We haven't talked much about Mike's burns as they have kind of flown under the radar. While he was trapped in the truck he had anti-freeze dripping on his leg and pooling in his shoe. That has left him with burns on his leg and foot; the worst being on his heel (3rd degree). They have not been concerned up to this point but decided to open the blisters this week. Most of the burns seem to be healing well except for the heel. Please keep this in your prayers as we would rather not have to go down the skin-graft road.
***Update*** (from Matt)
I know how much people seem to check this blog looking for updates, so I will do my best to appease the masses. I had to chuckle at the pun on "heel" in your post Steve. Sorry if I seem too happy, but I had a great night with Mike. We got to watch Lost and I had a great time listening to him talk while he slept. The Codeine gives him really vivid dreams that he usually acts out. Luckily for him, they seem to be quite harmless endeavors. For instance, while he was sleeping, he lifted up his right arm and reached across the bed. While he did this, he talked about how he needed to "pass" something. He then moved his arm back and promptly woke up with a smile. When we asked him what he was doing he replied that he was taking a cigar from Dad and passing it to a girl who was complaining about him getting ashes on her bed. I realize that makes no sense at all, and so does Mike, but you can't help but laugh at the absurdity of his dreams. I've listened to Mike get shutdown by a girl he was trying to pick up, try to sell the game MindBender door to door, and explain that "Stook was not a video game, it's a card game." He sure gets around in his dreams. I figure that it is important to share the fun times along with the not-so-good ones.
So that brings me to the not-so-good. Mike didn't feel great today. He did eat lots, but he was really tired out and in pain today. It didn't help that he started to run a temperature later in the day. By the time I left tonight his temperature was back to normal levels though. Recovering from surgery isn't going to be a piece of cake for Mike. These last couple days have been really tiring for him so pray that he gets a great sleep tonight and during the nights following.
And to update on the burns:
After talking to the plastic surgeons, it seems like Mike probably won't need skin grafts. They don't want to create another area that needs to heal by doing the skin graft. A skin graft does not look any better than a normal scar, it just provides the skin cells to an area where there were none to grow. Mike does have enough healthy skin around the burns to fully heal without skin grafts. Mike's burns (mostly his heel) won't fully heal for 4-6 weeks. Until they heal, this requires the nurses to change his dressings every day. Normally, this would be painful and not being able to walk on your foot for that long would be hard. But Mike's condition makes that news somewhat bittersweet. I would rather Mike be walking, but the lack of more pain is still a positive.
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24 comments:
Hey Mike,
thats awesome babe!!im so proud that your healing..and of course knowing you, you wouldnt let anythign like that get you down. Your an inspiration to all of us and since i can't come down this weekend to see you i wrote you a poem and a letter that im giving to Kasi to give to you and I hope you will understand that you mean something to me even if we were never that close..you were the guy I always wanted to be friends with. I will keep praying for you. God Bless
Love Lauren Wells
Mike
Wow, That is amazing that everything is healing. I found it kinda ironic that the "heal" isn't "heal"ing. Sorry you may not find the humour in that but if you do then laugh as hard as you can. They say that laughter is the best medicine. Well, after God's Love, it is definately second. I think that if you can find the humour in something, it can make any situation brighter (especially if you smile :) SO go ahead, laugh (either at me or the corny joke I tried to make) and smile as big as you can. It will lighten the mood and make you and those around you happy. It is worth it, if even just for a moment. Keep getting better and may God bless you richly.
-Julie-Anne (Mary's niece)
Hey Michael,
You won’t have a clue who I am, but I’m from KBI and took piano lessons from your mom. I was pretty shocked to hear about your accident and was glad your brothers put this up so we can know what’s going on.
Our hearts go out to you and your family right now, especially because we know some of what you’re going through. My brother shattered his 5th vertebrate last June, and it was a pretty scary, upside-down experience for us.
We’re thinking of you and praying for you lots here at KBI. Praying for healing, tolerance for the pain, and that you’ll be able to keep your spirits up. Good to hear you can joke around some -- laughter is the best medicine, right?!
A verse that has really meant a lot to me this school year is Ps. 142:3 -- “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path…” I love that little word “then” because it shows me that when I was through my deepest, darkest valleys, THEN, and then especially, He knew my path and what I was going through. When it feels like He’s far away, it’s then especially that He’s NOT.
Brenda, praying for you and Neil too, in all the decisions to be made, for strength during long hospital days, and for peace to be able to rest in God and trust Him fully in whatever the outcome of this is, knowing He has a plan in everything.
Lois
Mike,
I love you. You are doing 'great'. Thanks for letting me compete yesterday, and I happliy take the coveted 'runner up' award and give the recognition due the "queen" - smile. xo Nancy
Mike,
happy to hear that the burns are healing and I guess next to pray for is healing in your heel. lol. God is with you always,
Britney in MI
Hey Handsome,
I'm praying for angels to caress your burns in a healing touch.
Love your mischievous smile!
