Last Blog Post!

Welcome Home!  This was the message that was left on two 1 ton bales of hay for Larry and Marilyn as they pulled into the driveway late Wednesday night.  A huge poster on each bale with messages from the Young Women and Young Men.  The Primary children also made a huge banner that they had all signed and wrote messages on.  It was on the big front window of the house.  What a great greeting to help welcome them home after this very long ordeal. 

To celebrate Larry's recovery and return home we would like to invite one and all to come to our much anticipated Pizza Party!  Put it on your calendar:  Saturday, June 23rd from 1:00 until whenever.  Some people have other commitments that evening so we are starting early, but you are welcome to stop by any time.  If possible, please let us know by June 21, if you are planning to come with either text or email.  email address: lasay1@aol.com  435-363-5711  SEE YOU SOON! 

HOME AT LAST!

(Visit with Nurses that helped Dad in the ICU) It is official, Dad has made it home! It was a long day for him, but he did it! The rehab facility released us this morning around 9:00 am. We had all the therapists, doctors, nurses and social workers at the rehab facility stopping in all morning wanting to say goodbye to him. They all repeated the same thing over and over about being amazed and thrilled with his progress compared to when they first saw him 2 weeks ago. There is a shuttle that runs from the rehab facility over to the hospital and Hubbard House. Dennis is the driver in the mornings and was waiting for us because he knew today was the big day! He was pretty excited to meet Dad too, since he had gotten to know the rest of the family so well during the daily drives back and forth. We were pretty excited to show dad around. We got to show him the Hubbard House and then we decided to go see the nurses and staff at the ICU. He had stayed in the ICU for 9 days and was in a coma when he left there so they never really got to see all his wonderful improvements. We were worried we were going to wear him out, but were so glad we took him back over there because they were so excited to see him. They couldn't believe it! Five weeks ago today is when he had his first surgery and was then put in the Neuro ICU. This picture is in the ICU with the 2 nurses that worked with him the most. It was very rewarding to them to be able to see dad. They commented on how Mom kept up the hope when in their minds they had lost most of their hope for his recovery. We have so much to be grateful for!!!

Tomorrow is the BIG day!!!

Today was a productive and exciting day getting Dad all ready to be released tomorrow. We were able to get the rehab thing figured out and set up other appointments with doctors he will need to follow up with in Utah. We took a "field trip" today for an appointment with the neurosurgeon who was very impressed with dad's progress! After reading some of dad's medical records, we have realized even more how blessed we are that he is even still with us and is doing as good as he is. We attribute most of it to your fasting and prayers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Now we understand!

Now we understand why some people stay in Florida to finish rehab! We made lots of phone calls today trying to get Dad into an outpatient rehab facility that does all the things he needs and that is on their insurance. Just as we thought we had it figured out my mom talked to the insurance agency again (apparently there is a different insurance company that deals with rehab) and there are no places in Utah on their insurance! The lady said, "Well I can tell you right now we aren't on anything in Utah, but OH THERE ARE LOTS OF PLACES IN FLORIDA!!!" You can imagine that did not go over well.... The lady is going to see if there are places in Utah they can work with, but mentioned the possibility of having to visit 3 different facilities for each thing. What a joke! Besides that it was a good day. Dad had a pretty full day of therapy. We tried to wear him out today so he will sleep tonight. Mom and him were doing laps around the facility last night (this morning) at 2:30 a.m. I am praying for a better night, mostly for my mom's sake!

Beautiful Day

Finally a day without rain! Well there is still a little chance left for tonight, but we are done walking back and forth today. The rehab facility is about a 15 minute walk from the Hubbard House. There is a shuttle, but it doesn't run on the weekends. Yesterday we got a little wet, but timed it fairly well. Mom is back to having to sleep in a cot in dad's room again because he has a tendency to get up without telling the nurses so they have to put an alarm on him. Needless to say he had a rough night sleep last night, which understandably makes him a little irritable. When he is tired his eyes have a harder time working for him too, which is frustrating. He has made so much progress though, it is amazing! The missionaries brought us the sacrament today and visited for awhile. Elder Beckett goes home to Grantsville, Utah on Wednesday. My mom had a dream a couple weeks ago that we ended up flying home with him. Well, we won't be on the same flight, but we are flying home the same day! He has been great to us! What a wonderful missionary and example of service they have been.

4 Days 'til Departure!

Merrilee made it to Orlando yesterday. There was a really nice lady from the local ward that gave her a ride from the airport. The last time Merrilee saw dad was almost 4 weeks ago. What a difference a month can make! He is 25 pounds lighter (his weight watcher friends would be impressed), his head incision is healing nicely, and he is awake and responsive this time, compared to last time being in a coma with the bolt in his head. He is very anxious to get home. He definitely needs the Sport Clip ladies to fix his hair! He is working on growing a mullet. They shaved almost his entire head for the surgery except a section in the back. We plan on having him wear a hat for the trip home. :) The thing that is bugging him the most is his vision. Both eyes work, but are not working together so he still has to wear the patch over one of his eyes quite a bit. Short term memory is still another big issue, but we are hoping getting him home will help a lot. The plan is to still fly him home on Wednesday. We hope it won't be too hard on him.

Last Thursday in Orlando!

This morning when dad was getting dressed he said something funny and then said, "Uh-oh you will probably put that on the blog!" We can't remember what he said but it was funny that he is realizing that he has everyone following him on the blog. Nothing exciting happened today, he is just working hard at his therapy and really looking forward to getting home. Merrilee flies in tomorrow and will be helping get them home on Wednesday. Dad says she better hurry and get there because he is flying out tomorrow. He has been away from home for 5 weeks and is really anxious to be home.