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Sunday Travis Update

Dec-12-2004 » Filed Under: Travis Majors

(Email from Angel)

Evening Folks,

The kids and I just got home from another visit with Travis. 3rd time is truly a charm, not only did we have no incidents making it to the hospital, but we found Travis and Dorothy on the first try!!!

They had again gotten Travis up in a borrowed chair and he and Dorothy were outside on the atrium patio. We stayed outside for awhile talking, then went inside to the day room.

We entertained Travis for awhile picking out (very poorly) remembered notes on the piano in the day room, then he gave us instructions on playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Travis and I sat and talked while watching Dorothy, Samantha (my daughter) and Tyler (my son) playing pool, again rather poorly. *Laugh* at least we’re all consistent!

Travis and I were going to go back out to the atrium patio again for a little while and leave Dorothy and the kids playing pool, but everyone ended up tromping outside together. I have to give him credit, he showed bravery in the face of danger, meaning my figuring out how to drive his chair for him, and never flinched. I managed to get him driven out and through the doorway of the day room without crashing in to anything on the first attempt though, so all went well!

Travis is currently borrowing a motorized chair from the facility, is has a right arm wrist control unit that he can lay his left hand in to, and of course hope is that he’ll eventually be able to drive it on his own. He said he’s figured out how to make it go backwards and do a left hand turn by moving his shoulder a bit.

They like to get him back to bed before shift change and start hunting for him around 6’ish, so we headed back to the room around that time.

I go the bags I brought with unpacked and right away he wanted a cookie, so Dorothy helped him eat the cookie while I was putting the other stuff away.

Now down to some of the nitty gritty stuff:

Travis has a meeting tomorrow with his PAV representative/counselor (PAV = Paralyzed American Veterans), he also has a meeting with his social worker. He’s still currently listed as active duty and they will be discussing his care plan, goals and discharge plan tomorrow from what I understood.

They are looking at a tentative discharge date from the hospital of February – March, however Travis has set his own goal of February 16th for the moment.

No one from DS3 has been to see him yet, so I told him I’d call them tomorrow for him to check the status on that. It’s possible that they have not done a medical board on him yet, which would explain why he’s not been contacted by his SFA. However, we may have a chance of securing ITO’s for his mom to be flown up for visits through their office, which is why I’ll be calling them tomorrow. DS3 normally does not come in to the food chain until after a soldier has been found to fall below medical retention standards by way of the medical board. DS3 provides comprehensive current and after care programs, so the earlier we can get them involved, the more advocating we’ll have on his behalf hopefully.

I was finally able to pin down the charge nurse as well. On the DVD issue, a personal DVD player will not interface with the setup they have in the hospital, he said that 9 times out of 10, their electrical system fries them the first time they are turned on. He did say that a personal DVD player is acceptable. I talked to him about what Travis had said to me about not wanting to bother the nursing staff further by having to ask them in to the room to switch out movies and he said he’d be sure to talk to Travis and make it clear that it was no problem or burden for them. Mike is his PM charge nurse and a very competent and compassionate man from what I can tell, he reminds me a bit of Santa Claus in the looks department.

Mike will also be following up on Travis’s complaints of problems sleeping due to pain. He said that he was not made personally aware of those. I had him check to make sure my business card was still in Travis’s chart and made it clear to him that day or night, he can call if Travis needs anything.

That’s about it for this visit, the kids and I left about 1830 as they have school in the morning. I’m working on arranging my schedule so I can get down there next Sunday and will update with the next visit.

Travis did say to tell everyone “HI!!!”, I let him know about the comments left on the Stryker News site when ever we send in an update about him and it always makes him smile.

Best regards,

Angel


Comments For "Sunday Travis Update":

Glad to hear Travis is doing well! And how brave to let you push that wheelchair. The man is amazing. Just glad you didn't have any curbs to navigate. Keep your chin up Travis. We're all pulling for you!

