Connie's Recovery Update

June 17, 2011

Dear Friends and Family

Connie and I are so grateful for the prayers and kindness shown to us since Connie's accident April 10th.
Thank you for your cards calls and emails. They are daily reminder of your care for us.

It's humbling to know that a good friend of ours came and cleaned our home recently, and on the following Friday was killed as another car hit her head-on while going to see their granddaughter graduate from high school.
Her husband, Jim, survived. The memorial service was a wonderful reminder of Betty's dedication to her friends and to the Lord.

Connie is now off the special device...the Wound Vac system. She is glad to be free of it! It weighed only 5 #s…but got heavier every day as she carried it over her one good shoulder! Her injury is healing nicely, and she is getting around better each day.

This has been a life changing experience for us. We both agree that our focus in life needs to be less on ‘stuff’ and more on the needs of people around us, and our families. We enjoy using Skype to keep in touch with many of you. Our church sponsors a prayer chain ministry that is remarkable. Through it hundreds of people pray for needs such as ours each day.

Thank you for your prayers and expressions of concern.

Gratefully

Roger and Connie Booth

rogandconnie@gmail.com (we no longer use hotmail)

898 Totem Pole Rd.

Manson, WA 98831

If you use SKYPE, our Skype name is: rogandconnie. Best way is to call us on the phone and set up a time which for us is between 5 and 8 pm Pacific Time. We just love it because it’s free…and we feel really ‘in touch’ with those we ‘Skype’ with!

Blog site: rogandconnie.blogspot.com. Must admit I haven’t kept this up to date very well…

From Connie…

It’s been 6 weeks since my car ran over me, and there is no doubt in my mind that God spared my life, and Rog and I love each day together, and now I am able to walk some and feeling better every day…

After being told we need to see a surgeon last week, I was facing the possibility of further surgery on my leg….well…here we go...join me in a cartwheel to celebrate the great news!!

"I don't think this lady needs any more surgery on that leg!" declared a tall Russian Doctor Tuzynski, head of surgery at Wenatchee Valley Medical Center! Whaoooo! He even came out to the waiting room...put his arm around me and helped me into the exam room...and his nurse carried the VAC pack!

Nice guy. Upon learning I was at a yard sale when the accident happened…he said he got a table for his office at Good Will…”…why not?...it’s a good table!” he said. We had lots of laughs and he wanted to know about the accident. It was the most unusual ‘exam room’ experience…all 4 of us enjoyed it! We are invited back any time…even just to visit and let them know how I am doing. I could be the token stand-up comedian for the office!

The wound on the inside of my RT side calf is gradually shrinking from nearly 12” in length to now about 7”. The treatment is being done by some fairly new technology…mentioned earlier called the VAC therapy system. Here’s the web site if you want to check it out.

www.activac.com

It heals the wound from the inside out…and it almost assures there is no infection because the wound is ‘sealed closed’.

So that’s were we are now. Many have brought us meals through this time of recovery, and we are so thankful for that, and I have received stacks of cards. One friend of mine came from her home in California and stayed 10 days…and left us with many frozen meals in the freezer. How wonderful is that?

Thanks for your prayers as we move ahead each day with Physical Therapy and wrap up treatment.

We trust our God for strength and healing…and lean on His Word to keep our hearts and we acknowledge He is working His will in our lives. Pov. 3: 5-6.

Love and thanks to all.

Connie and Roger Booth

The road to recovery

On Monday the 9^th, we had a appointment with the Surgeon to have her leg examined and to have the wound dressing changed which went well. Our wound care specialist noted that the leg wound was healing very well, and the pain level for this change was low by comparison with the earlier ones. This is a sign of healing for sure. They did notice more swelling in her leg, and ordered an ultrasound exam to check for blood clots, and requested we keep track of her temp 3 times a day..and call if it goes up beyond I think 101.5...I think. Anyway..it has not gone up beyond 99.1...so we are grateful for that. So...low temp...and no blood clots as of now.
Connie's vision has been somewhat troubling since she arrived home. As the wheel of the car passed by the right side of her head...causing the laceration, the left side of her face was pressed to the ground, resulting in a great deal of bruising there which is now cleared up quite nicely. She has some numbness on that left side, and we have noticed that her eyelid was not closing tightly as it should. In addition, her vision was blurred in reading, and better on distance. So....her Doctor sent her to see an eye surgeon today, Tuesday the 10^th. The result of the exam showed no damage to the retina...or lens...(his words) but that there was some bruising to the inner eye. It would have been more evident had he seen it at the time of the accident, but that this seems to be causing a mis-alignment somehow which he thinks will clear up with more time. He will re examine her in 2 months with additional tests, and hopefully it will improve. He did not recommend any change in glasses, but that to help, he suggested she get reading glasses to get by with until then.

She is walking around now...though slowly, and we've kept track of her temp today, and it seems to be normal, so happily there is no infection in the wound, and we have not heard from the hospital regarding the possibility of a blood clot in her leg. So that's good news.
She thoroughly enjoyed getting out today, and it was a wonderful sunny 2 hour ride along the Columbia River…to and from The Doctor’s office.

Thanks for your prayers for Connie...and me.

Update on Connie's progress

As we end week 3 of Connie’s recovery…we are thankful for the wonderful care-givers and incredible technology which Connie is benefiting from. Of course it’s my joy to keep her comfortable…and see that all her needs are met. When we came home from the hospital, she was walking ok, but to be sure there is no chance of infection, the steps were taken to be sure that it heals well. This is somewhat of a set-back in terms of time, but it is the safe route to be sure she is completely healed. I said earlier that “…there are some hard days ahead”…and they are here. The wound has been sealed with what’s called VAC Therapy…or vacuum assisted closure therapy. It’s similar to vacuum sealing food, only this seals the wound from infection, and speeds healing. Check out the web site mentioned earlier in my last blog.

