August 30,2010

Well since I have been slacking on the weekend with the blog I guess I'd better get with it.
Not much happens here on the weekends. We did get the opportunity to partake of the sacrament on Sunday. That is a real blessing in our lives.
Today Nick had 3 therapy sessions. In his occupational therapy he learned how to go in and out of doors by opening the door by himself. Almost every door he would come up to people would want to open the doors for him. We would tell them he was in training and they would say, thats ok we still want to open the door for him. People are so helpful.
In his p.t. he is learning all different kinds of balancing. He is getting to strong. He is so determined.
In recreational therapy he worked on a model car. They know what he likes.
While Nick was at therapy Alison and I went and did laundry. I am so thankful to have a washer and dryer in my home. Going to a laundry mat is a pain, but you do what you have to do.
It rained most of the night here, and when we woke up it was pretty chilly.
Yesterday Nick had company. His aunt Carlene and Uncle Blair came to see him and bring us their trailer for us to stay in. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! It really is helpful and appreciated.  Love ya.

August 27, 2010

Today we had a family meeting with all the staff that is helping Nick. We talked about his rehab progress and what he can expect when he is finished with rehab. His expected date to be coming home is October 4th. His recreational therapist has figured out Nick's love of trains and fishing. At some point they want to take him out to go fishing. They said that we could probably take him to temple square also. We discussed some of the items he will need when we get home.

He is still impressing everyone. Dad got to come and see Nick with how much he has improved. We are all so proud of Nick and his progression. They had Nick start doing weight lifting with his upper body to build more muscle strength. His second session of  P.T. they was teaching how to to pop wheelies in his wheel chair. I asked them if that was safe. They chuckled at me. The purpose in this is so if his wheel chair tips backwards he would know how to prevent himself of tipping over. He was able to meet a couple of guys who have been in hand bike marathons and learn about there accidents. It has really been helpful for Nick to talk to them.
When he is all done we will have to learn how to jog to keep up with speedy Nick!!! He gets around in his wheel chair so well.
Today Matt and Lindsey Williams stop by to see Nick and also my cousin Shirley and Bill Johns. It is so great to have such great people in our lives to support us.  Thank You everyone.

August 26, 2010

Nick is known as Nick the superstar in the hospital. Nick has done so well today. He got up and dressed with help from occupational therapy. He shaved today and he feels so much better. Physical therapy went really well today. After his first physical therapy session he decided he wanted to go outside and we played two rounds of skipbo. We got back to his room just in time to put things away and then for him to head back down for his second physical therapy session. He is doing alot better with drinking his water with help from his nurse and mom nagging at him. The nurse got him to laugh today. He is smiling alot more everyday.

Uncle Blake stopped in today to see him and brought him some chocolate and a magazine, Popular Mechanics to read and look at. He stayed and visited with us and teased us all. It really boosts his spirit when family comes and sees him.

August 25, 2010

Nick has done so well today!!! Nick got a better wheelchair today. It makes it easier for him to wheel himself around. He is getting better and better to get himself out of bed to his wheelchair. His physical therapist got him up twice today. He went outside and learned how to manuver on cement. His occupational therapist got him up and took him to therapy and played some wii today. He gets pretty worn out by the end of the day, but he is doing so well.

The social worker from this floor brought him gloves and hydro pack for him to use when he is in his therapy in his wheelchair. The hydro pack hangs right on his wheelchair.

August 24, 2010

Nick has had a very busy day today!! He did some occupational therapy and physical therapy today. The physical therapy got Nick up in a wheelchair and did some balance work on him. He now has to work on keeping his body balanced and getting his body used to being balanced. He is starting to move himself a little better everyday. He had a pic line in and it was removed today. That is one more cord remove from his body and one more step closer to being able to come home to his family and daily living. Here is a picture of his back and him in real close. They put Nick back on the cough assist, so they can get all the fluids running thru him. He is doing good today.

The Ronnow's came and visited Nick today and he loved the company. Grandma and Grandpa Heiner came and saw him today, and brought him some goodies to eat. Nick has smiled alot today with all the visitors.

August 23, 2010

Nick has graduated from orthopedic floor to the rehabilitation floor. He was moved down to the rehab floor at 3pm today. He is all set up and is doing really well today. He starts hospital boot camp first thing tomorrow morning. They have a family room for the families to be in when he is in therapy, we can warm up our food in there. We can get ice in the family room too!! They have a padio just for the rehab patients to have a picnic or bbq with their family. He is still not keen with the hospital food, but I don't blame him.

Nick's incision from his back is looking really good. They took to bandages off and they said they won't need to go back on. They rebandaged the spot where the chest tube was and it is looking really good.

