A new but old update—sorry for the lateness!

September 5, 2012
Wes continues to improve and work hard. We recently spent a week at home
and the cabin. It was nice for all of us but especially we to go back home
where he could sleep in his own bed. He helped bless the sacrament and
for the first time helped break the bread. He was only able to do one tray
but that was more than he has been able to do in the past. Two or Three
times a week he works at breaking bread so he can do more during the
sacrament. Wes is enjoying his new wheelchair with the double set of
wheels. He hardly gets to use the power assist because we want him to
continue to build his endurance in the wheelchair. Last week he attended
institute in Bozeman with our Stake President, President Heap. In the next
week or two he will start attending the student ward in Bozeman for young
adults.
Wes is also taking an online course for the New Testament at BYUI, by
doing this he does not have to defer his enrollment in college. This will
help him get back in the habit of doing school work. For now his plan is
to attend BYUI next fall full time. We will use this time to get him
stronger and capable of living on his own. It will be a lot of work but he
should be able to do it. Between now and then he will take more online
classes. We are in Utah this week and head back home on Friday. We will be
in Montana for a month and then we will come back to Utah for a week in
October.
Wes continues to have a fun sense of humor and loves to be around people.
We enjoy very much watch him laugh and have fun. Our grandkids still love
to have him give them rides and they love to give him hugs and kisses.
Our grandkids talk about getting their own wheelchairs someday.
Wes is still involved in lifting weights, swimming, horseback riding and
working his hands. He still does not have any leg movement but we have not
lost hope. We still think eventually it can happen. We will do better
about taking more pictures and posting them. For now please know that Wes
is still improving. He needs your faith and prayers and great things will
continue to happen.

September 6, 2012
Today was a busy day for Wes. At 7:50a we left for U of U for occupational
therapy. It is an hour plus of defensive driving at its best. We saw a
fender and hood bender on the freeway as we were journeying. Some lady was
talking on her cell phone and fiddling with the radio and forgot to look
up and noticed that all the traffic in her lane had come to a complete
stop. It was a little interesting watching her hood bend right in front of
our eyes. No serious injuries but I suspect some very serious pride was
injured.
At the U of U we met with one of our very favorite therapists (Nikki) she
took us to an area of the hospital that has an escalator and we practiced
taking Wes up and down the escalator. From Wesley eyes it was kind of
scary. From my side it was kind of fun. We had numerous people come and
tell us they had an elevator and that it looked very dangerous for the
young man in the wheel chair. We smiled and told them we were doing
therapy. They looked at us like, what do you mean doing therapy it looks
like you are torturing that young man. I said I know and it’s fun. Finally
a maintenance man ran us off. We all smiled and said well we are done
anyway. Wes worked really well and accomplished a lot.
From the U of U we rushed off to driving practice and Wes has really
improved. We hope to have his car outfitted soon so he can drive more.
From driving practice we drove to Neuroworxs for Physical Therapy. Wes
worked very hard and worked on transfers, core strength, arms and
shoulders. We were running late from PT for Horseback Riding therapy. We
barely made it in time. Each time Wes rides he makes amazing progress and
today was no difference. He rides bareback and works on his core strength
and balance. We look forward to a time when he can ride 3 times a week. We
have found a place in Bozeman that will work with Wes more often as well
as more swimming time.
From horseback riding we went to Liberty Park in SLC. Wes did hand cycling
there. He did 5 laps around the park peddling with the hands and arms. He
went about 8 miles. That is the most he has ever done and he could have
done more but we were running out of time.
From hand cycling we went to our dear friends the Durham’s and had dinner.
We had a wonderful time visiting and we finally arrived at my sister’s
home by 9:50p. It has been a long, but productive day. When Wes got home
his uncle Cliff was waiting for one of their regular chess games. Wes is
one tired boy but not too tired to play a chess game. Tomorrow we head
home to Montana and will be there for a month before we come back to Utah
for therapy for a week. After all this time it will be very nice to live
in our home without compromising Wesley’s care.

Another Update

This last week has been very good. Last weekend we were home for three days and had a very enjoyable time. Our daughters, Brittnee and her kids and Ashley and her two boys, were home waiting for us. We had a very nice homecoming and were greeted by grandkids and baby goats. I made the mistake of leaving the door open on the van and when I came back to the van there were three baby goats inside and two granddaughters with giant smiles on their faces. Needless to say, the granddaughters continued to smile as I chased the goats out. Our son, Trevor, is now home while he waits for school to start in September at BYUI. Our granddaughters know how to push his buttons and it seems they are almost always waging war. Wes had a great weekend playing with the kids and spending time outside. We bought a large water trough that we will use to water the horses but the grandkids have made a great swimming pool out of it. We watched them swim in it last Saturday and the kids took great joy in trying to splash Wesley. Wes smiled the whole weekend except when it was time to wake him up in the mornings.

Going into our front door we have put a metal ramp that lets us push Wes over the stairs. The ramp is very steep and we need to push him up into the house. Wes discovered that it is great fun to come down the ramp with no help. In fact, sometimes he will take a bit of a run at the ramp and then fly down the ramp as the wheelchair gains speed. It is really fun to watch him come off the ramp and when he does the grandkids are down below waiting to race him. I am afraid that one day he will run over one but until then it is all fun… until someone gets hurt.

Last week Wes did his horseback riding and did very well. Each week he continues to make progress and gets better and better. On Monday his new wheelchair came and it was so nice. It is purple and has wheel assists which means he pushes 25% and the wheel assist pushes 75%. He has really enjoyed having a little help with his pushing. Wes’s trainer, Tawnie, has been with us now for over a week and a half. She is really nice and is catching on, she is learning and already pushing Wes more and more. We are very excited about Tawnie being able to help Wes, Karen, and I. A week from Friday we are headed home and looking forward to it.

Wes loves all those who work with him and make him better each day. This may not seem like much to most people but already this week Nikki, his OT, had him take his clothes off all by himself. It took a while but he was able to do it with minimal assistance. He works hard on his transfers and is doing very well transferring to a bench or bed from his wheelchair. The therapists continue to raise the bar and push him to be better. It seems he has already come so far from where he was.

