its a leg!!!

a week ago we were able to bring home dustin's new leg!!!! seeing his face light up when he takes a step on his leg is absolutely amazing, and makes this journey worth it. he was so excited about having his new leg that he hated to take it off the whole weekend. that saturday he wore it to a crawfish boil and all night playing poker with some friends. The following day we made a trip to Austin, to see our home and visit our neighbors. And of course, Dustin wore his leg most of the day.

Even though he loves wearing his leg, the actual act of wearing it and attempting to walk tires him out. walking for dustin is more of a workout for him than it has ever been for us. He has to keep the muscles in his butt tight at all times (his butt actually controls his leg, and more specifically his hydraulic knee) as well as keeping the muscles in his stump flexed as well. So generally he can only wear his leg for about 3 hours everyday. We are working to increase this number everyday...of course with our goal being that he can wear and walk on his leg for the entire day.

This week of 2 legs has been full of Dr. appts, physical therapy, lawyer meetings, and leg adjustments. But, amid all our double bookings and making what seems like hundreds of trips to go downtown we snuck in a meeting with "dustin's benefit team" and they have worked out a ot of details of the event. I am working on figuring out how to put a copy of the flyer on the blog to promote the event.... once i get the flyer on here yiou will see there is bike ride, a bikini bike wash, bbq, silent auction, games and a raffle for 2 round trip airline tickets from continental airlines. raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20, and the winner will be announced on june 28th (day of benefit) and posted on the blog the following day

Dustin's first step

today dustin got to try out his prosthesis!!!! we met with the prosthetist today, and to dustin's delight he had his leg built. dustin was able to stand on 2 feet for the first time in over 6 weeks. Seeing dustin take his first step was probably one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen. His steps were a little wobbly: his socket was a little too big, the length of the leg a little too long, and dustin was trying to over power the leg; but he took a ste!! to be more accurate he took probably about 50 steps. He walked back and forth aided by the parallel bars at the prosthetist's officer trying to get used to his new appendage.

The prosthetist still has some "tweeking" to do, and perhaps the thing dustin is most excited for is that over the next few days his leg will become customized. around dustin's socket will be an identical shirt to the one he was wearing the day of the accident. A way to "harley-up" his leg and to always have of a piece of that day with him.

Right now it looks like we will be able to take the leg home with us this saturday. Dustin will not be able to walk on it for several weeks still, but at least it will be his and he can see it, touch it and wear it everyday if he likes.

today was a GREAT day

it is crazy to me that just over 6 weeks ago was dustin's accident, and today he walked!!!

thank you!

Some very generous friends, family members, and the dealership that sold dustin his bike have offered to put together a benefit to help dustin and i out financially.

The date has been set for the benefit to be held at molly's pub on louetta on june 28th. there will be a ride from republic harley davidson that morning that will end at the bar; where we will have BBQ, games, and a silent auction to honor my husband, and raise some money to help us out.

I know so many of you have been such an instrumental part in our support thus far, but if anyone would like to help out with anything please let me know.

Also, a friend of ours has set up a benefit account for us at Woodforest National Bank (which is apparently located inside of walmart, as well as many freestanding branches)

Thank you again to all who have helped out this far, and thank you in advance for anyone who is interested in helping in the future.

My sister is setting up a seperate email account just for the benefit, as soon as i have the info i will pass it along.

Thanks again

stitches no more

dustin's stitches came out yesterday!!! and that will be our last visit to the orthopedic surgeon until after dustin has his first fitting for his new leg.

yesterday we also met with the prosthetist, who gave dustin a shrink sock, which is designed to constrict dustin's stump to shrink it and shape it to the proper form for his prosthetic. we were also able to see an example of what dustin'n new knee and foot will look like. the knee he is getting is best described as looking like a small car jack. it is hydraulic so that when he bends it it will swing back out on its own. and his ankle has a swivel function that will allow him to still play golf, and it has springs that lead into the foot. the springs allow him to jump, and offer him shock support. what we were really excited about is that dustin will be able to personalize his leg. the prosthetist told him to think about what he wants his leg to look like...by this he means that dustin gets to come up with some sort of design, logo, emblem to put on his leg. so he instructed us to find a t-shirt/piece of material to incorporate into the construction of his knee to reflect him and his personality.

according to the prosthetist dustin will get a cast made next thursday to create the socket, then in about 7-10 days he will have his new leg built!

stitches gone tomorrow

well tomorrow we meet with dustins orthopedic doctor again, this time to REMOVE the stitches. we are so excited that they will finally be gone. this means less maintenace and dustin can take a shower without having to worry about putting a plastic bag over his right leg.

we will also begin therapy at a new location this week. dustin will start more grueling physical therapy to help him gain more strength so he will be ready to get his leg...

speaking of his new leg, they say he should have it in 3 weeks!!!! we will meet breifly with his prosthetist tomorrow as well. dustin will get his shrink sock, which will help to properly shape his stump to get fitted for his prosthethis, and next week they will take a cast of his leg to build the socket.

things are moving right along, soon enough dustin will be up and walking all on his own

dustin's 32nd birthday

an invitation to all:

my mom has offered to host a BBQ for dustin's birthday at her home in the spring/klein/tomball area of town this sunday. We are thinking that it should begin around 1 pm. we will be cooking the basics, but feel free to BYOB...shoot me an email for directions or more info

amy.granger82@gmail.com


tomorrow i will post info regarding our other doctors appointments from this week, hope everyone has a great friday!

another step

Dustin took a shower today!!!! he decided that he no longer needed sponge baths (even though he REALLY likes his nurse) so he took the plunge and took his first actual shower in over 3 weeks!!! we of course had to tape up his leg, but he has able to get into the shower, sit on his shower chair, and with the help of a handheld shower head he was able to bathe himself and wash his own hair.

i, of course, was a nervous wreck when we decided to try this out today, but he did great!!!! his left leg has gotten so much stronger since we have left the hospital, and he is so good at using his walker to support him that i need to let him do things on his own...and each and every time he has tried out a new task he astonishes me with how far he has come