Eye Update
Just wanted to give you all an update from Luke’s big eye exam he had last Wednesday. After about 4 hours of testing and questions for Luke, the doctor came to these conclusions: 1) There is no damage to Luke’s actual eye or optical nerve-which is great news. 2)His eyes are not working totally together yet-left is still slower than the right. 3)His pupils don’t constrict or react quickly-it’s like the pupils of a 60-70 year old person. 4) He is farsighted, which doc says most kids his age are.
Luke does well with his glasses and rarely complains of vision problems. Sometimes he says he is seeing double, and that is a factor of his eyes not working together and his pupils. Now, the prayer request is obviously for improvement of his vision. In 4 months, (April) we go back for the same round of testing. If Luke’s results show no improvement then the doctor wants to do surgery to tighten or loosen some eye muscles, depending on what he finds once inside. Doc does not feel optimistic that Luke’s eyes will get any better than they are now…however, we will continue to bring Luke before God and pray for restoration. Thank you for continued prayers and support!
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
One night after they prayed Luke told Ben, “Dad, it’s okay if God doesn’t choose to heal my eyes anymore. What’s important is that we continue to worship Him.” He is so right!
~Lindsey
YES!!!
The doctor’s nurse called today to let us know, and I quote, “Luke is free to do WHATEVER he wants!!!”. YES! Praise God! Our feelings at her words are hard to describe-relief, thankfulness,excitement, joy! I called the school and talked to Mrs. Barlow (Luke’s teacher), I asked if she would tell Luke the news. He has been waiting and praying for the results and that he would be able to go to PE and recess soon. Today he did both! He’s been telling me to make sure I listen for the phone because the doctor is going to call. When Mrs. Barlow told him the news his whole class cheered. This also comes just in time for basketball season at school, which is his favorite sport. Luke told the doc on Tuesday that is something he really wants to be able to do again. We will take him back in 6 months for x-rays to make sure nothing has changed.
Luke and Ben are headed to Durham, NC for the Duke game and Luke is thrilled. Pray for safe travels and good weather. This is going to be a great day for both of them! Andrew, Maleah, and I will be watching on ESPN, maybe we can spot them. Check back for pics of the big day!!!
Thanksgiving
On Tuesday, Dec 1st we went to UVA for more X-rays of Luke’s neck. The doctor thinks it looks good, but has not given Luke the OK to be “turned loose”. He is going to consult another doctor who specializes in spinal deformities to get his opinion. He was very honest and humble with us and said that the reality is they don’t see this injury very much. Meaning that most people who have this neck injury don’t make it to the hospital and it should have taken Luke’s life. He kept telling Luke how good he looked and was impressed at how he moves his neck normally and has a normal range of motion with no pain. He told us that they have never seen a recovery like Luke’s and when he stood to leave he looked at Luke and said, “You know, you are a miracle. You know that?” Luke looked at the doctor and simply said, “Yep” with a smile. We should be hearing from them by the weekend or early next week, so I will post an entry when we know. He did say that there is no middle ground with this injury. Either Luke is fine and they leave it alone based on how well he is doing and periodically check it with x-rays or they go ahead and do the fusion surgery. The surgery would take away most of Luke’s head rotation, he would be able to nod but no side to side. We are obviously praying for no surgery, but want what will keep Luke safe and healthy. Please pray for that and also next Wed (9th) he goes back to UVA for a big neuro-ophthalmic exam(eyes and brain). We should get some answers then about the future of his vision. It’s a very long process about a 3-4 hour exam, pray for patience and peace for Luke.
Grandpa and Grandma from Florida
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! My parents made a quick decision to come up and the boys had a whole week off of school so one day mom and I took them to KCRC. Luke has been asking to go back and visit. We took them cookies and he made each therapist and the nurses thank you cards. It was a really neat time, and they just loved seeing him again. My heart ached for the families and kids I saw while we were there. I thought and prayed so much for them the rest of the week. We spent Thanksgiving day with our family, enjoying being together again and eating such great food! It came and went so fast and now I can hardly believe that Christmas time is upon us already. I love Christmas, especially as my kids get older they have so much fun and can better understand why and who we are celebrating. Jesus! Our house is decorated and tree is up-just this evening Ben brought it home and the kids and I decorated it, they had a blast…we are excited and are looking forward to our trip to sunny Florida!
