It's been quite a journey since December of 2022, and I'm immensely grateful for the outpouring of prayers and support from everybody involved. This journey has been more of a marathon than a sprint, requiring patience, perseverance, and the unwavering support of loved ones and God.

Picking up where I left off in December of 2022, I had a picc line installed and embarked on a regimen of IV antibiotics three times a day for a grueling 12 weeks. The experience was not a pleasant one; I developed a rash caused by adhesives. So, when they removed it in March 2023, I was immensely thankful. Under the guidance of the infectious disease team at HCMC, I transitioned to oral antibiotics for an additional year—a phase I'm thankfully completed. It's nice not to be tethered to pills for an extended period of time.

In February 2023, I achieved a personal milestone by purchasing a 1991 Pontiac 6000LE with  69,000 miles on the odometer. Its vintage charm and character have turned heads, and I take pride in showcasing my little race car. It is the exact make and model of my first car my grandparents gave me and I could not pass up the opportunity to enjoy this nostalgia.   

In July 2023, I bid farewell to the staples and residual hardware in my elbow that had been causing discomfort whenever I donned my prosthetic. The removal alleviated much pain, marking a significant milestone in my recovery journey. I'm also off any pain pills for nerve pain, for which I'm very thankful.

The summer was filled with days at the lakes and hanging out with close family and friends. I also enjoy an occasional round of golf. McKenzie has become old enough to drive the boat and she pulled me on the tube for the first time this summer. Although I'm not as strong a swimmer as I once was and tend to swim in circles.

In August of 2023, I attended Saunders therapy, an eight-week comprehensive work-hardening program aimed at assessing my current abilities and limitations. There, I performed a multitude of material handling tasks as well as using equipment specific to line work, such as cutting wires, manipulating wires, using ropes to tie knots, and even a mock pole-top rescue and CPR.

For Halloween, the kids and I decided to dress up, and I went as a one-armed zombie. One bystander even commented on my great commitment to the costume. I still enjoy helping out with home projects. Thankfully, one of my neighbors allowed me some Bobcat time moving timber, which was a big morale boost, knowing that I can still operate heavy equipment with ease.

I have been undergoing recent blood tests since January 2024 to monitor any signs of recurring infection. So far, the blood test results have been coming back negative and show no signs of alarm at this time. We will continue with periodic blood tests just in case something decides to rear its ugly head.

Sadly, in February, my previous employer decided that they are not willing to accommodate me as an employee. So, I am currently looking at a retraining program and going back to school to either get my EE or a degree in cybersecurity. 

We'll have to see what the future holds. I'm excited to see what the next chapter of my life holds. Hopefully, everything continues to go well, and I'm sure that the path that God has set me on is the correct one. I am thankful for the time I get to spend with my family, as many fathers do not get the chance to spend two years at home with their kids. Some would even give their left arm for it.

Josh