2005 Year in Review
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Update on Andrew Bonneur |
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Many people have asked on the condition of Andrew Bonneur who was injured in an ultra light plane accident on December 29, 2004. With time and therapy a full recovery is expected for Andy. The following are some of the emails that Andy’s wife Christine sent to people on this condition. The first one was written about 3-4 weeks ago. January 26, 2005 Hello everyone, sorry it's taken me so long to write and update you. Andy and I have spent our first week here in Richmond, Virginia, they flew us here last Tuesday on a Citation 5 jet. He is on the Spinal Cord injury floor, if you want to write him it's the following:
He could definitely use some encouraging letters. He started Therapy this past Monday. They start out slow by trying to have him sit up in bed; the goal today is 1/2 hour. The reason this is a milestone is simply because he's been laying for a month and when you sit up it causes lots of dizziness and nausea, also he had major back surgery 2 weeks ago and has to wear a back brace. The goal is to have him in a wheelchair by Friday so he can leave his room. He has an entire team of therapists, OT, PT and KT therapists who will be working with him. To let you know how quickly he is improving Monday he could only sit up for 2 minutes., yesterday for 15, the goal today is 30. Also yesterday they were going to try and stand him up, yes on his own feet, but he was too dizzy. There is little doubt about his walking out of here eventually, he moves his legs so much already, and mostly the therapy will have to strengthen his muscles so he can walk again. This is great! As for the head injury, he is also healing very quickly, but I'm learning that a prognosis for a head injury is hard to get. The standard answer is "it takes lots of time". I've been told by doctors here that active duty Marines with a head injury will find it hard to be readmitted into the Marine Corps. But his flight surgeon from his squadron has told me it's not impossible. His head is healing extremely rapidly, and if we leave here and he has recovered to his former capacity, they will put him thru tests, possibly refresher training and he could be flying again in a year. So I ask you all to please pray very hard for Andy's recovery. I'm learning to rely on prayer more than the doctors. We've already been blessed so much in the last month. So please pray that he has a full recovery, pray that I have patience, and pray that we can both work thru Andy's frustration. You have all been so good to us. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I am staying at the Homestaid Suites, I forget the address at the moment but feel free to call me on my cell phone at any time, 361-537-1940 Thank you all,
Ok, I wanted to share good news with everyone! Yesterday they gave Andy an hour-long cognitive test, a very detailed test to check different thought processes and thinking skills. This is to show how much brain damage or disability Andy has now and will have in the future. The results today...... NO DISABLILTY!!! He scored at the 90%, which means he is still fatigued easily and has some trouble. But, as the doctor said, it is amazing he's healed so quickly. After only 5 weeks to be at 90% she said gives her full confidence that Andy will heal completely to his prior brain functions!! Then he will be back at 100%. This is fantastic news; it means he will fly again. For therapy with his brain he has to read a lot, study, play games, watch movies...Tough huh?!! He already wants his manuals for the Huey to start brushing up again. Andy is completely coherent, once in awhile he may search for the right word, but who doesn't? And this will all heal over time! Yesterday he was out of bed for about 5 hours; he even bowled from the wheelchair! He's been up for 3 hours this morning; he's reading a new Mopar book so he doesn't fall behind in competing against his dad (we have a 69 Satellite and his dad has a 66 Mustang...ours is so much better!! oh, and I picked it out regardless of what Andy says...) They think he won't be in the wheelchair too much longer, I think the PT therapist is going to have him try and stand again today. Keep praying for him. The more he heals and gets feeling in his nerves back, the more pain he is in. But they are managing his pain without giving him too many drugs, so it's a balancing act. HE is doing great. The doctors and therapists here love him! He's spoiled rotten! He’s surrounded by vets and active duty people, every time they pass in the hall they stop and chat, about Iraq or Viet Nam or hot sauce...It's a good place for Andy and we've had lots of visitors from the squadron already. He's getting very motivated to be back to work! Thank you for all your prayers. They are being heard! Love to all,
Hello everyone!!! Drum roll please...... (Feb. 10th) Andy is walking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yesterday afternoon and today he walked with a walker across the room and back and did other exercises such as riding a stationary bike, etc. It won't be long now before he is back to normal. Thanks for the prayers! He’s doing fantastic! Love to all,
Wednesday, January 12, 2005 6:55 AM Hi everyone Andy had surgery on his back yesterday; he had two small vertical rods with one horizontal rod put in with screws (imagine an "H") that will support the weak area. The neuro surgeon said that the surgery went great. He said Andy is so healthy that he barely bled and did not need a transfusion; he was also able to take Andy off the ventilator immediately after the surgery. I asked the neuro surgeon about Andy's prognosis and he was extremely encouraging! Although he cannot of course commit to anything for certain, he stated that Andy's head injury was small bruising all over, something that should heal completely in time, probably a few months. His back injury is also healing well. He said Andy has responded to pain and has definite feeling in both legs. And if I haven't mentioned it, this past Sunday Andy began moving his legs some on his own. The doc says these are hopeful signs for s complete recovery, although it is too early to say for certain. By the end of this week, or beginning of next Andy and I will be moving on to a rehab hospital, we are not sure which yet. I will keep you posted. Again, thank you for your support and prayers. Andy's quick healing, so far is a testament to the power of praying, it is truly amazing. Continue praying please, and especially since he is in a lot of pain. The surgery required cutting some muscles in the back and sewing them back together, I've been assured this is EXTREMELY painful as I'm sure we can all imagine. Thank you all, I love you!
Wednesday, Feb 16 Hello everyone, I just checked in on Andy in his KT therapy and he was standing withOUT a walker dancing and showing off. hee hee. What a dork! But I'll keep him . He went grocery shopping with his therapists (and myself) this morning, his first time out of the hospital. He walked with the shopping cart and sat in the wheelchair when necessary. He has to cook me lunch yesterday, his own version of Tuna casserole. His shopping style was so "unique" (going up and down every single aisle, instead of only the ones needed) that the therapists were worried and asked me if that was part of his head injury. I laughed and said no, that is how he does all his shopping, which is why I do all the grocery shopping, or it would take us forever. I'm teasing, but really want to point out how well he is doing. By the way, for all of you in cold snowy weather...it's over 70 degrees here today. HA! Tonight Andy and I are going on our first outing with Recreation therapy, which is mandatory. The therapists want him to go on an outing with them in order to see how he does. All patients have to go on one outing with therapists and then they get day passes to go out on their own with their spouse, which will be nice! Anyway, tonight we go to the Barnum and Bailey Bros. 3 ring circus. I don't know about Andy but the clowns may scare me!! But it should be fun. He's doing fantastic. Every day his endurance is stronger and he accomplishes more. We are still on schedule to leave Richmond sometime at the first or second week of March. (We go into the final phase of rehab on Feb. 28th, into a hospital "apartment" where he is on his own for 4 days, without every two hour supervision, I will be with him though). We are both so excited to leave and get back to North Carolina. HE will continue outpatient therapy in NC at Camp Lejeune. He will not fly for a minimum of 12 months, but a small price to pay. As he put it, he will have more time to work on his car! I think I've said all this before, can you tell I'm excited to go home? We miss our dogs! Last weekend Troy and Debbie Artman came 8 hours to visit us; we had such a wonderful time. And we have LOTS of visitors coming this weekend. Thank you everyone for your prayers and letters and support for both Andy and myself. You've all been so wonderful! I can't thank you enough.
Andrew and Christine's address in North Carolina is: 2101 Nordell St., Jacksonville, NC 28540. by Editor, theCity1.com |
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