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UP!
Hello Family & Friends!
I simply cannot sleep tonight, so I thought I'd do something useful and give a "Mark update." It's been a while since I last wrote, and a LOT has happened since then!
Last night, Mark and I took Christian to the movie "Up" and we LOVED it. I cried like a baby several times and I rarely ever do that with animation. But something about this movie was magical, yet so poignant, and it absolutely tugged at my heartstrings. One line that the little boy "Russell" said in the movie, after describing to his friend some special times he used to have with his Dad sitting on the curb, was..."I know that sounds really boring, but it's the boring times that I remember the most."
And so it is with "life." From an outside perspective, things may look pretty boring - trudging through rehab after a serious accident sure doesn't sound like a thrill ride - but I imagine that one day we will describe these times the same way "Russell" did in the movie..."I know it sounds boring, but it's the boring times I remember the most." Perhaps some of the sweetest. Just doing life with one another. The moments we see God faithfully trudge through life with us, as we trudge through it together.
Well, that is not the reason I used the movie "UP!" as the title for my note. But it is because of a much more exciting reason! Up until last Monday, Mark was told by his surgeon to do absolutely NO weight bearing. So, for the last 10 weeks we have been "waiting" as Mark transferred from bed to wheelchair, etc... But last Monday we had another follow-up with Dr. Rusnak (Mark's surgeon) and they did another full set of x-rays from pelvis to ankle, and Dr. Rusnak told Mark that he could begin some partial weight bearing, using a walker, beginning last Monday. HOORAY! Thank You, Lord!
So, of course, we got the walker out as soon as we got home. Who wouldn't? I don't know what we were expecting, but after two months of muscles atrophying (other than some in bed physical therapy and all the moving around he did), it's not like Mark can jump up and start walking. But he did get "UP!" (hence the title of my note) UP on BOTH FEET! Standing with the walker in an upright position. It was exciting and signified the next phase of his recovery, for which we are incredibly grateful. Another testimony to God's faithfulness.
So now's the fun, but tough part. Mark will do physical therapy with a therapist three times a week for now, from home. And on the off days, we will be doing a lot of exercises on our own. It will likely be a couple more weeks before Mark is able to actually walk with the walker. I'm not really sure, but the therapist seemed to think that there was a lot of strengthening & renewed flexibility that has to occur before Mark will really be able to get around with the walker. Mark is a HARD worker and, of course, he can taste freedom just around the corner, so he's really motivated. Another big blessing is that he is off ALL his prescription pain medications. He just takes Tylenol or Ibuprofen as needed as has virtually no pain. Praise God...surely an answer to prayer.
If you could pray for anything right now, it would be for patience and strength for all of us and continued healing for Mark. The CT Scan on the ankle came back and all was well, which is a great praise report! Nothing is healing "bowed" and it looks really good. The other injury and surgery sites are looking great too - the bone is forming like it should be and the alignment and joints where there was damage and subsequent surgery are looking just like they are supposed to look. There's just one spot that isn't showing the healing the Dr. would like to see and that is the spot of the bone in the ankle that the Doctor actually had to SAW INTO in order to get to the spot he had to repair! Guess the "man-made" breaks don't heal as efficiently, and this is pretty typical. So, if you could pray for that to mend and heal, I would covet your prayers. The healing of the ankle is critical, because it affects circulation to the foot down the road, which, as you can imagine, is important for the simple act of walking.
As for the Wexelberg clan, as a whole, we are doing really well. We've been enjoying Summer as much as we can, even though we are somewhat homebound. Christian has been going to a fun kid's Summer program at Immanuel Church close to us and he is having a blast. The first day all the kids got to bring their water guns and Super Soakers for an all-out water frenzy out on the playground, so he was pretty psyched about that! What boy wouldn't be? Next week he has Vacation Bible School at Resurrection Fellowship, where he goes to preschool during the school year. We've been having lots of fun taking Daddy on walks on the trails around here, while Christian rides his bike. And we bought a kite the other day that we're going to take out for a spin in the next few days. All is well because our God is faithful to care for us. He neither slumbers nor sleeps and watches over each detail of our lives - even the ones that feel absolutely random or out of control. It is good to be in His hands.
There is a lot more I could share, but I know you have more to do than read a Wexelberg update! :) I thank you for your prayers and for being such dear friends and family. The knowledge of your love and support has helped carry us through this trying time and will continue to do so. We have a long road ahead this year, but it is a road our Savior has walked before us, so we have nothing to fear.
Love & blessings to each of you! Let's all keep looking "UP!"
Shannon
Published on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 @ 6:36 PM CDT
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