Jeff's been really struggling with the nerve pain and strange sensations all over his body. While his medication was put back to normal, it hasn't seemed to make much of a difference yet. He says, "It's not so much pain as it's tingling, discomfort, occupies your thoughts, and frustrating when you want to do things and you can't."
At first he started to say that he wished they would make a medicine that would help the nerves without causing so many side effects. He cut himself off and changed the direction of his thoughts. He then stated he wished his body would react better to the medications available.
It can be so easy to place blame when things like this happen. Whether that means blaming the pharmaceutical company for your suffering because the meds aren't adequate, blaming the nurses when they are understaffed and too busy to be on time, or blaming God for the accident happening at all.
We have all been so incredibly blessed to have Jeff's example in our lives. He accepts things as they are and avoids placing blame. He truly understands how futile and counter productive it is to get angry over his circumstances and to resort to blaming others. Instead, he puts his energy into improving his circumstances.
Also, anyone who knows Jeff knows his filter has always been pretty leaky when it comes to his opinion. This is a quality that makes him Jeff. What we've noticed is that the comments he makes are much softer lately. He may mention that his meds are late if they are, but he always expresses his gratitude when they are given. If something is done incorrectly, like during a transfer, he corrects the problem in an instructive way and does not get impatient.
While our dad will always be blunt and open about what he thinks, he has allowed this trial to round his edges and shape him for the better.
After the accident we were all so grateful to learn that he had retained his open and honest personality. Even in the form of sarcasm it was a great source of comfort to us. It's a part of him that we never want to lose.
Johnathan, his favorite night nurse, had him up at 6 am again today. He was showered and done with his morning chores before Annette even got there for breakfast!
In occupational therapy he worked on stacking things. After that the OT told him to bend over and pick an item up off the floor without holding on. He was sitting in his wheelchair at the time. He responded, "I can't do that, I'll fall on my face!"
She again told him to do it and his common sense refused to let him participate in the activity. Without stomach muscles he would have no way to stop his descent or return to his sitting position. He would inevitably fall on his face.
Annette, seeing that neither was thinking of a possible compromise, suggested that he do the exercise while only using one hand to hold on and the other to reach. Both Jeff and the OT agreed and with quite a bit of effort he did it!
He also worked on picking an item up from off of a chair in front of him and then placing it to the side of his body. This seems so simple, but again, without use of core muscles it's a major challenge.
As always, our dad worked hard and succeeded during these challenges. We are so proud of him for the effort he puts into succeeding! While there is absolutely no doubt the Lord is blessing him to accomplish these things, we know it's a choice he is making every single day to continue on regardless of the obstacles. His faith inspires us and helps us to keep pressing on when times get rough.
We want to give a quick shout out to Max Nelson for staying with Jeff this evening so Annette could go home without worrying about leaving him alone. Our dad is truly blessed with so many great friendships! It means a great deal to our entire family to have each and every one of you show your support in all the many ways you do.
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