With all the anticipation of the Christmas season everywhere we look, I got the feeling that Thanksgiving was being overlooked. Without question, this year I am more thankful than I have EVER been before! I could think of little else the week leading up to Thanksgiving and then all that day. First of all, I am thankful for my Savior and my God who has shown His mercy and love so abundantly to us! I am thankful that ALL of my kids were at our gathering. To watch them all laugh and play was awesome~I don’t think I will ever take that for granted again. I am thankful for my husband who loves God above all else, and me and the kids a close second. We are coming up on our 10th anniversary next week, I’m thankful that God has given us those years together and has richly blessed our marriage. One of the first things he said to me after Luke’s accident was, “I love you! I’m never going to leave you! We have to stay one unit, this cannot tear us apart!”. Ben repeated that to me again in the ER, after hearing that Luke had no brain function. But he didn’t just say those words, he grabbed my shoulders, looked me right in the eyes and spoke with such a passion, it was one of the only things I could hold onto at that point. This summer has only strengthened our marriage and family, it could have easily gone the other way in such a stressful situation. He is also an awesome Dad to Luke, Andrew, and Maleah. In too many ways to mention, he cares for them.
So this year my thankful list is longer than other years, and the meaning of giving thanks to God has deepened for me. As Andrew told me yesterday, “Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God” Psalm 147:1
Update
This morning the doctor’s office called and said we could take Luke’s neck brace off, again. They reviewed the films from his CT Scan and decided that he is okay without the brace. They want to do x-rays on December 1st to make sure everything is good. Luke was super happy when I told him to take it off, and had to call his grandma in Florida to share the good news. Of course we want to do whatever it takes to make sure Luke’s neck heals properly, it’s just been a rollercoaster, so thank you all for your prayers and support.
~Lindsey
Prayer Request
About an hour after I posted the last entry we got a phone call from Dr. Elias’ office. (He is the doctor making the final call on Luke’s neck injury) He looked over the CT Scan and based on that he asked that we put Luke’s neck brace back on. He is getting with another C-Spine specialist to get another opinion and figure out what the next step will be. They don’t have answers for us right now but will hopefully this week yet or Monday.
Please pray for his neck and for Luke, he was very upset when we told him. He is actually home sick from school today. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Ben and I are disappointed and it feels like a hard blow to us. I told Ben it’s like things just keep getting thrown at Luke, how much more can he take? He has handled everything with such a great peace and has adjusted better than I know I would; but the up’s and down’s are starting to wear on him. He just wants it to all be over and really just wants to play at recess with his friends again. Pray also that Luke (and the rest of us) would be encouraged and strengthened-as good as all of these blog entries sound to everyone else, we are still living with what happened every single day. Ben and I still struggle and the kids definitely do. God is near to us and we feel Him, and He will continue to be our comfort and peace.
On a much brighter note: Yesterday, a very special person sent Luke 2 tickets to a Duke basketball game at Cameron! We were going to wait to tell him until it got closer, but after the phone call from the doctor we showed him the tickets. He was pretty happy! This is the gift of someone who is a Duke fan and got a link to our blog-so cool! We are thankful for this blessing and how it was able to lift his spirits today.
Results
We spent another afternoon at UVA on Tuesday to get the results from Luke’s CT Scan. Dr Jane was glad to see Luke and said again how proud he is of Luke. He said the skull fractures are healed and it’s just what he wanted to see. They showed us the images on the computer-Amazing! We are now waiting for the final word from Dr Elias on his C-Spine injury, hopefully he will call us this week. Dr. Jane said that as far as the head is concerned Luke can return to normal activity-sports included! In saying that, of course his neck needs to be completely healed as well. Until we get those results we will continue to pray and be patient. I will post when we find out more. Thanks for checking in!
