Jeff reiterated that his nurse today was very kind and gentle, but he tried Jeff's patience because of how slow he did things. Jeff has always been the type to try and be as efficient as possible at everything. Being so dependent on others is already a trial, having to do things at their speed can be even more difficult.
Because Jeff has worked so hard the past few days he took it easier today. His nurse accidentally brought him the electric wheelchair this morning and because he is still so worn out he just decided to use it instead of the manual.
Gordon and Sandy Hatt, more old high school friends, dropped in this evening. Jeff was grateful for their visit, even if it was unexpected.
For those of you who want to visit and are unsure of how to contact us to make an appointment, please leave a comment below and we'll get a hold of you or you can send Brandi, Jeff's Daughter, an email at braniannie@gmail.com. Jeff wants to give everyone who comes sufficient one-on-one time. He knows it's a sacrifice to leave your family, give your time, and put off other responsibilities to make the trip to see him and he wants to make sure he can give each of you the attention you deserve.
Jeff is looking forward to only one workout tomorrow and none on Sunday. He's had a busy and ambitious week and is ready for rest. He is most especially excited that he will be able to watch every session of General Conference. The uplifting messages and wise counsel of living prophets bring much needed peace and comfort, which we can never get too much of.
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Day 40 - October 2, 2015 - From Peggy (Jeff's Mom)
When I taught middle school a few years ago I would lead the students in a song every Friday.
It went like this:
It went like this:
Friday, Friday, Friday is my favorite day.
Monday is a bummer; Tuesday's just the same.
Wednesday we're on our way; Thursday's almost there.
But Friday, Friday, Friday is my favorite dayyyyyyyyyy!
I loved teaching school every day, more so than teenagers loved attended school, but they loved to sing the Friday song and it always started each period with a bit of fun and lifted everyone's attitude.
So what does all this have to do with Jeff's Journey? Now once again, Friday is my favorite day, because it is the one day of the week I have the opportunity to spend all day with Jeff, giving Annette a break in her week. This Friday was very hectic out in our valley, traffic was especially heavy and slow, which made me 15 minutes later than I intended.
Jeff was asleep, but his breakfast was waiting for him. Breakfast first, take off his boots, then push the button for his nurse. Now that was another test for Jeff's patience. New Nurse, really new nurse, only 3 months on the job. Louis is a very large rotund guy, and he moved very slowly and a bit too methodical. His finer points were his gentleness and willingness to be of service; which he did, but in a dragged out way. This frustrated Jeff, but he held it nicely and treated Louis kindly and offered detailed instruction on how things functioned; Jeff even bypassed his shower to hasten the preparation.
Even so we were not ready for the scheduled Occupational Therapist, but once again she jumped in and got Jeff transferred to his power wheel chair to make it a lighter day for Jeff. In just a week, comparing last Friday, Jeff's balance is really improved and rolling over he surprised me how quickly he can do that simple task we all take for granted. After a round of stretches, Jeff worked on transferring from bench to wheel chair. I enjoy the bantering between his therapist and Jeff, always ending in laughter.
Lunchtime, his dad Jay dropped in. I cut up his mini pizza and salad, Jay helped with Jeff's special fork, and eat he did, along with lot of conversation with Jay concerning the remodeling of Jeff's house, which is on track. They talked most about Jeff's truck and what he wanted to do as far as transportation now and in the future. As usual Jeff has thought it all out. Jay had to then leave to meet the delivery of the replacement doors for Jeff's house.
Next came setting up the computer for Jeff with a little help from me. He found the information he needed to call and transfer the condo's he had reserved for his November trip to Nevada, for his annual trip to Front Site. Jeff, Annette and all his children and spouses have taken the use of guns and training for all situations at the Front Site Organization. The RCI agent was very helpful with Jeff's request, canceling with a full refund after learning of his new life with disability. She also assisted Jeff with future reservations and answered all his questions about the availability of handicapped condo's. She assured him there was no problem fulfilling his future travel and encouraged him to do so.
Just prior to Physical Therapy, a manufacturer's representative came to visit Jeff regarding his wants for a manual wheelchair. His therapist came to get him, but joined in on the discussion of wheelchairs. Everyone involved is on track to help Jeff get the wheelchair he wants. Off to a lighter therapy workout.
I took advantage of getting a personal assignment completed which was a lot of texting and phone calls. I managed to join the therapy for the last 15 minutes. Again working on his balance, sitting on the edge of the work out bench reaching and grabbing bean bags from every direction, all the while informing his therapist on Park City Time Shares and how valuable her Canyons Resort 13 weeks time share she already has is and how to use them to travel through RCI.
