Day Two - August 25, 2015

Thanks goes out to all of our family & friends!! We really appreciate all of the support, prayers and money donations that you have been sending our way today!

 

Today the six of us held a family fast for our dad and would appreciate if you would join us for another fast this coming Sunday, August 30th.

 

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Day 2

I don't think any of us slept last night!

 

It's hard collecting information when each of us gets a piece here and there, but we will do our best.

Annette, Jay, and Peggy got to their hotel just before 6:00AM this morning. It wasn't long before they went back to the hospital. Annette says that when Jeff woke from surgery last night he sounded like an indian when talking. “Beautiful. Wife.” “Family. Important.” “You. Good. Wife.”  Through the day his speech has improved and it is much easier for him to communicate. He was able to talk to Ryan and Brandi on the phone.

 

Everyone who knows Jeff can only imagine the pain he is going through mentally at the thought of never walking again, getting back on his bike, and enjoying everything else he used to do. Please pray that he will be able to overcome the sadness of his condition and learn how to progress in the areas of his life that are still full. We aren't giving up hope that he will make a full recovery, but it will be slow progress and every encouragement will help!

Jeff is having difficulty swallowing and they are taking it easy with trying to eat. Because he can't feel anything below his chest he doesn't feel hungry. Being the Jeff we know and love he joked, “Don't make me fat!".

His knee seems to be okay, just scraped up. He says he fell once and thinks that is when he hurt his knee, but then got back on his bike. He doesn't remember the second fall, the one that caused all the injuries.  He told Brandi that he knows he was going slow on the trail and that things were easy and then that is the last he remembered.  He can't figure out why he wrecked or what caused his wreck and that has been bothering him a lot.  Unfortunately he didn't have his GoPro on his helmet this time (which we all know he usually delights in having the GoPro record his adventures) so it may just remain a mystery.

 

Annette said that Josh Lloyd stopped on the trail to wait for Jeff and when he didn't come, Josh hiked back up the mountain looking for him.  The first thing Josh found was our dad's bike, but our dad was no where to be found.  Annette said that Jeff regained consciousness just enough to call out for Josh so that he was able to find him. Hopefully Josh will write us "the story" and we can share the details directly from him.

The doctors say Jeff's surgery went well. The vertebra that was broken was only in 2 pieces and was pinching his spinal cord which cut off blood supply. They removed a small portion of bone and then rods and pins were placed to help stabilize the spine. While they were in there they patched up a cerebral spinal fluid leak and expect it to heal without problems.

He currently has a little bit of sensation to one of his thumbs and pointer fingers. When Annette tickles his palm he can feel something. They are confident more will come back as the swelling goes down. At this point in time the doctors are confident that he will regain his strength in his arms, hands, & fingers. The doctors are still thinking that he will not be able to walk again, but we aren't giving up hope! 

Trying to explain things to the grandkids has been interesting. Yesterday Sierra said something along the lines of, “Grandpa Jeff fell off his bike and can't feel his legs.” Last night Kaisalyn decided she wanted to say our family prayers and she simply prayed that "Grandpa Jeff would be able to walk again" and that "Grandma Net would be Happy".  Today Talon asked, “Grandpa Jeff got hurt Rike Biding?”

At least they have the general idea. They miss their grandpa and it will be bitter sweet to be reunited with him.

 

 

We LOVE You Dad/Grandpa!!