Update

Thank you to everyone who has; taken the time to pray for our son and our family, brought us a meal, donated money (especially the kids who emptied their coin banks) and encouraged us by sharing their own stories, God's word and sometimes just hugs!

On October 22nd, 2011 Ocean and August were in a riding lawn mower accident, leaving Ocean with serious injuries requiring us to be flown to Sacramento for Emergency Surgery & care.

Read our updates and scroll to the bottom for our prayer requests...

December 1, 2012
Our appointment revealed to us some great news.  First we re-met Dr. Popejoy, who was the attending Orthopedist for Ocean's care.  It was really great to talk with her and to hear her insight of Ocean's injury/healing.  The x-rays revealed healthy bone growth in Ocean's foot!  So much so, that it is enveloping the orthopedic cement.  This negates the reason for doing heel bone grafts and self donor bone marrow for the grafts!  That is amazing, thank you Lord!  His left foot does supenate and that could be either from bone or tendon trauma.  At this time, it is not clear which is the contributing factor.  At our next appointment this will be examined more clearly and we will again discuss surgical options to remedy that.  We also left our appointment without orthotics, due to Ocean's amazing pain free life and that he would likely toss them aside anyways.  Thank you for your prayers for Ocean and a huge thank you to the amazing medical staff at UCDMC (and Dr. Grisell, back in St. Louis).

November 22, 2012 A year post the traumatic event

Happy Thanksgiving!  We have so much to be thankful for each and everyday!  Just having each other, our extended family, friends, food, safe water to drink and the love of God top my list!  But the list goes on and is long.  Right after those things we are still so thankful for First Responders of Rio Dell, Redwood Hospital/St. Joe's Medical Staff, CalOre Life Flight pilot and flight Nurses, City Ambulance EMTs, drivers and the Sacramento Ambulance EMTs and driver, the Physicians, Surgeons, Nurses, Support Staff and Child Life Staff and Volunteers and UCMD Children's Hospital Sacramento!

Our next clinic appointment will be the end of November.  We'll meet our new Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Popejoy and Ocean will have more Xrays to see how things are going with bone growth, alignment, etc.  Check back for another update.

2012 Turkey Trot

The Lord was gracious with another sunny race day this year.  What an awesome race, this year NO wheelchair!  Woo Hoo!  Scroll down to find pictures from last years race with the aforementioned rolling seat.

Watching other Turkey Trotters cross the finish line. 

They did great in their 5K race, but not so much with smiling.
Look, no wheelchair this year!  

6/6/12
Recently Ocean attended his first Physical Therapy appointment with his Papa.  The therapist was eager to take on Ocean's case, even though his practice is primarily adult based.  Ocean has a great range of motion in his foot and leg, which he shows us everyday running and jumping.  His left hip has a hindered range of motion and the therapist will be working with Ocean to strengthen his left leg and foot overall and to create more motion in the hip. 

5/20/12
Ocean ran in the Eureka Waterfront Run!  Another two miles in under 22 minutes!  Read the story here.  Previous to this race we had another appointment in Sacto with Dr. Grissel.  His x-rays showed continued growth/regeneration of the bones damaged in his foot.  As of then his talus and calcaneous had not yet fused. 
 
3/11/12
Ocean ran in the Foggy Bottom Milk Run! He ran two miles in under 22 minutes!  Read more about it here.

2/5/12
Swimming lessons went perfectly.  As a mother my heart wanted to protect my son from any possible ridicule or unpleasant things said, so an email to the attending families was in order.  I kindly reminded them that some children might be frightened by the scope of Ocean's scars & skin grafts and it would be best for them to help their children to not be afraid by discussing it with them before classes began.  I also asked them to pray for Ocean not to be self conscious.  God oversaw the day and we left the pool with smiles on our faces.  Ocean continues to astound the people who know him as he walks, runs, jumps, rides his bike and now swims!  It is such a wonderful gift to each person who has prayed for him, cared for him and generously supported him financially.

I would also love to tell you that Ocean can almost jog an entire mile now before his muscle tires!  Isn't that just outrageously amazing!  Thank you Jesus!  We are gearing up for the Foggy Bottom Milk Run!  We hope you can join us.  If you want to walk/jog/run with us, please send me an email and we can plan to meet up at the starting line.  We'll be praying for a sunny run this year.  :-) 

  Here's a real treat!  Ocean @ cross country practice with one of his buddies (and biggest fans).

kepleracademy@gmail.com (our home school email)

1/15/12
Our recent Orthopedic appointment was so encouraging.  The X-rays revealed some bone regeneration in the calcaneous and proper alignment of the left foot.  The next day Ocean was wearing running shoes again and so happy to do so!  Our next appointment is in May for more X-rays.  Surgery will still be expected in the future, depending upon his growth.  We are looking forward to upcoming swimming lessons and preparing for the Foggy Bottom Run 2012.  

1/3/12

Ocean has decided that the walking boot can "take a hike".  He strongly desires to wear his own shoes again and defiantly put on his rain boots recently as we were heading out the door.  We have consented to allowing him to enjoy walking boot freedom inside the house, but still require the walking boot - till we get "Doctor's orders"!  Today he jogged across the living room floor and ended with a hop, wearing only socks on his feet!  Yesterday during a Cross country practice he decided to test his walking boot for a run.  He ran a short distance, but overall walked a whole mile.  No complaints of pain, only tired muscles.  Hooray!

Last week the boys and I returned to the home of our dear friends where the accident took place.  Driving up to their house we were listening to our Seeds worship song "Philippians 4:6&7".  "Do not be anxious, about anything..."  This really calmed my heart as I was feeling anxious as we drew closer to their exit on hwy 101.  I am delighted and surprised to relay to you that once we stepped out of the car all went well.  The boys enjoyed playing with their friends and I the time talking with my friends and Mother.  When I stepped outside I anticipated being overcome with grief.  No tears, no seizing of the chest and grief.  I'm glad we went and I am so thankful that our friendship remains strong.  God does amazing things in the midst of our trauma.

Reaching the summit of "Mount Wood Chip"

Update 12/28/11

August & Ocean are enjoying playing together and enjoying the "life of boys".  Above you can see them on their summit approach to mount wood chip.  We had a truck load of wood chips dumped in our driveway, which provided hours of work & play. 

Ocean can also ride his bike (pain free)!  He also has great increased arm strength and can really cross the monkey bars now! 

Ocean is no longer taking prescription medication for pain relief.  After a rough day of play or an hour of Xbox Kinetic competing with August, I give Ocean some Homeopathic medicines for relief.  They are; Arnica Montana & Symphytum officinale.

Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 2011
This day was so much fun, we were so excited to be a part of this race.  Thank you God for the sunshine!

We had Grandma Mary with us on this sunny race day.
Ocean gets to ride in his wheelchair for this race.

Here a proud, big brother August is pushing Ocean through the course.

Prayer Requests:

Thank you for praying for; the healing of the internal tissues, skin grafts, for the talus & remaining calcaneus bones to fuse and for the calcaneus to regenerate, regeneration of the severed tendon, building up of the left calf muscle through use, minimization of our ptsd and for God's peace when emotions get the best of us.  You can read in the updates how God is answering our prayers.  

Please pray for Ocean and August's relationship together.  They are going through some sibling bickering (as an only child, I don't get it and it drives me bonkers).  Please pray for; Dr. Grissel who will be returning to her home state now that her fellowship is completed (many tears from us), wisdom for the new Orthopedic physician who will be advocating for Ocean's future health, continued growth of Ocean's foot and for the bones to continue to be in proper alignment, for Ocean to reach his full potential as a rambunctious young boy for God's glory.  Also for Ocean to endure his growing pains and to not be fearful about the future (including when the time comes for more surgery).

**The new physician/surgeon is Dr. Popejoy.  Please continue to pray for the boy's and their relationship towards one another and all the physical healing/growth requests.  I will be contacting a local woman with experience in fundraiser runs to help us establish one for Ocean's medical expenses.  Please pray that the local running community will be interested in doing at least one race on Ocean's behalf.**