3 Month Mark

Good Morning My Friends!
And yes, even though it is the "dog days of summer", I hope you are going to have a great day. It's been a little over 3 months since Makenzie's car accident. Life has changed a lot for her since that day, as she has spent most of the summer at home healing from her injuries. She has good days, a few great days, some crummy days, and days that contain all of the above. The pain management is better overall too, and we are thankful for that.....

Things are beginning to return to a normal pace. For Pam and Makenzie there is a "new normalness" for now. Chuck returned to his business McLaurin Welding after being off almost the entire month of May. Kaleb finished his term as Vice President of Future Farmers of America for the State of Texas. He gave is final address at the state convention last month in Corpus Christi, and had Makenzie introduce him! He is in the process of getting ready to enter Texas A&M later this month as a Freshmen! Kenzie & Kaleb are very close, and she's really going to miss him this fall!
Makenzie was supposed to enter college this fall at Sam Houston State University (her mom's and mine alma mater!). She has decided to wait to attend school in January in order to be in stronger condition and allow more time to heal. Huntsville is hilly you know! Pam, who is a kindergarten teacher at Big Sandy ISD, is supposed to go back to work in a couple of weeks.

Makenzie's physical recovery is coming along pretty well. She has had many doctors appointments over the past few weeks. The doctor for her face is amazed how well she has done so far. Remember, she had a major nerve in her left cheek that was severed and had to be re-attached surgically. This affects how she smiles, and it was predicted that this could take many months. She is smiling better and better each time I see her, and her physician couldn't believe how well she had progressed when seen last week! Her wounds on her arms and legs are healing nicely too. And thankfully, she is beginning to put on a little weight.......I told her she could have mine and we could do some kind of body to body fat transfer......

With stages of healing come new issues (or new dimensions to old issues...). Makenzie saw the orthopedic docs this week. She just now got cleared to begin bearing weight on her right foot and leg. This is going to be a an exciting and frustrating period, as she has not stood up in over three months! A lot of muscle mass has deteriorated due to being bed-ridden. Gaining stregnth will be her next goal.
Then, there's the left foot.......this is the foot that really sustained a lot of injuries. Makenzie just was referred to seeing a foot specialist yesterday to deal with the new issues with this foot. The skin grafts are healing nicely. There are some new details to deal with now, mainly with tendons, muscles and bones, and nerves.
So, the next focus of recovery will be to gain stregnth, begin to stand on her right leg and foot, and to figure out a plan for continued healing of the left foot. It's been a while since I have asked for your prayers. When you see her picture, think of her and lift a prayer about these recovery issues. It has made a tremendous difference so far. I thank you in advance for it!

My sister Pam has been overwhelmed by the love and support you all have given her and Chuck these past months.....she has said several times that she doesn't even know what to say......these kind gestures of love have really helped her and Chuck come to terms with so many things. We still have a pretty good long road ahead, but your love and compassion has kept all of us going. Thanks so much my friends for reading this blog and praying.
You all have a blessed day!
Mary