Hi Everyone!

It has been a busy month! I decided we were due for an update when Deane said I needed to get on here and let everyone know how well he is doing!  He has finished with outpatient Occupational Therapy, so he can dedicate the remaining sessions that insurance will cover to his Physical Therapy.  The daily activities that are part of simply being at home - getting dressed, personal grooming, food prep, eating, household chores - are all great OT exercises, so that therapy is ongoing.  

Deane is slowly regaining the use of his hands.  His grip has strengthened considerably.  He has numbness and pain in his hands, but we believe that will improve with time.  He has made significant gains with his PT goals, and his therapist can't say enough good things about how well he is doing.  His balance and agility is improving, and he is working on building strength in his lower body.  Deane is experiencing numbness and pain in his feet, and we are sure that will get better.  It just takes a really long time.  Nerves regrow at approximately ¼ of an inch per month, and with 70% of his body recovering from 2nd and 3rd degree burns, there are a lot of nerves that need to heal!  The pace of the healing can be a bit grueling, as can the pain that accompanies the nerve regeneration.  Some days are better than others, and some days the intense pain can be a real show stopper.  It’s all part of the healing process, and it can feel like it’s taking way too long sometimes!  Deane is determined to get back to all the things he enjoys doing, and his strong spirit helps him move forward through even the most difficult days.  That plus all the love and support he gets from his family and friends!

We are both busy doing what we need to do, and we make the most of our time together.  I am back to work full time, and Deane is spending the days doing PT and things around the house.  He needed the space to become more independent, and me being at work has definitely given him that.  I am thrilled to be back in the classroom, even though it can be difficult to leave him in the morning when he is in a lot of pain.  We are doing the best we can, and taking it one day at a time.

The picture I attached today is of Deane working on our snow blower.  While the snow blower was in the shed for the summer, mice decided to chew a hole in the gas tank.  Great winter to be without our snow blower, those little stinkers!!  Deane found a used gas tank on ebay, and got it changed over one morning while I was on February break from school.  It took a little longer because of the numbness and pain in his hands, and he can’t be on his feet for long periods of time because of the pain in his feet and lower legs.  He was more than a little worried about working with the gasoline when he had to empty the chewed up tank.  He didn’t let any of that stop him from getting it done!!  

We are looking forward to the spring temperatures, and spending more time outside with our dog.  We went out to the trail behind the house yesterday afternoon, and Deane kept saying how good it felt to be in the woods.  I said it’s only the beginning of the good times to come.

It’s a long winding road of recovery, and most days it’s more like a roller coaster of moderate to severe pains and fluctuating emotions.  We are doing extremely well, due in large part to the loving support of our family, friends, work families, and the community.  You all are an incredibly important part of this journey.  We are grateful for all the love you keep sending our way!

Love,

Rachel & Deane