The Accident

On 4/16/2010 at approximately 10 to 10:15pm, my Lenny was involved in a serious boating accident. There were 6 occupants of the boat, all were injured. Both Lenny and his best friend Jakie sustained life threatening injuries and were airlifted to trauma centers, Jakie to Las Vegas, Lenny to Phoenix.

I received a call at 1:45am informing me of the accident. I then spent the next 2 hours trying to find him and find out what happened. After calling two hospitals I found Jakie, and then called his mom and she took it from there. I still couldn't find Lenny, so I called the Lake Havasu Police and they got back to me in about a half an hour telling me he was in Phoenix and that the social worker would be calling me soon. Next came the longest 20 minutes of my life. Waiting to hear....

Lenny sustained the following injuries - Completely fractured face from the upper jaw to above the eyes, broken neck, broken ribs, collapsed lungs, and severely broken legs. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I spent the next several minutes rallying friends and getting to YiYi (that is what Lenny calls his sister). We all headed to Phoenix and below I will update you on his condition, how we are holding up, and have a way to communicate with you to keep you updated and be able to answer your questions and be able to get the support we so desperately need from all the wonderful people that love him.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Week Five - Wednesday

Today has been a magnificent day! We started PT early again today at 8am, and they wanted Lenny to get up on the regular walker but he refused. He is so scared to injure his leg since it hurt him so bad the last time they made him stand up. So instead he opted to stand up with the electronic walker that you saw him in the picture with yesterday. He stood up 4 times and on the 4th time he took about 6-7 steps. It was a beautiful site. He is still a long way from walking, but baby steps is the way to go.

This afternoon we found out that we have been assigned a "discharge date", yes friends we are COMING HOME! We will be leaving Arizona on the 26th to go home. Words escape me on how excited we are. In the same breathe I am scared to take him home. A new obstacle to overcome. So many wonderful people are working to make our home ready for our return. Medical equipment, ramps, groceries, meals, it is wonderful. It takes some of the edge off the worry of just getting him there. Over the next week I will learn how to give him shots, we will be practicing getting in and out of the car, and just some normal minor things. The hospital here is already working on getting us referred into his outpatient therapies here at home and I made an appointment for our primary care physician for Thursday the 27th. So basically we aren't even home yet but are already getting busy! They are discharging him as non-walking as he has a long road ahead of him with that. So they have ordered him a wheelchair for us to take home with us and a transfer board to get him out of the wheelchair.

There are so many of you that want to visit and we want to see you all, but please make sure you let me know either by email (nancerz@verizon.net) or phone that you would like to come so we don't get 20 people in one day. Also please give us a couple days to get settled. Lenny is still really worn out and gets tired easy, and the trip is going to be a toll for him. BUT, please do not withhold asking to come visit because you think you will be bothering us, that is not the case, just give me some notice and give us a couple days to get settled. Some people have stopped calling me because they think they are bothering me, no one bothers me and I love hearing from you.

And out next piece of good news, Lenny has an appointment tomorrow morning with the Orthopedic Surgeon for the pain/popping he is having in his left leg when he stands up. We were scared we wouldn't be able to see a surgeon until we got home so we are happy. I will let you know tomorrow what we find out.

So what a day! Now we are in countdown mode to go home, 7 days and counting!

Can't wait to hug you all! Love Nancy

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." . . . You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
Eleanor Roosevelt

3 comments:

  1. Wow! Really awesome. What a wonderful relief to hear such good news. So glad for you both. That light at the end of the tunnel is getting larger and larger. Look how far Lenny has come. It's really amazing and a testament to the strength that you both possess. I know you will be so glad to get home. Ya just have to hang in there for a few days longer. This I know you can do!! Love to you both. Aunt Sharon

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  2. YES! Great news. I know everyone will understand what you are saying Nancy. I can't wait to see you both.

    Love you!

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  3. Awesome news & the Lakers won as well - I'm sure that made Lenny very happy. We are across the street if you need anything - okay? Bill & Marlene

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