailer and CRAP! I nearly got trampled by the hogs! It turns out motivation was the key ingredient I had been missing. I didn’t need wire to secure the panels. I didn’t need a fence post under the back. I didn’t even need a short crowding panel or a hot shot. I just needed a watermelon! As long as they think its their idea, a hog can jump up a couple of feet to get in a trailer.
The same principle works on kids, too! Levi can use his hand a lot more when he wants to…. and climb up the nearly straight up steps on a tractor as well. He can stay on task and maintain attention for an extended period if he’s dismantling sprinkler parts or trying not to let Jake outdo him. He can walk pretty good with a cane if he’s going to church, or in the bank, or a store. After all, there’s people in there and he doesn’t want to look “handicapped”! That grates on him. But at home he’ll ask Cristy to push him around in the wheelchair, little stink!
One day I was starting a sprinkler. I was walking down it unplugging nozzles. Before I got to the end I looked up to see Levi had scooted over from the passenger side to the driver side and was bringing my pick-up, so I wouldn’t have to walk back. Of course it might have helped that it was already past lunch time and he was HUNGRY! Nana was making chicken fried steak with cornbread and gravy, fried okra and lots of other yummy stuff.
So, that’s where the references to Mr. Miaggi and Dr. House come into play. He’s given me those nicknames and I call him Ol’ tenacious…or Creeper. (Creeper was an old cow Grandpa used to have. She never got in any hurry and just “crept” around). There’s no end to stuff that needs doing on the farm, you’ve just got to get innovative and make it therapeutic! So, Levi’s getting therapy and eating his veggies, whether he wants to or not! (Cristy said Nana could cook the sole of a boot and make it taste good, lol) We just work on the “want to” part…..Farmer style!
Luckily, I saw the Karate Kid and remember Mr. Miagi’s little tricks like wax on/wax off, paint brush up/ paint brush down, etc. It seems Levi’s big size 12 feet won’t both fit on the same step for getting in and out of the tractor, so he has to step up one at a time with each foot. Also, the steps are kind of far apart, so he needs to grip rails or handles or whatever to help pull himself up. He can and does grip and pull with his right hand, it just takes him a while to get his fingers around the rail. And as I said, many of the controls are on the right side and it is very unhandy to have to reach over and work them with the left hand. The times when you need to work the controls the most are when you are turning around at the end of the field. Of course that is also when you are turning the steering wheel with one hand, so he is almost forced to use the other hand. One day he and Jake were plowing in the same field, and of course it simply would not do for little brother to be going faster or getting more done than Levi…..Ha, ha, ha……so he was using both hands as best he could.
I also had him dismantle sprinkler parts in the barn. He could do that sitting down at the welding table. He had to use a screw driver and pop the nozzles out of the plastic nozzle bodies, then push a wire through the nozzle to dislodge plugs, then sort the various sizes and put them in boxes to be stored. He was able to do all that well enough and had to use both hands. It seemed much more productive to him than playing dominoes or checkers like they wanted him to do in therapy. That was to learn to manipulate his hands and fingers and also cognitive function of sorting dominoes, adding, etc. He didn’t know it, but I got him to do all that and more! Those little bitty numbers on the nozzles are really hard for me to read, especially if they have been out in the sun several years. Levi could focus on them just fine; he could read them better than I could and without glasses, lol.
I noticed Jim Rhodes had responded to one of the blogs. I have a story I think he will like. I used to have hogs, sometimes for butchering, sometimes for the boys to show livestock. I have noticed no matter what color they are or how high priced they were, their head is always on the wrong end! What I mean is, whenever you want to take them out of the pen (like to weigh or exercise) or especially to load them in a trailer, they are always trying to go the other way. They simply CANNOT jump up 4 inches to get in a trailer, but a 250 lb. hog can root his way through a 2 inch crack below the trailer and get stuck there!
One year we had an abundance of watermelons late in the season. Being the tightwad I am and also full of watermelon, I began feeding a couple of melons to the hogs everyday (not show hogs). The hogs LOVED them. They were sweet and juicy. They would run over each other trying to get the watermelon. When the time came I needed to load the hogs in the trailer, I backed up to the pen, wired the panels securely to the trailer, put a fence post under the back so they couldn’t go under….everything just like normal. Then I grabbed a watermelon and busted it on the floor in the front of the trailer and CRAP! I nearly got trampled by the hogs! It turns out motivation was the key ingredient I had been missing. I didn’t need wire to secure the panels. I didn’t need a fence post under the back. I didn’t even need a short crowding panel or a hot shot. I just needed a watermelon! As long as they think its their idea, a hog can jump up a couple of feet to get in a trailer.
The same principle works on kids, too! Levi can use his hand a lot more when he wants to…. and climb up the nearly straight up steps on a tractor as well. He can stay on task and maintain attention for an extended period if he’s dismantling sprinkler parts or trying not to let Jake outdo him. He can walk pretty good with a cane if he’s going to church, or in the bank, or a store. After all, there’s people in there and he doesn’t want to look “handicapped”! That grates on him. But at home he’ll ask Cristy to push him around in the wheelchair, little stink!
One day I was starting a sprinkler. I was walking down it unplugging nozzles. Before I got to the end I looked up to see Levi had scooted over from the passenger side to the driver side and was bringing my pick-up, so I wouldn’t have to walk back. Of course it might have helped that it was already past lunch time and he was HUNGRY! Nana was making chicken fried steak with cornbread and gravy, fried okra and lots of other yummy stuff.
So, that’s where the references to Mr. Miaggi and Dr. House come into play. He’s given me those nicknames and I call him Ol’ tenacious…or Creeper. (Creeper was an old cow Grandpa used to have. She never got in any hurry and just “crept” around). There’s no end to stuff that needs doing on the farm, you’ve just got to get innovative and make it therapeutic! So, Levi’s getting therapy and eating his veggies, whether he wants to or not! (Cristy said Nana could cook the sole of a boot and make it taste good, lol) We just work on the “want to” part…..Farmer style!
Monday, April 13, 2009
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LEVI?
Hello friendly bloggers,
Right now, Levi is in Bovina. He has been enjoying some freedom by driving tractor and even his pickup. I know the folks in Bovina are in awe of all the things that Levi is saying and doing. Levi will be re-evaluated to see what other types of therapy he can get as out-patient. Pray for the Lord to open doors and make all the necessary arrangements, appointments, and financial concerns fall into place. And Yes, Lord, we will give you all the praise!
Levi's hand may need more surgery but they are waiting to find out more on that. He walked alot today in the barn. Esther said he is doing really well and trying really hard thanks to Dr. House that is attending him. ha/ha
Last but least, Levi is enjoying food when he wants to and however much he wants to instead of when he is told to (eat).
Have a great day, stay in touch.
~til next time
Gilda
Right now, Levi is in Bovina. He has been enjoying some freedom by driving tractor and even his pickup. I know the folks in Bovina are in awe of all the things that Levi is saying and doing. Levi will be re-evaluated to see what other types of therapy he can get as out-patient. Pray for the Lord to open doors and make all the necessary arrangements, appointments, and financial concerns fall into place. And Yes, Lord, we will give you all the praise!
Levi's hand may need more surgery but they are waiting to find out more on that. He walked alot today in the barn. Esther said he is doing really well and trying really hard thanks to Dr. House that is attending him. ha/ha
Last but least, Levi is enjoying food when he wants to and however much he wants to instead of when he is told to (eat).
