12/22/09

Update on Dallin


We continue to be overwhelmed with an outpouring of love and concern from all of you. It's difficult to keep in touch with everyone, so please accept our apologies for the lack of personal contact as our primary attention continues to be with Dallin. That said, we do feel we owe you at least an update, so here you go:
Dallin is in good spirits, for the most part. He was moved from ICU to a regular room yesterday and has started physical therapy, which consists primarily of small movements to his legs and even getting into and back out of a wheelchair several times now. It's all very painful and he is enduring it as well as a 10-year-old could do. We expect him to be home for Christmas but the likelihood of going up to Utah is getting pretty slim now.
The latest news from this morning is that they found from a recent X-Ray another break in his right arm. You can see in the photo that he's pretty uncomfortable, with two casts. We tell him it will make a good story, but the only story he's interested right now ends in "happily ever after." Today, some firefighters came down to the hospital to visit the children and it lifted his spirits.
I've gotten a lot of questions as to whether or not it would be appropriate to call and/or visit. Please feel free either way. Our only request is that if he's sleeping, let him rest. And not even the nurses know when that kicks in. My last two mornings of visiting him have been staring at the outsides of his eyelids for an hour. But you may get lucky. It's just that darn medication. It makes him drowsy. If he's not asleep, he's certainly alert enough to have visitors and would welcome the attention. He's at St. Joe's Hospital on the 5th floor, room #27. Just up the Camelback elevator and straight down the blue hallway.
But all in all, he is recovering nicely. He'll spend a couple of months in a wheelchair once we get him home, so that will be another challenge, but we're just grateful for all the faith, concern and prayers that have gotten him this far. We have no doubt that he will have a full 100% recovery and that this experience will serve to make him a stronger person in the end. I know it has strengthened our faith.
Mikayla and Jaris are both home and recovering nicely.
Lindy and I wish all of you the best Christmas season possible. Please hug your little ones a little longer than you normally would. Appreciate the blessings you have and let the true spirit of Christmas permeate in your hearts and spill over to those around you.

Matt and Lindy

9 comments:

The Knight's said...

love and miss you! lots of prayers coming from the gila valley on your behalf.

Kendra@My Insanity said...

Thanks for the update and all of the info! We'll try and get down to the hospital to see him. One more question about that...are children allowed to come to the hospital, or do we need to leave them behind?

I'm not sure if the card from our class with make him laugh or not. The boys are all joking about him being in a wheelchair--lovingly, of course. As long as he still thinks it is "awesome," it should be good.

Rebekah said...

Thank you for the updates. I have been wondering how things have been going. I wanted to call, but felt you needed rest, too.

Lindy - here is the big hug, that I was going to give you after the School concert, but didn't.

Leah S. said...

Poor little guy is so tiny in that big ol' bed. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Let me know if I can help with anything. Love you!

The Lewy's said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The Lewy's said...

Heart breaking to see all of that 10 yr. old energy lying in that bed. Lots of love comes from Koosharem as well!

Solomon Sampson said...

We love you guys! You are in our hearts and prayers!

Stephanie said...

Thank you for up dating. We are sending lots of prayers your way. He is such a trooper. I think he deserves a trip to disneyland after all this. We will meet you there. We love you guys soooo much.

Stacey said...

Thanks for the info. He really doesn't look very comfortable at all, poor guy. I wish we were closer and could help out more, we hope our prayers are enough for now. Let everyone know that we love them. Merry Christmas.