L
hey mike
it was realy cool to see the pics of u posted on here. it must be such a relief to be out of traction! i hope that you are enjoy catching up on your tv shows.
i know how you may feel, (though i have never been through what you are going through fully...) i just had my third surgery on Monday May 15th. it was 3 days after my grad (good timing eh!?) i now have 4 screws in my foot, and had a pinched nerve removed(so i have no feeling in my 2nd and 3rd toes on my right foot). yesturday i got my 50 stitches taken out. it was tons of fun! hahaha, actually i passed out after hyperventilating on this little table. haha. im such a chicken. i've also been hopped up on drugs. im now in a walking cast instead of crutchers.
i just wanted to let u know ive got some idea of what you are going though, in terms of boredom and desire to sleep! i trust the Lord that you are feeling better and that He will heal you, that His will shall prevail and that He'll bring you Peace.
We are all continuing to pray for you.
Christy Ward
hi again!
would you be able to post (or email me) the room number, and hospital mike is at
i really want to send him some entertainment. our drama class made a series of short movies last year, some of them are pretty dumb but some are really funny. i thought it might cheer him up! i can mail it as soon as i get somewhere to send it.
thanks
little_miss500@hotmail.com
christy ward
Hey Mike,
its good to hear once again that your doing better each day. Thinking about you is one of my favorite "thinks". I am Blowing you a kiss from across the miles and praying for you every second I get the chance to. its good to know that you keep smiling, your a very inspirational person Mike. You take my breath away...today and every day. There are alot of angels up there watching over you, making sure you get better.
The wings of an angel
So pure and so white
The wings of an angel
Holding you tight.
The wings of an angel
Caressing your skin
The wings of an angel
Keeping love within.
These wings from an angel
Are my gift to you
These wings from an angel
Will help see you through.
my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kaitlin
Hey Mike,
You dont know me personally, but I want to say that your brother Steve means alot to me and my friends. If you are anything like him, and from his words you are, you are a great man. May God give you the strength to conquer this test. The personal strain on your heart must be rough- I could never understand what you are going through, but I want to say something that will hopefully bring a smile to your face. When I first glanced at Steve's post "Burns" I had a strange feeling about it. How your burns have "flown under the radar"... it shocked me.
"Who cares about sideburns in a time like this?" I thought.
To my folly I quickly figured out I was vastly mistaken. It was a much more serious issue tagged onto your list of difficulties. However it is a blessing to hear of the healing from the burns. I will continue to Pray for you and your family. You have already been so strong, and even though I dont know you personally, you are an inspiration. May you heal COMPLETELY and continue to have sideburns that "fly under the radar" but yet still impress the cute nurses. God Bless!
Hey mike, I couldnt beleive it when i heard what happened but it seems things can happen so fast and easily. i know you'll recover and we'll be able to have some more good times... maybe you could even come to my cabin again and warn a nice lady about a deadly recall on all dairyland products...lol good times. get well soon buddy
Wishing you the best
Jordan Richard
hey mike, it's awsome to hear ur healin up. even if its little by little (but heck, a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step) . keep fighting man (i know u can!!). if u need any motivation just look at all the support ur freinds r given u man (they love u like it was going outta style! lol)
u probably heard from the 100 plus posts already, but if u didn't, the whole school is pullin for u (they even have the board outside pullin for u. lol)
but i'm outta here man.
still doing the praying thing for u man
l8er,
Dennis Kaufman
Hey Mike...
So i hear you are checking out all the hot nurses...haha thats awesome...i am really glad to hear you are ok...cause i don't know what everyone would do not having you here....you always knew how to cheer people up even if it was the worse day...and i am sure those nurses need a little laughter ever now and again....and they have the best of the best....i luv ya mike...i will be prayin for ya...
Brittany Cardinal
"That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
When you consider spending Eternity with the Lord, our time on Earth is short. We must endure, and demonstrate to the Lord our Faith in Him, through all things, until He calls us Home.
Still praying for God's Blessings upon you, your family, and your friends.
Andrea Evans
Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.
KEEP SMILING MIKE!! You break girls hearts with that smile! haha, lots of love from LLB!
Hey Mike, I just don't know what to say to you to make things better. I love you and am continuously praying for you. I know there will be steps back but there will be steps forward. We will cry when we step back and we will celebrate when we step forward.
your sis,
Lori
Good morning to all of you. Thank you so much for your updates and your honesty about your hurts. I know that our saying we hurt with you really is just words, because you are the ones going threw this.I have not always understood why we have to go threw such terrible things , but I have asked God quit a few times . Its been a funny thing , because in return one of the last times he did not give me a normal answer, He gave me a song"Count your Blessings Name Them One By One." 1 Thes.5:16Always be joyful.Never stop praying.Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. He will never give us more than we can handle. He Loves you guy and Wants the Glory no matter what. Keep looking up and He will hereyou and answer. God Bless
Dear Michael,
Greetings from our little Bible School campus. My connection with you is that my 3 teens (the youngest of which shattered his 5th vertebrae into 7 pieces last June) took piano lessons from your mom. On May 15th, Dave from your church came to my office and told me of your situation and so I wished to know more. I'm thankful for this site which keeps us up-dated. Today I prayed for you and for your family.