Have a great day, stay in touch.
~til next time
Gilda
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Note from Mom
So Levi came home again this weekend. This time he got to spend two nights at home instead of one, like last weekend. Mom took him shopping and got some smaller jeans (he says he's fine now lol ) and new shirts. We celebrated the marriage of Jake and Trisha. That would be Levi's younger brother. They got married in Vegas on the 16th of October two days prior to Levi's accident, so we never had an opportunity to celebrate until now. Levi wanted to wear his boots but he could not get them on. He also wanted to dance but was too tired. He had a good weekend with all of us. He went to church and seemed to really enjoy it. He says he's coming back again. He didn't want to go back to TLC but after much discussion on the importance of finishing therapy, he was OK with it.
Cristy took him back but managed to fit in a shopping spree and got some lace up boots. He said he could get these on his feet and had more support on his ankle than his Nikes. Then Dad took him shopping on Monday. They got him a straw hat. His right foot still swells up some and its hard to pull boots on. So just a warning: if you go see Levi, he might convince you to taking him shopping. He seems to enjoy that. lol
Things continue to improve, he still has significant memory issues, but slowly things are coming. Baby steps are adding up. Some days are better than others but all in all we are so blessed. Thanks for continued love and support. Peace Out
Mom
Cristy took him back but managed to fit in a shopping spree and got some lace up boots. He said he could get these on his feet and had more support on his ankle than his Nikes. Then Dad took him shopping on Monday. They got him a straw hat. His right foot still swells up some and its hard to pull boots on. So just a warning: if you go see Levi, he might convince you to taking him shopping. He seems to enjoy that. lol
Things continue to improve, he still has significant memory issues, but slowly things are coming. Baby steps are adding up. Some days are better than others but all in all we are so blessed. Thanks for continued love and support. Peace Out
Mom
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
LEVI WENT TO CHURCH!
Yeah. 
That’s the title. He did, too. Cristy was in Lubbock Saturday, he was saying he wanted to go home, like he always does. Said he wanted to go to church….they told him there were a lot of churches in Lubbock, but no. He wanted to go to MY church in Bovina, the one that had been sending him all them prayer grams for like….FOREVER! And yes, he could see people in Lubbock….in this church, in that church…..WHATEVER! He wanted to see THOSE people….the ones that had been praying for him……the little kids he didn’t even know, that had been sending him get well soon cards….them ones que sent him brownies and stuff for his birthday and he didn’t even know their names….he wanted to go see THEM people! He was pretty adamant. Their jaws were agape.
Duh! How do you argue with that? They didn’t. He went. He was a little late, he wanted to change clothes at home first. Gotta wear good clothes, dress up on Sunday….some things are just ingrained. They were Cinch jeans, pressed and ironed (guess that was better than Wranglers). He was prepared (mentally). We got there during greeting time. Just barely got in the door before he was DROWNED in greeting….but he was not overwhelmed. I was afraid he might be…sometimes he does get over stimulated. He wasn’t. He was fine. I was standing behind the chair….listening as the people told him how good it was to see him…that they loved him, had been praying for him. I’m kinda a hard case, not easily convinced. But I heard their voices tremble, tears in their eyes. They were sincere….Levi knew it, that’s why he wa
nted to come here, to see THESE people. There are a lot of other churches that faithfully send him prayer grams. But he could only be in one place today…and that was HOME! Maybe one day he can visit the other churches that have been lifting him up. He is actually a little overwhelmed by it…all these people…praying for me? WHY? I don’t even know most of them!
That’s alright, Bud. They know God, and love Him. He knows you, and loves you. So….they love you, too. “Dad, you’re not BS me, are you?” No, Bud…I’m not THAT good…..look in their faces….see the old ladies crying? The little kids eyes beaming? Them little kids think you’re a walking miracle…just the other day you told mom it would be a miracle if she could get that @#$! phone to work! LOL. The preacher today, Brian, he was talking about seeing God, in the image of a man, his vessel. These people, Levi, they look at you and they see God’s vessel... Dad, that makes me feel small…..and unworthy. I know, Bud…..all you wanted to do was come and say thank you, huh? Uh-huh. That’s ok, Bud, they’re just trying to say thank you, too. BUT, DAD….THEY’RE LOOKING AT ME!!!! It’s ok, son….they may be looking at you, but they are thanking God. That’s creepy, Dad. It gets better Levi.
We sang “Victory in Jesus”. Levi wanted to stand, everybody else was standing….and after all, how can you sit and sing Victory in Jesus? His diction is not the best, he slurs a little, anyone who wanted to find fault surely could have, but I dare anyone to challenge his sincerity. I was on his right, Cristy on his left. I was trying to think….probably been at least 10 years since I heard him sing in church. But, you know me, I was thinking a myriad of other stuff also. By the first verse I was already thinking of Grandma Leone….remembering sitting with her there as a child in that same church, singing that same song. I remember it was often a highlight of the church service when she would whistle on the “crystal sea” part, but that doesn’t come till the 3rd verse. Aren’t I bad???? I am wondering if Sharon or Jeff or Toya or Tom or Bill or Beck or Leah (the other cousins) if they remember sitting with Granny, hearing her “whistle” Victory in Jesus? By now Sheryl, Regina, Glenda Kay, Rocky, Elaine, Richard, John, James….other cousins may be rolling, but I think not….I think they are remembering those bygone days also…
.and smiling. And their kids….they’re just sitting and saying “WHAT??? You have to explain all this stuff!” They never wanted to hear all those boring stories before did they? (wink)
Yeah, Levi didn’t used to want to go to church either. But then today its like he’s the main attraction… and the preacher is preaching about seeing the spirit of God manifested through the vessel of man. And God’s handiwork and intervention and all that stuff….yeah, just a coincidence…..and J.L. Bass just winked at me from Heaven.
(J.L. Bass was our preacher when Esther and I were a young married couple. And our Sunday school teacher. He baptized Luke. )
When they asked Levi where he wanted to eat lunch, He said “DuuuUH!...NANA’s” “I haven’t
had her cooking in like 4 years!”. Well, 4-5 months maybe, Levi. We had chicken-fried steak and a whole table full of trimmings. We all ate our fill. We sat outside a while and watched the kids play freeze-tag and stuff. Levi saw the horses, but said he’d wait till another time to ride. He saw pictures of the crashed plane on the computer that Dale, Doyle, the Holts and others had taken. He was amazed. (Aren’t we all?)
