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Please check back here often for the latest updates on Stan Haugen.

Journal

Thursday, December 30, 2004 5:11 PM CST

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 11:00 PM CST
Time has certainly flown by – it’s almost Christmas! Since Thanksgiving we have celebrated the marriage of Andy’s brother Jonathan to Amy in Nisswa, MN. It was a beautiful wedding full of family and friends. We stayed with our good friends Bob and Rosemary at nearby Lake Margaret during the weekend so we had the bonus of being able to visit with them – and Stan had a cribbage partner!

Immediately after the wedding weekend, we visited Stan’s sister Kay and her husband Arvid in Sun City, Arizona. Stan had an airline ticket that had to be used and my generous friend Lynn paid for my ticket - so off we went! We can see why they love it there so much – it’s beautiful, peaceful, with lots of wonderful friends to spend time doing whatever you want! Stan enjoyed the quiet, the sun (however fleeting during our trip!); we walked, played shuffleboard and learned lawn bowling. These were perfect activities for Stan as he still has problems with muscle loss and pain in his shoulders and arms. Kay and Arvid made us feel at home and all of their friends and neighbors made us feel so welcome! Thanks to all of you!! It was also very good for Stan to be around his sister as he continues to get more of his old personality back – and to make some new memories together. I told Kay that we must have liked it down there – it was the first time we were wishing we were older!!

Another reason we enjoyed it so much is that we didn’t have any appointments, no schedules. We continue to have at least 1 – 2 appointments every day. Before Thanksgiving, Stan went through an extensive neuropsychological evaluation and he is showing amazing improvement since last May. The difficulties right now are short-term memory, spelling, and word finding. He has no sense of smell, which is common with brain injuries such as his, and he has no sight in his left eye. But he continues to have such a great attitude – “feels lucky” and works very hard on his recovery. The doctors want him to wait until next summer or fall to think about working so he can continue his healing. And – if any of you neighbors see him driving down the road – it is OK now… The doctors cleared him and he went through a driver’s evaluation – passed with flying colors he’s proud to tell you! The part that will be difficult is for him to remember they said to take it slow and drive with me during the day for a while. The 30 years of driving for a living has him chomping at the bit!

Stan, Christine, DeAnna, Andy and I wish you all a very blessed holiday season. We look forward to the New Year and all of its promise. Words cannot express the love and gratitude we have for all of you. And we Thank God for all we have received – all we want for Christmas is ours – Stan is with us and we have a future to look forward to!

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December 30, 2004 - Update from Diane:

Happy New Year!

As we look back on 2004 with all it’s pain and worry, we realized that it was a year of so much love, miracles, and faith! This horrific accident made a close family closer; showed the powerful support of friends; and brought a community and a church family rallying around this small family as it struggled under the immense financial and emotional challenges they faced.

With 2005 approaching, they face it with hope, and the sheer joy of being together. Stan, when questioned by his 6 year old Great Niece Christmas Day about his fall and injuries, his only reply was, “I was blessed; I survived”, and it was said with a huge smile.

Here are some new pictures to share, and the hope that your New Year is filled with love, joy, and miracles!!


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E-mail Author: sahaugen@msn.com

 
 

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