Today was a fun day for Wes. Nikki, his OT, arranged for Wes and two other quad patients to go to Snowbird to fish and to ride the tram to the top of the mountain. The other two young men are a year or two older than Wes but they see each other at therapy and have become friends. Their names are Stephen and Dale and they all see Nikki as well. She does a great job with all three and is making a difference in their lives. We arrived at Snowbird at 10:30 and then were taken to a pond and given fly fishing rods. Wes has fly fished many times before and it was fun for him to get this opportunity. Wes’s technique was great but the fish were not cooperating; I guess that is why they call it fishing and not catching. After fishing they had pizza ready for us and we had a great lunch. There were several people there to help and make sure the boys had a great time. It was a success because they did. After lunch we took the tram to the top of the mountain. It was a great experience just to get Wes out of his normal routine.

Here are a few pictures… notice the new purple wheelchair:

Wes showing off his new wheelchair

Fishing

The Boys

The Boys getting off the tram

Wesley’s new trainer, Tawnie.

This week while Tawnie and I take Wes to therapy, Karen and my sister, Tondi, have been able to attend Education Week at BYU. It has been nice for Karen to attend, she comes home and shares with me what she has learned. We are anxious to head home next week. We thank everyone for all of their kindness towards our family.

Check out the videos below…

Aug 15, 2012 Wes at Snowbird fishing

Aug 15, 2012 Wes at Snowbird

Aug 15, 2012 Wes at Snowbird

Aug 15, 2012 Wes at Snowbird

Wes August 11 at Home

The Race with Canon and Benson.

Wes August 11, 2012 - He bluffs the grandkids

The nieces and nephews love to play with Wes... even though he chases them, or pretends to chase them.

Wes August 12, 2012 The need for speed

Wes loves his ramp

Wes August 12, 2012

Playing around before church

Wes August 12, 2012

Playing around before church. Lookin' good. I like Benson's little hop at around the 6 second mark.

Wes August 8, 2012 3rd time riding a horse

This is Wesley's third time riding a horse since his accident. He is getting better!

August 9, 2012 Update

I apologize for the delay in updating. My internet has not been great lately. Here is an update from my dad:

This last Month has been so busy that we have not taken the time to
update. Over the last month we have experienced many things. We were able
to go home for 10 days which was a very rare treat. We spent some time at
home and our cabin in Idaho.  We have some dear friends that poured
concrete at the cabin to make it easily accessible for Wes. We really
appreciated that.

On our trip back home we stopped by and saw Wesley’s surgeon Dr. Speth. He
was very excited to see Wesley and could not believe his progress. He was
amazed that Wes was in a manual wheelchair and that it had no arms. He was
surprised at his arm and core movements. It was a very nice reunion and a
boost to Wesley’s enthusiasm. He has already overcome many things that the
Doctors said we would not have.

While at home Wes was able to visit with family and play some games during
the day. It was a little bit of an adjustment being at the cabin since in
the past Wes has spent so much time outside and riding ATV’s and horses.
He spent some time outside watching our grandchildren ride horses and play
in the grass. He is very adamant that one day he will do those things
again and we believe him.

Wes continues to work out 5 – 6 hours a day.  That will soon change and he
will be working out 8 hours a day. He is getting stronger and is able to
do more and build up more endurance. He will have to fight for every
single thing that comes back. There are no freebees.

Over the last week the therapists have discovered a very slight movement
in his thumb, pointer finger and little finger. We are working hard to
develop those muscles and movements in both hands. We still do horseback
riding frequently which is very difficult but very rewarding with the core
muscles. Wes does lots of weight lifting and swimming and we will be
increasing this as well over the next couple of months. He also scoots
himself a lot on the floor. We take him out of his wheelchair and set him
on the floor. He then slides himself forward anywhere from 8 – 30 yards
and then pushes himself backwards to his starting point. He pushes down on
his hands, which lifts his rear end and then he pushes himself forward or
backwards, he is doing really well moving around on the floor. So much
so that during therapy the other day Matt (one of his therapists) put a
belt around his waist and attached a bungee cord to him and made him slide
with resistance. I do not think the resistance bothered Wes but the
thought that the cord might break and smack him in the face was a constant
worry.

While we were at home we were able to slide him in a regular vehicle and
let him ride in the back seat. I think he felt more comfortable in his
wheelchair but it was very nice to see him out of the chair and in the
back seat of a vehicle.

We continue to live in American Fork with my sister and her husband and
this continues to be a great blessing for us.  Each day we drive over 100
miles driving into the heart of the beast which is the University of Utah
Medical Center. It is a wonderful place but the traffic every day is a
huge battle. We often spend over two hours each day driving to therapy but
it is well worth it. We have grown to love all the people who are working
with Wes and are very appreciate of their efforts and influences. Wes
continues to be very positive and determined. We see him fight every day
to get better.

Starting in September we will be following a little different game plan.
Since we are spending so much time driving, which could be used for
exercise we decided to try a new approach. We have bought a little bit of
equipment and have hired someone to come and live with us and work Wes out
for 8 hours a day 5 ½ days a week. Her name is Tawnie and she is from
Ogden, Utah and is 20 years old. She is a massage therapist and has a very
good understand of muscles and how they tie in to each other. She will be
training at Neuroworxs and University of Utah Medical center for the next
month. We will then come back to Utah once a month for a week where U of U
and Neuroworxs will work with Tawnie and Wes to come up with a new
exercise routine for the next 3 – 4 weeks. They will also instruct Tawnie
and Karen and I to better work with Wes. This means that we get to live in
our home and start in a small way to get a little balance and normalcy
back into our lives while improving Wes’s ability to get stronger and
better.

While we were Montana a few weeks ago we bought 3 baby dwarf goats that
were 6 weeks old. We had so much fun watching our grandkids play with
those goats and in the beginning the goats did not know much about people.
Now the goats follow the kids everywhere they go. They are like three
little puppies following their mother around. Much fun is being had by all
who watch the kids and the goats.

We are headed back to Montana for this weekend to visit all of our
grandkids who are at our house while we are in Utah doing therapy. We will
be back for therapy early Monday morning and ready to hit it hard.
We will post more pictures and video soon. Please remember to pray for Wes
and put his name in the temple. Great things happen every week. We
appreciate all that everyone does.