By 5 he was getting pretty tired and took a short nap before it was time to head back to Lubbock. He said, “I’ll be back”. Ever think about running for governor of California, Levi? (smile)
That’s the title. He did, too. Cristy was in Lubbock Saturday, he was saying he wanted to go home, like he always does. Said he wanted to go to church….they told him there were a lot of churches in Lubbock, but no. He wanted to go to MY church in Bovina, the one that had been sending him all them prayer grams for like….FOREVER! And yes, he could see people in Lubbock….in this church, in that church…..WHATEVER! He wanted to see THOSE people….the ones that had been praying for him……the little kids he didn’t even know, that had been sending him get well soon cards….them ones que sent him brownies and stuff for his birthday and he didn’t even know their names….he wanted to go see THEM people! He was pretty adamant. Their jaws were agape.Duh! How do you argue with that? They didn’t. He went. He was a little late, he wanted to change clothes at home first. Gotta wear good clothes, dress up on Sunday….some things are just ingrained. They were Cinch jeans, pressed and ironed (guess that was better than Wranglers). He was prepared (mentally). We got there during greeting time. Just barely got in the door before he was DROWNED in greeting….but he was not overwhelmed. I was afraid he might be…sometimes he does get over stimulated. He wasn’t. He was fine. I was standing behind the chair….listening as the people told him how good it was to see him…that they loved him, had been praying for him. I’m kinda a hard case, not easily convinced. But I heard their voices tremble, tears in their eyes. They were sincere….Levi knew it, that’s why he wa
nted to come here, to see THESE people. There are a lot of other churches that faithfully send him prayer grams. But he could only be in one place today…and that was HOME! Maybe one day he can visit the other churches that have been lifting him up. He is actually a little overwhelmed by it…all these people…praying for me? WHY? I don’t even know most of them!That’s alright, Bud. They know God, and love Him. He knows you, and loves you. So….they love you, too. “Dad, you’re not BS me, are you?” No, Bud…I’m not THAT good…..look in their faces….see the old ladies crying? The little kids eyes beaming? Them little kids think you’re a walking miracle…just the other day you told mom it would be a miracle if she could get that @#$! phone to work! LOL. The preacher today, Brian, he was talking about seeing God, in the image of a man, his vessel. These people, Levi, they look at you and they see God’s vessel... Dad, that makes me feel small…..and unworthy. I know, Bud…..all you wanted to do was come and say thank you, huh? Uh-huh. That’s ok, Bud, they’re just trying to say thank you, too. BUT, DAD….THEY’RE LOOKING AT ME!!!! It’s ok, son….they may be looking at you, but they are thanking God. That’s creepy, Dad. It gets better Levi.
We sang “Victory in Jesus”. Levi wanted to stand, everybody else was standing….and after all, how can you sit and sing Victory in Jesus? His diction is not the best, he slurs a little, anyone who wanted to find fault surely could have, but I dare anyone to challenge his sincerity. I was on his right, Cristy on his left. I was trying to think….probably been at least 10 years since I heard him sing in church. But, you know me, I was thinking a myriad of other stuff also. By the first verse I was already thinking of Grandma Leone….remembering sitting with her there as a child in that same church, singing that same song. I remember it was often a highlight of the church service when she would whistle on the “crystal sea” part, but that doesn’t come till the 3rd verse. Aren’t I bad???? I am wondering if Sharon or Jeff or Toya or Tom or Bill or Beck or Leah (the other cousins) if they remember sitting with Granny, hearing her “whistle” Victory in Jesus? By now Sheryl, Regina, Glenda Kay, Rocky, Elaine, Richard, John, James….other cousins may be rolling, but I think not….I think they are remembering those bygone days also…
.and smiling. And their kids….they’re just sitting and saying “WHAT??? You have to explain all this stuff!” They never wanted to hear all those boring stories before did they? (wink)Yeah, Levi didn’t used to want to go to church either. But then today its like he’s the main attraction… and the preacher is preaching about seeing the spirit of God manifested through the vessel of man. And God’s handiwork and intervention and all that stuff….yeah, just a coincidence…..and J.L. Bass just winked at me from Heaven.
(J.L. Bass was our preacher when Esther and I were a young married couple. And our Sunday school teacher. He baptized Luke. )
When they asked Levi where he wanted to eat lunch, He said “DuuuUH!...NANA’s” “I haven’t
had her cooking in like 4 years!”. Well, 4-5 months maybe, Levi. We had chicken-fried steak and a whole table full of trimmings. We all ate our fill. We sat outside a while and watched the kids play freeze-tag and stuff. Levi saw the horses, but said he’d wait till another time to ride. He saw pictures of the crashed plane on the computer that Dale, Doyle, the Holts and others had taken. He was amazed. (Aren’t we all?)By 5 he was getting pretty tired and took a short nap before it was time to head back to Lubbock. He said, “I’ll be back”. Ever think about running for governor of California, Levi? (smile)
Friday, March 20, 2009
Hello from weatherford
Steelman Family and Levi,
I know you guys are busy doing day-to-day activities, responsibilities, therapy, and even though you haven't posted recently it doesn't mean we are not thinking of you. The Garner boys ask about Levi daily and we usually go down memory lane with one story back when the kids were little and thought i was smart, funny, and cool to stories of working with and for the boys on the farm and also with Levi on the plane. One wonderful memory was when Joe (dad) was gonna take the boys and buy boots at Joe's Boot Shop and I had a pair of red ropers and Levi always put them on and loved the color red. Well I told him what every kid needs to hear, "You need some red boots too!" Then the strong headed, intelligient Levi retained that information and asked for red boots which mom and day (meanies) would not buy him the red boots. Levi was not a happy camper. Then this past summer when Mike worked for Levi and he was running errands all over town. Because of Mike paranoia he told Levi he did not have a license to drive and Levi said, "Looks like your doing it to me, that ought be license enough". :)
Levi we love you and will continue to pray for annointing on your physical body. Steelman family we will continue to pray for strength and grace as you minister to Levi.
~Gilda
I know you guys are busy doing day-to-day activities, responsibilities, therapy, and even though you haven't posted recently it doesn't mean we are not thinking of you. The Garner boys ask about Levi daily and we usually go down memory lane with one story back when the kids were little and thought i was smart, funny, and cool to stories of working with and for the boys on the farm and also with Levi on the plane. One wonderful memory was when Joe (dad) was gonna take the boys and buy boots at Joe's Boot Shop and I had a pair of red ropers and Levi always put them on and loved the color red. Well I told him what every kid needs to hear, "You need some red boots too!" Then the strong headed, intelligient Levi retained that information and asked for red boots which mom and day (meanies) would not buy him the red boots. Levi was not a happy camper. Then this past summer when Mike worked for Levi and he was running errands all over town. Because of Mike paranoia he told Levi he did not have a license to drive and Levi said, "Looks like your doing it to me, that ought be license enough". :)
Levi we love you and will continue to pray for annointing on your physical body. Steelman family we will continue to pray for strength and grace as you minister to Levi.
~Gilda
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Hello from Joe!
I’ve been reading the blog, just like everyone else. My family’s been posting, pulling the slack…like they always do. I haven’t posted in quite a while, because I didn’t know what to say! It’s kinda like watching corn grow…or paint peel, for the non farmers. Day to day you don’t really see that much change…no “epiphanies” or such. Yet Levi has improved tremendously over the last 6 weeks or so. His cognitive function is much better; his reasoning. He has a sense of humor. He can maintain an extended conversation for like two hours, if it interests him, but maybe 5 seconds if it doesn’t….:) Not that much different than his old self, is it?
Levi doesn’t remember crashing the plane. He kinda thought he fell off the horse and hurt his knee. He called me last night and said Cristy had told him he crashed, broke both arms, both legs, and was unconscious 2 months. He couldn’t believe it! He kept apologizing, he was sorry he didn’t remember. I reminded him, by definition you don’t remember stuff when you are unconscious….he knew, but he was still sorry. He was really worried about Jeff Bertrand, too. Worrried he crashed Jeff’s plane and put him in a bad way…eventhough I told him repeatedly, it was a plane Levi had leased. He said Jeff had been nothing but good to him, and he didn’t want to do him bad like that. Call him, Jeff. Be forewarned…He may not remember any of this tomorrow.
