You've come a long way baby!

Chris had a goal of running the Huntington Beach Surf City 4th of July Run with Caitlin and Regan this year. A one mile run, a way for kids to kick off the 4th by running down Main Street in our beautiful city. The same "run" he had done with the girls just days before his accident last year.

Amongst the crowded start line, Chris, the girls, his parents, our neighbors (The Sanchez Family and the Loomis Family) and my self all waited in anticipation for the race to begin. When the gun was fired all the kiddos around us sped past Chris. I was so worried that someone would hit his crutch and he would fall but soon the crowd around us fell away and it was just us walking. The girls ran ahead with our neighbors, as they had goals of their own (to run the whole mile). I don't think they knew the significance of their daddy participating in this race. For someone who was told they would never walk again to be upright and walking by their side. I don't think they will appreciate that fact for years to come. Soon we could not see any other runners until they looped around back towards the finish line. By the time we got to the half mile area, the marker had already been removed but we had a good idea of where it was from previous years. As Chris turned to loop around we saw a few other neighbors who came to cheer him on. It was encouraging and his feet were starting to ache but he was determined to keep moving. Then strangers started to cheer him on, the tears in my eyes began to swell. I could not even thank them, I could not speak. Once Caitlin and Regan crossed the finish line, they came back for their dad. June (Chris mom) was given the duty of capturing the crossing of the finish line on camera was waiting at the end. We rounded around the bend and suddenly the announcer starts screaming Chris' name and website. This was a complete surprise to all of us. Apparently June was standing next to the announcer as Chris approached the finish line. He looked at Chris with his crutches and brace and said "who is that guy". All June could get out of her mouth with the tears running down her face was "That's my son" and she pointed to her Chris Will Walk T shirt. He immediately starts spouting the website over the loud speaker, calling Chris a miracle. As he crossed the finish line, we all cried and the crowd cheered. It was so heart warming and I could not have been more proud. A stranger ran up to June and said she had gotten it all on video and would forward to us. It is now on You Tube. I will try to post a link if you have not seen it.

Chris was exhausted but overjoyed. We spent the rest of the day celebrating by watching the parade, spending time with friends and neighbors. The 4th of July has always been one of our favorite holidays but now it has taken on a whole new meaning.

I can't believe it's been it's been so long since I have written and I apologize. Time has gone by so fast. Since I last wrote, so much has changed. Chris' dad went back to Connecticut and we had to figure out how to survive on our own. It has been adjustment but one that we needed to work out. With Chris able to drive himself to therapy one of biggest obstacles was getting everyone ready in the mornings. To get Chris out of bed in the am, we have to warm up his legs with stretches that take about 30-45 minutes. That would not be a big deal if I weren't also trying to get two little girls out the door by 8:00, it can be a struggle. After Regan was late to school everyday for a week, I figured out a car pool schedule with friends that has made life much easier.

There were quite a few other adjustments; who walks the dog, takes out the trash, cooks all the meals, do the laundry, blah, blah, blah. Basically all the day to day chores falls on my shoulders. As much as Chris would like to help, he can't carry anything because his left hand doesn't work and the right holds his crutch. I have attempted to "not sweat the small stuff" which I find challenging. It sounds so petty to complain about these little things when really I should be happy that Chris is walking with his brace and crutches, but some days it's hard to remember that.

In early May St Jude's decided that there was not much more they could do until Chris gained more strength in his left leg. This was devastating to Chris, he felt like the therapists were giving up on him. It was a rough week when that ended. Chris continued to work out on his own at the Goodwill Gym to build up his legs and arms. About this time my father let me know he had done some research, just after Chris' accident. My father, the engineer (yes, a rocket scientist!) has always thought outside the box. I don't know how he found this Dr. but he came across what is called the Prague Institute. They work with nerve stimulation. Basically they wake up dormant nerves. My dad called the lead Dr. and explained what happened to Chris. Dr. Morris immediately told my dad he could help. He accurately predicted that Chris would plateau in late April and that St. Jude's would not know what to do with him, so they would release him. He said "Thats when I step in".

I accompanied Chris to his first appointment. Dr. Morris reminds me of Grissom (sp?) from CSI. Not a man of many words but methodical in his practice. I don't how to describe what he does other than the Dr. twists Chris like a pretzel and then applies pressure to different points on his body. When the pressure is applied, I can see tendons moving in his left leg and arm. I got excited and started to tell Chris what I see but the doctor asks me not to say anything. He doesn't want Chris to think about what is moving, just to let it happen on it's own. It's a trip, but we are open to anything that may help at this point.