Posted by: Kathleen A | December 13, 2004 8:27 AM

My husband and I met Travis last week during an appointment my husband had at the rehab clinic that Travis is using. My husband did his rehab at the same location as Travis and shares some of the same members of his medical team.(From first-hand experience, I can truly say, the therapists there are caring professionals - they become like 'life-long' members of your family after a while.) Saying rehab is 'difficult' is an understatement, but each day giving it your best, and with positive-encouragement from those that care, it gets better. Please tell Travis we are all very proud of him. He may not believe this 'now' but in a short period of time, I bet the rehab room will become his favorite place. Travis has demonstrated that he is smart with great spirit and courage - With all my heart, I hope as he begins to understand his injury, he can begin to view those working for him there as some of the most important people in his life right now. It is through them, his therapists, that all the good possibilities will begin to unfold. The happiest words I can hear about Travis right now is that from the moment he woke up, he asked to go to the rehab room. Each day at this hospital is a precious day. There are life time skills, knowledge, and understanding about spinal cord injuries that have to be acquired for one to GAIN CONTROL of life again. It is during the weeks in this unit that this foundation is gained. Please encourage Travis to seek this at every opportunity. Going home can be pretty exciting when you are about to leave a hospital, it can be pretty scarey unless you are well equipped with what you need.

(Angel, I spent a morning re-plastering a hole in a wall after trying to steer my husband's powerchair - you did great!)

We are from an area real close to Travis' hometown, and are going to stay in touch. We have contacted Travis' social worker (I can't say good enough things about her), and are going to give her points of contacts for hometown groups that will be possible assets for Travis. She is gaining Travis'permission for each one of these as we get her the information.
I have also contacted Cindy, and plan on keeping in close touch with her.

I apologize if I have 'gone-off' too much with the above. I believe so greatly that the initial rehab is the most important and want so much for Travis to get 100% of all he can derrive from it. From what I have read - you all are very wonderful people. I have seen a lot of 'forgotten' people at this hospital, and each one of you truly make a difference in a very special life.
Sincerely,
Linda
PS - If Travis likes protein foods that would be good for skin. The meals there are OK, but sometimes, its easy to 'pass-by' the 'meat'.

Posted by: Linda S. | December 13, 2004 10:28 AM

We can never thank people enough who go to such great lengths to care for Travis - and any wounded soldier.

Travis has a lot of incredible "women-folk" tending to him - angels definitely come in all forms!

I think that what would DEFINITELY encourage Travis now is to hear from his buddies from the unit he was with. I encourage all of them to e-mail or post to this site so we can get them printed off and read to him. He needs some of that army buddy "macho" stuff to go along with all the cookies and loving care he's getting from his "angels".

As with all soldiers in his situation, he has good and bad days. His army buddies can help tremendously with those bad days.

We are working on getting Travis a computer so he can take over his own correspondence eventually. If anyone out there has access to a way we might get a computer donated to him, please e-mail me at yvonnec@midcoast.com or contact me through the Strykernews site.

He's given a tremendous amount to his country - more than any of us would be asked to give. It's time to give some of that back in practical form. A computer will keep him "connected" to the outside world.

Posted by: Yvonne | December 15, 2004 1:45 AM

I am glad that travis is doing great and I would like him to know that all of us that are back in the unit are praying for him and he remains in our hearts and minds. I am sure the docs there are taking better care of you than we could at this point. Keep up your courageous strength and continue on with your rehab brother...gene "doc" sangrey

Posted by: Sgt Eugene Sangrey | December 27, 2004 5:07 PM

Sure glad this update is out on Travis. I have been wondering about his progress and from what I read all looks up. Travis we love you and thank you for the great job you did for the country. Hope more angels will visit also that the men in your company will soon get back to you. I guess you do get tired of women talk. Lots of luck and loads of love.

Posted by: Florence | January 12, 2005 6:32 PM

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