May I share some of my heart's response? For years I have been intrigued by the sovereignty of God. One of the most encouraging portions of God's Word to me over the years is Genesis chapters 37-50. Perhaps it would encourage you too, especially 50:20 "...you thought evil against me but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive." Joseph who had major trials with no church support nor family support for years (perhap 20?). Inspite of all the difficulties that landed on him, his take was that God's hand was upon his life. Even though he was young (17) when he began to experience these huge blows, Joseph take was that God had His purposes for his life. The same is true for you and me today. God's hand was and is upon your life for His own purposes. Though your path is difficult today trust Him. What we don't see clearly today, we will when we see Him face to face.
Seeing life from God's perspective will always, yes always, benefit our person. So hang in there! Take courage.
One more thing. Accidents are part of the human experience. Yours was major but you were spared something that money can not buy and that is your mind. My older brother cannot count to 10. He cannot run a wallet. He cannot carry on a conversation with you. He cannot read or write. He cannot self-reflect. He cannot make decisions for himself and hence when my mom died, I became his legal guardian as he can not make decisions. I'm thankful that God has allowed you to retain your mind. This is invaluable! It is beyond price. Always treasure it and use it to bring glory to the One Who gave His all for you. I almost cry as I write this. You are blest to have your mind and unlike Joseph, to have a loving family.
An old man (100 years old) once told me when I was still a lad, "Never, never, give up". Though your road is tough, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Forgive me if this sounds like preaching (for I am a preacher and teacher). Even though I do not know you I write to you because I care.
Much love,
Jon
Your Perfect
. ...Because everything you do
Makes me smile.
...Because every second spent with you
Is worthwhile
...Because when you laugh at me
I laugh too
...Because everyone else can see
That I'm devoted to you
...Because I love your eyes
And the way they shine
...Because you don't tell lies
And you're so cute when you whine
...Because when you get mad
You can't hide it
...Because even when you're sad
I can't find
...Because the way you hold me
Sends shivers down my spine
...Because your spirits so free
And your so damn fine
. ...Because I never stop thinking about you
It's just not fair
. ...Because you're so perfect
And no one else can compare
Mike get better there are some of us who will always need you there for us to make us smile when we need it.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
From: anonymous
Mike, what kind of cigar do you like? Maybe we can send a care package, if ya know what I mean! I think it would be fitting to make that dream come true the first day you find yourself in the great outdoors. And I'd like to supply the burning device. So have Steve tell me what you like and I gotcha covered.
DK
Mike,
Our thoughts prayers are with you and your family. It is good to hear that there is good times and laughter even through the pain.
We'll keep praying! Love your way, God Bless!
Hello!
I read your prayer request on Relevant Magazine.com! I'll be lifting up your brother, you and your family to God, and I hope that every moment you see the wonders of His hands, and His ever increasing grace.
My family is in the medical field(physical therapy/ x-ray tech) and does a lot of work with car accident patients. My family members have taken many courses offered by Dr. John Upledger who teaches seminars, and trains others to do physical therapy that often produces life changing results. Therapists qualified in these techniques can be found all over the world.
The therapy is called CranioSacral Therapy
The craniosacral system (a physiological system like the cardiovascular and respiratory systems) provides the physical environment in which the brain and spinal cord develop and function. The light-touch technique works with natural and unique rhythms of our different body systems to pinpoint and correct source problems. It aids with healing traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Here's more information if you feel so inclined to check it out:
http://iahe.com/html/therapies/cst.jsp
http://www.upledger.com/home.htm
Hopefully your family will be able to discover some therapists in your area! I know God has used this therapy in a mighty way to heal my dad after his near death car accident.
Blessings,
Alysa
Happy Birthday Michael
I pray every day for your recovery.
Aunt Doreen
Hi Mike,
I try to check any updates as much as I can, but it's kind of hard without internet. Plus I'm not very computer smart. I think of you every day. Your prayer request from the church bulletin sits on my kitchen window ledge in front of my sink. Every mother spends lots of time there. Alot of the stuff I read, that your going through brings me back to three years ago when I was spending lots of time with my brother Chris at UofA and Glenrose. Even today Chris is dealing with a burn on his heel. He actually just was released last week from LLB hospital because of infection.
Reading about your balance, transfers, and muscle building reminded me of a time Chris said, "I feel like Humpty-Dumpty." It made us all laugh in a time well needed. I can imagine you sometimes feel the same way, just remember how BUFF your going to be.
Hope your heal and balance is getting better. Keep smiling, because our family is thinking about you and we know its hard alot of the times but it gets better. I will keep praying for you.
p.s. When I told my son Ryley about your accident he refered to you as "the guy with the awesome hair."
Love Tiffani Beniuk
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