Connie and I are so grateful for good friends Yvonne Dunlap, and her husband Ed, for her decision to travel all the way from Southern California to spend 10 days here cleaning…cooking and assisting in Connie’s care.

Thanks too to John and Stephanie Dyer who loaned her a car to drive here from the airport in Tri Cities. Yvonne’s decision to come was timed to fit in with the 2weeks of food that has been provided by our Church community here…and we have been well fed!! Too many to name here, but thanks to Jon and Nina Collier for setting it all up!!

This is a first experience for us. It’s not something you can plan for except in a general way like maintaining a daily walk with God…with Jesus Christ that is authentic…that is alive and on-going. I do know this, that having memorized many verses of the Bible over the years, it has been those promises…those facts…those truths that have sustained us, and will sustain us in the days ahead.

Check out this song by Matt Redmond which we sang at our church just hours before the accident. I watched Connie as she sang…with her eyes closed in worship and praise. Now as she lies recovering we still sing…”Blessed Be His Name.”

Thanks for your prayers

All is well

RogandConnie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du0il6d-DAk&feature=related

Our near death experience

Dear Friends and Family,

It’s been just over 2 weeks since Connie’s accident. It just may be that some of you have not heard about so I wanted to bring you up to date. Connie was at a moving sale and had parked her car on a rather steep driveway. She had gotten out of the car...and somehow noticed it moving backward...tried to get back in. The open door dragged her down…and the left front wheel ran over her right leg…causing a wound requiring 35 stitches…it ran across her body braking 7 ribs and fracturing her scapula…and as the wheel came near her head…she turned away and the tire caused a surface wound on her head just back of the ear requiring 15 stitches.

I was at home…and when called…got there within 3-5 minutes and found her on the drive…alert but hurt badly.

We had been there earlier in the day and bought some things for the apartment we are preparing on the lower level of our home. I offered to let the folks having the sale to use my pick up to haul away things to the dump when they were done…so after helping me unload the things we bought at our home, the fellow,named Brad took my pick up back to the sale. I had given him my cell phone number.

Connie then decided to go back…and that is when the accident happened. Brad called me immediately…and than ran to her side and prayed for her…and comforted her.

I arrived moments before the ambulance and medical crew and of course in shock watched them care for her as Brad’s girl friend Wendy, put her arms around me as I could not believe what was happening. They are two very special people to us now!

I went in the ambulance the 7 miles to the Chelan Hospital emergency room, and went to take care of necessary paper work and found myself in the waiting room…heartbroken and alone.

I’ve read of people and spoken to others who have gone through this experience…but when you are IN it…and the reality of what is happening sets in, it is indescribable.

Standing there…I cried out to God to spare Connie’s life…and found myself talking with God as I never have before. “I cannot know why this is happening…and will not ask why…but our lives are in your hands…and I trust you God… …I acknowledge you as the Lord of our lives and I give my wife and her life to you…and ask for your peace in this tribulation…as you promised in your Word. I learned Prov. 3:5-6 as a kid…”Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him…and He will direct your path.” and I just repeated it as a prayer and at that moment, I experienced the Peace of God.

Soon the room was filled with friends…and the doctor came in to tell me the head wound was superficial, and there did not appear to be any break that could cause brain damage. He suggested we be airlifted to a larger hospital where her wounds could be examined by a neurologist. What a relief that was! Those moments with friends were so helpful to me, and soon we were on our way to Spokane on a specially equipped fixed wing plane.

As Connie was being wheeled into the operating room for surgery for the leg wounds, I kissed her…said I love you…and she smiled…and asked me to tell Brad she wanted the lamp she saw at the sale!! Those words will stay with us the rest of our lives! I knew she would be OK…and she is improving every day.

No broken foot…or leg…no ligaments or tendons damaged…no hip damage…and no internal organs damaged. I've thought “…I believe in miracles…” but we are experiencing a miracle in her recovery…though there are some hard days ahead…we are thankful and expecting that she will make a full recovery.

While in Spokane I stayed in the home of the son and daughter-in-law of friends in Manson…it was like home to me…and friends bought our car over as they attended a conference scheduled months earlier! Other friends stopped on their way heading East on a road trip…and another couple stopped in having been back East visiting family…so we had a taste of home while there. Flowers…cards…calls…and lots of love all came to that room where Connie began her recovery…hitting the wall of morphine…which made her crazy…and when finally she insisted no more…she began to be herself…and the pain was treated with Aleve and aspirin!

Our kids on facebook call her OTC…one tough cookie!

Connie had a rough couple of days dealing with nausea and all that goes with it adjusting to new pain meds and meds to take away the nausea caused by the pain meds?? Not working too well right now although she slept better last night that she has in the last 2 weeks.

Thanks to all who have brought us wonderful meals and cards and flowers. We are so blessed with praying; giving friends. Thanks too to Nina and Jon Collier for arraigning all the details.

We are pleased that Lea Carpenter, our Worship Pastor’s bride, will be treating Connie as she is now Wound Care Specialist working from Chelan Community Hospital. What a blessing!
Connie is scheduled to have surgery to prepare the leg wound for a "Negative Pressure Wound Therapy" which Lea will install on the wound. Here is a web site which shows an animation of how it works.

Select and paste this video in the address bar on your computer: http://www.kci1.com/KCI1/sciencebehindthetherapy#what

Scroll down to the video…it’s really neat what is being done today in medicine!

To be on the receiving end of so many prayers is a new experience for us. I am a wuss...when it comes to wounds and stuff....but it’s been a privilege for me to care for Connie’s wound…and spend these days caring for her in this way. To see her smiling face makes my heart sing! Only You...my one and only you....

Thanks much,

Roger n Connie Booth