Surgery #2 Underway

Sorry I didn't get to update last night...homework requiring the internet came first.
Scott had to be at the hospital in Salt Lake City at 7 am. Surgery was scheduled for 9 am and via text message, Grandma Cathy learned that they took him back to begin at 9:14 am. The surgery is slated to take 2 or 2 1/2 hours, and is still to be an outpatient procedure.
Janell and Chelsea spent most of the day yesterday with him, taking a drive and going a couple of places. It sounds like he was pretty grouchy, and I'm sure it was nerves. It would be safe to say he was not thrilled about a 2nd surgery.
Otherwise, I think he's been getting along okay since leaving the hospital. Still having some pain and taking quite a bit of different stuff..antibiotics, nasal sprays, eye ointments, pain meds. I think his recovery is progressing fine despite the surgery today.
I will keep ya posted. Please pray for them all today. We can all use extra prayers, right?
~Debbie

Thursday December 4

Contrary to my update last night, I am not leaving for Utah. The way things were beginning to unfold, I would be going by myself. Much too long of a drive to be alone, my family decided. I'm disappointed and sad that I cannot be there for Janell and Chelsea....just upset that I won't get to see Scott. On top of everything else I woke up with a sore throat and stuffy nose today. I guess Scott doesn't need a cold on top of everything else. I think we are going to send his cards etc. to his Dad's address so he knows you all are thinking of him.

Scott asked his Mom and sister to take him for a drive this morning. Probably tired of being cooped up in the house. Chelsea sent this picture to me, it might be from when he left the hospital, I'm not entirely sure. As I'm typing this, I received the 2nd pic of Chelsea and Scott watching tv, I'm assuming!

I will update more later....don't forget Scott in your daily thoughts and prayers.

~Debbie

Update...Day 6

Scott has been at his dad's for the last day or so. His surgery to wire his jaw is on Friday, we just don't have a time for it yet. Scotts' dad lives approx. and hour from the hospital in Salt Lake, so it will be a relatively short trip. It sounds like they are doing this as an outpatient procedure, as long as everything goes well during and after the surgery.
After surgery, Scott will be staying at his dads' until after the Christmas holidays, I believe. The trip home is quite long and the doctors there are already familiar with his case. It seems to make some since I guess. I'm not sure why, but Scott is not in a restrictive brace or anything. Kinda scary, I'm thinking...maybe that's why I'm not a doctor.
He is still expieriencing some pain but does have medication as well as antibiotics for all of that. As long as he takes everything the way he's supposed to, he should be able to tolerate most of the discomfort he's having.
I'm leaving Rifle for Utah on Thursday morning to be with Janell and Chelsea through this second surgery. God willing, the surgery will go as expected with no problems, and we will all travel home on Saturday.
Thank you to all that has kept Scott and his family in your prayers. It means alot to him to know that so many people are in his corner!
I will update as soon as I can, from Utah.
~Debbie

Surprise!

Well, guess what? Scott is at his Dad's house in Spanish Fork, Utah. Much to everyone's surprise the doctors cleared his back (he actually has fractures at T4 & T5 AND T7 & T8!) and released him. He will be having surgery to wire his jaw on Friday and I believe it's going to be on an outpatient basis. Keep up those prayers that surgery goes well on Friday and we have no anesthesia issues again!
Janell and Chelsea are staying in a hotel between Salt Lake and Spanish Fork so they are still close to Scott and close to the hospital.
Unfortunately, I don't have a time frame for how soon Scott will be back in Rifle. It is possible that he may temporarily be staying in Utah..nobody is sure yet. (as far as I know!)
Although the wind tore down our posters and signs at Grandma Cathy's house, I will be helping to get all those things back up! Keep them coming! Scott is going to love them.
Scott, if you are out there in cyber space reading this...The Rifle Zemlocks are sending lots of love and prayers your way! We miss you and can't wait to hopefully see you for the holidays! Rifle isn't the same without you around!! Keep up with all the hard work!
Thanks for all the comments on the blog....

Another surgery

A small amount of new news...Scott's jaw is not setting right so he IS going back to surgery. Originally scheduled for Friday, but if the ENT (Ears, Nose and Throat) Doctor can move a surgery schedule around he may have it as early as tomorrow. (The ENT is however, very surprised with how fast he is progressing.) Scott is not pleased! Janell says overall, he's doing wonderful.
He has been up and slowly walking in the hallways. Not sprinting, but walking. It is exhausting for him, I'm sure. I don't think the doctors have completely "cleared" his back yet, (meaning it's all ok) but they are still having conversations as to whether he needs a brace or not. T4 & T5 are "fractured" not broken....so, I guess we'll see what happens. He could be released from the hospital very soon, depending on the outcome of his surgery.
For you friends out there with Scott's cell #, call and leave him a voice mail...they are playing him his messages daily. There are also, some posters and cards being left on the fence at his Grandma's house...feel free to leave your card ect. or come sign one that's already there.
Don't forget to say those prayers, they sure have been working. Let's also pray that Scott will be back home in Rifle as soon as possible. We miss you Scott and hope you get to feeling better.
Thanks again for everything. What a wonderful little town we live in!
~Debbie
ps. Thanks to Rebecca and Justin for their generosity of lodging help for Janell & Chelsea. You guys are amazing!

Just a speed bunp

Grandma Cathy just called to share with me that Scott is headed back to surgery. Apparently the ENT Doctor that did his surgery thought that without wiring Scotts' jaw it would heal fine if Scott did what they asked...no chewing ect. Well, his jaw is not aligning right, so on Friday they will do surgery to wire his jaw and correct that problem. Nobody is happy about this news, especially Scott.
Like I continue to say, don't stop praying.
~Debbie

A Little Update

Well, Scott must be feeling a little better...stubborn enough to complain about his roommate. He now has a private room! I didn't get to talk to Janell, but Scott's grandma Cathy shared a little bit of info with me and I'm sharing with all of you.
It doesn't sound like they have done anything in regards to his back yet. Scott keeps tellng everyone to "Ssshhhh" about it...like they are going to forget! The doctors are giving him blood thinners (shots in the stomach) because of his limited mobility. They don't want to have to deal with any blood clots. As you can all imagine, our friend Scott is not very happy about this at all! None the less, the doctors are winning and he keeps getting the shots.
Janell and Chelsea are still at his bedside. I'm sure they are anxiously awaiting progress reports so they can determine when Scott will be able to come HOME!
Scott..although you already know this, you have tons of friends here in Rifle that wish they could be there with you right now. Lots of the kids would like to take off on a trek to Salt Lake alone, and that is a little more difficult for everyone here, because you are so far away. Please know, that just because you don't have a waiting room full of friends there, doesn't mean that you don't have a room full here. The number of calls that I have recieved in regards to your health and the tiniest bit of any information has been amazing. The parent's here are concerned with the kids taking off on a trip and being in an accident themselves. The weather here over the weekend wasn't real super. So PLEASE remember that we are with you in spirit and in your heart...just not in the waiting room.
I will post again after hearing from Janell today....
~Debbie