Post Dad Sent Me.

Hey - here is another post from Dad --- for some reason they can't get it up on their computer.

MARK’S ENTRY FROM SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29….

Yes, I am up, breathing on my own. This medicine change has made life different. I used to live by way of machine that had more problems than a twelve year old VW. It would have major problems and just beep and stop when it wanted too. This new system will be more time consuming, but my life depends on this to insure I see tomorrow.

Having the doctor tell me about the weight on my left leg was good news, but I will have to build up to using my legs again. I still have daily pain from this hole the doctors put in my back and hoping my legs will get used to my using them again. It may be a while before I can walk again, though. I know putting weight on my leg at Matt’s soccer game was an experience for me and others that saw it, but somehow, I have to get this to work right. To me, a good night’s sleep has drastically changed. I go to bed around 10 or 11PM and have to wake up at midnight for medicine, two o’clock to deal with a headache and again at 4AM for more medicine. My life savoir (the crazy fool that agreed to marry me 26 years ago) has been the one who makes sure I am still around. Without the support she gives me DAILY, I would not even imagine where I would be today. I am not allowed to drive anything other than my wheelchair (and it doesn’t goes far or fast) for a while. I know my wife does most things for me, but I have many other people helping in so many ways. Some, like my kids and parents, keep me steered in the right direction in life, but there are so many more. There is no way for me to measure it all. I have some extended family members say they are cooking too much food for their family and want to bring some to us and others that just come by and mow my yard. There are so many that offer so much moral support and this means some much too! There is no way I can adjust to this new life style with out a large change in my attitude. So many people have become huge parts in my new life. There is no way you can spend two months of life on a day to day basis with so many friends and family pulling for you and not be changed. I have so many people signed in on my sign in sheet that I don’t remember seeing at the hospital when I was still out. I am just floored to know how many people cared.

Yes, my life has changed, some for the better and in some ways for the worse. There is no way to determine whether it’s better at this point, but I am alive and able to recognize my “new family members”. These are the people that have changed my life by making me part of theirs and I can never forget it! I am told that this pain will disappear in time but until this doctor tells me that the new plates in me can stay, my life will be a questionable parts of me. I have so much “added” metal in me, airplanes my but one of those questionably things for a while, but if life continues, all will be good.

Life is great. Live well and love well and everything will work out as GOD wants it too.

Good News!!!!

Mark, received good news from his Orthopedic Surgeon on Friday. He could start bearing weight on his left side, that very day. At first Mark tried and was not strong enough. However, on Saturday at the soccer game he stood up on one leg for several seconds, four times. Now, that's not earth shattering news but, it is something we all take for granted. On October 8 he can start weigh bearing on his left side, but I don't think it will be quite as easy as that is the side where the majority of the damage occurred. So, we will try to start therapy about that date. I will be changing the wound vacuum sponge myself also twice a week starting next week. I have to have a R.N sign me off to do this...but I wanted to be able to fix the wound site on the off days when we did not have Home Health Care coming. We, also changed the antibiotics to the little vacuum balls that are administered every four hours, so that means, stay up until midnight and back up at four AM. I will continue to do this myself until Mark gets more comfortable with it, and can start doing it himself. I'm so worried about infection since the doctor said that our next appointment on October 24 they will determine weather the hardware stays or has to be removed from the bone. So for now....think baby steps!!!!!I know how very Blessed I am. So does Mark. Thank you, Lord.

From Mark ----

This is from Mark to let you know I am breathing and surviving with some help…

I don't know where to start. The family, friends and others support
has been fantastic. I have been trying to read my BLOG for several
days now I am finished with it. The love and support it shows it
fantastic, but the main concern from everyone seems to be about our
BIG ONE, God. He has made all of this possible.
You really know the love and support you get from family and mine is
coming from both sides. It is the friends that seem to affect me the
most. I knew how my family felt about me and it means so much to read
it, but to hear things like this from friends means so much too!

