October 13, 2004
Update #14
Good Evening to All,

Thank you for the many requests for update #14, you put my wheels in gear! This will be a long update as there is a lot of information to give.

Believe it or not, this is the busiest time, since the accident occurred, for the Henry family. We are moving at a very rapid pace to get our father out of the rehab unit and my mother out of living in a hotel room (three months now).

The Milestone for this update is the removal of Dads neck brace! He will have it off completely at night and over the next two to three weeks be on a gradual climb toward permanent removal. The brace has been present for three months+, now he must rebuild the neck muscles in order to hold up his head and not suffer any further damage. He was x-rayed yesterday and the surgical doctor feels very confident in the outcome(we know b/c Dad asked him, “How do you feel about how well you preformed my surgery and it’s outcome?”) You have no idea what dad has gone through living in that thing! He is currently suffering from very intense neck, shoulder and back spasms, a result of the brace, as well as an overuse of the only part of his body he can feel and has limited control over. One of the things that occur with this injury is called Mind/Body Displacement. This is where your mind thinks your body is in places it is not. Sometimes Dad thinks his legs are over his head and his arms are in between them at the end of the bed. It’s hard to imagine, but it is real and common with this injury. He also feels like his hands are catchers mitts and they weight 300lbs. B/C of the neck brace, he cannot see his body. Our hope is, now that the neck brace will be removed, he can visualize his body being where it really is!

It is true, as stated before; they are headed directly to Arizona. We have spent an incredible amount of time researching and found that renting and renovating a home is the best-case scenario for our parents both physically and psychologically. According to the doctors, putting them in an environment similar to their life prior to the accident will create an opportunity for the most successful recovery. Assisted living facilities etc…. NOT AN OPTION! The house they will reside in is 10 blocks from both Lance and me and 10 minutes from Lisa. Lance will live with them four days a week and Lisa and I will cover the other three days. We will continue to overnight with Mom and Dad as we are a team…The Dream Team and we will NOT waiver!

It looks like Mom and Dad will arrive here somewhere between the 21st and the 25th of this month. It is imperative that all of Dads necessities (hospital bed, three different wheelchairs, Hoyer lift, custodial care, vehicle, etc…) are in place prior to his arrival. He has to be transported by ambulance to the private medical jet we have hired (our only choice as he cannot, at this point, fly on a commercial airline) and then be picked up by ambulance here in Scottsdale and transported to the house we have rented. Within the week he will start his outpatient rehabilitation at The Barrows Neurological Institute at a minimum of three days a week and the remaining days he will have in home rehab. Although the three of us kids have very busy lives, we are dedicating the next year to the recovery of our parents. We are insistent that we do everything possible for our father, providing every opportunity for a chance of a full physical recovery and that our mother has the support she needs to stay mentally strong.

Mom has been busy in Cedar Falls over the past couple of days getting the car loaded for Lance to drive here to Arizona, as well as taking care of things at the house. She did get in some girlfriend/support time, which we think is important. Lance arrived back in Arizona today and will fly back in one week to pick up the car. I had planned on flying to Rochester to cover next week, however my plans have changed. My husband Bob is traveling on business in Chicago, and yesterday had to have emergency surgery (in Rockford, IL) on his L4-L5 herniated/bulging disc. He was in some intense pain and the injury was not only pressing on a nerve, but had actually blocked it out. He has complete numbness in his left leg, foot and toes. We are hopeful it will come back but as I have stated over the last 13 updates, the spinal cord has its own agenda/time frame. Sooooo, Mom left Cedar Falls early to go back to be with Dad and Glen Jr. arrives on Friday for his weekend visit. Lisa will fly out on Sunday, and if all goes accordingly, she will stay and see Dad through his dismissal (hopefully on the 21st). If not and we need another week, I will follow her visit and I will proceed with his check out. My husband in the meantime will remain in Rockford until next Tuesday or whenever they clear him for travel. Please add him to your prayers. If we keep going at this pace, we will soon take over your nightly session.

That’s all for now, be in touch and God Bless America during these times…wont we all be glad when November gets here!! (I’m listening to the debate as I type).

The Henry Dream Team (Lori)

P.S. If you would like to read up on the facility where Dad will be treated, visit www.barrowsneurologicalinstitute.com/rehab