Here are a few pictures:

A note from me, Ry:

I was able to visit with Wes for about day when I headed to Wyoming in July for my little bro-in-law’s mission farewell. Wes looked great and we had a good time. It’s fun for me to see him every couple of months because I see big changes in him . He is a rock star.

Here are some of my pics:

Wes and Emy

I was planning on driving Wesley down the hill at the cabin but Britt started pushing him down and it was rather hilarious and very scary!

Dad and Wes

Just chillin’

July 2012 Wes in Walking harness

Aug 4 2012 Wes and therapy

Aug 4 2012 Wes in a Utah Park doing therapy

Yeehaw!

Well, well, well, it is time for an update. My dad sent this to me a few days ago but our internet here, in Guatemala, can be a little touchy.

July 9, 2012

Wes’s progress continues to go well. We had a nice quiet weekend and, even though Wes did not have therapy Saturday and Sunday, we still worked him hard. We have him sit on the tile floor and push himself so he slides on the floor. We also went to see The Avengers (Ry is jealous!) which he really enjoyed and Karen and I enjoyed it as well. There sure was a lot of shoot-em-up stuff going on. I did not find myself trying to fall asleep.

Today was another very busy therapy day and we added a new twist to the day. Wes has started a program where he is riding horses now. Today was his first day horseback riding. First, he was evaluated by an occupational therapist who was very pleasantly surprised at Wes’s abilities. She sat him on a barrel and he was able to balance very well. Then she said, “Ok, we are ready, let’s get him on a horse.” It was only a moment or two and he was sitting on the back of a horse. He said this was a little scary but he did well and was on the horse for about 30 minutes. Side note from Ry: I bet it was scary… imagine riding a horse and not being able to hold yourself up with your legs! I’m gonna try it… I’ll let you know how it goes. We occasionally took breaks so he could lean back a little. It is surprising how many muscles we use to balance ourselves, especially on the back of a horse that is moving and stopping. This form of therapy will also help strengthen his core muscles so that this is something he can continue to do. We hope to have him riding 3 to 4 times a week. The more he rides, the stronger he will get.

Balancing on the barrel like a pro!

Eeeeaaaasy there horse.

Wesley, The Cowboy

We continue to feel so blessed at the opportunity Wes has to be here at Neuroworxs and the University of Utah Medical Center. We feel he is getting the very best care possible and his therapy lasts several hours a day. Wes realy enjoys board games and has been playing chess with Uncle Cliff at least once or twice a day. Wes is usually the winner, and yesterday I decided I should play Wes a game of chess ad humble the boy. I have not played for a while and thought I should easily be able to beat my son. We had not played long before he took my queen and I was in trouble. I know I need to play him again soon but I am wondering if it is I that will end up being humbled.

We are grateful for all the friends that pass through Utah and take the time to come and see us. They all remark about how well Wes is doing and they cannot believe the changes that are occurring. His manual wheelchair is a tremendous blessing and he seems to get stronger every day because of the work he has to do to get himself around. We continue to see miracles happening every day and we are so grateful for the prayers offered for his recovery. Thank You All! We have an exciting couple of weeks coming and look forward to telling you of our adventures.

Ok, I need some help. I’ve been trying to get Wes and my dad to make a video of Wesley’s skills on the manual wheelchair. He can do a wheelie…. from what I’ve heard. Comment on the blog that you’d like to see it and maybe they will be more motivated than just me asking for it. It’s going to be AWESOME.

By the way, enjoy the horse videos below!

Adios!

July 9 2012

July 9 2012 Wes and Horse

July 9 2012 Wes horseback 2

Wes July 9 2012 Horseback 1

Wes July 9 2012 Balance

A few pictures and an update

I have been anxiously waiting to see a picture of Wes in his manual wheelchair… and for another update. My dad recently e-mailed me both. I am sure you are anxious to see the pictures and read about Wesley’s progress so I won’t waste anytime writing about myself…

July 1, 2012

It is hard to believe that it is July already. It is almost 5 months since Wesley’s accident and it is interesting to reflect on all that has happened in five months and how much we have learned. It is amazing to me that after a spinal cord injury how quickly your body loses most of its conditioning and strength in just a matter of a few weeks because you lose control over your muscles. During therapy, they very slowly start to come back. It would be nice if it came back as quickly as you lost it. Wesley has an amazing spirit and despite all that happens he continues to remain happy and cheerful. He is so patient and easy going.

Last Sunday Wes was asked to help bless the sacrament by the priests’ quorum in my sister’s ward. We were a bit apprehensive because that meant Wes would have to hand the bread trays and water trays to the Aaronic Priesthood holders. He had a little trouble breaking the bread but had no trouble handling the trays. He also did an excellent job as voice for the bread. Karen and I were both very grateful and emotional as we watched him help with the sacrament, something that he has always loved to do. At the time we were not aware of how many people in the congregation were watching Wes, and that this process added another dimension of spirituality during the sacrament. We had several people come up and tell us what a special sacrament it was. Karen and I thought we were the only ones to notice what was going on.

It continues to be a great blessing to stay with my sister and her husband in American Fork, UT. They have made us feel so welcome and they are so willing to help. Wes really enjoys playing the board games and especially chess with his uncle, Cliff. It is fun to see them challenge each other.

Our days continue to be filled with therapy and hard work. Wes never complains about the hard work and all the driving we do, which often gets us out of the house early. Usually our evenings are filled with extra physical activities and when it comes time to go to bed we are all usually exhausted. It is sometimes easy to overlook the great process that Wes is making because we are so close to it. This afternoon I pulled out some hand/finger exercises that Wes worked on heavily a couple of months ago and he struggled with them back then. This afternoon he did the exercises with each hand and it was not even a challenge. It was a nice reminder about how much progress he is really making.

A young man from the ward came over and played XBOX360 with Wes last week and they had a lot of fun. Wes has figured out ways to play the game and make it work. This last week our friend, Lance Sieler, from home had a some work to do in Salt Lake and he came over and we had a couple of really nice visits.

We gave Wes a blessing this afternoon and we really appreciate everyone who fasted and prayed for Wes. Sometimes these seem like little things but they are actually helping miracles continue to occur to help Wes. We love you all and appreciate those prayers.

What a stud!