Physically, he is doing better also. Esther reports that he stood between the parallel bars 35 minutes today and walked 300 feet! That’s a football field! His stamina is improving. I already knew his strength was: When I helped him stand, he can support his own weight…I just steadied his balance. He still says his knee hurts, this is curious. The patella was displaced, but replaced…there should be no problem there. Esther is calling doctors, investigating. He says he would walk, but that one leg, its broke. He also got his right hand re-casted. It’s not broke, but the doc is gradually raising, inclining the hand to make it more functional.
He got a new cell phone…he loves it! He called us at least 6 times on Sunday as we were driving to Lubbock to see him….just wanted to make sure we didn’t get lost! Reminded me of “Are we there yet, Dad?”
I sometimes wonder what to write here. Don’t want to get too personal or embarrass anybody or any thing, you know? But the whole time I have been writing (and that is considerably longer than it took you to read it!) I keep thinking of two particular people. One is Aunt Carmen from Florida. I can remember her, so often when she would come to Texas to visit us, she would look at my three boys and remember her own three boys! Many times she would be lost in thought and remembrance…smiling. Aunt Carmen always gave us “educational” gifts at Christmas. One year she gave me a book about George Washington and the battle of Bunker Hill. They about froze that winter…hungry, shoeless….but Hell, what are you going to do? Its “Root hog or die” as Grandpa used to say. Levi didn’t have much better choices, you know. Curiously, when Luke did give him a choice about his Christmas present….and he chose a book about political commentary over a REALLY nice pocketknife….he chose the book. I thought of Aunt Carmen! Their family has medical problems of their own…Charlie was even on Good Morning America recently, speaking somewhat of his battles with insurance companies. Keep them in your prayers, as you do Levi.
I also think of Ace (I call him Donnie, even if he doesn’t like it). His wife, my cousin, Sheryl, helped us out so much when we were in Amarillo. She came twice a week to do our laundry and visit with us. Turns out, the apartments we were staying in (our first apartment) were the first apartments they lived in, too! Ace came to see Levi in ICU. If Levi was conscious, it was only barely. He went in, came back in a bit….told Sheryl “I told he was going to be OK”. From his face you could tell he thought that was “Nuff said”. He wasn’t being arrogant or dismissive or anything…..He was being a man. We oftentimes don’t know how to express ourselves. I’m quite sure that was exactly what he told Levi…..but how many volumes of other stuff was there that he did not have words to express?
I remember playing pool with Donnie down at Woodrow’s Pool Hall when I was in 7th grade. That’s been near 40 years ago! We played a lot of pool. A lot of talk. A lot of reading facial expressions, body language, and yes, foul language. I remember a football game in Bovina, we were playing Friona (Donnie was from Friona). I think Dean Stanberry was our running back and he was doing good, according to the concession stand talk. What I remember most though, was the sight of Donnie taking off his prosthetic leg and chasing some guy down the street, hopping, threatening with all sincerity to “Whup his ass” with this wooden leg! He went at least 300 feet. Like Levi. He didn’t have a broke leg, Levi, he was missing one, and he could run, hop, whatever, just pretty dern fast! Donnie told Levi he was gonna be alright. I think he was right.
Everybody has battles, Bud, you’re gonna make it. You’ll be alright. We’re all rootin’ fer ya!
Levi doesn’t remember crashing the plane. He kinda thought he fell off the horse and hurt his knee. He called me last night and said Cristy had told him he crashed, broke both arms, both legs, and was unconscious 2 months. He couldn’t believe it! He kept apologizing, he was sorry he didn’t remember. I reminded him, by definition you don’t remember stuff when you are unconscious….he knew, but he was still sorry. He was really worried about Jeff Bertrand, too. Worrried he crashed Jeff’s plane and put him in a bad way…eventhough I told him repeatedly, it was a plane Levi had leased. He said Jeff had been nothing but good to him, and he didn’t want to do him bad like that. Call him, Jeff. Be forewarned…He may not remember any of this tomorrow.
Physically, he is doing better also. Esther reports that he stood between the parallel bars 35 minutes today and walked 300 feet! That’s a football field! His stamina is improving. I already knew his strength was: When I helped him stand, he can support his own weight…I just steadied his balance. He still says his knee hurts, this is curious. The patella was displaced, but replaced…there should be no problem there. Esther is calling doctors, investigating. He says he would walk, but that one leg, its broke. He also got his right hand re-casted. It’s not broke, but the doc is gradually raising, inclining the hand to make it more functional.
He got a new cell phone…he loves it! He called us at least 6 times on Sunday as we were driving to Lubbock to see him….just wanted to make sure we didn’t get lost! Reminded me of “Are we there yet, Dad?”
I sometimes wonder what to write here. Don’t want to get too personal or embarrass anybody or any thing, you know? But the whole time I have been writing (and that is considerably longer than it took you to read it!) I keep thinking of two particular people. One is Aunt Carmen from Florida. I can remember her, so often when she would come to Texas to visit us, she would look at my three boys and remember her own three boys! Many times she would be lost in thought and remembrance…smiling. Aunt Carmen always gave us “educational” gifts at Christmas. One year she gave me a book about George Washington and the battle of Bunker Hill. They about froze that winter…hungry, shoeless….but Hell, what are you going to do? Its “Root hog or die” as Grandpa used to say. Levi didn’t have much better choices, you know. Curiously, when Luke did give him a choice about his Christmas present….and he chose a book about political commentary over a REALLY nice pocketknife….he chose the book. I thought of Aunt Carmen! Their family has medical problems of their own…Charlie was even on Good Morning America recently, speaking somewhat of his battles with insurance companies. Keep them in your prayers, as you do Levi.
I also think of Ace (I call him Donnie, even if he doesn’t like it). His wife, my cousin, Sheryl, helped us out so much when we were in Amarillo. She came twice a week to do our laundry and visit with us. Turns out, the apartments we were staying in (our first apartment) were the first apartments they lived in, too! Ace came to see Levi in ICU. If Levi was conscious, it was only barely. He went in, came back in a bit….told Sheryl “I told he was going to be OK”. From his face you could tell he thought that was “Nuff said”. He wasn’t being arrogant or dismissive or anything…..He was being a man. We oftentimes don’t know how to express ourselves. I’m quite sure that was exactly what he told Levi…..but how many volumes of other stuff was there that he did not have words to express?
I remember playing pool with Donnie down at Woodrow’s Pool Hall when I was in 7th grade. That’s been near 40 years ago! We played a lot of pool. A lot of talk. A lot of reading facial expressions, body language, and yes, foul language. I remember a football game in Bovina, we were playing Friona (Donnie was from Friona). I think Dean Stanberry was our running back and he was doing good, according to the concession stand talk. What I remember most though, was the sight of Donnie taking off his prosthetic leg and chasing some guy down the street, hopping, threatening with all sincerity to “Whup his ass” with this wooden leg! He went at least 300 feet. Like Levi. He didn’t have a broke leg, Levi, he was missing one, and he could run, hop, whatever, just pretty dern fast! Donnie told Levi he was gonna be alright. I think he was right.
Everybody has battles, Bud, you’re gonna make it. You’ll be alright. We’re all rootin’ fer ya!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
3.3.09 OVERDUE NOTICE
Friends,
Esther wanted me to make a special notation to thank the Trust Point Hospital in Lubbock. Isnt that name peculiar?