Pictures
Sorry I am late getting some pictures on here. The days are
going by quickly. So these are all pictures since Luke’s neck brace came off on Tuesday. Also, you may notice he is sporting a new hair style. We had to buzz his hair so that the wounds from his halo would heal. He had a lot of hair before and the pin sights were not healing like the doctor said they should. It has already helped to have the hair gone. I think he looks handsome regardless, and he has grown to like it. We shaved it on Tuesday night and on Wednesday morning Andrew said he woke up and wondered who was sleeping in Luke’s bed. “Oh, it’s my brother!” he said. Andrew decided that morning that he would shave his head to be like Luke and that afternoon Ben shaved his as well! We go in on Tuesday to meet with Dr. Jane (neurologist) to find out the results of the CAT scan Luke had on Friday. The skull fractures and neck ligaments need to be completely healed before Luke can return to normal activity. Keep the prayers coming! Thanks so much!!! (You can click on the “Pictures” link at the top of the Home page to see this enlarged. Or just click the pics)
~Lindsey
Well, after 9 weeks Luke’s neck brace has finally come off! He still has to refrain from rowdy activities until the results from this Friday’s scan come back. Please pray for the neck ligament to be completely healed and also for all of his skull fractures to be healed. Luke was so happy to finally take that “hunk of junk” (as he calls it) off!!!
We took all of the kids to yesterday’s appointment at UVA~Andrew and Maleah wanted to be there to see if his brace could come off, Andrew was praying hard! It was a gorgeous day, so after the appointment we walked to the Rotunda on the UVA campus. This kids played tag and ran around in the courtyard, they thouroughly enjoyed the time. It was perfect for me, just to watch them together…to see Luke once again, uninhibited and free! I also think it was a full-circle moment for Ben, as he spent a good amount of time in that courtyard in the early days after the accident…seeking God on Luke’s behalf. Not knowing what was going to happen to Luke, and yesterday God gave us the gift of some very special family time in that same place! I took some pictures of the day, so check back soon~I will try to post them tomorrow!
It has been awhile since we’ve posted…I guess that is a good thing! I just wanted to update a little, and keep everyone informed. Luke is in his 2nd week of going to school for full days. He is keeping up with everyone and is really having fun being back to a “normal” routine. He participates in everything at school, except recess and PE – although sometimes he gets to referee,which he loves! His energy level is increasing and he no longer takes naps during the day, but he does fall asleep pretty quick at night.
We are seeing more of his personality and feisty spirit these days. I suspect once his neck brace comes off he will feel more free to be himself and not as cautious. He has three appointments the beginning of November (3rd, 6th, and 10th) with his neurologists and we will find out if it can come off and if the head fractures are completely healed. (prayer request!) Luke does like to ride his bike, shoot hoops, dribble, throw ball, hit golf balls and play outside, he just has to be more careful until then. He still has been very sweet and doesn’t complain about much. He is really into listening to worship music and memorizing scripture. He has a heart for God’s word!
Our life is becoming pretty normal, though we have stayed very busy, and have had lots of family and friends around and we have been gone too. Last week we were in Georgia with Ben’s brother Chris and his family, and then went to North Carolina for a Yoder family reuinion. It was good time of catching up and spending time together. This weekend my parents came along with Jeff and his family, Sheila (Ben’s sis) and her family, and Chris and two of his kids. It was again busy, but so good. Sheila and Phil live in Florida and they had not seen Luke since the PICU, they left right before his ventilator was removed. Sheila came with me to pick the boys up at school and it was awesome for her to see Luke walk out and get in the car. She was such a rock for me during the first few weeks, and it was refreshing and uplifting to be with her again! The kids all had fun together making up skits and doing some singing for us adults-pretty cute!
Also, a lot of you are wondering about Carson. He doesn’t wear a cast or boot anymore. He is getting around well and really likes his new school in North Carolina. We are thankful for his healing and progress. At the reunion there was a very high climbing course that was at the camp and we were able to use it one day. The guy would harness and helmet the person climbing and then have people belaying with ropes. Carson climbed it three times with ease. I was very proud of him!
Good Family Time
Fall is here and we enjoyed a fun weekend as a family. Kelby (my brother), Jill, and Ella came to visit from Florida. They came up right after the accident and stayed for a week, so they had not seen Luke since his halo first went on. They could not wait to get up here give Luke a squeeze and spend some time with us! It was good to be together. Luke was especially excited to play with Ella again. He loves babies, and says that she is one of his best friends…plus he says he is good at making her smile. 
Luke and Ella
All of us on top of Humpback Rocks
The guys
Words to Hold to…….
The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
