Update On Don

I went and saw Don today, and he is doing AMAZING!  They finally took him out of the rotating bed and put him in a “big boy bed.”  He had surgery on his ankle on Wednesday (that’s why his right leg is more swollen than his left).  They also put the back brace on him and this was the first time he has been able to sit upright since the accident.  The doctors and nurses say he is progressing along really well and they hope to have him able to sit in a wheelchair on Monday.

They did a follow up story of him on the news, and you can watch it HERE.  It is a touching interview and it’s so neat that they aired something like that when he is talking about Heavenly Father and faith.  I get choked up and get tears in my eyes when they show him wiping away his own tears at the end.  He is so full of faith and it’s neat to hear him talk about it.  Today while the physical therapists were helping him sit up for the first time he was in a lot of pain but still kept telling them thank you over and over.  He is so gracious and grateful to all the hospital staff and people that come to visit.  He’s such a good example of hope, happiness, faith, courage, and strength.

I know that he and his whole family are thankful to everyone for all the well wishes and prayers that have been said in his behalf.  He is doing so well and still has lots of physical therapy ahead of him, but the progress he’s made is so encouraging and incredible.

Seeing his gratitude makes me so grateful for all of the little things, too.  Who would think that the ability to sit up on the edge of a bed would be something to celebrate?  But for Don it’s a major accomplishment with all that he has been through.  And his gratitude for being able to just sit up makes me so thankful for all of the little things that I have been blessed with as well.  It really has changed the way I look at things in life and I’m learning to appreciate the little things even more.  It really is the little things that can mean the most.