I’ve hacked my DNS to allow easy access to posts just on Daniel. This way you don’t have to weed through my other stuff if you don’t want to. You can go directly to this URL in the future (and just click on it, now) to get to his stuff only.

http://daniel.svenrox.com

I just got off the phone with Patti and she told me that they have indeed moved Daniel out of CCU. It took her a long time to find him via the phone (no one seemed to know where exactly he was) but once she found him, she had a good conversation with his nurse.

She said that they’re turning him every two hours and he’s alert and talking. In fact, when the nurse asked him his name, he said, “Danny.” This is the first time he’s been able to respond to such a question and clearly. The nurse also said that he thinks he’s in San Francisco. I chuckled and told Patti I thought the same thing when I was in ICU. She laughed and asked, “What is with you people thinking your in San Francisco?”

So, good news to report and Patti was in good spirits. Praise God. Keep praying!

Patti and I made the hour and half drive to Redwood City this morning to see Daniel in Redwood City. When we got there, he was awake and looking around. He saw us and Patti told him to say something after saying good morning and some other things. He said hi. She told him that I was loud and I’d say something and he totally smiled. So, he hasn’t forgotten me.

Patti wasn’t sure if he really was aware of who she was to him, so she asked him. He said he did know here and that, “You where here before. You kissed me.” Patti and I laughed and he smiled while she said, “Yes, I kissed you.” It was very sweet.

At one point while there, he was saying to put something to the right. It seemed to be talking about work and something to do with equipment. So, his thought processes are definitely there, but it’s still hard for him to concentrate on us. We later found out from the doctor that he’s most likely exhausted and just really needs to rest more then be stimulated.

He now has feeding tube and single IV. Gone are all the tubes in his mouth and nose. The feeding tube goes down one nostril and there’s a funnel the other to assist him in breathing. He had a bad cold during the accident and he still has it. His heart rate also seem much stronger then the last time I saw him. His breathing was about 20 rep’s a minute, which is about the limit the doctor desires for him to hit. So, if it decreases, it’ll save him from having a respirator on during the night.

The hospital was planning on moving him upstairs today out of CCU. That was originally the back-up plan as Patti was hoping for a transfer to Sacramento. But when we looked at the location of the hospital on the map, it was realized that it would be just as far as Redwood City. This would make the drive too far for Daniel’s sister and mother, so they decided to keep him there which would be closer to family.

Daniel feel asleep while we there and the nurse said the doctor wouldn’t be in for about an hour and half, so Patti and I went to across the street to get some thing to eat for her. When I walked out of the hospital, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Erik’s Delicafe was right there! Then as we got closer, Starbucks was next to it. What a dream!! I wasn’t hungry and Patti just wanted french fries, so we got me a coffee from Starbucks and got her fries elsewhere.

When we returned to the hospital, Daniel’s sister and dad where there. She was feeding him water on a sponge stick and he was totally communicating to her. Saying he wanted more and that he wouldn’t eat it. Well, he did chomp on the sponge and she and Patti were trying to get him to stop and it was kinda funny to see Daniel chomp on it. He was very thirsty to say the least and his sweet sister squeezed more water into his mouth for him. They also put mouth balm on his lips, too.

Soon after, we met with the doctor. Basically Daniel has Spinal Cord Injury (SPI). It’s similar to Christopher Reeve’s injury, but not as severe. This is actually a common injury with about 50,000 people a year getting it. The majority come from car accidents. Daniel will most likely be paralyzed from the waist down. He can have some improvement in 12 – 18 mo. He may get wrist and maybe fingers movement back. Most likely he will never walk or have movement in his legs again. Though the doctor didn’t rule it out and said anything is possible. Speech and swallowing should come back normal within the next two weeks, depending on his cold.

So what does this mean for his future? He will need wheel chair, but he will be able relatively self sufficient. He will be able to feed himself, brush his teeth, put on his cloths, move onto seats and so forth. He will be near independent. Patti asked if he would be able to play the piano again and the doctor, being a pianist himself, said if therapy goes well and he pushes himself, he would not count that out at all. It’s possible!

Daniel will be transfered to Vallejo after he over comes his cold. It appears he still has pneumonia. This is making things difficult for him, such as breathing which is wearing him out. There appears to be no head injury as it appears on CAT scan, but he’s not as alert as he should be. This may be due to pneumonia wearing him out. H may have mild brain damage at worst, but it’s too hard to tell right now due to the pneumonia.

