Tuesday, August 24th

When I left the Shepherd Center, they told me it would be a least a year before I could get off the ventilator. Well it took only five months, and as of this morning I've been off for 10 days now. I've spent the prior 45 days getting ready for this by going off of the ventilator for 16 hours a day and being only suctioned a number of time. My respiratory therapist told me if I felt like I was ready to go ahead and give it a try. It is a milestone for me because now no longer do I have to hide the sound of the ventilator when I go hunting this fall and that means a lot to me, hee hee. Due to my cold nature I'm going to have to hunt hard during the early months of the season this fall. I had some pretty severe shoulder pain the last few weeks, even went as far as getting a steroid shot. When my doctor told me about the shot he also said if the pain went away it was an overstretched muscle. If it did not go away it was something more serious. And lucky me, it did not go away. So I have another appointment on Thursday and I'll get my shoulder looked at again. And yet again another UTI, more antibiotics. On a brighter note, I have included photo's of my new wheelchair. It's a four-wheel-drive off-road wheelchair, that I am hoping will take me hunting this fall.I have yet to receive it or the other chair I bought off eBay. It is just like the one I have, it will be used as a donor chair for the off-road chair. I need the chair off of it for its tilting capabilities.

Thursday,July 2 9

Hello again everyone, it may seem as though I've fallen off the face of the earth. And in ways I have, and it's quiet out here, but I love it. I've gone 36 days off of the ventilator for more than 16 hours and 35 days without being suctioned. The doctor even said it sounded like I was moving more air, so I'm hoping that this means my diaphragm is returning. I've talked to the doctor and he has agreed to let me try to go off the ventilator for a night with blood gas test before and after. He has also agreed to schedule a moving x-ray of my chest, to determine if my diaphragm is working. On the good side I was approved for 16 hours a day of nursing care, which started this past Monday, which gives dad and Larry sometime off. It's going very well and it's comforting to know that somebody is always awake. The puppy is almost twice as big as she was, she can now bark much to my excitement. She is hard to watch at all times, she's very sneaky. For another three weeks take care everyone, and no news is good news.

Saturday, July 10

Well it's been over a month home and I feel great. This is the 12 day off of the vent for the least 16 hours or more. And the seventh day I have not needed suctioned. It's early to say but I might have this thing beat. I have a weak cough, but right now it's enough to cough up any junk. Therapy is going great, my wrist extension are getting stronger. My sister told me to wait at least a month till I got in the groove of daily life before I got a new dog. So on July 4 I got a basset and named her shilah. She's a cute little dog with not much energy, perfect. The only problem is I can't feel when she's chewing on my fingers and toes. No blood yet, but hopefully it's just a phase she's going through.

Sunday, June 27

I've been home 27 days and it feels great. I finally gave in and got my hair cut, much cooler in the hot days in the Whipple valley. I've been going to therapy three days a week and now my shoulders hurt, no pain no gain. I learned one thing after seven months my wrist extensions have returned. That is the ability to give a motorcycle gas, I can lift my wrist off the table. The doctors in Atlanta told me that this would happen within the year, and they were right. It's such a good feeling to have something come back, though it's only small, it's a step. My occupational therapist showed me that I could brush my teeth, so guess who has to brush his own teeth now. As for vent weaning I'm up to all day (14 -- 16 hours) off the vent and it feels great, a bit tired at the end of the day, but it makes me sleep well.

Thursday, June 2

Hello everyone, I finally made it, home sweet home. There's nothing like the morning dew, or the way the Foxfire dances in the trees as the morning sun burns it off in the Whipple Holler. After spending two nights here, I'm already much better. The essence of solitude these days have brought me are well-earned. Yet, many more will come. As a welcome home gift I bought myself a gun mount for my wheelchair, included is a picture of such an item. It's got a joystick and a sip trigger, which allow me to use it by aiming and fire it. It will allow me to deer hunt this year and maybe I'll get that 12 point I was chasing at the beginning of last season. But I don't really care what I get I'm going to get it mounted, as my recovery deer. Next week though will be full of doctors appointments and rehab, not much relaxation there.and you will

Sunday, May 30

From the beginning I said I wanted to enjoy the first day in June on my porch, but I was hoping to get home a bit sooner, and with my discharge date of June 1 I met my goal. With little more than a day left at arbors, I must look back to a little less than a day after the accident. And the fact that I was still alive was amazing, through I wasn't looking good. Every time they touched me, I would braiby cardiar (my heart would slow down and stop), now I don't even wake up when they turn me at night. I have come a long way in six months, and can't imagine where I'll be in six more.I forgot to include my friend Ben as one of the primary workers on my house in the past few months. And again I thank everyone who has put any effort into my recovery, you've been great.

Hello everyone, another delayed post, sorry about that been kind of busy. I've been working on vent weaning, up to 11 hours off the vent more than half of that capped. Which means a small red cap over my trach, which allows me to breathe through my nose. And for the first time in six months I can smell myself, and man do I stink. I want to thank those who have been working on my house and those being; my father, Dan and Diane Zimmerman, Larry Moss, and anyone else who has volunteered their time and the efforts to get my house completed by Tuesday, inspection day. And if all fares well in the inspection, I will get to go home on Friday the 28th. I've been home twice now, and it looks great and the quietness is even better. And I thank Dave Farr for flying to Albuquerque and bringing my van back safely, now I can leave the arbors and get out and get some air. Thanks everyone at AEP Muskingum River plant for the support you have been through these tough times. Photos of the house will be coming soon once it's complete. Thank you.