I think its not just befitting to Levi and his situation but to us all. We have to reach a point in our lives to TRUST in the Lord and lean not on our understandings. That's a scripture that I've paraphrased somewhat.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
To all the therapist, doctors, medical staff, CNA's, case workers, janitors that helped Levi and yet they argue its a job they provide, we know they provided much more than that. The opened their hearts and loved Levi and his entire family. (that's pretty amazing-right?)
Upon arriving back at Trust Point, Levi had not even sat up in the bed and they helped him tremendously. They began the process to mobilize Levi because if you can remember he was immobile for 2 months.
The family appreciates all the employees from TRUST POINT and miss them as well.
Til next time
~Gilda
Esther wanted me to make a special notation to thank the Trust Point Hospital in Lubbock. Isnt that name peculiar?
I think its not just befitting to Levi and his situation but to us all. We have to reach a point in our lives to TRUST in the Lord and lean not on our understandings. That's a scripture that I've paraphrased somewhat.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
To all the therapist, doctors, medical staff, CNA's, case workers, janitors that helped Levi and yet they argue its a job they provide, we know they provided much more than that. The opened their hearts and loved Levi and his entire family. (that's pretty amazing-right?)
Upon arriving back at Trust Point, Levi had not even sat up in the bed and they helped him tremendously. They began the process to mobilize Levi because if you can remember he was immobile for 2 months.
The family appreciates all the employees from TRUST POINT and miss them as well.
Til next time
~Gilda
Saturday, February 28, 2009
March Madness is Approaching
As Febuary comes to a close, we all have been busy giving our sweethearts Valentine's and showing them our love by our efforts, know that God's love for each of us can not be contained nor lost. He seeks you daily and would love to have communion with you! Reach for the love that has no end, its your creator Jesus .
Isn't it Madness! March is upon us :)
Levi, we know your move brings much change and we are so proud of you for taking the bull by the horns and meeting every challenge with much determination.
One day soon you will be explaining to all what an ordeal you have endured. Know that we love you and that many, many people are loving you and your family during this time. Tell a neighbor, tell a friend who your maker is and what he has done for you.
We know your parents are the bomb. Their love is always shining.
Keep up the good work, we are praying for you.
With Love
Monty and Cindy
Friday, February 27, 2009
It's Friday!
Bloggers, Levi is moved and settled in. Room 320. Visitor have to be put on list so please call. Its privacy rules but EVERYONE is welcomed to come and it is simple to be put on list.
Its a different place with a different perspective. He will doing more for himself here:
P.T, vocational therapy, O.T., neuropsychology, therapeuatic recreation, speech/language pathology, residential services, long-term living/rehabilitation.
The transition has been heart tugging and mind challenging for Esther and Joe. They have been very protective of Levi and its instinct for parents to protect. Some parent get their claws out, I heard but I wouldn't know personally. :)
Thank God that Levi has awesome parents that love him and have been by him every step of the way.
Friends, God bless you. You too have been there every step of the way. I often think about Levi and every miracle that God has performed in his life and his body and tears well up so quickly and even though I cry, there is a strange sense of joy that overcomes me. God's love for Levi, for you and for me is unexplainable but it sure feels great! He is Risen!
Til next time,
~Gilda
Its a different place with a different perspective. He will doing more for himself here:
P.T, vocational therapy, O.T., neuropsychology, therapeuatic recreation, speech/language pathology, residential services, long-term living/rehabilitation.
The transition has been heart tugging and mind challenging for Esther and Joe. They have been very protective of Levi and its instinct for parents to protect. Some parent get their claws out, I heard but I wouldn't know personally. :)
Thank God that Levi has awesome parents that love him and have been by him every step of the way.
Friends, God bless you. You too have been there every step of the way. I often think about Levi and every miracle that God has performed in his life and his body and tears well up so quickly and even though I cry, there is a strange sense of joy that overcomes me. God's love for Levi, for you and for me is unexplainable but it sure feels great! He is Risen!
Til next time,
~Gilda
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Feb.24th Tuesday
I talked to Levi today on the phone. It was great to talk to him! We talked about the Garner boys and about me coming to see him. He said, "Come on", when you coming? He asked what grade Gabe was in, I said, "11th" . He replied, " Oh, he's a junior". I let him talk to Vicenta, a great lady that I work with. She wanted to talk to him for herself since she's heard so many colorful things about Levi. We are planning a trip to Lubbock during Spring Break.
Today at therapy with Roda, he would not do anything!! He didn't want walk, he didn't want to stand and finally Roda asked him why he wouldn't do anything for her, he said, "I got a hurt foot." and she said," oh your foot hurts?" and he said, "no, I GOT a hurt foot and there is a difference!"
What's new: Levi is moving at 10:30 in the morning (Wed.). Transitional Learning Center, 4000 22nd Place 3rd Floor, Lubbock Texas 79410. 806-281-5425. Room is not none at this time.
We'll post his room line as soon as we can.
Enjoy the springish winter weather.................
~Gilda
Today at therapy with Roda, he would not do anything!! He didn't want walk, he didn't want to stand and finally Roda asked him why he wouldn't do anything for her, he said, "I got a hurt foot." and she said," oh your foot hurts?" and he said, "no, I GOT a hurt foot and there is a difference!"
What's new: Levi is moving at 10:30 in the morning (Wed.). Transitional Learning Center, 4000 22nd Place 3rd Floor, Lubbock Texas 79410. 806-281-5425. Room is not none at this time.
We'll post his room line as soon as we can.
Enjoy the springish winter weather.................
~Gilda
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Happy February-- Be a Sweetheart
2009 Keeps moving right along and yet sometimes we seem to just maintain what is to us and the rest of the world just our ordinary everyday stuff.
We so appreciate all your acts of love, notes, prayers, cards, phone calls and every way you have reach out to Levi and his entire family. We often get busy with just Life having obstacles come our way and putting things on the back burner, if you, will at times.
Sorry we have not blog in some time but we have experienced some computer problems.
Thank you to all that made the Blood Drive a huge success!!
Levi is and continues to make progress.
The Lord is good.
He will be making another move around the first of March to the Transitional Learning Center in Lubbock. As soon as we get the information on this we will post it on the blog. Please pray for this move as it will bring about many changes for Levi and all the workers he will encounter. Change is hard in the best of circumstances. The therapist that currently caring for Levi are sad to hear of this move but are excited to see Levi take his next steps to recovery.
He continues to make progress in many areas and grows stronger everyday. He had a cast put on his right hand to help with alignment. We expect a new report from Dr. Lehman soon.
He has good days and some frustrating days as with many of us. He is ready to go home. You can call Levi @ (806) 740-8501 if he does not answer he could be on a walk, therapy or any other phase that he is undergoing currently. He has had many calls from friends lately and is thankful to hear from each one.
During Valentine’s and Presidents day he enjoy much time with Aryah, Jake and Luke.
Joe says the Farm is busy but much rain is needed and the work continues. Please pray for our farmers and that they receive rain.
We continue to ask that you pray for every area of recovery concerning Levi. God continues to unfold so many blessings in ways we see physically and some that are discovered a layer at a time. Its exciting to share and to be a part of this wonderful life changing experience called God.
Just know that your efforts and concerns are overwhelming, very much needed and appreciated!!
We love each one of you for being a part of our lives.
