The Neck Brace is History.....

My appointment on Thursday the 16th, went so awesome!  I was so impatient that morning and ready to get going.  Finally it was time to go I was so excited.  So my dad, mom and I headed to the U of U hospital where my appointment was.  We started out at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, after checking in I went in for X-ray.  While there in X-ray we found out that their CT scan machine had broken that morning and they were hours behind.  So from X-ray we went over to the Hospital and had my CT scan there.  I then headed to my appointment.  It seemed like we were down there for hours.  I finally seen the doctor.  She had already looked over my X-ray's and CT scan.  She gave me the go a head to take off the neck brace and there was no more bleeding or even a spot on my brain to show that there was any bleeding before.  She said that everything looked really good.  I was so happy to hear that.  There is still a little stiffness in my neck.  But I am hoping that will go away with therapy and using it again in normal movements.  So there will be a huge fire, and the neck braces will be the first things in there. LOL!

The Timeline

The accident happen January 13th, yes it was Friday the 13th.  Well it was early that Friday morning.  I had my stitches in 2 weeks.  I was on my anti seizure medication the time while I was at the hospital, and the first week I was home.  I started therapy shortly after being home.  I did therapy any where from 2 to 3 times a week.  I have also been twice to my other doctor and taken 2 impact tests.  I go February 16th for a CT Scan and     X-rays, and a doctors appointment with the neurologist.  I am hoping for good news that I can take my neck brace off.  I will go back to therapy after my neck brace can be taken off.  I do not know how much I will have to go.  I have set a goal for my self to be 100% back to normal.  My birthday is June 29 and I will be 30.  I have chosen this because it will give me about 5 months to get back to normal.  So it will be a great party to not only celebrate my 30TH BIRTHDAY, but to also celebrate Healing and being back to my self.  I am also hoping that by the end of the month I can go back to work.  Maybe start out with small shifts and work back into full time.  I am missing all my co workers and the residents there.

Continuing the healing process....

I have tried to keep my self busy so I do not go crazy!  LOL!  I have been on many lunch dates, which I love cause it is a chance to get out of the house.  I keep busy when I am home alone with laundry, dishes, and light cleaning.  It does take me some time to do these things but I get them done.  I like to go for a ride with my Dad when he goes to feed the animals.  That also gets me out of the house.  I can't help him I am not sure about walking in the snow yet.  So I just go for the ride.  I look for any reason to get out of the house and be out and about, LOL!  So my next step towards getting better or the healing process.  I go to the Neurologist on Thursday which is just a little over a month from the day of the accident. I go for CT scan and Xrays, and an appointment with her.  I am very interested in knowing what she will say.  That is all I think about.  I worry that I have not been doing what I was supposed to.  I do not know what my injury is called.  I pulled the ligaments from my neck bone.  It really does not have a name so I can not look it up.  I am to wear my neck brace 24/7 except to shower.  I am not to use a regular bed pillow and I haven't until this last week I have found it more comfortable to sleep with a flat pillow.  I go back to take my Impact test in two weeks again.  Hoping for even better results this time.

Starting healing...

Well after the first week of being home my body figured out it was injured.  I had aches and pains every where.  Everything was sore.  I had road rash on my lower back, my arm and behind my right ear.  I continued therapy.  I didn't like it, my therapist would bend my knee and it would hurt like crap. But I know its for the best so my muscles in my knee could get better.  My therapist was really happy with the progress my knee had made.  I started using a cane instead of the walker.  I was also able to shower standing up and alone.  That was awesome! When I was home I was able to walk alone with out my cane. I started using it less and less.  I finally got my stitches out and about a week or so later my knee healed up really well.  I now have what could be a scar that looks like a zipper.  It will be one cool looking scar.  I have not been to therapy for a couple weeks and I have at home exercises I have to do.  I will go back to therapy after I get my neck brace off.  I have been doing my at home exercises OH and do they pain me. LOL!  But I want to get back to normal again and if pain is the way. Then bring it on!  Slowly my bruises went away and so did my road rash.  I have a few scars now that are just reminders.  I have been to my niece's basketball games, I love having somewhere to go. It has helped me a lot to be out and walking.  Rather then sitting at home in my chair.  Hoping that it will heal on its own.  I am really glad that it has been a very mild winter and I can go places with out having to make my way through the snow.  I walked to my sisters last week and back.  That felt really good.  With out snow it has been possible and awesome to take little walks.  Along with therapy I have been going to another Doctor.  This one is to monitor my brain beings that I did have a concussion.  I take what is called an Impact test about every 2 weeks.  It monitors how well you can remember and your reaction time.  The first test did not go well at all.  I scored really low on most of it.  I did much better the second time that I took it.  That felt really good that I was making progress.  After taking the test the first time is when I got frustrated with my self.  And worried that my memory and things would not come back to me.  Well its back now. And more and more things are easier then they first were.