While Wes is waiting for his new wheelchair to come he is in a manual chair which means it is powered by him. Every day he gets a little stronger because of it. For those of you who do not know, Wes was first given a power chair, which almost from day one we had problems with. We allowed the company to work on the chair twice and then demanded that they send a new chair. Finally, the new chair arrived and the next day we started having problems with it. When they told us we would have to wait four days for them to come and fix it, I told them to take their chair back because we did not want to do business with a company that had such a poor service record. For a while, Wes was without a chair. We have ordered a manual chair with wheel assist which will make things much better. For now, it is powered only by him. His new chair will come in about five weeks. With a manual chair Wes will not be held hostage by a power chair that may have problems from time to time.

Wes swims for about an hour at least 2 times a week. There is a video I posted yesterday that shows him in action.

He has to use this lift to get into the pool.

I am so proud of my little brother.

This video was taken on February 13th, about a week after the accident. It’s amazing to see how far he has come.

This is 9 days after the previous video. I think it’s pretty amazing. Check out the videos below, I posted them yesterday, to see how is he doing now.

Wes June 2012 slideboard transfers

Working on transferring himself to his wheelchair.

Wes June 2012 scooting 3

He is getting stronger!

Wes June 2012 Scooting 2

Scooting around in style!

Wes June 2012 with Jan in floor moving

Wes is scooting around on the floor. Workin' those muscles.

Wes June 2012 Swimming Therapy

Here is Wesley's swim therapy. He goes against the current usually on his back. He does this for an hour at least 2 times a week.

Say goodbye to the green chair June 2012

Wesley giving his cousin a ride... and a little horse on the right side of the screen. Also featured in this video is the voice of my mother and cousin Jen. The man near Wesley is Brenton, our cousin, and the sign that says 'Please DO NOT FEED' pertains to him.

GO TEAM WES

OK, ok, ok… I know, I haven’t had A RANDOM RYANNE Moment for a while so I should probably have one… except, it’s not really random.

Ben and I are safe and sound in Guatemala. It is beautiful here. Everyone is so kind and so welcoming. If any of you are ever wandering around Guatemala, give us a call. Spanish is coming very slowly.

Mi aerodeslizador esta lleno de anguilas.

My hovercraft is full of eels.

Onto more interesting news… Wesley.

Here is an update from my dad:

June 21, 2012

I guess it is about time for an update. We have fallen into some sort of routine, but I would not call it normal by any means. We usually start the day at the University of Utah Medical Center for Occupational Therapy and then we head to Neuroworx for several hours of therapy. We spend approximately three hours a day traveling on the freeways of Salt Lake during rush hour… we think it is punishment for always criticizing Utah’s freeway system.  For years we have tried avoiding Salt Lake during rush hour. We pass the time listening to books on tope and sometimes Wes works out with weights while we are driving.

Twice a week we go to Liberty Park in SLC late in the afternoon or early evening so Wes can do hand cycling. Often he is so tired from the days workouts that he does not have much energy for hand cycling, but he still does his best. He usually does the hand cycle for 1 1/2 miles before he is wiped out. He could do much farther on the hand cycle if he were not working so hard during the day.

Once or twice a week, in the evening, we try to take him to a pool where he can try and swim on his back, we do this outside of therapy. Occupation therapy is about an hour, 3 or 4 times a week. Nikki works with him on a variety of activities which include an electronic stimulation arm cycle with electrodes connected to three different places on his arms. We are trying to build up his upper body muscles and especially his triceps. This week he also was put in a manual wheelchair where Nikki had him pushing with his arms up hill and then doing a form of crunches from his wheelchair. He also spends a fair amount of time on a table rolling, stretching, and doing various exercises. We love Nikki and she really pushes Wes and brings out the extra effort from him.

Nueroworx is where Wes does his Physical Therapy and we are there everyday. Twice a week he spends time in the pool with a therapist. He spends time on a mat stretching and strengthening muscles. There is all types of equipment that they work him out with including an electronic stimulation bike with his own muscles being stimulated. Wes works with a team of therapists who all push and encourage him to work harder. His attitude is wonderful even when we have to get a very early start which means leaving the house by 7:00AM. He really is doing very well.

This last weekend we drove home to Montana. Our daughter, Brittnee, and her children and our son, Trevor, drove up from Arizona to spend a week. We really enjoyed being with them at our home. About the time we think we might get rested it’s time to leave again. At the end of the weekend we drove back to Utah for therapy. Wes travels very well and usually keeps occupied during the drive with his ipad.

Sunday, July 1st is a Fast Sunday. We typically fast one day a month and it is usually on the first Sunday of each month. If you do not have a purpose for your fast for July we would ask that you and your families fast for Wes. We will be giving him a blessing Sunday evening on July 1st. We would ask in your personal and family prayers that you be specific. We will be fasting that Wesley’s spinal cord will be completely healed and that the signals from the brain will pass through the spinal cord, stimulating the nerves and allow all the muscles to work. We are asking Heavenly Father to restore, repair, and heal Wesley’s spinal cord and allow everything to begin working. With the spinal cord healed it will be up to Wes to work hard so that everything begins working properly. Those who are attending the temple this week please put Wesley’s name in the temple again.

I promise to do better about taking pictures and videos. Karen is doing well; she has been struggling with a kidney stone over the past month. Things should start getting better, she has a doctor’s appointment scheduled.  Brittnee and her kids have been at the cabin the last few days and we have Ashley and her kids with us in Utah for a few days, it has been nice to have all the kids around. Thanks for you all your prayers and well wishes. We are doing just fine.

AN UPDATE!

