Quick Up-date

I just wanted to give a quick up-date on my Dad and Brother...

They both had surgery last Tuesday. My dad's surgery lasted 9 HOURS. It was the longest 9 hours of my mom's life! They put plates, pins, and screws in both my dad's ankles so hopefully support the bones so they will heal back properly. They then put titanium plates and screws on his pelvis to hold it in place. As for now no more surgeries, but in the future when he is able to put weight on them he may have to have another.

My brothers surgery lasted about 3 hours. They put plates, pins, and screws also in his ankle. He was able to go home on Wednesday. In fact I went up to the hospital Wednesday morning to pick up my mom (she ended up staying the night with my dad) and I decided to go to Bronson's room first. I knocked on the door and Megan (Bronson's wife) opened it up and there was Brons in a wheelchair dressed and ready to go. He told the nurse he wanted out of there as soon as possible. He had a date with the Direct TV guy, who was moving his service for free to Meg's parents house since that is where they will be living for the time being. Meg's parents basement is wheelchairs accessible.

Brons has been feeling okay since. Managing the pain has been the biggest hurdle for both of them. They seem to have cycles similar to each other. One day they are good and next day not so much. Bronson will have to stay off his foot for 3 months. He has the option of wheelchair or crutches. He gets really warn out with the crutches so he has been using them as little as possible. I am sure with time he will be all over the place with them:)

My dad is still in the hospital. He is working with a physical therapist who is teaching him how to get around with his wheelchair. My dad cannot put any weight on his legs so he is having to learn how to get in and out of a wheelchair with his upper body. Thank goodness he is a tuff stud how has great upper body strength. Thanks to his 30+ years caring plywood. We were able to take the kiddos up to see him on Friday. We met him in a waiting area. His physical therapist made him get into his wheelchair all by himself then my grandma wheeled him to see us. It was great seeing him out of his bed, but he was completely warn out. He stayed with us for a few minutes. Enough time to give each kid "knuckles" and he even ate a cup of popcorn with us. Then he went back to his room. He knew he still had to get himself back in his bed.

Saturday morning we packed up the jeep and headed back up to the hospital to see Grandpa one last time before we headed back to Nebraska. He seemed to be having a great morning. (Luckily we came before he had physical therapy so he wasn't warn out.) He shared some goodies with the kids. The kids had made some valentines for Grandpa that were displayed on the wall which made the kiddos very happy. Then we all said our goodbyes.

Leaving has been one of the hardest thing for me to do. I have always been okay with living away from my family. It has been a really good thing for Ty and I. We have been able to figure out how we want our own family, but this time it was hard.

It was hard leaving my dad while he was still in the hospital. It was hard leaving my mom who has been so strong through this, but her life has really changed. She is having to figure things out for them. They had to have their bathroom completely remodeled to make it wheelchair accessible and she kept saying your dad would just come right in her and say this is the best way for it to be and it would be done. She had to make the phone calls to everyone to get the work done. Its hard to live away when you know you could help your own family if you lived close. It's just not fun right now:(

Blessings....

As many of you know my dad and brother where in a construction accident on Tuesday afternoon so I thought I would just let you know what happened and how they are doing...

They where framing a house in my parents neighborhood. They where sheeting (covering trusses with plywood) the roof of a deck about 30 feet up on the house and it collapsed. They have since found out that one on the braces on the bottom of the deck gave and the whole deck began to twist and fall. My dad was working above Bronson and Bronson said all the sudden he saw my dad go past him and that is when he realized that he was falling.

As my dad was falling he said he was falling head first and then felt literal hand push him up so he landed feet first. Bronson also ended landing on his feet. Bronson began yelling for their other employee, Grady Jeppeson, came around the back of the house where they were. He immediately called 911 and then took a truss that fell on my dad off of him. He then gave them both a Priesthood blessing.

My mom was at home working in her hair shop and she heard the sirens and kind of panicked, but then they stopped so she didn't think anything more of it she figured they just passed down the road. Then another neighbor pulled in the driveway and was walking up to the front door, but my mom yelled out for her to say she was in her shop. Peggy (the neighbor) said no you need to come with me. My mom knew something was wrong.

She got to the job sight and was able to ride up with my dad. My Sister-in-law Megan was in St. George working so they called her and she immediately got a flight home.

Both my dad and brother were conscious through this whole thing and have been able to give all details of what happened.

There were taken to McKay Dee Hospital where they learned that Bronson had shattered his left ankle and broken his back. My Dad shattered both ankles, broke his back, and broke his pelvis. The tried to operate on both of their ankles but both my dad and Bronson had such bad swelling they stabilized their legs and they will both have surgery on Tuesday to try and repair them. As of right now they will not need to have back surgery they will both be sporting some back braces. My dad will have to have surgery on his pelvis. They will put titanium plates on the front and back to hold the pelvis together.

In the ER the Doctors and nurses kept telling my family that when they are treating people who have fallen off roofs there is head trauma or paralysis never lower body injuries. They kept reminding them that it is a miracle.

They released Bronson from the hospital yesterday, but he will have to go back on Tuesday for surgery. My dad is still in the hospital. They have told him that he will not be able to put weight on his legs for 3 months and will not be able to walk for 6 months.

When my Sister Bree Anne, who lives in Chicago, and I found out we immediately started to figure out how we were going to get to Utah. Ty was able to go into work and get time off so we left Nebraska that night at 7:00 P.M. and arrived in Utah the next day. My Sister also arrived on the next day. She is an RN so she was going to take care of the hospital stuff and I am a professional homemaker so I take care of the house and kids:)

We have witnessed so many acts of Christlike service. The house they are working on the next day the sight was cleaned up and another construction crew, who my dad said he has only shaken their hand before, had already re-built the deck and roof. So many people have been at the house donating their time to finish the house for my dad. My dad and Bronson have been so overwhelmed with emotions when they find out how many people are their helping. Every morning the street is lined with trucks and trailers. Men from their Ward have been going over and just carrying wood into the house for the construction workers. One of them who is a retired electrician told me that even old electrician's know how to carry a piece of wood. Tomorrow a group of scouts are going to the sight to clean it up. A friend of my Dad's came up to the hospital yesterday and is making sure his other projects are running. He told him that he just wants to help STEVEN BARKER CONSTRUCTION INC keep running until my dad is able to take over again. It has just been an out pouring of love!!

We are so grateful for the many wonderful friends and family who have been helping through this. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!