Gary on the Bike

Gary continues to make improvements each day. Check out this new minifilm where he tells us about his progress, and shows off his classic 10-speed!

Badwater?

Gary continues to improve! Check out this new video where he speaks candidly about his recovery, short, and long term goals.

Let's Take a Walk

Sean has posted another movie, and we're going to keep them coming right here. Gary continues to improve - slowly but surely. Click here to watch.

In His Own Words

Sean Runnette, a friend of Gary's, has made a movie of Gary telling of the accident, his injuries, and his recovery plan. Click here to watch.

It's A Long Road

Well, if anyone knows how to do an endurance run, Gary's got some experience in that area... and his recovery from this accident is definitely going to go in the book next to "Badwater", "6-Day Racing", and "Having my Arm Cut Off".
All that to say, Gary is still at home and keeps getting better, but it's a slow process and he definitely appreciates your faithful support!
Update:

• Bones still broken: the doc says he has to wear the back brace for at least 6 more weeks, and there's a broken rib floating around somewhere (I'll get a copy of that x-ray up soon if I can).
• Kidney and liver: after blood and urine tests today, the doc ordered a CAT scan for tomorrow, so let's hope it's nothing serious.
• Nervous system: Gary has had 3 episodes with something like a pinched nerve, causing him to lose balance and feel an "electric shock". Two of these were while in the hospital, but the third happened on Saturday when he was out with Gabor, and so he is going to see a neuro-specialist to have this checked out.

BUT, all things considered, Gary's doing pretty well. The doc says no work until December, but with all the blood tests and CAT scans, he's pretty busy. He still appreciates visits, calls, text messages, and emails, so let's keep him up to date on our lives while he's stuck at home!

Recovering at Home

We visited Gary at his house in Sierra Madre on Friday, and boy was it nice to see how well he's doing. He's still dealing with a lot of pain and has pretty low energy, but his spirits are high, he's able to walk around the house (we even took a walk up the street!), he's able to eat regular food... lots of improvement!

He had just returned from the doctor when we saw him, and he has the following updates on his health:

• The broken bone count stands at 8 with 3 broken ribs, a broken metacarpal in his left hand, and 4 fractured vertebrae. The most serious break is in his #8 vertebrae, and he says they found 3 other minor fractures in some lower vertebrae. He currently has a cast on his hand, and wears a removable back brace to keep his back straight as it heals.
• His liver and kidney are healing well - blood tests on Friday showed a 300% improvement in their function.
• I guess he had a collapsed lung (first I heard about this), but chest x-rays show is improving well.
• The doctor says Gary has a mild case of Horner's Syndrome, a slight paralysis in one side of the face, from the impact to his head. The doc says this will go away as his brain heals.
• Speaking of his brain, Gary is able to see and think clearly, but he cannot remember anything from Saturday night (the night before the accident) until Wednesday after the accident (about 4 days).
• Gary weighed in at 136 lbs. on Friday, down about 20 from normal. He says that's what happens when you lie in bed without sleeping or eating for 16 days (go figure).
• ...and finally, the doctor says ABSOLUTELY NO RUNNING without his approval. I think if he hadn't said this, our walk up the street may have become a jog :)

Gary really appreciates all the love and support - the cards in the mail are one of the highlights of his day, so he sends MANY THANKS! Also, he'd love your visit, so feel free to call him up, text message him, or stop by to say hi.

He is outta there.

... sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words...

"I am going home"

He called me at 1:44pm and told me that he is out of the door ready to go home!
Gabor

Getting closer

Visited Gary over the weekend and talked to him again this morning. He's able to get up out of bed, put on his backbrace and shoes, and go for a walk around the ward; Pam also took him outside in a wheelchair over the weekend to enjoy the sunshine (and the bumps on the sidewalk). He's completely disconnected from all hoses, pipes, wires, hydraulics, scaffolding, whatever. The last of the "drain tubes" was removed so now he can wear normal clothing and sleepwear. Today he received some really good news, it looks like he might be going home WEDNESDAY.

Gary was last spotted jogging around the ward in a hospital gown, slippers, and an AC-100 hat; oh yeah, he was wearing a grin too.

I paced Gary yesterday!!!!

I visited Gary yesterday late afternoon He is improving really fast. Make the visit and this entry short, we went for a walk. Put his brace on and we are ready to go. I was his pacer for the trip. Started from his room, passing the elevetor lobby, around the nurse's station and back. All of it with NO help. After that he got his medication and my visit was over. He is allowed to walk 2 to 3 times a day.

More improvements

Gary's recovery continues on a good "pace." He's been take off all IVs and no longer requires constant oxygen, so he can now move around a lot better. He's able to take walks around the ward and his doctor has suggested he go outside and take in a little sunshine. The latest x-ray showed a fractured bone in his left hand, he now has a "soft cast" and elastic bandage around it. While he might be moved to another floor, he'll be kept at USC University Hospital for at least another week; this is to continue monitoring the condition or operation of his liver, spleen and kidney. Again, please feel free to go see him during visiting hours.

Visits

Anyone wishing to visit Gary at USC University Hospital is welcome to do so pretty much whenever you want. The best time to go would be between the hours of 8 am and 7 pm, this way you can avoid the "shift change" of the staff.

Real Food!

Emili, Oliver, and I went to visit Gary yesterday. While we were there one of the medical staff brought good news: Gary has been cleared for a "low fat" diet. Gary listened politely while she read off every conceivable meat option: steak, grilled chicken, ham, salmon,...even scallops. When she finished he replied: "Well, I'm a vegetarian, so none of those options are going to work for me." He chose macaroni and cheese. In addition, he had the option of many side dishes and selected squash, a dinner roll, ginger ale, and vanilla pudding for desert. He also ordered breakfast: raisin bran, apple juice, a banana, and black coffee! He wasn't sure how much he would actually eat, but "when you've lived on liquids for 2 weeks, real food definitely sounds good." Pam is still hoping they will be able to return home in a week or so. She has been spending nights at home and is getting better rest than on the benches of the ICU.

Oh boy, JELLO!

Talked to Gary today, he took a turn for the better. He was able to eat some Jello, and more importantly, it stayed in his stomach this time. The other good news is he went for another walk, a longer one this time, he did a "lap" of the ward and walked back to his room. "None of this 3" baby steps stuff, I MOVED." He thinks he'll be there another 10 days or so and then head home.

He's also been moved to a new room, same floor but it's a private room. Depending on how he's feeling on any particular day he'd like to have visitors now. If you'd like to pay him a visit please contact Hal Chiasson or myself by email or phone. We're trying to coordinate and space out the visitors so he isn't overwhelmed at any one time or day.

Hal's contact info:
Work Phone: 626-446-4434
Email: HalWChiasson@cs.com

Fausto's contact info:
Home: 714-670-8569
Work: 626-458-4178 (Mon-Thur)
Email: indyfan31@sbcglobal.net

This week's news

Just a few changes since we last saw Gary: some good, some not-so-good, and some surprising. Doctors removed the "drain" tubes that were in his lung and kidney, unfortunately they inserted two new ones for the liver and gallbladder. He was also just informed that he has two broken ribs, that would explain the pain when he tries to move. Otherwise he still can't eat, still a little nauseous, and still tired.
On the bright side, he started physical therapy this week: he WALKED to the nurses station, but he said it's difficult to do with all the "attachments" in tow so he wants to have the rest of them removed before he tries it again.
He appreciates the cards and letters, so please send them to his house and Pam will take them to the hospital. He should be in there for at least another week, not sure after that.