Friday, July 31, 2009

As My Husband Gently Sleeps...

Hi everyone.

I want to apologize from the both of us for not updating this site sooner! I want to write this together but by the end of the day after the evening rituals are completed, it is so late and we just want to spend some time together and maybe fall asleep to a movie. It will get a bit easier soon. Things are falling more into a "schedule" He wont have to be turned in bed every 2 hours they have raised it to 3 already and by next week it will be even more. This will mean, some nice uninterrupted sleep thoughout the night, unless of course, he wakes up on his own.

So, that being said, I thought I would give a bit of an update for those of you nonfacebookers! Densey is really doing physically better every single day. Unfortunately as his activities(therapies) increase so does a lot of the pain so he and his Dr.'s are dilligently working to find a happy medium so he can still get the most out of his day with out being in to much pain and just the last couple days we are doing a lot better. Each day does bring new challenges! Big highs and some emotional lows that we work through together, ya know some little things he will see or hear the more he is getting out is a catch 22 from the safety of his own room. These are things all injured patients go through especially when the accident was as traumatic as his.

Big D still wants to fit 1,000 things in a day so when he is having a good day he will push it to the max, even just trying to move his body parts leading to a rough very sleepy evening, where he will literally sleep after dinner till the morning! He is such a fighter as you know if you know him! We are so very hopeful and positive. His doctor has upgraded him to an ASIA C which means he has feet toe movement, there are only 2 more steps you can be. ASIA D and E. D you can walk but still assisted have problems etc and E is like an average person. You are a quad but you cannot tell there was an injury. YOu can walk around run etc, just like after your accident. He was a B July 1st when he arrived. He gets a massage twice a week and so far he has gotten a little back each time a day or so after, coincidence?? People with this level of injury have over an 85% chance to walk agin possibly within a year. I went to a lecture and the research Dr. whos name escapes me, spoke of all of these trials involving patients with his level of injury, and these FES bikes that he does therapy on, they are electric stim bikes that make him peddle the bike, he loves it! Not many places in the world have these bikes, and they have amazing results.

As most of you may know, he is totally off the ventilator as of 2 weeks? ago. He still has a trach for some lung secretions but he has been down graded to the second smallest size that should be out in or within 2 weeks if all goes well :)

He wears 2 or 3 liters of O2 for some of the day but does OK without it too, sometimes just gets a lil sleepy. We can now get passes to leave the grounds,I am all trained on his chair, suction, ambu etc and we have a free van at craig we just have to reserve ahead of time they do the lifts and will drop and pick us up. We are going to a bbq at my friend Jodi aand Dans house on Sunday for a few hours her parent are in town from chi-ttown. He is amped as am I to do normal stuff, hang out normal food etc. We cant go in her house but thats OK, its summer in CO! We will only be there for a few hours. When my sister Jackie was here last weekend. It was so great, she got an apartment on the grounds reserved for family it was huge!! Had a kitchen, so she cooked us dinner, we hadnt had home cooked food, well for him since before the accident. I had once or twice. Dont get me wrong the food here is pretty good but this was amazing!! So we are really excited, things starting to feel kind of "normal" a bit :)

Densey no longer has a sip and puff chair!!! He has so much movement in his left arm thumb that with the help of this brace contraption and a bit more control training, he will be driving on his own this week!!!! So pround of him! Everyone thank you for watching the segment on fox, we think they did a great job, we really loved it and Jeff Goldblatt was amazing and so respectful. He will probably do a follow up before we leave. I have gotten much better with driving the chair(I thought Id be a rockstar with all my hours logged in on video games in my early 20's) the elevators made me the most nervous as you saw on the news! Im pretty confident now, now that he will be doing it!

