Good News about Lorin

Written by LeAnn...October 25th
It's working! The swelling in his arm is going down and starting to look like a body part instead of a balloon. Everyone (including his Dr.) is happy about this and they are kicking him out of ICU sometime today. Yesterday we had them lower the pain meds by 1/2 and so far so good. He hardly ever pushes his pain button either so hopefully tomorrow we can lower them again. He really wants to get out of here and knows that he is kind of loopy with all the medicines, so he is asking them to get him off. It amazes me that one minute he is off the wall, doesn't know where he is etc, and the next he realizes that he's in the hospital and not quite right in the mind and asks us to please forgive him for saying stupid things. That part breaks my heart because with everything running through him he has no choice at how his mind and body reacts. Our goal now is to get him eating so he can gain some weight and strength to give him an even stronger desire to fight this and get walking again. Yesterday he wanted to try and stand but when he couldn't he was fearful that he would never walk again, (but we know better) once he gets the epidural out it will be much easier to try.
Lorin received something very special today, with the help of his Aunt April. As a lot of you know Lorin's favorite football team is the Oregon Ducks and they are playing at ASU tonight. Lorin really wanted to go to that game but since he couldn't, April (being the very persistent person that she is) was able to get a hold of the right people and managed to get a signed football, of the entire team and coaches, a motivational CD and note card written out to him from the Oregon Ducks team. I wish you all could have seen him when she gave it to him. He couldn't believe it, and said "this is the greatest gift ever, I love it." I was so pleased that he actually realized what he had gotten and Craig and I were so touched that we were quite misty eyed, but I also know that when he has all his wits about him, it is really going to be a treasure. Thank you so much April you are a real sweetheart.