I know, it’s been a while since a real update. My parents and Wes have been extremely busy. It sounds like Wes is doing really well. Here is the update from my Dad:

June 13, 2012
I cannot believe how fast time flies when we’re having fun. Our days are
filled up and very busy. It is not unusual for us to leave the house at 7
or 8am  and get home around 5:00 pm and sometimes later.  Besides all of
his regular therapy Utah has an organization called TRAILS (Therapeutic
Recreation and Independent Lifestyles) which is sponsored by the
University of Utah Medical Center. Through his organization twice a week
in the late afternoon or evening Wes does hand cycling at Liberty Park in
Salt Lake. This month they have a swimming pool activity once a week that
Karen and I go with him to and help him swim. He usually has two pool
sessions a week as part of his physical therapy so this is an extra pool
activity that we can have fun with him in the water. Wes is always tired
in the evening because he is working so hard. He still has sensation and
feeling in his entire body but still no muscle control from his waste on
down to his legs.  His fingers move very little but with this little
movement he is learning to adapt. We have had problems with his powered
wheelchair which has caused us some challenging moments. When you are tied
to a wheel chair for all of your mobility is can be very frustrating when
there is a problem with the chair. Wes’s wheel chair weighs about 375
pounds and that is not with him in it. I complained to the manufactures
Rep that if this chair was a tire it would be coming through your front
window. They picked it up and made some repairs which only lasted a day
and then it started malfunctioning again. I told them Wes wanted a new
chair and that I was not taking any chances with this chair malfunctioning
again. We should receive the new chair in the next day or two.
Wes has progressed in strength so that his is now ready for a manual
wheelchair. We have been demoing one for the last few days and he
absolutely loves it. It is much smaller and it allows him to work his arms
and shoulders all the time. Today we will order his manual chair. It will
have two sets of wheels. One set is called manual assist which allows him
to push 25% and the special powered chairs push 75%. This allows him to
not over stress his muscles at first and build his muscles slowly and
strongly.  As he get stronger and stronger we will switch the wheels so
that he is pushing 100% of the time. With the special powered wheels his
new chair will weigh about 80 pounds. When we take the power wheels off
and put the 100% Wesley powered chairs it weighs about 23 pounds. We see
this as being a huge step in his progress.
Over the last couple of weeks Wes has made great progress. He is now
feeding himself about 100% of the time. The only exception is when we are
driving between therapies and we order him something he cannot eat with
his hands. He can pick up his own cup and drink on his own. He also does
about 80% of the working putting on his own shirt each morning.  He
continues to amaze his Occupational Therapist in doing new things each
time he meets with her.  Physical therapy is working hard to continue to
build his strength.
Last week was a great highlight. We left last Wednesday night after all
the therapies and drove to home in Montana. We spent the night  at home
and then picked up two of his close friends and drove to Great Falls,
Montana where we attended a 3 day, 5 stake youth conference with over 500
kids from the ages of 14 – 18. There were many different activities and
service projects. Our groups service project was to pick up trash at the
fairgrounds. Wes pushed himself around in the demo power assist chair for
3 hours pointing out small pieces of trash for those in our group to pick
up. There were two dances and Wes participated in those. He ate his own
meals and the priests from our ward took great care of him and stayed
right with him. At meal time they would get in line with him and carry his
tray. They were wonderful and he had a great time being with his friends.
We came home from the youth conference Saturday afternoon. Great Falls is
only about 2 ½ hours from Three Forks so we were home by 3:30. My brother
in-law Cliff and I got in a horseback ride which was spectacular and later
that evening Wes had a bunch of friends from our ward come over and they
played board games and hung out. It was as close to a normal Saturday
night activity that Wes would participate in as we could get before his
accident. It was so nice to have a house full of teenagers in the house,
we are so used to these types of activities and have missed them.
Sunday we were able to attend church in our ward and it was nice to be
home with family and friends.  It rained on Sunday so we sat at home and
enjoyed a nice fire in the fireplace and just relaxed and played some
games. My sister Tondi and some of her family came up and stayed at the
house and enjoyed the horses. She also brought 3 small grandkids with them
and we all had fun interacting with them.
Monday afternoon we loaded up and headed back to Utah, but not until
Cliff, Myself and our great friend Lance got another fine horseback ride
in.
We continue to pray that Wes’s spinal cord will heal completely so the
nerves will trigger the muscles to move. We ask that in your family
prayers you will also pray for these things as well. Please include him in
the fast Sundays the first Sunday of each month. We know that great things
will continue to happen for Wes, we all need to exercise our faith. Great
Miracles will continue to happen.  We really appreciate everything,
everyone is doing. Thank You so much for you prayers.  Wes is having great
experiences at Neuroworx and UofU Medical Center.

 

Ryanne again…

So… I have been looking through old pictures that make me laugh.

I think all the boys in my family will hate me for putting this up, but it is worth it.

More pictures to come soon of Wes in a manual wheelchair and of his progress.

Wes is doing well!

I know. I know. It has been a while. Last week was a busy week for Wes as well as for Ben and me. Ben and I found out on Monday that we were moving to Guatemala on Wednesday morning. We made it safe and sound. It is a beautiful country and, so far, we love it. We have already had a few adventures… but that is not for this blog.

My dad is suppose to send me an update with pictures and video any day now. Wesley went to a youth conference in Great Falls last week (Thursday through Saturday). When he got home Saturday night, he had friends over to play games. My parents said that they haven’t seen Wesley laugh so hard since the accident. His friends are really good for him.

That is all I have for now. I was going through old pictures today and I found this gem of the boys in our family. This picture was taken in 2008 and I love it. 

Left to right: Nate’s Bro-in-law (Mike) Ben, Nate, Wes, Trev, Dall

Wes may 30 pool workout #2

Wes May 30 pool workout #1

Wes May 29 Walking Frame #3

Wes May 29 Walking Frame

Wes May 29 walking harness

This is Wes's first time in the walking harness. It is very labor intensive. It takes 4 people to operate it. he does this once a week.

Wes May 30 working Arms and Legs

Wes started out using this for 15 min. It works his arms and his arms move his legs for now. The hope is eventually the legs will kick in and start working

May 29, 2012

Wes is working hard in rehab and he really enjoys the therapists that are working with him. They are amazing and are able to push him and help him improve. His occupational therapist is really working on his triceps and they are responding. We believe that with a lot of hard work he will have reasonable use of his triceps. His arms and shoulders are getting much stronger and continue to improve.

Wesley walking

Today he held a broom stick as if it were a kayak paddle and did very well rotating the paddle. At least once a week he gets in the water and works with resistance training, it will be interesting to see how he progresses in the water and with his swimming ability and use of upper body. It is very interesting to go with Wes to therapy because each time we are there we discover something new that he can do. He is getting better about eating on his own; some types of food he still struggles with but he is getting better. Some mornings we have to get up very early to make our therapy appointments and he is making improvements getting his body to adjust to get up so early. Part of the problem is that when he has been laying down for a long time his blood pressure can drop when he sits up, causing him to pass out. This has not yet happened because we get him up slowly. Wes is alo adjusting well to traveling long distances. We were in Billings, Montana this last weekend to be with a wonderful family that was going through the temple for the first time. Wes hung out with a very good friend while Karen and I, and many from our ward, were in the temple.