Pray for us as we pray for you
Lots of Love
Monty and Cindy
We so appreciate all your acts of love, notes, prayers, cards, phone calls and every way you have reach out to Levi and his entire family. We often get busy with just Life having obstacles come our way and putting things on the back burner, if you, will at times.
Sorry we have not blog in some time but we have experienced some computer problems.
Thank you to all that made the Blood Drive a huge success!!
Levi is and continues to make progress.
The Lord is good.
He will be making another move around the first of March to the Transitional Learning Center in Lubbock. As soon as we get the information on this we will post it on the blog. Please pray for this move as it will bring about many changes for Levi and all the workers he will encounter. Change is hard in the best of circumstances. The therapist that currently caring for Levi are sad to hear of this move but are excited to see Levi take his next steps to recovery.
He continues to make progress in many areas and grows stronger everyday. He had a cast put on his right hand to help with alignment. We expect a new report from Dr. Lehman soon.
He has good days and some frustrating days as with many of us. He is ready to go home. You can call Levi @ (806) 740-8501 if he does not answer he could be on a walk, therapy or any other phase that he is undergoing currently. He has had many calls from friends lately and is thankful to hear from each one.
During Valentine’s and Presidents day he enjoy much time with Aryah, Jake and Luke.
Joe says the Farm is busy but much rain is needed and the work continues. Please pray for our farmers and that they receive rain.
We continue to ask that you pray for every area of recovery concerning Levi. God continues to unfold so many blessings in ways we see physically and some that are discovered a layer at a time. Its exciting to share and to be a part of this wonderful life changing experience called God.
Just know that your efforts and concerns are overwhelming, very much needed and appreciated!!
We love each one of you for being a part of our lives.
Pray for us as we pray for you
Lots of Love
Monty and Cindy
Monday, February 9, 2009
2.9.09 Monday
Friends,
It's been a spell since we've blogged. The family has been there with Levi and dealing with day-to-day feats and foes.
Levi is experiencing some struggling with days/nights. How many of us can say AMEN! to that? Last week he had been making steps in therapy with assistance of his walker and support of staff and family. As we are all familiar with "bad emotional days" we know too well how it sets the stage for other areas in our lives. Well the same is true with Levi, his progress, and his particiapation level. The doctors are trying out different sleep medicine but its a trial by error to harmonize with his body.
Please continue to lift up the name of Jesus and pray for Levi, his mind, his body, his spirt, and for all the wonderful staff at Trust Point. The Steelman family have expressed more than once how humbled they are to be loved by you and how privileged they are to have your love, support, prayers, jokes, hugs, and your friendship. God is the only one capable of repaying you for the outpouring of your hearts. Blessings to you.
Whats in the works:
* Levi needs a hair cut.
* On 12th, a follow up visit from the surgery on his foot AND Dr. Lehman looking at wrist.
* Levi wants to talk on the phone. 806-740-8501 is his room number. Call him and let him tell you for himself a thing or two.
Nana aka Grandma with him today. Cristy came up this week end too.
Til next time,
Gilda
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Februray 4, 2009 Joe's story
Grap a cup of java, pop a squat, and enjoy recap from Joe aka Dad.
Two’s Day, January 31
“Dad, what day is it?” “It’s Saturday, Levi.” “Nut-uh, Dad…its Two’s day.
When I arrived at Trust Point, I thought it was Saturday. He had gotten the fixator off the day before. He had to get up early, about 4:30 am to get dressed and be ready to leave by 5:30. We were dressed and ready, but the van didn’t show up till 6:30. We got to UMC, filled out papers for the 3rd and 4th times, talked to the anesthesiologist, doctor, and at least 4 assisstants….got in the surgery room on time, 8:30. The procedure was quick, as the doc had assured us----took 15-20 minutes. All went fine. Then we had to wait in recovery, make sure the tummy was fine, no vomiting. Levi was thirsty, drank about 3 quarts, and VERY impatient.
According to him, he also got married while he was out. Good thing Cristy was there!
We got back to Trust Point and he asked for pain medicine cause his foot hurt (he used more colorful language). He slept most of the rest of the day, but did manage to open Birthday presents. I think he read every card. Really liked the musical ones, even bobbed his head to “Celebrate! Celebrate! Dance to the music…”
Anyway, the point is….all this stuff got his internal clock off----nights and days reversed. He was awake all Friday night. When I got to his room Sat. morning I was both surprised and glad to see the bandage was still on his leg. Luke and I would have both bet $50 it wouldn’t be there the next day! They were taking his breakfast tray away, eventhough it still had about half the food uneaten. I asked the nurse to leave it, “I bet I can get him to eat some more”. “Oh no, he’s had plenty! He ate all the first tray, and wanted more. This is the second tray!” I looked at him with raised eyebrows.
He says, “I ate two trays”. “2 eggs, 2 toasts, 2 jellies, 2 juices. 2 times”. I smiled, “Oh, I see”. “Did you eat?” he asks. “No, not yet, Levi”. “Nurse, bring my dad 2 eggs, 2 bacons (you do like bacon, doncha, Dad? Uh-huh), and 2 toasts…..with jelly, he likes jelly. If you want more, just tell them, Dad….they’ll bring you more.” Smiling, “Ok, Levi”.
Saturday is usually “group” therapy day, but Levi wasn’t handling the group thing two well, so we wheeled on down the halls, ended up in the gym. We were just fiddling about when, as luck would have it (yeah, right!) therapist Donna showed up. We had never interacted with her before, I think, but she was extremely patient and calm….and it rubbed off on Levi (Thank GOD)! She “shattered” the road for us (lead the way), as we wheeled down the halls…Seth wasn’t there…neither was Melissa and Joanne…we retraced back to the gym. “Hey, Levi…there’s that walker thing Roda was playing on yesterday!...Want to try it out?” “Yeah, ok”. Donna and I lifted and assisted him as he stood and grabbed the handles, he supporting his weight with his forearms. He took two steps. “Oh, that F’n HURTS!” He sat down. We sat and talked a bit, he tried again. This time 4 steps (or 2 steps, 2 times). Then we wheeled about a bit, considered going outside, to see one of those pergola things like Mom’s been wanting…but, when we opened the door to the wind and chill, Levi says “Nope. Shut the door. Shut the door!” We did. Decided to walk some more. Helped him open the fingers on the right hand, so then he could grasp the handle real well. Walked 7 REAL steps this time, then sat down. We were wheeling around heading back to the room, when we came upon the full length floor mirrors by the entry. Levi was ”checking himself” out. “Want to stand up and see yourself, Levi?” “Yeah, ok”. Donna whispers, “I’m just glad to help him stand any time we can get him to do it.” He stood…looked himself up and down, took a couple of steps, sat back down. I told him, “That’s GOOD, Levi….you stood up twice, 2 times!” “Yeah, that’s good s..t,, huh?” “Yes, it is, Levi…you did REALLY WELL!”
He speaks and hand motions…”Take me to the room”. As we go down the winding halls, he doesn’t bother to speak, just points the direction…..he’s tired. I smile and remember the boys playing those video games….memorizing the pattern… “James Bond and the Golden Gun got nuthin’ on you, Levi…..just don’t lay down none of the proximity bomb things….I don’t wanna get blowed up”. As we approach the nurse’s station, he says, “Take me over there.” “Hey….HEY!” Calvin looks up, “Hi there.” “Hey….I wanna run a tab, ok?” “Run a tab?”, smiling. “Ýeah, just run a tab, ok?” “Ok, will do.” Levi says, “Push me up there!” “No, Levi….they got papers and stuff….we don’t wanna mess it up”. “PUSH ME UP THERE!” “Shhhh….no, no…..we’ll go to your room” We go to the room, get in bed…eat lunch.