Back to his room, back in bed, v e r y s l o w l y w i t h L o u i s' h e l p. Prior visits throughout the day by the social worker and the respiratory therapist requests to purchase Jeff's own CPap machine. Louis did manage to talk to Dr. Dodds and report to Jeff that the Doctor is getting the ball rolling for Jeff to buy his own CPap machine. It is hard to understand the financial workings of the hospital/insurance organization when they will pay $500 a day renting a CPap machine, when you can buy one for $1,000.
Same frustration on the wheel chair; they will pay $24,000 for a power wheel chair, but you have to fight them for a $5,000 light weight titanium chair. This bugs Jeff to no end. After therapy I set up the computer and we worked on a couple of items in his Quick Books for the shop business. Finished that chore and now a little time to rest. Before you realized the time, dinner arrived as did Annette. My time to exit after catching up Annette on the day's events.
Yes, Friday is My Favorite Day!
Monday is a bummer; Tuesday's just the same.
Wednesday we're on our way; Thursday's almost there.
But Friday, Friday, Friday is my favorite dayyyyyyyyyy!
I loved teaching school every day, more so than teenagers loved attended school, but they loved to sing the Friday song and it always started each period with a bit of fun and lifted everyone's attitude.
So what does all this have to do with Jeff's Journey? Now once again, Friday is my favorite day, because it is the one day of the week I have the opportunity to spend all day with Jeff, giving Annette a break in her week. This Friday was very hectic out in our valley, traffic was especially heavy and slow, which made me 15 minutes later than I intended.
Jeff was asleep, but his breakfast was waiting for him. Breakfast first, take off his boots, then push the button for his nurse. Now that was another test for Jeff's patience. New Nurse, really new nurse, only 3 months on the job. Louis is a very large rotund guy, and he moved very slowly and a bit too methodical. His finer points were his gentleness and willingness to be of service; which he did, but in a dragged out way. This frustrated Jeff, but he held it nicely and treated Louis kindly and offered detailed instruction on how things functioned; Jeff even bypassed his shower to hasten the preparation.
Even so we were not ready for the scheduled Occupational Therapist, but once again she jumped in and got Jeff transferred to his power wheel chair to make it a lighter day for Jeff. In just a week, comparing last Friday, Jeff's balance is really improved and rolling over he surprised me how quickly he can do that simple task we all take for granted. After a round of stretches, Jeff worked on transferring from bench to wheel chair. I enjoy the bantering between his therapist and Jeff, always ending in laughter.
Lunchtime, his dad Jay dropped in. I cut up his mini pizza and salad, Jay helped with Jeff's special fork, and eat he did, along with lot of conversation with Jay concerning the remodeling of Jeff's house, which is on track. They talked most about Jeff's truck and what he wanted to do as far as transportation now and in the future. As usual Jeff has thought it all out. Jay had to then leave to meet the delivery of the replacement doors for Jeff's house.
Next came setting up the computer for Jeff with a little help from me. He found the information he needed to call and transfer the condo's he had reserved for his November trip to Nevada, for his annual trip to Front Site. Jeff, Annette and all his children and spouses have taken the use of guns and training for all situations at the Front Site Organization. The RCI agent was very helpful with Jeff's request, canceling with a full refund after learning of his new life with disability. She also assisted Jeff with future reservations and answered all his questions about the availability of handicapped condo's. She assured him there was no problem fulfilling his future travel and encouraged him to do so.
Just prior to Physical Therapy, a manufacturer's representative came to visit Jeff regarding his wants for a manual wheelchair. His therapist came to get him, but joined in on the discussion of wheelchairs. Everyone involved is on track to help Jeff get the wheelchair he wants. Off to a lighter therapy workout.
I took advantage of getting a personal assignment completed which was a lot of texting and phone calls. I managed to join the therapy for the last 15 minutes. Again working on his balance, sitting on the edge of the work out bench reaching and grabbing bean bags from every direction, all the while informing his therapist on Park City Time Shares and how valuable her Canyons Resort 13 weeks time share she already has is and how to use them to travel through RCI.
Back to his room, back in bed, v e r y s l o w l y w i t h L o u i s' h e l p. Prior visits throughout the day by the social worker and the respiratory therapist requests to purchase Jeff's own CPap machine. Louis did manage to talk to Dr. Dodds and report to Jeff that the Doctor is getting the ball rolling for Jeff to buy his own CPap machine. It is hard to understand the financial workings of the hospital/insurance organization when they will pay $500 a day renting a CPap machine, when you can buy one for $1,000.