Daniel is fortunate to be moved to Vallejo as it is the best SCI facility in the Bay Area. Kaiser’s son had MS. This place was built just for him. So, he will be getting the utmost attention. In fact, his therapist is from this facility and is able to guide Daniel perfectly into transition for this facility. Once there, he will have intense therapy for about four weeks. After that, it will be out patient therapy. Patti will also be trained in how to assist him and how to adapt to their new life. It sounded like she will get a lot of hands on training, too. Thankfully, there will not be a need for two people assistance as first thought, which is great news.

This therapy is long term rehabilitation. It won’t be an easy journey. The first twelve months are the most important. Medical complications may arise such as blood clot, bed soars and this pneumonia may turn into a bad thing. So, prayer is needed for him and the family for this tough journey ahead of them. Nothing is too tough for Him!

I’ll keep you posted on his condition and try to get pictures on my next visit. I had to turn off my phone, so I couldn’t snap any pix with it. I know he’ll improve ’cause God is great. When he’s transfered out of CCU (again, hopefully today), then his children will be able to see him which will be the first time for the two boys since the before the accident. So, that will be a blessing for them to see their daddy. Be praying that it would be a blessing and not a difficult time for them.

Please be in continual prayer for Patti and the whole family. It was difficult for his sister to hear the news today and I can’t imagine how tough this is all for them. They need strength that only the Lord can provide and He will through our prayers. He hears his sheep!

Instead of writing out the same information, again, I’ll just reprint an edited version of Rebecca’s update on Daniel. Please, continue praying for him.

Hello believers,

Thanks so much!
Love,
Rebecca

I went to see Daniel with Tom and Patti tonight and it was great to see him. He loves Journey and I burned him a “best of” CD for him a long time ago. I’d always here him coming up home with it blasting out his windows after. I always teased him about it. So tonight I put Don’t Stop Believing on my Tungsten T3 and played it for him. I put it by his ear and just looked up, listening. When Steve starting singing, a BIG smile came on his face and you could tell, he really enjoyed it. It was so awesome!

After that song, I played God Of Wonders by Mac Powell, Cliff & Danielle Young. He really enjoyed that. He closed his eyes and just listened. I know he was worshiping God through it. It was really awesome to see. He said something to me, but I couldn’t make out what he said. I’m sure he was commenting on he liked the song.

After that, I showed him how I haven’t shaved, just like him. I brushed my check with my fist to show him. He then proceeded to slowly move his right hand up to his face. He then brushed his cheek with his fist, too. He mimicked me while smiling. It was so cool to see!

So, here’s the picture Liz got of him smiling earlier today and I’ve put up the other five pictures she took in the digipix section. I also put four pictures up of his truck, post accident. They are scans from a disposable camera, but you get the idea of just how bad the accident was and just how awesome God is for protecting him.

I’ll keep you posted on his condition and please continue praying for him. Your prayers are making a difference!

Just got this from Rebecca (and spoke to Liz on the phone). God is AWESOME!!!!!!

Dear Saints,

With love and thanks,
Rebecca

Our dear neighbor and brother in Christ, Daniel, was in a very bad car accident a few days ago. He’s in ICU right now and it doesn’t look good for him at all. He’s going to survive; however, it looks as if he may never walk again.

Without getting into details of the accident, I’m just asking if you all could be praying for him and his family. If he can not walk again, he will not be able to provide for his wife whom stays at home and mothers their three children.

His kids know he was an accident and that’s about it. They don’t know the details and are a little oblivious to the degree of meaning of what their future could be like. His wife is holding up well spiritually, all things considered. Liz and Rebecca have been ministering her every day and night since the accident and have been an awesome support system for her. But, she worries about the financial and medical aspect of this accident and what it will mean for the family. She is really having a difficult time with so many things that any one of us would have a hardship with in the same situation.

Please be praying for her, her husband and the children. Pray that God’s will would be done and that the family would be strengthened in Him through all this. I already see Daniel’s wife realizing her need to cling to the cross and this is a wonderful thing. Pray for Daniel that he would heal and possibly even walk again. They said that I wouldn’t be able to walk after my accident and her I am, walking. So, he, too could defy the doctors on God’s command.

Thanks for your prayers. Prayer changes everything. I know.