All of this started on July 7, 2007. I was helping a great friend move
some tree limbs across a roof when I found a crack in the roof and
fell through. I don't remember being there at all, but he tries to
fill in some details from time to time. To read in this BLOG what my
family and friends went through is really heart breaking. To see how
bad I was just baffles me. When the doctors cut back on my medication,
it helped me a lot. Some where near the end of August, they tried to
explain who I was and why I was there. I had one doctor come in and
ask me what I could remember about the past. I told him I went out
of town during spring break and he said that was April. What about May
and June? He did not understand I did not know that there was a May or
June this year. Next he wanted to know about the accident. What about
July and August? He did not understand that I only found out who I was
a few days before.
To read my sign in log at the hospital meant a lot to know that there
were that many people who cared and that many more who caught up on my
BLOG. My family did so much keeping it current every though it was not
an easy task to do. Doctors make decisions and change them pretty
often because of this or that, but it all seemed to work out.
On Friday, September 14, they let me out of TIRR to go home. Betty had
so many people over that night to welcome me home, it was great. That
night, one on my machine messed up about 3AM and I pushed the buttons
on it to it stopped. Well, as stupid as I was, I turned it off on
accident. We are trying to get it running again in the driveway on
Saturday morning. Donna, our nurse next door was helping too, when I
started getting over heated. Betty turned on the AC in the car while
they messed with this machine. While they were working on it, I lost
all control of my left side of my body. The ambulance was called and
they took me back to the hospital. I think they ran every test they
could come up with and then on Tuesday night, they shipped me to the
main hospital in Houston for a few more days. All day Wednesday and half of
Thursday, I went through another round of tests. They finally realized
with some different medicines and some small actuization of what
happened, but the tests could not confirm anything for sure. It was
either a small stroke, a small heart attack or some nerve damaged.
These were all too small to pick up on any of there machines, but I
got released to spend time at home with my own personal nurse (my
wonderful wife, Betty), plus my parents are here to help, too. I know
this ordeal was sure a problem to my immediate family, but there
courage was outstanding! This situation really shows you who really
cares. Some of these people I thought were good friends, but have
become part of me "extended family" now.
When I came home, I noticed so many things that were taken care of.
My yard was mowed. I have not run a mower since early July I guess.
Four friends from work made a trip to San Marcos to work on some stuff
on Tiff and Brea's trailer that I had not finished. There were things
done here, too. It really amazes me to know I have family and friends
that will do these for others like this. Betty spent so much time at
the hospital, so many people took care of Matt for her. He would start
here for a few days and there for a few more. I can not say enough
about all the little things that were done for us. Help came from so
many different people that it amazed me. I even had people that took
my "get well" wish with them to their churches for group support.
There is no way I can thank this group for helping save my life. The
nurses at the hospital would look at my chart and wonder how I
survived and I told them I was my friends and family that let God be
my savior. I feel he is the reason at am still here.
I have family from all over the country praying and pulling for me
plus some from others countries doing so too.
If there was anything I could do more than the biggest "THANK YOU"
allowed, I would owe each and everyone of something great like this.
This needs to go to family, friends, people from work (friends, too)
and even to the people who don't even know me personally that go on
board this trip to help me and my family out. My life and that of my
family would not be were it is today with out each and every one of
you!

Just a note to keep everyone one board: Of all my Bradley's cousins,
all of my first cousin's are older that me. It is hard being the
youngest one of the group, but some one had to be it. I think most of
them don't mention it, but, it's true. Now, on the Gray side (Mom's
family side), I am more in the middle and Betty's side, I am just a
brother-in-law or an uncle, (favorite I like to think), but they are
my family, too.
In my thoughts, my conclusion to all that has happened is how
important life is to me, my wife and kids, my family (inside and
outside), my friends and neighbors and anybody else who knows my name
by now. You mean the world to me and I would not be here with out your
help. Just remember, my love for each of you is so great that I can
not express it in words. Thanks for all the effort put together to
save my life!

First week at home......

This first week at home is hard on Mark.....not to mention me. Trying to make the house wheelchair friendly and make it possible for him to reach things in the pantry, icebox and in his room. I have Mark settled into the craft room, with all of his medical supplies close so that I can take care of him. Mark is on continuous I.V. antibiotics that is administered by a little machine and also has the wound vac. machine, these two portable machines are in one bag that we hang on the back of the wheelchair and is a pain in the ...... whenever Mark transfers from the couch to the wheelchair or to the bed he has to have them moved and the tubes get in the way. Just making a sandwich and getting it to the table can be quite a chore. But it is something Mark is trying to adapt to. We get help from Mark's parents during the day and I sleep with my cell phone at night, so that Mark can call me when he needs medication or has a alarm from one of the machines. Being a personal nurse is not something that I feel comfortable with but am glad that I can do for Mark. We are adjusting to the routine of his medications and getting him to do exercises. We are starting to have follow up visits with the doctors also all while I am continuing to work. Mark biggest pleasure is getting out to one of Matt's soccer practices or game and phone calls from people. Thank you all for all the prayers and continued support and blessings. Betty

HOME SWEET HOME

This says it all!!!! Thank you Lord Jesus, for bringing Mark home, where he belongs with his family.........Amen.BB

Mark has a good heart!!!!!

Mark has a GREAT HEART, I have always have known that!!!! But, Marks heart is in good shape!!! So far all that I know is that he has no blockage and everything is working good. Hopefully, he will be able to come home tomorrow..... He was worn out from being in tests all day and having nothing to eat until 7PM he was HUNGRY. He ate a sandwich and a burger that Breanna got from the cafeteria. A appetite is a good sign. Thank you, all for staying strong for us. I know that the prayers are still with us every moment of the day. Betty

Mark is fine......He did suffer a very, very small stroke.....He had just gotten off of his anti-clot shot the day before. It was so small that they had a hard time seeing it on his cat-scan. His arm and hand are just a little weak and will just need to be exercised like the rest of his body..... He also had elevated heart enzymes. They told me that even runners have elevated enzymes after they run and they just want to check him out completely. His arteries in his neck look fine and his EKG and EEG are all good.They have to be careful with blood thinners cause of his wound vac. They are doing a chemical enduced stress test to check his heart and the orthopedic and wound care team are going to check him before he leaves. They will be reviewing his medications also. I will try to let you know of any updates......working is tuff when I would rather be with my honey.........BB