She's Home!!!

Sam came home on Tuesday. She left the hospital around 11:30-she was so happy to leave that place! She will continue to go there for therapy three times a week, but at least she doesn't have to stay! Sam's friends, the young women, and my mom's friends decorated the house and Sam's friends put a sign on the Nephi exit. My mom said that when Sam saw all of the signs she cried. It made me cry to see them too! I am just so happy that she is home. All of Sam's friends were there to welcome her home-I know they were all happy to see each other. She loves her new bedroom and bathroom. Everything looks so great! We are so appreciative to all of the amazing people who helped with the bathroom remodel. People are so generous and we continue to be blown away with all of the love shown for Sam and our family.
Sam's first day home she had a bunch of friends come visit and then her and my mom went to the volleyball game. Juab was playing Spanish Fork so Sam was able to see her friends from both teams. She seemed to have a lot of fun. Her first day home went so well. She really seemed so happy to be home.
She has a week off of therapy which will be nice so she can adjust to being home. Then, she starts up again next week. The plan is three days at the University of Utah Hospital and two days in Payson or Nephi (we are hoping Nephi will be covered with insurance so she won't have to go all the way to Payson on her days off of Salt Lake). She is doing well so far at home. She seems a little down today, but overall she is as amazing as ever. We love her so much and are so thankful that she can be home now. Please continue to keep her in your prayers-she still has a long way to go. Thanks to everyone for making her homecoming so special!

The sign off the freeway exit

The Front Yard. The blue signs are from the Fund Run

Sam's cute new room

Sam in her room giving us a thumbs up!

Overdue Update

I am so behind on updating! Sam has had a couple of really good weeks. She is progressing more and more every day. Last week for her outing we went to Gardner Village to see the witches. We had such a great time! That day was the first time that Sam used her manual wheelchair outside. She did so well! I was so proud of her. Gardner Village is not the most wheelchair accessible, but she really coped well. One store had a really narrow ramp, but her therapists wanted her to go up it. It took a couple of tries, but she was able to do it. I know she was frustrated, but I was happy with how she handled it. Once we moved on to the next store she was over it and was happy again. She got the cutest bed set at The Quilt Shop. She can't wait to see it in her new bedroom!
This week Sam got to go to City Creek with her friend, Maddi. My mom was able to take Sam in the truck and do all of the transfers by herself! They had a fun time. Sam got dressed up and put make-up on for the first time since the accident! She looked so cute! She even did most of her make-up by herself and my dad finished up.
Sam is starting to have more sensation and movement. She is able to move all of the fingers in both of her hands. She still has numbness in specific places on her arms and hands, but the movement is really improving. She also has some sensation behind her thighs. I am with Sam right now and I asked her what her newest trick is. She said, "I can move all of the fingers in my left hand and I can give a thumbs up." The doctor told her that he is really pleased with how well she is doing and that she is much further than he thought she would be at this point. She is going home on Tuesday! She is pretty excited to get home and see her new room and bathroom and to be able to spend more time with her friends. She will continue to have therapy at the U Hospital three times a week.
Her attitude continues to be amazing! I have been with her all afternoon and we have had the best time! She just makes me laugh. My mom told me a story and I wanted to share it. It just shows how wonderful my cute sister is. There is a little boy that Sam sees frequently in the hospital. He is eight years old and had a spinal cord injury. His is higher up and the cord was completely severed. Sam feels so bad for the little boy. Last week she said to my mom, "We really need to fast and pray for that little boy." Sam has so far to go herself and the fact that she is wanting to fast and pray for someone else just blows me away. She is a pretty fantastic girl!

Sam and Maddi shopping!

Beautiful Sam and Pretty Maddi

The Student Body Officers came to see Sam. She loved their visit!

Sam and Jackson at Gardner Village

I am planning on going to Nephi with her this week so I will update soon about how the transition goes! Thanks so much to everyone for the continued prayers and support. We appreciate it so much and love you all!

Post season

A couple nights ago when I stayed over with Sam, we decided we would go to the dayroom they have for patients and watch the Yankees play. Sam was in a good mood so I told her I would buy her dinner from the cafeteria.  On the way, Sam thought she needed to see how fast her electric wheelchair would go. 5 and a half miles per hour. I was impressed and also thankful that the Doc a couple days later decided she needed a manual wheelchair. We bought a huge deli sandwich and chips. Luckily no one was using the big screen tv, so we switched it to the Yankees.  Samantha devowered her half of the sandwich.  We sat there and stuffed our faces with as much candy as possible.  I can't remember if the Yanks won or lost but I do remember Sam saying she could probably eat the rest of the sandwich after all we had. I'm glad her appetite is back.  We went back to her room and watched the food network until it was time for bed. Sam's left hand thumb has begun to function. The left side is slower rehabing but, its coming.  She is also starting to feel more sensation in different parts of her body.  My bishop was up the other day to watch some of her therapy. He is also a physical therapist down in Nephi and was interested in the U's therapy.  He was also checking on Sam and the family. Her spirit and attitude have been great. We appreciate all the prayers, food, gifts, and love.

Sam's Fund Run!

Monday night was Sam's Fund Run! It was such an amazing event! Right after the accident my mom told her friends that she did not want them to do a run or any type of fundraiser. But, luckily they convinced her it was a good idea! It was definitely a wonderful night. When they first decided to do the race I hoped that a couple of hundred people would come. We ended up having over 600 people come! I just could not believe the amount of support showed to our family and Sam. Seeing all of those people take time out of their busy lives to run in Sam's behalf was just overwhelming.

Some of the 5k runners on their way back!

The 1 mile walk/run

My mom hugging friends

Kaitlin and Kellsi

More visiting with friends

The amazing race crew!

Starting line!

Dinner

My boys and me

Bake Sale Crew!

Sam's Friends

My mom and her amazing friends! Connie, Tammy M., Tammy B., Ann, and Sue Ann

(Thanks to our good friends the Wickels for the pictures! They have more so I will post those when I get the disc!)

The night was so much fun! Everything was so organized-it was one of the most organized races I have ever been too! In addition to the race there was a raffle with many great prizes, a hot dog dinner, and a bake sale. It was seriously the best! My mom seriously has the most fantastic friends. They are so giving and so talented. We just love and appreciate them so much! Thanks so much to them and to everyone who came and made it a wonderful night!

Sam's Fund Run!

Just a reminder that tonight is the Fund Run for Sam! The run starts at 6pm! My original blog post about this says 7, but that was wrong. Come early to pick up your packet and shirt. Even if you have not registered you can still come. I am so excited!

FUN!

Today with Sam was so much fun! For her activity away from the hospital we went to City Creek. Sam had not been yet so I was excited for her to get to today. She loved it! She was in great spirits and we had fun looking in a few stores. She jokingly said to me, "I broke my neck so I can get whatever I want!" I told her that if she is saying that she better head to Tiffany and Co. So, we headed that way because if you are there you have to check out the bling! My aunt Bobbie sent Sam some money and told her to buy something for herself with it. So, Sam did some shopping and ended up getting a bracelet at Tiffany's! It is so pretty and she just absolutely loves it! It was honestly so much fun watching her get excited about something. She tried on several different necklaces and bracelets and we were in there for a while.She finally decided on a bracelet with an infinity charm in the middle. It is beautiful! I must admit I am a little jealous she has that little blue box!
She is doing so well this week! She has started learning how to use a manual wheelchair. She did so well in the first session with it that her therapist ordered Sam's own chair so she will have it when she goes home. Sam said she wanted to go home with a manual chair and she has worked hard and it is going to happen! I am so proud of how hard she works everyday. Her strength and determination are most definitely in her favor throughout all of this.
She is also doing really well with her hand and arm movement. Her finger movement in her right is really so great. Her left is slower, but it is definitely improving. She is able to feed herself and I think that has helped her want to eat more. She is also starting to get an appetite back. She was craving a soft pretzel today, but City Creek doesn't have a pretzel place. So, after our shopping I headed to Fashion Place and got her some pretzel bites with cheese. She ate almost all of it!
Her lower body continues to be slow, but she has started feeling some tingling behind her right leg. She is also able to feel more in her abdomen. She has just felt pressure, but she is feeling more specific touch.
Thank you all again for your continued love and support. When this first happened and we felt the power of prayer so strongly, my mom said, "What if people stop praying?" I am so thankful that we have such an amazing support system who hasn't stopped! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I receive messages frequently saying Sam is being prayed for and we continue to feel those prayers.
My mom's amazing running friends have organized a 5k which is this coming Monday! I am so excited for it. Around 500 people have registered which is just incredible to me! Thank you to those who organized it and to all who are participating! We will see you all on Monday!