August 22, 2010 (Evening)

This morning the physical therapy got Nick up out of bed and in a wheelchair. Today was the first time he has been out of bed since he's been here. He did really well for being the first time. Nick got a little dizzy when he was up, but he handled it really well. He moved himself over to the wheelchair really well for the first time. They taught him how to wheel himself around the hospital floor and how to turn around corners. He is going to get really good at wheeling himself around by himself.

They released him from Respitory Therapy today. He will still need to use his coughing machine but the respirtory therapy staff won't be coming to his room and make him use his coughing machine in front of them. We just need to get him to laugh, that will be tricky.

Nick will be moving to the rehab floor tomorrow morning and then it will be hospital boot camp. He will do well and probably suprise us all on his improvements.

Nick's uncle Kevin and aunt Trina came and visited him today. They came from Blackfoot. Kevin brought him Grandma Heiner's applesauce and saurkraut. Kevin also brought him a binder with paper and some pictures. They also ran to the gift shop and got Nick his m&ms, so he got his chocolate fix for a while. Kevin almost got Nick laughing today with his jokes.

August 22, 2010

Yesterday was quit the eventful day. Nick has had a lot of company today. Alison brought all of Nick's sisters to see him along with Grandma Smith. After they were here for about 1/2 hour Bp. Campbell and the priest quorum  came to see him. He was very suprised. They brought him lots of different gifts. This will give him some things to do while he is down here. Not that he will be board with all the different therapies, especially physical therapy.
We were able to bring him in some pizza, which he really enjoyed. He says it is so much better than hospital food. Which I will have to agree with.
He sat up yesterday about 10-12 times. He is so determined. He was also able to have his chest tube removed. YEAH!!!

August 20, 2010

Well Nick still has his chest tube, he is still putting out to much fluid into his chest cavity. He will probably have it thru the weekend. They will have to evaluate it each day. He has a x-ray every day, that helps to see what is going on in his chest and lungs. Each day he gets stronger and stronger.
He has physical therapy 2 times a day at this point. They put his bed in a chair position, with his feet touching the floor.  Then the therapist and either Doyle or myself assist him to sit straight up with back away from bed. He has to help by grabbing ahold of his bed rails and pull himself forward.
This morning when p.t. came in they got him all situated, he grabbed ahold of the bed rails and pulled himself up by himself. That is a great accomplishment. His therapist said wait, wait for me. We were all so suprised.
Like I have always said, Nick one tough kid.We are so proud of him.
Nick does not like hospital food. He says it is not his mothers cooking. I guess I am good for something. The food here is to dry and bland.
They told us today that we can bring any of his favorite foods in that he would like. He was very excited.
We have lots of Dr's and therapist that come in lots, just when he thinks he might get some rest someone comes in. They have taken all the IV's out of his arms, all the monitors off, so it is easier to move him around. They have to come in every couple of hours and turn him so he doesn't get bed sores.
We really appreciate everything everyone is doing at home for us. Prayers we feel them bouncing off the ceiling. Plus everything else.

August 19, 2010

Nick is in a little bit more pain today, But still doing good. First thing this morning around 9:00 physical therapy came to work on him. That is very difficult, and painful. They have him just sitting up and using his arm muscles.They have to support his legs so he doesn't slide out of the bed. It is so hard to watch, but he is a tough kid.
Just when he thought he was going to be able to rest the respitory therapist came in to work on his coughing. They have to use a cough assist machine on him that forces him to cough. We have to keep those lungs a moving so he doesn't end up with pnemonia.
He will be getting the chest tube removed today. YEAH!
The room he is in has a big window so he is able to get lots of sunshine. It also looks out over the Salt Lake Valley, and over Primary Childrens Hospital. So I guess Doyle and I are enjoying the view more than Nick is.
We are so greatful for everything everyone is doing at home. We love you all. Thank you.

August 18, 2010

Nick Heiner was 4 wheeling on August 14 with elders quorum. He was in an accident, he went over the handle bars of the 4 wheeler and broke his back. He was air lifted to EIRMC. They did a CT scan from the top of his head to the bottom of his pelvis. Things were bad. The Dr. came in and told us he would be a parapalegic for the rest of his life. That was a hard pill to swallow.
The Dr. came in and told us he would need to be air lifted to University of Utah Hospital. Wow Nick's first airplane ride and couldn't even look out the windows. He said it was weird. 
We got here to Uof U and they immediately took him in for a MRI of his back, then took him to surgery. He was in surgery for 5 hrs.  After surgery he was sent to ICU and has been there for 4 days.  Yesterday on 08/17/2010 he had to have a chest tube interted into his chest cavity to drain fluid out of his lungs. They drew out 770 cc's of blood out of his lungs and chest. It was old blood from the injury. He is now breathing lots better.
Today 08/18/2010 he was moved moved out of ICU  to the 6th floor. He got the largest room in the whole hospital. It is nice.
He will be here in the hospital for atleast one month.