Chris continues this new therapy twice a week. While I was able to finally purchase insurance for Chris, it is still very expensive for the alternative therapies. Thanks to donations made at last years golf tournament, we are able to fund these therapies. Which is why we decided to have one last fund raising effort. The second golf tournament will be held July 26th at the SeaCliff Country Club here in Huntington Beach. You can find the details on the front of the website. We are still looking for players, sponsors and anyone that would like to join us for the dinner and auction.

Thank you for your continued prayers and thoughts.

In Love and Gratitude,

Christy

On The Road Again.

On the road again, in more ways than one. Since my last blog, Chris has passed his drivers test. Not that he ever officially lost his license but in therapy they provide a driving simulator, so Chris, anxious to get back on the road, took the test. Interestingly, the test was created by NASA, so he is also able to drive the space shuttle next time it takes flight.

 Of course, I knew all along that Chris could handle driving and he was just chicken to get behind the wheel. Okay, that is a total lie, I was really nervous about him driving. Especially once one of the therapists told me that he would have to be extra careful not to get into an accident because he could very easily damage his spinal cord permanently if there was some type of impact. All worries set aside, it has quite a boost to Chris to be able to drive himself to therapy twice a week. I like to go with him once a week, when he is in pool therapy plus, he needs a little help once he is out of the pool.

On the road in another way, Chris took two road trips this month. The first was a visit to my parents in my home town of Santa Maria. Chris drove both ways, about a four hour trip with no problems. We enjoyed a relaxing weekend with the "rents, as we say. The girls love to visit Grandma and Grandpa Alarid. This was a test to see if he could sit in the car for longer periods of time and he passed with flying colors.

 The following weekend Chris had his first "Guys" weekend since the accident. Chris and his buddy Dan traveled up to San Jose to catch a San Jose Sharks game in style. Fourteen friends joined them in a suite to watch the game courtesy of the Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov who donated his suite after he heard about Chris' accident through a mutual friend. They ate, drank and had a great time catching up with one another. I don't know if they really ate but I know they did plenty of the other two. 

Chris came home happy, tired and announced he was ready to get rid of his wheelchair. He did not need it all weekend and decided he was through with it. The chair has been sitting in our family room for about two months, collecting dust except for when the girls take it for an occasional spin. It took Chris another few days to call the rental company to have them come pick it up. He carried the phone number in his pocket for two days, discussing the idea with his therapists, it was not an easy decision but a momentous one. He made the call today and they are coming to pick it up tomorrow. 6 months in a wheelchair..........I am so grateful to be able to write that sentence. 6 months ago, past tense, history, remember when. On to the next chapter of Chris' recovery.

The highlights of the last month are, we returned the hospital bed (since Chris is able to sleep upstairs now), removed all the ramps inside our house and now the chair is gone. Little momentous steps all towards healing, growing stronger and staying happy.

Love and Gratitude,

Christy

Larry the Leg 2/25/10

I know, I know, it's been way too long since I have written a blog, so I will try to catch you all up on the latest and greatest.

Chris is getting on great with his brace, that we have since nicknamed Larry the Leg. Ever determined, Chris ditched the walker after a week of use and is solely using crutches. Which is awesome. He started off by walking three houses away from ours, would become exhausted and make his way back to our house. His goal was to add one more house everyday. I am happy to say he now can walk all the way around our block, which is about a half a mile. He tries to get out there everyday (weather permitting) and cruise around the block. He gets much encouragement from the neighbors who come out to cheer him on.

At that end of January we went to Northern California (left the girls for the first time ever, Grandma Casey was kind enough to travel down from Santa Maria to spend the weekend with her favorite grandchildren, ok, yes, her only grandchildren). We flew to San Francisco with Chris' parents for a childhood friends wedding celebration. This was when Chris was still using the walker but again, ever determined, Chris did not want to take the walker OR his wheelchair on this trip. I thought maybe we should as a backup but Chris said no. I had to admire his determination, so we took Larry the leg, his crutches and were on our way. It was great to get away for the weekend, catch up with some old friends, we even got Chris on the dance floor for a song or two. It felt like a great accomplishment, getting on a place, realizing we can still do things like traveling.