Same frustration on the wheel chair; they will pay $24,000 for a power wheel chair, but you have to fight them for a $5,000 light weight titanium chair. This bugs Jeff to no end. After therapy I set up the computer and we worked on a couple of items in his Quick Books for the shop business. Finished that chore and now a little time to rest. Before you realized the time, dinner arrived as did Annette. My time to exit after catching up Annette on the day's events.
Yes, Friday is My Favorite Day!
Day 39 - October 1, 2015
Jeff's biggest complaint today was that his arms, both the numb and alive areas, were very painful. He also discovered that while the area from his nipples to his belly is still numb to the touch, he started feeling pressure when he gets moved.
The doctors told him that all the weird sensation he is feeling can be a sign of nothing, or it could be a positive sign. They say it's definitely not a negative thing. We are all praying it's a positive sign things are starting to wake up.
Ron, Jeff's occupational therapist today, went over the final bathroom plans with him. They discussed measurements of everything, from the height of the sink to the width of the shower. Jeff talked to Randy on the phone and they finalized the remodel design. One step closer!
Jeff was able to talk with a man on the phone who suffered a similar injury as Jeff ten years ago. He has much the same restrictions. They discussed what he has in his bathroom and how he does certain tasks. Jeff says it was an eye opener and he's grateful he talked with him and got such good advice.
Originally Jeff had set a goal to be able to transfer from the wheelchair to the toilet or shower without the use of a shower chair. He expected to have sufficient strength and experience in about a year to do this. He learned from his conversation today that such transfers were not only very time consuming, but also dangerous. Without the use of his core muscles it is an unrealistic goal and much safer to always use the shower chair.
It's information like this, from the point of view of other people in his situation, that has been the most beneficial in planning for the future. It allows him to see his restrictions better and ways to overcome them. It helps him set realistic goals and timetables to achieve them. We are so grateful for the man he spoke with. Thank you for your time, advice, and encouragement! It has really made a difference.
At lunchtime some of Jeff's biking friends came to visit. He calls them the "Draper Boys" because he met them on the trails in Draper and began riding with them. Doug Ovard, Zach Ovard, and Lance Anderson, thank you for taking the time to come and for bringing Jeff some Powerade and Gatorade. He really enjoyed your visit!
Next, Jeff's aunt Kathy and uncle Forest dropped in. We are so grateful to all of our family who has taken the time to come or send words of love and support. We have the most amazing family network in the world!
Physical therapy involved more transferring in and out of the manual wheelchair, rolling from side to side, and strength training. A lot of hard work!
Annette had to leave in order to take care of some business with the cell phone company before they closed. It was a relief for her to get it done and out of the way.
More and more she's put in charge of things that Jeff ordinarily would have been in charge of. She's done an amazing job staying organized and not over stressing to accomplish these new responsibilities, even when they are out of her comfort zone. We are so proud of her!
Steve Fredrickson, an old high school friend, came and spent time with Jeff today. It says a lot about our dad that so many people from so long ago have stayed in contact with him and care about how he's doing!
Steve stayed with Randy and Tiffany until bedtime. Jeff said the evening was full of great conversation.
Tiffany said, "We enjoyed it so much! Good conversation the whole time! I am so impressed with his amazing attitude and can't wait to visit him again!"
Funny story for the day: Annette said that while they were spending time in Jeff's room today the printer started going. It's hooked up to Jeff's laptop wirelessly and kept in his closet so it's out of the way. The printed paper fell to the bottom of the closet by the time she opened it to see what was going on.
It was Southwest Airline boarding passes someone had printed from somewhere else in the hospital! No one seemed to know where it may have come from, so the paper was left at the nurse's station in case someone came to claim it. We're hoping no other unplanned printing jobs make their way to Jeff's personal printer! Haha
Another successful day over. The past can't be changed, the present is full of hope and small triumphs, and the future is bright despite this trial. We have so much to be thankful for!
The doctors told him that all the weird sensation he is feeling can be a sign of nothing, or it could be a positive sign. They say it's definitely not a negative thing. We are all praying it's a positive sign things are starting to wake up.
Ron, Jeff's occupational therapist today, went over the final bathroom plans with him. They discussed measurements of everything, from the height of the sink to the width of the shower. Jeff talked to Randy on the phone and they finalized the remodel design. One step closer!
Jeff was able to talk with a man on the phone who suffered a similar injury as Jeff ten years ago. He has much the same restrictions. They discussed what he has in his bathroom and how he does certain tasks. Jeff says it was an eye opener and he's grateful he talked with him and got such good advice.
