Oct.22,2004 it will be 4 years since Chads accident.His balance has improved greatly.He can walk alone using his walker.And also can walk with a side walker with someone there just to spot him if he gets off balance.He walks up and down the ramp outside alone just holding the rail.Chad has gone from wearing a size 10 boot runner to now wearing 81/2 roper boot with no AFO to support his ankels they are still very stiff but gets botox injections every 3 months to keep them loose.The left leg and arm are doing so much more now then when I wrote the first story.He is restoring a 1968 chevy 2 4 door car and holds the sander with both hands.His friends come over and they work on the car with him this is a great thing for Chad as he seems to get lonly at times.One of the greatest things that he can do now is ride his horse.He is able to keep his balance and ride and control his horse himself.His friend or sister ride the other horse and use a safty line just incase.Chad wears a dirt bike helment when he rides.This is something that we thought he would never be able to do again and he is doing it.WTG Chad.He transfers in and out of the van and cars on his own.He can shower when he wants as he is able to do that on his own so it is more private for him.He is getting very indepentent which is nice for me.I'm only needed to spot now.We made the back of our house into a little apartment for Chad so he has his own space.Its like a little bachlor apartment.He spends alot of time on his computer and is getting very computer smart.By next summer I think Chad will be walking on his own.As he has homno hemeni opsia in both eyes meaning he is blind on the left side of each eye.I don't think he will drive we are praying that the lord will heal that part of the brain.So he will be able to drive a car again.And us as a family we are still doing good and have lots of support from family,friends,health care providers and the best suppoter we have is our friend Leslie from Sask.Goverment.Insurence.She has been a great support person and has been the biggest reason we are still standing strong threw this whole thing.Chad is going to Star Rehab for almost 2 years know and they are Great friends to him and have brought him a long way They have got him a long way.We will be there for a few months then time to move on and try Sarbi we have only been there once but it will be a place where Chad can work out and also meet people his own age and go on outings.So thats it for now take care all and never give up and be strong.God Bless you all. Holly
I'am a mother of 4 children we are a step family that are very close.I have worked since I was 16 with the handicapped.So I was very lucky that I new how to care for my son.Who at the young age of 19 had a roll over with his truck.
My son mr. never sit still always riding his horse,moterbike or truck.He was a hard worker started his first job at 13years of age trimming cattle hoofs,picking turkeys and chickens,And pumping gas for the small town service station and going to school full time.Before he got his licence to drive he would ride his horse to work.I tell you Chief(horse) had his nose out of joint when Chad got his drivers licence.Chad did this till he graduated then he went to work at wallmart in the oil and lube departmentHe worked there for 2 years then he got on the oil riges and had been working for them 2 weeks when he had his accident.
Well it was 5a.m. 0ct.22/2000 that I got the call I will never forget.It was my Daughter she live 3 hrs from me with her husband.Chad was down there visiting.She tells me Chad has been in an accident and they say he may die.That was one morning I can say it was hell getting out of bed.My neighbours son was with him so we took 2 cars and started driving .Her son was not badly injured thank god.We got 1/2 way there when the hospital called and said thet Chad was going to be airvac to RUH hospital in Saskatoon Sask.
So my daughter who was driving because I was in no shape to turned around and we went to Saskatoon.That was around 8am we waited at the hospital till 3pm when my son arrived.I still could not see my son as the Dr. were with him then the Dr. came and told us the results of the accident he was bleeding badly in the brain and there was swelling and they needed to operate now.I could see Chad for a min.OMG my baby is all I could say when i seen him.I thought my legs were going to give out.I went back to the waiting room to wait.
It was hours before they came back and the pronoses was bad 10% chance to servive and if he did he would be totally handicapped mentally and physcally.Thats when I got mad at everything including GOD.For 24 hrs I didn't pray other then to tell god how mad I was.Then something happend I think he kick me or somthing lol.I started praying and so did others all over the world on the net my sister in Manatoba got the ball rolling.Chad was in RUH for 3 months then transfered to SCH for rehab.He was in a coma for 28days .They removed the feeding tube 2 weeks after he woke. Chad was in city hospital for3months then an out patient.We had Chad at home every weekend and then Chad came home to live.I have been his full time caregiver.And my job is getting easer everyday.
Now Chad is 21 years old and he is doing very well he is still in a wheel chair but his left side has started to move he goes to therpy 3 days a week for 3 hrs he got a walker 2 weeks ago he is very competent.Goes shopping on his own makes models loves his computer.He has one very good friend who comes to do excercises with him 3 days a week and also takes him out to movies or dinner car shows if it wasn't for that friend Chad would spend all his time with his family.And that can be pretty boring.Chad is indepent toliting and most transfers now.He also reeled in his first fish on his own last weekend.He was using both of his hands.
We believe that Jesus is helping Chad to get strong and that is why he has come so far and the love of his family and friend.Since the beginning I would not allow negitivty around Chad and it has worked we will stay postive and no that some day he will be 100% better.If you would like to write Chad his address is chevyman172@msn.com he would love to hear form all.
PS Chad remembered his bank pin no.2 weeks after he started talking.There is hope for all.
GOD BLESS ALL
Email Holly