Later, he called Skyler to wish him Happy Birthday. Levi told him to be nice. So, we had two birthdays in two days.
Luke comes. Greetings, small talk…whatcha been doin’?, etc. We decide to get up and go outside…see Luke’s Pick- up. Levi wants to get in, go for a ride (really he wants to DRIVE, but he settles for a ride). They circle the hospital, come back, stop, Levi rolls down the window…”Dad…what are you doing?” “Just standing here on the sidewalk with this wheelchair, Levi….trying to pick up chicks.” “Dad! You’re Dumb!” They go for another lap. Meanwhile, Cousin Leah arrives. We’re standing there when Luke pulls back up. “Told you I could pick up chicks, Levi! This wheelchair is a chick magnet!” He shakes his head…”Let’s go again.” “You already been two times, Levi.” “Let’s go 7.” “No, Levi, the walls might fall down…remember what happened at Jericho?” “Dad, you’re dumb.” Luke gets out and comes to the passenger side to help. Levi locks the doors! Luckily Luke has the keys and clicks it open, we wrangle Levi out and into the chair….go back inside. We visit a bit…Leah is giggly happy cause Levi is up walking and talking and riding in the pick-up and what not. (Or was it because I referred to her as a “chick”?) Josh Kerby , Michael Nieto, and some other guys from home show up to see Levi. He greets them, uses his left hand to hand them his right hand to shake, briefly asks how’s it going, etc……then rolls over and goes to sleep! Sorry, guys. Big day, I guess….Two’s day and all…
He sleeps through supper….wakes up about 7….HUNGRY! He eats a can of pears, yogurt, brownie, beef jerky, and Snickers from his B-day goodies. (Thanks, folks) He’s down from 205 to 138 now. I try to feed him the good stuff, but I’m just happy if he eats any and everything! I give him all the milk shakes and bananas he’ll eat, per Joe Jones’s instructions…..old army recipe, he says.
We watch TV and talk. I tell him I talked to Mom and she says people gave about 22 pints of blood in his honor. He sits and ponders a bit and says, “That’s damn near 3 gallons of blood.” “Yes, Levi, nearly. People waited in line 1 ½ hrs.” “Pshhht,” he says, shaking his head.
About 11 Levi says, “Dad, you awake?” “Yes, Levi….whassup?” “Dad, you look tired.” “Yes, and my feet hurt, too.” “Mine, two, Dad…….Dad, you should go to bed.” “I was thinking about it, Levi. Are you ready to go to sleep, Levi?” “I’m trying, Dad…..but I wanna go home” “I know, Levi, maybe soon you will, one day.” “But Dad, it’s already two’s day!”
“Yes, Levi…..it’s Two’s day” All day.
Two’s Day, January 31
“Dad, what day is it?” “It’s Saturday, Levi.” “Nut-uh, Dad…its Two’s day.
When I arrived at Trust Point, I thought it was Saturday. He had gotten the fixator off the day before. He had to get up early, about 4:30 am to get dressed and be ready to leave by 5:30. We were dressed and ready, but the van didn’t show up till 6:30. We got to UMC, filled out papers for the 3rd and 4th times, talked to the anesthesiologist, doctor, and at least 4 assisstants….got in the surgery room on time, 8:30. The procedure was quick, as the doc had assured us----took 15-20 minutes. All went fine. Then we had to wait in recovery, make sure the tummy was fine, no vomiting. Levi was thirsty, drank about 3 quarts, and VERY impatient.
According to him, he also got married while he was out. Good thing Cristy was there!
We got back to Trust Point and he asked for pain medicine cause his foot hurt (he used more colorful language). He slept most of the rest of the day, but did manage to open Birthday presents. I think he read every card. Really liked the musical ones, even bobbed his head to “Celebrate! Celebrate! Dance to the music…”
Anyway, the point is….all this stuff got his internal clock off----nights and days reversed. He was awake all Friday night. When I got to his room Sat. morning I was both surprised and glad to see the bandage was still on his leg. Luke and I would have both bet $50 it wouldn’t be there the next day! They were taking his breakfast tray away, eventhough it still had about half the food uneaten. I asked the nurse to leave it, “I bet I can get him to eat some more”. “Oh no, he’s had plenty! He ate all the first tray, and wanted more. This is the second tray!” I looked at him with raised eyebrows.
He says, “I ate two trays”. “2 eggs, 2 toasts, 2 jellies, 2 juices. 2 times”. I smiled, “Oh, I see”. “Did you eat?” he asks. “No, not yet, Levi”. “Nurse, bring my dad 2 eggs, 2 bacons (you do like bacon, doncha, Dad? Uh-huh), and 2 toasts…..with jelly, he likes jelly. If you want more, just tell them, Dad….they’ll bring you more.” Smiling, “Ok, Levi”.
Saturday is usually “group” therapy day, but Levi wasn’t handling the group thing two well, so we wheeled on down the halls, ended up in the gym. We were just fiddling about when, as luck would have it (yeah, right!) therapist Donna showed up. We had never interacted with her before, I think, but she was extremely patient and calm….and it rubbed off on Levi (Thank GOD)! She “shattered” the road for us (lead the way), as we wheeled down the halls…Seth wasn’t there…neither was Melissa and Joanne…we retraced back to the gym. “Hey, Levi…there’s that walker thing Roda was playing on yesterday!...Want to try it out?” “Yeah, ok”. Donna and I lifted and assisted him as he stood and grabbed the handles, he supporting his weight with his forearms. He took two steps. “Oh, that F’n HURTS!” He sat down. We sat and talked a bit, he tried again. This time 4 steps (or 2 steps, 2 times). Then we wheeled about a bit, considered going outside, to see one of those pergola things like Mom’s been wanting…but, when we opened the door to the wind and chill, Levi says “Nope. Shut the door. Shut the door!” We did. Decided to walk some more. Helped him open the fingers on the right hand, so then he could grasp the handle real well. Walked 7 REAL steps this time, then sat down. We were wheeling around heading back to the room, when we came upon the full length floor mirrors by the entry. Levi was ”checking himself” out. “Want to stand up and see yourself, Levi?” “Yeah, ok”. Donna whispers, “I’m just glad to help him stand any time we can get him to do it.” He stood…looked himself up and down, took a couple of steps, sat back down. I told him, “That’s GOOD, Levi….you stood up twice, 2 times!” “Yeah, that’s good s..t,, huh?” “Yes, it is, Levi…you did REALLY WELL!”
He speaks and hand motions…”Take me to the room”. As we go down the winding halls, he doesn’t bother to speak, just points the direction…..he’s tired. I smile and remember the boys playing those video games….memorizing the pattern… “James Bond and the Golden Gun got nuthin’ on you, Levi…..just don’t lay down none of the proximity bomb things….I don’t wanna get blowed up”. As we approach the nurse’s station, he says, “Take me over there.” “Hey….HEY!” Calvin looks up, “Hi there.” “Hey….I wanna run a tab, ok?” “Run a tab?”, smiling. “Ýeah, just run a tab, ok?” “Ok, will do.” Levi says, “Push me up there!” “No, Levi….they got papers and stuff….we don’t wanna mess it up”. “PUSH ME UP THERE!” “Shhhh….no, no…..we’ll go to your room” We go to the room, get in bed…eat lunch.