Originally Jeff had set a goal to be able to transfer from the wheelchair to the toilet or shower without the use of a shower chair. He expected to have sufficient strength and experience in about a year to do this. He learned from his conversation today that such transfers were not only very time consuming, but also dangerous. Without the use of his core muscles it is an unrealistic goal and much safer to always use the shower chair.
It's information like this, from the point of view of other people in his situation, that has been the most beneficial in planning for the future. It allows him to see his restrictions better and ways to overcome them. It helps him set realistic goals and timetables to achieve them. We are so grateful for the man he spoke with. Thank you for your time, advice, and encouragement! It has really made a difference.
At lunchtime some of Jeff's biking friends came to visit. He calls them the "Draper Boys" because he met them on the trails in Draper and began riding with them. Doug Ovard, Zach Ovard, and Lance Anderson, thank you for taking the time to come and for bringing Jeff some Powerade and Gatorade. He really enjoyed your visit!
Next, Jeff's aunt Kathy and uncle Forest dropped in. We are so grateful to all of our family who has taken the time to come or send words of love and support. We have the most amazing family network in the world!
Physical therapy involved more transferring in and out of the manual wheelchair, rolling from side to side, and strength training. A lot of hard work!
Annette had to leave in order to take care of some business with the cell phone company before they closed. It was a relief for her to get it done and out of the way.
More and more she's put in charge of things that Jeff ordinarily would have been in charge of. She's done an amazing job staying organized and not over stressing to accomplish these new responsibilities, even when they are out of her comfort zone. We are so proud of her!
Steve Fredrickson, an old high school friend, came and spent time with Jeff today. It says a lot about our dad that so many people from so long ago have stayed in contact with him and care about how he's doing!
Steve stayed with Randy and Tiffany until bedtime. Jeff said the evening was full of great conversation.
Tiffany said, "We enjoyed it so much! Good conversation the whole time! I am so impressed with his amazing attitude and can't wait to visit him again!"
Funny story for the day: Annette said that while they were spending time in Jeff's room today the printer started going. It's hooked up to Jeff's laptop wirelessly and kept in his closet so it's out of the way. The printed paper fell to the bottom of the closet by the time she opened it to see what was going on.
It was Southwest Airline boarding passes someone had printed from somewhere else in the hospital! No one seemed to know where it may have come from, so the paper was left at the nurse's station in case someone came to claim it. We're hoping no other unplanned printing jobs make their way to Jeff's personal printer! Haha
Another successful day over. The past can't be changed, the present is full of hope and small triumphs, and the future is bright despite this trial. We have so much to be thankful for!
Day 38 - September 30, 2015
Something we forgot to put for yesterday... Melinda Diefenderfer, a friend of Annette's, brought some of her famous home made toffee. It was enjoyed by a lot of people!!
She's done a lot to help raise money and awareness for our dad and we are so grateful for her efforts and involvement! She is a gifted photographer who has taken pictures of the grandkids and family in the past.
You can see her work and a special promotion for our dad on her website at
She's done a lot to help raise money and awareness for our dad and we are so grateful for her efforts and involvement! She is a gifted photographer who has taken pictures of the grandkids and family in the past.
You can see her work and a special promotion for our dad on her website at
http://kissntalephotography.smugmug.com. All of her work has been discounted and the proceeds will go to Jeff's gofundme account!
Now to today....
Now to today....
Jeff had a slightly disappointing start to the day with the dreaded morning crash session. It's been a few days since he's had to fight that and it was not a welcome return.
During physical therapy Jeff wanted to map his route on Strava as he pushed himself in the manual wheelchair. In order to do this they took him outside. He quickly learned that it's much more difficult to travel outside than in.
The uneven slopes were a challenge as he had to figure out how to maneuver his body's weight to his advantage. It was also a challenge when he needed to push one wheel harder than the other to continue heading in a straight direction. Even the different textures of the ground made a difference in how much effort was needed to go where he wanted.
His goal was to circle the entire hospital and part way through he said, "This is harder than I thought! I have a long way to go." It took just over a half hour, but he made it! He only needed help in a couple of places. Never one to give up, we are proud of our dad for accomplishing this goal today!
Not surprisingly, his trip outside really tired him out. No rest for the weary, it was then lunch time. Peggy came and brought Annette lunch not long after.
Before the accident Jeff and Annette had made arrangements to go on a cruise. It's set for January. They've been talking to the cruise line to figure out if it still might be a possibility. Besides needing a wheelchair accessible room they have a million things to consider.
Many of those things have nothing to do with the cruise and everything to do with Jeff's health. They have to think about his extensive hygiene needs, mobility restrictions, assistive devices, medications, etc. This doesn't mean they are giving up on going. It just means they have a lot to consider and plan. It also depends on how well Jeff is feeling by then. If he's just not up to it then his next cruise will have to wait.
Occupational therapy was also strenuous today as Jeff practiced transfers from the manual wheelchair. He's determined to go home with a manual instead of electric.
The difference with these transfers is that he now has to learn how to slide to the front of the chair to clear the tire instead of just lifting the arm and sliding out the side. It takes a significant amount of strength and balance to do this.
When Jeff finally got a chance to rest, the cleaning lady interrupted and very loudly did a great job emptying the garbages and completing her other tasks. We are grateful for a clean hospital! However, we wish they had set nap times with no interruptions. Lol!
At home there was a lot accomplished on the bathroom today. The framing was completed, the plumbing was moved, and measurements were taken for the necessary fixtures and shower. We are so grateful for everyone who has given of their time and talents to help move this project forward!
Perry Jones, Jeff's friend, also showed up to figure out what needed to be done for the tiling. He actually did the original tile when the house was built!
Jeff had several visitors today for which we are so grateful! Max Nielsen came again to spend more time with him and he enjoyed it! The High Priest group from his ward came and they had a little meeting during their visit. And Jeff's Stake President came with one of his counselors. Each of you has helped to uplift our dad and we are thankful for your willingness to serve!
We are inspired every day by how hard our dad works to do everything they require of him. He is challenged physically and mentally and meets those challenges head on each and every time. Even when the tasks before him seem to be a bit enthusiastic, he rises to the occasion without complaint.
During physical therapy Jeff wanted to map his route on Strava as he pushed himself in the manual wheelchair. In order to do this they took him outside. He quickly learned that it's much more difficult to travel outside than in.
The uneven slopes were a challenge as he had to figure out how to maneuver his body's weight to his advantage. It was also a challenge when he needed to push one wheel harder than the other to continue heading in a straight direction. Even the different textures of the ground made a difference in how much effort was needed to go where he wanted.
His goal was to circle the entire hospital and part way through he said, "This is harder than I thought! I have a long way to go." It took just over a half hour, but he made it! He only needed help in a couple of places. Never one to give up, we are proud of our dad for accomplishing this goal today!
Not surprisingly, his trip outside really tired him out. No rest for the weary, it was then lunch time. Peggy came and brought Annette lunch not long after.
Before the accident Jeff and Annette had made arrangements to go on a cruise. It's set for January. They've been talking to the cruise line to figure out if it still might be a possibility. Besides needing a wheelchair accessible room they have a million things to consider.
Many of those things have nothing to do with the cruise and everything to do with Jeff's health. They have to think about his extensive hygiene needs, mobility restrictions, assistive devices, medications, etc. This doesn't mean they are giving up on going. It just means they have a lot to consider and plan. It also depends on how well Jeff is feeling by then. If he's just not up to it then his next cruise will have to wait.
Occupational therapy was also strenuous today as Jeff practiced transfers from the manual wheelchair. He's determined to go home with a manual instead of electric.
The difference with these transfers is that he now has to learn how to slide to the front of the chair to clear the tire instead of just lifting the arm and sliding out the side. It takes a significant amount of strength and balance to do this.
When Jeff finally got a chance to rest, the cleaning lady interrupted and very loudly did a great job emptying the garbages and completing her other tasks. We are grateful for a clean hospital! However, we wish they had set nap times with no interruptions. Lol!
At home there was a lot accomplished on the bathroom today. The framing was completed, the plumbing was moved, and measurements were taken for the necessary fixtures and shower. We are so grateful for everyone who has given of their time and talents to help move this project forward!
Perry Jones, Jeff's friend, also showed up to figure out what needed to be done for the tiling. He actually did the original tile when the house was built!
Jeff had several visitors today for which we are so grateful! Max Nielsen came again to spend more time with him and he enjoyed it! The High Priest group from his ward came and they had a little meeting during their visit. And Jeff's Stake President came with one of his counselors. Each of you has helped to uplift our dad and we are thankful for your willingness to serve!
We are inspired every day by how hard our dad works to do everything they require of him. He is challenged physically and mentally and meets those challenges head on each and every time. Even when the tasks before him seem to be a bit enthusiastic, he rises to the occasion without complaint.
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