All Bones Are Healed

Greetings Family and Friends,

I sincerely hope that this letter finds you all doing well and blessed. As it leaves me, it leaves the family and I doing very well.

Well, I had my six week follow up with the orthopedic doctor today and was given some great news. All of my breaks have healed and I have progressed much further along than the doctor had anticipated. The two goals now are to get my right arm as straight as possible (right now we are pushing for 10% range of motion – you other doctors out there should understand what that means, to the rest of you that means my arm is as close to straight as possible), and to conduct an Army Physical Fitness Test at the six month mark. I no longer have to use a cane and stopped using the wheel chair about two weeks ago. As for the hospital bed, I have been sleeping in my own bed for the last three nights. Lastly, I officially return to work tomorrow, 31 Mar, since 5 Feb.

This past Wednesday I had my wires removed from my mouth. My first meal was Ursula’s gumbo (the first time I ever got the chance to have it and it was great). I’m not back to eating steaks just yet, because my gums are still tender. However, in about another week I can resume eating “hard” foods.

Well, I hate to keep this letter short, but I just wanted to pass on the great news. Now that I have reached this stage I am going to stop with the monthly letters and return to the quarterly updates.
Take care and God bless.



‘Gru

Gru Update

It sounds like each day is getting a little better. We will continue to pray that the progress continues to be good and that a complete recovery will come soon. If anyone can overcome all the obstacles, Gru can!

Greetings Family and Friends,

I sincerely hope that this letter finds you all doing well and blessed. As it leaves me, it leaves me doing much better than the last letter.

First off I would like to send out thank yous.

First I want to thank God for allowing me to survive the accident. During that first weekend in the hospital, I did have a doctor tell me that had it not been for my size and the healthy condition that I was in, I probably would not have survived the accident. So thanks to our Father above for not taking me home on 6 Feb.

Thanks to Ursula and my princesses. I always imagined me being the breadwinner and taking care of them, and now here it is they have to adjust their schedules to take care of me. Now of course the unconditional love they have for me they do not see it as a sacrifice, but I just wanted to publicly thank them.

Thanks to all of you. The emails, the prayers, the cards, the phone calls, and the build-a-bear (which resembles my current condition) have truly lifted my spirits and I appreciate it all of it. Ursula has taped your cards to my “hospital room” in the house, so I see them when I lay down to sleep and when I wake up in the morning. Hats off to Rich Thompson, that card had me rolling that it started to hurt my pelvic injury (lol).

As for my present condition, I’m getting better by the day. The progress is slow, but that is fine with me. I don’t want to rush this recovery so that I can come back just as strong, or better, when I fully recover.

Some of the improvements: I can lift my right arm above my head without assistance, I am using the wheelchair less and less, and I am able to complete the exercises through Physical Therapy which includes riding a stationary bike. I can also get myself dressed and undressed, to include put on and tie my shoes, as well as take a shower on my own. Some of these improvements are within the last two weeks.

Some of the still need improvements: lifting my legs on my own when lying on my back (i.e. the leg spreader exercises or flutter kicks). Because of the pelvic injury and the doctors having to split those muscles to repair, my doctor states that that injury will need the full six weeks to repair.

Lastly, I want to ask that you all send up an additional prayer for Evan McQuiston and the men and women that have served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan that are in his situation. Evan was struck by an IED while serving under my command in Iraq. He is about to undergo more surgery and I would like for you all to say a prayer for him. Thanks.

Well, I have rambled on long enough. I just wanted to say thanks and provide everyone with an update.

Take care and God bless,

‘Gru

McGrue Doing Well

Great news from the McGrue household!

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to pass on a little note to tell everyone that McGrue is doing well. He is walking around, with the support of his 4 point cane. He has been cleared to ride a stationary bike. You know a brotha is bored...lol He is now able to lift his right arm over his head (with a little help) He is at a steady 224. He lost a total of 26 pounds. He still has 3 weeks until his wires are taken out of his jaws. We have found that he is able to go at lease 2 hours without his pain killers.

Short term goals: Lifting his arm completely over his head. Being able to stretch his arm completely out. Walking for a long period of time with the cane. Getting off the narcotic pain meds. And getting his wires out.

Long term
goals: 80% or more use of his arm, walking without his cane and eatting with no pain. Very little weight gain...LOL

I also wanted to tell everyone thank you for the cards. I have covered his wall with them. The girls and I loved the fruit baskets. The build-a-bear was great. McGrue laughed so hard. The cast and crutch was perfect. The flowers in the hospital was a bright spot in the ugly hospital room. Also, Thank you for the prayers. Keep
praying.

Love you all Ursula