Journal entry by Trish Jeanjaquet —
Hello All,
First let me again apologize for the length of time I have left you all in the dark regarding Alan. Time flies when you’re having fun???
Alan and I flew back to San Diego on October 29, 2018 for his visit with the Neurosurgeon on October 30,2018. Our visit with the dr was amazing and filled with all good news. The dr was amazed with Alan’s progress post surgery and agreed with us that the only way Alan is where he is post surgery is due to God’s unfailing grace. He showed us again the MRI done in Okinawa prior to surgery and compared it to the MRI done post surgery. The difference is like night and day. The dr then talked about Physical Therapy and at that point he was going to set it up on the Naval Base there and Alan was told he could work out but only doing elliptical, rowing machine or swimming. When Alan and I went back to the barracks (building 26) Alan stopped and told the Gunny and Staff Sargent what the dr had told us and they both said that Alan could stay attached to the Wounded Warrior Battalion, but in the long run might not be the best for him, or ask the Dr if he could return to his unit on limited duty at Camp Pendleton, which brightened Alan’s day even more. Alan immediately contacted the Neurosurgeon and he agreed that Alan could go back to his unit under limited duty and do his physical therapy on Camp Pendleton. All parties were then contacted and Alan was to report to Camp Pendleton on Monday, November 5, 2018. We packed up his stuff and he was ready to go.
If any of you have taken or know someone who has taken steroids, you know that they cause the face to become very round...Alan experienced that. It was uncomfortable for him, but he weaned off the steroids and took his last one on the 30th. We immediately saw his face become more lean and I finally saw his dimple pop. It’s silly what we notice during times like this.
Alan and I discussed when I should come back home and basically he had had enough mommy time and was ready to just be by himself. For those who don’t know Alan has always been a kid who could and would play quietly or adventuring in the outdoors by himself (my mom usta think it was terrible that we let him run amuck in the mountains at his Uncle and Aunts cabin) so being at home for 4 weeks, well you can imagine. I flew home on Thursday, able to breathe for the first time since this all started and for me that was on August 20th when God began preparing my heart for this journey.
I texted with Alan this morning and he is working and has his first PT appointment on Tuesday, where they will evaluate and set his PT schedule. Onward and upward we go. None of our family could have made it through this adventure if it hadn’t been for the outpouring of prayers sent on Alan’s behalf. Please pass along to those who we don’t know personally just how grateful we are to have such an amazing family of God, willing to lift up our son and family to Him. There have been numerous times all I could pray was “Help”. It is so comforting to know that God knows our hearts and knew just what I needed and usually sent me a sweet friend with a call or text. Thank you to all who listened to the tearful phone calls i made to let you know that Alan would be flown home in a condition we didn’t have any idea what to expect. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any further questions regarding Alan. This kid, who God blessed us with 22 years ago, who by all rights I shouldn’t have been able to carry...just keeps blessing us.
Love you all,
The Jeanjaquet’s
First let me again apologize for the length of time I have left you all in the dark regarding Alan. Time flies when you’re having fun???
Alan and I flew back to San Diego on October 29, 2018 for his visit with the Neurosurgeon on October 30,2018. Our visit with the dr was amazing and filled with all good news. The dr was amazed with Alan’s progress post surgery and agreed with us that the only way Alan is where he is post surgery is due to God’s unfailing grace. He showed us again the MRI done in Okinawa prior to surgery and compared it to the MRI done post surgery. The difference is like night and day. The dr then talked about Physical Therapy and at that point he was going to set it up on the Naval Base there and Alan was told he could work out but only doing elliptical, rowing machine or swimming. When Alan and I went back to the barracks (building 26) Alan stopped and told the Gunny and Staff Sargent what the dr had told us and they both said that Alan could stay attached to the Wounded Warrior Battalion, but in the long run might not be the best for him, or ask the Dr if he could return to his unit on limited duty at Camp Pendleton, which brightened Alan’s day even more. Alan immediately contacted the Neurosurgeon and he agreed that Alan could go back to his unit under limited duty and do his physical therapy on Camp Pendleton. All parties were then contacted and Alan was to report to Camp Pendleton on Monday, November 5, 2018. We packed up his stuff and he was ready to go.
If any of you have taken or know someone who has taken steroids, you know that they cause the face to become very round...Alan experienced that. It was uncomfortable for him, but he weaned off the steroids and took his last one on the 30th. We immediately saw his face become more lean and I finally saw his dimple pop. It’s silly what we notice during times like this.
Alan and I discussed when I should come back home and basically he had had enough mommy time and was ready to just be by himself. For those who don’t know Alan has always been a kid who could and would play quietly or adventuring in the outdoors by himself (my mom usta think it was terrible that we let him run amuck in the mountains at his Uncle and Aunts cabin) so being at home for 4 weeks, well you can imagine. I flew home on Thursday, able to breathe for the first time since this all started and for me that was on August 20th when God began preparing my heart for this journey.
I texted with Alan this morning and he is working and has his first PT appointment on Tuesday, where they will evaluate and set his PT schedule. Onward and upward we go. None of our family could have made it through this adventure if it hadn’t been for the outpouring of prayers sent on Alan’s behalf. Please pass along to those who we don’t know personally just how grateful we are to have such an amazing family of God, willing to lift up our son and family to Him. There have been numerous times all I could pray was “Help”. It is so comforting to know that God knows our hearts and knew just what I needed and usually sent me a sweet friend with a call or text. Thank you to all who listened to the tearful phone calls i made to let you know that Alan would be flown home in a condition we didn’t have any idea what to expect. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any further questions regarding Alan. This kid, who God blessed us with 22 years ago, who by all rights I shouldn’t have been able to carry...just keeps blessing us.
Love you all,
The Jeanjaquet’s
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