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Thursday, December 11, 2003
Today Patti and I went to Redwood City to see Daniel and see what wonderful improvements lay before us. When we got there, we spoke to his doctor who had some promising news for us. First, he can move his legs and he has sensation in them. It’s not consistent so it could be involuntary but it is very, and I quote the doctor, “…optimistic.” Second, his Pneumonia has cleared up very well so much so, that they want to transfer him to Sacramento’s regular acute health hospital. Patti asked the discharge nurse if he could stay to allow his family to have close and easy access to him and she said she’d work on it. His doctor told us, that he was accepted to Vallejo and when a bed frees up, he should be there within a week.
The doctor also told us that he doesn’t know he was in an accident but does know he is in a hospital. It seems that he lacks short term memory. It, however, should return in four to six months. This is what happened to me after my accident, so I re-assured Patti and she didn’t seem concerned with it.
His sister and father came in shortly after and she read some cards Patti brought. It was refreshing to hear them and see Daniel’s response. In fact, one of his old co-workers, who is now retired, told him that he had plenty of time to visit Daniel. He wrote, ‘Isn’t that what retirement is about? Time and fishing?’ Daniel totally laughed with all of us. It was awesome to see him not just smile, but laugh!
You’ve got to check out the pictures of his special bed that heats up and rotates him. It’s totally state of the art and way futuristic. He’s the first patient in the hospital to have one. At one point, he told Patti that he keeps flying. That cracked her up and he smiled back.
Once he was sitting up, he was talking full sentences. Talking a lot about work stuff. Stuff about cutting this and moving that. We have no idea what he’s really talking about, but it does seem to be work related. He was also talking about shooting and baiting animals. Seemed to be talking about hunting. He was saying he wanted Mexican food. We told him that there was some downstairs in the cafeteria with beans and rice and he said, “Ya, I want that.” Man, he really wanted Mexican food. 
His sister told him about me blogging on him on my web site. He asked, ‘…what is on there…’ with a smile and she told him that I was telling people about his condition, how he’s doing and improving. How people can read and pray for him. How his brother, who can’t be there since he doesn’t live near by, can view the web site and even see pictures. Daniel seemed to be pleased and smiled.
Soon after, his therapist came in. He deflated the bed and had Daniel move his arms over his head and move his wrist around. He then sat up in his bed and moved his arms. The therapists told him to hit him in his stomach. Daniel did, gently, and the therapist said he wouldn’t let Daniel do it when he gets stronger and Daniel said, “You’re not?” Then Daniel said he didn’t want to hit him anymore because he doesn’t believe in hitting people. Is that too sweet or what?! Yes, that’s the Daniel we know and love.
Daniel did an awesome job with the therapist. He was able to sit up on his own and move his arms and wrist. The therapist said he was pleased with Daniel’s work out. At one point, Patti asked if he was getting dizzy from sitting up, common for Daniel’s situation, and he said in a clear and normal Daniel voice, “No, but it’s hard trying to sit up.” It astonished us all. It was the first totally clear and full sentence we’ve heard him say in his typical sweet voice. Praise God!
When he was done with therapy, Patti was kneeling next to him. She was trying to get up and made a comment about how she’s an old lady and can’t get up. Daniel leaned a little over and moved his arm to her and he actually “helped” Patti up from the side of the bed! It was absolutely amazing. Patti was so excited when she got up and stood next to me. “Did you see that!” she asked me. I told her I did and gave her a big hug. How totally exciting! When they put him back in the bed and started inflating it, he said, “Who’s under here?” We all cracked up. It appears that Daniel’s sense of humor is definitely in tact.
After that, Daniel’s sister and father said goodbye and left. We did the same and he gave Patti a kiss goodbye and he said he doesn’t just kiss anybody. Patti said, “Oh no? That’s good. Will you give Sven a kiss?” He replied with a huge smile, “Ya, I’ll give him a kiss if he wants me to.” We all laughed and I told him that was alright. Stick to kissing his wife. Too funny.
It was a great day there and Patti was so excited and jazzed when we left. She told me it was great to see “Danny again”. Yes, we saw a glimpse of Danny and we know God is going to bring him back to where he once was, mentally and spiritually. He probably will never be the same physically, but I just know God is going to richly bless him and his family. God is great and he gave us a great day today!
December 12th, 2003 at 15:10
Hello Sven, When my husband and I moved to union city in l976, Patti was just a little girl. I can still remember her and our children playing tent, sharing her guinea pigs and rabbits and riding bikes. From then until now, there are certainly many other memories for all of us. Now, 20 odd years later, I can only tell you how grateful I am that your family are the Rickners neighbors! You are doing such a tremendous job of ‘being there’ and obviously ‘giving back’. Thank you so much for keeping friends/family posted on Danny’s progress. Sincerely, Marsha Brass and Family