Sunday we were home in Montana and it was interesting day. Wesley’s wheelchair was having electronics problems and he was in bed much of the day, he was not feeling great anyway.Karen was suffering with a kidney stone she was trying to pass and in a great deal of pain. I spent the day taking care of both of them. I was sure tired by Sunday night. It was nice to get both of them to bed so I could pass out.

Good news, Monday we got the chair fixed so we could get Wes out of bed and Karen was feeling somewhat better. Wes’s wheelchair is more important than just transportation, it tilts and reclines in different directions to take the pressure off of Wesley’s behind so he does not get pressure sores. When Wes is in bed we continue to roll him from side to side every 3 or 4 hours so his skin does not break down which will start bed sores. So far, we have done really well combating bed sores.

Wes’s attitude continues to be very good. He is trying very hard and is not easily frustrated. We are very blessed to have him. We are staying with my sister, Tondi, and her husband, Cliff, in Utah and they are very easy to live with. Wes really enjoys being around Cliff. We continue to learn patience and are not sure how long we will be here, as long as Wes continues to improve we will be here.

Please keep Wesley’s name in the temple and keep praying for him. It is working and we count our blessings daily. Thank you for all your love and support.

Wes may 20 Graduation 2

Wes May 20 2012 High School Graduation

Finally… An update

Well, it has been a busy few weeks for Wes. There hasn’t been much time for sending updates so now you get a big one.

May 23, 2012

We have covered a lot of ground the last week. Last Wednesday, we left Arizona in the afternoon and drove all the way to Salt Lake City and Wes did a great job traveling. We met with Dale at Neuroworx on Thursday morning after traveling most of the night. We are so glad we are here. Their experience and state of the art equipment are far better than anything we have seen in Arizona; these people know what they are doing. We know great things are going to happen for Wesley in this place. The staff are amazing and they have a reputation for doing amazing things with spinal cord injuries. After visiting with Dr. Hull, we drove home and arrived there Thursday night. I cannot even explain to you how nice it was to walk into our home with Wes after 3 1/2 months. We approached it with mixed emotions because everything was as we left it when we went to Arizona. Our good friend, Lance, set up a ramp so we could get into the house. It made it easy for Wes to go inside. We all had a great night’s sleep. Friday, Wes got up early and we drove him to the high school where he attended graduation practice, everyone was so happy to see Wes and he was elated to see them. He was able to see and visit with all of his close friends and many of his teachers and school administrators. In a smaller school like Three Forks it seems like you know everyone and are friends with teachers and administrators.

In the early evening Wes went with many of his friends to the movies in Bozeman. His friend, Tanner, drove our van and he really enjoyed being out with friends. They stuffed a lot of kids in the van and a few cars followed. Wes was in his wheelchair for over 15 hours today and was happy and tired.

I failed to mention that Wes received his new powered wheelchair; we will take a picture and post it in the near future. It has a top speed of 8 mph and often we have to get out of his way to keep him from running us over. It is loaded with features to help make his life easier. Friday afternoon Dallin and Ashley and their family arrived in Three Forks to be there for Wesley’s graduation. They acted as proxy for the rest of the family who could not be there for such a short period of time. We were all so excited to see Dallin, Ashley, and the kids. Wes comes to life when the kids are around. They don’t see the wheelchair, they see their uncle who they dearly love and climb in his lap and give him hugs and kisses and want to sit with him and watch tv and love to have him give them rides. They treat him no differently than they did before the accident. Coming back after an accident like this can sometimes be a little awkward for some people because they don’t know how to react or what to talk about. Truth of the matter is they want to be treated like they were before and talk about the things that they talked about before and do as much as they can, just like the did before.

Saturday, Wes slept in for a while and enjoyed getting caught up on his sleep. Karen watched the grandkids with help from Wes, while Dallin, Ashley and I went on a horseback ride. We had a wonderful ride together. Riding horses is something that I really enjoy and so does the rest of our family, especially Wes. We hope to get Wes back on horses this summer, it is one of our goals. Karen and I worked around the house and fertilized the grass and replaced a few shrubs that had died during the winter. It was so nice to be outside and working around the house. The weather was great and just doing little chores made it really enjoyable. Everything here is turning green and it is so beautiful to see the farms and fields turning green.

Sunday was amazing. It was so wonderful to be back in our home ward where everyone has been so encouraging, supportive and loving. It was so amazing to see everyone and for Wes to feel their love and excitement to have him home. So many of the children came up to Wes and told him that their family has been praying for him everyday. It was nice to see the faith of the kids. Wes felt very much at home with the friend and church members as did Karen and I. All of the graduating seniors were asked to speak in church and so Wes got that opportunity. It was nice for him to share his thoughts and bear his testimony. He did a much better job than I could have, my emotions are still way to close to the surface and I am afraid I would have cried the entire time. Wes did great.

Wes and friends

Saturday at graduation practice

Graduation started at 2:00PM and we had Wes to the school early. He looked great and was very happy to be there. Many of the speakers mentioned Wes and talked of his courage and effort. The principle, Mr.  Peck, had a difficult time holding it together as he read Wesley’s name and goals. Wes’s goals were to attend BYUI and get his degree in Biology and go into the medical field, to spend time in Rehab and have an amazing recovery and to serve a mission for the church. Wes also received a scholarship for being on National Honors Society. Karen and I were emotional as we thought about how some things have changed for Wes and how well he has adapted. We know that Wes has received only a fraction of his physical abilities. Miracles continue to occur daily as Wes discovers new things and as his strength increases. He continues to have an amazing attitude and is very easy going. Please continue to pray for his recovery and continued miracles in his behalf. We are constantly running into people who are knowledgeable about spinal injuries who are amazed at his progress for such a short period of time.

