Mina's Musings

We planned and packed. I searched the internet for the best route and timing for a Grand Canyon rim to rim hike. My husband was ready to take on the challenge. Jonalyn also came with her friend Halee. The four of us hiked out the first day, a steep descent to Cottonwood Camp. 6.8 miles hike with an elevation change of 4161 feet  Fred took the lead as he set his pace and us 3 women took some time getting into the groove of our hike. One of the things I anticipated was our conversation together;                                           it opened fluidly as did the vivid scenery before us. About ½ way down I began to feel twinges in my left knee. Not good. Jonalyn and Halee slowed down for me and Jonalyn found me a perfect walking stick to steady myself. Without it I don’t think I could have made it to the camp. It even had ...

Firestorm Fred is most happy when he is travelling an unfamiliar road. I asked him today if there was one place that he would like to see again. He answers that he prefers to see altogether new places. This is no surprise to me but keeps me poised for the unpaved, unfamiliar, and unsettled. Our trips often bring me more profound understanding of the way things work in the world. At the tail end of our canoe reconnaissance trip we drove into Dixie National Forest off of Highway 14. We camped at the edge of a burned forest. It was barren, black, and ominous. Twisted and naked tree branches  reach for mercy. Others had snapped and landed pell-mell. Tears of glistening sap bled and sat petrified on tree torsos.  Tree bark had soaked up soot, and although the intricate puzzle texture was evident,  the bark’s blackness told of the feverish nightmare.   The fire had completely obliterated some of the trees not o...

I am overflowing with blessings. December is ushered in with the vague memory that last year Fred was just coming home from Presbyterian, unable to walk or care for himself. We wheel-chaired him into our bedroom with hospital bed awaiting and hunkered down for the weeks it would take to recover from his 5-place pelvic break. My mom says that he experienced the breaks "...like a pruning, he was cut back but he came back stronger." Yup, today he is offroading at least once a month and sometimes two or three! On the home front, Jessica will be turning 23 next week. She has had a full semester and two of her classes have afforded her a creative outlet: art and singing. When I saw the charcoals that she is doing I was rewarded that the artistic gene from the Latapie side lively expresses itself. Last night we went to her class recital. I didn't know what she would sing. Her number was sandwiched evenly by classmates before and after. I recalled this type of recital from yea...

Christmas 2010 The celebration of family and friends at the Taylor home. Fred marathoned his sitting record up to a full 6 hours and only took a half hour nap. We were thankful he was here to join in another year. God preserved his life. Last Thursday, Ryan and Matt came over and lit a fire under Fred by talking "jeep" talk. Here Fred has dressed himself to direct the efforts outside. Jeeps make him smell offroad adventure in the air. So here are some of Fred's thoughts today the 2nd of January. Another word from Fred: Welcome 2011! With my last visit to the ortho doctor and a new set of x-rays I was given the OK to start putting some weight on my right side. I made it a point to do all my moving while in the doctors office without any assistance from anyone. What a difference from my last set of x-rays at Presbertian Hospital when I dreaded being moved around so they could get the right angle. I now am pretty much able to move myself around without much pain and have t...

December 24, 2010 Mina types Freds thoughts.. The day before Christmas. 5 weeks and a day since the accident. While much progress has occurred these past 5 weeks, I still spend most of my time in the hospital bed that Mina arranged to be in the exact same spot as our regular bed. This small detail made it easier for me to adjust being home, in that as I lay here I see everything at the same angle as I did lying in bed before the accident. I am grateful for little things. The weight loss has turned around, if you trust the scale 7 of the 30 lbs I lost is back. I have a slight sensation of an appetite, although smaller frequent meals seem most effective. One night I went without any pain medication. And week 5 marked the turn around in my progress. I can get around pretty good with my walker (bumbling a bit) as I am not supposed to put any weight on my right leg. IN week 5 I had my first real shower, on my nifty transfer bench from the hospital. My tailbone is cush...

"I have been told that a major milestone after a serious injury is when you are released out of the care of the hospital. I assume this is because you have progressed beyond the immediate and constant care of the hosp staff is no longer necessary and you have healed to a point where whatever else needs to be done can be done at home. Well I reached that point, decided by the hosp care team that we should come home Wed Dec 8. I had weaned myself off of morphine even during the PT sessions which required me to get up and place weight only on my left leg and do a modified hop with the walker down the hall. I could sit at the edge of the bed by myself and transition from walker to wheel chair, wheel myself into the bathroom and take washcloths to wipe down my upper body and face. And with effort get myself over to the portable commode near my bed. These were a few of the points you must reach before they ship you home. So the afternoon arrived. Mina showed up with the mini van and the...

Approaching the trauma ward, a woman walking with her IV companion passes me. She walks at the normal rate, but what distinguishes her are the rods surrounding her head like a carousel. Further in, a man with a walker hobbles along and a group of 5 adults unaware of their volume. Fred is in here, fourth floor. I come upon him lying there, 5 fractures running through his hips and tailbone giving him the sensation that the pieces move within him like Jello squares. These hours are difficult. Sending Fred into emotions and feelings he is not very familiar with. Emotions range from despair to wanting to run a church service in his room. Jonalyn and Dale have been supportive and superb patient advocates. I stand back in awe at how they can slide into the hospital staff’s hearts and get them to be on board with upping the care we are getting. Fred said he was moved to tears when he heard Jonalyn on the phone call out to him, “Daddy..” As Jon Delling said, “ Know that moment well. Nothing mor...