Pray Day for Danny-New Legs

I’ve mentioned it here before, but it bears mentioning again.

Considering what’s happened.

Danny’s spirit is fiercely independent. However, he is trapped inside the prison cell of his own body, his own brain. He battles internally to overcome the limitations his body enforces; he is his own worst enemy.

Progressing in his recovery to safely operate a power wheelchair was a huge step for him. When therapists had tried it initially, Danny had driven full speed at a metal door frame, laughing the whole way. It was scary for me to see Danny so out of control, to see him without his sense of judgement.

But, when Danny received the power wheelchair, a whole new world opened for us.

No longer did I have to push Danny, struggling across terrain and hills while keeping Corbin safe too. No longer did I have to be so hands on with him at home, at church, anywhere.

He regained some semblance of independence and he thrived, he grew in confidence and discovered abilities to do things for himself.

He took Audrey for her walks and got our mail and packages from the front desk. He could take himself to the bathroom and escort Corbin there as well. He drove all across the soccer fields, helping to coach Corbin’s undefeated team.

We could go to the mall, to Costco, the grocery store and I didn’t have to push him and a cart. We went to the movies and out to eat. He helped carrying things into the house from our busy Saturday errand running.

His power wheelchair, well, it was his legs.

Until this.

On Friday afternoon, the 200lb. wheelchair rolled off the exterior lift of the car, while the car was in motion.

We are thankful that no one was hurt, that it didn’t hit any cars and no one hit it while it tumbled across the intersection.

We are grateful that his father was close by and able to get there quickly. We appreciate the police who blocked off the intersection and helped get the chair back on the lift of the car.

We are thankful to still have his manual chair, though it is not conducive to current abilities.

However,  you can imagine the impact this loss has on him, on us.

Any semblance of independence Danny had gained has once again been robbed of him by another accident.

Every side of the wheelchair shows damage. And, this is only what we can see.

I believe the frame of the wheelchair is bent (see picture above). The power comes on, but flashes its’ lights indicating more than external damage.

As much progress as Danny has made recently, it feels like many steps backwards.

However, I am reminded of many good things that have come from apparent difficult situations.

• Last year, when the car broke down at the beach, Danny was forced to use his walker. And, for the first time in seven years, he walked into a restaurant and sat in a real chair three different times.
• When we flew to Miami this year, Danny only had his manual chair and his walker. When the terrain was flat, he was taking the initiative to push his own chair, socializing with others and not complaining.
• As Danny mentioned on Friday, when I asked that he be patient with the process of getting a new power chair and that he not get frustrated with the manual chair as it’s our only option, he told me that I was wrong. We have the walker and he can use it.
• When I’m feeling lost and unsure how we’re going to get things taken care of, to get things paid for, God tends to show up in big and unexpected ways.

It could have been worse. Much worse.

I am grateful it wasn’t. I am grateful we have options. I am thankful we have insurance and people that will work to get Danny, to get us, what we need.

Today, Friends, we need your prayers on this Pray Day for Danny.

I ask that you pray for:

• Favor with the insurance companies and the wheelchair providers.
• An expedited process to get a new power chair and modifications to his manual chair to make it more conducive to Danny’s abilities. We’ve already met our deductible this year so it would help to have all claims submitted and approved by the end of the year.
• Provision for any out of pocket expenses.
• Peace for all of us during this added stress.

I will be sending out our Christmas email newsletter, so if you haven’t signed up to receive it, go to the Home Page and subscribe. I will be including some incredible results in Danny’s recovery and linking up with ways you can help us meet our goals in 2014.

As always, we are grateful for you, for your prayers and support throughout the years.

God bless you!