I had a great chat with Lane tonight! He was exhausted from PT but very optimistic and upbeat. He is seeing progress and the therapists are surprised and shocked by it. He can wiggle all five fingers on his left hand, can flex his left foot up and down (similar to pushing the accelerator in your car) and the major muscle groups on the left side if his body are showing signs of life and responding to stimuli! He is learning to use his new sip and puff wheel chair and has a new roommate (the last one was a loud sleeper so in turn Lane was not sleeping). He says it’s great to be back in normal clothes rather than a gown and he has a little more sense if normalcy. He was excited to hear about the BBQ but bummed he missed out on free beer. He has tapered off of most of the medications that the hospital put him on and as mentioned is much more positive. Those thoughts and prayers are working so please keep up with them. Thank you to everyone for their continued support!

A big thank you to Dr. Westerdahl and Megan Edwards for all that they did to help coordinate getting Lane into UCSF. After a little over a week in the hospital and surgery, Lane has been transferred to acute rehab in Santa Clara to start his intensive recovery. He is spending today and tomorrow doing his assessments and orientations and meeting with his treatment team. It looks like Lane’s days will be full of PT/OT/ and education. He seems to have had a positive change in attitude and is looking forward to this next phase. Thank you to everyone for their continued support of Lane. Our family greatly appreciates everyone’s efforts and Lane is committed to work hard on his recovery.

Lane had an up and down weekend. He is battling an infection as well as pain from his surgery. He has had more intense PT which has left him exhausted. He still jokes with me on the phone and is optimistic about his future. He should be transferring in the next few days and is both anxious and excited about that.

Had a good conversation with Lane tonight. He was much more alert and clear as he got some much needed sleep and was able to have some down time without interruptions from visitors. Sound like the PT sat him in the edge of the bed for the first time and he sat up under his own strength. She told him most people pass out the first time. He was most excited about the fact that he can wiggle his right index finger. He has been cleared to leave UCSF and been medically accepted to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center for acute rehab. With that being said, the hurdle we are running into is they want a discharge plan in place for a month or so down the line. So if anyone knows of any group homes, board and care, transitional livings or want Lane as a roommate in the area that information can be sent to me to pursue. Thank you to everyone for their continued support.

Lane went upright today for the first time and went for a wheelchair ride around the hospital. I spoke with him tonight and he seems to be in good spirits and looking forward to the next stage of his recovery. He is interviewing an acute rehab tomorrow and if things go well could potentially be transferred there this weekend.

The next fundraiser for Lane will be on Thursday, May 15th at Dad’s Kitchen at 8928 Sunset Ave. Fair Oaks, CA They will donate 10% of all proceeds from 4-9pm.

Big day at the hospital today. Lane went into surgery early this morning to relieve the pressure on his spine. After a three hour surgery and some post op rest he went back to his room. According to the feedback from the doctor the surgery was successful in relieving some pressure. The full extent of the surgery is still unknown. He was cleared to eat whatever he wants so he treated himself to homemade chocolate chip cookies from his Aunt Fran.
Lane did some physical therapy and based on today they are going to put him in a wheel chair tomorrow and get him upright and moving around. On the small victory front his injury was reclassified to a Class B incomplete SCI which is great. Let’s all hope these small victories continue to unfold.

Lane is out of surgery. Dr. Chose said he did very well and the pressure is relieved. We can see him in two hours. He is in recovery.

Lane is definitely happy to be back in California. He spent the day meeting with doctors and physical therapists. On the small victory front he was able to wiggle his index finger in one hand and the ring finger on another when promoted by the therapist! He will be going under tomorrow morning for surgery where the doctor will open up the back of his neck and and do a procedure to release the pressure in his spinal cord. Aside from the risks of any surgery there is not much risk to this procedure. If anything it may help but there is no guarantee if it will or how it might. Only time will tell. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

So Lane is back in California and the positive spirits that he had upon arrival yesterday have faded. He met with his neuro surgeon late last night and I spoke with him today. The surgeon does not have high hopes for a significant recovery for Lane however he said that miracles happen all the time. Lane is young and healthy, and he has a good support network.

Lane was feeling pretty down today when I left. Lane decided to move forward with a surgery on Tuesday to help relieve the swelling in his spine as the biggest threat he still faces is if the swelling increases he may lose the ability to breathe on his own. Lane continues to talk about moving his arms and legs so that is great to hear. I know there are many who wish to visit to show their support. He is appreciative of the support yet at this time he doesn’t want visitors. Thanks for keeping him in your thoughts and prayers.

There is something to be said about coming home. After almost 4 months in foreign countries, a traumatic spine injury, a long two and a half weeks in ICU, and a 30 hour trek strapped to a stretcher in the back of a 747 – finally back in California. His spirits are definitely elevated and he was talking to anyone and everyone that would engage with him.
We will see what will be the development of his course of care in the upcoming days. I can’t stress enough how happy he is to be home. Thank you to everyone who has been and will continue to support my brother in his recovery.