Every Second Counts

106 days since Our Adventure began.
2,544 Hours.
152,640 Minutes.
9,158,400 Seconds.

Putting it into numbers seems to makes it feel so recent and so far in the past all at the same time.

We went to see Dr. Paul Gardner's PA, Star Clayson, last week after Kirk did a flexion and extension series of x-rays. Star put the x-ray films up on the board, separately and one on top of the other to see if everything lined up. The best words came out of her mouth, "Everything looks very stable. It couldn't be better."

Absolute relief was shining through our smiles like the rays of the sun after a stormy day. We ran several questions past her, the biggest of which was, "When can he get out of his shell?" Star wanted to speak with Dr. Gardner but felt that he would recommend transitioning into a soft corset over the next month or two. She said she would give us a call when she had spoken with him and got his opinion.

As you might expect, Kirk transitioned himself out of the shell that night. No call from Star. No soft corset. No surprise here. He went to work the next day, with shell in hand, "just incase".

Three days later he got the call, "Dr. Gardner would like you to transition into the soft corset over the next few weeks." Star told him. "Well, what if I just transition myself out of the shell without the soft corset?" Kirk casually asked. Star gave him the recommendations from Dr. Gardner and Kirk finally told her he had already "transitioned" himself out of the shell. "How long have you been out of it?" she asked. "Since Tuesday." Star asked how he felt and his response was joyful....."Better than ever!"








And he is.

He has transitioned out of the hospital bed and out of the shell. He continues to physically do more and more each day while taking fewer and fewer medications for pain. After spending the morning raking leaves with his dad, brother Brad and nephew Cole, mowing the lawn and even doing some laundry, Kirk walked into the room, threw his hands up in the air like a veteran referee calling the winning touchdown in the final seconds of the championship game, and exclaimed, "I'm back!"

What a beautiful journey we have been blessed with. Every single, miraculous, second has brought us together in ways we couldn't have managed on our own.

We are stronger.
We are more focused.
We are giddy.

And "we" are searching for a new motorcycle:)





- Posted by Gena Bertelsen using BlogPress from my iPad

Paroled

Day 37....we have been given another miracle!! Bert has been paroled! We went to the neuro-surgery follow-up appointment today and got the best news we could have ever hoped for.....Kirk will be able to go back to work, light-duty, on September 10th!

Wait..... it gets better.....

If he continues to progress like he has done so far...we are anticipating him returning to work, without restrictions, six months from the date the Adventure began. January 14th. This happens to also be the date we got engaged and our favorite niece Darci's birthday. Celebrations will be had throughout the land!






This is Kirk with Starlene Clayson, Dr. Paul Gardner's Nurse Practitioner and the bearer of our incredible news. I don't know if she realizes how much her words changed our lives today.




The first thing on Kirk's mind as we left the doctor's office was to get his paperwork to Orem City. It was an official release to go back to work in September. With perm-a-grins on our faces and papers in hand, Kirk headed to his 'other home'. We entered the building and there are two levels of stairs that he will most likely be climbing each day on light-duty. "Here goes. Lets see if I can do it." He reached the top of the stairs, walked through the door and came to a stop. I thought he was going to pass out, maybe it was too much. He was visibly shaken. I looked at him and said, "Are you okay?" "Yes." he said in a whisper, "I can't believe I'm here."

Word got out pretty quickly, it happens that way in a police department. Within minutes the Brethren were coming out of their offices, hugging and hand-shaking. Shock and smiles. He was home.





Kirk made the rounds, peeking in every office, letting them know he was back. Sharing his excitement, gathering strength from the Brethren, and even the Sisters;). They may never know how much this meant to him. How much strength it gave him. How much he loves them.


It didn't take long for Kirk to find a seat, kick back and enjoy the camaraderie. Oh how he has missed them.






His fire Brethren were on shift and he could not leave Orem without stopping in to tell them the great news. Unfortunately, they were out on a call. He left them a message and headed home.









Anticipating what we would hear at this appointment has been at the forefront of our mind for the last few weeks. I have been jokingly saying that Kirk fully expected to be released to go back to work on the 23rd, the day after the appointment. We were talking about it one night and he said, "Hey, I've been given one miracle, I could be given another one."

Today we received miracle number two.

Thank you Heavenly Father.

Thank you everyone for the prayers on our behalf.

We will not waste it.

Love to you all!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad