Dad’s improvements from the last 2 dad’s have been nothing short of miraculous. He continues to breathe for the most part on his own. His fever is much lower today too. Dad still has a bit of a temp, about 100 (39.9), but with the new regime of medication Dad seems to be improving remarkably.

Although Dad is still sedated, and drifting through pain and sleep, when he is “awake” he is able to respond. Through the fuzzy pain medication he attempts to communicate with us. For over 2 hours Dad was able to communicate, through squeezing his hand, that he could see out of his right eye. He couldn’t see clear across to the other side of his ICU room, but he could see faces up close to his. We are still unsure about the vision in his left eye.

Dad also indicated he was uncomfortable, but, given his predicament, one would expect a certain amount of discomfort. His broken leg was not causing him too much pain, but he did say that his head was hurting.

Dad’s surgery tomorrow on his orbits will take about 3 hours or so. The surgeon is thinking he will be spending over an hour on each orbit rebuilding them.

As the feeling of crisis with Dad’s accident wears off we thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, concerns, and encouraging words. Please keep them coming as we have a long road ahead of us.

~With Integrity

Juggling

Tuesday, Dad’s improvements from yesterday have held stable. Dad’s breathing is almost completely on his own, with just a little machine assistance for safety. His spiking temp is much lower today too. Dad still has a bit of a temp, but with the change in medication from yesterday it seems to be helping. He is still sedated, and drifting through pain and sleep, but thats part of the recovery process. Not quite taking dad off the sedation just yet. Dad’s care team is still trying to find the fine line between awake and pain free is the current modus operandi. Dad is a tricky patient. Mix a high pain threshold with his extensive injuries and you have a care team juggle. Also official surgery news; Dad has another surgery scheduled for Thursday in the afternoon. This surgery will be on his face, specifically his orbits, underneath his eyes. Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, concerns, and encouraging words. Keep them coming as we have a long road ahead of us.

~With Integrity

Monday, a new day.

Monday, a new day. At dawn, or soon there after a young couple was standing in a parking lot. Around the corner a truck pulling a trailer slowed down and drove towards the couple. The driver smiled and waved. A moment or two later another car pulled in behind the truck, followed by a few other vehicles. Within moments as people were sharing hugs, quiet laughter, and sipping some coffee they watched as 3 helium balloons gracefully lifted into the pale crisp and cloudless sky. We had a good turn out of the ol‘ balloon crew. Many hands make light work. This morning was a great day for flying. As the group of people expertly and systematically moved in towards the pick-up and trailer a sense of purpose seemed to over take them. Tarps were spread. The envelope and basket was pulled out of the trailer and made ready for takeoff. The purr of the inflate fan cut through the air. Today’s crew has worked together before. Each of us instinctively know what the other is doing, and what task needs to be done first. Or do we? It seems some thought had to be taken. No one really wanted to think or say it, but it sure would have been nice if Eldon was here to keep us in line. Ready for launch? Check. Passengers aboard? Check. Radios? Check...uh where are they? Oh in the truck. Eldon would have already been checking them. I can’t wait to tell him that it took 3 of us to... well you get the point. Dad’s shoes are big. He is an integral part of the balloon crew, our family, and many other lives. This recovery time is gonna be interesting. We are doing our best to pick up the pieces, keep going and stay the course.

So over the weekend, Dad had hit a wall. He had a spiking temp. He also wasn't really wanting to respond or follow commands very well. Remember the wiggle your toes, squeeze my hand test? Well, this morning Dad was able to not only squeeze and wiggle, but was able to hold up 2 fingers on each hand. How awesome, what a difference. What a praise! Today Dad is almost breathing completely on his own. He is giving it an “Eldon’s best” at breathing. His fever is also down. The doctor’s have changed some of the med protocol and adjusted his antibiotics. Today Dad doesn’t seem to be in as much pain either. Wow! A new week, a new pace of recovery. Miracles do happen, they just don’t seem to happen on our schedule.

~With Integrity

A big thanks

to the Friends of SAR: Josephine County, Oregon for continuing to keep people updated on Dad’s condition. This is an excerpt from one of the posts on their blog, one we couldn’t agree with more!

The "newness" of Eldon's injury is over and he is still in ICU. This is the part of serious injuries or illnesses that we, as Americans (and maybe all people), have trouble handling well. This is the time when people tend to not be as interested or feel that they have exhausted all their reassuring phrases and just don't know what to do now. How do you continue in "crisis mode" when the end of the crisis isn't known or even in sight? This is when families really need support and for as long as the problem lasts. It is harder to do, but this is what friends do for each other. Maybe cutting a lawn, running errands, spending time with the family in a way that lets the family let go of their stress is what is needed now. Stay the course.

Dad has traveled around the world with Hot Air Balloons. One balloon specifically is the Arky Balloon. This special shaped Noah’s Ark balloon has several animals hanging out the windows waving and is one of Dad’s opportunities to share his faith. Traveling with the Arky balloon, such a widely recognized icon, is great. Instead of Dad having to figure out how to share his faith with others through his words, people ask Dad about his faith.

Well, as it is Sunday, I felt that today’s spiel about Dad should include some sermon notes. Don’t worry, I won’t make it too deep, today I use the Message translation of the Bible.

Philippians 4:6-7 “Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

Well, that seems simple enough.
Dad was hurt in an accident, now what?
“Do not worry. If you feel like you need to worry, talk to me.”
OK God, Dad is still in the CCU.
“Make sure you tell ME your concerns.”
God, Dad is not doing very good. He is broken. Dad has a fever, his broken bones are causing him pain, and Mom is missing him. The entire family is struggling. Honestly, there are many people who were impacted by Dad’s accident. How do I help? What am I supposed to do?
“Be still and know that I am God.”
OK ... now what? Pray more? Why am I struggling to remain calm?
“Be STILL and know that I am God”

I try to find comfort in the fact that hundreds of times throughout the Bible, God promised, predicted, or prophesied, and every time, followed through. That tells me, God has THE plan. Now I just have to trust. Have Faith. Be still. Sitting in Dad’s room, watching, listening, praying....waiting for an understandable glimpse of God’s plan.

Jeremiah 29:11 “...I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”


Have faith. Trust God. Believe God.
So, considering all this to be true, this accident, my sitting by his bed, all this prayer, the chaos of life, God knew before hand and somehow has orchestrated this for good. Ok, well in that case, God knows how long we will be here. So we wait for Dad to recover, but for now, we know that Dad is stable. He seemed to have a good night. His fever is still bouncing around. Today’s care plan? Keep Dad comfortable. It seems like Dad’s pain-o-meter is working overtime. His tired body has gone through a lot this last week. Dad needs his rest.
Pray for the next surgeries coming up, and for our recovery process.

~With Integrity

Day 8

of Dad’s recovery. Day 8 of getting his nourishment through a feeding tube. The eighth day Dad has spent in the Critical Care Unit. Over a full week of having an intensive care team working around the clock assisting Dad in his recovery. Prayer warriors fervently seeking God’s blessings. Mom, myself, Pilot Bill, and several others making the daily pilgrimage to the CCU ward to pray, spend time near Dad, show emotional support, ask questions of Dad’s care team and pray. For this past week the reports have mainly been the good news, the praise reports, the positive points of Dad’s recovery progress. It has come to my attention that perhaps I am being a bit too cavalier with Dad’s situation. I want to gloss over the yucky parts of life, I believe that is basic human nature. There is a reason we don’t fully look into the dark alley as we drive by. We are curious, but don’t really want to know. Maybe I romanticize life too much, but I desperately want to see the positive side of this tragedy. I desperately want to know there is a light at the end of this tunnel, and today I am struggling to see the positive side. Not to over dramatize Dad’s predicament, but just in case I have been a bit too Disney with Dad’s dance of recovery, here's where we are today. He is still in the CCU. In any recovery, patients have good days and days they struggle. Dad has had several good days. Yesterday was a day where the care team's main goal was to keep him comfortable and manage his pain levels. Today looks to be a not so good day for Dad. It looks like Dad might be developing some more complications. Last night he spiked a fever in the 103 range (39.4C). Dad has for one reason or another become less responsive than he was the last few days. This could be part of the healing and recovery process, or a result of the injuries. We will learn more as time goes on. I feel that today, especially we need not only a reminder of prayer coverage for Dad’s body to heal, but for his family as well. Not only for Mom’s strength and peace, but for me and my family as I am pulled from my wife and children to help Mom. Pray for Pilot Bill, Jack, Cliff, Pam, and the rest of the crew through this process as we all work towards recovery.

~ With Integrity

Today,

I feel compelled to again point out the obvious but that’s OK, it’s Saturday. Dad has an amazing care team taking care of him around the clock. From the nurses to doctors. They are constantly checking in, asking questions, comparing notes and showing a genuine concern to Dad’s care. His team of professionals consist of the “Bone Guy,” the “Facial Reconstruction Guy,” the “Brain Guy,” and the team is coordinated by the ever talented “General Trauma Lady.” This powerhouse team is supported by the IV checker person, The Blood pressure reader, the pillow straightener, and there is even someone who is able to translate most of the Dr. speak for us. Now keep in mind that my medical experience comes from varying personal experience and TV re-runs of M*A*S*H and Doogie Howser, M.D., but I for one feel that Dad’s care team is doing an amazing job. Everyone has their own gifts and talents. We are all designed with a specific purpose in mind. I have yet to meet anyone working with Dad who is not only doing their best, but is passionate about their work. My only complaint is that this seasons 2 hour finale episode is a tad too realistic and long. When is the commercial break? Soon I hope. But, meanwhile we watch this saga unfold with baited breath, my hat is off to the care team professionals working in the Rogue Valley Medical Center Critical Care Unit. Thanks again from the Foster Family.

~ With Integrity