Painless

Sorry its been a while since last post. Life can be so busy. Sam is Sam. We have been taking her all over with her friends so she can have her life as normal as possible. She is taking full advantage of our hospitality. We would have it no other way.  Sam continues to have little miracles happening almost every week. Her left hand is moving more and she told me the feeling in her little finger on the left hand is returning. She also told us she can feel down to her hips. She thought she pulled a muscle. The UofU checked her out and gave her a clean bill of health.  Still no leg movement but during a shower she told me she can feel the pressure of the water on her feet. Sam has been amazing. I can tell when she is fighting not to be in a bad mood. We talk to her a lot about attitude being a big factor in recovery. She is such a strong girl. Oh! the pain in her neck is almost completely gone. She can articulate her head pretty well. She moves around in bed during the night too. Being able to move around helps her skin stay healthy.  She doesn't let us watch in therapy much but when I do sneak a look they have her doing all sorts of things. I told her to hurry up and transfer herself so my back will last a few more years. Sam has transferred herself to bed-chair, chair-bed a few times but needs to be stronger so we don't have to be there with her. Is she doing great or what!  A couple weeks ago our area 70, Elder Leavitt visited Sam after speaking in our ward.  Our former stake president came with him.  The feeling in the house felt so warm.  I believe we usually have a good feeling in our home but this was extra special.  He spoke with Sam, he cried with Sam.  He genuinely wanted to get to know Sam.  Of course its Sam and he had to extract every ounce of information from her. Sam is very private but was very gracious with him. He is attempting to have her correspond with her weekly.  Having the priesthood bless our home and daughter is tremendous. My best birthday gift was Sam's kiss on my cheek today.  Those don't come very often, but I got one. Our community keeps amazing us all the time. We are so lucky to live where we do.  We may be having some company for a while. Sam asked us to offer our home to a young man who is going through therapy with her. He was ejected from a vehicle and broke his 5-6 cervical.  She told us he had to be at the U.  He is starting to move his hands and knows his best shot at rehab is the U. Of course we could not hold the offer back. We gave his dad the offer and he is going to talk with his wife.  They live in St George and it would help them out a lot.  Thanks for the prayers, keep them coming. Love you all.  

Thanksgiving

I'm sitting here looking at Sam's picture on the front of the Deseret News.  Amy Donaldson, a sports writer did an article on our Sam.  I appreciate her sharing Sam's story in newspaper format.  I know more prayers  will be said in her behalf and that is still what she needs the most. Its been quite crazy at home.  Sam decided she would continue her lifestyle before the accident and my back can attest to that. I did tell Sam I would take her wherever she wanted so she can have a "normal" life. She is going to kill me.  Movies every weekend or the mall every other day.  Other than that life is good.  Sam continues to make progress and we are happy for that. Her strength is continuing to get better and she transferred herself again from bed to chair at therapy. My sister and neice from Louisiana have been visiting for the past few days. My sister could not believe how good she is doing. She hasn't seen her since the week of the accident.  She was amazed how far she has come. Its awesome to have so many family and friends accross the country thinging of my Sam. Today I am so grateful for four girls in our community that can have Thanksgiving with their families today. I am so thankful for Sam's great friends who keep her spirits up.  I can't believe how much time these girls spend with Sam.  They can't imagine how just sitting with her and keeping her updated on school and community keeps her going. I am thankful for the UofU and the great therapist that light up when Sam gets there. I am thankful for a wife who...keeps me on the right track and tells me how much I am needed. I am thankful for a great community of Nephi that keeps giving to us everyday.  I am thankful for my knowledge of the purpose of life. I could not get through this time without it. Sam's doing great.  Please remember her and all the others who need our prayers today.  Be thankful for what you have.  Be thankful for those you look at accross the table today.  

Deseret News

I wanted to let everyone know that Sam will be featured in the Deseret News tomorrow! The article is titled, "Catching Hope" and I assume it will be in the sports section. If you don't receive the print version it will be online as well! I will try to post a link tomorrow.

LONG Overdue Post!

Sorry I have not posted in such a long time. Life is just busy! Sam is doing well. She has been home for a little over two weeks. It has definitely been an adjustment, but overall things have been good. She likes being in her own space and being close to her friends. Her friends have been absolutely wonderful! They visit frequently and make sure to include her in their fun. Last weekend her friend Nicole asked her on a Sadie's date :) They had a lot of fun!
There have been some hard times. I think being in her normal environment, but with everything different has been a challenge. But, she continues to have a great attitude the majority of the time. She had a difficult day this week. She had a break down and my gave her a little pep talk. She quickly got into a better mood. I know it is so hard, but she is really trying to be upbeat about everything.
Yesterday she had a great day! She was at therapy at the U and she transferred herself from the bed to the wheelchair independently! Sam said that my mom and her therapist cried. I asked if she cried and she said (sarcastically as usual), "No, I was tough and held it in." Then she also was able to throw a ball about 15 feet. She hasn't been able to throw because she couldn't get her fingers to open to release the ball. She was really excited about this! She told me it really was a great day!
I am so thankful that our Heavenly Father continues to be with her. She had a difficult day and then the next day was one of her best! He is always there if we will just ask for his help. Sam is such an example to me of faith. She is able to have a great attitude because of her great outlook on things. I am so proud of the amazing girl that she is proving to be.
I will try to be better at updating! Please keep the prayers coming-she still has a long way to go!

Nicole and Sam on their "date" :)

They ran into their other friends who were actually on dates

Back home again

We've been home a little more than a week.  Sure was nice to sleep in my own bed and eat a home cooked meal. Sam has been doing great.  I think not having someone come into your room at all hours of the night helps you to sleep better. We had a few days without therapy but now we're taking Sam on Mondays and Fridays to Mountain View Hospital where I work.  The therapist is awesome and is really excited to work with Sam.  The other three days during the week are spent at the Uof U in outpatient therapy. They haven't cut her any slack.  I love it when they work her hard and are excited about the progress they see. They were so amazed Sam was doing her own makeup.  Sam's friends have continued to be great but, I'm not liking traveling around with them so I can transfer Sam in and out of the truck. I guess I will call it additional therapy if its doing her good.  Sam's ramp in the front of the house has a new rail around it courtesy of Horizon Metals in Nephi.  A couple fine young gentlemen did the work and Horizon paid for the parts.  Everyone has been so gracious helping our Sam.  We thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts.

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!