Later, he called Skyler to wish him Happy Birthday. Levi told him to be nice. So, we had two birthdays in two days.
Luke comes. Greetings, small talk…whatcha been doin’?, etc. We decide to get up and go outside…see Luke’s Pick- up. Levi wants to get in, go for a ride (really he wants to DRIVE, but he settles for a ride). They circle the hospital, come back, stop, Levi rolls down the window…”Dad…what are you doing?” “Just standing here on the sidewalk with this wheelchair, Levi….trying to pick up chicks.” “Dad! You’re Dumb!” They go for another lap. Meanwhile, Cousin Leah arrives. We’re standing there when Luke pulls back up. “Told you I could pick up chicks, Levi! This wheelchair is a chick magnet!” He shakes his head…”Let’s go again.” “You already been two times, Levi.” “Let’s go 7.” “No, Levi, the walls might fall down…remember what happened at Jericho?” “Dad, you’re dumb.” Luke gets out and comes to the passenger side to help. Levi locks the doors! Luckily Luke has the keys and clicks it open, we wrangle Levi out and into the chair….go back inside. We visit a bit…Leah is giggly happy cause Levi is up walking and talking and riding in the pick-up and what not. (Or was it because I referred to her as a “chick”?) Josh Kerby , Michael Nieto, and some other guys from home show up to see Levi. He greets them, uses his left hand to hand them his right hand to shake, briefly asks how’s it going, etc……then rolls over and goes to sleep! Sorry, guys. Big day, I guess….Two’s day and all…
He sleeps through supper….wakes up about 7….HUNGRY! He eats a can of pears, yogurt, brownie, beef jerky, and Snickers from his B-day goodies. (Thanks, folks) He’s down from 205 to 138 now. I try to feed him the good stuff, but I’m just happy if he eats any and everything! I give him all the milk shakes and bananas he’ll eat, per Joe Jones’s instructions…..old army recipe, he says.
We watch TV and talk. I tell him I talked to Mom and she says people gave about 22 pints of blood in his honor. He sits and ponders a bit and says, “That’s damn near 3 gallons of blood.” “Yes, Levi, nearly. People waited in line 1 ½ hrs.” “Pshhht,” he says, shaking his head.
About 11 Levi says, “Dad, you awake?” “Yes, Levi….whassup?” “Dad, you look tired.” “Yes, and my feet hurt, too.” “Mine, two, Dad…….Dad, you should go to bed.” “I was thinking about it, Levi. Are you ready to go to sleep, Levi?” “I’m trying, Dad…..but I wanna go home” “I know, Levi, maybe soon you will, one day.” “But Dad, it’s already two’s day!”
“Yes, Levi…..it’s Two’s day” All day.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Monday February 2nd
Hello all! I hope everyone had a fabulous superbowl weekend. We had a great turn out for the blood drive. We had 22 donations. There were actually a little over 30 people who came and tried to donate, but for one reason or another, only 22 were accepted for donations. It was a long wait. There are quite a few questions and paperwork before the donation process. The actual blood donation takes about 15 minutes. If we do this again next year, I know to stress making an appointment in advance. Coffee Memorial was very pleased with the turn out. I just want to thank all the people who helped put this together: Everyone at First Baptist Church in Bovina, for placing the ads, for organizing everything Coffee Memorial, Mr. R.C. Quiett I have never volunteered for something like this before and there is very little work involved in it people. I just found a place for it to happen and hung up some flyers (that they made and mailed to me!) I encourage you all to sponser a blood drive at least once. It is a very rewarding experience. Well, I will let Joe update us on Levi. He had a good weekend but Joe says it better than any of us! P.S. Yes the background is pink. Its Valentines month and this was the most masculine one I could find. So deal.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
1.31.09 Day After surgery
Friends,
Levi's surgery went well. The surgery was about 15minutes long but pre & post stuff is what took longer. (of course you guys all know that!) The family was glad they were able to take the fixator off the right way (through surgery) because Levi had asked for a knife all week to take it off himself.
Levi has managed to walk 7 steps with assistance of tall walker. He then realized his R leg hurt so he lifted it off the ground about 6" to stop it from hurting. (Truely amazing, Levi. There is an ole saying "tough as leather" and boy I believe you resemble that remark).
He had a good week of celebrating for his birthday. He got visit, calls, cards. The musical cards he enjoyed to jamm' out.
The blood drive went well in Bovina. I hear many people came out and basically camped out up to 2 hours trying to give blood. Hopefully, Robyn will update on that.
Joe commented humorously, "Levi is ready to walk and that they better get ready to chase Levi around the hospital".
Friends, great things continue to unfold. What amazing things we have been apart of whether physically or by the blog. I hope that our current post in life gets to be set & edited by Jesus so that we can view the beautiful, amazing things he has for each of us.
Til next time,
Gilda
Levi's surgery went well. The surgery was about 15minutes long but pre & post stuff is what took longer. (of course you guys all know that!) The family was glad they were able to take the fixator off the right way (through surgery) because Levi had asked for a knife all week to take it off himself.
Levi has managed to walk 7 steps with assistance of tall walker. He then realized his R leg hurt so he lifted it off the ground about 6" to stop it from hurting. (Truely amazing, Levi. There is an ole saying "tough as leather" and boy I believe you resemble that remark).
He had a good week of celebrating for his birthday. He got visit, calls, cards. The musical cards he enjoyed to jamm' out.
The blood drive went well in Bovina. I hear many people came out and basically camped out up to 2 hours trying to give blood. Hopefully, Robyn will update on that.
Joe commented humorously, "Levi is ready to walk and that they better get ready to chase Levi around the hospital".
Friends, great things continue to unfold. What amazing things we have been apart of whether physically or by the blog. I hope that our current post in life gets to be set & edited by Jesus so that we can view the beautiful, amazing things he has for each of us.
Til next time,
Gilda
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday Jan 30th-Levi's Birthday!!!
I just spoke with Esther and she said the surgery went very well. Levi is in recovery and then in about an hour he will be transported back to Trust Point. Joe is going to spend the weekend with Levi and Esther is going to come back to Bovina in a few hours to go to the
BLOOD DRIVE THAT IS TODAY FROM 2-6PM AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH-BOVINA.
If you don't think that you should give blood today because sheesh your just one person.
You can't make a difference.
How has little ol' Levi impacted your world?
Please Please Please come donate blood. There is going to be snacks and finger foods galore. You can meet new people. You can see old friends. You can make new friends. You might win some movie passes. You will help save someone's life at some point in the near future.
Have a great Superbowl weekend!
P.S. Where did the song go?
BLOOD DRIVE THAT IS TODAY FROM 2-6PM AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH-BOVINA.
If you don't think that you should give blood today because sheesh your just one person.
You can't make a difference.
How has little ol' Levi impacted your world?
Please Please Please come donate blood. There is going to be snacks and finger foods galore. You can meet new people. You can see old friends. You can make new friends. You might win some movie passes. You will help save someone's life at some point in the near future.
Have a great Superbowl weekend!
P.S. Where did the song go?
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