After graduation there were several graduating seniors from the ward who had a party at our house. It was great to see so many wonderful people supporting these seniors. Wes and I left the party before it really got started to attend a stake priesthood meeting in Bozeman. President DaBell in the stake presidency was called to serve a mission with his wife in South Africa for 23 months. He was released and Brother Hetherington was called to replace him in the stake presidency. We felt like we had to be there so show our appreciation for President DaBell for all of his unselfish service to the members of the Bozeman Stake and to show our approval of the new counselor in the stake presidency. Wes was really wiped out from all our travels (over 1000 miles in two days) and I tried to encourage him to stay home and he said, “Dad, I really want to go.” We were  not disappointed and the meeting was awesome and it was great to hear from the stake presidency. Wesley was one of three young men that was called extemporaneously out of the body of the priesthood to share his testimony. He did a great job, and after priesthood he had so many stake members greet him and tell him how great he looked and how well he was doing and that their families were praying for miracles in his life. We have become so attached to so many of the members of the stake, it was wonderful just to be with them. Sunday was an amazing day for all of us.

Monday we loaded up the van and headed back to Utah to start our first formal day at Neuroworx of therapy that would start Tuesday. We arrived late Monday night because we stopped at the cabin in Idaho and did a few chores. We unloaded everything into an apartment and had a few hours of sleep before we had to leave for therapy. The staff at Neuroworx is amazing and they know how to work with spinal cord injuries. They are not satisfied with old school therapy and are constantly updating their methods and equipment to push and help their patients achieve far more and more use and function of their bodies. They are very encouraging, positive, and understanding of what must happen to have a winning attitude. Wes already has a winning attitude and is willing to do anything to get better, that is why he will enjoy Neuroworx so much. It is a happy and fun place to be and the patients mirror that happiness. If you have not had a chance to google Neuroworx, please take the time to see how they are instrumental in helping miracles happen. After Neuroworx we drove to the University of Utah Medical Center and met and worked with Wesley’s Occupational Therapist Nikki. She came highly recommended from Neuroworx and she did not disappoint us. She was so excited with the progress that Wes had made and she felt like he had so many positive things going on that she could help improve on. It is so nice to work with angels, like Nikki, who see so much potential and help instill that excitement in Wesley in such a positive way. She knew that Wes wanted to go into the medical field and she told him not to change his goals, that he would be there if he really wanted to be. He believes that and so do we. U of U Medical Center also has all of the latest equipment and it looks new and they know how to use that equipment. Nikki set some short term goals with Wes to really work on his hands and triceps. Today she put him on a hand peddled stationary bike that stimulated his triceps and she was so encouraged that he did so well. We are going to eventually have strong and functioning triceps which will require an amazing amount of work on Wesley’s part. We feel that we are in the very best place we could possibly be and that Wes is receiving the very best care possible.

Tuesday afternoon we went to visiit my sister, Tondi, and her husband, Cliff, in American Fork. They have invited us to come stay in their basement and we took them up on their invitation. We were so happy to come and stay with them. Their basement is very comfortable and it is very accommodating for Wes. We are very comfortable here and so grateful for them.

Our mailing address for now in Utah is:

315 West 1120 North

American Fork, UT 84003

 

Today at Neuroworx we spent part of Wesley’s therapy talking about a manual wheelchair. They were impressed with his strength and said now is the time to start working on it. Wes will be demoing several wheelchairs over the next couple of weeks and then after we find the right combination we will order a chair. This opens up all kinds of progress that can happen quickly. He will get strong in his upper body and core and balance. He will have the ability to transfer into regular cars and not be limited to just our wheelchair van. We are all really excited about this improvement which will allow him to use this type of wheelchair. Yes, he will have to keep his power chair and use it on days when he will be in the gravel or have long distances to go, or when he is just so wiped out from working hard he will want a break. But for the most part he will, over time, use his manual more than the power chair. This is fantastic progress.

we will do better at taking video and pictures of his progress now that we are settled and can begin to have some sort of routine. At both places he is getting therapy, they have programs where we can come in and use much of the state of the art equipment on our own after they have trained us, so that we can spend more time helping Wes. There are also some amazing resources for spinal cord injuries with an organization that does activities weekly during the summer that includes handcycling, kayaking, sailing, swimming to just name a few that Wes is interested in. Wes will be getting involved in these activities during the week when we are not in therapy. People with spinal cord injuries can have an amazing life and do way more than most people think they can.

Well this is the last 2 weeks’ overview. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Miracles have happened, are happening, and will continue to happen. It is a miracle that we are in Utah right now getting the best care possible. Thank you for your encouragement and love.

 

Right before Wes tried to strangle me…

Let’s get this wagon train a movin’

Here is an update from my Dad.
I, Ryanne, may add some info here and there…. my input will be in red.
Much has happened since we left Barrows Rehab. We have enjoyed living with Grandma Benson even though we seem to be gone most of the time. Our typical day is filled with appointments for rehabilitation, exercises, workouts at the gym, and then we finish things off with swimming therapy at a facility in Mesa. Once a week or so Wes gets a massage to help loosen up his knotted muscles. He has been able to work on some homework, but so much of his day is filled with getting stronger that he is often exhausted. He is sleeping much better at night since we left the hospital, despite the fact that we wake him up every 3 to 4 hours to rotate his body in bed so that he does not get pressure sores. Health wise he is eating and drinking  better and usually feeds himself. Almost every day he is discovering something new that he can do on his own with little or no assistance from someone else. We bought an XBOX 360 about 10 days ago and he has really enjoyed playing the games with family members. He is learning to adapt to the controllers, it will take some time but we think eventually he will be able to work them as quickly as he could before the accident. To play, he puts a board in front of him with a sheet of sticky paper. He puts the controller on it so it doesn’t move and then uses his wrists to use the joy sticks. I tried to play like he does and he kicked my trash. He has an ipad and he is getting very good at operating it.
We spend our Saturdays at Grandpa Greene’s house having pool parties. Wes really enjoys being around everyone, especially the kids. We keep his water adventures limited to the heated pool in Mesa but someday he will swim in a regular pool. Spinal cord injury patients often have a difficult time regulating the temperature of their bodies. The water is still too cold for him to get into in a regular outdoor pool.
A couple of weeks ago Wes received a video made by the youth in our ward in Three Forks. It really made all of us laugh and Wes really enjoyed it. Thanks to our Three Forks ward for making it so fun. We really miss all of you so much. Thank you for your love and encouragement, it has made a big difference. I don’t know how to get it onto the blog but when I figure it out I will put it on here.
Wes is really looking forward to being home for graduation and seeing everyone that weekend. We will be doing rehab in Utah and will spend more time back home in Montana. We will post some video of Wes swimming soon. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers and please keep it up. It does make a difference. We continue to see miracles all the time. To our great friends, the Roderick’s, we heard about your temple date and we are making plans to be there. Congratulations. We are so excited.
Our biggest surprise over the last three weeks was the surprise visit of our daughter, Ryanne… me. We thought we would not be seeing her for at least a year so it was a tremendous surprise to have her show up at Grandma Benson’s. We were so sad to see her leave. Ry spent hours visiting and playing games with Wes, we all miss her.  A special thanks to Ry’s husband, Ben, for letting her come and be with us.
It’s true. I made a last minute trip to see Wes… and the rest of the family. I wish Ben could have come with me and I think everyone wished the same thing. Wes is a game player. He always has been. We played a million games together and had a lot of fun. We got my mom to play Halo against Wesley for a few minutes and he dominated. She has some potential though. I am excited for Wes to go to Utah because our game playing relatives live there and Wes has ALWAYS loved play games with them… the Kings.
My parents are doing an amazing job with Wesley. Wes is very fortunate to have them. On my flight back to Louisiana I was reading a talk by Elder Rasband from General conference a few weeks ago. He quoted President James E. Faust,