Chris continues his therapy three times a week, at St Jude's in Brea. The therapists are still working on "waking up" his left leg. Three weeks ago they put Chris on a treadmill in a harness ( without the brace) and  tried to stimulate his left leg. Unfortunately his leg did not respond. Chris came home very upset and really was depressed for two days until he went back to therapy two days later. His main therapist explained that this was just the first attempt and not to give up hope. It is just going to take a little longer for it to get moving. They make no promises about his left leg moving but they sound hopeful, only time will tell. His left hand is still paralyzed and they are not able to do much with it in therapy until the strength returns. Luckily his right hand is getting stronger, so strong in fact, they are probably going to stop therapy on the right hand because it has gained more than 50% of it's strength back and that is "good enough" according insurance (which we are STILL fighting to get).

Chris' mom aka MIL (mother in law) was with us for the last two months which was such a blessing between the therapies, taking the girls to and from school and just keeping up with the house, we kept her busy. She had to return to work and so we sadly put her on an airplane two weeks ago. We miss her and I KNOW she misses the weather (as well as all of us). She has had nothing but snow and rain since she returned to Connecticut. I hated to tell her two days after she left the weather here is in the 80's!!! We miss you June!

Don (aka FIL) is still here to help around the house and with transportation. He gets up at the crack on dawn, walks the dog (she is SO attached to him), empties the dishwasher and makes the coffee all before anyone else in the house opens their eyes. It will be very hard to see him leave in a week but I know that he needs to head home for awhile. Our lives will change again. We have had help with us here for over 7 months. I guess it is time for us to figure how to manage everything on our own. I have been so grateful for everyone's help. It will be a new chapter for us.

Chris is also continuing his weekly massage therapy which has been instrumental in his gaining leg strength. If I could I would send him twice a week. We are also looking into getting Chris a membership to the Goodwill gym in Santa Ana that was built specifically for patients with disabilities.  The goal would be for Chris to work out there maybe twice a week. Chris is going to be tested on his ability to drive in the next week or so, which would really be helpful.

Thank you to all who asked for the blog to be updated, I promise I will try to do this more often.

Love and gratitude,

Christy

Chris walks and walks

Today was the day we picked up Chris' brace. I was ready to go by 6:45 am when I made my way down stairs to check on Chris. I should have known, he was wide awake and attempting to start his leg exercises without me. He was so giddy.

Long story short, we made it to the office, picked up the brace, they made a few minor adjustments and off we went to therapy at St Jude's. It was awesome to see Chris so happy and his therapists were jazzed to see his brace too. His therapy has been in sort of a holding pattern, just waiting for the brace. Chris' therapist Armando had us practicing stairs today. He knew that as soon as Chris got his brace he was headed up our stairs to tuck the girls goodnight and to sleep in his own bed. Can I tell you how nervous it makes me to help him go up step by step but knowing important it is to Chris, I had to get over it real fast. So we practiced and practiced in the safety of St Jude's stairway. Chris walked the most today since the accident. I am not exaggerating when I say that within 5 minutes of us arriving home, Chris was asleep. He was exhausted!

Chris had another goal of walking, WALKING, down our street. For those of you not living here, let me share that while I know most of you are having your winter, it has been gorgeous here, in the 70's and nothing but sun. Well, this week is our winter......rain, rain, rain. I normally wouldn't complain because we really need in here in Cali but not the week my man gets the chance to stroll down our street for the first time in 6 months. There was a break in the storm and Chris said "I'm going out there". I had to share the news with the neighbors, who came out to cheer him on.

June (who I am so glad is here to help me) and I were able to get him upstairs in time to read books to the girls in their own bedrooms. Sounds like something any parent would take for granted and I hope I never forget what a blessing it was to hear Chris read Junie B to the girls and tuck them in.

Once again I am feeling grateful for how far we have come in the last 6 months.

Love and gratitude,

Christy

Six Months!

Chris here. I thought I'd chime in for once, since tomorrow is the sixth month anniversary of my accident. Christy has been extremely busy, like any mom would be at this time of year. I need to give her a break from time to time. The last thing she needs to do is blog after helping me get my pants on.

So where do I start? Six months ago a simple accident happened that would change my life physically, emotionally, spiritually... my relationships with friends, neighbors, and family members have changed to say the least... all for the good. There are so many people to thank, thousands. The doctors put me back together and the nurses tended to my physical process, but it has been the emotional and spiritual healing that you have really helped me with. Somewhat overwhelming, but it has really contributed to my daily healing.

I'll blog from now and again, to inform you of my progress, but I wanted to say thank you to all that have helped me and my family since July 11, 2009. 2010 will be a fantastic year.

Fight On!