Welcome friends and family of Alex and Dane!




This Blog has been created by friends and family of Alex and Dane as they make their way down the road to recovery, after being struck by lightning 10/5/2010. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as this road will likely be a long one. Feel free to check back often for status updates on both Alex and Dane, and be sure and leave your well-wishes when you visit. The boys will be shown this blog when they are awake.

We sincerely Thank You for your concern and friendship. Alex and Dane will always remember the support of friends and family like you.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Saturday Night - Alex

I've waited ALL day to post, wanting to post about Alex's EEG but since its now after 8pm and I haven't heard from the Neurologist I decided to go ahead and post that No News is Good News.
My days are so long here, yet they go so fast. Its one test/treatment after the next - today the test results were coming back good.  White blood cells are looking good so they scheduled him for surgery Monday at 1:00pm.  A doctor from the Burn Team explained the surgery to me today while we looked at his burns.  I havent seen his burns for 5 days, that is one thing that I have a really hard time with seeing the actual burn. Its very painful for him when they "scrub" the burns and then bandage him, its hard to watch.  I found out while the doc was going over his burns that they thought they were going to have to graft part of his right calf (I didnt know this since I havent been present).  Today when they unwrapped it the doc was surprised that it was almost healed.  I wasnt surprised because I know of all the prayers that are being offered.  I know that was a blessing.  He was spared the additional graft.  They will take skin from his upper left thigh to graft it on his neck, chest and on both sides of his belly button.  This surgery is very painful and he will have an additional wound to deal with when he wakes up.  Im so grateful that he wont have to deal with the wound on his thigh and the graft on his leg, that way he wont have both legs injured.  He wants to run so bad.  Hes worried about that.  Sunday a family friend is going to come talk to him about skin grafts. This friend had several grafts and is also a runner, 2 weeks ago he finished his 54th Marathon - Running is very possible after burns and grafts.  This will be good for Alex to hear.  The surgery will take a few hours to preform.  After the surgery he will be wrapped up and wont be able to move for 5 days.  He needs to remain still so the skin can graft.  On the 6th day they will unwrap the bandages and check the grafts.  If the skin takes (which it will) and if he dosnt get an infection (which he wont) he should get to break out of here about 3 days later.  So.....thank you for your prayers!  Please keep them coming! And lets start the count down!
I know this is pretty jumbled, its all so overwhelming.
I continue to read the blog comments to Alex he is so emotional and cant understand why everyone is doing all of this for him, he dosnt understand all the love that is being poured out to him.  He is SO touched.  I tell him its because of the way he has lived his life, its because he and Dane are amazing boys and survived lightning.  He said this afternoon "Im glad Dane lived, hes my best friend and we will always be together, we lived through lightning".
Kaleen - aka Alex's mom

9 comments:

  1. COUNTDOWN is starting!!! Good news for sure. I have some other good news for Alex- the Ohio State Buckeyes (ranked #1) LOST tonight to Wisconsin. A sad day indeed for his mom & I, but I'm willing to endure the sadness for Alex (just this once) because I know it will make him smile:) Hee hee. See you soon!

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  2. Alex, I have waited a while to post any comment to have some time to think about what I want to say to you. When I heard that you were the young man that had been struck by lightning I was in Lin's market with a cart full of groceries. I left everything sitting there in the cereal aisle and got in the car and drove as fast as I could to the hospital. I was really worried about your mother. She is such a good friend I wanted to see what I could do to help her. When I got there it was such doom and gloom until Kevin Oliverson walked out. He had a smile on his face and just said to me...he is going to be all right. For some reason I got that feeling also. When I got back into the room to see your mother and give her a hug she was sooo worried and fretful....as you can only imagine. She said to me "It's bad Denise". I just took her face in my hands and said Kaleen it is going to be good. He is going to be fine. I know you and your strong will. When I saw all the people in the emergency room(and there were a lot) I knew when you had that many people praying for you, and fasting for you, and caring about you that you would be great. The great thing is that you can see how much good is happening to you because of those prayers. I have a sister who was in a plane crash and survived....there aren't many people who can say they survived a plane crash....just like you can say that you survived a lightning strike, anyway, it was the amount of prayers that were said for her that got her through that. Just know that we are thinking of you and your family. We love you and are so grateful for so many good things that are happening to you. Sorry this is such an epistle. It's late and I hope that I'm not rambling too much. Denise Wade

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  3. Alex! I just want to echo the comments of my mom and to also say that I have been praying for you every day since I heard of the accident.

    When I heard the news I was walking around campus and just broke down into tears. I have been so worried since then and It is good to hear that you are continuing to improve. I miss being able to see you at school and church, and getting to listen to your funny comments and receiving your "reichel" salutes. haha I love you and will continue to pray for you!
    -Rachel Wade

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  4. That is awesome. I will be circling October 26th on my calendar. Go Alex!

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  5. You will continue to be in our prayers and echo your moms comments that everything will go smoothly. We will see you back at church soon!

    Nate and Su Lin Neilson and Family

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  6. Alex man! Its good to hear that you are doing so well! its great to hear that you will be able to run again. I have to say this whole event has inspired me to start running again. Also Amanda, Sam, Dane and I have decided that as soon as you get better, we are all going to go ride dirt bikes. I cant wait for you to get back man, its been hard not having you at school and in debate, I have been so bored its crazy. Anyway, I just want you to know that I, My whole family, and all of your friends back here have nothing but support for you. Also LIGHTNING DUN GOOF'D!!! I BACK TRACED LIGHTNING AND SENT THE CYBER POLICE AFTER IT!!!! <-- cruise control for cool people
    -Brandon FULLUH

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  7. Congratulations Alex, your progress is so amazing! I just have to say i will be performing at the benefit concert for you and Dane tonight representing scdc aka snow canyon dance company and i am so proud to say that i am doing this! Love you Alex keep up the good work! :)

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  8. Alex, we haven't met but I feel like I know you, I hear a lot about you from my son Brandon. And I have to say from what I hear, I like your intensity, your intellect and your ability to just be who you are. I have been so concerned for you and for Dane since this whole incident happened. I'm so glad to see that every day you are making progress and fighting hard to overcome this. As a mother I love to see your tenacity and pure determination to get through this. It makes me proud. You know during the summer I would see you out running with the cross country team, striding out in front of Coach Bentley and Coach Jolley. I am a runner of sorts as well. And I know what running teaches you. It teaches you that you can outlast difficult things. You can overcome yourself and push through pain and exhaustion and come out a winner. Which is exactly what you will do in this situation. And I know that you will be running again before you know it. Now when you run a race you know that there's always a lot of support on the sidelines; people cheering you on, and in longer races stations set up with everything from water and power bars to icy hot and band aids. Well, in this "race" I want you to know you have incredible support from an entire community that is anxiously waiting for your return home. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We love you. Be strong. -Cristie Fuller

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  9. Dane and Alex. Prayers in our family continue up to Heavenly Father for blessings to you both with improved health each day. Elder Timmy Miller in Moscow Russia is praying for you both. He was told in our email and continues to ask how you both are doing. We are praying for peace for both families. Love and prayers...Dan and Ruth Miller and Family and especially Elder Miller in Moscow Russia.

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Alex on Wednesday, Oct.6

Alex on Wednesday, Oct.6

Dane Thursday Oct 7th

Dane Thursday Oct 7th
Before Life Support was removed

Alex's Room

Alex's Room
Thanks for all the love