Needing help with everything...

I relied on my mom's help a lot for personal things.  She would help me shower every day and I had a walker that I could sit on in the shower.  She brushed my hair, and fixed me up for the day.  She cooked for me and all.  Did my laundry and everything.  I needed help with everything literally.  I loved having the help, but would get frustrated with myself cause it was simple everyday things.  Things I could do before.  I am not going to lie I was scared that my memory and being independent functions would not return.  I slept a lot in the first couple of weeks being home.  Things started coming back to me little by little.  After the anti-seizure medication was gone my memory came right back to me.  I started to do little things again alone.  But I still needed help walking I had a walker.  My nieces and nephew decorated it for me with stickers of all kinds.  It was very good looking, lol.  The kids were awesome at help me with whatever I needed.  I went back and forth from my dad's to my mom's house.  I started therapy when I got home, with that I could climb up and down my mom's stairs.  That was an awesome feeling.

The first week...

I had to be on 24/7 watch, lol I called it babysitting.  With the anti-seizure med I was on I had to be monitored all the time.  The first week of being home was rough not only on me but my parents too.  I could not get comfortable in any way but sitting/sleeping the the Lazy-Boy.  I needed help for everything.  I am so glad I have awesome parents to Thank for all their help. Although I will never be able to repay them.  I could barley feed myself and that was hard.  I came home with a brace on my knee I had 8 stitches from the surgery.  I also had a neck brace.  I pulled the ligaments from my neck bones and need it for that to all heal. I had a ton of bruises and road rash.  I don't remember a lot being home the first week either.  The anti-seizure medication made me really foggy and forgetful. So I don't remember a lot of the people who came to see me then either.  I remember going to my sisters house one day and my friend/nail lady came to fix me up.  I was so happy.  My friend, her sister and their kids came too.  I was so happy to see them all. That day was great.

The Hospital...

Well I do not remember much of my stay at the U.  I do remember little bits.  I remember my parents being there.  I do remember my sister coming to see me on her birthday and giving her a hug and telling her I was sorry I was there.  My sister in law came too, she was feeding me one day and I spit it back out.  With the anti-seizure medication everything tasted like medal.  I had a lot of visitors there, who I really do not remember them coming to see me.  I remember my 2 sisters and my parents.  That is about it.  Although I am told that I was able to recognize everyone that came to see me, but I do not remember.  A few of my cousins, my siblings, my nieces, and nephew, My grandparents and my Aunts, & friends all kinds of people but I do not remember seeing them.  My Aunt Jill sat with me most of the day one day so my parents could go to my niece Mylee's cheer comp.  I don't remember her being there either.  I do remember finding out that one of this kids in the truck was just 2 floors up from me.  All I wanted to do is go see him.  I guess we talked for a while, I don't remember what was said.  My parents told me I was very obsessed with my niece Mylee and if she was ok.  I thought I was driving my car when I wrecked and Mylee was with me.  I was worried about her and told my mom to send my brother in law to fix my car.  Once I talked to her on the phone I never asked about her again. I also was very worried about getting my nails fixed.  LOL if you all know me well I am obsessed with getting my nails done and having them look good.  I remember being released from the hospital and being told I could go home.  It seemed like it took forever for them to tell me that.  My parents packed me up and off we went to leave.  Either my mom or dad said something about Starbucks being in the hospital.  I needed a coffee... lol so we ordered one and headed home.  I don't remember the car ride or getting home.  But I am here and so Thankful for that.