“I have a great appreciation for those loving parents who stoically bear and overcome their anguish and heartbreak for a child who was born with or who has developed a serious mental or physical infirmity. This anguish often continues every day, without relief, during the lifetime of the parent or the child. Not infrequently, parents are required to give SUPERHUMAN nurturing care that never ceases, day or night. Many a mother’s arms and heart have ached years on end, giving comfort and relieving the suffering of her special child.”

Watching my parents and siblings take care of, spend time with, and encourage Wes I have seen that ‘superhuman nurturing’ that President Faust spoke about. Those of you who know my parents know that they are pretty amazing. Their experiences with suffering, patience, and sacrifice have displayed how truly wonderful they are. They get up in the middle of the night to rotate Wes to prevent pressure sores, get up with him, stretch him, get him ready for the day, help him eat, deal with sketchy insurance claims, work out with him, go to therapy with him, feed him some more, go to more therapy with him, get him ready for bed, and they encourage him.
In Elder Rasband’s talk he also quote the scripture Mosiah 24:15,

“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.”

As I have repeatedly read that scripture, I keep seeing the suffering and anguish my parents and Wes have felt and then I see them smiling and laughing. I was amazed by the cheerful attitude I felt in their presence. Their faith in Christ is not limited. They rely on Christ and acknowledge His hand in their experiences.
The kindness others have shown them is uplifting and strengthens them. It is not possible for me to write about the deep suffering they have experienced or the immense joy they have felt from expressions of love from others and overcoming hurdles. Their love for the Savior is deep and the knowledge that he will not leave them comfortless keeps them enduring.
John 14:18, 27

“I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you….

“My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

If you would like to read all of Elder Rasband’s talk you can find it here:
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/special-lessons?lang=eng

It’s about time

Well, here I am. Back in Louisiana. After two weeks of driving through many states we got sent back to Louisiana. The job we were going to got delayed a few weeks. I was also able to go to Arizona and visit The Wesley. I know I’m behind in blogging but since I’m back here, without a car, I will have plenty of time.

Here is an update my dad sent me from April 28, 2012

Much has happened since we last posted. Before we left the hospital Wes tried out a manual wheelchair and did very well with it. A manual chair is definitely in his future. We are working on developing more of his muscles before spending a lot of time in a manual wheelchair. If we started too early with the manual chair he would be too tired to develop all of his muscles and make them stronger.

We said goodbye to many wonderful people at the hospital and will miss them. It was very nice to have in-patient care at the hospital because therapy was so close and easy. We thought when we left the hospital that we would have more time. That definitely has not happened yet. We are staying with Wesley’s Grandma Benson and it has been very nice to spend time with her, but we are not around much. Instead of having therapy at the hospital we now have to drive to therapy each day. We also go to a special gym once or twice a day so that Wes can work on getting his strength back. We also have doctor appointments. It seems we are always driving somewhere or have to be someplace. Life is definitely more comfortable at Grandma Benson’s house.

In less than three weeks we leave for Neuroworx in Salt Lake City. They specialize in the treatment of spinal cord injuries. We are looking forward to being there. This will put us closer to home and allow us the freedom to go home during the weekends.

Last weekend Wes had a surprise visit from David Guthrie and Tom Morton. Wes was really happy to see friends from home.It was so nice of the boys to take time out of their days and come visit Wes. Last Saturday all three of the boys went to see a movie and Wes went with out Karen and me. We think he really enjoyed getting away from his parents for a few hours. Wes gets around very easily with his wheelchair. David and Tom brought a banner from Three Forks with signatures from many of his friend, it was very thoughtful and kind. There was also a seminary class in Spokane that sent a banner and candy. Thanks to all the students and their thoughtfulness.

We continue to get all kinds of cards and items in the mail for Wes and they all brighten his day to know that so many people care about him. We thank everyone fro their kindness and prayers. Karen, I and Wes love to have friends come and visit and last week we had several surprise visits from very dear friends.

Yesterday at physical therapy Wes’s therapist, Katie, put him on an electric stimulation bike. This is the first time that he has been on such a device and it was very encouraging. Wes pulls up to it in his wheelchair and then his legs are strapped into the peddles and electrodes are attached to his legs. The electric impulse can cause the legs to move enough to turn the peddles around and this happened for Wes. He still has no muscles control over his legs but there is enough getting through on the spinal cord to allow him to peddle the peddles.This is very encouraging but as they say in the spinal cord business, there are no guarantees. Those in the business are not familiar with priesthood blessings, the power of prayer, and sheer determination, which is a powerful combination for success, whatever comes.

I posted a quite a few videos as well. Be sure to check them out. They are pretty amazing.

Wes April 29 2012 on stimulating bike

Wes April 29, 2012

This is Wes on a bike that stimulates his muscles with an electronic shock.With this shock Wes is peddling the bike on his own. This indicates that parts of the spinal cord are getting through to his legs or he would not be able to move the peddles. This was his first time on the bike. He was very apprehensive at first about doing it, but now he looks forward to doing it again. He enjoyed seeing his legs move.