Again, all the letters, support, visits we/ he so so so very much appreciates. He loves to talk and share his story news therapies even when he is exausted. He feels so bad and I am sure would want me to apologize to all of you local law enforcement officers who have been so amazing that he has had to turn away those few times when he was busy or not feeling well or eating etc. They are filling up his schedule now! Starting at 9-5 Mon-Fri with breaks inbetween. Weekends are free so I am sure he would love any invites to stuff going on around the town if we can get the van!! No more than 5 hours for right now though. He still talks about how moved he was by his chicago buddies coming by, Brian and vic. Also the generous donation from the guys at TRU, who hand delivered making the trek on thier bikes which I know made D feel so cool and a lil jealous and I felt very pround that you guys also were a part of a rally that raised $ for Craig that day too. I hope you all made it up the 14er! It was great meeting you all you were all very genuine and comforting and supportive!!

I know also we both wanted to mention the unwavering support that we have had from Ann Diers, Denseys ex wife, from the 1st day of the accident, for me, she was a HUGE support and comfort to me through a lot of drama, and Densey also is sooo thankful to her and her new husband Jim for dropping everything and driving his(thier) daughters, Hannah and Stella out to him as soon as I called from the ER, making that 5+ hour drive. With all of us newly married I think it has made us all one big new born happy family :)

Such less stress on everyone, most important thier 2 beautiful daughters who have been so very amazing and strong. Ann and I text or email all the time and Densey and I cannot wait for thier visit on Labor day weekend!

Lastly,

Any questions about Craig, Please google Craig Hospital Englewood CO so much info!

Please get a facebook acct, ask to be mine and or Denseys friend I update daily, his not as much,only when we are doing it together. write a note if I dont know who you are, unless you have mutual friends on there then I will accept.

Denseys Benefit Fund is at the Federal Patrolmens Credit union any location.

Send any letters/package here to Craig. That P.O. box or any other addresses WERE NOT SET UP BY US!!!! WE DONT KNOW IF WE WILL EVEN GET THOSE!!!DO NOT TRUST ANYTHING NOT SET UP BY MARY.

Densey and I went out for Craigs Hobie Day 30th annual at Cherry Creek Reservoir, it was awesome!! We went on a catamaran, bbq live music. amazing.

Densey can also accept phone calls and would LOVE them!! Not after 11pm he almost always is sleeping, # (303)789-8000 rm 228 who ever is in room, me, a tech or nurse will just click you on speaker phone!!

All the Best!! keep sending those positive thoughts our way!

On behalf of Densey I thank you all as he snores hahahaha, as for me, words cant describe my gratitude, goodnight. We will try to update more often!!! Love from Denver

4 comments:

  1. Mary and Densey: what a marvelous update. I am just crying reading it. The work they are doing at Craig is miraculous. The stregth you both show through all of this rehab is tremendous. I cannot find enough superlatives to describe the awesomeness of what I have just read. See you in 3 weeks.

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  2. I am so happy to hear about Densey's progress... my thoughts and prayers are still with you both..
    Virg Drozd

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  3. The two of you are doing an amazing job. What a beautiful post. Keep up the awesome work. All of our love,
    Hoops and Michaelene

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  4. Hi Coles,
    My name is Bill Davis, a retired CPD detective. I started the Densey Cole Facebook group out of respect for Densey and his families plight. I have been contacted by a journalist who would like to interview you in order to maximize the votes for the honeymoon contest. Details are below;
    From: Tania Khadder
    Subject: Your Story
    To: star20166@yahoo.com, jesseeka2007@gmail.com
    Date: Thursday, March 4, 2010, 6:48 PM

    Your Story Hello there,

    My name is Tania and I’m the editor of Excelle (http://excelle.monster.com), a networking site for professional women.

    One of my colleagues is the editor of PoliceLink (http://policelink.monster.com), and he told me all about Densey and Mary’s story.

    I write for both sites (along with several others), and would be interested in writing a piece on you to share your story and help you get as many votes as possible in the Crate & Barrel Ultimate Wedding Contest.

    Is there someone I can contact for an interview?

    Let me know!

    Best,
    Tania

    Tania Khadder
    Managing Editor | Excelle
    Networking for the career-minded woman
    P: 415.365.1349
    http://excelle.monster.com
    Twitter: @ExcelleNews

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