Sam with her new bracelet!

The little blue bag!

This was from last week at Jackson's superhero party! I made everyone take a picture with the weight. Sam said, "It is actually kind of heavy for me." But then she lifted it and did a few curls with it! So strong :)

Rapid Progress

On Friday Dr. Rosenbluth came to see Sam. He sees her everyday, but he hasn't done a full assessment for a long time. Friday he did and he was so happy with how she is doing. He looked at my mom and said, "That is progress. Actually that is rapid progress." She is really doing so amazingly well! Her arm and hand movement is so much better. When she got to the U they rated all of her muscles on a 0-5 scale. Her right tricep was 0.5 and her left was trace. Now her right is a 3.5 and her left is a 3. Because her arm strength has improved so much they are going to start teaching her how to use a manual wheelchair! A few weeks ago she said she wanted to go home with a manual chair. I honestly did not think it was possible. But, here she is proving everyone wrong again! She is so amazing!
She is getting so much more independent. She can feed herself most things and can hold her mug to take a drink. She is most happy that she can scratch her face by herself. They are starting to teach her how to dress herself as well.
Last Wednesday we were supposed to go to City Creek, but they decided to do some type of test that day so she couldn't leave for that long. Instead, we went to Foothill Village for a little while. She did so well. My mom said she was pretty somber when leaving the hospital, but by the time we met up with her at the shopping center she was in a good mood. This was her first time outside of a hospital since the accident. She was able to independently maneuver her chair through all of the stores we went to. Her occupational therapist had her practice different things in the stores like opening a lotion bottle, taking a shirt off the rack, etc. Jackson has some popcorn and Sam wanted some. She was able to pick it up out of my hand and feed it to herself. I was just so impressed with how well she did. It was a fun outing. This week we are for sure going to City Creek so we are looking forward to that!
We have again been overwhelmed by the support people have shown. Sam's 5k is next week and 200 people have registered (there is still time to register if you haven't)! The high school had a dance for her and raised over $3000. During a football game the Spanish Fork fans donated over $1200. So many things have been done and we can't thank you all enough. My mom hates that she can't thank everyone individually, but please know we appreciate it so so so much!
Yesterday at church one of my Young Women gave a talk about faith. It really touched me and made me realize how much my faith has been tested and grown the last six weeks. Shortly after the accident I was reading Moroni 7. Verse 42 says, "Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope." I have had to remind myself of this principle throughout this trial. Probably because I am a nurse I can be very skeptical about recovery expectations. But, I remind myself to have hope and faith and to believe that anything can  happen for Samantha. Already she is doing so much more than were were originally told she would be. I learned an important lesson earlier this year that Heavenly Father can make anything happen. I know this is pretty basic knowledge, but I had an experience that really made this evident to me. If we don't hope for the best for Sam how can we expect it to happen? We have to hope and pray for the best and then be willing to accept whatever happens. I am so happy with the "rapid progress" Sam has made and I can't wait to see what else she accomplishes!

Sam's first outing! Holding Gavin in Bath and Body Works