Great to hear

Alex had his skin grafts on his chest done in Vegas October 19th. He was transported to STG November 1st so a wound doctor here in STG followed up with Alex watching his progress of his graft.  He took the 75 staples out of Alex's chest  in December. This local doctor wanted us to visit his burn doctor one last time in Vegas.  We did that over Christmas and Dr Z released us to the STG doctor, Dr. K.  We were told to come back in 3 months to be seen by Dr K.  This past week we went into Dr K's burn/wound office  and after checking all of Alex burns and donor sites he said "See you in 6 months".  What a great thing to hear!!  Alex is getting better everyday.

Pick Me!

Alex was given so many cards and letters while he was in the hospital.  Some of his favorite were from a local Kindergarten class.  This week he went and visited the morning class, next week he will visit the afternoon class.  The children were so cute and asked the funniest things.  Well, as Alex said "they didnt really ask questions, they told me stories".

How big was the lightning?

Pick Me!! Pick Me!!

 One boy said "my mom said a kid got hit by lightning, you'e not a kid" Alex replies "yes I am"  the boy says "no you're not"

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Lots of discipline, determination & love brings independence for Alex.  Its the eve of 6 months since The Strike.  This weekend was LDS General Conference and its been our family tradition to paint either ceramics or wood objects during the afternoon session.  Octobers General Conference was 2 days before The Strike, Alex doesn't remember that weekend at all, he doesn't remember painting his wooden apple, he doesn't remember eating steak at his friends house.  Now 6 months later with the help of his "friend" (shes now his girlfriend) he painted a wooden star to add to our Craft Collection. So much has changed in 6 months, so much good has come to us.  We have met so many wonderful people, Danes parents for example, I didn't know Tim and Leslie prior to this.  Last week we all got together for dinner, it was fun to hang out with them, the boys are doing good.

I read through the blog again today...October 6th - Alex woke up - October 7th - Alex is breathing on his own....... I Read the comments posted by so many, THANK you for your support.  Kaleen aka Alex's mom

He's come a long way

The video below was taken October 14, 2010 and aired at Tuachan during the Alex and Dane Benefit Concert.  Since Alex wasn't able to be at Tuachan, UMC filmed this video of him to play in between some of the amazing acts. The money that was raised that night has helped pay for Alex's many medical bills.  Going through his bills is a full time job, my mom had been helping me with that but now that shes back home in Phoenix fighting her own health battle (bone cancer) I've taken that job on. I took this picture last month of Alex bills.

This video makes me sad yet so proud every time I watch it.  I'm sad to see the burns on Alex, the feeding tube and lack of life in him when this was filmed.  I'm proud to see how far hes come since then.  He could have given up, he could still be in a wheel chair, but he's not.  To watch this video from October, then watch the TV interviews just 5 months later..... I'm a proud mom! Alex is a tough boy! He's come a long way!

Good Morning America & The Early Show Links

For those of you that missed the interviews - below are links to both shows.
Thanks ABC & CBS for the amazing experience


GMA VIDEOS:

Teens Survive Lightning Strike

Two boys survive lightning strikes outside school that stopped their hearts.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/teens-survive-lightning-strike-13147072

GMA STORY:

Teens Survive Lightning Strike, Lived to Tell

17-Year-Old Utah Teen Recalls Waking Up After Accident: 'I Kinda Thought I Was in Hell'

http://abcnews.go.com/US/teens-survive-lightning-strike-recount-waking-hospital-recovery/story?id=13144714

Teens describe lightning strike recovery 

Early Show STORY:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7359825n&tag=related;photovideo

Great Story by KLAS in Vegas

Thanks for the Story KLAS!!!!  I agree with you, the Doctors and Nurses at UMC made correct decisions and saved the boys lives.

I remember being in the ER and Dr.  Sterett saying "I need to know now if CPR was started with in 1-2 minutes or 2-3 minutes".  He said that would determine the care that would be given to the boys.  He later told us that since CPR was started with in the 1-2 minute time frame he treated them as though they would live and fully recover.  One more minute and their outcome could have been a lot different.

Thanks again to ALL that stepped up to save Alex and Dane.
Kaleen aka Alex's mom

http://www.8newsnow.com/story/14265932/utah-teens-struck-by-lightning-speak-out

Three Days in the Big Apple

Well, Kaleen was right, we definitely did not have enough time on the morning programs to thank all of the people involved in the boys rescue and recovery, we would need at least an hour long show for that. We also didn't get to see all that we wanted to see or do all that we wanted to do, but we packed quite a lot into our short visit to New York City!
Some of our adventures included a Broadway show (Mary Poppins), Time Square shopping and restaurants, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and a subway ride to China Town, just to name a few.
We had a great time traveling with the Lambson/Talley family too; although things were hectic at times (with 11 of us traveling, hotel and flight issues...), I was so glad we were there together!
Being in New York for the interviews also made me think of Lara Eustermann and the interview she did on the Today show a few years ago. I'll never forget that morning, I was getting ready for work when her miraculous story came on the TV. I was so amazed that she had survived a lightning strike and I remember thinking how brave her mother was and how hard it must have been with Lara's two young children witnessing the strike. I was sobbing! Little did I know that in the not so distant future, we would be facing a similar situation with Dane and Alex.
I've included the link to Lara's interview for anyone that would like to watch it. She has been Alex and Dane's biggest fan and we can't thank her enough for her words of encouragement and her inspiration!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/22078060#22078060

Love to you and your family Lara!

Leslie (Dane's mom)

I thought I should add to the awesome pictures that Kaleen posted yesterday :)